Archive for December, 2007
Uh Oh × 2
The first “uh oh” is Natalie’s new phrase. I have to get it on video so I can share just how adorably she says it. It seems to have two meanings. One is to indicate that something is on the floor. For example, if Natalie throws her mouse on the ground while she’s nursing, she sits up, points to it and says “uh oh” over and over until I pick it up. She also says “uh oh” if she discovers something on the floor, like a stray cheerio that rolled under the table, or a toy that one of the cats took out of the toy box.
The second meaning relates to wanting things, as in “uh oh—I see something I want and I can’t reach it” or “uh oh—I want something that you won’t let me have.” Today we were in a store and she saw a box that for some reason struck her fancy. She kept pointing and saying “uh oh” until I figured out what she was pointing to and let her examine it before putting it back on the shelf. Until I get a video, you’ll have to take my word for it—it’s unbelievably cute.
The second “uh oh” is a gross one, so feel free to stop reading if you’re squeamish. Natalie threw up (twice) for the first (and second) time last Friday. She did a couple of really big spit-ups as a newborn, but no actual throw up since she started eating solid food. I guess we’ve been pretty lucky to have gone a whole year without any puke. I had heard that dealing with such bodily fluids isn’t as bad when it’s from your child. Whoever said that was obviously lying…vomit is still vomit. And vomit coming from my little angel didn’t make it any less disgusting. Natalie and I (and her car seat, which really bore the brunt of the vomit) survived, despite the grossness of it all. I think the episode was teething related—apparently vomiting is a symptom of teething! Babies swallow so much drool when they teethe that it causes stomach problems. We will all breathe a sigh of relief when these teeth come in. Poor Natalie has 6 teeth trying to break through at once—it must be so painful. And poor Chris and I have been dealing with the teething symptoms for over a month now.
I realized in writing this that I must have reached a new level of mom-confidence. Over the past year, I’ve called the doctor’s office over far less concerning events than vomit. But this time, I felt secure enough that I skipped the call to the doctor and just consulted Grandma & Nama. Since Natalie only threw up the two times, had no fever and was acting more or less okay, I figured she was not gravely ill. Her appetite for solids was low for a couple of days, but she nursed like crazy. I’d forgotten how exhausting nursing every 1.5 hours is!
In sum, “uh oh” the phrase is cute. Uh oh as in vomit is gross.
We survived! Thanks…
It’s official—we survived the first year of parenthood! And we couldn’t have done it without support. Natalie is a joy, but if we’ve learned anything over the past year, it’s that parenting is a lot of work. At times challenging and difficult work. We feel incredibly grateful and lucky to have such wonderful family and friends who’ve helped us make the transition into parenthood. We so appreciate all the emotional support, love, advice, suggestions, gifts, and time you all have given us. We’re especially grateful for Nama (& sometimes Grandpa Smoky) and Grandma Susan, who have so generously given their time each week to spend with Natalie, which allows me to go to work with the peace of mind that she’s being cared for with love. Most of all, we’re thankful to all our family and friends, for all you have done to show Natalie love and care, which has helped her grow into the delightful little one-year-old she is. Thank you.
Proud (that after a year all three of us are in one piece!) parents of a one-year-old:
Natalie is number one!
Ohdeedoh wishes Natalie “Happy Birthday”
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