spinning-jennie: archives « September 2004 | Main | November 2004 »

October 31, 2004

Happy Halloween
We went to a little party yesterday. D. took a few pics beforehand. We would've taken more, but Daniel spent most of the afternoon playing his costume (his tail is beneath his butt in the photo).
10/31/04 04:29 PM |  Comments


October 30, 2004

Do Your Teeth Ache Yet?
Sleepy fuzzy puppy.
10/30/04 12:04 PM |  Comments


October 29, 2004

Mellow Morn
I still don't believe it. Little Mister Move Me NOW Or I Will Gnash and Wail played with his Gymini for almost a half an hour today. He really was much happier than this, but it seems camera reticence strikes yet again.
10/29/04 10:51 PM |  Comments


October 28, 2004

Dystopiariffic
Remember those book flyers you got in grade school and junior high? You'd place your order with the teacher, and get your books a couple weeks later. That's how, in seventh grade, I became acquainted with Orwell and 1984. The teacher tried to talk me out of it, probably not questioning my reading ability (which was what I thought at the time, and was offended), but my readiness for some of the more "adult" themes. Regardless, I became addicted to novels imagining a grim future for society - Brave New World, A Clockwork Orange, The Handmaid's Tale.

It's been some time since I've visited books like these (though there've been movies - Gattaca, Blade Runner, 12 Monkeys). Or at least the ones meant for adults; there's excellent "juvenile" reading in the same league, if you've a mind, in Lois Lowry's The Giver. Browsing the shelves at B&N tonight, how excited was I to find - a little late, perhaps - that Margaret Atwood had taken another stab at the future with her Oryx and Crake? A few chapters in, and I'm inextricably hooked. I hope it lives up to my expectations.
10/28/04 10:19 PM |  Comments


Breather
Tonight is a Mommy Mental Health night. D. takes the Bean for a few hours while I go out and do stuff, hopefully without reaching down to take Daniel's wee hand or pet his head every five minutes. Which is pretty much what happened last time, a few weeks back. Sad, huh?

I shopped that time. Don't know what I'll do tonight. Much-lusted-after movie which has (disrespectfully, humpf!) been shifted to the bargain theatre? Coffeehouse and a read (if you hadn't noticed, my book consumption has slowed to naught)? Leisurely dinner at a favorite cafe? Bookstore? I can't decide!
10/28/04 03:49 PM |  Comments


October 27, 2004

Thanks, Great Pumpkin!
Samhain miracles:

  • I can get back into my jeans - without struggling (though a lot of my favorite tops still look stupid and dumpy)
  • Daniel is often sleeping six or seven hours at a stretch now.
  • I didn't smack/strangle/kill the last person that told me I was spoiling him because I wear him and move around a lot to keep him from crying.
  • I haven't raided the trick-or-treat candy yet.


    • I loves me some Halloween.
    10/27/04 08:59 AM |  Comments


    October 26, 2004

    How to Attract Me
    Set up true family restrooms in your mall. Including lockable "comfort stations" that look like tiny livingrooms, with rockers for nursing, a bottle warmer, and television and playtable to occupy any older children. And a large stall/room with both adult and cute little child-sized toilets!

    The weather has been unattractive for our morning walks lately, so we've been hanging out in various local malls instead. I think we just found our favorite.
    10/26/04 01:16 PM |  Comments


    October 25, 2004

    Happy Hunting
    One day, we will capture the elusive giant gummy grin for posterity. Until then, this will have to do.
    10/25/04 10:00 AM |  Comments


    October 23, 2004

    Just Thinking About the Weather
    I've got current temps for some of my favorite places on my home page. I rarely ever look at them, but did just now, and thought the comparison kind of interesting. Strange to me that our temps here are pretty much the same as those in Upper Michigan, where peak fall color has come and gone, and flurries could happen anytime now - especially on the Lake Superior shore.
    10/23/04 11:06 PM |  Comments


    Kibbles
    My hair has begun its exodus. Gobs. And then more gobs. It's a bit disturbing.

    Daniel has a giant head - 90th percentile. I thought as much.

    Almost fresh cider time, just a couple more weeks now...

    Dear Raley's/Bel Air/Nob Hill baggerperson. We like you, truly, and many people need your assistance getting groceries to their cars. "No thank you," though, means no. Said three times, it means we're getting really irritated.
    10/23/04 09:04 PM |  Comments


    October 22, 2004

    Rough Morning
    Rear-facing carseats and vaccinations. Both now top our List of Loathing.

