Tag Archives: parenting

What Goes Up…

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Charli and I had a pretty lazy afternoon. … To be fair, I was lazy. Charlotte played with her toys, cooed and was her adorable, intelligent self.

She loves this bucket toy she received for Christmas from some friends. There are shapes she will eventually be able to fit through the appropriately shaped hole in the lid, and there are stacking cups. As she was playing, I attempted to stack the cups, but she would so sweetly knock it down each time.

While laughing at her little giggle, I had an idea.

We have been testing Vine videos at work. The Vine iPhone app allows you to film a 6 second video. The video can be stop-motion or a flowing video (I don’t know the correct terminology). It’s very simple to use, and you can share the video directly to Twitter and/or Facebook.

So, after several failed attempts on my part, and several successful demolition attempts by Charlotte, I finally finished a simple stop-motion video. Alas, what goes up must come down!

https://twitter.com/apmarquart/status/305826059297906688

From Cupid With Love

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cupid wings

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HOS and I have never been big Valentine’s Day people. I don’t know if it’s because we are boring, cheap or just fail at being romantic. I’ve always been one of those women who say that Valentine’s Day isn’t important … Continue reading →

Charli’s First Illness

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First my cat, and now my daughter. …

Charlotte started coughing last Sunday. She had little bags under her bright, blue eyes. Her nose was pink. And her cough rattled in her chest. So, in typical “new parent” style, we called the doctor on Wednesday after her cough worsened.

We were told to wait until she was sick for five days before scheduling an appointment.

If I’m anything, I’m emotional. Watching my baby go from a smiley, talkative infant to a sad, somber babe that whimpered when she didn’t feel good was heartbreaking.

Friday morning, our babysitter told us that the other baby girl went to the ER Thursday night for a fever of 104. She was diagnosed with RSV.

My “new mom” mind went crazy with thoughts of terrifying diseases, but, as it turns out, RSV is extremely common and nothing to stress about. It can result in more medical issues if not treated, so HOS called the doctor again.

After an hour wait at the doctor’s office, we learned that our sweet baby girl has a double ear infection and bronchialitis – baby bronchitis.

Yup, bronchitis. First Bear and now Charli.

Forcing Charlotte to take medicine is almost as bad as medicating Bear, too.

HOS and I have survived Charlotte’s first illness, and I managed to avoid shedding any tears.

The cough and dripping nose are still persisting, but my smiley baby is back.

And kudos to Ms. Charlotte. While she was feeling pretty crummy she had to put up with her daddy dancing it up in the doctor’s office. What can I say? She has talent.

Mohammad A-Charli

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There are some moments in parenting that are too funny not to share, see earlier post about Charlotte puking in my mouth.

Tonight, HOS was the victim of little Charli’s wrath.

Let me set the scene…

Frequently while nursing, Charlotte would punch me, slap me or cover my mouth with her hand if I spoke. She is definitely the boss in this house.

HOS has been lucky enough to observe her discipline me, but has never suffered at her hand. … Until today!

HOS was nuzzling on Charli and asking her if she wanted Wild Wings. Then, in his best daddy voice, he told her she’s have to pay for her own dinner.

Charlotte responded by balling up her right fist and punching him square in the jaw.

Charli doesn’t pay for her own dinner!

I about died! My little girl cold cocked her daddy at 5 months old. My own little Mohammed A-Charli.

At least, HOS has no more doubts about who’s the boss of this house!

366 Days

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366 days ago I went home from my MBA strategic marketing class feeling fine aside from some minimal heartburn. I don’t know why I decided to take a pregnancy test. I remember talking to Bear as she sat in the bathroom doorway while I took the test. I told her how silly the test was. When I walked back into the bathroom I could see the face of the digital test. I remember thinking, “There’s only one word. There should be two words…” Sitting on the floor next to my toilet was one word in bold, black writing – PREGNANT.

In a state of panic or numbness or just plain naivety, I drove to the grocery store and purchased a second test… Different brand… Not digital.

I sat in Shane’s bathroom and watched as the line and cross appeared dark, blue and fast on the EPT test. He was out for guys’ night, so I called my sister to verify the validity of these silly little pee tests. Much to my dismay, they are far more accurate than I imagined.

