Thanksgiving adventures

We went to Nana & Pa's for Thanksgiving. We made stepping stones; Played chess with Uncle Seth; Relaxed on the hammock; Swing, swung, and swang; and made popovers from Mollie Katzen's fun "Pretend Soup" cookbook.

Diggin'

I haven't gone to the local playgrounds that much with Molly since I started working full time way back when. But every time I do, I learn something new about that other life she has - that life without me. Turns out that Molly has a favorite piece of play equipment at one of the parks: the digging thing. This is the thing that, as an adult, I've always mocked at playgrounds and wondered if kids ever used them. I loved the concept, but thought they were too difficult to use. Well, Molly set me straight. She absolutely can use it, but also just enjoys hanging out on it. Her she is: posing; negotiating for turns with Oscar; demonstrating her digging skills with Nana; and just hanging out on it (nope, sorry Oscar, still not your turn).

Playground

Takin' a ride on the train at the park today, asking the conductor (Oscar) to let her off at Berkeley-Oakland-Sanfrancisco Station!

A Study in Brown (and blue...and green...)

(Clara asked Nona to write this for her):

"We got fancy new duds for me when Nona and Mama went shopping. Check out my cool brown long-sleeve shirt, striped avant-garde stretch pants and electric blue sweats. There's that green and orange and yellow striped front-wrap sweater that's been handed down to me from Molly and to Molly from Mama. The purple striped socks are made from alpaca and really keep my toes toasty. I'm just slammin'!!!"

popovers

we're down at nana & pa's house for thanksgiving, and molly and nana baked some popovers for us...

Fantastic Elastic

Today, after going to my six-week checkup (where I left Clara & Nona in the waiting room and actually enjoyed the looong wait for the doctor in the exam room - the quiet, peaceful, clean exam room) Nona and I went and bought a pair of jeans. With a button. And a zipper. And no elastic in the waist. And, as far as I can tell, I won't need to constantly "hitch" up these jeans. Nor will I have to unbutton these jeans to sit down or breathe.

See, they are neither maternity pants, nor are they my pre-maternity pants. They're now pants. And I love them. Yes, I enjoyed the simplicity of not having to fuddle with buttons & zippers while I was pregnant. It (mostly) worked then: I needed the elastic to deal with the ever changing belly, and I enjoyed the added bonus of easy access for the constant trips to the potty (potty? who says potty other than preschoolers & their parents?). But now those pants just fall down all the time & I don't enjoy feeling like my pants are about to hit my ankles.

I pulled out my pre-maternity pants and even tried to wear them for a day, but after about 10 minutes of not being able to breathe I found myself walking around with my pants unbuttoned and hiking them up constantly.

I do enjoy the sweatpants, at least those that I didn't totally stretch out, but sometimes it's nice to feel like a "real" person and wear "real" clothes. So, here's to a pair of pants without the elastic.

[I have to give credit where credit is due: I got this idea from rookiemoms.com in their "things to do the first month" category, I think]

Six Weeks

Clara! You're six weeks old yesterday! What a big girl you are. Really. Our midwife, Cindy, came for our last checkup & you almost topped out on her scale. It doesn't go past 12lbs. You, my dear, were 11lbs 4oz, not counting the diaper, which was 3 more ounces. You easily weigh more than 12lbs when you're all done up.

I mention this because you still enjoy being carried. A lot. Not that it's a problem, it just requires that we each find our favorite device to help carry you. Zach likes the blue sling. I prefer the black one. Or, if I can manage getting it together, I enjoy the wrap.

But today, my dear, we had big adventures, which were enabled by you putting up with being in the carseat-stroller for quite a long time. Nona, you, and I walked all over Berkeley. We walked to the grocery store (and just used the bathrooms because the pre-thanksgiving lines were too intimidating for us). We walked to the drugstore. We walked back to the grocery store to change & nurse you. We walked to the fabric store. We walked past the car repair shop (where our car was) because we were enjoying walking so much. We walked to the bookstore (& again changed and nursed you & played with you for a while). We walked to another drug store. And finally, we went back to the repair shop & picked up the car.

But that's not all! Nona & I had more "out" in us, so we drove to another store, where we changed, nursed, changed, and played with you. Got some food. And finally! We drove to pick up your big sister from preschool. She seems to be on the mend from her ear infections & finally got to enjoy some time with Nona once we got home.

Phew! No wonder you're exhausted. Too bad babies don't sleep in as long stretches as adults like to.