Pediatrician Update

Sloane had an unscheduled visit to Dr Coy this afternoon. Turns out she's been spitting up so much lately because all her new activity (kicking, sitting up, turning over, etc) has given her a mild case of reflux. The condition usually clears itself up by six months old, but in the meantime, we may add a little bit of cereal to her formula.

Additionally, Lollipop really is becoming a big girl -- 13 pounds, 4 oz and about 27 inches (the length measurement is my own unscientific one yesterday, Dr Coy did not measure her length today).




(thanks to the Divine Melissa Brown for the fabulous romper that Sloane is modeling in these pictures.)

Big Girl

This weekend Sloane went to visit Grandma Jean and Grandpa Pete down at the Jersey Shore.

Sloane enjoying the local art in Ocean Grove:


We now like our bumbo chair:




It's a short jump from this to smoking clove cigarettes and writing bad, angsty poetry (lord, help us!):


You lookin' at me?


Aw, MO-ther! Quit embarassing me.


Tuckered out from all the angst


Mommy's original babies would like me to remind everyone of their existence and cuteness...

Week 14 - Extra Cute

snug as a bug in a rug, or as a swaddled baby...






grump face


happy about going to "school"


smooshie face


pretty girl


oh, what a hard day I've had!

Hating Tummy Time Just a Little Bit Less

Week 13 - a summary

Dear Lollipop,

Today, you turn 14 weeks old. I can't fathom how time is flying by.

This week, Grandma Janet came to stay with you and the two of you had too much fun. Mommy missed getting to see you at lunch so much, but I knew you were in capable hands. You and Grandma went for lots of walks and looked at things and had many long conversations.

Oh, what conversations we've all had this week! You started making word like sounds and punctuating them and pausing and waiting for whoever you are speaking to to respond to your noises. It's funny and cute and charming-- just like you. You also now can clasp your hands together, are fascinated by your toes and can sit upright with minimal support.

You're also just getting more and more beautiful with every passing day-- your daddy and I can't get enough of you.

Proof:



















You really are the best and most wonderful little girl we could have ever hoped for.

Love,
Mommy

Friends in high places

This week you gift another gift from one of mommy's business partners. Now, in addition to the Tiffany's piggy bank from Lehman Bros, you got a beautiful woobie (security blanket) from Janus Funds:





close up:



"please, no pictures, paparazzi!"

Oh, those CHEEKS!!

Edible and Deeeeee-licious

Is it wrong to want to eat Sloane's chubby adorable thighs? I show Defense Exhibit #1:



Does anyone want to join the "Ieta Thigh" sorority with me?

In other news, Sloane is doing fantastically at daycare - she really seems happy there and likes to lay on her playmat on the floor and watch the Big Girls (Emma, who is 12 months old, and Brielle, who is 2 years old) play. We've also fallen into a really solid evening routine - I pick her up from daycare and get home around 6 pm. She and I play until John gets home at about 7 pm, then he takes her and cuddles her until she falls asleep (usually between 7:30 pm and 8 pm). We get her down and we go downstairs to spend some grown up time and eat dinner. Then she gets a bottle around 10:30 pm, down again by 11 pm and we all sleep until about 5:30 am. So far, it's worked really well, and John and I are actually getting a solid 6 hours of sleep each night, which is much better than it had been. If we didn't have to face our horrid commutes, she would happily stay asleep until 8 am or so.

I show Defense Exhibit #2, also known as "mmmm... Delicious Daddy Fingers"

Week 12

Dear Lollipop,

Today, you are twelve weeks old. It's inconceivable how time passes with you in our lives. It seems only days since we came home from the hospital, and I sat in the back seat of the car with you while your daddy drove and I gasped in horror every time another car even came within 500 feet of us. That drive home from the hospital was the longest twenty minutes of my life.

Then, we were home and without the safety net of nurses and doctors and People Who Knew What They Were Doing, your daddy and I were terrified. Now that we had you home, what the hell were we supposed to do with you?? I had read so many baby books and articles and watched videos and been to seminars on how to take care of you, but I was still so scared.

Now, in a snap of finger, twelve weeks have flown by. A few days ago, you started daycare. I'm miserable without you, but you seem to like it there. The last two nights, you've slept eight hours straight, and your daddy and I are so excited by this fabulous new trick.

Your face lights up when either of us walks in the room - you have the most charming smile, it can melt glaciers. You can put your hands together and get a whole fist in your mouth. You love to kick your legs and laugh. Your stinky farts can stop a truck.

Your personality has emerged and it is so amazing -- I see more of myself in you every day. You even sleep in the exact same position as I do. Plus, you have your daddy's gorgeous eyes and funny, pointy chin. All in all, you are so terrific and funny and smart and beautiful - your daddy and I marvel every day that we have you in our lives.

So, it's been twelve wonderful weeks -- you're the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Love,
your mommy

Giggle Girl

Little Minx

This may be the first and last time that we see this really cute dress (a gift from a colleague of mine) because about 15 minutes after these pictures were taken, Her Royal Highness had an explosive bowel movement all over this dress, her daddy and the boppy pillow. Not 100% sure that the stains will come out...

On Sadness

Today is my last day of maternity leave - I go back to work on Thursday. If you would have asked me 12 weeks ago if I would not have wanted to go back to work, I would have laughed at you. Now, the thought of leaving Sloane, of not spending every moment, waking and sleeping, with her is breaking my heart.

Don't get me wrong, I really like my job and I think I'm good at it - it just isn't what I want right now. Staying home is not financially viable for us now, so I just have to suck it up and stop making myself miserable.

She is sleeping now, with a sleepy little smile on her face. She's such a happy, funny little girl - I'm so lucky to have her in my life.