I broke the news to Shane when he got home from guys’ night. He was like a deer in headlights. The look on his face made me so uncomfortable. I laughed awkwardly and begged him not to look at me like that. He walked over to the bed and slowly sat down. I’m sure I apologized one hundred times, but he hushed me and told me that there was nothing to apologize for.

I have always wanted to be a mom. I never dreamed about weddings when I was young, but I always dreamed about having children. But as I sat on the edge of the bed, Shane held me as I cried. I was terrified.

366 days ago I learned that I was going to be a mom.

And I have never looked back.

Double-Headed Coin

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This weekend I ingested spit-up. I also made Charlotte laugh by myself for the first time.

These are the two sides of the coin that is my life, and presumably parenthood. One moment you have vomit in your mouth (literally), and the next moment you’re filled with complete and utter joy.

Yesterday, I made one of the more regrettable newbie mom mistakes. Charli likes to be wiggled back and forth. She also likes to be lifted up in the air. I have been on a mission to make her smile for about four weeks, so I had the brilliant idea to couple her favorite things. I wiggled her back and forth a few times to get her in a good mood and then lifted her high about me while I sat on the couch. I smiled up at her with a big, open-mouthed smile. And then, there was something warm and on my face, in my hair and, yes, in my mouth. I began spitting and sputtering instantaneously once I realized what had happened. The spit-up from my hair and face rolled down my forehead to the tip of my nose. Even worse, I wasn’t able to expel all of it from my mouth before I swallowed.

Shane, of course, thought this was the funniest thing he has seen. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him laugh so hard or so long.

puke face

Nothing short of a video capturing the moment would do this incident justice, but this is an image shortly after the event.

Needless to say, I’ll think twice before lifting Charlotte or any other baby over my head any time soon.

As if to make up for throwing up on me, I had a sweet victory today. Ever since the baby sitter made Charli laugh in front of my, I have been on a mission to make my daughter laugh. There is something defeating and horribly saddening about the babysitter experiencing Charlotte’s firsts and me getting the second or third or fourths. That is another post within itself.

So, I have been pulling out all the stops – tickling, tossing, raspberries, kisses and nom-noms. Nothing was working.

Charlotte in bouncer

She’d crack a smile, as if to politely acknowledge my attempts, and then return to sucking on her fingers.

I changed her diaper today and then nom-nommed on her bare belly. Charlotte giggled a little before letting loose with real, adorable baby laughter that melts iciest of hearts. I can neither confirm nor deny the victory dance that may have followed the glorious victory.

Being a mom is a double-headed coin in my book. It may involve some spit-up, but no matter how the coin lands, I’m winning. I still have this beautiful blessing.

Gaining Some Perspective

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I’m going to let you in on a secret that I learned very quickly after becoming a mom last July. New parents have no idea what they are doing. None of us. We stumble around in highly caffeinated semi-comas, rocking back-and-forth and randomly tearing up at Google commercials and anything happy, funny, angry, loving, hateful, nice, rude, sad…

We question our abilities as parents on a regular basis. So when Shane shared a Forbes article with me – 7 Ways You’re Hurting Your Daughter’s Future – I realized that my concerns are well-founded. There is a significant possibility I’m going to screw up my child. And then again, I may not.

I have read too many blogs and articles telling me things like kissing my daughter on the lips will give her cavity bacteria and how holding her will keep her from becoming independent.
The Forbes article was different. For one, it actually makes sense, and #7 really hit home.

7. You criticize your own body, and/or other women’s bodies.

*Sigh.*

Before getting pregnant with Charlotte, I was at my healthiest and most fit. I fondly dubbed that period of my life as the Skinny Summer. Thirty-five pounds gained and 28 pounds lost and hips, thighs and stomach stretch marks later, my self-esteem is at an all-time low. I frequently comment on my appearance as gross, disgusting or fat and it doesn’t phase me. The thought of my daughter inheriting a negative self-image has me thinking twice about myself and my goals as a mother.

Honestly, parenting isn’t the only thing I’m fumbling my way through. I don’t know very much about who I am yet. I do know that I want nothing more than to be the very best mom for Charli. The only way I know how to do that is to discover myself during the process of becoming a mom. Charlotte and I will grow together, and one day, when she is holding her own baby in her arms – elated, terrified and nervous – I’ll share this journey with her. How a mother and daughter (and amazing father and husband of sorts – Shane aka HOS) wrote their life story on this side of the rainbow. Image