Me and my daughter.
I wasn't ready.
She likes the camera unless I take too many pictures. After a while, she's annoyed with it. :-)
Kissing Finkle the Frog*
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Catch up (on the last 3 days!)
Not much happened,
but...
We went to the park...
She watched some "big kids" play on the playground...
This is my favorite picture, at this time: -->
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Cozy, Furry Socks
It's nice that my a/c works now. It's also nice that I don't have to worry about my daughter getting a heat rash while sleeping in her crib. It's pretty much worth that I'm wearing a sweater, jeans, and socks - just to stay warm. They're cozy, furry socks - so it's all good!
The a/c is being finicky though. It was working last night, then we left for almost the entire day just to get out of this apartment. When we got back, it wasn't working. I went to the maintenance man's apartment again and talked to his wife. She said she'd let him know. Then, half an hour later - the a/c decided to work. Once I got cold enough to wear a sweater, I wrote a note to the maintenance man's wife (thanking her and letting her know that it works) and taped it to her door. I didn't want to bother her again.
I'm freezing, but my kiddo is comfortable in her crib. That's all that matters. :-)
The a/c is being finicky though. It was working last night, then we left for almost the entire day just to get out of this apartment. When we got back, it wasn't working. I went to the maintenance man's apartment again and talked to his wife. She said she'd let him know. Then, half an hour later - the a/c decided to work. Once I got cold enough to wear a sweater, I wrote a note to the maintenance man's wife (thanking her and letting her know that it works) and taped it to her door. I didn't want to bother her again.
I'm freezing, but my kiddo is comfortable in her crib. That's all that matters. :-)
Birth Defect; Law & Order; Ronnie Milsap; not interested
I did my laundry. Some of you might know what a task it is to do laundry at a laundry mat with a four month old (13+ pounds). Carrying her and the laundry is not easy. I'm probably too brave on that account, actually.
I wanted to roll down the windows and blare this song. I love the sound! I couldn't though. My daughter was in the backseat, sleeping in her car seat. Darn.
I was almost home when I saw a truck with a good-looking guy in the truck bed. I live near a university. It was one of the university's maintenance trucks. He was looking at me from the truck bed. I lowered my visor. I'm not interested. I continued singing.
That's my Saturday, so far!
While doing laundry, I saw a mom and dad with their two children. One of them was a little girl (about 9 to 12 months old: I don't know how big those age of kids are and I won't until my daughter is that big.) This little girl had been born with cleft lip - the same birth defect I was born with. I've seen a few cleft lips on babies in this town. I almost always talk to the mom about it. I did this time, at least.
"Hi! Ya know, I was born with cleft lip and cleft palate, too!", as I looked at her daughter, who hasn't yet had the surgery to close it up. The mom said, "She doesn't have the cleft palate." The mom looked at my face (my lip, really) and smiled. I said, "Yeah, you can tell I have it if you really look, but that surgery was done 24 years ago! Now the surgery is so advanced that no one will ever be able to tell your daughter had it unless someone tells them." I was so excited to see a baby with cleft lip. I said, "Is she getting her surgery soon?" The mom looked at the father (well, we both did) and she said, "Yes, next month on the twentieth!" The mom looked at my daughter who was facing the other way and I said, "Oh, she wasn't born with either. My dad had cleft lip and sub-mucous palate, though. Did her doctor check to make sure that her palate is all the way closed up?" She said, "Yep, it's all closed up."
(I talk a lot, don't I? I'm not really afraid to talk to strangers unless I just have nothing to say or nothing in common with them.) We said bye and went our own ways in the laundry mat. I sat on one of the benches, waiting for my clothing to finishing drying. (Addendum to original blog post: As I walked away, I heard the mom say, "That's one of the nicest white girls ever." They were African American / black. I was happy to hear that!) All of sudden, I heard a noise that only comes from one television show. Law and Order. The father of the little girl had his text messages ring with the Law and Order caption sound. If you've seen Law and Order more than 5 to 10 times, I'm sure you know the sound I'm talking about. I was a little jealous. I want the Law and Order: Special Victims Unit theme song as my ringtone! Hehe.
