I've had it. And it's only just beginning.... lol.
Alexandra has decided to not only ignore my do's and don't's ... she defies me while laughing!
Unreal. I just don't get it.
I tell Alex to stop stepping up on the arm of the couch and launching herself like a flying squirrel onto the couch seat ... and she laughs, doing it again and again... until i get over to her ... then she stops and sits (still laughing, of course) ... and scrambles back up on the couch arm to jump again as soon as i walk away.
Daddy sees her do the same thing and says something -- Alex covers her eyes or starts crying... and doesn't do it anymore -- as long as he's around.
WHYYYYYYYYY ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
Annoying.
She knew something wasn't right.
Alexandra stood there yesterday afternoon -- staring at this dead, smushed frog in our driveway.
Alex kept asking me, "Dat?" and pointing at the frog. She asked, like, 15 times ... like she usually does when she's trying to learn and remember something.
Knowing that Alex knows what a live frog looks like ... I explained she was staring at a frog in the driveway, but this frog was dead.
She didn't like that too much.
Alex didn't cry or fuss at all, which is good.
She did, though, keep backing up away from the dead frog as she asked again and again what it was. Backed up, right into me... and would walk in a wide circle around the dead frog any time we were out there.
Guess that's as good a first lesson on death as any!
Interesting.
Alexandra and I were at Target... and while I was trying to find her size in winter clothes, Alex extended our time at the store by running in and out of the aisles, farther and farther away, knowing I'd come chasing after her.
However, one of the times she ran out into the main aisle -- she saw a pretty tall, burly man walking toward us.
I didn't really notice him at first, he was still so far from us ... but Alex spotted him, and immediately ran over between me and the cart i was pushing ... walking with it, hiding in that space between .... until the man passed by us.
Then, it was back to running amuk in and out of the clothing racks.
I say it's interesting, because it's not the first time it's happened.
And it doesn't happen with all men... but quite a few in the past week.
That had me reviewing in my mind all the people in her life -- me, stepsister, babysitters, church friends, playdates .... almost everyone she's in close contact with is female.
The only man -- daddy.
Now ... i have no intentions of signing up men to hang out with us ... but i wonder if I'm to blame for her apparent fear of guys.
Oooor, maybe i shouldn't complain!! LOL!
I never thought I'd see the day -- jeans that actually fit Alexandra!
Sooo stinkin' cute.
I almost screamed when i saw these jeans at Target -- with an adjustable waist!!!
Had no CLUE they made jeans a) this small ... b) with a waistline that doesn't leave her pants on the ground. lol!
Now i can take the little boy jeans i bought her back! :)
Also started Christmas shopping for her!! Soooo easy this year. So far- Elmo slippers (which she practically squeezed to death in the store when she saw them) and the beginnings of a dress-up wardrobe!
I can't wait -- i really want to stop by a 2nd-hand shop to grab a bunch of fun play clothes...
Wonder if i'll find a little clothes rack too!
I'm thinking about the beginnings of a mini-kitchen for her too -- have you seen these things?!?! They can get super expensive. Gotta plan a day to hit some of the 2nd-hand shops ... and make someone come along with me! lol.....
Just last week, my husband and i realized Alexandra could climb on her own.
Our kitchen table is bar-height, as are the matching chairs.
I usually sit Alex on a chair next to me if I'm working on something at the table, then -- when i'm done, she's off the chair, so she can teeter around without being tethered to my side.
One of those times we were finished at the table, i literally turned and took a few steps when i heard Alex laughing. She had scrambled up from the floor, back on top of a chair ... and was wiggling around on it, trying to stand up.
WWWWHHHHHAAAAAATTTTT !!!!!!!!!!
I almost had a heart attack.
Ever since then, she's been trying to climb or stand on everything -- ottomans, grocery carts, people...
And her confidence is growing.
Fortunately, the though hasn't seemed to occurr to her to try to climb out of her crib... i think she's a couple inches shy of being able to do that.
When she can, though -- watch out!
Hm. -- i wonder what that will mean for hubby & my sex life... lol!
My husband and I took Alexandra to see a nutritionist yesterday.
Alex is a little thang -- but proportionate.
Still, her pediatrician suggested we take Alex to get checked out, just to make sure she's getting enough nutrients.