    If they give you EMLA cream for prior, make sure you slather it on good and thick. Ours apparently didn't penetrate Daniel's thigh muscles, and the screams were... well. Four long needles, two in each leg, while D. and I each held an arm, and the assistant doing the shooting restrained his legs against the end of the table. I could barely contain my own tears long enough to get back out to the waiting room.

    But he's back to normal now, all smile and squirm. I hope he doesn't get too feverish.

    I can't believe the little chunk gained over two pounds in a month!
    10/22/04 02:26 PM |  Comments


    October 20, 2004

    Mommy's Little License Point Generator
    I know that a rear-facing infant seat is safest in most crashes. I know that. I'll use it until he's big enough not to. Don't send letters.

    But I can't help but wonder... Have they ever done a study on crashes caused by the distracted driving habits of parents when their small baby freaks out because he can't see them? To the point of choking on his own cries? Sending mommy into full-on must-get-off-the-road-NOW-get-out-of-my-way-slow-lady-or-I'll-GRIND-YOU-INTO-THE-MEDIAN panic?

    Sometimes I really hate the rear-facing carseat.
    10/20/04 02:40 PM |  Comments


    October 19, 2004

    Get Thee to a Mall (With Covered Parking)
    Don't get me wrong. Personally, I dig rainy fall days.

    Professionally, however, it's killing me.
    10/19/04 11:21 AM |  Comments


    October 18, 2004

    Parking Should Be Quite the Adventure
    Next Sunday is Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - a couple miles of Daniel's favorite activity! I've still only got one pledge (though very generous).

    I may have to think up some kind of embarassing gimmick, quick-like. Because I have no shame.
    10/18/04 12:38 PM |  Comments


    October 17, 2004

    Harvest of Neglect
    So I brought in the harvest from our poor vegetable garden yesterday - a handful of stubby little misshapen carrots! After all that work plotting it out and lugging soil around while pregnant... I cleaned them, and cut them into buttons, and we'll eat our tiny portions with pierogis and Brownie Bread that's rising in the machine right now.

    Out of respect, we won't even discuss the state of the flower bed.

    I honestly never thought for a minute that I'd have absolutely no time free to tend these things. Back in the days of my blissful naivete, all those visions of baby napping or burbling happily in the shade while I weeded and hoed... It wasn't even a possibility that I'd need to be wearing him - and moving! - almost every single moment of every day - the thought simply never crossed my mind, because no one ever mentioned it could be that way. So I had all these small projects lined up, but as it turns out, it's extremely rare that I can sit down alone to eat a meal! My mom and sister are coming out next month, and we had a few of our favorite restaurants in mind, but I don't know if that'll even be possible.
    10/17/04 03:12 PM |  Comments


    October 16, 2004

    Chewy Chomp
    Daniel is getting pretty good at grasping things. Of course, they all end up near or in his mouth.
    10/16/04 08:26 AM |  Comments


    October 15, 2004

    Ashes, Ashes
    I didn't think the air quality could get any worse here in Sacramento, but I was wrong. Yesterday the smoke floated high, and I, in a day of baby-induced ignorance, just thought it was cloudy - or unusually smoggy - all day. And maybe the sun looked a little weird.

    It wasn't cloudy at all.

    Today the air is thick and pungent. Our white sills sport a thin layer of ash. We tried to take a walk, but after a few blocks I decided we were harming our health more than benefiting it. So now we're locked inside, HEPAs churning. I know my sinuses will throb by evening.
    10/15/04 12:01 PM |  Comments


    October 13, 2004

    A Little Slow on the Uptake
    It's been nearly a year since I left my job - and I still have access to my employee email account.

    Crazier, no one has even bothered to remove my name from the group email list. Which, I admit, has provided much amusement on many a house-bound day.

    Nuttier still - a woman that left three years ago is on the list, too. Her inbox must be pretty frightful by now, I reckon.

