November 9, 2010

First..ER Experience

Man, it’s been a tough couple of days.  Cora’s got some gnarly stomach bug.  Poor thing, this one’s definitely put her through the ringer.

  • 15 loads of laundry
  • 3 jugs of Pedialyte
  • 4 packs of jello
  • too many vomits to count
  • 4 episodes of Barney
  • 3 visits to the ER
  • 1 5hr IV fluid sesh
  • 36 hours of naps
  • And one sick Papa later….

I think she is finally on the mend.  The whole experience nearly broke our hearts in two.  It’s terrible to see such a little being suffer so much.  Being that she’s so tiny, I think her body just couldn’t recover on it’s own.  Now I see why fat babies are something to shoot for.

Brave little Cora..

But, today is a new day.  She’s sitting up on her own (finally), eating and making multiple animal noises.  All good signs in our book.

I’ve realized a lot these few days, but man, have I realized how lucky we are to have such a strong support system.  From texts, to calls, to homemade cards and food, people have really been there for us.  How lucky we are…

Makes me have SO much compassion for families who spend years in the hospitals with their little ones.

Hug your family tight today.

Posted by |Filed Under: baby | firsts | , , 6 Comments
October 5, 2010

On Vaginas

I’ve been trying to get Cora hip to different body parts.  She’s nailed ears, mouth, nose, feet, hair, tummy and a few other essential spots.  The other day, when changing her diaper, she grazed her business.  To which I responded: “vagina.”

Luke was upstairs and heard me.  “Ewww!”  He hollered from upstairs, “don’t call it that!”

“Well what, My Dear, shall I call it?”  I asked from her room.

“Call it privates or something like that.”

Okay.  Point taken.  Maybe she’s not ready for vagina.  Hell, I’m hardly mature enough to use the word.  But my mind went back to all the teaching courses I took on health, and how certain buzz words (penis, vagina) need to be desensitized for young people.

I mean what would she think if she grew up thinking her vaj was called “private?”  Consider the following (sub vaj where appropriate):

  • She’s at school on career day and Joey’s dad is discussing what it’s like to be a private investigator..
  • A door is locked shut with a sign that reads private property..
  • She meets a nice young man who happens to be a private in the military..
  • After a few long discussions, Luker and I decide to send her to private school..
  • After working with troubled kids, her mother decides to open a private practice..

Just imagine it.

As for now, I think I’ll stick with vagina with an occasional use of “business” or as my friend Kylie says, “va-jay-jay.”

All I can say is thank goodness we don’t have a boy.  I have a whole slew of nicknames for those parts…maybe this post should be titled “On Maturity.”

Posted by |Filed Under: baby | Daddy | Luker | Reader Favorites | that's what he said | , , 6 Comments
August 25, 2010

My Daughter’s So Skinny…

Cora had her one year appointment the other day and besides getting five effing shots, everything went well.  The doc said she is super skinny.  To which I responded: have you seen her Dad?  I don’t think she finds my blunt responses humorous.  Anyway, Cora is definitely in the bottom percentile.

So, I feel the need to do what any loving and responsible parent would do: shove everything in sight down her tiny little gullet as well as create a few My Daughter’s So Skinny Jokes…

1.  My Daughter’s So Skinny..she uses a Cheerio as an inner-tube.  BAM

This is not Cora. You can tell because this baby has arm rolls.

2.  My Daughter’s So Skinny..you could shove her in one of those toys where you put the block in the right hole, and it wouldn’t matter what hole she went in.  BAM

3.  My Daughter’s So Skinny..she uses a bandaid for a diaper.  BAM.

Got any others?

(Disclaimer: To any grandparents or other sensitive parties, please note that I am only kidding.  This is not intended to hurt Cora’s self esteem.  Hell, by the time she can read this, she’ll probably be proud of her skinniness.)

Posted by |Filed Under: baby | Cora the Rose | , , 6 Comments
August 16, 2010

On Cussing

It’s no secret.  I’m a cusser.  I love me some f word.  It seems to add just the right emphasis, ya know?

When I was a teacher, I had to put my inner potty mouth on the back burner until I got home.  It kind of kept me in line.  Now I don’t have teaching to bottle up my cussing.  I cuss freely and without consequence.  Or so I think.

