Big news...

So, we've been kinda keeping something on the down low for a few months....

  

Mama's due with #2! September, 24, 2012

The past couple months

Ahhh! I have been neglecting posts and updates as life has been a little busy with lots of life related adventures. To say that I am busy is a bit of an understatement right now....between school, internship, work, and most importantly, June Apple and Amos, well life is crazy. And on top of it all I am trying to squeak in time to study for my upcoming doctoral comprehensive exams on May 15th, 16th and 17th. My test anxiety about what will be the most important exams of my school career comes and goes, and I credit being wrapped up in the other more important aspects of my life (i.e. motherhood) for keeping a lot of my anxiety at bay. The truth is, I don't have a lot of time to sit around and stress about it. Unfortunately, that means I also don't have a lot of time to sit around and....well, study. Amos, friends and family have been great at pitching in when they can, so that I can get a couple of hours of studying in, here and there, but the truth is, I feel the bulk of my studying, make that, cramming, is ahead of me yet. Of course, in an ideal world, I would study during June Apple's naps and after she falls asleep, but these days, I find myself, well, sleeping during her naps, and not able to stay up much later than her. Sleeping and June is a whole other post.....

June Apple is crawling around like a mad woman. In fact these days she does most things like a mad woman. Amos thinks she thinks she is a dog, because now when someone knocks at the door she barks, like Rosco. In fact she barks quite a lot. Its her favorite animal sound. Often she wakes up and the first sound out of her mouth is a bark. For the record, she can also, meow, moo, growl like a bear, and make monkey sounds (whatever those are called). She also says, "Kitty" "Puppy" "Da" (for down and done) "Papa" "Baby" "Bye" and "Baba" (which is what she calls me, no Mama yet). I don't see walking right around the corner, although she does cruise along furniture like a champ. I am not really worries bout this, as I don't really see many adults still crawling, unless they're drunk. June Apple has always done things in her own way and time and walking will come to her when she's good and ready. Her current favorite foods include bananas, cheddar bunnies and blueberry pancakes. We've been taking swim classes, which reminds me that she also can make a fish noise (or at least the noise I made up and called it a fish noise). She loves going under water and the biggest thing I am working on is getting her to wait for me to be ready to catch her before she jumps face first into the water from the side of the pool.

Everyday it becomes more and more apparent that she is a fierce, adventurous, independent, amazing girl. Sometimes, I look at her and I'm like, "Oh, wow, she is going to put us through the ringer!" and other days, I think, "Oh, wow, she is going to stop at nothing to change the universe." Both are true and I am so excited to see it happen.

A Trip 'Round The Sun

A whole year?! Could it be? As Amos said the other night, "Well, that was the fastest year of my life." People say to you when your pregnant that once your children are born life seems to speed up, and while it sounded like a cliche at the time, now I couldn't agree more. One of the unexpected upsides to this year going by so quickly is that another year of graduate school has flown by! School, for me, sometimes has the tendency to feel like it will never end, but caught up in the day to day, in the moment, wonder of June Apple, the days just go by, and somehow, the work gets done, the classes get taken, and the drudgery of it all seems to be nonexistent and more manageable.


June Apple's birthday was spent wearing her birthday crown, eating waffles and eggs,  grocery shopping with Mama and Papa and enjoying Indian cuisine. A laid back Sunday with our laid back, one-year old. Amos and I have decided to start a tradition of writing Miss June birthday letters (or comic strips, depending on how the mood strikes us) every year, allowing us each to reflect on the past year and all of her glory. I was thinking that we would hold onto the letters and give them to her to read on her 18th birthday, but then I decided that was a stupid idea. She should be able to read them right now, so she knows right away, and has written proof, of what a fantastic gal she is. Oh, and we are going to hand write these letters, because truthfully, how long is this whole computer/internet fad really going to last?


So here we are and here she is. 4 teeth, crazy hair, crawling like lightening and cruising around the furniture. Favorite words include: Papa, puppy, baby, bye-bye. Nonexistent word: Mama. In fact, she points to me with great glee and says proudly, "Papa!" Amos appears smug.


June Apple Likes                                                                 June Apple Dislikes
Animals                                                                               Cat scratches
Hanging out in the Moby wrap                                          Hanging out in her car seat
Eating at the All You Can Eat Boob Cafe                          When the manager tells her the Cafe is closed
Bath time                                                                            Nap time
Dixieland jazz                                                                     Partisan bickering

So Happy Birthday, Buggy. Our Squirrel Girl.  Cheers to an excellent year, well-lived!

Party time! Excellent!

We had a wonderful time celebrating June Apple's birthday, albeit one week early. We invited all the friends and family who have done so very much for us this past year. Before June was born, I didn't really *get* 1st birthday parties. I didn't get what the big deal was. But then I had a child and realized not only is your child's first birthday a celebration of the first year of life, but also a celebration for parents who have survived their first year as parents. What a year its been, one which we couldn't have enjoyed as much as we did were it not for the INCREDIBLE support of our friends and family. So many of our friends have babysat for June, while I was in class and Amos had a gig. So many people showered us with love, and baby clothes, and diapers, and encouragement. There must have been nearly 40 people at the party (!) and each and every one of them has played a role in making our lives full and wonderful. And for them, I am grateful. I hoped they liked the cake.

