Baby's got wings

We had a marvelous Christmas. I'm too tired to write about it. I will say that my family is so freaking generous and wonderful. I don't know how I got so lucky. But, lucky I am. Stella Dot and her cousins Kaila and Kira had a lovely time together. Kira is 2.5 and overflowing with love and affection for her sister and Stella Dot, who are 4 days apart, coming up on 7 months.

My brother was calling Stella Dot the "Norwegian Princess" all weekend. For the life of me, I can't figure out why.

I did the unspeakable at the airport when I asked another family how old their little boy was. He was a she. If you know me, you know that I CAN'T STAND when someone mistakes Stella Dot for a boy. And, then I went and did it, too. I am a bit more understanding now.

We are doing some cry-it-out work with Stella Dot now. Last night and tonight she went to bed groggy (but not asleep) and had to soothe herself to full sleep. Last night took an entire hour of "soothing" (hysteria, pure and simple). Tonight, the terror only lasted ten minutes. Last night was horrible for all of us. I was crying and miserable, but after Stella Dot woke up after 10 hours of interrupted sleep with a big smile on her face this morning, I was feeling a bit better about the whole thing. Here's hoping that it sticks. She's a smart cookie, but dang, that seems too easy. There, I jinxed it.

Hey she's getting hair. Tufts of blonde and light brown hair growing in at different speeds, so that a few inch-long strands stick out around the puffs of shorter ones. It'll be hilarious soon enough.

And, she'll be crawling any minute. I promise.

OK. Now for the pics.

The Littlest Rembrandt.

Kira poses pretty.

Grandma and Stella Dot.

Turkeys at the bird feeder. Really. A whole gaggle.

Who needs a play yard???

Stella Dot and Kaila. Kaila is 4 days older.

Stella Dot and Grandma. Or rather, Grandma and Stella Dot.

Stella Dot and Kira. Kira is the big sister to Kaila, and Stella Dot's cousin.

The Norwegian Princess.

The RuderSam Fam.

The three babies in their matching Christmas dresses.

Grandpa and his two youngest granddaughters.

Christmas at RDU?

We're flying to Wisconsin tomorrow. Our flight leaves Raleigh at 6 am and is supposed to arrive at Chicago O'Hare around 8 in the morning so we can make our puddle-jumper flight to Madison at 9ish. There is a major problem, however: Snowstorm. We're watching the weather closely and thinking good thoughts that we won't be spending Christmas Eve at the airport eating Bojangles with strangers.

Happy Holidays
Amy

Holiday parties!

Stella Dot is making the rounds of the holiday parties this year. She's attended two swanky events thus far, and has another one today. Well, the one today is really just the first meeting of the Vagina Monologues cast and crew, but I have a feeling that the meeting will be full of holiday cheer! I'm planning on participating in the VM performance again this year -- just two small parts. I had such fun last year and the performances always raise money for good causes, so I'm pretty psyched to participate.

I have to get a cup of coffee now, because I'm soooo tired, but while I'm doing that, you can see a couple of pictures of Stella Dot enjoying herself at last week's event. Thanks to Anna C. for the pictures!

Brandi, the hostess with the mostest, with Stella Dot.

Stella Dot was so lucky to get this cool sweater from her friends in Illinois, Tom and Jennifer. Jennifer made it with her own two hands! Soooo festive! Aside: Let's all be sure to ask Santa that SDS doesn't get her mama's schnoz!

"Happy Holidays" -- I guess that says it all? Let's eat.

You give me fever...and a floor full o' sweet potatoes

Stella Dot's been sick. Nothing too serious, but she did have a fever that spiked to 101.8 at 2 am on Thursday morning. We called the doctor hotline ($10 per call) and they said, "Didn't they TELL you that there might be a slight fever after she got her immunizations?" (which she had received, by the way, earlier that day). Well, they DID tell us that she might have a low-grade fever, but excu-use me if 1) low grade to me is 99 degrees, not 102, and 2) everything you read everywhere as a new parent says that you should call your pediatrician if a baby's temperature goes above 101. Well, if you know me at all you know that I follow the rules. So, I paid my $10 and called the doctor. "Give her some Tylenol and if it goes above 105 [!!!] bring her to the hospital." That's what they said. Who in their right mind would wait for a fever to hit 105 before bringing their six month old to the hospital? I ask you.

ANYWAY, she's feeling better today after 36 full, non-stop, fun fun fun hours of mommy and me time. I had to take off my 5th day at my new job because Grant's up to his ears in board meetings this weekend. He promises (and I believe him) that he will take over emergency parenting duties for a while after this so I can get settled in.

