Saturday, September 26, 2009

NoVa Traffic

OK, maybe I have been a bit of a homebody since Little M was born. And maybe I have been staying close to home lately, and just going somewhere in town when we do venture out. But I grew up outside of DC, learned to drive there, and even went to graduate school IN DC, so I know from crazy drivers.

The ones on I-66 West on Friday night were way beyond crazy! I thought I was lucky that all the traffic on my way in to Fairfax was on the Westbound side of 66, so going East was pretty clear, and the traffic was moving and a nice pace.

On the way home, however, it was a VERY different story. A song from the 80s comes to mind..."The Freaks Come Out at Night". I was using my cruise control, travelling along at about 5 miles over the speed limit in the RIGHT lane, and three different cars took issue with my speed.

The first one came up on me really fast, then switched to the left lane, then cut back into my lane with just inches to spare between my bumper and his. Then another did the same thing! There were NO OTHER CARS on the road. What's the deal? The last one came up behind me in the left lane, and did the cut into my lane thing, but by that time I was a little less terrified that I was going to be in an accident. I just turned off the cruise control so I could then take my foot off the gas when he came around.

I think this is such a shock to me because in our town the traffic is slower, more courteous, and generally safer. We're just not in as much of a hurry here. And I think it's made me relax a little, and taken the anxiety out of driving. The trip on the highway Friday night put it all back. What's happened to me? I used to be driving in crazy traffic like that with crazy people like that all the time?!?! Heck, I used to be one of the crazy drivers, knowing my own skill level will keep me from getting in any trouble, and I'd make record time getting where I wanted to go.

But most times when I drive today, I have precious cargo with me, and there is no reason to take even the slightest risk with my precious son in the car. And now that I'm a Mom, I have him counting on me to provide him with milk, and comfort, and love, and kisses, and hugs. So even when he's not with me, I'm still a necessary part of his life, so I have to be careful with me too.

So, crazy drivers out there, I hope I don't encounter you anymore, but since I probably will, please don't try out your Jeff Gordon moves on my car, I'll gladly stay in the right lane with my cruise control set between the speed limit and 5 over. Hopefully out of your way. I have a child entrusted to me and his daddy to raise, and it's my first priority to be around for my kid.

Love to the parents out there!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

My child, the beaver

How can FOUR teeth chew up SO MUCH STUFF?????

Little M has his two top front teeth, and his two bottom front teeth, and boy is he using them! So far I've had to put up gummy rails on the front and sides of his crib (the back is tall enough that he can't reach it...yet).

And he's been chewing on the remote control, which is covered in a rubber sleeve, but that's apparently coming off because of all the chewing. Which means, much to his dismay, that the remote is no longer a Little M toy. There will be much crying, and even though I'll try distraction, I'm pretty sure no other toy will measure up.

And we're not moving on to the cell phone, so he can get over that idea at the same time.

There are marks on the plastic toys from Tupperware, and his highchair tray table, which means those have to be scrubbed especially hard when washing because things can hide in the no-longer-smooth surfaces. And the pacifiers will have to be scrutinized more when washing because they're really meant for sucking, not chewing. So some of them may be retired before their time.

But Little M has been using his teeth for chewing actual food, so that's some progress. He's been pinching and eating the puffs, which means he's mastered the pincer grasp and he can aim for and hit his mouth. So table food (and a better use for the teeth) is not far off.

I knew I couldn't keep him little forever, it just seems like it's still coming way too fast...

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Baby Tag (or How to Exhaust Your Crawler)

So the most fun I had all yesterday was when Little M decided his new game was to try to get away from me (crawling) as fast as he could so as not to be caught by the foot and dragged back into the room. And he does it. Every time now.

So I gave in to the game and started chasing him around the house. If he was getting too close to an area he's not allowed to go in I would pass him and stand in front of it. He was crawling with such determination and speed that he'd have his head down and arms and legs just a-pumping as fast as they can. But about two feet from me he'd see my feet and squeal/giggle to a stop, then execute a three-quarter turn, and off he'd go in another direction.

He's decided to play after his bath as well, once I get him wrapped in the towel and turn to empty the water out of the baby bathtub he rolls over and starts crawling out the bathroom away from Mommy. I always lock the gate at the top of the stairs just in case, but he's never gotten past his bedroom door. And how adorable is a little naked baby crawling away from you with a towel (flaring out behind him like a cape) stuck on his head. I just about laughed myself silly. And the squealing laughter when I pick him up is just priceless.

I found today when we were playing tag that if I got close enough behind him to touch his feet as he was crawling it would spur him on to crawl faster, so I used that to get him going when it looked like he was running out of gas. That child was so tired today that he went to bed at 6:30pm. And that was after climbing the stairs (which he took in two sections, stopping to play at the window on the landing).

He really has a lot of fun with this game, and so does Mommy.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Visit from Grandma and Grandpa

On Saturday Big M's parents came to visit us. They were so thrilled to get to spend time with Little M, and we were too, it's been awhile.

Poor Little M was still a bit tired, he didn't really want to go down for a nap before they got here, so when Big M tried to do the handoff to Grandpa, Little M wasn't quite up to it yet, and he cried.

But he's since recovered, and gives the big smiles to both Grandma and Grandpa, and there have been so many pictures taken of Little M that I'm surprised he can still see for the flash going off so often.

Little M has just changed so much from the last time they saw him, in May at his cousins' baptism. He wasn't yet crawling, he wasn't yet babbling, and he still looked so much more like a baby. Now he's got the look of a little boy, and it's just so different.

I still want to stop time and freeze the moments (and I haven't yet heard from any of you on how the progress is going on that!) but I also feel so proud of my little guy for each new thing he learns, and so excited for him about all the other new things he's going to learn.

And I'm wishing that all Little M's Grandparents lived closer to us so they could see him more often. Little M has three cousins in PA and a brand new cousin coming in February, and I wish they were all closer too so they could all be playmates and grow up together.

When I was little we'd go to Florida to see all the relatives at Thanksgiving and Christmas. We loved seeing our cousins, since we were all around the same age. We'd play and laugh, and just have a great time. I know Little M will have that too, and I'm so glad. Family is important, and I'm glad ours is growing.

Grandma and Grandpa will be leaving us in the morning, and I know that Little M will miss them, just like Big M and I will. But we'll all be together in a few weeks celebrating Little M's first birthday. So we'll be looking forward to that (and not really believing it's time for that already!)

Love to all the babies out there!