Daddy afraid of poop!

So Doug always cracks me up when he is changing her diaper when its stinky. He calls me in there like there is some kind major emergency and we need all hands on deck.
Well today it happened again. It was actually quite funny this time. I was getting dressed and he called me with a slight panic in his voice. I went in there and there is Kiera, her bum cheeks high in the air, with daddy holding her legs and she was essentially doing a handstand facing me He was on his 4th wipe at that point. I had to laugh. She looked very happy to see me. I finished the job, properly. Her little bummy has gotten all sore again, and she was screeching at her bum being touched with soap. the poor baby.
She came in the office today and tried to pick up the phone and yak away again. she is obsessed with the phone. now if only she'd TALK to grandma on cue. as if that is gonna happen.
I am all ready obsessing over strollers for when another baby comes. I know that I am COMPLETELY ridiculous, don't worry. but check this out: Phil and Teds.com Its SOOOOOOO cool. I mean how many other strollers can you convert from being a single stroller, to a double stroller, to back again? like NONE. so cool. so you all need to say that I need one so Doug here stops screeching at me about stroller envy. puh lease.

Dirty Girl! 

Now don't get TOO excited...

my friend posted these for me, because apparently I am incompenent.
But they are pretty cute eh?
Doug was "gone" most of the weekend, as he left early in the morning and saw her briefly at night. So we went to church by ourselves. I decided to try another new church that was in the newspaper and showed up on time. There was no one under 50 I swear. I should say like 60 now, because my dad is now over the hill. :) And to top it off, there was no childcare. So I was sitting in the back, entertaining her, half paying attenion to the sermon. It turned out to be a Presbytyrian church, so all they sang were hymns and it had a bit of liturgy. During the sermon, she crawled right under the pew in front of us, to the next row. That was funny. She was basically done an hour later and I had to leave like a minute early before she started screeching. I got to the parking lot and it took me not to long to figure out I was actually stuck in my spot. I had to ask a woman to move her car and she was less than impressed with me. Whatever.
The highlight of the day was going out for lunch with some friends. Kiera got her nap in late, so she was good to go for quite a while. She just stuffed her face with bread and Cheerios again. My friend was super nice and brought her a chocolate bunny and some stuffed animals. Kiera did great! I think my friend was having grandma angst, because hers are a ways away.
Its a beautiful day here today, we went to the park and daddy got to push her in the swing for the first time. She loves the swing and the slide. So does Bentley. He runs up the stairs of the slide and slides right now. We also met another boy who is exactly Kieras age. Well he is 7 hours younger, with bright red hair.

Easter Girl 

Pretty in Purple 

Bunny Baby! 

Dada

Doug is on the east coast right now and had to get up at 430am EST to go to work. ewwwwwww. but he went to bed at 7pm EST last night. so I guess that makes up for it. he really has this talent that he can sleep any time and anywhere. His dad tells me its because they dragged him around when he was young and he learned to sleep wherever he was at the time. Its a good skill to have when your schedule is different every week almost.
So this morning we called him when we got up. I put the phone to Kieras ear and Doug said hello or whatever. She started grinning widely and I was pretty sure she could tell it was her dada. I said "that's dada" and she goes "dada". then I KNEW that she knew. Doug of course, was tickled pink. I feel like its the first time that she has put it together for sure that is her daddy on the other end. very exciting.
I didn't sleep well last night, because Doug was not here and I wasn't sure if my new found friend was going to come and visit. Well she didn't, but that didn't stop me from waking up like 6 times. *sigh*.
I feel like Kiera has really gotten in her sleep groove and rarely protest anymore when its time for naps. It makes it so much easier for me too, because then I can plan my day around her naps. Yes, getting up at 7am REALLY sucks, but now I just go to bed early. It much nicer having a baby who sleeps well all the times she needs to with no crying/screeching. CIO is VERY bad according to some people, but I did it while she was young and her brain didn't register it anyway. you can call me mean if you'd like, but it WORKS!

I am changing my mind

about blogging about our marriage. After giving it some thought, I realised that is not very authentic of me. And I am sorry Ryan if that offends you. I think a lot more marriages would survive if we were allowed to be honest with each other and our struggles within our marriages. Sometimes being married sucks. Its hard work, having to think about how I am going to communicate with Doug. Other times I don't think and just SAY it, then I regret it.
Most of you that read my blog are people that I took my vows in front of, and you promised to support our marriage in whatever way you could. Sorry if the reality of my existance makes you uncomfortable, but being married is not an individualistic thing. Its about a community and a society at large that we need to stay married for. We are far from being NOT married, so relax everyone, but considering I live very far from everyone who knows me well, this is it. This is my community with you guys. Sometimes I need you to just listen and other times I need a good kick in the pants because my attitude sucks. I am willing to hear that because I want my marriage to work and to last.
But Kiera will still be central, I promise.
Funny story from this morning. Doug had her in bed because I was blogging away on my earlier post. I walked in the room and she started to crawl toward the edge of the bed. I wasn't sure if she'd stop and sure enough she didnt and I scooped in and got her. What was funny though, was she said "uh oh". I was like "yeah, uh oh is right, you would have fallen right off the bed you goof."

