Daddy Day

Matt recently returned from a five-day business trip. I didn't want to complain, but now that he's back, I wasted no time leaving him with the girls while I had a day to myself with my other girls, my book club pals.

Here's what life looks like with Daddy...

Bath time. Even Gus got involved.

Game night! (Okay, I got talked into one round.) Current favorite: Spot It!

Playground stop while waiting on a prescription. Apparently Annie bee-lined to the biggest slide in the park. 

Back to the prescription.

Easter Egg Hunt with our small group! Such a pretty day for it, too!

Annie had fun finding the same egg over and over.

My man, holding court with the ladies.

I'd say they had a pretty good time without me! I had a pretty good time without them, catching up with old friends. There may have been a bloody mary involved. There was definitely lots of good conversation and laughter and promises to do it again soon. Somehow I don't think my girls would mind...

Chubby Baby Bathtime

Splish splash!

In a Slump

Lean to the left.

You may not have noticed it, but Annelise is a little slumpy. As in, she prefers to tilt her head towards her left shoulder. All. The. Time. My theory is that she spent quite a bit of time jammed into this position before she was born.

The official diagnosis (thanks wikipedia, my trusted medical diagnostic source, ha!): Congenital muscular torticollis. Torticollis basically means twisted neck, and it happens when the muscles on one side are weaker and not as stretched out as the other side, causing the slump.

Poor girl. Yeah, she seems real broken up about it.

My favorite neck position.

But it is a legitimate problem that needs help. Fortunately, we go to church with a fabulous pediatric physical therapist. The other day before the service started, she spent some time holding Annie, diagnosing the issue, and showing me some stretching exercises to do. So now, multiple times a day, I'm supposed to stretch Annie's neck and massage those stubborn, tight muscles. Some days she complains and does everything she can to pull her shoulder up towards her ear and get back into her favorite position. Other times she doesn't seem to mind so much. I have the most luck right after she eats and is all blissed out. The worst times are in the car seat or when she's sleeping - her head just naturally slumps to the left. Even when I change her position, she's right back at it within 30 seconds. Stubborn girl!

Fighting my hand to try and lean left again.

So it's going to be a work in progress. Fortunately, her prognosis is good. We've caught it early, she's still so pliable and bendy. As long as we stick with it (so hard when she complains!) we'll have the kinks worked out in no time.

Streeeeeetch!

Rub-a-Dub

Full disclaimer, I cared more about the photo opp than getting her clean, but it was a win-win all around!

I felt bad that I didn't capture pictures of Annie's first bath, so for the sake of documenting it forever, I decided to finally bathe her again. I'm not one for constantly dunking babies in the tub. A, it's a lot of work. Get out the tub, the soap and towels, dry clothes and diaper at the ready, deal with all the dressing and undressing, etc. And B, how dirty can one baby get? Other than her butt, which gets wiped every hour anyway. Still, I suppose it's a good habit to get into, the whole washing thing.

It was pj day. Perhaps I should have considered giving myself a bath before I bathed Annie!

This time I managed to bathe her single-handedly (not easy when the object you're trying to clean and simultaneously not drown is a nine-pound floppy sack of potatoes). Fortunately, my brother was on hand to wield the camera for me. And even better, this child continues to love bath time. She was so calm and happy in the water. The only time she complained was when it was time to get out and dry off.

Sweet, clean Annelise.

Single Mom of Two

Matt was out of town this entire weekend at his nephew's bar mitzvah (congrats Will!). He left early Saturday morning and came home after bedtime on Sunday.

Originally this was not going to be a problem. My mom had planned to come up and stay with me the weekend, helping me juggle two kids and keeping Violet occupied while I hosted book club at the house. But my dad called just as Matt was walking out the door (literally, his hand was on the door knob) to tell me that my mom was sick in bed and wouldn't be coming to my rescue.

I almost cried. Annie did cry.

I spent the weekend sending Matt pictures like this.

But what to do, other than accept the fact I'm a mother of two and get over it, right? So the girls and I hung out until my book club friends arrived to provide a bit of distraction. (Reality - Violet watched a LOT of tv the entire day while consuming copious amounts of food, most of it junk.)

