Peek A Boo, and More Milk, too!

Callie was at home with various Aunties and a Grammy for the first part of last week because Tommy (one of her babysitters) was sick, then I had a 4 day weekend. So she went back to Tommy and Betty's yesterday, aftera bit of a vacation.

I think that she was glad to be back in her regular routine (like her Mama that way!) because she was in a fabulous mood last night.

I was holding her in the kitchen, talking to her Daddy, when she started squealing at him and ducking her head into my shoulder. When he smiled back at her, the game was on.

Squeal! Smile! Duck! (lather, rinse, repeat.)


Side note: I'm not producing quite enough milk to keep up with her, so I've been blowing through my freezer stash, while doing everything I can think of to up my supply: extra pumping, Reglan, drinking so much water I think I'm going to float away... this morning, I broke down and sent a can of formula to the babysitter's with her, which she refused. BUT! I broke records with both at-work pumping sessions today, so there's hope! I'm still not quite there yet, but things are looking up. Yay!

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve, our tradition is to celebrate Christmas Eve at home...

Christmas morning at Grandma's....

About 40 minutes ago...

We wish you wonderful times spent enjoying the company of family and friends and remembering the miraculous birth of Jesus - the best Gift ever!

A Baby's Hug

Below is a random email forward that really spoke to me today. I'm learning that my favorite people are not always Callie's favorite people (or maybe it's the other way around). Maybe there's a lesson in that...

We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting and talking.

Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, 'Hi.' He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment. I looked around and saw the source of his merriment. It was a man whose pants were baggy with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whiskers were too short to be called a beard and his nose was so varicose it looked like a road map. We were too far from him to smell, but I was sure he smelled..

His hands waved and flapped on loose wrists. 'Hi there, baby; hi there, big boy. I see ya, buster,' the man said to Erik. My husband and I exchanged looks, 'What do we do?' Erik continued to laugh and answer, 'Hi.'

Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked at us and then at the man. The old geezer was creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our meal came and the man began shouting from across the room, 'Do ya patty cake? Do you know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek- a-boo.'

Nobody thought the old man was cute. He was obviously drunk. My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate in silence; all except for Erik, who was running through his repertoire for the admiring skid-row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute comments.

We finally got through the meal and headed for the door. My husband went to pay the check and told me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man sat poised between me and the door. 'Lord, just let me out of here before he speaks to me or Erik,' I prayed.

As I drew closer to the man, I turned my back trying to sidestep him and avoid any air he might be breathing. As I did, Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both arms in a baby's 'pick-me-up' position. Before I could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from my arms to the man.

Suddenly a very old smelly man and a very young baby consummated their love and kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and submission laid his tiny head upon the man's ragged shoulder.

The man's eyes closed, and I saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged hands full of grime, pain, and hard labor, cradled my baby's bottom and stroked his back. No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so short a time.I stood awestruck. The old man rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a firm commanding voice, 'You take care of this baby.'Somehow I managed, 'I will,' from a throat that contained a stone.

He pried Erik from his chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he were in pain. I received my baby, and the man said, 'God bless you, ma'am, you've given me my Christmas gift.' I said nothing more than a muttered thanks. With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car.

My husband was wondering why I was crying and holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, 'My God, my God, forgive me.'

I had just witnessed Christ's love shown through the innocence of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who was blind, holding a child who was not.

I felt it was God asking, 'Are you willing to share your son for a moment?' when He shared His for all eternity.

How did God feel when he put his baby in our arms 2000 years ago. The ragged old man, unwittingly, had reminded me, 'To enter the Kingdom of God , we must become as little children.'Sometimes, it takes a child to remind us of what is really important. We must always remember who we are, where we came from and, most importantly, how we feel about others. The clothes on your back or the car that you drive or the house that you live in does not define you at all; it is how you treat your fellow man that identifies who you are.

Three Months (yesterday) and/or 13 Weeks (yesterday)

I know it's out of focus, but she was just talking away!

fell asleep on her back this morning. She hasn't done that since probably 5 weeks old...

Isn't my girl beautiful?

I love this one. She was in such a great mood last night!

If I don't teach her anything else...

I want for my daughter to understand this, and know it. It took me a long time to believe it, and I have it posted on my office wall to remind myself. Self, take note:

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves - Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God! Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -- Nelson Mandela

30 minutes of mindless wandering, and I found this:

and, here I sit, still laughing....

oh - and a side note: I'm 5 stubborn pounds from pre-thislast-pregnancy weight! (15 from last July's...)

Anonymous Comments

I really want to be able to leave the option open for my dear readers (ie., sisters, family, and non-blogging friends) to comment without having a blogger id. However, I DO want to know who you are when you comment. If you're going to comment "anonymously", could you puh-lese not be so anonymous and leave your name and where I may "know" you from?

Thanks, and have a great day.

Very Important Updates

1) Linus is now Buster, and has a new home. Lucy misses him terribly.

2) My baby decided yesterday that she'll eat from a bottle. In fact, I left 18 ozs. of milk with them yesterday, figuring that there'd be some leftover to freeze, and she ate it all except for maybe 2 ozs. The babysitters are much less stressed out and she doesn't have to be all bottle all the time, as I had feared - she'll take it from them and I can still breastfeed when she's with me.

3) I'm surviving working mommyhood. I remembered that I'm good at my job and I like it. So much better than having to go to a job that one hates....

Let the Reader Beware, Part 2

What Jessica Means

You are fair, honest, and logical. You are a natural leader, and people respect you. You never give up, and you will succeed... even if it takes you a hundred tries. You are rational enough to see every part of a problem. You are great at giving other people advice. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are the total package - suave, sexy, smart, and strong. You have the whole world under your spell, and you can influence almost everyone you know. You don't always resist your urges to crush the weak. Just remember, they don't have as much going for them as you do. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are very open. You communicate well, and you connect with other people easily. You are a naturally creative person. Ideas just flow from your mind. A true chameleon, you are many things at different points in your life. You are very adaptable. You are usually the best at everything ... you strive for perfection. You are confident, authoritative, and aggressive. You have the classic "Type A" personality.

What's" Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Let the Reader Beware

Don't say I never warned you:

You Are Paper

Crafty and creative, you are able to adapt freely to almost any situation. People tend to underestimate you, unless they've truly seen what you are capable of. Deep down, you're always scheming and thinking up new plans. Your mind is constantly active. You are quite capable of anything you dream of. You can always figure out a way to get what you want. You can wrap a rock person up in your sheet of trickery. A scissor person can sneak up and cut you to pieces. When you fight: No one can anticipate your next move If someone makes you mad: You'll attack them mercilessly when they're unprepared

Are You Rock, Paper, or Scissors?