vaccinations

Today Emery got some of her vaccinations. I considered not posting this because I know that some people who read this blog (and some of my dearest friends) are anti-vaccination people. But I figure, Oh well... this is my blog right? And I am a very strong supporter of vaccinations.

 

But I hate when she has to get them. So I'm preventing her from getting rhubella and measles and mumps and polio and hepatitis etc... etc... And these are all horrible diseases that I'm so glad she'll never get... but it sure doesn't feel like that when they're sticking her. The nurse comes in and Emery's laying there on the table all smiles and giggles looking so cute and innocent and happy. Then the nurse sticks her with that needle and the look of shock and hurt on her face is almost more than I can bear. And she cries and I cry because I feel like such a horrible person even though I believe that this is best for her. 

My poor baby... I never want to hurt you...

5:00am thoughts

I am as fascinated by my nearly-3-month old daughter as she is of everything else. I watch her as I pump my milk at 5:00 in the morning. She lays on her back in the little play mat my sister bought for her. It's just a soft mat with a couple of bars that go over it to hang things on. There's a little froggy that sings if you pull on it, a mirror, several different kinds of rattles, etc...

She looks at the froggy and gives her big toothless grin. She's just on the verge of giggling so along with the big grin is a little squeak/squeal of delight. Then she concentrates on the rattle. She reaches her closed fist toward it and bats at it. Much to her delight, it begins to swing back and forth. And I wonder if she understands that she caused it to swing or if she hasn't made that connection yet. My cousin Michael called her "the philosopher baby" at our recent family reunion because she always has a concentrated look like she's solving the problems of global hunger or something. She wears this expression now as she contemplates the swinging rattle. Then her eyes move to the mirror. She sees herself and is delighted once more giving herself that big grin accompanied by the squeak. Then back to the mystery of the rattle. She bats at it again and watches it swing again. Then she looks at the froggy with another happy smile. 

Then I see her whole body relax and she turns her head to look directly at me. Tired from her 15 minutes of play she looks like she will fall asleep on her own, a rare occurrence. Her eyes half-closed she smiles at me and my heart jumps out of my chest and snuggles up with her as she slips into dreams.

sugarfree gum

So my little sister, the dental hygenist, is trying to convince me to start chewing sugarfree gum. I frankly don't like gum in any form, but if I have a choice I always choose the sugared variety. So yesterday I asked her why sugarfree gum is the way to go. And here's what she said:

I'll explain it to you like I explain it to a child...

When you eat you have to poop right? Well the bacteria in your mouth also have to poop when they eat. But they poop acid and the acid is harmful to your teeth. When you chew sugarfree gum it has a chemical in it that prevents the bacteria from pooping in your mouth. And then they get so constipated that they die. 

Thank you sister, for the vote of confidence in my intelligence...

Emery 8 weeks old

Emery is exactly 2 months old today! She's smiling at us all the time now... except when I try to get it on camera! Here are some smirks, but I guess we'll have to wait till we can get (on camera) some of the really big smiles she's giving out right and left these days.

pictures with mama and daddy

Emery Kiana, 8 weeks old.