On the way home from the laundry mat, a song came on. This one:
I wanted to roll down the windows and blare this song. I love the sound! I couldn't though. My daughter was in the backseat, sleeping in her car seat. Darn.
I was almost home when I saw a truck with a good-looking guy in the truck bed. I live near a university. It was one of the university's maintenance trucks. He was looking at me from the truck bed. I lowered my visor. I'm not interested. I continued singing.
That's my Saturday, so far!
A Girl Can Dream
Yesterday, I emailed the owner of this apartment complex. I basically complained about the apartment manager. He's never available - even during the "office hours". I told the owner that I'm happy with the maintenance man, but not with the apartment manager.
I received two emails this morning. One was before the owner had read another email of mine telling him that my air conditioner had finally been fixed. The owner said, "I'll tell maintenance to fix your a/c." The next email from him asked me if I would be around (at my apartment) this coming Wednesday - and also a request for my cell phone number to be emailed in return.
I highly doubt that my little hope is true. Maybe my email to the owner that explained what a crumby manager he has convinced him that he needs a new one. Maybe he sees that I'm not an idiot (at least through my grammar and spelling). Even if I do mess up sometimes (especially with punctuation), I'm not an idiot in that regard.
The owner is trying to clean up these apartments because they're so close to the university, here. He could have college students galore if he got rid of the trash that's living here. He's already started some renovations and evictions.
Any way. My point is: A Girl Can Dream. Maybe he's going to ask me to re-continue make-ready apartment cleaning (which I was doing for him before I became pregnant) or maybe he's going to ask me to be the new manager since his current one sucks. Or maybe he's just going to have me sign my new lease. Or maybe he's sick of me complaining about the manager and he's going to give me a 30 day notice to get my butt out. I doubt it's the latter. I'm one of his more well-behaved tenants and I have a 4 month old baby.
A Girl Can Dream.
I received two emails this morning. One was before the owner had read another email of mine telling him that my air conditioner had finally been fixed. The owner said, "I'll tell maintenance to fix your a/c." The next email from him asked me if I would be around (at my apartment) this coming Wednesday - and also a request for my cell phone number to be emailed in return.
I highly doubt that my little hope is true. Maybe my email to the owner that explained what a crumby manager he has convinced him that he needs a new one. Maybe he sees that I'm not an idiot (at least through my grammar and spelling). Even if I do mess up sometimes (especially with punctuation), I'm not an idiot in that regard.
The owner is trying to clean up these apartments because they're so close to the university, here. He could have college students galore if he got rid of the trash that's living here. He's already started some renovations and evictions.
Any way. My point is: A Girl Can Dream. Maybe he's going to ask me to re-continue make-ready apartment cleaning (which I was doing for him before I became pregnant) or maybe he's going to ask me to be the new manager since his current one sucks. Or maybe he's just going to have me sign my new lease. Or maybe he's sick of me complaining about the manager and he's going to give me a 30 day notice to get my butt out. I doubt it's the latter. I'm one of his more well-behaved tenants and I have a 4 month old baby.
A Girl Can Dream.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Visa - Accepted Everywhere; Assertiveness
...except at the vehicle registration's office. The only reason they still used it was that it's a Bank of America card.
I just now noticed that Visa's Everywhere slogan has been "shelved", though.
My car is registered, inspected, and gassed up. I bought this month's diapers and I'm about to eat lunch with a friend.
After my car was inspected, the man that inspected it complimented my daughter's radiant beauty. Of course. He then said that he has a 7 month old daughter. I asked if he was helping his girlfriend or wife with the baby. (He's near my age: which is young.) He said proudly, "No, she does everything." I gave him a funny look and said, "Uh, maybe you should try helping her out a little. She lucky to have you with the baby - but only if you help."
I've noticed that I've become increasingly assertive and opinionated.
When my neighbors fought over cigarettes, I rolled my eyes and said, "Just go home. That's the stupidest thing ever to fight about."... as I walked up the stairs with my daughter.
