Daddy's Birthday!

Today is Daddy's birthday. We had a party on Sunday with Gran, Granddad, Ahma, and Ahpa.

Getting out the nice dishes
Helping Mommy bake German chocolate cake--we made it lopsided on purpose!
Singing "Happy Birthday" to Daddy, right after drooling all over his shoulder (giggle.)Don't blow out the pretty lights!

If you can figure out binary code, then you can see how old Daddy is!

Following Her Lead

After Caterpillar Girl was born, we carried her all the time. She enjoyed being close to me or to her father, and we rarely left her alone in her chair or bassinet. She cried, fussed, and refused to sleep when left alone. People chuckled at my "ignorance" and suggested that she needed to learn. But I don't regret those early weeks. Now, only two and a half months later, she wriggles and fusses for me to let her down so she can squirm and push herself--on her back--across the living room. (She hasn't flipped over yet so she uses her heels to slide on the rug.) I didn't have to force her into independence. When she was ready, she began her own forays, and frankly, it's sooner than I expected. Sometimes, I wish she would still let me hold her all day long. But I am content to know that when she is really tired, she still loves to be held against my shoulder, warm and loved until she falls asleep.

Morning at the Park

Ahma has been staying with us since Sunday to watch Caterpillar Girl while Dad and I are at work. With a sunhat to protect her fair Irish skin from the sun, we played on the swings, watched the ducks, and enjoyed Spring. Local trees, somewhat bare a few weeks ago, are now covered in green. Even here in Florida, though brief, we have Spring.

So Energetic

Caterpillar Girl can't stop moving these days. She squirms to get out of our arms, wanting to be let down to go, go, go! Of course, she can't go anywhere yet but she waves her arms and legs with such energy it seems she just might flip over onto her belly. It hasn't happened yet, but we keep watching for it. We also have to keep a sharper eye on her when she sits in her infant seat since she slides herself to the edge and tries to fling her self out...not realizing that she wouldn't be able to go anywhere once she succeeded. I kept trying to take pictures of her movement, but I didn't have much luck, until we put her in the exersaucer. She is still too small but, boy, did she enjoy trying to stand and grab onto the toys. Eventually, she was frustrated because she didn't have the upper body strength to keep upright while reaching.

Day at the Aquarium

Over the weekend, we took Caterpillar Girl to the aquarium. She loves to look out the window, and we thought the tanks at the aquarium would be equally fascinating. She is able to hold her head up so well now that I could put her in the sling facing forward. This made navigating the halls of Easter holiday visitors, with racing children and giant strollers, much easier. She seemed pleased with the excitement...

...so happy in fact that she fell asleep for most of the afternoon.

Fortunately we bought a yearlong pass so we can visit again. The aquarium has set up large wooden rocking chairs in front of several tanks. It seems a wonderful place to sit and rock her on quieter afternoons, a cool respite from Florida sun. There are also playgrounds with splashing water that she may be able to navigate a bit this time next year. The pass also gives us free admission and discounts to other places in Tampa. I am sure we will have a lot of fun.

Long and Strong

At our two-month appointment, the pediatrician said Caterpillar Girl was very long and very strong. She now weighs 11.5 pounds and is 24.25 inches long. Her length is in the 90th percentile. I wonder how long she'll be the tallest kid in town. We didn't need the doctor to tell us how strong she is. I took this picture yesterday when she was holding up her head during tummy time! She has excellent neck control.

Thanks Dolly!

Caterpillar Girl is 2 months old today! Just in time for her "birthday," she received her first book from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Both Ahma and Aunt M told me about Dolly Parton's program, which delivers a free book to children every month until they reach their fifth birthday. CG's first book is The Little Engine that Could. It was a joy to read to her. She loved the chug, chug, chug...the rhythm of "I think I can." And every month we'll get another surprise. What a great thing for Caterpillar Girl to look forward to!

In the Moment

For the many years that I have practiced yoga, instructors remind the class to stay in the moment; that is, not to think about what may have happened last night or what needs to be done after the class, to focus on your movements and your breathing at that moment. It's a type of moving meditation, and in class, I do it well. Outside of class is another story since I am a planner and a listmaker. While doing one thing, I often am thinking about another, making a list, making plans, looking ahead, until Caterpillar Girl joined our life.

Now I am in the moment often throughout the day. Of course, I still have a list of things that need to be done, but it is smaller and the deadlines more vague because I don't know what my baby will need or want and when. I don't plan an hour of dancing and swaying to They Might Be Giants. It happens because she needs it to happen. Surprising amounts of time can pass laying on the bed together making googly faces and singing silly songs. Preparing dinner, formerly a straightforward affair, happens in stages now with nursing, a diaper change, or a walk around the house breaking up the event. Spending the days with our little girl has taught me to be more meditative in my life, to enjoy the moment as it happens.

Aunt D Visits

Aunt D came to visit for a few days to meet Caterpillar Girl, and they hit it off fabulously. The first evening, while I was at work, CG drifted off to sleep in her aunt's arms for more than an hour. Even with her first diaper rash, CG was mostly dimples and smiles and big blue eyes, especially when we visited Ahpa for a barbecue.

Doing the Tree Frog Dance

I like having family dinners. Of course, Caterpillar Girl is too small to sit in her high chair yet. Instead, we put her into her infant seat and set that on the table next to her dad. She is always fascinated by the hand to mouth movements, and, I think, listening to us chat at the table. She smiles and coos, and she does what her father has dubbed the tree frog dance. Her knees are folded up by her sides and her arms are bent and splayed outward (yes, just like this picture of a tree frog). Then she pumps all her limbs up and down. She smiles with her little dimples, and we can't get enough. "Look how cute she is!" becomes the most repeated dinnertime refrain.


UPDATE: Apparently Granddaddy calls it the Dead Cockroach dance, which is not nearly as cute.