 | Diary Navigation:
|
December 4, 2001
Someone’s birthday is coming up, and I’m at a loss as to what options I have! Her birthday is the day after Christmas. We are driving up to my sister’s house (she’s hosting Christmas at her house) to celebrate. However, there are other things I’d rather do on Christmas day than spend it in the car, driving for over three hours, while Alexandria hasn’t had time to appreciate (or maybe even hasn’t had time to open) her presents. What’s going to happen is that I probably will save her presents for when we return home, as we must that night, due to the fact that Al scheduled a doctor’s appointment for the 26th. Merry Christmas. If I knew my parents wouldn’t be so disappointed (or nasty about it) then we could just stay home and forget about traveling. It’s so much harder with Alexandria, and just a trouble that I don’t even want to go to. And it’s not Alexandria’s fault. I don’t really want to be in a car for 3 hours, either.
Which brings me to her birthday. I know none of my family will really relish driving down here for a birthday party of hers, whether it was in a week, or (even worse) when her real birthday is. In fact, I imagine they wouldn’t do it at all. And I don’t want to impose on my sister and make her hold one at her house, that’s just tacky. I wish she would offer, though! I guess we’ll just have a small family one, and I’ll go all out, but no one will come. I am trying to forget about last year’s debacle, so I imagine that’s part of the reason I am reluctant to invite anyone. I can’t imagine how irate I’d be if I went to all that trouble again, and no one showed up a second time! I wish I knew some people around here, and that we had friends here or something. Anyway, I told Al if we had more children, at least they’d show up (as if they had a choice! Ha!).
Alexandria has been rather trying this week (already!). Al was reading her _The Going to Bed Book_ and when he reached the last page, where it goes, “And they rock and rock and rock to sleep” she started sobbing, bawling, tears running down her face. I couldn’t believe it! I asked her what was wrong, and she was just sobbing, “Rock!” I don’t know what set her off, and she kept wanting us to read it to her. I finally threw the damned thing under the treadmill, and listened to her scream even louder, till finally I convinced her she needed a bath. She was rather sensitive the rest of the night, though. It was downright creepy. She sometimes has experiences like that, crying (really crying!) for no reason. Or, at least, no discernable reason to us…I wish I knew what was bothering her. She’s a toddler, and this too, shall pass, right?
As for celebrating her birthday, I am thinking of a Pooh theme. I will probably bake a Pooh cake, and have Pooh decorations and balloons. I know she won’t remember a thing about it, but I want to remember it. Al, ever practical, thinks any sort of big deal is a waste of money, as well as stupid. When he was a kid, his family didn’t give presents, bake a cake, or anything for his or his sister’s birthdays. Well, my mom did the cake thing for us, as well as presents, but there wasn’t much else. No parties, no dinner out, not even a trip to the Golden Arches. I want it to be so much more special for Alexandria, and I guess Al doesn’t understand what all the fuss is about.
Alexandria is getting better at talking every day. She now strings a few words together, can say a word with more than one syllable (booger being my favorite, of course)…I remember I used to worry that she would not be able to speak, and I am glad she is progressing rather nicely. It’s all well and good that some friends of mine had children attempting to say “calculator” before they turned one year, but Alexandria is mine, and she’s different. So there! Ha!
Nursing…WEANING! I am finally cutting Alexandria down to once a day. She no longer leans into my face while I’m sleeping chanting, “Nurse, nurse, NURSE!” I got into the habit of sending her downstairs to Al (who is always already awake) to get fed. Then she comes back up, and nurses. Except, that didn’t happen today. I just distracted her, which wasn’t hard. We did nurse before she went to bed, but I plan on cutting that one feeding out soon, probably by the end of the month.
I have really enjoyed breastfeeding her for so long. I told myself in the beginning, when there were cracked, bleeding nipples, leaking breasts, squirting breasts, soaked bedsheets and sopping t-shirts, nursing pads that were could be wrung out…just make it to four weeks, Candace! I thought I’d never be able to. Then it got better. I was so glad that I didn’t give in. Then I said, well, when she gets teeth, I’m stopping! Then I said at that time, I’ll go to six months. Then to a year. Then I figured, what the heck? If we both enjoy it, why not as long as we want to? And that’s what we’re doing. I’ll never forget all the hours I spent nursing my little baby, cradling her in my arms, doing what women have done since the dawn of man, and I felt so content. Everything was okay. I was nourishing my baby, she grew so big because of what I was doing! And sometimes, that felt like the only thing I was doing right. But now, I think the time has arrived to stop. She has teeth, you know. = ) And they ain’t getting any smaller. When I do nurse her now, she is (almost) as calm and quiet as she was when she was an itty-bitty. And I remember. At least, until I hear her pass gas, and she pops off the boob to inform me, “Toot!” with an evil chuckle. Oh, well.
Till next week,
Candace and Alexandria
 |  |
|
want to keep a diary on iParenting?
Authoring a diary on the iParenting network allows you to chronicle your family's story, preserving it for years to come. It's also a great way to get the most out of the iParenting community. Click here to start...
|
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families. 
