Monday, January 24, 2011
Why do we bother to wash them?
Quick bath, down for a nap that doesn't last, into the livingroom to play with Mommy. Mommy looks at laptop, Mommy looks back up. Eegads! Baby has found Daddy's white chocolate pretzels. Mini-panic- we live in a furnished flat! Ah what the heck, take some pictures first. :)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
A less than pleasant story-time
After dropping Mark off at work this morning, Jessa and I decided to explore a bit. The road seemed to point us directly to a Borders so in we went. I have to say, it didn't feel very welcoming. It was clean and it was tidy but I felt like I was being judged. I was carrying Jessica around on one hip and had chosen a calendar in the 50% section. It was the last of it's kind, otherwise I would have left it there and picked it back up on my way out. We continue to browse and come across some discounted plushees. As I help the babybear choose one (she was very excited) I laid the calendar down. Being obviously baby distracted, I forgot to pick the calender back up. It was a few minutes later when I saw it sitting at the little customer service desk in the middle of the shop when I remembered. I retrieved it from it's new location and went back to shopping, but from this point on I felt like the staff, who were gossiping in their little island were snarking at me. How dare I put something down where I didn't get it from. I must be a horrible person. I was obviously leaving it there on purpose, just so they'd have to move and put it back.
It was around 10am when we were leaving and one of the staff (from the friendlier bunch at the front of the store) mentioned that they do a story-time on Thursdays at 10:30am. She repeated a couple times that Jessica was probably too little still but that we should come when she was older. (How can you be too little for story time?)
Well, I bought her the 75% off pumpkin plushee and off to Best Buy we went. I have to say, everyone in Best Buy was incredibly friendly even though I was just browsing. A quick trip into Old Navy where we bought some of the softest babybear pants ever and then it was 10:30am. I thought, maybe we'd pop back in just to see what this story-time was all about. Afterall, the lady I spoke to sounded like she was the one running it and she was quite taken with Jessica.
We head to the back of the store and find some baby sized benches. There's a few moms and at least one dad with their kids. The ages seem to range from tiny tiny to 6 or 7. (Yes, tiny tiny is a technical term.) Sadly, the kind lady who'd told us about it was not reading the story, but one of the snarky duo from the custom service desk. Okay, so not a great start.
I let Jessa toddle into the fray (afterall she interacted great with all the babies at Stroller Strides). MISTAKE! Some of these children are feral! A little girl who was walking and could speak but was still in the tiny range was everywhere. She was on the stage area, falling over benches, just everywhere. She kept pointing at Jessa, saying "Baby!" Obviously she knows what babies are, however, it looks at though no one has ever explained to her how to treat babies. Jessa walks up to her while she's sitting on a bench and she starts kicking at her chest. You can practically see the thoughts on Jessica's face. "What is this new game? I don't think I like it." I quickly pull her away. (No parental intervention from the other child's guardian.) A few minutes later I decide to let Jessica down again. She curiously peeps her head around at one of the older children and tries to pet their toy dog. (A stuffed animal with tags still on it that the child had obviously just taken off the shelf to play with as a few of the kids seemed to have done.) This girl, who looked like she'd woken up in a tornado, practically snarls at Jess and yanks the toy away even though Jessie wasn't even touching it anymore. Once again I scoop my baby back up and retreat. The third and final time I let her down she tries crawling instead of walking and the feral child from the beginning shows up and starts stomping on her hands!!! This was more than I could handle and I had to muster every bit of control I had to contain my Mommy Rage. This time our retreat was permanent and we quickly left the store mid story. Perhaps that's what she meant by "too young" my baby needs to be a bit more world wise and weary before holding her own against these particular tots!
It will be quite a while before I return to that particular story-time! I should have just gone Stroller Skating with my Strides class!
It was around 10am when we were leaving and one of the staff (from the friendlier bunch at the front of the store) mentioned that they do a story-time on Thursdays at 10:30am. She repeated a couple times that Jessica was probably too little still but that we should come when she was older. (How can you be too little for story time?)