People seem to respect me when I'm being assertive, but I should probably be cautious about who I'm giving my opinions to - so brashly.
I just now noticed that Visa's Everywhere slogan has been "shelved", though.
My car is registered, inspected, and gassed up. I bought this month's diapers and I'm about to eat lunch with a friend.
After my car was inspected, the man that inspected it complimented my daughter's radiant beauty. Of course. He then said that he has a 7 month old daughter. I asked if he was helping his girlfriend or wife with the baby. (He's near my age: which is young.) He said proudly, "No, she does everything." I gave him a funny look and said, "Uh, maybe you should try helping her out a little. She lucky to have you with the baby - but only if you help."
I've noticed that I've become increasingly assertive and opinionated.
When my neighbors fought over cigarettes, I rolled my eyes and said, "Just go home. That's the stupidest thing ever to fight about."... as I walked up the stairs with my daughter.
People seem to respect me when I'm being assertive, but I should probably be cautious about who I'm giving my opinions to - so brashly.
I'm Okay Being Wrong On This One.
I honestly thought it was going to take years before I would get a full night's sleep again, but my daughter has completely proven me wrong. I'm the one who's accidentally waking her up.
I just thought I'd brag!
I just thought I'd brag!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Stuffed Bear's Butt; To Do; Feeling Better!
- My daughter sleeping earlier this evening.
That's a stuffed bear's butt, if you couldn't tell.
I had some adult conversation (as opposed to baby-talk / babbling) this evening. That was nice! Maybe that's why I'm feeling so much better!
Frog Friend Dilemma!
Earlier, my daughter and I went to a thrift store that sells diapers pretty cheap. We got a 40 pack of size 2 diapers. Usually we walk in, buy the diapers (and sometimes an outfit) and walk out, but my daughter smiled at the clerk - which instigated a 1 hour discussion of how perfect a baby she is. It's true. She is a very good / "easy" baby.
At one point, the clerk asked me, "What's her favorite kind of toy right now?" I said, "Oh, she has a green frog that she really loves!" The clerk gave my daughter a pink bear to add to her modest collection of stuffed toys.
Well, now... this green frog of hers - there's very little comparison to how she reacts toward her other toys. She gives a big smile when the frog "approaches" her! I say this frog is a boy, even though he's wearing a pink ribbon, he's holding a pink heart, and the soles of his feet are pink, too. He's a boy.
At one point, the clerk asked me, "What's her favorite kind of toy right now?" I said, "Oh, she has a green frog that she really loves!" The clerk gave my daughter a pink bear to add to her modest collection of stuffed toys.
Well, now... this green frog of hers - there's very little comparison to how she reacts toward her other toys. She gives a big smile when the frog "approaches" her! I say this frog is a boy, even though he's wearing a pink ribbon, he's holding a pink heart, and the soles of his feet are pink, too. He's a boy.
Here he is with his "competition" - -
The problem with this frog is that he doesn't have a name yet.
Can you please help name my daughter's favorite friend?
First Suggestion:
Second Suggestion:
"Finkle"
After I have at least two suggestions, I'll create a poll - and then we can have votes. Hehe. Maybe not, but we're really going to be thinking this through since I have a feeling this frog will be around for quite a while!
Nostalgia
After my daughter's colic passed (12 weeks old) and until a week ago (19 weeks, I think), I had "baby fever". Yeah, um? Me? A single mom wanting to have another baby? Uh, get real.
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I admitted this to a (very platonic) male friend of mine and he said that he's known a lot of new moms who, for a time, want to have another baby. I think it might have been nostalgia, really. I went back an entire year of Facebook posts and found what I had said before I even knew I was pregnant. I was feeling sick, really tired, and insanely craving mushroom burgers.
Then, I could smell things that other people couldn't.
Wow. This pisses me off. This is the 3rd time this week my freaking neighbor has knocked on my door - waking my daughter up. Go the FREAK away! Ugh!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
A blog I forgot about
http://sacrificeitall.wordpress.com/ - 3 days before I gave birth to my daughter
Cupcake Pride; Tech Progress
There's my beautiful cupcake!
