Surviving Allergies - Post Recovered!

So I got to have my family home for one day out of seven. David and Indigo got home on Sunday morning and I met them at the airport. She was so cute. David let her walk over to me and she hardly let me put her down all day. She was a very happy girl. We hung out on Sunday and then David had to fly to Madison, WI for work on Monday. He's back on the last flight Wednesday so I'm only alone for two nights.

Picking her up from daycare yesterday was surreal. She has been transitioning to the 1's room so I went over and she was facing away from me. I got her attention, she turned, started crying and crawled over to me. By the time she got to me, another child was pulling on my dress. I picked up Indigo and then the cute little redhead girl (who must cloth diaper because her butt is so big!) came over and wanted to be picked up too. Then the rest of the kids started shuffling over to the door like a bunch of miniature zombies. Or the green aliens from Toy Story. I expected them to all start moaning "the claw! The claw!" It was a little creepy!! Is it me or do small children look like E.T. when they walk around? Especially the part when he gets drunk and sort of wanders all over the place pointing. Indigo makes me think of that all the time!

Is it strange that I have a crush on Indigo's pediatrician? David wanted me to call him to talk about Indigo's allergies. I left a message in the afternoon and he called back around 5:30. He is so nice and caring. He's great at reassuring new parents that we are doing a great job and he really seems to care about the children. And he's super cute too! Anyway, he said she can have children's Claritin. He said everyone is suffering right now and that she can take Claritin without any problems as long as she needs to. I don't really want to medicate my child, but I want her not to be miserable and she was SO miserable yesterday and almost as bad today. So we'll see how she does on the meds for now and take it from there. 

Now I'm watching "You Can Count On Me." Laura Linney is amazing! And I love Mark Ruffalo. I highly recommend it. Last night I watched "The Lincoln Lawyer." It was good. Lots of great actors. I started watching "Downtown Abby." Excellent show. Beautiful, smart and engrossing. I'm embarrassed that I couldn't give it my full attention. I'll have to make another pass at it soon. 

I wanted to take some pictures tonight but she had a bit of a meltdown while I was getting her pj's on. Just super tired and readjusting I think. So we'll try for some new pics tomorrow. Until then, enjoy another shot from our photo shoot! I'm glad we did the photos. 

Computer Fail

I had a great post all done and I was just adding a picture and the computer crashed. I'm too tired to recreate the post and rewrite all my great thoughts. They were epic, promise! Maybe the creative juices will flow again tomorrow. Until then, here's a little Indigo to enjoy!

The Other Side of Skype

David called me on Skype tonight with Indigo. She was really confused seeing our house and me in the computer while sitting next to Grandma, who is usually in the computer. And being on the other side of Skype sucked! I almost feel bad for Skyping with anyone because it is so hard not to squish this little baby and kiss her all over! 

This week can't end fast enough. I'm heading out shopping with a friend tomorrow night and subbing at the gym for 1/2 of Saturday and then having dinner with a friend Saturday night. Church on Sunday and then my FAMILY will be home! See, not so long. 

So many friends wanted to hang out with me so I wasn't lonely. My sister, mom and grandma all called to say hi and Grandma Lissa called several times to tell me how great Indigo was doing. Which made me feel good. 

But, I can't wait to have my girl back!

Alone…at last??

After 376 days (640 if you include pregnancy), I will be alone. Utterly and totally alone. David is kidnapping taking Indigo with him to Casper to visit her grandparents. He is going to a job site at the Trail Center in Casper on Wednesday week and it seemed like a great way for Grandma and Grandpa to see all the cool things Indigo is doing now. And who wouldn’t want to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa?

I am totally OK with it. That said, I’m also convincing myself not to handcuff her chubby little thigh to my wrist and barricading myself at home on Wednesday morning so he has to go alone!

I am kidding. I think it’s great that he is taking her. Why should a dad have to be alone when he has to be somewhere without mom? And I am so excited for Grandma and Grandpa Empey to see her again and for her to know them. It is funny though. I am very happy as a work-out-of-the-home mom and wouldn’t have it any other way (well, I guess if I had the income for staying home while having all the resources and creativity of her daycare teachers), but I have only spent one night away from her since conception (again, with the kidnapping generous babysitting offer by my friend Emily). I always thought I would want time away and I never quite understood parents who had 5-year-olds they had never left for the night. I never imagined WANTING her with me all the time. But she is just SO MUCH FUN! I marvel at her every day. She is becoming this little person and I get to be there during every moment. It is just so cool!

