On the Road

I wish I had a camera. Or rather, someone to use the camera I have to take a picture of Laurel and me. She's fast asleep in the Baby Bjorn and looking quite angelic. We're staying with M's Aunt Mary Ann and Uncle Tom in Maryland for the weekend. Yesterday she met her great-grandma, and today she'll meet more aunts and uncles and cousins. Everyone else has gone out shopping and the house is dark and quiet.

This is only our second overnight trip with Laurel. I didn't want to be one of those new parents who carts around two tons of baby gear just for the weekend, but in my zest for minimalism, I may have crossed the line into "woefully unprepared." Mainly, I forgot how much she spits up, pees on herself, and drools. And I also packed disposible diapers, but we are kind of tearing through those, too. Luckily, most of this can be fixed by running a load of laundry and a trip to the drugstore.

Laurel was quite unhappy last night and howled for several hours. She ended up in bed with us, cuddled up close. I think she misses her monkeys. Or she's teething. Or she's distracted by the new environment. Or, it could have been that we excited her too much by tickling her when we put her pajamas on. It was very hard to resist tickling, because she started laughing last night. I've been waiting and waiting for this, because Laurel's friend Kai started laughing a while ago and it was so very cute. In any event, I think we're going to have a no tickling past 6 pm rule.

Must Resist Urge to Read Sleep Book...

...but I couldn't resist googling "normal sleep for four month olds" at 2:20am, while nursing Laurel who had just nursed at midnight, and would be up again at 4:45. And 6:00.

Should not have done that. Previously I was unaware of the four month sleep regression. Although, most of the women posting about this seemed to have babies who slept all night at three months. I don't know if I feel more sorry for them, who had a good night's sleep and then lost it, or for me, who hasn't really slept a good stretch in longer than I care to think about. Laurel is not really regressing. She just gets up every few hours. It's her nature. My pediatrician says this is totally normal. I still wish for the kind of baby you see on television that sleeps all night. Or the kind of baby that the sleep experts say you can teach to sleep all night. Laurel isn't having any of that.

I made M take Laurel at 6 so I could sleep. A little something to take the edge off of that gripping fatigue that reminds me of hangovers in college. He passed her back at 7 for yet more nursing, swaddled up tight like a wiggly caterpillar. Now she's peacefully sleeping, while I sip decaf tea. Too tired to be productive, but kind of happy to have the excuse to sit in my robe with sunbeams streaming in the window.

I need to cut my addiction to this baby rhetoric. It's so polarizing. Yesterday, my mom and I went for a walk with Laurel in the stroller and I kept thinking about those La Leche League ladies from my neighborhood and what they would think if they drove by and saw my poor daughter in her isolation pod. I got props from them for bringing her to the last meeting in the Moby Wrap, which I love, but can't I also love the stroller? Is it ok to breastfeed because I find it more convenient than mixing up bottles, and not because I'm looking to establish some magical nursing relationship with my kid? Frankly, I think we might have a deeper relationship without the breastfeeding...I think all she sees is a 24 hour milk bar when she looks at me.

I would like to state for the record that I sleep much better when Laurel is in her crib, aka the baby cage, than when we co-sleep. And (gasp!) I let her watch tv sometimes. She likes the blinky lights, and frankly, I've been skeptical of any neuroscientist that says things are good or bad based on MRI studies since I read about this one.

There's a lot of money in telling new parents what they ought to be doing with their babies. I just finished reading Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, right after I read the No Cry Sleep Solution, on the heels of the Happiest Baby on the Block.

Every time I pick up a new book, I think, "Ah, this book must have the secret."

It never does.

And you know what, I still have a pretty darn happy baby, even though she wakes up all night.

Family

My dad hosted an impromptu dinner over the weekend and you know we never turn down a dinner invite from my dad...his food is way too delicious. We hung out around the dining room table and talked for hours - even Laurel, who loved sitting on Uncle Pete's lap. Yesterday, Megan came down and hung out with Laurel and I for a while. I am already counting the days until the Pittsburgh Marathon because my sister will be back in town for that. And my mom is coming to babysit tomorrow. Last Friday Grandma "Cake" (aka Mark's mom) came over to watch Laurel while we went out for Jason's birthday. And today, Laurel and I are taking a mini road trip to Rices Landing to visit her oldest living relatives. This weekend, we'll take a longer road trip to visit the Manzi clan in Maryland. Whew, that's a lot of family!

This is Not Milk!

Laurel has been showing a lot of interest in what we are eating. She reaches out for food and utensils, and watches closely when we lift a glass to our lips. We don't think she's ready for solids quite yet, but we gave her a carrot to "explore". She really, really wanted to put it in her mouth, but every time she did, she got this funny expression on her face.

Laurel and Her Friends

Here are some of Laurel's baby friends. Laurel has started to interact with her friends, mostly by pulling their hair, and also kicking them in the head (Sorry, Niam!). They are getting so big!

Also, their couch sitting abilities have improved considerably.

Kitchen Work

Laurel helps us cook now. This largely consists of her being patient enough to sit in her chair and watch us. Today I gave her a wooden spoon, and she spent many hard-working minutes trying to hold it in a way that she could lick it at the same time. This was very hard for her tiny hands to do without bopping herself in the head. I can't wait until she's big enough to wash dishes.

Daddy's Beard

Sledding

M pulled us around the block in Laurel's sled, which she received for Christmas from her grandparents. Laurel isn't sure what to make of the snow. She likes being outside, but doesn't seem to enjoy snowflakes falling on her face. However, it was fun enough for all involved (even for M, who got the job of pulling us!) that we stopped cursing the never-ending snow for a minute, and just enjoyed it!

Pizza Night!

Baking with Baby, ep1.

What to do when your dormant sourdough starter is suddenly (and plentifully) revived? Grab your baby and make some dough, that's what! Today, Laurel and I made some sourdough pizza crust. More pics of the finished product to come...