Baby blog updated

. . . with one of the cutest videos ever.

Baby blog updated

Just some pictures.

6 month well baby visit

"Well baby" is right--as of yesterday Nadine weighs 18 lbs. 13 oz. and is 26.5 inches long; those are in the 92nd (!!) and 87th percentiles, respectively. Sheesh. I'm so glad we got the car seat that holds a baby up to 30 pounds--I can't imagine having to buy another car seat six months after we started using the first one. Dang baby gear . . ..

In relation to her visit, here's the purpose of the post: I'm always interested that we hear what we want to hear (or what we decide to hear), and that we read into things that aren't there. Yesterday, in all our Nadine discussions with the doctor, the thing I took away is that I've been over-feeding her (the doctor did not say we'd been over-feeding; further, before anyone says, "Actually, your baby is a bit heavy," based on her percentages she's just a big, healthy girl). I think I read into it because I've been worried about how much to feed her.

Before I became a mom, I'd heard others say parenthood is a bunch of unknowns that you figure out as you go along. As someone who likes to plan every step of everything, it's been hard for me to realize parenthood is a bunch of unknowns that you figure out as you go along. I need a chart that says, "This feeding, feed your baby __ in __ ounces. Next feeding, give her __ in __ ounces," etc.

So because of all these feelings of uncertainty, I looked at her weight and took that to mean I was doing something wrong. Mommy guilt. But, she's still just a baby, and she's not underweight, so I'm not worrying about it. This is all part of the journey and the adventure.

Why do we read into things? It's so lame.

Baby blog updated

With a picture of the dress I sewed for Nadine. Yea!

Things that make you go, Hmmmmmmm

It took me 30 years to realize you're supposed to mix Corn Starch

with a little bit of water before adding it to whatever you want to thicken. Instead I've always just been embarrassed by the Corn Starch clumps in my sauces.

I literally learned this trick a month ago. I don't even remember where I read it (maybe on the back of the Corn Starch container; I'm usually so good about reading directions . . .).

I wonder what else I don't know.

Baby blog updated

April photos

Be mine

We've started watching Nadine while she sleeps (I know we're the only parents who do this). She's so dang cute; plus, she's started sleeping on her side, with one leg over the other and her hands entwined by her face. It's so precious.

And in response to the (suggestion? request?) on her adorable sleeper: we are hers. Hook. Line. Sinker.

Baby blog updated

(Todd's working and Nadine's jet lagged, so I'm blogging.)

Don't worry, be happy

Nadine and I flew home Friday night. Our flight was supposed to depart at 6:15, and we boarded at 5:40. We were some of the first people on the plane, and we settled into our seats--the seat pocket in front of me (I love how stewardesses say that like it's one word) contained Nadine's "it's my dinner now" bottle, my magazine, and my snack. The Benadryl was within arm distance too, just in case.

We sat and waited. And waited. Passengers didn't start streaming onto the plane, and I knew we were in trouble. Then the captain got on the PA and told us the water to the coffee machine and bathrooms didn't work (coffee, not important; bathrooms, important). So they told us to grab everything and get off the plane. Never a good sign. They said to wait an hour for an announcement.

So we waited the hour, then 30 more minutes. Also not a good sign. Then an employee finally announced our plane was broken and we had to wait for the next Hawaiian Airlines plane to arrive. At 11:15. Four hours from then. (Cue groans and then a really loud buzz of everyone talking on their cell phones; it cracked me up.) I bought People magazine to tide me over, and they offered us a food voucher and a Hawaiian Airlines voucher. We were placated.

But at midnight, 45 minutes after the passengers had disembarked the new plane, when the doors were still closed, we were less placated. Especially because as the passengers deplaned they saw the "6:15, Delayed" flight on the screen and gasped and looked at us with pity. THEN people started showing up for the 2:30 AM flight to Hawaii and really looked at us with pity. Though I looked at them with pity because they had our old plane.

We finally boarded, at the time we were supposed to be landing in Hawaii. Sigh. But at least the flight hadn't been cancelled.

However, the purpose of this post is not to complain; it actually wasn't as terrible as it sounds. I want to gush about how wonderfully the delay was handled by a five-month-old baby at her bedtime, because it proved what a good-natured baby she is. She slept for four of the six and a half delayed hours, then slept nearly the entire flight. Which meant I got to sleep. She is such a great baby for whose chill and pleasant personality I am so thankful.

Oddly enough, this perfectly describes our island baby.

During my flights, I learned two cool baby-traveling tricks.

1. Playtex Drop-Ins bottles are wonderfully handy while traveling. You can just throw away the liner and don't have to worry about cleaning an entire bottle on a plane (we normally use Dr. Brown's, which are especially hard to clean, so this really is a coup for us). This means you don't need to have three or four (or five or six) bottles taking up valuable space in the diaper bag.

2. Most baby formula companies probably do this, but the Similac we use is available in liquid form. I've wondered why you'd use this

product, but then I realized how convenient it is to not have to mix formula on a plane (this is especially true when traveling without help). You can even put a nipple right on the travel-size formula container; no pouring required. Fantastic.

*The trip also reaffirmed my love for the Munchkin Formula Dispenser. This is one of the best baby products ever. The container allows for enough formula for three bottles, and because airlines let you carry on liquid formula, I had three 8-ounce ready-made bottles and enough formula for three 6-ounce bottles. After the delay, I was especially glad I brought that much.

We're flying again in a few months, so do you know any other cool plane tips?