Maybe this will be a good exercise for me and will make me want to take more photos and upload more happenings to the blog so everyone else can enjoy her as much as I do. (I will now understand why daily pictures are so important.) It will also be an exercise in patience and parenting for David who has to take 4 flights in 5 days to get to Casper and back.

Good thing I signed up to sub at the gym on Saturday so he can't chicken out and leave her home!

Birthday Party!

Here are some highlights from Indigo's birthday party. We had a wonderful time with friends and family. Thanks to all for making it so very special.

You only turn 1 once, right?!

Cupcakes 

Place of Honor

Delicious!

Yummy food

More yummy food

Not a party without balloons 

Peek a Boo with Cousin Alex

Cake Time

All for me? 

Sailor suit from Grandma and Grandpa Empey

My Awesome Husband - Valentine's Edition

If I haven't mentioned, my husband is awesome. I have complained for a year that my jewelry box is a mess and I always wear the same pieces because I can't untangle anything else. Jewelry boxes are incredibly hard to find and I wasn't sure I was ready for an armoire. It didn't seem like I had enough jewelry to warrant a piece of furniture but none of the boxes looked like more than the ones I had as a teenager. 

Before

After

David loves to buy me jewelry (I know, lucky me!). I finally had to tell him no more until we figure out how to store it. Last week he called me and told me to check the Woot.com deal of the day. It was an armoire. He said he wanted to just buy it for me but he wanted to make sure it was what I wanted since they are so personal. 

I looked online to compare, and the one from Woot was bigger and better organized and about half the price of others I found. So I said yes! And now I'm enjoying the benefits of something I never knew I wanted. I love my husband!

February 11th - Birthday!

Indigo has had a very busy birthday weekend so far. Grandma Carol came on Thursday. David and I  took Friday of and we all went to the zoo. She didn't quite get it, but she liked walking around and hanging out with all of us.

Spider Monkey

The zoo is HUGE! They have a new monkey house that you walk into and there are 16 spider monkeys (I think that is what they are) that are there with you and you get to be as close as 3 feet from you. Very cool.

First carousel ride

The orangutan enclosure is also. I only saw 3 today, a family with a little one. Indigo was very tired at that point so she was not that interested in interacting with them. Maybe when she is a little older. The zoo was very busy for a Friday. I think it is a great place for stay at home parents to go when the weather is nice. Becoming a member is pretty affordable, I think. Once you are a member, you can go all the time. One family was there on their bikes, which I thought was cool.

Today, Indigo took a 2.5 hour nap so I got groceries done and mom made cupcakes for tomorrow. We brought David lunch at Central were he was programming and then got decorations for the party.



FIRST HAIRCUT!
And Indigo got her first haircut! I looked at those kiddie cut places where they have TV's and fun toys. But it seemed a little silly to me to pay $20 for two snips. So, we went to Fantastic Sam's. They saved a few locks and had a little certificate and mom took pictures. I think she looks pretty cute! Although, her bangs are a little lopsided. I think it is because they should be pushed to the side and are cut that way. Might need to put a little gel in to make it stay. If it falls straight down, it looks a little diagonal. but the back is growing in nicely and she has quite a bit of hair. Not that bald babies aren't cute, but it's nice that she has hair. Here's hoping she sleeps through the night and is bright and bushy for her party tomorrow.

Grandma's Here!