So, SDS got weighed and measured as well as poked and prodded on Thursday and here are the stats:

HEIGHT: 26.5 inches (That's 75th percentile, y'all)
WEIGHT: 15.2 pounds (That's 25th percentile, y'all)
HEAD: Not as flat. (Hooray, y'all)

Who ever thought I'd have a tall, skinny, semi-flat headed baby with big blue eyes and a big gummy smile?

I took a couple of photos of her while she was eating her sweet potatoes today. Actually, she wasn't so much eating them as shooting them across the room with her lips. Pictures and a video follow. For those of you getting the email version of this, check out the video here.

Six! 6? Six!

Months, that is. Tomorrow, Stella Dot will be six months old. I'm actually quite overwhelmed by it. G and I were talking a bit about how different our lives are now. SO. COMPLETELY. DIFFERENT. We both agree though, that the best thing we've ever done, both individually or collectively, is creating this little being. Even though I get sad sometimes thinking of the cruddy world we brought her into, and the fact that there won't be any elephants or lions or rhinos to see on African safari because we've killed them all and that it doesn't snow anymore and that she'll have to be fifth grader (and then a sixth and seventh grader, and if she survives that...high school). And, that some dumb guy (or gal) will break her heart when she is a very sensitive 16.

But, I guess I can counter all of that with the amazing and wonderful things she'll experience. Her loving grandparents, great friends, and the sights and sounds and thrills of a very small but still diverse world. Seeing her favorite band live in concert for the first time (with just the slightest buzz going). Snuggling in bed with Lemmy (the poodle, not the bassist for Motorhead). Learning to swim. Learning to read. Riding her bike. Finding her passion...whether it's engineering or plumbing or (here's hoping) artisanal cheese making.

Anyway. She's got a lot to do between now and then. Namely, learning to crawl, walk, chew, talk...but, as everyone keeps telling me, it'll be no time at all before she's waving to us from her rear view mirror as she drives away, back to college/work/kibbutz/the big city/the life she creates for herself.

Happy birthday, baby girl.

Flesh and blood needs flesh and blood and you're the one I need...

It's been really busy. Quick recap. Thanksgiving in Pueblo (CO). Day in Denver with the amazing and wonderful Brandi and Eric. Last day of work at NCSU. Presentation in Charlotte. Very nice going away party. Crafting with Julie and Debra. Leaf blowing bonanza. Stella Dot cut her finger on an aluminum can. A little blood, a lot of guilt. I think that about covers it. I'll try to write more later/soon.

Here's what you really want:

Everything tastes better with stripes

Stella Dot likes to eat her feet. I guess you could call it a foot fetish. Normally she wears footed onesies to bed, but she has a few that are "foot-less." When she wears those to bed, we always put her in socks, too. Well, we can't anymore because she loves her feet so much that if she wakes up in the middle of the night, she'll start sucking on her toes and pulling her socks off. We're a little afraid that she'll choke on those wet, soggy socks while we're sleeping. So, foot-less onesies are off limits for the time being.

Other new favorite activities include making raspberry sounds while in her doorway jumper. She turns in circles making raspberries and creates what I like to call, a "spit moat." I'll let you figure that one out on your own. Raspberries appear at the most inopportune times. Today, I got a face full of oatmeal, for instance, while I was feeding her. Ill-timed spoon meets ill-timed raspberry equals, well, oatmeal face wash.

She's been rolling quite a bit and I finally (finally!) saw it with my own eyes. She's doing most of her rolling at day care. Apparently, if you put her and Noah (a little boy from day care) on the floor with her, they like to "roll around together." Miss Lottie, her day care teacher, told me she was going to have a little talk with Stella Dot about rolling around on the floor with boys.

Those are the highlights of life with a 5 month old. That, and drool. Drool production is way up. She was chomping on my finger today but I don't feel any teeth yet. I think she's producing all that spit so when she raspberries, she doesn't just make a loud noise, but hits everything in a 3-foot diameter. She's so advanced.

Here's a video that I took when my folks were in town. I told my mom she couldn't make any noise while I was running the video, so instead of laughing she kept hitting my knee. You can tell when she hits my knee because the camera shakes. Enjoy.



Oh, and if you are getting the email version of this, the video can't come to you -- you'll have to go to the video.

Ryan's birthday

It's my brother's birthday today. I called him to find out what he's up to. Apparently, he is in a "darts league" and he's got a big game tonight. Good luck, there, Ryan. Here's hoping your birthday brings you a bullseye or two tonight.

