Thoughts and Words Ill-Sorted

Hot days are one thing.  Hot nights are another.  After a week of nights in the seventies and humidity that makes even the furniture sweat, we’re finding ourselves dragging.  Katherine has not been keen on this, either: she didn’t nap all week, so last night, when I turned on the air conditioning and tried giving us all a break from the heat, she stayed in bed from 10:30pm to 11am with only one break for feeding.  Way to go, kiddo!  I’m more impressed, though, that her shorted sleep hasn’t caused her to lose her good mood–unlike her mama.

Erin

I dug out my clarinet this afternoon and thought I’d see if I still remembered anything I used to know.  Katherine watched with interest (a clarinet is shiny, after all), but when I started to make a few sounds she looked at me and broke out into a slow, sad cry that escalated into a howl.  After repeated reassurances and experiments with distance, range, and volume–the crying continued–I gave up.

Erin

Wait for it . . .

Gotcha!

In the midst of our hurried school preparations, we have a lot to celebrate:

On Monday Katherine turned four months old.  And she’s now officially pretty cute.  Much waving of arms, smiling, giggling, and new shrieky sounds.  Plus some dangerous rolling over when she gets half a chance.

And today Sydney and I celebrate four whole years of marriage.  Due to a travel-heavy summer and some schoolwork breathing down our necks we’re not planning to do anything spectacular.  Besides, we’re still on baby duty.  And it’s going to be close to 90 and humid.  But it’s nice to note that we’ve made it this far and just have, oh, seventy more years to go or so.

Erin

After a week of many hands and lots of attention, Katherine is going to be stuck with just two people to entertain and love on her when we head back home tomorrow.  I think she will be disappointed in the development!  I’ve really enjoyed some time with my family and they’ve very kindly helped me to find some time to work.  I even got in a walk/run last night without Katherine; unfortunately, although being 17 pounds lighter was nice, I still didn’t fly down the road.  Oh well.  And we’ve all enjoyed teasing her, taking turns walking her in the stroller, and rocking her to sleep.  Our happy baby is still a bit stuffy, so it seems it’s going to be a slow road back to our good sleep habits.  Maybe it could be her anniversary present to us . . .

Erin

Yesterday it was 90 degrees and the air was full of water.  Blech.  But in the evening Adam and I took Katherine for a walk in the stroller.  Katherine immediately fell asleep in the warm air and left the two of us to huff and puff our way down the road as we got caught up on each other’s lives.  Great sibling time as we get used to this new addition to our family.

Today, however, Mom and I decided to forgo our walk when we saw the thunderstorms roll in.  70-mile-per-hour winds, sizable hail, and a thunderstorm warning sent us all to the basement.  One more item for the baby book: baby’s first severe weather.  Welcome to Iowa, Katherine.

Erin

Katherine and I made it to Iowa safely and without too much fuss.  She slept on the plane rides and was pretty happy, despite having a stuffed nose and getting up at 3:30am for the airport.  She regressed in her sleeping habits while sick (so 3:30 was not the only early hour we’ve seen this week), but I think she may be shaking that cold and returning to normal. Just in time: between her cold and my own it’s been almost a week since I had a decent chunk of sleep!

Mom and I stopped by the running store so I could get a good pair of sneakers and we’ve been making use of those already.  Mom, Dad, Katherine, and I have been out for evening walks.  It’s pretty nice having company on my daily nature walk with Katherine!

She’s taken to Mom and Dad right from the airport and has been entertaining us all with her latest trick: ear-piercing delighted squeals.  Very sociable age right now, cooing at and lecturing Mom’s co-workers.  Sydney, are you ready for this?

Erin

Well, that bug turned into a full-blown cold that’s keeping me barely functional.  Yesterday it got Sydney, and by the wee hours of this morning I was hearing Katherine snuffling, too.  Three sickies and a 6am flight tomorrow.  Fantastic.

Erin

Yesterday I came down with a bug that had me draped over the couch and unable to keep down food.  Today I’m doing a bit better, but Sydney’s doing worse.  And Katherine decided to boycott nap time yesterday.  Let’s hope she takes pity on us today!

Erin