She is, thank goodness, and the nutritionist gave us some suggestions on ways to make good, fatty foods more fun for Alex to eat -- what a lot of work! HAHAH!
The funniest part of Alex's petiteness ... she doesn't have any hips to hold up many styles of pants. I have to buy little boys' pants for them to fit her without falling down!
I was a little nervous abou daylight savings time...
I had this great plan. I was going to start 2 weeks prior, getting Alexandra to bed about 10 minutes later every other morning.
Yeeeeah. Great plan on paper. Lol!
But thanks to football and my husband's lazy Sunday, Alex fell asleep on daddy's chest through the first half of some game -- right after her 1/2 hour nap! ... Threw her ALL off kilter.
Didn't have any issues the next morning though! Took Alex a couple days to readjust -- her naps were way long Monday and Tuesday, and she was a wee bit cranky ... a mild outcome for worrying about something that (again) turned out to be no big deal.
This took me down memory lane.
As far back as i can remember, my family often greeted eachother with a kiss ... said good-bye with a kiss --
-- but always on the cheek; never on the lips.
I remember thinking how odd it was once i got into elementary school, to see parents kissing their kids on the mouth. Hahah! Sounds funny to me now, all these years later! :)
As a child, I remember asking my parents why we didn't kiss on the lips. They told me it was nasty -- terms i could understand as a tot.
Fast forward to last night .....
Hubby was putting Alexandra to bed, but she didn't want to see me go so i asked her for a big hug good-night.
She gave me a great hug ... then puckered up her lips, and hummed that expectant hum when you want a kiss from the person standing in front of you.
Yep -- I gave her a little kiss on the lips, fighting all those silly childhood memories that oddly flooded my brain... but of course i wonder -- does it matter?
Holey moley, i'm ready to pull my hair out.
We're just starting the November ratings (sweeps) at work, and i'm swamped!
That's not the problem.
The issue, is having to take work home with me. Ugh.
For some reason, Alexandra doesn't want me to work on computer statistics and writing TV news sotry scripts at home.
I know i'm not the first woman to balance work and family... i just would love to know how others have done it!
(preferrably before i pull my hair out.... lol.)
WHAT ... is the DEAL?!?!?
My husband and I were just celebrating the fact that Alexandra didn't want to be rocked to sleep at night anymore -- basically because she's getting too big and can't get comfortable in my arms -- but now, she's started another bad habit.
And I think it's my fault.
When I lay Alex down in her crib at bedtime -- she thinks it's a game.
She stands up-- then throws herself back down on her mattress... she pretends to sleep-- then snaps her head up, looks at me and laughs......
Even when i leave the room, and she screams and cries hysterically ... i come back-- thinking that was a big enough threat for her to knock if off -- and the games start again.
When my husband comes in to "take over" ... Alex is O-U-T in 2 minutes.
He says i have to do better at "taking control" of bedtime ... lol.....
Hubby also doesn't like how I threaten Alex with the ol' "I'm going to tell daddy!" line when she does something wrong.
I don't know why i say it ... i never planned to ... it just kinda, rolled off my tongue the first time, when i couldn't get Alex to stop trying to flip off her changing table while i was changing her diaper.
My husband's right -- and I'm not one to admit that often.. hahah!
"DAT!!!"
Alexandra says that soooo much.
When she wants to know what DAT is... where DAT goes... if she can have DAT...
(though she DID say "peeese" (please) for the first time yesterday!)
Well, one of her DAT questions caught me off guard.
I was changing her diaper as she was pointing around her room saying DAT ... when suddenly she pointed to her va-jay-jay and said "DAT?"
"Ummmmmm......." -- i was floundering around for a word!
I didn't know WHAT to say, so i blurted out, "I don't know!" ... HAHHAAH!
Alex is at the stage now where she's repeating words she hears ... i can't imagine taking her to the grocery store and having her blurt out the word "VAGINA!" ... lol... oh my goodness, could you imagine?!
So -- what the heck word do i give her for it?
When i was a child, my mother used the word "boo-boo" .... don't ask ..... but i can't use that for Alex because we've already used it to describe her cuts and bruises!
I'm at a loss.... but i've got to come up with a word quickly! HELP.
I wasn't even going to get Alexandra a halloween costume, but i gave in to peer pressure... lol
I thought for sure the trip to Walmart yesterday afternoon would be a nightmare in the halloween section, but Alex made it soooo easy!
