Meredith Carson... Across the Pond and Back Again...

Children are a conundrum.  I said it.  When they are babies, they require every ounce of energy a mother can summon...and then some.  When they are babies, we mothers find ourselves wishing on occasion that we didn't have to do every bloomin' thing in the world for them.  We rejoice when our babies complete tasks independently for the first time.  Recently I have found myself becoming ridiculously impressed with my two-year-old's jumping skills.  One day she just learned to jump with both feet like a professional kangaroo, and I was dazzled. Now my two year old can do all sorts of things independently.  She can feed herself for example.  The little genius peels her own bananas and clementines.  She also pushes a small chair around my house and gains access to "up high" things that used to require mom's help to acquire.  She dresses herself in completely mismatched clothes and cowboy boots.  Most of the time this is all great....

Guess who's got the Bieber Fever... Just so you know, no one intentionally taught Lili to sing this.  It's just so doggone catchy.  What are you gonna do?  (And sorry the picture is a bit wobbly.  I couldn't help giggling and wiggling as I filmed.)

I have always been fascinated with birth order studies.  All that I have read declare that last born babies are prone to fall into the role of class clown or family comedian.  I think those behavioral researchers are on to something, by golly! Lili LOVES to make us laugh, and she often has a completely smitten audience here at our house.  Noticing how excited I become when she addresses me as "mama," she now calls everyone at our house "mama."  This is reinforced since Sophie and Emma  laugh in response and hug her while saying, "I'm not mama.  I'm Sophie/Emma!!" Lili has also learned that laughter is contagious.  She belly laughs ridiculously anytime we are laughing just so she can be a part of the fun.  She will often bring forth a chesty "HA HA HA!" anytime things get a bit boring and inevitably one or all of us will join her in laughter. She has also gleaned that sweet little smoochy kisses are always positively received.  ...

Today, in an attempt to be ironic, I dressed Lili in a cheerful yellow t-shirt which reads, "Make Every Day Happy."  The shirt looks especially fabulous when it is being worn by a moaning child with snot bubbling out of both nostrils.  After two unbearable nights with Lili thrashing about and yowling in our bed with us, I decided it was time to go and see our wonderful new pediatrician.  I just had one of those "Mama Feelings;"  I knew it was an ear infection before the otoscope even got involved. Dr. G. says that waiting almost eleven months to have her first round of antibiotics as a third-born child is a pretty remarkable feat.  Nevertheless I am disappointed.  I am, of course, planning to follow doctor's orders and am looking forward to having my cheerful Lili-pie back on the scene again soon!! On another note, there is absolutely no problem with her growth.  She weighs just over 20 pounds, which I believe to be f...

Lili is five months old now!  She is slowly entering the world of solid foods.  Yes, there is life beyond milk.  I have been getting an unusually wonderful sense of gratification from making my own baby food purees.  Now I am sure I know exactly what I'm spooning into my dear little one's mouth.  So far carrots have been explored with skeptical interest.  She has also tried out homemade apple sauce with organic baby rice.  Both have tasted pretty good to me.  Lili finds it hilarious when I sample little bites of her food.  I have taken lots of pictures of her in the high chair over the last few days because she's just so darn cute. Mmmm, Carrots. Fingers make a nice dessert. Yum!  Anticipating baby rice with apple sauce Don't you just want to squeeze her?

Yesterday was the day of the big scan. Emma was with her class on a field trip to Southerndown beach, so Sophie and George went with me to the hospital... Most importantly, everything with the baby looked good. No abnormalities were detected, so we are pleased as can be. Sophie, however, was not so pleased when no boy parts could be detected either. Her arms went crossed and bottom lip came right out when her Dad said, "It looks like it's going to be a sister. What do you think about that?" "No, I want a brother!" The lady who was doing my scan apologised repeatedly to Sophie (bless her), but after looking, she really didn't see anything that would indicate we are having a boy. After the fact, I realized that my children and family had me quite convinced it was a boy because I am still trying to process it. We all had boy names picked out. (Sophie was pulling for Leo or Harry.) But we haven't really thought about girls' names. There is obviously stil...