It was awesome to see my friends and introduce them to Snoozy Annie. There was an appropriate amount of oohing and ahhing before we actual got down the the business of discussing the book we read, which was following by more oohing and ahhing and passing of the baby.

Once they left, one of my parents from school showed up with her daughter and a lovely dinner. Yay for not having to cook! (I actually saved the food to share with my neighbors the next day - double yay for serving dinner I didn't have to make!) Then Violet finally got to run around and play with the neighbors, who helped me deal with my super whiny, non-napping, snack-begging oldest child until it was bedtime. Violet appeared to be trying for the world record for fastest time to reach total meltdown status and longest sustained whine. I wouldn't be surprised if she hit both goals. They actually sent me home with the baby for some quiet time and kept Violet entertained until it was time to wrestle her into pjs and bed. Best. Village. Ever. I needed a few moments alone after that day.

Two freshly clean girls.

On Sunday I got the best gift of all - my neighbor took Violet to church and lunch while I stayed home with Annie and did the grocery shopping. I even convinced my other neighbor (seriously, how would I survive without them?) to help me give Annie her first tub bath (which she loved, by the way, unlike Violet's first tub time). In return, I served them up a delicious dinner I didn't have to cook, managed to give Violet her first bath in a good three or four days (don't judge) and got everyone to bed, including myself, before Matt came home.

All in all, it was a successful solo weekend. But oh, we were happy to see Daddy again! I've said it before, but it bears repeating with a voice of awe and respect, I don't know how single parents do it. And I hope I don't have to do it again any time soon!

Bathtime Nonsense

Violet loves bath time. But not, apparently, her mommy.

Monday's Child

50 Weeks

Bath time is still awfully fun around these parts! But you know what's not fun? Getting Violet dressed afterward. I have to wrestle her to the ground and practically throw myself on top of her to get her still enough to slap a diaper on. And of course, she wails the whole time. How long will this phase last?

Over the weekend, Mimi showed Violet a fun new trick - at Mimi's house, the ceiling fan/light is controlled via remote. Violet was fascinated. And what's the first thing she did when we came home? Grabbed the tv remote and pointed it at our ceiling fan! Alas, she did not get the same results. Ah well. Such is life, baby, get used to it.

So you know how I'm always keeping tabs on Violet's milestone progress (while I preach about how I don't believe in milestones, blah blah)? Well, I'm happy to report that I took a sneak peek at the 13 month list of "should be able to" accomplishments, and my Friend here is ahead of the game! She's already doing everything a whole month early! Ha! I think we can officially call her a "cruiser" now... she is making her way around the coffee table and to other pieces of furniture pretty darn well. She can also walk holding onto just one hand now. We have got to buy some baby gates, and quick!

The Rest of the Best

More scenes from our holiday week...

Taking a winter walk in Mimi's bargain basement stroller - five bucks!

Violet and Aunt Danielle - reunited and it feels so good!

 

There's nothing quite like bath time in the kitchen sink!

 While they might not have been instant best friends, Violet did eventually warm up to Uncle Tatum. See how peacefully they're existing in the same room?

Loughman Family Christmas

It's taking me a while to get all these pictures posted... we're just too busy having a holly jolly time over here! But anyway, here are a few memories from this year's Loughman family celebration.

Violet in her Christmas best, getting ready for more presents!

Violet's favorite toy of the year - her new kitchen!

We spent the morning leisurely opening presents, once again going from youngest to oldest. It seemed like it was always my turn to open something! There was truly an embarrassment of riches under the tree this year. I got a lot of new books (yay!) and some great new things for the kitchen. Now that I host a neighborhood dinner once a week, I can really put some of these new serving dishes to use. After the wrapping paper carnage, we indulged in one of my favorite holiday pastimes, laying around in exhausted splendor. Then, miracle of miracles, it actually started snowing! And the snow stuck! We had a white Christmas after all! It was beautiful watching it fall from inside the cozy house.

Someone thoroughly enjoyed her Christmas dinner!

And after the feast, it was time for a much needed bath, assisted by Brooke!

Yay bathtime!

After the bath, it was time to unveil one of Violet's cutest presents, courtesy of her cousin Brooke...