Indigo and I picked up my mom at the airport this afternoon. She is having a blast with grandma! She got back seat entertainment, a fun dinner at Cheba Hut, ate some yummy blueberries and mango and had a luxurious bath! Now we are playing blocks and dancing. She likes getting in and out of the Bumbo chair. It's a nice fit and she gets some back support. Last night David and I swapped the baby off at the gym and he brought her home. She said "doh" and pointed to her room. So David brought her to her crib, took off her shoes and she passed out. She slept ALL NIGHT! Must be a growth spurt. I think we will go to the zoo tomorrow. I really want to see if she likes the monkeys. Then we have to bake cupcakes for the big birthday!! Time to put her to bed and play some Rock Band with mom. (the iPad doesn't do spacing for some reason, hence the big paragraph)

Photos and Memories

My mother in law bought Indigo a beautiful Christmas dress and asked only that we take some professional pictures of her in it. So we went for it and used a local photographer for some fun family shots. I finally bought the DVD of the images so I can use them how I want. Considering I have exactly 3 printed pictures of my daughter, I think having the digital files made the most sense. 

I was listening to NPR yesterday and this guy was on whose band records Nintendo-like music with the synthesizers. It's the iconic memory from their childhood. It got me thinking about those lists you see about being a child of the 80's etc and exactly what age those memories get made and how a group of people can share the same ones. I remember roller skating to "Whip It," acknowledging but not liking Cabbage Patch, Playing Pong, Atari AND Nintendo! I insist I am Gen X, but David says according to Douglas Copeland, I am firmly Gen Y. He's wrong of course. Mostly because Gen X is way cooler and I always dated older guys. That counts, right?

It's funny getting older. My hairstylists used to be older than me, and could advise me as I tried not to look like the youngest person at work even though I was. Now I go in and I have to force myself not to ask how long ago they graduated from cosmetology college! And I work with younger people too. And at the gym REALLY younger people. Luckily most of them don't think I'm as old as I am. I tell myself that as I cover up the circles under my eyes. 

I met my friend Erin today at the mall. She hung out with Bug while I got a haircut and then she helped me pick out a pair of pants because none of mine fit (I am one size smaller than I was before getting pregnant - thank you breastfeeding!) and then we had a nice lunch. It was great to see her. She is fabulous and I just don't see her enough.  

Indigo didn't nap much today and fell asleep in the stroller on our walk. I rolled the stroller right into her room and unloaded her to bed. She's been asleep since 5:00 pm. She may be down for the night. That will make 3 nights this week she crashed before we could change her to pajamas. She's like a really short frat boy!

I organized the pantry today and cleaned house in preparation for my mom coming next week. What was I saying about being old??

12 Months of Indigo

One year ago I was swollen, tired, nervous and incredibly excited to be a mother! Almost 12 months have gone by faster than any of my life and I have enjoyed them more than any other! I know next week will get busy with my mom visiting and the party and all so I thought I would post 12 months of pictures to celebrate one year of Indigo!

1 month

2 months - 1st St Patrick's Day

2.5 months - the chub emerges 

3 months with
Godmother Erica

3 months - terrific traveler

4 months
hanging with the fur sister

5 months
baby's first July 4th

6 months - jumping is the BEST!

7 months - Grandma visits

8 months - so big

9 months - I love socks

10 months - still working
on the food thing

11 months - starting to walk

11.5 months - I'm AWESOME! 

Just an Average Wednesday

Nothing too special going on. I coached Rec Team tonight. I have to gather up some coaches for the next Parent's Night Out on the 11th. The back up manager is running it because that is Indigo's 1st birthday! I can't believe it's here already. How did my baby grow up so fast? She is walking now and we seem to be able to understand her, but she is definitely not talking yet. That is the next thing, I suppose.

I made pesto pasta with shrimp tonight for dinner. David used the hand blender to break some up for her (minus the shrimp) and she "psst" (it's her yucky noise). I tried several times to feed some to her and then a bit dropped on the high chair tray and she ate it right up! She had probably a half cup of noodles and pesto. She just wanted to feed herself! Such a big girl.

She passed out on David's lap while Skyping with Grandma Empey - shoes still on and everything! I just put her sleep sack on and nursed her really quick to fall back asleep. Fingers crossed she doesn't wake up tonight. It's amazing how waking up at 3:30 or 4:00 am can really make me tired! Today it was 3:45. I did fall back asleep until 5:00 but it's catching up with me. I'm old.

OH - David's softball team won both their games on Monday! And he had the winning hit of the 2nd game! The guys carried him on their shoulders afterward. It was so cute. We had a great time watching.