I didn't go to bed until 4am last night. My daughter let us sleep in until 10:45am! I heard her wake up a couple of times. I'm very proud of her for being able to put herself back to sleep with no assistance from me.
In other news, I have studied everyday, but I'm not able to learn as much as I would like to on a daily basis.
Practically Upside Down!
It's 3AM. I'm going to need to heat up my coffee, I think. I'm just not ready or willing to stop studying yet. Moms sacrifice for their children. I've not sacrificed very much, in my opinion - so sacrificing some sleep is okay with me.
I clicked my way to this blog - http://pandmchiappini.blogspot.com/ - and I am going to steal her idea of listing some things for my daughter to know about her baby-personality. :)
Dear Daughter,
You are 4 months, 1 week, and 1 day old.
Here are some things that you're doing, not doing, refuse to do, and demand to have done:
~ You have the cutest dimple on your right cheek which is hard to miss when you smile your beautiful smile -
~ You like to suck on the index and middle finger of your right hand -
~ You do not like to be held in the cradle position unless you're being fed -
~ You like to sleep on your right side while refusing to ever sleep on your back -
~ You cannot stand to have a cover/blanket over your legs and/or feet, ever -
~ You stiffen your legs all the way out while I try to change your diaper -
~ You bounce your left leg up and down when you're excited while sitting in your bouncer -
~ You have a mildly shocked expression every time I lower you into your lukewarm bath water -
~ You have just started to raise your upper body up with your arms while in a crawling position -
~ You scream. You seem to enjoy exercising your vocal chords -
~ You love your stuffed frog. You also like your squeaky stuffed birds. You chew on them often -
~ You are beginning to stare at my food. You smile every time I take a bite -
~ You stare at your latest dirty/wet diaper as I roll it up and put it in the Diaper Genie. You seem proud -
~ You love to stretch out on my lap after you've eaten. You practically hang upside down! -
Back to studying!
I clicked my way to this blog - http://pandmchiappini.blogspot.com/ - and I am going to steal her idea of listing some things for my daughter to know about her baby-personality. :)
Dear Daughter,
You are 4 months, 1 week, and 1 day old.
Here are some things that you're doing, not doing, refuse to do, and demand to have done:
~ You have the cutest dimple on your right cheek which is hard to miss when you smile your beautiful smile -
~ You like to suck on the index and middle finger of your right hand -
~ You do not like to be held in the cradle position unless you're being fed -
~ You like to sleep on your right side while refusing to ever sleep on your back -
~ You cannot stand to have a cover/blanket over your legs and/or feet, ever -
~ You stiffen your legs all the way out while I try to change your diaper -
~ You bounce your left leg up and down when you're excited while sitting in your bouncer -
~ You have a mildly shocked expression every time I lower you into your lukewarm bath water -
~ You have just started to raise your upper body up with your arms while in a crawling position -
~ You scream. You seem to enjoy exercising your vocal chords -
~ You love your stuffed frog. You also like your squeaky stuffed birds. You chew on them often -
~ You are beginning to stare at my food. You smile every time I take a bite -
~ You stare at your latest dirty/wet diaper as I roll it up and put it in the Diaper Genie. You seem proud -
~ You love to stretch out on my lap after you've eaten. You practically hang upside down! -
I love you, my beautiful-sweet-smart-curious daughter!
Back to studying!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
2-week challenge fudge-up
Wow. I typed all of my study notes and then clicked the wrong button and now it's all gone. It'll probably help me to re-type it, but my heart sank when I saw that it had disappeared. :(
My beautiful daughter
My daughter loves this stuffed frog!
My daughter is getting stronger - holding herself up more!
(Plus, I love the way this picture's lighting is all messed up! Very pretty! - my daughter and the lighting!)
Makeup; Birth Defect; Happy-Dance!
So, besides that my makeup is horrid and you can see the damage done by cleft lip (birth defect which my daughter DIDN'T genetically inherit!...), this is what my happy-dance looks like each time I see that I'm really learning this stuff!... (computer repair; see my 2-week challenge page.)
