"Keep trying." This has been my summer motto.
Anna Claire's first trip to church, the library, the pool, the Y, and even the first summer stroller ride have all been met with tears. When holding the crying, inconsolable child, it is tempting to think, "We are never doing this again. Fail."
But I am proud to say that I have kept pressing on. We are now attending church, library, the pool and Y with a smile. Stroller rides daily from 9-9:30 am - that is until 95 degree and higher temps return.
Stranger anxiety continues to vex us. I am starting to understand it better, and learn what to do to offset meltdowns. If someone approaches me or Larry and talks only to him or me, she is fine. It is when people get in her face, even close family, that she gets worked up. There are exceptions to this reasoning: the lucky friends and family members with small children seem to get a nod of approval from Anna Claire - no tears whatsoever. OR...in a setting where food is involved. Food and small children seem to be the ticket with her.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Fun, fun, fun.
It's a great feeling to put your child to bed at night and know full well, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that she had a great day.
Our day started with Anna Claire's favorite blueberry breakfast, followed by church, also known as "playing with babies". I was assured she did enjoy herself, and Larry and I enjoyed the sermon, like grown folk. Grace is awesome!
We came home and napped straight away. While Anna Claire napped, I got a little housework done, flowers watered, etc.
After her nap, I took her out to play under her favorite shade tree. She does NOT want to stay on her blanket anymore. It is too small. She wants to crawl in the grass. That would be fine, but some of the grass is sharp and scrapes her legs. I will try a large sheet tomorrow.
We had plans to go to the Olive Garden with Grandma, so Larry and I thought it would be wise to do her late afternoon and evening routine a few hours early (swim in baby pool, ice cream on front porch, book time, snack, bath, and spa treatment). We did this to maintain structure for Anna Claire, and so that we could just bed her down whenever we got home. This worked GREAT.
Olive Garden was a hit for the baby, me, Larry, and Grandma. Not so much for our waitress. Food EVERYWHERE. She seriously needed a shovel when we left there. I have an idea though to help future waitresses hate us less: put down a plastic tablecloth under the high chair to serve as a catch-all. Yes, this is an investment I will make and keep in the diaper bag!
>
Our day started with Anna Claire's favorite blueberry breakfast, followed by church, also known as "playing with babies". I was assured she did enjoy herself, and Larry and I enjoyed the sermon, like grown folk. Grace is awesome!
We came home and napped straight away. While Anna Claire napped, I got a little housework done, flowers watered, etc.
After her nap, I took her out to play under her favorite shade tree. She does NOT want to stay on her blanket anymore. It is too small. She wants to crawl in the grass. That would be fine, but some of the grass is sharp and scrapes her legs. I will try a large sheet tomorrow.
We had plans to go to the Olive Garden with Grandma, so Larry and I thought it would be wise to do her late afternoon and evening routine a few hours early (swim in baby pool, ice cream on front porch, book time, snack, bath, and spa treatment). We did this to maintain structure for Anna Claire, and so that we could just bed her down whenever we got home. This worked GREAT.
Olive Garden was a hit for the baby, me, Larry, and Grandma. Not so much for our waitress. Food EVERYWHERE. She seriously needed a shovel when we left there. I have an idea though to help future waitresses hate us less: put down a plastic tablecloth under the high chair to serve as a catch-all. Yes, this is an investment I will make and keep in the diaper bag!
>
Friday, June 25, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
One summer day...
Today was a fun day. Anna Claire had her half waffle and blueberries for breakfast. I do believe blueberries may be her favorite food in the world.
A bit later, we sat under her favorite shade tree. Anna Claire enjoyed watching the workers mow and weedeat the lawn across the street while she ate her snack of white grape halves, goldfish crackers and pear juice. What a nice morning. A little breeze and not so hot.
We went inside for a bit and played with the Mr. Sketch scented markers. I drew pictures and let her smell each marker. She really seemed to enjoy that. Cinnamon was the favorite to sniff.
Then we took a nature walk outside. We saw three bees, two butterflies, lots of squirrels, and I talked to Anna Claire about each the trees and what kind they were. It was important to "get" a leaf from each tree.
She took two one-hour long naps today, and seemed to enjoy her lunch, especially the buttered French bread and plum. She's gonna be a breadlover just like her folks.
We took off for Toys R Us and Walmart after her second nap. Bought her her first chair and a new swimsuit to replace her popsicle-stained one. We picked up her birthday cake and requisite waffles and generic Motrin.
