girl baby

My mom comes today and you should SEE my house. NOT READY. So I’m just gonna post some Ari photos and pretend it passes for a post. heh. (Some before the accident, obviously.)

Love baby jeggings, make me laugh:

First popsicle (brrr!):

Think she liked it.

This is a common sight around here; she loves to use my rice cooker pot as a hat:

Have a great Friday, yo.

When the world seems to stop

I know there are worse things, that people deal with much worse around the world on a daily basis. But a mother never wants to see her child in pain, hurting, broken. It was an accident, and like most accidents, probably could have been avoided.

A carelessly slammed door, a tiny finger in the way. The ER doctor called it a partial amputation. Never thought that would ever happen to my child. We saw red and literally ran out the door. (Thankful for neighbors and sisters that can pick up where we leave off.)

She was a high priority patient and they got us into a trauma room within 20 minutes. The Child Life Specialist (who we knew!) was a godsend, brought us Sprite and toys and bubbles.

I’m pretty sure the nerves had been severed because she (mercifully) wasn’t seeming to feel much in her hand. She played while we waited. The nurse gave her two different meds to sedate her and they had the exact opposite effect. (WILD CHILD.) Dancing, jumping, laughing, yelling and bopping her head. She could hardly walk in a straight line. Would have been funny if…

We ended up having to burrito-wrap her and hold her down while the doctor worked. She wriggled and bossed the nurse the whole time. The doctor basically gave her an epidural in her finger; she couldn’t feel anything. (I made the mistake of looking and got dizzy.) The damage was right below her nail, she also had a hairline fracture. Now she has 7 or 8 stitches and a splint.

But with all that we went through, it could not have gone any smoother. We got back (close to 1 a.m.) to a picked-up house, dishes done, and laundry folded. (I could have kissed my sisters.)

SO thankful we were able to get the immediate care she needed, so thankful they were able to make her little finger whole again. So thankful babies heal quickly and thankful she won’t remember.

{my little valentine}

She can reach up to the table now, and helped herself to a cube of butter sitting near the edge. She had it smeared all over her face, dress, hands and everything else she touched. And then later she somehow got a hold of someone’s Valentine candy. I just let her keep that, not worth the would-be tears.

(‘Scuse the nose situation.)

She’s just like the others

Alternate title: Babyzilla

Alternate alternate title: Someone’s figured out how to climb

Don’t be fooled by appearances

Here she is, in all her innocent-lookingness right before the unfortunate carseat episode.

(Blowing raspberries at Madeline.)

Don’t think I’ll be giving her string cheese for a while.

And then I got it. Was sick all night. So much for that! I’m feeling fine now, just on the weak side and can’t stand up too long.

How to take care of your baby, by Arianna

The WonderSisters took my big kids on an outing last week so I was home with just Arianna. And what else is there to do with one kid besides pull out the camera?

How To Take Care of Your Baby, by Arianna

Go for a walk with the stroller, baby placement optional.

Say hi to the neighbors when you pass by.

Taste the stroller, to make sure it’s an acceptable pushing device.

If your baby falls out, be a good mommy and pick her up again.

Talk to her and make sure she’s okay.  You can lay on her, too.

Give her a hug, pat her back.

Carry her around yourself for a while.

And give her a kiss.

Smile at that lady on the couch.

Taste your baby’s fingers, make sure they’re clean.

Taste her head, too, while you’re at it.

Pat your baby, tell her she tastes smells good.

That’s a very good mommy.

we’re in for it

walking!

Catch ya later, Mom.

I gotta take Drew his shoe.

Drew, here’s your shoe!

(Dropped it. Oh well.)

#18

baby ballet

Alternate title: Big Fat Fluffy Bum

#14

baby

(Forgot to hit publish on this yesterday and then Andy and I came down with a pretend-flu. Feeling better now!)

#11

look! some words!

I hope y’all are enjoying the December Photo Project as much as I am! I’ll be back later with today’s photo.

But, sometimes during a project like that the real blog fodder gets forgotten. So, a couple of things I wanted to jot down… (for record keeping and grandparents and such).

Like, we were running into church Sunday morning and behind me Drew yells “my tooth came out!”

Fourth one. (Ew.) I thought they weren’t supposed to look awkward until junior high. ;) I think it got lost somewhere between the “just put it in your pocket” and changing at home. (Hope Arianna isn’t the first to find it.)

Oh, and a little conversation I had with Adelaide… “Mom, why’s Arianna eat our food now?”

“Well, because she’s a big girl now.”

“She’s not a boy anymore?”

“No, she’s always been a girl, she’s just not a tiny baby anymore.”

“Yeah, she’s a BIG, FAT BABY!”

(Nice to know what the sisters think.)

Speaking of Adelaide. Yesterday – actually the day before that – I ran to get a paci for Arianna, came back to the kitchen where Andy and Adelaide were. I kept trying to stuff the paci in Adelaide’s mouth – WHILE she was talking to Andy. I kept thinking “why isn’t she taking it?!” and she’s spitting and trying to move her head and Andy is looking at me like “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” I finally realized: WRONG KID! He goes, “uh, we officially have too many kids.”

“I’m glad I’m not the only mom that has lost her mind. No offense!” – Gretchen.

(Sympathetic friends I have, I know.)

Picture Day

(We went to get Arianna’s 1-year-old photos taken today.)

Day 3.

The Wave

eyes

I’m biased; I own it. But I’ve been having some fun photographing pretty eyes and playing around with Picnik. (Premium; gifted!)

Original black & white:

These I didn’t do anything really to except minor tweaks…and she wasn’t crying, I have no idea where that tear came from!

It seems like more than half the photos I have of Arianna are of her eating. BECAUSE SHE’S STRAPPED DOWN.

She was watching me make breakfast in the kitchen one day, politely sitting in her baby chair.

Little Miss Bright Eyes.

And one from yesterday. She’s talking on the phone, see? (And playing the piano… multitasking!)

Arianna and the Apple

Meant to post this last week and forgot…

She was mostly teething on it, but left a string of discarded bits in her wake. I wanted to do a full collage since there are several more funny ones but unfortunately the cool groupings on Picnik are premium features and cheap as it is, still costs money. So you get just four. :)

I know it’s blurry

I nearly wet my pants yesterday when Madeline came walking down the hall and I realized Arianna was IN the backpack.

I know that is so completely blurry but I was trying very hastily to get a shot before anything bad happened and didn’t take the time to change from my prime lens, which doesn’t auto-focus. Besides, I was laughing so hard I had tears streaming down my face.

Sadly, that one single frame does nowhere near the justice of Madeline laboring her way down the hallway. And I did give her a little speech about it’s really not safe to stuff real babies into our backpacks.

(Even though yes, they make pretty good containcarriers.)

She’s One!

She likes chili, too

(And let’s not talk about this morning’s diaper.)