Ginny is 9 months old, which means she's been out of my womb as long as she was in it.
Funny as it seems, I can't remember what I used to do with Ginny before she could crawl and play and laugh and explore, and otherwise make life much more fun and much more demanding. I remember that when I propped her up in couch corners, she just sat there. And when I lay her on blankets on the floor, she just lay there. What else did we do?
I also remember certain days while I was on maternity leave in which Ginny and I snuggled in the La-Z-Boy for almost the entire day. When she fell asleep in my arms, I would fall asleep too. And when she was awake, I read books to her. In those days I could show her books with real pages instead of cardboard, and she would just stare at them, instead of grabbing them and gleefully wreaking destruction on them.
And every one of her diapers was poopy, and because it was wet poo, every third diaper was a blow-out. That's the nice thing about firmer stools. They mostly stay put.
Nursing was the other thing we did, and I know it used to take a terribly long time and happen amazingly frequently. She would fall asleep during it, and I would tug her arms, and flick her feet, and poke her head, to make her wake up and keep nursing; and each tug and flick and poke would be good for one swallow, so that nursing went something like this: Swallow ... asleep. "Ginny!" [tug]. Startle, swallow ... asleep. "Ginny!" [flick]. Startle, swallow ... asleep. "Ginny!" [poke]. And so on. And so on. For an hour. And then an hour later we did it again.
She got swaddled every night and slept on her back. She sleeps on her tummy now, and often when we check on her she'll have her little butt up in the air.
She had no kind of nap schedule whatever. She napped for as long or short as she wanted, at whatever time she wanted, as often as she wanted. Two days in a row was the longest streak we could manage with keeping naps at the same time. It wasn't until she started eating solids, and getting a regular feeding routine, that nap times began to be established ... you know, approximately.
I think it was pretty early on that she began to show a predilection for the sound of her own voice. And I don't mean crying. I mean cooing, squealing, shrieking, shouting, repeating syllables, and singing. She's always happy to add her thoughts to the sermons at church, for instance. And to lift up her voice during prayers. She shouts at us at the dinner table, and hollers into plastic cups at play time, and talks during diaper changes, and my favorite - she'll sometimes babble sweetly upon waking up.
She had a nice amount of dark hair when she was born, which was replaced first by baldness, and then by dirty blonde hair. Right now it's still short and straight, but the longer it gets, the more I think it may possibly show a propensity to curl. Fingers crossed.
Her eyes are still blue.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Baby-proofing step 1: put china behind closed doors
Complete 10-place-setting timeless white-and-silver china set from a garage sale: $50
China hutch from a garage sale: $50
Baby girl napping long enough for me to put the china away: priceless
China hutch from a garage sale: $50
Baby girl napping long enough for me to put the china away: priceless
Saturday, April 28, 2012
5 months later ...
There are two reasons that blogging since Ginny's birth has proved to be nigh impossible.
1. There are no words to describe the emotions of new parenthood. Or rather, if the emotions of new parenthood were like a balloon floating high in the sky, I could, with great effort, find words to build a ladder tall enough to let me reach up and just touch the balloon - just brush it with my fingertips - not to grasp it or to pierce it or to linger with my hands on it, but just for a second to reach it, before the ladder would give way beneath me, the words would fail, and the balloon would be sailing again in the sky out of reach. And as even this inadequate and shaky ladder of words would take a dedicated and sustained effort, I feel tired before even making the attempt, and simply haven't bothered. If you have children, you have a balloon for yourself and don't need it described to you anyway. And if you don't have children, just wait til you do.
2. The things I would take the greatest pleasure in detailing are - shall we say - inappropriate for mixed company. Like the mishaps of nursing ("How do I shut these things off?") or the consistency of Ginny's poo. While these subjects might make for good reading, a certain amount of tact would still be required in the writing of them, and most nights I'm just too tired for tact.
The third reason - that of not having time with the demands of a new baby and working full-time - is true, but it is not a real reason. Unless blogging is your source of income, no one has time to blog, any more than anyone has time to read a novel or go out for a cup of coffee. You choose to make time, or you choose not to.
That's why facebook has taken the place of Blogger and photos have taken over for words. See how cute she is?
She's almost more than I can stand.