    Wonder how fast they'd notice if I started mass-spamming myself. But then... Nah. I'd rather find out how many years they'll let it be.
    10/13/04 11:04 AM |  Comments


    October 12, 2004

    Jennie's Super-Mega-Duper* Weight Loss Plan 3000
  • Have baby who now screams when sitting still (I'm wearing circular grooves in our flooring)
  • Breastfeed almost hourly
  • Cut out all unnecessary (and some necessary!) sleep
  • Long-ass walk daily (sometimes twice), pushing stroller and Only Car Seat Made of Lead
  • Eat when baby allows
  • Realize that you can keep baby happy for over half an hour (!!!) by singing and dancing like a deranged chimp in front of Media Center playing "Upbeat 80's"**

    *but completely unintentional!
    **no. you cannot even imagine.
    10/12/04 07:26 PM |  Comments


    October 11, 2004

    "Gimme your tots!"
    We saw Napoleon Dynamite at the drive-in on Saturday. Fun fun, and lots of 80's pop standards, strangely enough (have you been to a school dance lately? even in backhills Idaho? no sugar pop there). I love how everyone mispronounced Mexican foods. Best, the Bean slept through the whole thing - and I didn't! Wooee!
    10/11/04 07:25 PM |  Comments


    October 10, 2004

    OMG!!!
    The ROFL-3000 keyboard. Via Mr. McCLean.
    10/10/04 01:39 PM |  Comments


    October 08, 2004

    Pumpkin Playgroup
    We all went to a playgroup for babies to The Pumpkin Farm today. D. had the camera. Little D. slept. And I worked on my farmer tan.
    10/08/04 10:07 PM |  Comments


    I'll Be the Crazy Lady Wearing the Respirator at Target
    Frankly, I'm scared s**tless of the flu this year, last year's severity still fresh in my mind. Daniel's too young to be vaccinated (four more months), and with the shorter-than-usual supply, there's no guarantee D. and I will both be able to get shots even though being his parents puts us on the priority list. I rarely ever bothered getting vaccinated before (maybe twice?), but of course I have a healthy, mature immune system (mostly). Two-month-olds, though...

    If push came to shove, I don't know that I'd be above playing the [practically nonexistent] asthma card.
    10/08/04 09:17 AM |  Comments


    October 06, 2004

    7.5 Weeks Later...
    ...the hospital photo is finally up, after I nagged 'em. Not nearly as attractive as the one D. took first, but there it is.
    10/06/04 05:34 PM |  Comments


    October 05, 2004

    You Can Take the Girl Out of Michigan...
    The dawn of autumn in the Sierras. I don't know how it is we never make it up there in the fall. The views over Donner Lake were breathtaking in summer; I can't even imagine what it must look like all ablaze. Sigh.
    10/05/04 09:17 PM |  Comments


    October 04, 2004

    Welcome to Zombieville, Population Me
    Lack of sleep is making me slow and clumsy. Yesterday I launched a glass into a thousand pieces off the kitchen counter. This morning, in the very same spot, a canister of oatmeal took a dive from my hand. The aftermath of both was much fun.

    But worse, it's making me sick. Chronic sinus infections and babies mix poorly, too. I'm trying harder to get an afternoon nap in every day. I've found it takes a bit of work at first, but eventually Daniel falls asleep if he knows I'm staying with him. Today we caught a very nice and necessary three hours.

    I'll forgive the books and people who told me that new babies sleep most of the time. They didn't know I'd end up with a reincarnation of my sister as a bambino.
    10/04/04 04:09 PM |  Comments


    October 02, 2004

    Cool Bean
    The temps may be dropping, but it's still sunny in Sacramento.
    10/02/04 02:32 PM |  Comments


    October 01, 2004

    Observations
    The soft spot on top of his head - if you watch it very carefully, you'll see that it... throbs. It must be his little monster Stewie brain plotting and growing.

    Absolutely no spitting up for weeks, then suddenly, it's all the time. Am I eating something offensive?

    Why am I having such a difficult time finding tee shirts? Especially long-sleeved ones? Not onesies, but tees that he can wear beneath overalls, so we don't have to mess with two sets of snaps when diapering every hour.

    Not to brag (okay - to brag), but he's terribly precocious. He's been doing almost everything early - smiling, cooing, mini push-ups, keeping his head up, holding weight on his legs. Everywhere we go, people just don't believe that he's only seven weeks old.

    He's been sleeping long enough that I can, for the first time in memorable history, eat a meal without him on me. Yes, something drippy and magma hot, and I won't singe my poor baby's ears. It's almost scary.
    10/01/04 07:23 PM |  Comments