Candace W.'s Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 12/26/02 -------------------- 10/27/02 9/29/02 9/10/02 9/1/02 8/18/02 8/12/02 6/29/02 4/14/02 3/18/02 3/3/02 1/11/02 12/21/01 12/4/01 11/20/01 11/13/01 10/21/01 9/12/01 9/5/01 8/29/01 8/22/01 8/6/01 7/24/01 7/16/01 7/3/01 6/26/01 6/11/01 6/3/01 5/1/01 4/22/01 4/9/01 3/6/01 3/1/01 2/19/01 2/15/01 2/6/01 2/4/01 1/24/01 1/15/01 1/9/01 1/1/01 12/26/00 -------------------- Candace W.'s Introduction

December 21, 2001

This has been a busy past couple of weeks. On the 6th, I found out that Dr. Popham passed away. I worked for him this summer at SEMO, and I was quite upset to learn he had had a stroke the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and then a few short weeks later was dead. I was quite emotional, as I have little experience with death, but I did get to see some former professors from there at the funeral, probably for the last time. It was a nice funeral; Dr. Readnour in particular gave a wonderful tribute to Dr. Popham. He will be sorely missed at SEMO, and I pray for him and his family.


Then the end of the semester popped up. I only had to proctor an exam, which went well, but was a draining 4+ hours. I had no finals, because (as we know) when you drop all your courses, there are no finals! Oh, did I neglect to mention this? What an embarrassment, to have to do that. I couldn’t handle my load, and just shut down. I hope to better next semester. Or else I’ll get kicked out.


And now, freedom for less than a month. I love the academic calendar. I am getting to spend time with Alexandria. She (I think) is enjoying having us both around. Last night she had her two year check-up. She is now 35 inches tall, and weighs 28 pounds. That’s about 75% for both. She also had one shot, her (I think) third polio. She would have gotten the second Prevnar, but couldn’t due to a national shortage, so only babies were getting them. Anyway, the doctor was satisfied with how she was progressing, and she did behave well at the office. Alexandria wasn’t tickled with getting her weight and height measured, she was (of course) crying. I did have gum to bribe her with, so she accepted a few of the procedures, like taking her coat and shoes off! As long as I held her, she seemed to be ok.


I also (while we waited) did a quick and dirty vision check on her. It seems she sees about 20/10. Since I am so nearsighted, I wanted to see how she did. I just estimated 10 feet away from their eye chart, and had her read the letters off of it, as I pointed to them. I am trying to teach her the numbers now, and she knows zero (her favorite!), 2, 6, and 8. She has trouble with 5, always calling it two. We’re working on 4 now, so maybe by Christmas she’ll know them all (well, maybe except for 9!). I enjoy teaching her so much. And I think I’m pretty good at it. Al gets bored rather easily with it. I think I have a high tolerance for it because my mind works like a kid’s still, and I like to play with her toys…in other words, I’m easily amused. Ha!


We took Alexandria to sit on Santa’s lap. That was a joke! I wound up in the picture, sitting with her. They managed to snap a picture where she wasn’t wailing. Maybe next year! I am not bothered by the fact that she didn’t go for it. I am bothered by the fact that I expected she would. I should know her well enough by now to know that she doesn’t like strangers or strange situations. I expected Alexandria would sit there preening for the camera and giggling at the jolly old elf. It was time I had a wake-up call.


We also went to Sears to get our family Christmas pictures. That went a little better, especially near the end. We did manage to get one picture of her by herself, sitting on the little horse. She loved it. I could have kissed the photographer. Alexandria is two (or close enough) and I understand that. I did try to bribe her (as only a mother could) but it didn’t work. Anyway, it all worked out for the best, and when we get those pictures back, I’ll have to scan them in and post a link to them.


Alexandria has been weaned for a little over a week. She still asks to nurse every night, for which I feel incredible guilt, but she seems none the worse for wear. I do miss holding her in my arms, but I do enjoy having my body all to myself again. Alas, my boobs are smaller than when I got pregnant. Let’s just say an A cups is now too big. It was nice having size C’s when it lasted.


I have to admit, Alexandria is getting cuter every day. She is starting to listen a little better and she can follow directions (or instructions) when she feels like it. She is beginning to talk a lot. When she’s not engaged in some activity, she is constantly saying something, waiting for you to parrot it back, with a little elaboration on what’s going on. She also loves the book _Froggy Learns to Swim_ and will say, “Frogggggyyyyy!…..Whhhaaaaat?…..Out!……No, no……swim!” just like (mostly) it does in the book. I need to get video of her saying that!


I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas if they celebrate it (or a happy holiday, if you prefer) and, of course a Happy New Year!


My next entry will be all about how Alexandria’s Christmas/birthday extravaganza went. She is way overloaded on presents, no exaggeration there. She is the only one, so I had to buy her a lot of stuff. I never got much for Christmas, so I guess I am trying to make it up to her. Al bought her a die cast ride on (pedal) tractor. And her other presents are (this is both birthday and Christmas) a Victorian kitchen, a ride on train, a talking Pooh bear, a bouncing pony ball (hop ball), a Barney Christmas video, kitchen accessories (fake food and plates) and See and Say (remember those? The new ones suck! Ha, ha!), those Neurosmith blocks, two extra cartridges for it, a new tricycle, some little musical toys (little whistle, tambourine)…and a lot I can’t remember at this moment.


I will qualify the extreme-ness of our shopping frenzy: Al and I don’t really spend money on much else. His Christmas present cost me about $36, and our family is not terribly large, so we choose to spend a lot on Alexandria. I really could care less for the present buying aspect of Christmas, in terms of shopping for anyone over the age of 15. By that age, I think you’re getting too old to enjoy it. And that’s not what Christmas is supposed to be about, anyway. I have been talking to her about the real meaning of Christmas, but I am not sure how much has sunk in. Well, my toddler is done watching her only Barney video of the day. I have to grab her before she destroys all the wrapping paper in here by removing it from the roll! Or cuts herself with the scissors! Yikes!


Merry Christmas and happy holidays!


Candace and Alexandria