1. There are no words to describe the emotions of new parenthood. Or rather, if the emotions of new parenthood were like a balloon floating high in the sky, I could, with great effort, find words to build a ladder tall enough to let me reach up and just touch the balloon - just brush it with my fingertips - not to grasp it or to pierce it or to linger with my hands on it, but just for a second to reach it, before the ladder would give way beneath me, the words would fail, and the balloon would be sailing again in the sky out of reach. And as even this inadequate and shaky ladder of words would take a dedicated and sustained effort, I feel tired before even making the attempt, and simply haven't bothered. If you have children, you have a balloon for yourself and don't need it described to you anyway. And if you don't have children, just wait til you do.
2. The things I would take the greatest pleasure in detailing are - shall we say - inappropriate for mixed company. Like the mishaps of nursing ("How do I shut these things off?") or the consistency of Ginny's poo. While these subjects might make for good reading, a certain amount of tact would still be required in the writing of them, and most nights I'm just too tired for tact.
The third reason - that of not having time with the demands of a new baby and working full-time - is true, but it is not a real reason. Unless blogging is your source of income, no one has time to blog, any more than anyone has time to read a novel or go out for a cup of coffee. You choose to make time, or you choose not to.
That's why facebook has taken the place of Blogger and photos have taken over for words. See how cute she is?
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Ginny's 2-month check-up & shots
Ginny did not enjoy her shots last week. The pediatrician gave the usual line that it's tougher on the parents than the kids. But that is not to say that it's a comfortable experience for the kids. However, I suppose that for the most part, Ginny got her shots and got over it; whereas I can't stop reliving the way her eyes snapped open in shock when that first needle went in, or how red her poor little face got from crying afterward. I mean, I'll never get over that. Thankfully the nurse was swift. I don't know how nurses steel themselves for that kind of thing.
The very best way to prepare yourself for your child getting shots is to read all about the illnesses they're immunizing against. It will only take the briefest moment of imagining your child with those illnesses - in fact the thought won't even fully develop in your head - before you'll be thanking the Lord for the medical advances that have brought us vaccines.
So here are her measurements as of last Wednesday:
Weight: 11 lbs, 11 oz (there are those elevens again. Her favorite number?) = 70th percentile
Height: 23.8" = 92%
Head circumference: 39.6 cm = 72%
The very best way to prepare yourself for your child getting shots is to read all about the illnesses they're immunizing against. It will only take the briefest moment of imagining your child with those illnesses - in fact the thought won't even fully develop in your head - before you'll be thanking the Lord for the medical advances that have brought us vaccines.
So here are her measurements as of last Wednesday:
Weight: 11 lbs, 11 oz (there are those elevens again. Her favorite number?) = 70th percentile
Height: 23.8" = 92%
Head circumference: 39.6 cm = 72%
Monday, January 16, 2012
Baby Ginny: 2 Months Old
Virginia Charlotte Helquist was named after our maternal grandmothers. She'll meet my grandmother, her Great-Grammy Virginia, when we visit Arizona in March. Anders' beloved grandmother Charlotte died two years ago and is greatly missed. We think our daughter's name is beautiful.
She goes by Ginny mostly, but we revert to "Virginia" whenever we feel like she needs a reminder of her full name. I love calling her Virginia because it's beautiful and I love calling her Ginny because it's adorable.
Most common nickname: Ginny-Mini. Others: Ginny-Mini-Moo (usually in a sing-song followed by "Ginny I love you"), Gin-Gin, Ginny-Bug, and occasionally Ginny-Midget and Ginny-Bitty. Also today I was calling her Gingerbread. I also sing "Virginia" to the tune of "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof.
She is now two months old, and resembles her daddy in looks. We were going through Anders' baby pictures, and a few of them could be Ginny. Without a doubt she has his eyes. She also has one mommy ear and one daddy ear. My ears are pinched at the top so they're kinda pointy like elf ears. Ginny's left ear is pinched, and her right ear is normal. How awesome is that?
So far she's a well-behaved and emotionally secure baby. We are pretty spoiled. She sleeps great at night. At first she slept in a bassinet in our bedroom, but that feels like a long time ago now. Now she's in the crib in her nursery. She has fussy days every once in a while that I'm beginning to associate with physical and/or cognitive growth spurts, but most of the time she's content, and only cries to get fed or changed or held. She likes to cuddle. I'm so relieved and thrilled that she likes to cuddle. I like to cuddle too.
