Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Nine Months & Nine Innings

Today Madelyn became 9 months old. And, by some miracle, her 9-month check-up actually occurred today as well. With an actual pediatrician, whom I actually liked. For those of you who heard my bum review of her 6-month check-up, all is arighted. We saw the real pediatrician, who took her time, and was fab.

For those of you who like statistics, here they are. The Madster weighed in at 19 lbs 7 oz, which is 70th percentile. She measured 26.5 in, which is 27th percentile (shorty!). Her head was 18 inches (93rd percentile), which is small for our family. By comparison, Madelyn is smaller all around than Jillsie was at 9 months. (JP was 21 lbs 6 oz and 27.75 inches.)

I'll be back soon with pics and stories from Meme and Kiki's latest visit. We had SUCH a great time! In the meantime, here's the 9-month-old with her family at her first Red Sox game:

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Love That Kid

Jillson has a book in which, during snacktime, the bunny is served broccoli stew. So, when she presented me with a plastic bowl filled with little, green blocks and said "Guess what I brought you for snack, Mommy," I thought I was pretty clever saying "broccoli stew!"

But then she said "No, Mommy, it's not broccoli stew," using her best "mommy is so silly" voice, "it's block-oli" stew.

BLOCK-OLI! Of course it is.

I love that kid.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Random Thoughts About Certain Merchants

Okay, I realize there are much more important things going on in the world and our country right now, but I'd like to take a few moments to talk shopping. We are finding that moving back to the States has been quite expensive, so we are on a spending moratorium. And, much like dieting makes people instantly want chocolate cake, budgeting makes me want to shop. Since I can't, I thought I'd just talk about. (i.e. I'll just sniff the chocolate cake.):

1) gDipes now makes cloth inserts! As most of you know, Maddie wears the gDipes "Little G" pants with the neato flushable inserts inside instead of disposable diapers. I've long thought that the Little G pants would hold cloth inserts perfectly. I almost bought some off the internet that some lady had made, but now gDipe has their own. Of course they are already sold out. Hopefully they'll be back in stock soon, and you can look forward to reading about my forays into the world of cloth diapering.

2) I was appalled to see Pottery Barn Kids selling Barbie bedsheets. Ew.

3) Thumbs up to Medela. I have owned and used their Pump-in-Style Advanced breast pump since Jillson was born in July 2006. When we arrived here I discovered that the nubs on the cover plate where the hoses attach had broken off (probably from banging around in my luggage during our six-weeks on the road). Called Medela to order a replacement part and they sent it to me for free! LOVE THAT.

4) Recently discovered this source for non-hoochie-mama clothing for kids (and grown-ups): www.bodenusa.com. Too cute.

5) I am in love with my flip-flops and am wearing them until the last possible moment this season. Figure I can pull it off for another couple weeks. I saw them in Maine and didn't buy them because of the price. Went back later to get them anyway and the store was closed. But oh the almighty internet. Looking for an indian-summer splurge? Go to www.douglaspaquette.com.


'Kay. That's it.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Love This Quotation

Thought I'd share, in case it's what you need today.
“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” —Anne Lamott (b. 1954), author, political activist

Lamott is an incredibly diverse writer and an admirably gutsy mom. I recommend everything I've read by her: Bird by Bird for writers, Operating Instructions for new parents, articles on salon.com for sanity, novels for thoughtful fun, and her non-fiction for faith and spiritual formation.