Matching PJs!

Yawn

I'm hoping to catch up on some sleep this weekend. Our Labor Day holiday can't come fast enough.

My workload at the elementary school shot up significantly this week as I started doing my own planning and teaching twice a day. I have an enrichment group in the morning and some students who need a bit of extra help in the afternoon (if you catch my politically correct drift). Now, teaching two segments a day isn't that bad. But keep in mind I don't get a planning period and I'm not paid to stay late or show up early. I have about fifteen minutes in the morning before the first group shows up, and another 30 minutes in the afternoon before I'm off the clock and out the door to get my baby love. I don't really have the time or money to spend on planning or preparing at home. So I just have to squeeze it in where I can. This teaching stuff is not for sissies. At least I'm slooooowly starting to learn the names of the 200 or so first graders I see every day.

Some other tidbits from school this week: I was given my first silly band. I think it's a giraffe? For the life of me I do not understand this new grade school obsession, and I assume it will one day go the way of the beenie baby, but for now, at least I'm part of the cool crowd with my awesome light blue giraffe-ish shaped silly band. Also, the other day Matt innocently asked me if I remembered Go-gurt, the yogurt that comes in the squeezable tube. Does it still exist, he wondered. Dude, if you only knew how many Gogurts I have to rip open for the kindergarten students I have lunch duty with.

As far as the home front is concerned, yesterday we got the dreaded call that we had to pick Violet up from daycare early - she was sick. Apparently there was a epidemic of diarrhea going around the infant room and if a baby so much as farted the wrong way, they were packed up and shipped home for at least 24 hours. (In their defense, my girl had to get a bath in the sink because her diaper was that out of control, so they were justified in calling.) Unfortunately, this mom of the year left my phone in the car on the one day daycare calls. (Of course, I don't get cell service in the school, nor am I anywhere near my classroom most of the time to check my messages even if the call came through, so I'm not sure it mattered much.) They finally reached Matt, who took the day off today to hang out with Violet. Who, for the record, feels fine. But what to do, a rule is a rule.

 The Little Plop, splish-splashing in the tub. She's active enough to get me pretty soaked these days during bath time!

So after this week's drama central, we are all ready to chill out and relax for a few days. We'll eat pizza, grill out with the neighbors, catch the season's first Georgia game (woot woot!), hopefully snatch a few extra zzzz's. Mimi is planning a playdate with Violet, I really want to clean the shower (yeah right) or at least get to Walmart... Eh, who knows. All I can say for sure is, I will be resting from my month of hard labor and enjoying the only day off we'll see until November.

Make Way For Duckie

We have solved the bathtub dilemma (it just took me a while to get photographic evidence). My friend Joanna recommended the inflatable duck bathtub, and it has worked out beautifully. It fits nicely in our master bath garden tub, leaving me plenty of room to perch on the edge of said tub and entertain the bathing beauty. She's into bath toys now, so I guess that will go on the shopping list next time we hit up Target. For now, she's stuck with a lone blue hippo.

I'm just trying to hand Violet the blue hippo, but it sure does look like I'm trying to go all fig leaf with it. Which, in retrospect, probably isn't a bad thing, considering this is now out there for public consumption. But her expression is just too priceless to keep off the blog. Sucks for my kid to grow up in the Internet age, ha! Hey, at least all future boyfriends won't have to go through the ritual "let's look through Violet's baby pictures" ordeal now.

My bathing beauty. Or as her Aunt Danielle described her, the Little Plop. She looks extra ploppy and adorable in this picture, I think. (Someone photoshop my leg out of there, please.)

Bubble Bath!

