mommapalooza

One-derful Year

Dear Madeline

Wow! How on earth did you ever get to be one year old? One year ago, you cried a little bit, had a small snack, and then fell asleep. To think that I wanted an instruction manual for you back then - I think I need one more now :) I hope that I've grown as much over this past year as you have, albeit in different ways. Your dad and I thought that you were pretty cute right from the start, but now we think we're pretty lucky because our little girl is funny, energetic, strong, curious, and determined. Can't resist that big smile of yours ever. You are quicker and smarter that we thought little people ever were - nothing gets past you these days. I am still amazed at how fast your little brain operates - you climbed the stairs three weeks ago like you'd been doing it all your life! I'm so glad that some things haven't changed so much, like the sweet peaceful expression on your face when you're sleeping.  I'm not sure how much you've learned from your parents, but I've certainly learned a lot from you.  I'm really happy to have you. Happy Birthday, Shmoo!

Good Things

So, Madeline turns one year old in a week, and it's time for a brief retrospective!

Best advice I read/was given:

• Babies need to go to bed early (from books by Pantley and Weissbluth)

Best advice, honourable mention:

• Swaddle swaddle swaddle (from my mom)
• Swaddle even in the bathtub (from my friend Jody, and this did keep Madeline from screaming through her baths)
• Lunch is the hardest meal of the day to prepare with a newborn, so stock up on lunches that don't need much cooking (from my former co-worker, Ellen, a mom of three)
• Buy baby wash in a pump-container instead of one where you have to remove the cap (from our pre-natal class instructor)

Baby gear we don't regret buying:

• the Zooper stroller
• Baby Bjorn
• Healthy Care Booster Seat

Best class Madeline and I took together:

• Strollerfit from Calgary Parks and Recreation

Worst classes we took:

• infant massage (too busy managing Madeline to follow what the instructor was doing)
• GymCrawlers from Gymboree (boring for Madeline)

Creatures that Madeline has reminded me of over her first year:

• an alien
• a puppy
• a hungry bird

Best Performance in a Comedy:

• the time she picked a piece of minced garlic off of the kitchen floor and stuck it in her mouth. I was wondering why all of sudden she'd crawled over to me and was trying to leap into my arms, all the while making a "ack ack!" noise. Then I got a whiff of her garlic breath!

Favourite age:

• whichever one she's currently at - it's true!

Pink Slip for my Nursing Bras

The milk lady is making plans to leave the building, or at least be on-call a little less. Madeline has been thriving on breastmilk for nearly a year now, but I've decided that it doesn't hurt to see if she's interested in starting the weaning process. I don't mind if she continues to nurse (Health Canada and the World Health Organization heavily promote the health benefits of breastfeeding to the age of two), but part of growing up includes being able to be separated from mom's breasts for reasonable periods of time. I am a believer in child-led weaning, although I'm not exactly sure how to go about it.  My initial thought is that Madeline needs to be aware that she has other nutrition choices at her disposal. I'm experimenting by offering her a drinking box and a healthy snack right after naptime - a time when she normally wants to nurse. It's been three days, and she's been surprisingly receptive to the drink and snack. If she really wants to nurse, I let her, though.  I am still fascinated with watching this little creature grow up!

Happy Father's Day

Today is the first Father's Day that Chris and Madeline get to celebrate together. He's going into work for the afternoon, but they had a fun time playing together this morning. They even shared a bit of oatmeal for breakfast :) 

Madeline's encounter with the law

Late this afternoon, Madeline and I were out in the Zooper. We'd walked to the Co-op to pick up a few groceries for this evening's dinner. I was secretly hoping that she'd nod off on the hour-long adventure because she'd been a little nap-resistor. Anyway, as we were strolling up the road on our way home, I caught a glimpse over the top of the stroller of Madeline's feet. There was one foot happily kicking away in a butterfly-appliqued Roobez shoe on the left, and five little pink toes on the right! I cannot understand how she got that shoe off her right foot! I turned the Zooper around and saw the missing shoe lying on the sidewalk about half a block away. Then I noticed that a police car had stopped on the road roughly even with the shoe, and a police officer got out of his car, retrieved the shoe, and jogged up the road to meet me with the shoe! I don't know if I was more amused or embarrassed :) 

stay little forever

There is so much about Madeline that is toddler-ish now that it's becoming harder to find the baby in her. Sometimes when she's nursing I can remember her at three months. When she nods off in my arms in the wee hours of the morning I can look down at her face and it's the same one that I've been gazing at for nearly a year.  But those moments are getting rarer!

I've been contemplating the changes and new choices that being one year-old brings. She'll be old enough (not sure if she's heavy enough yet, though) to turn her carseat forward-facing. It's safer if we leave her rear-facing, but I kind of wonder if flipping the seat makes sense because she'll be happier to sit in it. Madeline will also be old enough to have a blanket in her crib. She's nearly out-grown the sleepsack I made for her before she was born. Do I actually put a blanket over her in her crib (hmm ... do I believe it will stay on her all night?), or should I make a larger sleepsack?  Is it uncool to sleep in a sleepsack when you're one?  We finished off another box of baby oatmeal, and I tried out regular grown-up oatmeal for a few breakfasts with her. She hated the stuff. I didn't know if it was okay to keep her on the baby cereal longer ... I envisioned her becoming an addict and still eating baby cereal when she's three!  Finally I realized that the nutrition chapter in my toddler book recommends staying with the baby cereal because it's full of extra nutrients, and I'm glad that I can feel good about at least one decision!