Random Melly moments

Little baby smarty pants knows that before we go bye-bye momma has to put on her shoes. So when the baby decides that it is time to leave she brings my shoes to me...and then shows me how they should go.




I know I have told people about Melly's monkey. But here is the proof. She loves to cuddle with stuffed animals (and Aunt E's yarn). Her favorite thing to do is wander around the house until she trips on it's feet and then lay there snuggling. What a baby!


But I'll tell you what, everything is made better by a visit from Aunt E. Melly and Aunt E are new BFFs.

Reporter on the spot

Baby no pants here to show you a little bit of how I like to spend my day.


This is one of my favorite toys right now. A funnel. I learned that it goes on my head from my mommy and Grandma C. See, I can put it there all by myself.


I love to share. And as everyone knows...funnels have to go on your head. So here is daddy trying it on.


Sharing is good, but it is always fun when it is your chance to play.

Valentine's Day (Just a tad late)

On Valentine's day I woke up and put on my brand new Valentine's Day outfit from Grandma D. I felt so pretty I know I needed to show my Valentine. But I couldn't find it anywhere.


First I went to the highest bridge in the playroom at Gymboree. I looked and looked, but my Valentine was no where in sight.


I took some time to look for my Valentine in the bottom of the ball bin. But there was nothing in there but balls.


Then I checked out the tunnel of love. And low and behold there was my Valentine!


Hope you found you lost love too!

A week in review

This has been quite a week for us in NC.

On Monday Mr. C left on a business trip to CA. And Melly and I have been living the high life as women on our own. And as I have said earlier I am looking for a job...well of course I got a call for an interview on Monday. After explaining to the very nice lady that I would love to come in and could it possibly be at the end of the week so I could find a sitter she told me to bring the baby in with me. (Wow, people do that?) So I washed her and dolled her up and we went off to the big city. As I pulled into the parking space and turned off the engine (with five minutes to spare) I turned to look at my baby in time to watch her throw-up all over the backseat of my car and herself. So I pulled her out as soon as she was done, stripped her down to naked, wiped her down with baby wipes and re-clothed her in our spare clothing (with no pants) and left my car full of vomit for the interview.

We made it on time (although very smelly) and had the interview. The lady was very impressed with Melly....probably not as much so with myself. But she said she was doing call backs for the second interview next week so we shall see. After the interview I went down to my foul car...and cleaned it as best as I could in a parking lot. (Mostly stripping off the padding that I could and wiping down the rest.) And drove home. That was Tuesday.

Wednesday we went to playgroup. And the ladies were very nice and watched Melly while I went and got the car seat out of my car and Mrs. B put the rest of the padding in the wash while I sprayed down the plastic with cleaner. It is mostly clean now. But Miss M was not too happy all day and not sleeping well because every time she lays down she ends up coughing. Poor thing. That was Wednesday.

Thursday...Ms. M went to Gymboree and had a pretty good time, however she was very tired. When we got home I put her down for a nap and she woke up fifteen minutes later and threw-up all over her crib, the floor, me, and her changing pad. So I cleaned everything up, including the baby and called the doctor to get her looked at. That was Thursday.

Friday... We stayed at home all morning. And after declining a morning nap she went down hard at 11a. And woke up at almost 1. Then we went out tot eh mall to get a Valentine's Day present for Mr. C. And after that we went to the Doctor. She listened to her breathing, looked in her ears, and in her mouth and Miss Melly does not have pneumonia. (One of her playmates does and so it was an honest concern.) But she does have rattling in her lungs and so she is now on antibiotics for five bays. She also does not have an ear infection (thank goodness). So we got home and she threw up on me again. (Goodie.) And quickly degenerated into whining and ultra grabby so she has been put to bed already. But we are now officially on the mend.

Tomorrow we have a Valentine's Day party at Gymboree and then we will be picking up Mr. C from the airport. Hopefully after a good night of sleep and medication Missy will be feeling much better and we will all get some good sleep. Which reminds me that I have to go and fill the humidifier for her again. So good night. I am enjoying my pizza which they were kind enough to deliver to my house.