Birthday preparations

I have been quite the busy bee preparing for June Apples 1st (!) birthday party. Its a good thing I haven't had classes, as I have been up late every night this week. When trying to think of how I want to celebrate her special day, I decided I would make some things that we can use every year. For her birthday bunting, I made a banner that can be used for all of our birthdays, and then a special one just for her. Plus, I got to use the awesome dye cutter at school to make the letters. I used fabric from her quilt along with some new fabric I picked up. And then there was her birthday crown. I have several friends who have made these for their children, and its a sweet tradition I am excited to start. She'll get to wear it every year and I will add a button every year to mark how old she is. The crown was made out of wool felt. Both the buntings and the crown were a lot of fun to make, as I reflected on what a year its been and what a treasure she is. Here are some pictures of my projects in progress:

 

 June picks out her favorite material for the projects

 Bunting

 Crown

Fun with the dye cutter!

Stay tuned for pics from the party!

First Christmas

Although June is unlikely to have clear memories of her first Christmas, we sure will! Amos and I can understand why people keep having children, because it means that you get to prolong the magic of the season for years to come. We began finding small ways to start and/or continue traditions, such as buying a Christmas book to read in the days leading up to the 25th, visiting Santa, making bourbon balls, and of course, a visit from our friend, Amrinder the Elf. It was wonderful having a much needed break from school, work and my internship, and miraculously, I didn't get sick, as I sometimes tend to do when I get a break.All in all, it was a great time, with visits from all of our parents and siblings, as well as good friends. I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talkin'.

 Posing for holiday cards

 June Apple and her ol' pal.

 Waiting for Santa

 Tiny tree for a tiny girl!

 Christmas shopping makes for the best naps

 Bourbon ball making with G.G. Betty and Grandpa

 No bourbon balls for Juju

 Christmas Eve

A visit from Bepop Santa

 

 June's new friend, Tootie

 

 Papaw and Mamaw come for a visit

 Christmas party at Grandpa's

11 months!

 

With Christmas just around the corner and the end of the semester  in sight, its hard to believe another month has flown by and here we are just shy of a year old! She is crawling everywhere and pulling herself up to stand (which means jumping on the bed in her crib when she want us to come get her). She babbles in full sentences, leaving us wishing we had a June Apple translator, because I know she is saying a lot, we just don't quite understand. But I bet it won't be long, before she is chattering away in a language more familiar to us. And if she talks as much as she babbles, I foresee many rounds of the "Quiet Game" in our future....

Apparently all June wants for Christmas was her two front teeth, because that's what she got. And, boy were they vicious in their entrance. She was not a happy camper, that's for sure! And with those teeth brought Miss June's first fever, which meant her first dose of Tylenol, which I didn't hesitate giving her, knowing she needed it, although, I was sorry to introduce such chemical yuckiness into her system. But it brought her fever down and I don't regret it one instant. Perhaps it was not the chemical yuckiness as much as crossing the threshold into what I am sure will be (as it inevitably is for all of us) a lifetime of medical interventions of some sort of another. I credit breastfeeding and dirt fearlessness for the absence of sickness up till this point, and know many a baby who did not fair as well as she did, nor make it as long before their first introduction to Tylenol. Of course, as medical interventions tend to go, one beget another, and a call to her pediatrician's office to let them know about the fever, resulted in their advisement that I take her in to urgent care as her fever was hovering at about 101 degrees. So in we went and although by the time we got there, she didn't have a fever at all, the doctor did see a slight reddening in her ear and some dullness, indicating a possible ear infection. So, then came the penicillin. Ugh. Now this was something I did not really want to do. The doctor said it was up to me, but she advised it (oh, yeah right, like I can really say no to that).  After a consult with her pediatrician's office (who could not see her themselves as they were booked that day), they supported the choice of antibiotics, since she had had the fever for the past couple days, and it could get worse. So I decided, reluctantly, to go ahead and give it to her. My reluctance was due, in part to the same reasons I didn't like the Tylenol. I was also reluctant because I would like to avoid giving her antibiotics if they're not necessary, in order to avoid the yucky side effects, such as weakened immune system when used frequently, intestinal trouble and possible allergic reactions. Amos' mom is allergic to penicillin and subsequently, Amos was never given it. He did however have many ear infections as a kid and tubes several times. I also had a fair number of childhood illnesses and took antibiotics all the time. The doctor assured me that penicillin allergy is generally not genetic. I also had horror stories of ear infections leading to hearing loss running through my head. And then there was the dreaded Anne Frank Fever (inside joke). So, I filled the prescription, and began the ten day cycle. Literally, within ten minutes of the first dose, she had diarrhea. I couldn't believe how fast it coursed through her system! By the next day her fever had gone away entirely, but she had a raging diaper rash. I cut out all fruit and most vegetables and was giving her lots of yogurt (to rebuild good bacteria), cereal and, of course breast milk. By day three she had a rash all over her body. I called the doctor and she told me to stop the penicillin, which I happily did. Needless to say, the rash went away immediately, the fever never came back and although we have not been back to the doc for a follow up, she does not appear to have an ear infection. I am sorry I gave her the penicillin in the first place, although I know I made the best decision with the information that I had at the time. If I knew it would clear up on its own, I wouldn't have given it to her. But I didn't know that. The doctor I spoke to at the urgent care clinic when I called about the rash told me that more and more doctors are choosing the "wait and see" camp when it comes to childhood ear infections, in order to avoid unnecessary antibiotics. Hmmm. I guess the first doctor I saw did not fall in this camp. 

Needless to say, I am glad she got better, and I am glad she didn't have to take much of the penicillin, and I am glad her allergic reaction was not worse than it was. It is so hard making decisions about what is right for someone else's body. Particularly when that someone else is your child. She doesn't have the words yet to tell me how bad she is feeling, or if she has a headache, or if her ear hurts. I just have to guess, based on ambiguous clues that could mean a lot of things. I can't imagine what it must be like for parents whose children are much sicker than June was. I guess all we can do is trust our instincts, seek out trusted sources (in my case June was seen by a doctor we'd never met), educate ourselves, and have faith that it will, hopefully, all be alright.