So Violet is getting a little too big for her bathtub. In fact, she's getting a little too big for a lot of things. She's growing out of her clothes like mad, but that's okay because I have a closet full of stuff for her. But today I went to get her a bathing suit (we have an awesome neighborhood pool and have only been once! It's practically a crime, considering what we pay in HOA fees. It's just too darn hot to even contemplate it!) and it was too small! I mean, I know the sizes they put on there are totally arbitrary. What fits one kid at six months will fit another kid at four months. But I just couldn't reconcile myself to the idea that she might actually be too big for a 6M. Naturally, she was. Plus that thing is a pain to put on. It's hard enough squeezing myself into a one-piece. It's almost impossible when you have a chubby, squirming, complaining child. So now, once again, I'm considering doing something I said I would never do. I might actually buy my baby girl a two-piece. Oh the irony. I'm not even in a two-piece this year! But it would be so much easier to put on her, especially considering how much she hates getting dressed right now. Remember when she used to hate to be naked? We've definitely turned a new corner. Now she hates putting clothes on. Not wearing them, just getting them on. Eh, we'll see. If I can find a swimsuit that actually fits her, maybe it will be different. Back a-Targeting I go.

Back to the bathtub dilemma, though. So now that she's almost too big for the infant tub, what do I do with her? She can't sit up by herself, so a real tub is out of the question. Is it kitchen sink time? Lay her in the yard and spray her off with a hose? Take her on a walk during a really good rainstorm? Put her in the shower with me? Taking all suggestions.

Splish splash I was taking a bath...

Well well, it looks like big girls don't cry. That's a wrap on a happy bath time!

Violet looks like a little prize fighter, all wrapped up in her robe, ready to take on her opponent in the ring. Will she conquer?

 I'd say she's been declared the champion of this match! 
Violet - 1, Tub - 0!

Bath Time, Take Two

Remember this?

Well, things have certainly improved. Since my poor mother had to witness this spectacle, Violet and I decided to show her what bath time looks like these days (hoping I wasn't secretly jinxing the whole process with all my bragging). And what do you know? Violet is still enjoying her baths!

We are now three for three. She looked so relaxed and peaceful this time around, all thanks to my wonderful friend Selena, who wins the prize for most helpful advice when it comes to bath time. She suggested laying a receiving blanket over the girl in the tub so she wouldn't feel so exposed, and it totally did the trick. We might actually be on our  way to incorporating bath time into our nightly routine. As in, we might actually get to start a nightly routine! Of course, the next part of the routine will need to include sleeping a set amount of hours during an appropriate part of the night. We'll get there! Hey, if my little never-nude can learn to enjoy a bath, anything is possible!

Violet's all ready for spring! Just hanging out on her changing pad (her new favorite place to be), showing off one of her new outfits post-bath.

Anatomy of a Bath

We've noticed that little Violet hates to be naked. I guess I should be happy that a career as a stripper doesn't seem in the cards for her. But when it comes to changing her diaper in the middle of the night, I could do without all the drama.

So we didn't have much hope in bath time going smoothly. So many people have told me about the lovely, soothing bath time routine they have instituted for their children, how it helps calm and ready them for bed. Sounds like my cup of tea. But how soothing can it be when your wailing child, as her Uncle Lukas pointed out, has the makings of being a never-nude? Well, we wouldn't know unless we tried. Plus, that kiddo was dirty. Bath time it was!

Naked pictures on the internet already! No wonder she's upset!

Yeah... it went down pretty much like we thought it would. Also, this picture gives her one hilarious buddha belly! Poor thing. I promise she's not really that fat. And I promise she eventually stopped screaming. She was okay for a second after she hit the water. Then the indignity of it all suddenly registered.  Poor Mimi was proud of me for even finishing the bath. I'm sure she would have thrown in the metaphorical towel and pulled her granddaughter out of there much sooner. In all, Violet only languished for a few short minutes, long enough for me to wash her hair, not long enough for me to scrub her back. But at least she didn't poop in the water (my number one fear!).

Why, Mom... WHY????

Look at that face! She looks so appalled. Like she literally can't believe we just did that to her. Poor girl. The good news is, our little never-nude calmed down as soon as we had her decently covered up again.

She forgives me... And I have myself a nice, clean baby girl! 

So I can't say how relaxing the nice, warm bath before bedtime was for either of us. We'll have to work more on that. Although truth be told, I think she can go a few more days before our next attempt. Violet doesn't get that dirty, after all. And for those of you who claim a bath is a great way to kick off bedtime... yeah, when should I be expecting that reaction? Maybe what I need is a baby-sized pair of cut-off denim shorts...

Proof that we all survived the experience.