Girls Gone Wild Weekend

Dear Laney,

This weekend, we took your dad to the airport in Spokane so he could go visit his grandpa Ron, and you and I spent the night with Grandma Sue and Erik. We had a great time. You had a nice relaxing bath, which was similar to a spa treatment at the Four Seasons - only in the kitchen sink.

You are rolling over these days like it's your job. No more elevated surfaces for you, young lady.

Love,

Mom

Rollin' rollin' rollin'...

Dear Laney,

Tonight - just one day shy of being 5 months old - you rolled over all by yourself. For a while now, you've been rolling up on your side, but you couldn't be counted on to go all the way over until tonight. And let me just say: this new development does not seem to make you happy.

You get all the way over, and then look around like you're wondering how you got there. That's when you start to cry, as if we've moved you without your permission.

It's the same look on your face as when you fall asleep in your car seat on the way to the store, and then don't wake up until I'm in the check-out line. You look around, bewildered, wondering how the heck you ended up in Target when the last thing you remember was the back seat. You're like an old guy who passes out in a bar and wakes up at a Waffle House. [Admittedly, this is not age-appropriate humor for a baby blog.]

Anyhoo, you're rolling over now and your dad and I are very excited, even if you're not.

Love,

Mom

Two Peas In A Sweaty Pod

Dear Laney,

Today, you went cross-country skiing with your dad. He wore you on his back in a backpack and the dogs pulled you down the road. As you scooted out of the driveway, I heard your dad yell, "We're movin' now, Pumpkin!!"

When the two of you got back, you were both so glowing and excited and giggly...and sweaty.

You had to air out for a minute.

I never imagined there could be someone who'd love snow sports as much as your Dad, until I went and gave birth to one.

Love,

Mom

Keep Calm and Carry On

Dear Laney,

At the start of World War II, the British government had posters made with the slogan "Keep Calm and Carry On." They were meant to be motivational, and to keep the country moving forward during the war. They looked like this:

After the week we've just had, I'm adopting it as our new motto. So this morning, we all got up and went for a hike in the snowy woods, which you thought was great fun. You did an excellent job of both keeping calm AND carrying on.

Love,

Mom

Mom At The Dentist / Super Pumpkin At Home

Dear Laney,

I had an appointment with the dentist today, and the plan was for your dad to entertain you for an hour while I had my teeth checked out. Dad decided to stroll you up and down the street right underneath the dentist's picture window. As the dentist was poking around in my mouth, I saw you stroll to the left...then stroll to the right...then stroll to the left...until even the hygienist started saying "Here comes your baby again." On your fifth trip under the window, Dad had abandoned the stroller and was carrying you in his arms because you were crying. You looked miserable out there together, so the dentist asked "Do you want to get up and go help them?" So I got out of the dentist's chair and ran outside to tell dad where to find the pacifiers and clean diapers while Dr. Noyd waited patiently.

Because the only thing I hate worse than having my teeth scraped is watching you cry.

We came home tonight and you and Dad hung out on the couch playing "Super Pumpkin":

click here

I'll say this about you, Laney, you sure make him work hard for every laugh - when it comes to your dad, you are one tough crowd. Could you throw him a courtesy laugh every now and then? I think it would really boost his self esteem.

Love,

Mom

We Are Having A Day

Dear Laney,

Sometimes in life, all you want to do is put your head down and hope the world leaves you alone for a little while. This is one of those days.

We went into town this morning to pick up a rental car to use while our car is getting fixed. By the way, you seem to think that all of this car drama is AWESOME - everyone got up with you at 6am instead of making you go back to sleep. You got to wear your pink bear pajamas to town, and all of the guys at Enterprise Rent-A-Car thought you were precious. It was probably because of that bear outfit that they decided to upgrade us to a brand new minivan.

Before we could even get the van home, our nutty neighbor drove into the side of it. I was fine, you were fine, and aside from being ancient and ornery, he was fine. But for those of you keeping track that makes two days, two car accidents.

I think our take-away lesson from recent events should be this:

Whenever possible, walk.

Love,

Mom

What Your Dad Did.

Dear Laney,

Yesterday afternoon, your dad took the dogs on a little ski trip. When they got in the car to come home, your dad noticed that the car was drifting sideways on the ice. There was nothing he could do, and the car went over the side of the road with him in it and slid down the hill until it came to a stop at a tree.

Originally, I was going to write a jokey little post about how one day you'll have a Learner's Permit, and statistics say that you'll be involved in a fender bender or two. I titled it "What Your Dad Did" because I was going to tell you that when that happens, and your dad gets mad, you should remind him of this day and tell him everyone makes mistakes.