Our future Athlete

She really enjoys crawling OVER things and under things if she can. She will crawl over the highchair, both legs of it, just for the fun of it. And then she will crawl to the table, which has an adjoining thing a long the floor, and she will go back and forth over that too. She really likes crawling under chairs. She will never walk at this rate.

Doug got home last night, and she was quite happy to see him for 1 minute, then off the bed happily. I have not heard from her prior to 645am in quite a while. its so nice GETTING SLEEP again!
I think I have a ghost in my house too. just for the record. she has a smell and bangs around upstairs when there is no one to bang around. Apparently its quite common in my little town here and I guess it may happen when you live in a 115 year old house. I am not sure how I feel about this, because I know that I am not imagining things, but then I am not suppose to believe in ghosts either. soo....
She has also started yelling at me while she eats. I have no idea why. I run around trying to guess what she wants, whenI have exhausted everything, she still yells. I wish I had done the sign language thing so she could tell me. but no, I am too lazy and I didn't do. I am a bad mum.
Mamere, if I spelled that right, needs to comment on these posts darn it! You get your fix, now say you like it!
love me

Gold digging

Oh yeah. my daughter has figured out how to jam her finger up her nose. So far its come out "clean" but I am just waiting for the day when she figures out its a smorgasborg of food dying to be ate. EWWWWWWWW. I must always make a face when she does it because she grins widely if I look at her while she is doing it.
I am not really sure at what age there is any point of telling her not to do things and her getting it. would she get it if I discouraged her from doing it, or would she keep doing it bc it produces a reaction? ignore till it stops or say something so she does stop. geesh. I don't know. I feel very under qualified.
one of her favourite parts of getting her bum changed is the end of it. I grab her hands and count 1-2-3! and then "fly" her off the change table by her arms. Its so cute because she has started to anticipate her "flying" and giggles hysterically when its about to happen. She loves it and its SO CUTE!
She also has this habit of throwing her soothers/binky/paci out of her crib right before she goes to sleep. Some mornings she starts screeching bc she wants to sleep, but can't without the darn paci. I think its the whole cause effect thing again, but she hasn't figured out there is no one there to PICK IT UP when she throws it out. I have figured out that I can go in there, give it to her from off the floor, lay her down, she screams in protest and then finally goes to sleep. silly baby.
We also got a family membership to the YWCA, so she can go swimming whenever she wants and Doug can now come with us. What is nice about it is that childcare is provided, so I can go and work out and Doug doesn't necessarily have to be here. Its good, but I hope we can swing it in the budget. I really like having something to DO though! I am looking forward to getting off my sorry arse and feeling better about myself bc of it. And she really loves swimming too.

Today I am going to a funeral, with her unfortunately because Doug is away. An older lady from the chapter I am involved with her died suddenly of a stroke. But I am not sad for her one bit, because she went home. I am sad for me that I didn't get to know her better. She has the loveliest spirit about her, and I will miss that.
Doug went to Vegas to hang out with his buddy Steamer for a couple of days, which I am fine with. I just figure when she is weaned, I got it coming :) We do miss him though, and I know he misses us too, so we'll be fine for a couple more days. I feel like I have seen him a lot as of late, so why not?

Bentleys Brains

So our doggie can be a pretty smart one when he wants. I will often take Kieras highchair with me into the family room, where there is hardwood, so she can throw her food around all she wants. She throws stuff down and watches it fall and then stares at it on the floor. very exciting stuff. The highchair has wheels and Bentley has figured out how to MOVE her highchair to a certain point, where he can get up on the couch and EAT whatever food she happens to be eating at that moment. He pushes the highchair over and then runs to the couch to partake. And of course, she offers him as well. bad dog, but very funny.


Yesterday we got a painless bark collar for him, bc when the mailman comes, or the UPS man, or the FEDEX man, we all want to kill him. He has also woken her up once or twice. hopefully this will fix the problem and help us keep our dog. As if he is going anywhere.

She can also consume entire necturines and bananas at one sitting. I can't believe how much food this kid eats and still be so darn SKINNEY. She is up to 17 lbs, as of yesterday. And she can latch on with her legs to me like a little leech now.

