Sushi Smack

Gary, Aurora and I went to sushi last Friday night. It was the first time at Sushiland that Aurora sat in a high chair, was hungry enough to eat, and generally had a good time putting food in her mouth rather than throwing it on the floor.

She quite enjoys being fed with chopsticks and is looking forward to the day when she can use her own chopsticks to feed herself.

I spilled almost as much as she did trying to get those pesky edamame out of their shells. But haha, I can blame it on the baby! Thanks, Smacky.

State Fair 2009: Babies in Backpacks

Here is a snapshot I took at the State Fair last month.

Arlo is enjoying his enormous gobstopper and Aurora is enjoying her freedom.

I bought a little backpack with a leash attached just for the occasion but she kept falling down whenever she'd reach the end of her tether.

She wanted to keep wearing it as a stylish accoutrement, so of course we let her.

Rocking with Lamby

Smacky wears a satisfied smile as she enjoys her rocking chair with the lamb Dawn gave her. It's a rare moment that Smacky's not picking pills off the lamb with the concentration of a monk, but she shared her time with us for a brief interview.

Katy and Gary: How do you like your new chair, Smacky?
Smacky: Gaaaa! Da da dah. Da DAH!

Then the interview was terminated as she had more pressing items on her to-do list than getting grilled about her chair.

I'm pleased that the swing we bought to soothe the crying baby is now pressed into labor as a toddler chair. Just like the box advertised! What a relief- something that does what it says it will, and doesn't break.

Gravely Fussy

Gary is so patient with Aurora when they go out- when she needs to run around, he's more than happy to spend an hour or two at the park so she can get her run on.

This weekend after our walk to the dollar tree and short toddle around the store, Aurora got fussy. She screamed and fell down on the floor of the store, kicking and wailing. I told the other shoppers that it was because she'd had her flu shot, but it's generally because she wants what she wants NOW, dammit. Sometimes she wants tylenol NOW because her tooth is hurting, also.

So we crossed 82nd and bought some pain reliever from Walgreens, and crossed Holgate to walk home.


Fuss, fuss, fuss.

The school near our house is closed for construction but looky here, it's a cemetary! I erred on the side of caution and kept her from walking over fresh graves, from playing with the toys left on graves, and generally by instilling a sense of Awe and Respect, and she was very happy to get out of the stroller and run about.

Here she is, running hell-bent for a grave that has a sparkly silver pinwheel. No, Smacky! Don't desecrate graves!

Two Little Babies, Sittin' on a Bench

We all went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago with my cousin Jen and her younguns.

Sweet Baby James (yes, that's his full name) enjoyed the sun and Aurora liked having a new cousin close to her age.

Here they are in the playground near the elephant houses, taking a breather while the bigger kids played on the statues.

Isn't little James cute?

Happy Birthday Balloon

Aurora had such a terrible time at the doctor on Friday that I thought I would buy her a balloon on Sunday. I rarely buy her toys because she has the run of all of Arlo's toys, and she has a whole corner of the living room full of toys at my parents' house, and I don't want her to become a materialistic greedy gus. (See how I am? And generous, too- wow, a whole balloon! Don't overspend there, Mama.)


Every time Aurora woke up on Friday night, she cried. Cry, flail, don't hold me, kick, keep crying. Cry cry cry. Saturday morning she had fun at a puppet show with Gary and Arlo and but was tired and needy when she came home, and Saturday night she was very well-behaved at a big family dinner at the Ringside until she melted down into a crying, kicking mess.

Sunday she and I walked up to Mall 205 and after stopping for coffee, walked to the dollar tree. So many fun things! Halloween galore, early Christmas, and lots of bobbing helium balloons. I chose the most interesting, brightly colored balloon, and she was so happy about it she hugged and kissed it.

She took it to daycare this morning and even though she was sad when I left, Sarah's cat chewing on the balloon's ribbon made her laugh.

Doctor Time!

Smacky's first doctor appointment for shots, the day I thought would live forever in my brain, was replaced today by her 12-month appointment (2 months late).

Today Aurora took one look at the scale (just the scale, mind you) at the doctor's office and started crying.

That was nothing compared to being held down by Gary and poked three times by that awful nurse (I think she's fabulous, personally, but she doesn't sit on my legs and jab me with needles). Then we went to the lab where the phlebotomist couldn't find Aurora's vein and wiggled the needle around and around in Aurora's little arm until she gave up. Gary held her on his lap and I had to hold her arm straight while Aurora cried and struggled. She even had to spit out her bite of granola bar so she wouldn't choke, and ended up throwing up from crying so hard. (Aurora, not the phlebotomist.)

Poor thing!

Here is a photo of her before the immunizations, learning all about the otoscope from Dr Susie.

By the way, she was getting her blood drawn for a lead test since we live in an old house. That's all.