Getting Things Done
I accomplished three major things yesterday. I shaved my legs, I changed the sheets on our bed and I gave Baby Bug a bath. Woooo Hoooo! This is exciting stuff on this blog. But this is big for me because it was the first time in ages that I actually accomplished the things I set out to do for the day. And I did them all while Baby Bug was awake, not napping. The napping has gone to hell in a hand basket.
Baby Bug and I have not figured out how to synchronize the napping with the time I need to get things done. She likes to fall asleep with me (which is nice! a nap in the middle of the day! how grand!) or in the sling while we are on a walk or in the car. I read somewhere that if your baby falls asleep every time you take a drive then maybe she is sleep deprived. So I freaked out and started charting when she was asleep and when she was awake. She’s fine. She sleeps ten hours at night (I know!) and five during the day. She’s regular as raisin bran.
Still, the napping does not occur when I can actually get anything done. When I need to get things done, I have to hold her. ALL OF THE TIME. Once I pick her up, there’s no putting her down again. She’s too smart for that. The floor is no longer interesting once she has seen the view from above. So when she does wake up, I try and let her lay around as along as possible. At least until the pterodactyl shrieks begin.
Remember the sweet Aaaaah-boooh movie? It’s a good thing I filmed it when I did. She’s not doing that anymore. Now she’s into yelling. Happy yells but still yelling. Aaaack! Aaaack! Aaaack! she says. When she’s laying on her changing pad looking up at the Chinese paper umbrellas she yells at them because they are not moving. I rigged up a thread so that I can give it a swift tug and send the parasols swirling every time she shrieks. So there I am attempting to read emails and tugging on a thread every other second. Then I tied the thread to her hand and she loved that. Except she pulled too hard and all the umbrellas got tangled up. That was fun.
I’m learning to do things with the baby. My arms are getting very strong. I hope to have muscle definition in a few months. Maybe I’ll look like Madonna. I’m very good at holding Baby Bug now. I juggle her from one arm to the other like an experienced waitress handles a whole table full of hot steaming plates. I make Toby very nervous. He’s always looking at me with bugged out eyes like I’m going to drop her or something. What? It’s not normal to balance the baby on your elbow? Why don’t you try cutting lettuce while you hold a wiggly three month old?
I couldn’t figure out how to shave my legs and hold the baby at the same time so I let her shriek in her crib. Even though I can hear her shrieks down the hall, I put the baby monitor in the bathroom and turned the volume to low just in case. Do you know what I figured out? I learned how to make feedback squelches with the baby monitor in the bathroom. All I have to do is swing the door back and forth. It was so loud you’d think I was tuning up for a rock concert. Testing… testing… one two three, ouch that hurt. I almost woke Toby up.
I’m lucky I don’t have to shave my legs very often. For some strange genetic reason I don’t grow very much hair on my legs. Less than most people grow on their arms. During pregnancy my hair didn’t grow at all. Very strange, I know. This is a good thing and I remind myself of it everything I start loathing my pear shape.
The next chore was changing the sheets. That actually turned into a lot of fun. I’ve learned that if I cheer and make all kinds of happy sounds, I can talk Baby Bug out of getting scared. Usually something like a giant piece of cloth coming at her from the sky would make her eyes widen, her bottom lip quiver and then all hell would break lose in the form of un-soothable cries. So I laid her on the bed (smack dab in the middle to avoid any flipping off, of course) and changed the sheets around her while clapping and shouting “Yaaay! This is fun!” over and over like a moron. She loved it. She was ecstatic when I whipped the sheets up into the air above her head and then let them settle softly on her skin. There were lots of baby laughs and gummy smiles. It was a riot. I almost wanted to make the bed over and over again.
Then came bath time. I wish I could give Baby Bug a bath while she was napping. It would be so much easier to get all the fuzz out of her hand cracks if she wasn’t clenching them up so tightly. And the scum in her neck folds? Sheesh! That’s nearly impossible. I really need to give her baths more often so she gets used to them. Right now we’re lucky if we get two a week. Mostly because in the morning and the evening it’s too cold and in the middle of the day the sun is shining into the kitchen window so brightly it blinds you. It’s never the right time to take a bath. I know, excuses excuses… I’m pathetic.
We managed the bath and she only cried a little bit. I love a nice clean baby. We put lotion and powder on (even though Toby hates anything that smells like anything) and then I carried her around for the rest of the day smelling her fuzzy head. That lasted until I stopped by a local taco joint for dinner and dropped a glop of salsa on her head. Way to go Mommy!
But all in all, it was a very successful day. Here’s to tomorrow!
17 Comments
Jill
Good for you… now just wait till you add another bundle of joy to the mix – hee hee. Just kidding – I have 3 and it goes great!
