First Phone Conversations

When: This evening

Where: In the living room after a feeding

Details: While feeding Tali, I was on the phone with my sister. When Tali was done eating, she began reaching for the phone and cooing! She and Aunt Cara "chatted" for a few minutes before Cara had to go. Since she was still talking away, we called Gran and Grandpa (my parents). Tali helped me hold the phone and she talked to each of them for about five minutes! Of course there were a few awkward silences and some button pressings, but overall Tali did well and really seemed to enjoy it.

Don't you sleep?

I've been asking Tali that question a lot recently. It seems that her awake time is getting longer and longer. Yesterday she was awake from 4:00 p.m. until I put her to bed at 10:30 p.m. She had about a 30 minute nap somewhere in there and that was it. Today, she was up from 2:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m! Again, one tiny 30 minute nap and that was it. 

And on both days I took her (and Jackson) for an hour long walk. She was awake in the stroller the whole time! Usually she lasts about 10-15 minutes, but on these walks she just refused to sleep. It was kind of cool to watch her explore everything going on. 

"They" say babies her age should sleep approximately 15.5-16 hours a day. She gets 12-13 on a good day. I'm going to assume its because I'm so interesting that she wants to be awake to see what I'll do/say next. 

Tali's New Trick

Tali has now learned how to pull the pacifier out of her mouth. Sometimes she pulls it from the ribbon that clips the pacifier to her clothing and other times, she grabs onto the pacifier itself to pull it out. You can tell she's proud of herself for figuring this out as she gets excited each time she does it. Unfortunately, she cannot put it back in yet. She tries, but hasn't figured out how to get something so small in her mouth (usually it's toys, blankets or her dress she's stuffing in there). So now she pulls out the pacifier just because she can, and then realizes she still wants it and starts to cry for it. Oh joy...

First Big Outing

Today I took Tali to Chappaqua to experience "lap time" at the library. Lap time is a 15 minute session of songs for babies under the age of one. I was meeting a friend who lives there so she recommended we go to lap time first and then to lunch. Although Tali was the youngest, she loved it! She loved the songs, was looking around and fascinated by the other babies. She had such a great time!

After lap time and lunch, I came back home and decided to see what the Greenwich library has to offer. They also have lap time but you must be a Greenwich resident and register for the class. A new session begins each month and there's a wait list for the next session (which begins next week). So now I'm on a wait list to sit on the floor and sing nursery rhymes with Tali. A bit ridiculous, don't you think?  

32 years old

Yesterday, while in the checkout line at the baby store, I met a woman purchasing some items for her pregnant daughter. Somehow we got into a conversation about pacifiers and she asked me which ones Tali prefers. I told her and said that I really didn't want her to become a thumb sucker. She agreed and then told me her motivation. Her 32-year-old niece still sucks her thumb! She doesn't do it in public, but still sucks her thumb at home when she's watching TV, going to sleep, etc. She just can't give it up! The only thing I have to say about that is YUCK!

Chatty Cathy

I feel sorry for anyone who meets me lately. Unknowingly, they've just subjected themselves to a long conversation with a complete stranger. I spend most of my days talking to a baby and a puppy, and neither of them talk back. I only know one person out here and I really miss having a dialogue with someone. So when I'm out at the grocery store, the park or even the pet store, I engage others in a conversation. I really can't help it. I am aware I'm probably boring them and they're wishing I'd just go away, but I just have to talk to someone who won't stare or cry as a response!

Since Tali is getting a little older, I have decided that I will start going out more - for my own sanity. I recently learned about story time once a week at a local baby store, an exercise class with your baby and am looking for other things. Hopefully this will allow me to meet other moms and give me someone to talk to. If not, warn all the cashiers - I'm coming by to say hi!

Happy Passover!

Tali celebrated her first Passover this week. She got her first taste of wine (Manishewitz) and even "sat" at the table for some of the Seder.

Liar, liar, pants on fire!

While I was pregnant, there was a woman who made it her mission to tell me horror stories of her pregnancy and labor/delivery. She told me how crazy I was to want to give birth without the use of medication. Her "warnings" got so annoying that I eventually asked her to stop telling me these stories. 

Well, I saw her the other day and she met Tali. She asked me how my delivery was and I briefly told her the story. She then said to me that she wishes she could've had more children because she loved being pregnant and had such an easy labor/delivery! She went on to say how great everything was throughout her pregnancy and how she barely felt any labor pains!

I just sat there, shocked. My mouth was probably wide open. I couldn't believe I was hearing this. I chose not to remind her of all the "warnings" she gave me. But now I know she is a big, fat liar.

Bottle vs. Breast

I'm calling bullsh@*t on "lactation consultants." Every consultant will tell you that if you want your baby to breast feed, you shouldn't give them bottles. Since it's easier to get the milk out of a bottle, they will prefer that and will refuse to breast feed. Tali is proof that is not true.

