Busy Bee

Now that Daphne is crawling I've had many people mention that the 'easy' part is over. "Your life will never be the same," they tell me.

Well, here's what I have to say about it: I am SO HAPPY Daphne can move around on her own. Celebrations! Joy! Happiness!

I think Daphne was born to run. Lying on the floor alone while other people/animals got to go wherever they wanted? Not fair.

In the past months it has been very rare that I could set Daphne on the floor and have her entertain herself happily for a few minutes. She is the Whining Queen, and being left in one spot to have fun on her own was apparently torturous. Now that she can move around she is about a million times happier. Maybe even a trillion times happier. This morning I took a shower and blow-dried my hair all while she scooted happily around the living room. That's like half an hour, people. Previously unheard of. (Accidental moving did nothing for her. You know, rolling a few times and ending up somewhere random. Not good enough.)

A few fun things for her to entertain herself with now that she has a bit of independence:

The hallway mirror,



















book time,













and mom's beautification tools.



















The kitchen is also a wonderful playground for her. Licking the oven, gnawing on drawer pulls, head-butting the refrigerator; it's all good. This would be why I mix up all my own cleaning products. I had no idea that oven licking or chewing on drawer pulls would be an issue, so I figure using cleaning agents with poison control's phone number on them would not be a good idea. Gotta love harnessing the cleaning power of vinegar and baking soda.

I whip out the camera to take her picture and she turns on the turbo boosters to come flying at me saying, "I will move so fast your pictures will be blurry and my face will look weird."



















Or you won't see her face at all as she concentrates on her next destination.

It's Hard to Tell

Yummy raspberry treat or scene from a horror movie?













She is a woman of mystery.

Pre-Op

David was reading Daphne a farm animal book while we were waiting for her appointment to start. I kept hearing him say things like, "what does the pig say? 'Please don't eat me when I'm grown!'" and I would say "the book really says that?" Of course I knew he was writing his own story when the duck said "beat the Beavers."




















We found out we don't have to be at the hospital on Monday until 8AM! If Daphne was the youngest patient in for surgery we would have to be there at 6, which is just way too early to be driving across town. Plus her doctor says we will probably only have to spend one night in the hospital. Happy.



















Her doctor drew a picture of what he was going to do in her mouth. Eww. That's all I can say. Eww. He also talked about the arm splints little ones usually wear that keeps them from being able to put their hands in their mouths while they heal. Like the neck cone for a dog, but for babies. Again, eww. But he said if we keep a constant eye on Daphne to make sure she's not putting anything near her mouth she doesn't have to wear the splints.

Well, I figure Daphne is going to be really, really mad at us for a few days while she wonders why we made her go through this horrible experience. But it will be worth it when we don't have to use Haberman's anymore or worry about food getting stuck in her brain.

Conversation

While stepping out onto the back patio

Mama: Daphne, would you like to see Lola?

Daphne: Wawa!


Later on, while playing on the living room floor

Mama: Daphne, say 'mama!'

Daphne: Wawa!


Even later still, getting ready for bed

Mama: Daphne, are you ready for your milk?

Daphne: Wawa!


Hmmm.

Bring on the Cheer

Most years I strongly dislike Christmas showing up before Thanksgiving, because Thanksgiving needs its turn to be the center of attention. Starbucks getting out the Christmas cups on November first? Irritating!

This year I decided to just roll with the punches. Christmas comes but once a year, so I might as well enjoy every ounce of it. I still will keep my tradition of not getting out Christmas decor at home until December first, giving Thanksgiving a bit of time to settle. It just seems right.

I heard that the giant Christmas tree was coming into downtown Portland today at noon, so we went down to the Starbucks at Pioneer Square to watch. Santa was there, Dickens Carolers, a cool marching band. So festive, and so very fun.

Daphne had such a great time. You can see the joy on her face.













Oh wait, she just needed her mom!













And a flying Christmas Tree.













We even listened to Christmas music on the drive home. (Jars of Clay; super great Christmas CD, if you wanted to know.)

So yeah, bring on the cheer. Who cares if it's just mid-November.

On Holiday

Daphne loves the beach. She loves the beach. We love the beach, too, which is why we decided to stay an extra night. I mean, why not? It is the beach, after all.

She is the happiest here that I think I have ever seen her. It's probably the fact that she has her two favorite people around her at all times. No one off trying to clean the house or leaving to go to work.

We are all right here, hanging out, enjoying the beach.

We Are...

...Enjoying Daphne first trip to the beach!