Cheese!! 

Sad News

Last night about 9 o'clock, I got a phone call letting me know a friend of mine had died. It was not a surprise to me, but still, it makes me pause and think of him and his wife and three children. I saw him just last week, lying in his bedroom which now contained a twin bed for his wife and a hospital bed for him. He was sleeping and looked tired. I heard that yesterday, he seemed peaceful. Ready. He lived longer than doctors predicted. They said 2 years. He said HA! and lived 2 years, 1 month and 27 days.
I don't know how his wife will find the strength to go on. But she will. For their children, for their sanity, and mostly, because she doesn't have a choice.
I wish I knew what to do now. I guess just be their friend. Offer to help when I can. I am truly sorry to hear this news. I hope I never know the pain she has to be going through.

Universally funny

Walking is now part of daily life. What has now changed is something different than what you may think. Lauren now laughs every time she passes gas. Funny stuff!! She has also discovered that she can make me laugh by tickling me. Her sense of humor is becoming more apparent everyday. She giggles a lot when the cat is on the floor and she tries to grab the cats ears. Just before Lauren grabs her ear, Gracie moves them. She laughs loudly enough, when I'm on the phone with Rebecca, Rebecca can hear her.
There is nothing better than a baby giggle. Bottle it and sell it and the problems of the world will just fade away...

Not at all about Lauren

I have found a new "addiction". It is to a website. When Lauren is asleep, when John is home and with her, when I have a question, I go there. It is terribly entertaining, educating, fun, and infuriating all at the same time. Let me tell you something. People have opinions. Lots of them. And they are STRONG opinions. Opinions that, if necessary, would be defended to the death! Esp. regarding breastfeeding, politics, letting babies cry etc.
I like my new pasttime. I have to go, dh is on the phone and dd just woke up!:)

The amazing singing, dancing baby

She hums. She sways. She bounces. She claps. She's the amazinig, singing, dancing baby. This week she started showing real interest in songs from the library and swimming. It is SO cute. Doesn't matter who's singing it, Rebecca, Dad, me. She is a musical baby. She even started singing with Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star with Baby Galileo.
My daughter is officially the smartest and cutest in the whole world! So there!

FYI

I now have a guest book at the bottom of this page, so feel free to sign it, ask questions, make comments etc.

Sleepless Night

What happened? After weeks of great sleeping, last night we went backwards. For 55 minutes, Lauren wailed!!! I'm sure the neighbors loved the fact we chose last night to sleep with all of the windows open, but how was I supposed to know? I had the usual anxiety about, let her cry, go get her, go in a sit until she calms down... I think parenting is just a group of guesses. No manuel. No right or wrong to every question. No telling how tonight will be. She woke up this morning happy, smiling, patting me on the back. Therefore, I am led to believe that my pediatrician was right. She won't hold a grudge, she will go back to sleep. And then, so will I.

Frankenstein-ish

Why is it that when we are in public, Lauren all but refuses to walk? She hangs on my leg, sits, crawls, will hold my finger and walk, but ask her to walk on her own and she gives you this, "I can't do that you crazy woman!" look. I'm not crazy, I swear. John has seen her walk, Rebecca has seen her, our parents have seen her and so have most all in-laws. When strangers ask, as they often do, if she can walk, I tell them, "When she wants to. Crawling moves her faster." If they have children, they nod knowingly and walk on. If they have no children, they just shake their head in disbelief. Trust me. She walks. And one day, you'll see her do it.
The best way I can describe her walk, is like Frankenstein. She walks stiff legged, swinging her legs around rather than bending at the knee, and V-E-R-Y slowly. I know. I'm not criticizing her. I'm just telling you what I see, and what I see is a beautiful child who LOOKS nothing like Frankenstein, (you know, she's not grey, has no bolts in her neck, needs no lightening to be brought to life) but walks just like him. Walks I tell ya'. She really does it.

Walking, walking, walking

Well, walking is something we are doing more of. Lots more. I think today Lauren actually walked more than crawled. Not a good sign for an unprepared mother who needs to do LOTS more baby proofing. She proved that point today by chewing on the entertainment center when I thought she was looking at a picture. Foolish Momma. No baby is THAT interested in photography...Now our entertainment center has a little piece of finish (paper finish) missing. And it's right on the front. I now have to baby proof. It is time.
A walking we will go, a walking we will go, hi ho the merry-o, a walking we will go. For the rest of our lives...

Going places

Today, Lauren decided to walk about 10 feet without help, without prompting, and without much pomp and circumstance. Does this mean that running is just around our corner? Maybe not for a few more days...

When we go on vacation in a few short months, I bet she'll be walking like crazy. Now that's a scary proposition. Walking in a town where I will know only 4 other people and they are family. Now is when I will have to be on my toes more than ever before. Fortunately, we aren't going someplace like Disney, at least not yet. We are starting with something smaller like Gatlinburg or Lake of the Ozarks. OH!! Then I have to worry about water and Lauren finding it and wanting to get in and........

Worrying gets you no where. Walking gets you everywhere. Just ask Lauren.

Mall yelling

I guess the mall is a great place to yell and echo. Lauren found this out today. She had fun echoing, and frankly I hope it didn't bother other people, but if it did, so what? She's a baby. Growing up more every day so yelling won't last forever. I'll miss it...