My folks were here this past weekend. I think they like Stella Dot. I've got pictures to prove it. What I don't have is photographic proof of Stella Dot dressed up in Packers colors and she and I at a sports bar on Sunday watching the Packers-Vikings game. I will admit that she takes after me more than her uncle, grandmother, or grandfather in that about 10 minutes into the game she had fallen asleep. To me, the best part of the game (other than halftime when I went home and didn't have to watch the game anymore) was when some folks came around handing out FREE Leinie's!

Big Stella Dot development news: I went in to check on her this morning and she was sleeping on her belly. It's only a matter of time before she is studying for the LSAT.

Anyway, here are a bunch of photos.

We can't wait until she fits into her "tiny democrat" onesie!

Grandma and Stella Dot

Socks are delicious.

Errr, whaaaaaaaat?

Aw, shucks.

Baby's first...seltzer water.

Stella's own personal prison is being stuck on her belly.

Grandpa and Stella Dot in her bedroom.

Sleeping Stella.

SUPER Stella!

Jump up, Jump up, Jump Around, or, Turn Over

We got Stella Dot a "doorway jumper" (known "back in the day" as a "Johnny Jump Up"). The hilarity has not begun quite yet as she is just discovering that she has feet. However, she did figure out how to spin herself around the first time we put her in. She's still pretty small (5 months on Monday), so we're going to cut her some slack. But, we anticipate much jumping in her future.

Oh, did I mention that she turned over at day care twice last week? Once from front to back and once in the other direction. And then last night, when Grant was getting her ready for bed, she turned over again. I haven't really been privy to this particular talent yet, but I remain optimistic that I'll experience it soon.

Finally, we had a most amazing day at the zoo yesterday. It's in Asheboro, which is sort of -- sorry all of North Carolina -- just west of nowhere. But, man, once you get there, the zoo is really wonderful. They focus on North American and African animals, which makes sense considering our climate. The animals have very large spaces, it is well maintained, and, well, fun. Anyway, we went for a friend's daughter's birthday (see http://moldyschlesier.blogspot.com/) and are so glad that they thought to celebrate it that way, and that they invited us along.

I'm guessing that they will post some pictures from the trip in the next few days. I didn't take any yesterday, but, in the meantime, I do have a shot of Stella Dot in her doorway jumper.

Halloween - Costume 2, or, Two Slices of Pumpkin Pie

Here's Stella Dot's actual Halloween costume. Subtle, but to the point. I've also included a picture of the pumpkin I carved. Grant thinks it is hard to tell what it is, but I am rather proud of it.

Halloween - Costume 1

Stella Dot's going as "Baby's first Halloween" to day care today. But later....well, you'll have to wait until tonight for those pictures.



I'm going as a tired parent, in case the costume isn't completely obvious.

Sunday night OATMEAL festival

Stella Dot has started "eating" "solid" foods. By that I mean that semi-liquid goo has somehow made its way into her stomach. She seems to enjoy this activity and is improving with each attempt. She's a bit young yet, so we're going to forgive her tongue, which keeps trying to push the food out of her mouth. Spoon v. Tongue -- a battle to the end. I'm rooting for Spoon.

She began her solid-food life as many babies do -- with rice cereal. When I mentioned to my friend Leslie that I didn't think she liked it, Leslie said, "I can't blame her. Have you TASTED it?" So I did. And, she's right (she usually is). It didn't taste very good.

But tonight we had OATMEAL. I say it like that because that is how Stella Dot ate it. "OATMEAL? WOW! THIS STUFF ROCKS!" She seemed to be saying with each "bite." I think we'll serve OATMEAL again tomorrow.

I'm hoping to introduce AVOCADO next weekend. At least, that's how I feel about AVOCADO.

Pictures from the OATMEAL festival and some other random shots follow.

Gothest baby on the block

"Adam and Eve had many advantages but the principal one was that they escaped teething."
---Mark Twain

Stella Dot has begun, what we can only surmise, is teething. You be the judge: drool like you'd never know there was a drought in North Carolina, red cheeks, fist (or anything) in mouth, low-grade (99ish) fever, waking up several times each night grumpy, and general malaise. She is either teething or is Dorothy Parker. Except that she's not drunk.

In addition, she is hungry all the time. She is nursing like she's starving. So, on top of it, I think she may be going through a growth spurt. It also may be that the nursing comforts her so she just nurses and nurses in the hopes that the pain from her soon-to-be-teeth will go away. I hear it will. In about 9 months. If we're lucky.

