ONE YEAR!

Posted on March 17, 2013 by Margie

I’m kind of a big deal.

On March 5, 2012, I was in labor in our living room, craving pineapple and fretting over who would let the dog outside if we indeed went to the hospital. A mere eight hours later, Suzianne came flying out into the world. Life–and my understanding of the importance of great stitch-work–would never be the same.

As you know, the first seven months were rough. Not for Suzianne, thankfully, just for me. I simply could not shake the feeling that everything I was doing was wrong. That taking care of an infant was a challenge I simply was not cut out for. Facebook posts from others served as a constant reminder that being a new mom was so fun (snuggle time!) and easy (playdates! weddings! road trips!) for everyone else but me.

From the worry that I would never figure out the logistics of leaving the house, to the fear of a public meltdown I could not stop, to challenges with breastfeeding and my tiny body giving out at inopportune moments. I still get breathless when I think about it.

One thing I did rock out though: cross country air travel. Like a boss.

—

I now realize that it is laughable, how seriously I took the whole thing. So what if your baby’s prolonged nap, or lack thereof, makes you late to your doctors appointment? So what if she melts down at a restaurant–then on the street and on the train? So what if your kitchen is a mess? Oh, Lord, last summer, every time folks tried to tell me “calm down” or “that is just what babies do,” I would just cry.

Just one year later, those anxieties feel a world away. I am myself again–mentally and physically. Though both of those transitions took so much longer than I’d imagined.

For Suzianne, one year on earth has brought her from blob-of-amazing-cheeks to a toddling, tiny human.

Once they hit six months, the cognitive, social and emotional developments come on fast and strong. This month, Suzianne began pointing at objects, holding up books for us to read, and responding to requests (where is your baby doll? do you want milk? where is Georgia?). In fact, her first words, “baby” and possibly “Georgia,” were just this week.

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We celebrated her one year like anyone would in the presence of Granny Sue Sue: with a fabulous dinner at The Palm, complete with flower arrangements, party favors and a sash.

Pre-party with daddy.

But the thing I thought was the most brilliant was the floor covering:

Granny Sue Sue can throw a party. Anyone of my friends from Elementary and High School can vouch for that! It’s been so fun having Suzianne and her Granny only one mile apart. What a blessing.

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Our girl is growing fast. She’ll be walking before we know it. And talking. Lord help us!

Suzianne, we are so grateful for you. We thank God daily that you are healthy, happy and curious. I also thank God my hormones finally leveled out so that you can I can actually enjoy each other. You are perfect in every way, my love. It is an honor to be your momma.

Happy First Birthday, Suzianne! We love you!

11 months!

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Margie

This month, it became quite clear that I birthed a giant person. I’m not sure how I created this incredibly long and lean creature, but I’m feeling pretty accomplished.

I could wear my momma’s jeans right now.

She towers above other babies her age. In fact, I’m pretty sure she could ride a roller coaster today. I was 13 years old before I could do that.

This month, it also became clear that felt, paper and cardboard are more exciting than the 30,000 toys her daddy has purchased for her.

FELT: If you don’t own a set of felt fruit and root veggies, your child is missing out. Suzianne goes through spurts where she plays with this stuff for days on end.

Favorite toy ever. (Thanks Krissi! Sometimes we love you for that, sometimes we hate you)

Favorite toy ever: felt fruit in a basket.

Even when presented with a new, loud toy. Even on Christmas morning! This child prefers the basket o’ hand-crafted felt that our dear friend Krissi gave to her when she was a few months old. Thanks, Krissi! Sometimes we love you for this gift, sometimes we curse you.

PAPER: Suzianne loves everything about books and could spend all day flipping through them, pulling them off shelves and nibbling at their corners. A good book currently is the best “soothing” toy we can offer her.

She’s got a thing for these tabbed DK books, that my friend Nicole introduced us to. I highly recommend them all. Baby Bonus: they apparently make effective teething mechanisms.

