Constance the clapper

Constance can clap now! It is so cute and Keith was able to see it the first time she did it. She claps all the time now-just for the fun of it, when she thinks she did something well, when someone claps on the television, when she is into something she shouldn’t be and when we say, “Yay!”

Meow goes the cat

“Meroweeeeeee” was the sound that came from the living room while I was fixing my coffee in the other room. That sound could mean only one thing. Constance must be trying to pet our cat, Sugarwafer. Peaking into the living room I was surprised to see that Constance was ON the cat, not just trying to pet him. Her chubby little body was sprawled right on top of Wafer’s and he could not get up. “Constance,” I said in a near panic, “we are not supposed to lay ON the cat.” By the time I got in there a very bitter cat was able to get up and a little girl looked quite pleased with herself.

I wonder when Constance is going to stop looking like a baby? Will it be when she learns to walk? When she celebrates her first birthday next month? When she gets more hair? I am still amazed at how quickly she grows and how fast this year has gone by since her birth. Daily she looks older, masters old things and discovers new things that she can do.

We have had a small break through with our solid food adventure. While Constance is no where close to be able to wean of breast milk, she is getting there. Almost anything we give her, as long as it is a small enough bite she can pick up and eat. She ate a whole muffin top yesterday morning. I have also learned that if I want to feed her a puree of anything I need to do it before letting her feed herself with finger foods. She won’t let me feed her if she already has the ability to feed herself. She is also enjoying whole milk. We bought a straw sippy cup since all the others she had destroyed by her chewing. At first she could not grasp that she had to bite and suck the straw to get the milk. Keith and I had to help her get it started. The next day however, she drank out of the straw like a pro.

While I still hold to the fact that she is an excellent baby she now has a new noise for when she complains. It is the high-pitched squeal that is actually really cute. I do not think she appreciates us when we laugh at her.

Sorry

I am sorry for my lack of posts. The next one will come by Friday.

The Ducks Who Want Revenge

I had two pieces of bread left over from lunch and I thought it would be a good idea for Constance and I to feed the ducks. We saw two innocent looking ducks floating lazily in the water and decided to give them the bread. What we did not know was that these two ducks were decoys-sweet little ducks that drew you in- just to have you attacked a second later. Before we knew it we were swarmed by nine angry mallards. From somewhere behind two more ferocious beasts where charging and giving us their best war cry.

The buggy and I were surrounded and there was no sign of the attack letting up. I had already tossed all the bread at them and was yelling at them to get back to no avail. They kept coming like a snake about to strike its victim. I kept pondering whether it was time to play some kick ball with the ducks. It then dawned on me to use the stroller. I tilted the stroller backwards where Constance was not in their line of sight and charged the angry mob forcing them to move. After I maneuvered my way around them I turned to face our attackers hoping that they would not re-group and try a new tactic. While all eleven of them were still yelling at us in duck-ese, they did not come after us again.

Ding! Round 1

From time to time Constance and I have to wrestle to give her a clean diaper. She hates being still and I guess having a diaper changed is the worst thing ever. She screams and will cry and flail her body backwards. She will push her body up as soon as I get her clean diaper in place. She will try to roll over continuously (even if I have a good grip on her) just so I can not change her.

The other night we were having one of those moments. I had given my sweet baby a bath, which she loves. Bath time was over and I snuggled with her in her towel to keep her warm while we walked to the nursery. I set her on the floor where I had previously laid her pajamas and diaper. I lovingly lifted her ham hock legs and the fight was on. She started crying and tried to roll over. When I would get her diaper in place she would scoot her body and I would have to start all over again etc… I finally gave up and called my husband. “Honey, I need your help NOW please!” Keith came in to the room to see his naked daughter crawling away from me, and me holding the diaper in the air like a white flag surrendering.

We recaptured Constance and he went to work expecting a fight. I had to really look closely but I noticed that a halo appeared above her golden-brown head. She sweetly smiled at her daddy and even stretched out her plump legs so he could easily put the diaper on. Within seconds the ordeal was over and our wee babe was diapered. I think Keith purposely ignored the glare that was coming from behind him.