Swimming and colds

So perhaps I am a bad mummy for dragging my daughter to the pool while she is sick, but I really am feeling a bit house bound.
Today I went to the pool, YMCA, with Kiera and my friend and her baby today. Zephyr is 3 months younger than Kiera. The last time I brought her to the pool, she was cold and was very happy to get the heck out of there when I took her out. Well this time she LOVED it. the water was considerably warmer, though there was not as much "fun" stuff to play on. but she is just a little water bug. She was actually sticking her face in and blowing bubbles, I put her on my belly and swam backwards in the pool, she loved that. She kicked her legs a lot and loved bobbing up and down. And then my friend held her while I ran to the other pool and did a quick 20 laps. so I feel good and she felt good. we both felt great, except missing the morning nap bit. Then we were off the the library, where she slept in the stroller and I checked out a few books (ones that I read when I was very young, and wanted to read again to see if I still liked her) and went out for a delicious lunch. Noodles and company is a great restaurant just in case you are all wondering.
now we are back at home, where its nice and cozy while it snows outside. I think I will put her down for a nap again, and make a nice dinner for Doug and I.

Calm down everyone...

regarding my last post. Its a blog and I type about the things that I am thinking about. and since this did, in some way, regard Kiera, I felt that it was all right to put on here. so sorry Ryan, that you were offended. :p
Doug DID admit he was being a terd when he said that comment about babysitting. And he's made it up to me by taking care of her a lot in the past few days, and letting me even sleep in for a WHOLE HOUR later than usual. see...there is progress. I will try to keep another blog about Doug and I, where I can complain all I'd like. anonymously of course.

Right now, this very minute, he is downstairs hanging out with her while I type this little write up. Today we got a new Kelty back pack. I saw it in the newspaper this morning and called on it, because I am going to try to buy things to resell them. When I got there she asked for 15 bucks more than quoted on the phone. but I did check ebay before I went, and it was still a good price. So this afternoon we took it for a stroll around town. This is a backpack that holds her in it. our stroll around town brought attention to the fact that I am WAY out of shape and need to get my butt in gear. If you ever come and visit us, we'll take you on it. its pretty cool, you get really high over the town and you can see everything. it always makes me really like my town. now I just need to get used to hauling an extra 20lb on my back when I do it.

She is still sick. caught whatever Doug had last week, not very pleasant. But she is sleeping well still, though she has started to get up at 630AM!!!!.. I just let her hang out for a half an hour. She is not mad, she just makes some noise and talks to herself. 7AM is my absolute EARLIEST.
Today she also managed to put a spoon in her mouth,the right way, all by herself. she was very pleased with that.
Funny story. It was early in the morning and I wasn't quite ready to get out of bed, so I brought her to our room and set her on the floor to let her explore while watching her. She was happy for a while, and looked at us and started to do her "upset" cry, like complaining, not genuinely crying. Anyway, she arched her back, classic baby move, and fell right back onto the floor. When she usually arches, mommy is there to catch her. We laughed of course, and she was very indignant about us laughing at her.
Today, our friend came over and we were chatting away as she crawled around in front of us. She pulled herself up on the TV stand and starting playing with the vcr/dvd combo. It was all fun until she started screeching, and it got louder and louder and she was trying to sit down until all of us dumb adults realised she had jammed her fingers in the vcr part. it was almost comical because at first it just sounded like one of her typical loud vocalizations, which are quite normal. But her fingers were fine and of course, she just wanted her mummy.
Its really nice when Doug is around, because whenever he first comes home, she acts like she doesn't know him and makes it difficult for me to go anywhere without her being upset. But its always better when he is about to go back to work...kind of ironic I guess to have it start all over a few days later.
I will encourage Doug to write about her and thier time together. They do enjoy each others company quite a bit.

Am I babysitting?

I was just wondering as last night Doug was suppose to watch her for a couple of hours by himself and said he was babysitting.

She is sick today. I wasn't sure yesterday if she was going to get sick, but she woke up with a runny nose and cruddy lungs. It sounds like the croupe. am I suppose to seek a doctors attention for that? and what medicine am I suppose to give her? she is still pretty happy, her mostly happy self, sleeping all right and everything. any advice would be great.

and yet another question for you lovely people which you can all answer again anonymously, should I be expected to make dinner for Doug when I am not here? Last night when he was suppose to be "babysitting" her for the 3 hours I was going to be gone, he asked me to make sure some kind of dinner was ready for him when he got home. He felt it was a reasonable expectation after a long work day. I will leave the nasty details out, but that was the just of the argument.

We do have the sleep thing figured out mostly now, you'll all be happy to know. we just take turns on his days off about who gets up with her. I think that is reasonable enough. we'll just have to figure this one out too.