CARDBOARD: when Team Newman receives an especially large box, we play with it like this:

It’s a box cave!

When Melissa-the-awesome-nanny gets hold of the same box, it turns into this:

“Tiny’s Place”: Made by Melissa in like 22 minutes.

Yes, Dave’s nickname for Suzianne for the past six months or so has been “Tiny.” Not so sure how accurate that name is now, but it’s still cute.

And finally, this month, Suzianne began experimenting with kneeling, pulling herself up on furniture, and standing. You’ll find her like this a lot:

I have a feeling that by next month, she’ll be walking. We’ll see!

In the meantime, watch her grow! Take a scroll through the Month-by-Month archives.

Me and my baby

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10 months!

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Margie

This month, Suzianne shed her infant-ness and became a little person.

She was quite busy during her 10th month on Earth, breaking in three new teeth and discovering many new things about herself. This month, Suzianne:

Found her voice (it’s loud) and began communicating her preferences–via high-pitch squeals–for fun things like daddy, Melissa-the-awesome-nanny, chasing Georgia, Bluegrass music, bath time, Vegas showgirls and guacamole:

Oh, and she’s got some dislikes, too, such as getting dressed, teething, having her fingernails trimmed, and new toys that make too much noise:

She also hates Santa:

This month, she’s started to realize her physical abilities like crawling! and standing with assistance!, as well as limitations, like standing on her own.

Ooo! We even had our first projectile vomiting episode! Lucky for us, it was following a very scary choking episode (She turned purple, ya’ll. It was horrible. But she’s clearly got a rockstar esophagus that knows how to take care of business.) at a nice restaurant in San Diego in front of lots of strangers; lucky for you, I did not get a photo of it. BUT I do have this five minutes later picture, where Suzianne is the happiest baby on the block and could not care less that our table, her stroller and her daddy’s jacket now smell like throw up:

The best part about month 10 is Suzianne’s self-established sleeping routine. She now puts herself to sleep for her 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. naps. Even better: she puts herself to sleep each night at 7 p.m. and sleeps (most nights) until 6 a.m. It’s LOVELY and worth every one of those heartbreaking four or five nights of “crying it out.”

Suzianne continues to be a very chill child who is always happy, unless she’s tired, teething or hungry. Or hungry, but refusing to eat. Or has had the iPhone she was about to eat taken away from her. Or thinks you are trying trick her into taking a nap. She’s also very smart and observant like her father. And a very chatty, loud-talking, crazy person, like me.

Now that my hormones have leveled out, I can honestly say being Suzianne’s momma is a privilege and joy–and I’m thankful for every single moment.

Watch her grow! Take a scroll through the Month-by-Month archives.

She’s mobile!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Margie

Ya’ll. The tiny human I made now is mobile! As of December 27, 2012, she can look at something, decide she wants it, then, go get it! I’m thrilled/terrified.

It went like this:

Dave: “I bet she’ll crawl if I put the book down over here.”

Me: {eye roll}.

Suzianne: {Laser-focused six foot crawl like she’s been crawling her whole life.}

Georgia: “Things just got real.”

Check it:

This moment was shocking for two reasons: 1) she’s never crawled more than six inches before (on Dec 23), and 2) she was crawling in order to get to the The World’s Most Annoying Toy that you all must go buy right now, because it makes your child–and your skin–crawl, obviously.

Here’s a close up of your soon to be most-loathed possession:

I know I’m prone to exaggeration, but you just wait until you’ve heard “Listen to the sheep sing! Beh, Beh, Beh, Beh, Behhhhh, Behhhhhhhhhh” 28,000 times. It’s awful. Clearly, Mary had a little genetically modified lamb. Suzianne can’t get enough.

For those of you playing developmental bingo, this means Suzianne crawled for the first time at 9.5 months. That’s a good month or so after “most” babies crawl. So, sister, don’t get all freaked out if your baby is a little behind; they all learn to get around eventually!

Sorry about that, Jesus.

Posted on December 26, 2012 by Margie

December 2011 (beginning of the third trimester), in the matching PJ’s my momma got us.