On Wednesday, I took Tali into the city for an "office tour." First, we went to her dad's office. While there, it was time to feed her so I took out a bottle. She refused to put it in her mouth. She only wanted to breast feed. Luckily, there was enough privacy that I could do so. Then, we went to my old office. We were there for a long time and it was time for her to eat again. So I took out the bottle and she took it for a minute or two then spit it out, turned to my breast (which was clothed) and opened her mouth! Luckily, there was an empty office I could use.

It's clear that she prefers breast feeding to a bottle (although she will take a bottle from other people, just not me). Perhaps it's the cuddling and comfort of breast feeding that she likes. Or, maybe she's just stubborn and wants to make my life difficult. 

She's found her mouth!

You know those clown cars at the circus? They're tiny little cars that comfortably seat two but somehow ten clowns climb out. Well, Tali has recently found her mouth and I'm convinced she thinks her mouth is like a clown car. She's constantly trying to fit huge things into that tiny space. The funniest attempt? She puts her fist in her mouth and then tries to breast feed! Of course, she gets upset because she cannot get to the boob, but she can't understand why. I then have to pull her hand out and hold it down (because her baby logic says it should still be there) to get her to latch on.

Other mouth-stuffing attempts include trying to get a toy into her mouth while the pacifier is in there, trying to put her blanket in her mouth and eating my clothing with her hand in her mouth. When she's not trying to shove things in her mouth, she spends a lot of time sticking out her tongue to lick whatever is around her. I'm just waiting for the day when she tries to lick (or eat) Jackson's ear or tail. That'll be a fun day.

Meet Bob

I'd like to introduce you to Bob. He joined our family this past weekend and came with us for a fun day at the park on Sunday. At 23 pounds and with three legs, Bob is definitely a presence in our home. Who is Bob? Bob is Tali's new stroller.

On Saturday H and I took the plunge and purchased a "real" stroller. We've been using the Snap and Go (you snap the car seat into a lightweight frame and go) but it wasn't doing so well when we tried to push her at the beach, the park or anywhere that wasn't a smooth, flat surface. So after some research, we decided on a stroller from a company called Bob. We tested out its features at the Pepsico park on Sunday and it worked great! We could push her on the grass, over gravel and through the mud with minimal bumping around.

Since Tali is so tiny, we had to purchase an infant insert for her. She barely fits into the stroller and her legs aren't even close to reaching the ledge where older children's knees hang over. It's very funny. Some people actually didn't realize she was in there on first glance. Bob can hold children up to 70 pounds. At this rate, Tali will still able to ride in the stroller in high school.

New cry

Tali debuted a new cry today. It appeared twice when she woke up from naps in the swing.  I think this is her new "I'm awake, get me outta here" cry. I'm finally starting to learn her cries.

Someone broke the baby

I think someone broke my baby. She was finally starting to sleep well at night and now she's the worst she's ever been. 

On average, Tali had been sleeping 5-6 hours straight (she even did 7 one night!) and then another 2-3 hour stretch. I was finally getting a bit of sleep at night and able to function somewhat better during the day. Then, three nights ago, everything changed. I'm not sure if it's because she had to go back in her bassinet and sleep in a different room (see previous post) or some other factor, but she started waking up every 2-3 hours. But last night was the worst. She woke up EVERY HOUR and she was back in her room and crib. There was nothing I could do to soothe her. I tried everything. She just screamed for about 20-30 minutes, fell asleep and then would wake up 30 minutes later to scream again. I'm exhausted.

She's broken and I want her fixed! Anyone know of a baby repairman in the area?

Furniture Fiasco

When H and I purchased Tali's furniture, we went to a small store in Long Island (about an hour and a half away) so that we could select boy furniture and girl furniture and have the right one delivered once Tali was born. After we picked out the furniture (a very long process), the store called our doctor to find out the sex of the baby and then ordered the girl furniture. Her furniture arrived a few days after she was born and we love it. But, there has been a problem for the past three months. The armoire came with some scratches and dents.

We waited three months for the furniture company to send us some touch-up paint so that it could be fixed. Once the paint finally came, the store sent over someone to do the touch-up and he did a horrible job. It actually looked worse than before. So he came back a few days later to pick up the hutch (where most of the scratches were) and bring to a refinisher. It came back a few days later even worse! The finish wasn't the same, it was dirty, there were still some scratches and it had a very strong paint smell. The smell was so strong that we had to put Tali back in her bassinet and in the office to sleep for two nights. I didn't want her exposed to the fumes.

Apparently, the refinisher wasn't finished with the hutch when it was picked up. So now it's going back to him today for completion. The hutch (along with the top of the dresser - which also has a few scratches) will be gone for a week or so. Hopefully it'll come back looking like new and we can be done with this nonsense. It'd be nice to have her room together before her first birthday!