But that's not the lesson I want you to take from this. As I was lying in bed last night, I was thinking about how much you and your dad mean to me, and how lucky I am to have you both, and how blessed we are that your dad made it home. Because coming home safely to us at the end of the day is What Your Dad Did.

And that's all that matters.

Love,

Mom

Hanging With Mollie

Dear Laney,

Yesterday, we went over to your friend Mollie's house and had your picture taken together. Mollie let you borrow a barrette for the photo shoot, which was very nice...but also unnecessary, since you don't have much hair on your head. Mollie's mom Virginia had to work hard to make that clip stay up there. It was mostly a pity barrette.

Mollie seems to be a little better at holding her head up, but that's to be expected since you're dealing with a heavier load.

You both looked beautiful, and I know you'll have a full head of hair someday.

I promise.

Love,
Mom

Things That Have Made Their Way To Your Mouth:

A bottle. A binky.

A blue teething ring.

Your big right toe.

The straps on your swing.

Your fingers. Your thumbs.

A banana (just half).

A small pink spoon.

A rubber giraffe.

Your jammies. Your hat.

A clump of Mom’s hair.

A Tupperware lid.

A teaspoon of pear.

But we're not concerned -

It's a source of great pride...

That you approach life

With your mouth open wide.

Oh, I Give Up

Dear Laney,

Apparently, you want to skip the part of your development where somebody else feeds you, and skip right to the part where you feed yourself.

Fine.

Gus, you can bat clean up.

Love,

Mom

Good Morning To You. I Live In a Zoo.

Dear Laney,

I am starting to suspect that you are 95% beautiful baby and 5% howler monkey.

click here

But you're my favorite good morning monkey.

Love,

Mom

Hamtastic

Dear Laney,

Every day, you're becoming more of a little grown-up - which is great - but it doesn't mean I'm not going to miss so many things about your little baby body.

In fact, if I had to pick the thing I'll miss the most, it would be your feet. They are pink and perfect and deliciously chubby. I say "delicious," because they look like little hams. I could put them between two slices of bread and eat them up.

But instead, I settle for kissing them 8000 times a day. Hope you don't mind.

Love,

Mom

Cheese Fries, Please

Dear Laney,

Tonight, we had dinner at Outback Steakhouse with your Aunt Brynn and Uncle Nate.

I had the crab cakes. You had four pacifiers, two teething toys, a box of crayons, our undivided attention, three teaspoons of sweet potatoes, a crying jag, and a walk around the parking lot with Nate.

I took you to the bathroom for a diaper change and while you were crying, a 3 year old girl walked in and asked you, "WHAT HAPPENED?!?"

Preach, sister.

Love,

Mom

Laney & Sophie

Dear Laney,

Here is something I shouldn't admit to you...in fact, if you ever ask me about it, I'll deny I ever wrote it, but here goes: When you don't feel good, I'm willing to throw money at the problem.

This is why you're now in possession of an $18 specially-formulated rubber giraffe from a small factory in France. Sophie the Teething Giraffe even has a little squeaker inside her, and she makes Ella NUTS. But you love her, and that's what's important.

In fact, if you could talk, I bet you'd say "Hey, Mom, thanks for going out of your way to find me such an AWESOME teething toy."

And I bet if Sophie could talk, she'd say "Ow! Quit chewing on my leg! That HURTS!"

Just kidding.

Love,

Mom

Your Big Round Head: Full Disclosure

Dear Laney,

When I wrote yesterday that your round head was my fault, you were only getting half the story. I got MY round head from my father, so really you should blame him. Or thank him, because you're awfully cute.

My grandmother (Philip's mother) was called "Mama Lee," and she had this photo of Philip hanging up in her front room for decades. Mama Lee was quite a character, and I hate you won't get to meet her. When we were little and our parents did something we didn't like, my cousin Heidi and I could tattle to Mama Lee, and she would head off to give them a spanking with her little cutting board, even though they were in their forties.

Mama Lee wasn't big on hygiene, but her food was so good no one cared. To this day, when I smell chicken grease, I get nostalgic for Mama Lee's kitchen.

After my parents got married, Mama Lee would ask Peg all the time, "When are you going to have a baby?" And Peg would say "As soon as you take down that picture of Philip with the huge head." Mama Lee never took down the picture, and Peg eventually had me anyway...

So that I could grow up and have you...

and pass on the tradition of the big Lee head.

You're welcome.

Love,

Mom