December 2012, Suzianne in the matching PJ’s she was too prenatal for last year:

Suzianne had a marvelous first Christmas; well, besides the teething meltdown that started as we were bowing our heads to pray at the dinner table. Sorry, Lord.

She’s got four coming in on top at once. Yikes.

Team Newman–sensing the only thing that would calm this child was 1.25 ml of infant Motrin and an 11 hour nap–left for home before folks had even finished their green bean casserole. Poor Dave didn’t even get to take one bite of the turkey he spent all day cooking until after Suzianne went to bed later that night. (sigh)

I confess I felt and continue to feel super-guilty about breaking up the family dinner, but no one other than me (I?) seems upset about it. So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice.

Anyway! I hope your Christmas was as fun and festive as ours, and that you didn’t have to leave the dinner table while you were talking to Jesus.

Happy Holidays!

Not a baby, not yet a toddler

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Margie

Ya’ll. My baby is not a baby anymore. Not only does she now understand how to communicate “no,” she shares! For real.

This tiny human who has only been on the earth 9 months knows how to hand something over to someone else for no apparent reason other than she just wanted you to have it. See:

Would you like a felt cucumber?

For me, this is the coolest milestone yet because it signals that she thinks of us as people worthy of handing over her toys to. I’m no longer just the milk lady, or the lady who forces her to wear pants. I’m a pal!

Meanwhile, I think Georgia feels a little neglected; she now is constantly being consoled by the stuffed hippo Dave got Suzianne at the San Diego Zoo:

Are you my momma?

Sorry Porge. We still love ya.

Grateful.

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Does your baby need to poop?

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Margie

If your baby isn’t as regular as you’d like, stock up on wipes, then, feed her this:

…and take cover.

Seriously.

How to start your postpartum exercise routine

Posted on December 12, 2012 by Margie

Folks often are surprised when I tell them I ran my first 5k about the time Suzianne turned five months old. Let’s be clear: before my husband peer-pressured me into running, the only thing I’d ever run for was beer.

What got truly got me motivated was simply a desire (and desperate need) to get out of the house alone. Soon, I was able to run pushing the stroller. Today, my body actually craves a “long” run, which for me is around five miles. I’m not fast, but I’m proud of my consistency and distance.

Besides my persistent husband, I have the Internet to thank for getting me off the couch, and eventually, across a finish line. I’m not alone.

Once your doctor clears you for exercise–usually around 4 to 6 weeks postpartum–give these tips a try. NOTE: during the first run, it will feel like your insides are going to fall out of your vagina, but they won’t.

Get a coach–On my own, I do not possess the willpower to keep running once I get tired, bored, or out of breath. But, if I’m being coached by an iPhone app like Bluefin’s Ease into 5k, I will keep going.

A reliable buddy also can serve as your coach. This morning, I saw two women fast-walking while pushing their teeny infants in strollers. When they got to the stairs, one woman stayed behind with the strollers while the other ran up and back. Her buddy was coaching her as she ran. When she was finished, the other woman took her turn.

Declare a goal–my goal in the couple of weeks before I started the Ease into 5k training was simply to walk like a normal person for 30 minutes. When you consider that Suzianne’s head circumference is in the 75th percentile, you understand this was an ambitious goal.

Once I started using the app, completing each day’s routine–without taking my own breaks–was the goal. A few weeks into the training, I signed up for a 5k; not backing out of that become my goal. Today, I’m pushing toward my goal of running a 10k, with the help of the Ease into 10k app.

Go public–once you tell the Internet you are going to do something, there is no going back. You may not have a blog, but I know you have a Facebook page, a Twitter account, or at the very least, an email address. Share your goals with your network; they will encourage you, keep you honest and cheer the heck out of your accomplishments.

Bottom line: if I can do this, you can! Go get’em, lady.

Crystal City Twilighter 5k, July 21, 2012

My first 5k! The Crystal City Twilighter, July 21, 2012