Well, I bought her the 75% off pumpkin plushee and off to Best Buy we went. I have to say, everyone in Best Buy was incredibly friendly even though I was just browsing. A quick trip into Old Navy where we bought some of the softest babybear pants ever and then it was 10:30am. I thought, maybe we'd pop back in just to see what this story-time was all about. Afterall, the lady I spoke to sounded like she was the one running it and she was quite taken with Jessica.
We head to the back of the store and find some baby sized benches. There's a few moms and at least one dad with their kids. The ages seem to range from tiny tiny to 6 or 7. (Yes, tiny tiny is a technical term.) Sadly, the kind lady who'd told us about it was not reading the story, but one of the snarky duo from the custom service desk. Okay, so not a great start.
I let Jessa toddle into the fray (afterall she interacted great with all the babies at Stroller Strides). MISTAKE! Some of these children are feral! A little girl who was walking and could speak but was still in the tiny range was everywhere. She was on the stage area, falling over benches, just everywhere. She kept pointing at Jessa, saying "Baby!" Obviously she knows what babies are, however, it looks at though no one has ever explained to her how to treat babies. Jessa walks up to her while she's sitting on a bench and she starts kicking at her chest. You can practically see the thoughts on Jessica's face. "What is this new game? I don't think I like it." I quickly pull her away. (No parental intervention from the other child's guardian.) A few minutes later I decide to let Jessica down again. She curiously peeps her head around at one of the older children and tries to pet their toy dog. (A stuffed animal with tags still on it that the child had obviously just taken off the shelf to play with as a few of the kids seemed to have done.) This girl, who looked like she'd woken up in a tornado, practically snarls at Jess and yanks the toy away even though Jessie wasn't even touching it anymore. Once again I scoop my baby back up and retreat. The third and final time I let her down she tries crawling instead of walking and the feral child from the beginning shows up and starts stomping on her hands!!! This was more than I could handle and I had to muster every bit of control I had to contain my Mommy Rage. This time our retreat was permanent and we quickly left the store mid story. Perhaps that's what she meant by "too young" my baby needs to be a bit more world wise and weary before holding her own against these particular tots!
It will be quite a while before I return to that particular story-time! I should have just gone Stroller Skating with my Strides class!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Placeholder
Just wanted to get this video up so the Grandparents could see it! I'll come back and actually write something when the little speed demon gives me a second. :)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
New Year, New Town, New Me
We've gone through a LOT of changes in the past couple months. We've packed up our life and moved from Scotland to America. Hubby's got a shiny new job, we're in a nifty new flat (ahem, I mean apartment) and every day with BabyBear is sparkly and filled with new developments and surprises. 
So in honour of all this newness I've decided to implement some New Years resolutions. (Yes it's already the 12th, shsssh.) Firstly, I'm going to keep this "apartment" tidy. Even if it kills me. If someone shows up unexpectedly, you will not find me desperately throwing everything into a closet while I have Mark distract them. I will be a grown-up with a grown-up house... covered in baby toys. (Baby toys don't count. Trying to put them away is akin to emptying a swimming pool with a spoon. You can try, but it's pretty darn pointless.)
Secondly, I will take a photo a day and post something interesting about it. 2011 in pictures I may not get them posted everyday but the plan to at least get them taken on the right day. I can't promise that they'll always be interesting, but it's really just practice getting me to stick with something. (and if someone is paying attention I'm more likely to follow through.)
Thirdly, I will get out of the house, meet people and make friends.
Fourthly, yes I said fourthly, it's time to shift that baby weight. Between 22 weeks of morning sickness, a newborn, a dodgy gallbladder that needed eradicated and an international move, it's been a while since I've seen the inside of a gym.
Today I went to something called Stroller Strides for the first time. In one very productive swoop, I got out of the house, got some exercise and met people. I was completely knackered. It's obvious how very out of shape I am. I really want to join up but it's kinda pricey. I'm going to have to promise some serious commitment to rationalize that kind of monthly expenditure. The other moms were really friendly and not at all like the snooty Greenockian mums who would barely give me the time of day. I'm hoping that this congeniality is characteristic of typical North Carolina-ian.
I hear a baby calling...
So in honour of all this newness I've decided to implement some New Years resolutions. (Yes it's already the 12th, shsssh.) Firstly, I'm going to keep this "apartment" tidy. Even if it kills me. If someone shows up unexpectedly, you will not find me desperately throwing everything into a closet while I have Mark distract them. I will be a grown-up with a grown-up house... covered in baby toys. (Baby toys don't count. Trying to put them away is akin to emptying a swimming pool with a spoon. You can try, but it's pretty darn pointless.)