One of my favorite things in the world is Ginny's pouty face. Which is mean of course, but perfectly justified since her pouty face is so stinkin' cute. I laugh at it every time. She also has a frowny face that we see quite a lot, when she looks at new people or studies interesting objects (such as light fixtures). Newer than the frown: the smile. A big, bright, fabulous smile that will just melt you right into a puddle.
When Ginny was born, the pediatrician on call diagnosed her with hip dysplasia and fitted her with a Pavlik harness. Three conditions increase the likelihood for hip dysplasia: if the baby is 1.) first-born, 2.) female, 3.) breeched. Ginny was, of course, all three. The doctor told us she might have to wear the harness for two to four months. The thing was made of cloth straps and velcro, and it worked simply by keeping her knees at right angles. There was nothing painful or uncomfortable about it for Ginny. We were very happy to get the harness because if left untreated, hip dysplasia can require surgery later in life. But we were even happier when they checked her again and told us her hip was a-okay and the harness could come off after less than five weeks. From that point on, two experiences became immensely more satisfying: 1.) holding her, and 2.) dressing her in cute outfits.
Her two-month appointment is Wednesday (shots! noooooo!), so I'll have updates on her measurements then. But I can tell you she is packing on the pounds, and in the words of Stuart MacKenzie, has a huge noggin! She was born at 7 lbs 10 oz, and at four weeks was up to 10 lbs, and her head circumference was in the 86th percentile.
She goes by Ginny mostly, but we revert to "Virginia" whenever we feel like she needs a reminder of her full name. I love calling her Virginia because it's beautiful and I love calling her Ginny because it's adorable.
Most common nickname: Ginny-Mini. Others: Ginny-Mini-Moo (usually in a sing-song followed by "Ginny I love you"), Gin-Gin, Ginny-Bug, and occasionally Ginny-Midget and Ginny-Bitty. Also today I was calling her Gingerbread. I also sing "Virginia" to the tune of "Tradition" from Fiddler on the Roof.
She is now two months old, and resembles her daddy in looks. We were going through Anders' baby pictures, and a few of them could be Ginny. Without a doubt she has his eyes. She also has one mommy ear and one daddy ear. My ears are pinched at the top so they're kinda pointy like elf ears. Ginny's left ear is pinched, and her right ear is normal. How awesome is that?
So far she's a well-behaved and emotionally secure baby. We are pretty spoiled. She sleeps great at night. At first she slept in a bassinet in our bedroom, but that feels like a long time ago now. Now she's in the crib in her nursery. She has fussy days every once in a while that I'm beginning to associate with physical and/or cognitive growth spurts, but most of the time she's content, and only cries to get fed or changed or held. She likes to cuddle. I'm so relieved and thrilled that she likes to cuddle. I like to cuddle too.
One of my favorite things in the world is Ginny's pouty face. Which is mean of course, but perfectly justified since her pouty face is so stinkin' cute. I laugh at it every time. She also has a frowny face that we see quite a lot, when she looks at new people or studies interesting objects (such as light fixtures). Newer than the frown: the smile. A big, bright, fabulous smile that will just melt you right into a puddle.
When Ginny was born, the pediatrician on call diagnosed her with hip dysplasia and fitted her with a Pavlik harness. Three conditions increase the likelihood for hip dysplasia: if the baby is 1.) first-born, 2.) female, 3.) breeched. Ginny was, of course, all three. The doctor told us she might have to wear the harness for two to four months. The thing was made of cloth straps and velcro, and it worked simply by keeping her knees at right angles. There was nothing painful or uncomfortable about it for Ginny. We were very happy to get the harness because if left untreated, hip dysplasia can require surgery later in life. But we were even happier when they checked her again and told us her hip was a-okay and the harness could come off after less than five weeks. From that point on, two experiences became immensely more satisfying: 1.) holding her, and 2.) dressing her in cute outfits.
Her two-month appointment is Wednesday (shots! noooooo!), so I'll have updates on her measurements then. But I can tell you she is packing on the pounds, and in the words of Stuart MacKenzie, has a huge noggin! She was born at 7 lbs 10 oz, and at four weeks was up to 10 lbs, and her head circumference was in the 86th percentile.
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