Complaints from the grandma department

That I don't write enough. so here I am writing about her latest and greatest.

Currently she is in her bed screeching in protest that I should dare to put her to bed. She is very tired, as we went to church this morning and she didn't get her morning nap. She was very unhappy that I left her and they actually had to PAGE me because she was inconsolable. *sigh* so I brought her to class with me and entertained her on the floor with food. The alwaysmakesherhappy item.

She is also doing this super cute "bear" crawl where she gets on her toes and her hands and goes along. I think Bentley thinks she is trying really hard to play and he runs around her while she does this.

The other day while she was hanging out in the office with me, she picked up the phone and pretended to talk on it. now she didn't have it by her ear, but she was trying really hard. That was pretty funny.

It snowed here and is a cold miserable day and I can't watch the Briar. sad state of affairs.

Climbing Stairs and Night Terrors?

Well she did it. The morning I was away of course, having lunch with an friend. We keep her upstairs with us, with some toys, while daddy plays away on the computer. His favourite past time. There are two stairs leading to the bedrooms and so far they have acted as a gate of sorts. She has been trying for about 2 months to get up them with no avail. Well she figured it out and once babies figure stuff out, there ain't no going back. Its kind of fun, but now I have to add a bunch of gates around my house to keep her either on top of the stairs or at the bottom of the stairs. Keeping her out of the kitchen was also becoming a challenge. While I was making dinner she had walked in and helped herself to Bentley's food. ewwww. she spit it out after she tasted it too.
So yesterday I went out and purchased a new gate. just one because that is all we can afford right now. and I didn't find a good one for the top of the stairs.

Her diaper rash has been really bad for about a week now, and I am not sure what else to do about it. I have her a bath and let her run around naked again for a while. She stood up by the chair and started dancing like crazy to the radio. We actually got some video of her dancing to our friend Abbeys music, which happened to be salsa too. It was so cute. everytime she dances, I know she belongs to me, even though nobody says we look alike.

I am not sure if she is experiencing night terrors or not. That would explain why she is inconsolable. The other night the woke up for 5 minutes, screamed and then we heard nothing. wierd. I will have to look into that.

now you all need to comment on this board if you read it. why? I don't want to feel that my work is for nothing. so comment away. even if you just say OH SHE IS SO CUTE.

Sleeping like CRAZY!

This weekend we went to Spokane to attend the wedding of Doug's grandpa on his moms side. That is a story full of drama in itself.

While we were there, she slept GREAT! I was AMAZED. Its like she is learning to sleep wherever she is put now, and HARD! We visited one of Doug's oldest friends, Jess and Candice, who have two small children as well. It was SO nice to visit another couple with small children whose house is childproof and toys abound. Now she didn't play WITH her 14 month old, but they played kind of along side each other. We put her to bed in thier portable crib, and at about midnight we decided we were just going to stay there instead. it was an almost comical set up. She has never slept very deeply thus far, but Candice needed to get the sheets out of her room where Kiera was sleeping. we actually managed to open the door, retrieve the sheets and shut the door. Then we set it up like a tacticle operation, I would grab her, Jess would grab the crib, and Doug would grab the bed for inside the crib. The stage was set, the lights were dim and we moved. I picked her up and ran down the stairs to the guest bedroom. Jess and Doug got the crib. It was set up within 1 minute (nice work guys) I laid her down with nary a peep and we both ran out. and she continued to sleep! how glorious! a first! And then on the plane ride, she actually fell asleep in my arms, also a first since she was a tiny baby.

Right now she is running around buck naked because her little bummy looks very sore. she is quite enjoying herself I'd say.

sometimes I can't believe her personality. she will smile and wave at ANYONE who smiles and waves to her. I wonder if that is because when she smiles, the world smiles back at her and tell her she is as pretty as a picture. on the plane she started playing a plane version of peek a boo with the guy behind us. She was sitting on my lap and standing up and ducking down enough so she couldn't see him and then jumping up and giggling hysterically. where does she get this stuff??? Then I go into my psych mode and wonder if that means she is not attached enough to me that she will endear herself to strangers. or maybe its the opposite and she is secure enough that she can explore the world. I hope its the second reason.

Her walking has become a lot more steady and she is much less likely to fall as of late. She is pulling herself everywhere and face plants have become a lot less regular. I expect real walking anyday now. they grow up so fast. *sigh* cheesy mum moment.

We also met Uncle Camis girlfriend, Deidre (hopefully got the spelling right), and I called her Auntie and that got an uncomfortable laugh. I love doing that! I get such a kick out of it. Well he is the one that declared his intentions to marry her in a letter...I am not speaking that out of turn!