Last night I stayed up late reading Mary Poppins. (Reading! What a luxury! But for a tinch of foreshadowing I'll tell you that I semi regretted it later...) I'm on the chapter about the twin babies, John and Barbara (who didn't make the cut for the movie, I guess), who can communicate with each other, animals, nature, and Mary of course—but grown ups can't speak their language because they're, well, stupid. Hey—John and Barbara said it, not me. Anyway, John admits to Barbara that the only reason he bothers to suck on his toes is because his mother gets such a thrill out of it and he feels like it's the least he can do since she's a pretty nice lady. And then Barbara admits that the only reason she pulls off her socks is because her mother feels so proud about it. I giggled.
Maybe that's the only reason Clara rolls over—not because it does anything for her but just to humor the stupid, yet well-intentioned grown up lady. I really go wild over it, too. And whenever we have visitors it's all I can do to contain myself before blurting, "Wanna see Clara's new trick???" To which they kindly oblige me by pretending they've never seen a baby roll over.
Well the moral of the story is that tummy time isn't half as bad as she thought it was to begin with. Actually, no, wait. Let's back up. Has anyone else read Mary Poppins? (Raise your hands please.) Am I the only one that thinks that the Mary in the book is a total grouch? I mean seriously, Mary—lighten up. Disney certainly did some major nicefication to her character for the movie. (Nigh-se-fi-cay-shun. Because all self-respecting blog posts deserve at least one made up word.)
The three month mark has brought along with it some twists and turns. Like how Clara suddenly decided that she hated bath time and for days in a row screamed 'til her whole body was purple. Yeah, that really threw me. I think we've solved that problem though because I decided we'd just go sans bath for a few days and she's apparently forgotten whatever ticked her off in the first place. Now she and bath time seem to be closer than ever. Um—wait, let's back up again. She went sans bath. I however, never took a break from my hygiene efforts.
Also this entire past week she's decided to sway from her perfect (perfect!) sleeping track record and wake up at a sinful hour every morning. This morning she was particularly on fire and woke up at precisely 3 a.m., 5 a.m., and then for real at 7 a.m. I recall one of my first thoughts to be: "Why did you stay up reading about John and Barbara?? Who cares about John and Barbara!" Anyway, I've been seriously scouring Healthy Sleep Habits trying to figure out just what this little hooligan is up to. Beats me. I'm doing everything in my power to follow the book's guidelines and yet Clara's not fitting the mould this week. Just another testimony to why baby books stress me out. But anyway, who knows—maybe we just had it coming since there's probably some clause in the rule book about how you can't really become "real" parents until you've gone through the no-sleep initiation.
...Who knew motherhood could be filled with such intrigue and mystery? Like straight out of a Mary Higgins Clark. I'm biting my nails off waiting to see what she'll do next.
Now for a seamless segue: California is in 13 days and I found a swimming suit. On sale, no less. Nailed it!
This top (in green and aqua) with this bottom (in aqua).
6 comments:
So jealous of the cute swimsuit! I want one!! I love how you write. And yes it is probably true that babies just do things to see us react! I just might have to read Mary Poppins, I have to admit, I had no idea it was even a book!
Audra, I didn't know it was a book either until last fall when we went to see Mary Poppins on broadway. The broadway play had several scenes from the book that aren't in the movie. I actually think there's more than one book.
Good morning, Sunshine! Nailed it, indeed!
how did you have her on a perfect sleep schedule?? i'm intrigued...please share.
and you're going to CA next week?? [btw, i'm jealous.] but i get BACK next week. our reunion shall be postponed. sad.
Great job on the swim suit! That is always a hard one.
Whenever I get frustrated about sleep issues, it seems that if I wait it out and keep to what I normally do, it usually works itself out. But she is 3 months and when they are young they move through those sleep stages really fast. And the transition to the next stage may take a month or so until it is smooth and officially switched! That always keep me thoroughly annoyed. But I'm telling ya, if you stick to it and plow through, as they get older the better it will get. It is soooooo worth it. Even though it seems like there is no end. I have friends who are so envious of how my boys sleep. I just have to attribute it to keeping up with the good sleep habits.
And that is why I've never actually read a parenting book from start to finish.
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