Our wee child’s first sound was “sh” when trying to say fish.  All she needs to learn is “it” and make a few of her neurons connect and BAM.  She’ll be dropping shit bombs all over the place.  From her mouth.  How ’bout that for consequence, Mama?  Yeah…

But it’s hard (that’s what she said) you see?  I just feel so much cooler and like I really get my fucking point across when I add a such a simple word.

  • I love tacos! (Sounds lame and somewhat childish.  The exclamation makes me want to gag.)
  • I fucking love tacos. (Now it is a bold statement.  One with confidence.  No need for an exclamation.  The f word is the more seasoned, somewhat rebellious exclamation point.  Clearly, way fucking cooler.)

Well shit, what’s a Mom to do?  I suppose I may try to curtail some of the cussing.  At least until nap time.  But fuck if I’m gonna stop listening to Method Man.

Posted by |Filed Under: Cussing | , , , 4 Comments
August 4, 2010

Furs Birf-day

Cora turned one this weekend.  Crazy.  Where the hell did the year go?  I seriously can’t believe it.  Of course, she had no idea what was going on, but I was all emotional and sappy the whole week prior.

Poor Luke.  Every day leading up to The Day I kept being like: “Remember this time last year?  At this point I was packing my bag for the hospital.  And at this point I was peeing all over myself..”  And on and on.  He kept listening kindly.

And I totally realized that birthdays are SO much more of a big deal to the parents (okay, the mom really) than they are the kid.  I called both of our parents on her birthday to tell them thanks.  For everything.  And that I finally realized that we were those kids for them.

Then you start to understand that the birth of one lil baby is a big deal to so many people, not just to you.

  • To our parents and siblings who were at the hospital or sending love from afar..
  • to my close friends who thought I was crazy for having a baby..
  • to my fellow preggo friends who were simultaneously counting down the clock..
  • to all the friends who sent thoughts and texts while I was trying to get her out..
  • to our neighbors who kept peeking in our house to see if we’d gone to the hospital yet..
  • to the nurses who helped deliver another healthy baby…and on and on.

It is just amazing.

It’s like one of those moments you have on your wedding day, when you realize everyone you love is surrounding you and that it will never go down like that again in your life.  Until you die.  It’s just nuts.

Luke and I headed up to Telluride for a little getaway and we celebrated her birthday in some random bar in the middle of the mountains.  It was the only place that had cake and could find a candle.  The best part was, the entire bar (every last grungy, dirty, bearded mountain-man) sang at the top of his lungs for our Little One.

It was completely and totally amazing.  And I cried the entire way through the birthday song.  My God.  I had better get my act together.  We’re only on year one..

Did I mention it was Rum cake? It was all they had. What were we supposed to do?

Posted by |Filed Under: baby | Cora the Rose | motherhood | travel | , , , , 2 Comments
May 30, 2010

A New First While I Was Away..

Too cute.  She is all over the place these days.

Posted by |Filed Under: baby | cool videos | Cora the Rose | , , 4 Comments
May 4, 2010

A Few More Cute Things Before I Go..

Bath Time!

Army Crawl..

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March 24, 2010

Wishful Thinking…

Just one week ago..sitting in the grass, needing a sun hat, eating leaves..

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March 8, 2010

Not Really a Science Gal…

Sometimes, it is amazing to think about how babies are made.  Especially when it is yours.  We look at her like: “Wow, and all we had to do was…”  It is really quite astonishing.

I’ve taught English for the past 6 years.  I’m not really a math/science girl.  I used to cry and beg my younger brother in college to please come over to my house and do my 100 level science homework for me.  It was too hard.

So, it is no surprise that this came out of my mouth the other day:

SCENE: Sitting on the carpet watching baby roll all around.

Brie: Wow, she is really incredible.

Cora: Drooling, eating pieces of carpet as her parents have ‘intellectual’ conversation.

Luke: I know, she is my favorite person in the world.  I love being a dad.

Brie (Sincerely responds): I mean, isn’t it incredible to think that we made an entirely new species?

Luke, laughing hysterically.   Me, a look of bewilderment, still not understanding.

END SCENE

Conclusion: Well, come to find out, having a baby doesn’t in fact create a new species.  She is still a human as far as we can tell.

Way to go me.

Though she could be part Avatar…

Posted by |Filed Under: at my finest | that's what she said | , , 5 Comments
November 2, 2009

Cora Rose – 13 Weeks

176

Happy Halloween!!!

Posted by |Filed Under: baby | Cora the Rose | firsts | , 4 Comments
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