We turned into the aisle, and she pointed up to the rack and screamed, "ELMO!"
Whew!
We did it.
Survival swim lessons are OVER.
Every day, for the past 6 weeks -- Alexandra has screamed her way through her 10-minute lessons, but that girl can sure FLOAT!!
I feel SO much better, and the instructor Suzi Tayor was amazing... so patient, soft-spoken ... and no doubt suffering from hearing loss after dealing with my daughter, lol... oy, man.
Yesterday, Alexandra had her final test - flipping from her tummy to her back, while wearing winter clothes: shirt, pants, socks, shoes and a coat!
She did great the lesson prior, in her summer clothes - open-toed shoes with shorts and a lightweight t-shirt ... but i thought for sure she'd start to sink once her coat filled with water.
Nope.
You could see Alex adjusting to her new body weight, and it was actually a relief to hear her screaming while on her back -- she could breathe!
The think i'll remember most about the 6-week lessons -- Ms. Suzi said because of all the screaming, Alex would likely burp alot the rest of the afternoon.
Alex never burped. It would always come out the other end.... alll ....day.... looooong. HAHAHA!
When she gets older, Alex will either hate me or love me for those lessons.
Maybe i won't tell her about the farting. lol!
Ms. Suzi with another student
I have a girlfriend who's always telling me about trips to Disney World in Orlando -- how much her young daughter looooves to go, and how many different things there are to do down there.
My own morning news co-anchor has been hitting the mouse house with his kids since before they were 1-year-old (the oldest is finishing up high school!)
Alexandra is glued to the TV every time Mickey Mouse Clubhouse comes on ... and she can spot the characters, the second we hit the door of any children's store....
But i'm wondering -- at a little more than 1.5 years old, is she still too young for me to take to Disney?
Do i bother getting an annual pass? I wonder if it's really worth it at this age. I guess i should actually drive down there with her before making a decision -- dur! :)
Maybe i'm actually dreading her loving the place!
It was a rare move for the middle of the work week, but hubby and I were able to get away for a few hours Tuesday evening for a lovely date!
It took me a little too long to get out of the house though -- i was trying sooo hard to sneak out without Alexandra seeing me, then crying and giving the babysitter grief.
I did it!!! Was so proud of myself too. Told hubby who was waiting outside with the car running, and he asked, "Why didn't you say goodbye to Alex?"
"What?!?" I whipped my head around, looking at him in shock. "You DID???"
"Well sure," he says. "I said goodbye, and let her know i was coming back."
..... silence ......
Great, i though. Now Alex will wonder all .... night ... long ... where i am, and whether I'm coming back. SIGHHHHH!
Of course that didn't happen, and she was happy as a bug all night ... but still..... I'm sure she would have gotten upset if i told her i was leaving.
Don't you think? Which is the best way to "leave" baby at home?
I know -- i'm a big chicken.
It ... is ... awesome... and so funny!
Alexandra -- trying her best to talk and mimic words we say.
Her latest, we figured out -- just yesterday -- is "BUT-bol".
FOOTBALL!!! hahahah!
She screams it, then whips her head toward the TV, then says "dada!" .... Nice going daddy. lol!
Alex enjoys my husband's excitement over football so much, we're having some friends over this weekend, just to watch football -- and Alex. Hahahah!
... was sooo much fun.
I don't think we could have planned the trip better!
It helped that i actually took charge of Alexandra's eating and nap times, instead of giving in to visiting "just one more person" ... yay!
And Alex was a trooper! Oh my GOODNESS, was she a good girl -- from the plane ride to NJ (and back!) ... to having a million people in her face, trying to kiss and cuddle with her ... to sharing a bed with mommy -- i got a wake up kiss every morning!
She only cried a couple of times -- when a couple of my big burly guy relatives tried to pick her up, lol! And actually ate a lot of what my mom cooked!
DID have to bust out the portable DVD player though, on the looong ride to and from the airport -- i got lost, ugh. Fortunately Mickey Mouse and his clubhouse friends gave me extra time to find my way. :)
We are DONE traveling for this year! Kinda sad though. I know my father's not wanting to travel at all .. so that means he and my mom will likely stay home for the holidays. :(
