Oh, Mr. Sun

I had no idea how much I missed the sun. These past two weeks in Northern California have been glorious. I may have gotten over excited because last week I purchased a splash table for Charlotte. I am aware it’s February and while I had to Google the first official day of spring (which is March 20th by the way) we are going to spend every day out on our patio that we can. If it helps I also purchased 100 phthalate free plastic balls so when it’s not being used outside it can be used in our playroom (those marketing directors at Amazon are geniuses, customers who bought blank also bought blank, it gets me every time!). Being cooped up in your house and going stir crazy has a whole new meaning when you have a toddler. The reason why they have so many Pamper commercials with baby’s thunder thighs jiggling in the golden sun while running up a hill is because kids are meant to roam!

Another thing I love about warm weather is the clothing. The only thing more fun than pulling out my maxi dresses this season is sorting and color coordinating my daughter’s very own version of 27 dresses, which are currently taunting me in her closet. I am not sure there is anything more adorable than a toddler in matching sun dress and hat, maybe attempting to pick up a puppy, but now I’m just writing the Gerber commercial for them and I’m still miffed that Charlotte wasn’t chosen as the next Gerber spokesbaby. Have you seen the baby they chose? Blonde, blue eyed one dimple little 7 month old named Grace for crying out loud. But we’re not bitter; oh we’ll have our day in the sun. 

Of Course

Remember the epidemic of pregnant women I told you about? Well the babies are arriving! Curiously, no storks delivered them and their super moms had to do all the grunt work. I took Charlotte to visit my newborn nephew, Colton, yesterday. I went over with: a meal, snacks, a card and my fully walking toddler. It didn’t take a minute upon arrival for Charlotte to discover her cousin in the baby cradle. Charlotte is a very cautious girl and actually understands the term “gentle” but that didn’t stop her from attempting to touch his face, a moment I wish I could have captured on camera but my hands were busy keeping her hands from poking his newborn eye. The Aunt part of me just wanted to hold him and kiss his little face, while the Mommy part of me had to pull Colton’s hospital hat from Charlotte’s mouth. To give her credit though Charlotte didn’t screech or break anything, which sure made this mommy proud.

Charlotte meeting her cousin for the first time.

We tried our luck again today by visiting 1 month old baby Shane. Again I had to run interference. This taught me a valuable lesson: always bring a baby wrangler along so I can cuddle the newborn. On the drive home while we were singing a killer rendition of The Wheels on the Bus I got to thinking. You know when you see a couple together that simply fit; when you see new parents with their infant, all you can think is, of course. When I first held Charlotte, my heart knew her instantly. Watching her personality develop, while it always amazes me, has yet to surprise me because it is somehow familiar. Of course this is their baby and of course this is my baby. These tiny humans are right where they should be. All I can think is how in the world did we ever exist without them? 

Say What?

Charlotte’s first official word is “bath”. Not “Mama” or “Dada”, but “bath”. I cannot be offended though, since I’m to blame. I created a water baby by taking her to swim lessons at 2 months old. I was prepared for the screams that we heard about at our newborn care class at Kaiser, but this was never the case with Charlotte. Some of her best newborn smiling pictures are in her little baby tub just naked and happy.

Charlotte recently recovered from roseola, which sounds a lot more beautiful than it is. She got a fever and ended the virus with a little rash on her tummy. During this time she learned how to be incredibly clingy; so much so she actually forgot how to walk for a day and resorted to just flopping around on the floor like a goldfish who knows how to scream. So you can imagine my surprise when today, on a very healthy day, Charlotte started crying in the bath. Please no, not my one location of sanity. I picked her up and towel dried her off and then the water works truly began. We have been exceptional with communication lately. I can ask her, “What does the doggie say?” “How big is Charlotte?” “Where is your tongue?” And she has a response to every one. Sadly, we have yet to come up with a code phrase for, “Mom, I am pooping in the towel and it feels weird”. Smart girl! She knew better than to soil bath time.