Monday, September 27, 2010
"No Sacrifice, No Victory!"
I've wanted my A+ certificate (computer repair) since I was 19 years old. I'm now 25 years, 3 months, and 3 days old. I still don't have it.
Why?
Procrastination, laziness, periodic loss of interest, easily distracted... shall I go on?
Well, guess what! I'm now a mother of a 4 month and 7 day old baby girl. No playing around anymore!
Get to it, Mommy! (See my "Tech 2-Week Challenge" page!)
Why?
Procrastination, laziness, periodic loss of interest, easily distracted... shall I go on?
Well, guess what! I'm now a mother of a 4 month and 7 day old baby girl. No playing around anymore!
Get to it, Mommy! (See my "Tech 2-Week Challenge" page!)
Yo, Statistics!
RULE #1
(A man's respect consciously or unconsciously lessens for you if you sleep with him too soon or if you sleep with him without a mutual commitment.)
RULE #2
(Look at this man who's dating, married, or engaged to another woman. He's sleeping with you. If he ever leaves the other woman for you - you'll never fully trust him. Or at least you shouldn't.)
RULE #3
(You're priceless. You're worth waiting for. Sex isn't worth the emotional pain that it can bring. Women have sex to feel loved - if they're honest with themselves. Don't let any man make you feel like you're obligated to sleep with him, ever.)
RULE #4
(Are you looking for that diamond in the rough? What kind of man are you dreaming of? If you met that man tomorrow, do you think he would see the woman he's been dreaming of - in you?)
Send Child Protective Services Over!
After our walk outside, we came back into the apartment. It was hotter than outside. A lot hotter. The air conditioner had stopped working. I went to the apartment manager's apartment (he lives on site) and asked him to send the maintenance man over to fix the a/c. An hour ago, he said he would send him as soon as possible (of course.)
While waiting, I sat outside with my daughter - enjoying the breeze.
When my daughter gets sleepy, she uses her vocal chords and starts screaming. Not crying. Just screaming. She seems to enjoy screaming. Don't ask me why. I don't know.
She got so loud, at one point, that I said - "Scream a little louder! Maybe someone will send CPS (child protective services) and they can send someone to fix the air conditioner! Yay!!!"
There's my sense of humor.
While waiting, I sat outside with my daughter - enjoying the breeze.
When my daughter gets sleepy, she uses her vocal chords and starts screaming. Not crying. Just screaming. She seems to enjoy screaming. Don't ask me why. I don't know.
She got so loud, at one point, that I said - "Scream a little louder! Maybe someone will send CPS (child protective services) and they can send someone to fix the air conditioner! Yay!!!"
There's my sense of humor.
How You Were Raised Doesn't Have To Be How You Behave!
Every day I have to stop and remind myself not to be the kind of parent I had.
My Dad and Grandmother raised me. They both were emotionally neglectful. They took care of my basic needs and I never went without. They always gave me what I needed and sometimes what I wanted, but they failed to provide emotional nourishment.
My daughter (4 months old) has always had and will always have what she needs - and sometimes what she wants. She receives millions of kisses every day. I hug her as I hold her. I tell her that she's beautiful, cute, and pretty every chance I get. I don't always have to make a conscious effort to show her how much she means to me and how wonderful she is. Though, I will always need to remind myself of my childhood to ensure that my daughter's emotional needs are met.
I believe that a child's emotional needs should be placed at the same level as their physical needs, if not higher on occasion.
My Dad and Grandmother raised me. They both were emotionally neglectful. They took care of my basic needs and I never went without. They always gave me what I needed and sometimes what I wanted, but they failed to provide emotional nourishment.
My daughter (4 months old) has always had and will always have what she needs - and sometimes what she wants. She receives millions of kisses every day. I hug her as I hold her. I tell her that she's beautiful, cute, and pretty every chance I get. I don't always have to make a conscious effort to show her how much she means to me and how wonderful she is. Though, I will always need to remind myself of my childhood to ensure that my daughter's emotional needs are met.
I believe that a child's emotional needs should be placed at the same level as their physical needs, if not higher on occasion.
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