Aunt Jaynette
Hates the smell of anything? It must be a family trait. B can smell those little blue toilet things from the other side of the house, but never comments on the litter box. Simple men with simple tastes. Does he hate all make-up like his brother? I hate the disappointed look on his face after I have spent time getting all gussied up for an event. Either I don’t know how to apply make-up (or fix my hair) or he would just prefer a freshly scrubbed face and a ponytail.
Baths- When the kids and I didn’t shower together I put them in a bouncy seat in the doorway. I was working then and needed to shower more often. Check behind Bugs ears too. That seems to be the best place for milk to pool.
Kyla's Mama
Way to go, sounds like you are getting better at the old “to do list”, finding your routine. Bath twice a week is perfect, you do not have to do it more often. I just wipe my baby’s face, neck and bottom off with wet rag every day, rest of the body doesn’t get really dirty (well except the head when mommies drop things :)
By the way, I got a bunch of baby powder for baby shower but I was told by my doc not to use it… I searched the net and they mostly say it’s no good to use it. Of course you are the Mom and you can do what you’d like, Moms know best.
‘In the past, it was common to use talcum powder or cornstarch to protect a baby’s skin and absorb excess moisture. However, doctors no longer recommend these products because inhaled talcum powder and cornstarch can be intensely irritating to a baby’s lungs. In addition, caked powder in diaper creases can encourage bacteria growth.’ http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/baby-powder/AN00944
Dee
Getting things done with a baby is so much harder than without a baby. My favorite right now is vacuuming. My little guy is either afraid of the vacuum or he just really likes to help me because as soon as I turn it on he screams until I pick him up. Vacuuming with a 22 pound baby on your hip is SO much fun!
josephine
Good to know about the powder. I had thought that initially when I first got home from the hospital too… but once the redness in the creases set in, I was game to try anything to keep her dry. I guess I’ll be looking into other things. A friend recommended petroleum jelly, anybody know anything about that?
jennie
Making the bed has never looked so fun! I loved your illustration – So happy and spring-y. :)
ginger incognito
Have you tried Aquafor? It worked great for the Doodle.
Kristin
I haven’t shaved my legs in 8 months. I haven’t really thought about it. I know! Gross! (I am not very hairy either)
Kudos to you for the multitasking! (Also: the pteradactyl thing, it gets louder. I know!)
Liane
Wow! Those are major accomplishments for the baby days. You do a lot better than I do with the baths…I’m lucky if I give my 4 month old a bath once a week! It’s just such a pain but sure is nice when it’s done!
BeachMama
Sounds like the perfect getting things done day! I used to make up silly songs about our dogs just to get a shower. You don’t realize what you are willing to do to keep your child happy until you actually catch yourself singing a silly song really, really loud and your windows are open and your neighbours join in the singing!
I got/am still good at transferring sleeping baby/toddler from sling/stroller/car to bed or couch to get things done. It is a great talent to pick up.
laura
I hope you ate the glob of salsa off the top of her head. You know, just to make Toby’s eyes bug out even more.
Becky Z
That’s awesome that you got those accomplishments done. What a great way to make the bed with Baby Bug too. I’m glad that she liked it. Hope you have more happy days just like this one.
Daisy Mae
Wow, you got more accomplished than I did yesterday. I guess I should get the bush-hog out and shave my legs since spring is here.
Truth be known I have the same issue with my legs as you do. My doctor once told me that it was a poor circulation thing and thats why my legs aren’t hairy. Hey, I’m not complaining!
Marla
I’m enjoying Baby Bug’s newness very much. With a two year old around, I don’t have time to check in often and read all your comments – but tonight I’m having a bit of a catch up (you’re my Friday night date!).
That make the bed game is even funner with a naked shrieking two-year old, and it’s even funnier when she thinks the two of us are being so silly that daddy can’t believe it.
I’d like to suggest, if no one else has and without knowing whether this would work for you – can you bring her in the bath or shower with you? It helps to wear cotton gloves for gripping and washing -one finger swipe and the cheesy neck fold is clean. I used to have my husband pass her in and then take her from me. She loved (and still loves) the contact and extra fun. I loved the few minutes in there I could grab while he lubed and dressed her.
Mallorys Mama
15 hours of sleep a day. I don’t think we every hit that mark of deliciousness. I wanted to thank you for your link to everyday matters. I found it a month ago from your site and have drawn every day since. (And I found you by way of Ellen)
Good luck with your to-do list.
comfortablycrazy
It’s true about the talcum powder. But baby powder no longer contains talcum. Though it can still be irritating to the lungs and nose if you breathe in a legre amount. I suggest putting a little in your hand and then applying it. This helps eliminate the big cloud of dust.
Jenn Bo
LOVE that image! Your stories of Baby Bug make a not-yet-mother like me so excited for the fun and the challenges that are ahead. Thank you for sharing your experience with so much enthusiasm and honesty.