We normally do baby pool and ice cream from 4:30-5, but the sky was weird and it was raining off and on, so no swimming today.
Anna Claire loved her dinner. Showstoppers were: strawberries, mushrooms, cheese, and corn.
I finally bought and installed batteries in her bathtub bubble machine. It was a hit, although I am not surprised.
Oh, almost forgot. Toys R Us gave her a helium balloon since tomorrow is her birthday. She is totally weirded out by it. She wants to "get" it and is bothered by the fact that it is up in the air. When we hand it to her, she gets frustrated when she lets go and it floats away.
We got a phone call from the peds office letting us know her dr. appt. will be Monday, NOT tomorrow. Thank the Lord she does not have to go to the dr. on her birthday!
A bit later, we sat under her favorite shade tree. Anna Claire enjoyed watching the workers mow and weedeat the lawn across the street while she ate her snack of white grape halves, goldfish crackers and pear juice. What a nice morning. A little breeze and not so hot.
We went inside for a bit and played with the Mr. Sketch scented markers. I drew pictures and let her smell each marker. She really seemed to enjoy that. Cinnamon was the favorite to sniff.
Then we took a nature walk outside. We saw three bees, two butterflies, lots of squirrels, and I talked to Anna Claire about each the trees and what kind they were. It was important to "get" a leaf from each tree.
She took two one-hour long naps today, and seemed to enjoy her lunch, especially the buttered French bread and plum. She's gonna be a breadlover just like her folks.
We took off for Toys R Us and Walmart after her second nap. Bought her her first chair and a new swimsuit to replace her popsicle-stained one. We picked up her birthday cake and requisite waffles and generic Motrin.
We normally do baby pool and ice cream from 4:30-5, but the sky was weird and it was raining off and on, so no swimming today.
Anna Claire loved her dinner. Showstoppers were: strawberries, mushrooms, cheese, and corn.
I finally bought and installed batteries in her bathtub bubble machine. It was a hit, although I am not surprised.
Oh, almost forgot. Toys R Us gave her a helium balloon since tomorrow is her birthday. She is totally weirded out by it. She wants to "get" it and is bothered by the fact that it is up in the air. When we hand it to her, she gets frustrated when she lets go and it floats away.
We got a phone call from the peds office letting us know her dr. appt. will be Monday, NOT tomorrow. Thank the Lord she does not have to go to the dr. on her birthday!
Monday, June 21, 2010
Summer Bucket List
Here's how we're doing so far. The ones in bold have been done. ;)
Zoo
YMCA (play with babies)
Red Barn (play with babies)
Public Library – 10 and 10:30, 2 and 2:30
Cindy’s (play date with Baby Ellie)
Whole Foods
Public pool (outdoor)
Swim Lessons (start in July @ the Y)
Sample ice cream @ 31 flavors
Play date with Lori and Adam
Lunch with Kelly and kids
Nursery @ Grace Community (play with babies)
Water park
Pick berries
Nashville Shores
Old Chicago
Zoo
YMCA (play with babies)
Red Barn (play with babies)
Public Library – 10 and 10:30, 2 and 2:30
Cindy’s (play date with Baby Ellie)
Whole Foods
Public pool (outdoor)
Swim Lessons (start in July @ the Y)
Sample ice cream @ 31 flavors
Play date with Lori and Adam
Lunch with Kelly and kids
Nursery @ Grace Community (play with babies)
Water park
Pick berries
Nashville Shores
Old Chicago
Saturday, June 19, 2010
My very own roll of TP
This is what happens when you leave the room for 10 seconds to get an aspirator.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
Birthday, Party of Three
I had such grandiose plans for Anna Claire's first birthday: invite all of our close family and friends, make an amazing cake, find the perfect location (the zoo, a park, McDonald's?), and we would have plenty of bubbles on hand for everyone to blow at her.
Then I asked myself what the baby would want, and reality hit me. We stay home. Just me, Larry, the baby. We have lots of balloons, wrapping paper, boxes, and of course bubbles and cake. Maybe we take her to McDonald's for a milkshake. Yes, this sounds more like my child and what she would enjoy. And I feel so much more relaxed about the whole thing. That's the beauty of it.
Then I asked myself what the baby would want, and reality hit me. We stay home. Just me, Larry, the baby. We have lots of balloons, wrapping paper, boxes, and of course bubbles and cake. Maybe we take her to McDonald's for a milkshake. Yes, this sounds more like my child and what she would enjoy. And I feel so much more relaxed about the whole thing. That's the beauty of it.
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