did you miss us?

We've been in the North for a week. I lost our memory card reader, so I haven't retrieved the pictures yet. Courtesy of Photo Booth and Mom's camera, though, here is some cute to tide you over until I can post more thoroughly.

sunday morning

Lying in bed, everyone around me is still sleeping. The cats are curled up at my feet, Sam is snoring beside me, and Lucy is spread out like Superman in her crib. It’s early, but the time change last night means that my body is saying I won’t be able to fall back asleep. I snuggle with my pillow still for a while; it’s so warm, and there is no reason to get up yet. But after I while I untangle myself from the covers and put on my robe. The siren song of a solitary cup of tea is stronger than that of the warm bed, as a cup of tea without worry is a rare treat.

I drink my tea and eat some breakfast. Then I pull the clean diapers off the line strung across our apartment and fold them. I love the pile of them, the clean cotton prefolds and the colourful covers. Today they are are blue and brown. I take them to the bedroom to put away, and as I cross the apartment, I hear little sounds from Lucy. Before I look into her crib, I know that she’s kicked off one blanket, and the other one is all bunched up around her tummy. Her legs are kicking and her arms are flailing, and she’s looking for light patterns to watch. Sometimes she’s happy for half an hour after she wakes up in the morning. I put the diapers in their place, and as I turn to leave, Lucy makes a sad sound. She spotted me, and now she wants to be up.

I put her on her change table and her legs start going. She pumps them like she’s sprinting for the finish line. It’s one of her favourite things to do, but it makes it difficult to get her clean diaper on. We play this game every time. Once she’s clean and dry, she smiles at me. I know what she means; that diaper was soaked. She’s smacking her lips and sucking on her tongue, and I know what that means too.

We go out to the gold rocking chair. She’s excited for what’s coming, but settles down as soon as she starts sucking. She makes little happy squeaking sounds every time she swallows, and sometimes she has to stop to take a breath. She grabs on to my thumb with her chubby little fingers and holds on tight. Her still body fits across me perfectly, peaceful and perfect. I try to memorize this moment, and as I drink it in, the music from the stereo sings alleluia. So do I.

a post not about pictures

I think my preshus snowflake might be getting sick. In fact, I will be shocked if she doesn't, because I've just gotten over a cold, and she has a brand new unused immune system just waiting to be attacked by EVIL GERMS. I never coughed in her face, but still. Mama gets sick and infant stays healthy? Not likely, I say.

This will be FABULOUS (that was a sarcastic tone there) because we are flying to Dawson Creek next Friday, and the only thing better than a baby with a cold is a baby on an airplane for the first time with neurotic parents with a cold. I am stoked for it. I am still more stoked for those six bad hours than I would have been for 24+ bad hours of sick baby in a car on potentially questionable roads through the prairies, though. Especially because the carseat ONLY goes behind the passenger seat, not the driver's, but the passenger also doesn't fit behind the driver, so it would be a tetris of uncomfortability. (That might be my new favourite phrase right there!)

So, anyway, Lucy hasn't had the best of weeks, what with a sick mama and a nursing quasi-strike that may be caused by oncoming sickness and therefore requiring her to fall asleep alone in the dark. She's not a particular fan of that, except for the part where her naps are wonderful and long. Mama loves it too, as the house is cleanish and there is pie on the counter. Two pies, actually. And whipping cream all ready for whipping. May I please collect my SuperMom badge now?

I have sort of assumed that Lucy is more interesting than me, because she does so many cute things (like GIGGLE! First time this morning, and it was the best thing ever. Still waiting for repeat performance). Also, my life has been subsumed by hers. But I am actually going to jinx myself by writing here on the internet that I love my life right now. It's wonderful. It's just busy enough to keep me happy, and feeling like I wish I had a bit more time, but I can still do things I like to do. I'm reading tons of books while I nurse, and I can make really good meals that take longer than half an hour. I can go for walks and do yoga. If Lucy keeps up this longer-nap trend, I can maybe do some crafts and things. And it just gives me so much joy to be Lucy's mama!

I know you all believe me that Lucy is sweetened condensed joy. But here is some proof. Here she is talking to her best friend, a stuffed sun.

lucy talks

Finally. Now when I talk like a moron to my baby, she can talk back! And she's much more eloquent than I am. She talks a lot, unless I turn the camera on (babies excel at looking and sounding totally boring when cameras point at them) so you are lucky I caught these seconds. Enjoy!

we survived nearly unscathed!

Sam's been gone this week. This was terrifying. I was so scared of being on my own with Lucy, because sometimes I just need help. Sometimes Lucy won't sleep for me but drops right off with her daddy. But now that it's almost over, it seems to have gone alright. Not easily, though. Lucy picked up on my stress and slept worse and worse all week. This was also because, in the interests of my own sanity, I wasn't as careful about getting her naps in because I needed social contact. She's also got a savage diaper rash, and I think her little baby toothies are bothering her. But we went out to the farm for a couple of days, and visited some of our friends in the city. We started baby yoga, which Lucy declared Super Fun. She's started babbling to herself and it's the cutest thing I've ever heard. She's doing it right now, in her crib. I have some video that I'll post soon.

So we survived. I'm still pretty sane. Here are some new pictures that I would like to share because she's just so darn cute!

All ready for church

Classy church attire

Strollin' in the woods with Grandma and Auntie Andrea

Cold breeze... so comfy...

Fresh air is tiring.

Enough with the pictures, already.

lucy goes for a run

Here is another captivating video of my baby. It's important to wear yourself out before naps, so that their quality is top-notch. Just so you know, that is today's tip from Lucy.

happy thanksgiving

Little Miss Lucy has several favourite things. One is sitting, but that is eclipsed by standing, and standing is woefully inferior to jumping. Lying down? Pfft! That's only for tired babies, so she does it as little as possible while awake. The picture below was taken at the farm, where we were this past weekend for tasty turkey. Lucy, as usual, only enjoyed the feast secondhand, but it still seemed quite delicious. She had a lot of fun through Saturday and Sunday, but by Monday was getting rather tired, so we're having some restful times now to recuperate.

She was quite confused by the white stuff that floated down onto her carseat while we transported her to the car, though. It was her first glimpse of snow! It's crazy to thing that it's possible that she will be able to play in it by the end of winter. I'm sad that winter is coming, though, because it's difficult to get outside with a baby. I'll need to find good indoor activities.

I just started doing some yoga again, as heaving a 15-pound baby around is proving hard on my back. It was amazing to be able to do the things that Lucy-on-the-inside prevented before, and it's definitely helping already.

My official stance now is that being Lucy's mama is officially fun, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. The little smiles make it the best job ever.