Finally, she has an incessant cough. This morning, she woke up at 6 coughing AND starving. I brought her into bed with us so that I could get another 20 minutes or so of sleep while she snacked, and on the way she coughed up a phlegmy mass. Gross, I know. But, geez, can someone cut her a break?

On other Stella related news. We purchased for her several long sleeve onesies last weekend in the belief that it would someday cool down again here in NC. It has, sort of, so we broke the first one in today. There is a funny story about it and I will share it now.

Basically, the three of us were in a baby clothes store looking for said onesies, when Grant happened upon a 3-for-however-much rack. The conversation went like this:
G: "Here are some long-sleeved onesies."
A: "Yeah, but they have a lacy mock turtleneck."
G: "Yeah, but it makes the black ones look really goth."
A: "Hmmm. Can't fight with that."

So, we purchased one because they would be "goth." On a 5-month old. Are we insane? No, but it is kind of funny. Just so you know, we are not painting her face white before we send her off to day care each day. And, I bought one of the lacy-necked onesies in not-very-goth bright blue, too, to go with her eyes.

What more can I say. Life has been chugging along. We don't get out much for a variety of reasons -- mostly Stella Dot related -- but also because we have some big trips planned this year:
1. Thanksgiving in Pueblo to see Grandma Margaret, and meet the rest of the Sam/LaHue clan, including Aunt Karen, and Great-Grandma Dot from whence the "Dot" in Stella Dot comes and who celebrates her 90th birthday this year!
2. Christmas in Wisconsin to see Amy's family, including Stella Dot's cousins Kira and Kaila.
3. A week in Charleston in March to celebrate Amy's folks' 40th wedding anniversary.
In the meantime, we are laying low and staying close to home.

I don't have any photos today, but will definitely add some this weekend.

2 Lists and 2 Pictures

Seen: Stella Dot firsts this week
--------------------------------------------
1. Amy goes away overnight without baby. Family survives.
2. Stella Dot makes raspberry sounds with mouth. Parents laugh, wonder, Will she do it again?
3. Stella Dot "eats" cereal. In reality, it was more like Amy spoons food into Stella Dot's mouth. Stella Dot sits with open mouth as cereal spills out onto bib. Amy cleans up mess. Repeat.
4. Stella Dot responds to name. Or possibly, parents' voices. Parents choose to believe she is a wunderkind.


Overheard: Nicknames applied to Stella Dot
by her parents without her authorization
--------------------------------------------------------
1. Bubbie
2. Stella Belle
3. Stella Bo Bella
4. Sneezy McCoughy
5. Coughy McSnorty
6. Toots McGee
7. Girly
8. Boogerhead
9. Stella Marie You're My Star
10. Burrito
11. Sneezy Pete
12. Tooty McFarty
13. Droolie Julie
14. Messy Tessie
15. Sugarplum
16. Shug (a shortened version of "Sugar")

And the pictures:

Punkin' Head

Stella had her 4-month check up today. Aside from being her adorable self, she was told she "was very alert," "has great neck control," and Grant managed to get the Nurse Practitioner to agree that she was, in her best medical opinion, "the cutest baby she'd ever seen." So, that's one "she's very advanced," and one "cutest baby ever" from this medical practice. But who's counting?

Stella Dot also got her 4-month immunization shots today. And, can I just say that she took them like a champ? She cried for 5 minutes or so and then fell asleep. I'm starting to wonder if, instead of flight or fight, Stella Dot falls asleep when faced with stress? Or, maybe it is just narcolepsy?

She weighed in at the featherweight class -- 13.14 pounds. This puts her in the 25th to 50th percentile for age. Height? Well, let's just say that we're not discounting basketball, or possibly high-shelf-getter-downer-of-things, from her future. She's grown a whopping 3.75 inches in two short months, putting her at 25 inches long (that's more than 2 feet!) and in the 50th to 75th percentile for her age. You may or may not remember that at 2 months, she charted sort of short and chubby. Well, all that has changed. Somehow, we've now got ourselves a long and lean baby! Watch out Tyra, here comes America's Next Top Model cycle 25. (Just kidding -- she's going to be a doctor AND an artisanal cheese maker.)

I took advantage of her slumbery, slightly feverish, post-immunizations mood to take some shots of her fall finery. Today was the first day the temperature has been below about 85 degrees since July! Or something like that. All I know is, it was cool enough for a cute hat and a pair of purple corduroy overalls.