Secondly, I will take a photo a day and post something interesting about it. 2011 in pictures I may not get them posted everyday but the plan to at least get them taken on the right day. I can't promise that they'll always be interesting, but it's really just practice getting me to stick with something. (and if someone is paying attention I'm more likely to follow through.)
Thirdly, I will get out of the house, meet people and make friends.
Fourthly, yes I said fourthly, it's time to shift that baby weight. Between 22 weeks of morning sickness, a newborn, a dodgy gallbladder that needed eradicated and an international move, it's been a while since I've seen the inside of a gym.
Today I went to something called Stroller Strides for the first time. In one very productive swoop, I got out of the house, got some exercise and met people. I was completely knackered. It's obvious how very out of shape I am. I really want to join up but it's kinda pricey. I'm going to have to promise some serious commitment to rationalize that kind of monthly expenditure. The other moms were really friendly and not at all like the snooty Greenockian mums who would barely give me the time of day. I'm hoping that this congeniality is characteristic of typical North Carolina-ian.
I hear a baby calling...
Thursday, January 6, 2011
She walks!
Well sorta. :) Back on the 28th of December Jessica took her first step. She was playing with her cousin Ethan and having a blast. She might have taken more than one step had I let her but she was on a tile floor next to a glass coffee table and it made me a bit skittish! lol
There weren't many opportunities for her to practice her cruising in Florida. My parents didn't have much furniture at baby height and it was hard for her to balance on their tiles what with me constantly putting her in tights. (Grandma Tina got her a pair of Skidders for Christmas to try and help but it looks like even the smallest size is still a little too big.) She'll be wearing them when we visit at their new place since it's tiled too!
Our temporary flat in NC is all carpeted though - with a coffee table and chairs all at baby level so she's been having a blast exploring. Having managed to sleep through most of Christmas, Jessie still had a few presents left to open over the next few days. The last one to be opened made it all the way up to NC still wrapped. She found it December 31st and started unwrapping all on her own.
She's adored the walker. I'm not sure but I think it might be her #1 favourite Christmas present of 2010. Here's some adorable video of her figuring it out the night she opened it.
Over the past week she's become a real pro and it has really encouraged her independent walking. Tuesday night she took a good 3 steps all on her own.
There weren't many opportunities for her to practice her cruising in Florida. My parents didn't have much furniture at baby height and it was hard for her to balance on their tiles what with me constantly putting her in tights. (Grandma Tina got her a pair of Skidders for Christmas to try and help but it looks like even the smallest size is still a little too big.) She'll be wearing them when we visit at their new place since it's tiled too!
Our temporary flat in NC is all carpeted though - with a coffee table and chairs all at baby level so she's been having a blast exploring. Having managed to sleep through most of Christmas, Jessie still had a few presents left to open over the next few days. The last one to be opened made it all the way up to NC still wrapped. She found it December 31st and started unwrapping all on her own.
She's adored the walker. I'm not sure but I think it might be her #1 favourite Christmas present of 2010. Here's some adorable video of her figuring it out the night she opened it.
Over the past week she's become a real pro and it has really encouraged her independent walking. Tuesday night she took a good 3 steps all on her own.
She'll be everywhere and into everything before we know it. Not that she isn't already.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Her First Halloween
There were no tricker-treaters, there was no candy, but there was plenty of food, family, love and fun!
Monday, October 18, 2010
8 Months and a day!
[You know what? I've only written 3 sentences but I've lot my train of thought at least 5 times already so I'm calling it a night and me and Jessie will try to do the update together tomorrow.]
~~Next Day~~
So after a good night's sleep and a mini photo shoot in the garden, we're back to finish up this post. However, Babybear decided to fall asleep on me so I'm attempting this update completely left handed!
At 8 months she has...
She's crawling like a pro and climb the stairs faster than you'd think possible. She's an absolute joy and I thank God everyday for such an amazing blessing. I also pray for the strength and wisdom to do right by her and for the alertness required to catch her before she tries to eat power cables!
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