Cheers.

sleep-a-boo

Playing peek-a-boo is very tiring.

However, waking up is the best when you can see yourself first thing.

Bringing back the fun

Step one: Taxes.

Yes, really, taxes. We went in and had our taxes prepared for us today. (We didn't want to do it because of the 2 state, moving and baby stuff.) Low and behold we are getting money back. Lots of money back. Like, enough money to pay off a huge chunk of our credit debt and still save some for later back. It's like money handed to us on a silver platter. We paid a lot to get this wonderful money, but it was well worth it. And next year you can bet your sweet patootie that we will be going back.

Step two: Unemployment.

Last you heard from me my unemployment had run out and I was panicking. I applied for an extension that very night. And this afternoon, low and behold, it came. So I will be receiving unemployment for thirteen more weeks. That is not to say that I have now actually started looking for a job for reals, I have a true time line now and will find something. Here is something I have been missing, the faith.

Step three: Bonuses.

Mr. C is about to receive one for a job well done. Hopefully this will be enough to finance our vacation in August.

Step four: Cashing in CALPers.

So, yes, not much coming from them. But my eleven months of service isn't useful in any other way than to get us through the hard times. Like right now. So we will use it.

Step five: Not sick baby.

Melly is all better. And was in top form today at the tax place. Plus she slept in until 5:45 this morning which is a far cry from the 4:30 she has been doing lately. So cheers!

See, it's not so bad. Things usually seem to work out for us. But not until I get to have my day of panic and then get to feel the sweet, sweet feeling of all the stress drain from my shoulders. So on a beautiful 70 degree and sunny day, just let me say... We feel good, oh we feel so good, yah!

Things that aren't very fun

So this week along with some positives are some negatives...we will start with sick baby. She started with a runny nose before the shots on Monday and Monday night and Tuesday she was a miserable sack of baby. We even gave her baby Tylenol. Positive side to this she is much better now and eating again. Her nose isn't running anymore, but it is all crusty (eeeewwwwww!) and her fever is gone. All better.

Second negative, my unemployment is up. No more money for me. So I am now looking for a job. In the biggest unemployment boom since the 80's. I'm living in a state with over 8% unemployment. Great. And lots of my skills are in social work, you know one of those fields were all the funding is being cut. So wish me luck.

I don't want to give my baby back to daycare, but I sure as heck want her to be able to eat. So hopefully I will get work soon.

Cheers!

15 Month check-up

Today was Melly's 15 month check up. Her stats to date...
Weight: 23.2 pounds
Length: 30.5 inches

Her weight and length are in the 50%. Her head...is 19". And that still puts her off the curve but it is not growing as fast and is much closer to the curve than it has been before.

The doctor is very impressed with her coordination, her six words and how curious/friendly Melly is. Yah! Grow baby, grow!

We have almost completely give up formula. As soon as the container we have is empty she will have baby formula no more. She is quite pleased with milk. In fact we have to scale back her milk consumption. And we are continuing getting her off bottles. Right now she has three or four a day and she is supposed to be off them by 18 months. So here is for getting her to that goal.

I loves me a healthy baby!

Groundhogs Day

Yesterday I was driving to the store and a news segment on the radio started talking about Groundhogs day. They were saying that the city of Raleigh has it's own groundhog to tell the weather and his name is Sir Walter Raleigh. Which suddenly made me realize that the city of Raleigh was named after Sir Walter Raleigh. Ha! That's right up there with pancakes and contacts (two other words that I finally caught onto in a flash of clarity). Apparently Sir Walter has the best track record of any Groundhog on the East coast...something in the 60 percentile.

Unfortunately the most famous Groundhog (Punxsutawney {yes, I looked up that spelling} Phil)already gave his prediction...despite the freezing temperatures, he saw his shadow. Looks like he says six more weeks of winter. We are waiting for noon however, when Sir Walter will give his. (However with the bright sunshine and temps climbing to the 60's today I think he will probably agree with Phil.)