So happy

We are so fortunate to have such a happy, happy girl.

7 months, 1 week, 1 day old

While the cat's away...

The mice go shopping. Our cat, Sweet LJ, is in Gainesville to watch the Gators whip up on the Vols. Mary Lawton and I went on a girls' shopping trip today. It's been raining for 72+ hours, but that didn't stop us. We picked up some birthday surprises for Gail and Andrew's joint theme birthday party, and then went to Old Navy. While I was trying on clothes in the dressing room, I thought I'd better change ML's diaper. I lifted her out of the stroller, and she was soaked--and not by the rain. I always have a spare outfit with me...except for today. I'd already picked out some pants to buy her, so guess what she wore out of the store. We kept on shopping. She was very patient while I shopped at Ann Taylor Loft, and then we went to lunch at Panera. I had a sandwich; Mary Lawton had sweet potatoes and milk. I carried her with me to get some more tea. I spilled most of it all over the floor. Howard, who had to clean up my mess, was very nice about it. A very wet day but fun. We're home now. I'm washing the new cords that Mary Lawton wore home. Thanks for a good time, Mary Lawton.

Fun with a homeade shaker

I stole this idea from Mary Lawton's daycare: A plastic bottle filled with tiny things. Daycare has small bottles filled with things like tiny soccer and footballs. I only had a 20 oz. bottle and filled it with dried beans.



(She is wearing a diaper cover, by the way, not just a diaper. See the previous post.)

On the loose

The scene: Just after bath time. Mary Lawton was on the floor. I was getting her lotion, diaper, and pajamas. How fortuitous that the camera was handy.

7 months old

Mary Lawton, you are a happy, funny girl. You make a different noise every day. The newest one is this squeaky whine that sounds like you're fussing, but you're just squeaking. You're also great at mamamamama and dadadadadada and sometimes bababababa. You like to blow raspberries on our arms--I guess to get us back for always zerberting your belly.
In the past week, you can sit up very well. Yesterday when I dropped you off at daycare, I sat you down to play thinking you'd probably fall over, but you didn't. When you were done with sitting, you leaned forward and got on your belly.

Playing before bedtime

This month your menu expanded to include cauliflower, watermelon, zucchini, and peaches. You hate peaches. Hate them. They make you gag. Your dad is happy about this, because the peaches are delicious, so he eats them when you don't. I haven't given up yet. You've tasted them about 5 times, and I read that sometimes you have to give a baby a new food 10 times before she "decides" she likes it. You're experimenting with finger foods, too--tiny cubes of banana and avocado. The first time you played with them. The second time you actually put a few in your mouth...and seemed surprised it was food.
You love taking baths, playing with boxes, your new play keys, and exploring. You like following me into the laundry room. You don't like being left alone to play in the den, especially when you can see us in the kitchen. You crawl over to the doorway to find out what's going on. (There's a step up out of the den, so you can't join us without some help.) You love when we sing to you, which is all the time. Everything is a song. You must hear a dozen made-up songs every day, such as: "We're going on a trip...in the car. Don't you worry, we won't go far." (There's more to that one.) Your dad often sings you one about chocolate cake, and the words change a little every time. I think we should record some of these songs, because they are GOOD. You're a lucky girl to be surrounded by such musical genius.

Still no teeth. Your hair is getting longer. Your eyes are still dark gray and getting darker every day, slowly turning brown, I'm sure.

Love you, little chicken!

I am a child of the '80s.

R.I.P., Patrick Swayze. I remember going to see Dirty Dancing with Adele in Orangeburg when I was in 6th grade. It didn't change my life or anything, but I thought it was really cool. I'd bet that I still can sing every song on the soundtrack word-for-word.

Bath time

6 months, 4 weeks old

Sweet LJ usually gives Mary Lawton her bath. He commented the other night that it's "a lot like bathing a cat." She loves it but wrestles you the whole time.

Thank you, Sara!

Sara came over to babysit Saturday night and gave Sweet LJ and I a chance to eat dinner at Cakes & Ale (I had the burger, which is made of brisket, chuck, and bacon!! Sweet LJ had the gnocchi.), walk around the square and listen to some live music, and then go to Parker's on Ponce for dessert (I had the chocolate chip cookies. Sweet LJ had the flourless chocolate cake). Thanks so much, Sara, for giving us a date night.

First ear infection

Late Wednesday night/early Thursday morning Mary Lawton had a low-grade fever. I gave her some Tylenol and she seemed ok Thursday morning. Thursday afternoon daycare called to tell me that Mary Lawton had a mild fever. On Friday morning her fever wasn't any worse, but she seemed to feel worse, so Sweet LJ took her to the doctor. She had an ear infection and an irritated throat. She's on an antibiotic and seems to be back to her normal, spunky self. Yay for modern medicine. Here she is on Saturday.

Playing with Coqui and dressed to cheer on the Gamecocks

A girl and her dog

omg

I can't stop thinking about this. If I bought it, I'd dress Mary Lawton in it every day to justify the cost, and daycare might not appreciate that.

Maybe a good goal for me would be to learn to sew by Halloween 2010, so I can make it for her. (Yes, 2010.)

Daycare update

I probably should post an update to my dramatic post last week. Day 1 was very rough. Mary Lawton ate very little all day, and she was pretty upset that night. Day 2 was much better. I visited her during the day, and she was having a good time. On day 3, I spied on her from the observation room, and she was doing great. (This daycare is a laboratory daycare. Each classroom has an observation room with 2-way glass, so you can watch the kids, but they can't see you.) She has adjusted well and already seems in love with one of her teachers, Miss Sonia. Overall, I'm happy we switched.

The rest of the long weekend

What a fun Labor Day weekend.

• 2 cookouts
• 1 party to celebrate an old friend who was in town
  
• 2 trips to Stone Mountain
• 1 race
• some Chick-fil-a sandwiches (exactly how many I'd rather not say)

I ran my first race with Mary Lawton in her stroller. I talked my friend Heather into running, too. I started in the back (good stroller race etiquette) but nearly lost my mind because everyone in the back was walking. It took me a couple of minutes to get out of that mess. We still finished ok in under 30 min.

Can we start running now?

Labor Day cookout. Mary Lawton had a blast. Here she is playing with our neighbor Jeff.

New favorite toy

Empty cereal box
Hours of cheap fun. It makes a noise when you bang on it. It's covered in colorful pictures. It slides on the carpet when you push it.

How much do I love my husband?

This much:

(Check out that passing arm!)
Don't worry--next week she'll be wearing her Gamecock outfit.

The start of a long weekend

I took today off work. Actually, today I took a "floating holiday," because we are being furloughed on Labor Day. Thanks, Sonny Perdue.

Anyway, Mary Lawton and I have had a wonderful day so far. We ran around Stone Mountain, went to Target and the farmer's market, and Mary Lawton did a lot of exploring. She's a really fast scooter now.


Mom, I'm gonna get you!


Taking a break to examine the carpet fringe

Heartbreaking

Today is day 1 at the new daycare. I just visited Mary Lawton. I honestly thought that at 6 months old she might wonder about this new place but not mind the change too much. Wrong. She's never acted so excited to see me. She was practically breathless, squealing, grabbing on to me, hands all in my hair, looking at me like, "why am I here, and where have you been, and where are the people I know?" It was heartbreaking. The mommy guilt is nearly overwhelming at this moment, so I'd better stop before the crying starts.