My sister and me and my gangsta baby.

This is my little sister, Casey Jones (yes that's actually her name).
And this is my gangsta baby.

On another note: She's more mobile everyday. She can scootch (which is really like a worm doing a face plant and using her legs to propel her across the bed). She can roll over but only from right to left. And in her Johnny-jump-up she can spin in circles but only counter clock-wise. I told Ben it was genetic because when i was learning how to ski i could only turn left for a while. After two days hard work i could finally turn right too.

1st pediatrician visit

About 7 weeks after she was born we took her back to the birthing center and she was seen by a pediatrician who saw babies who did not have a pediatrician yet (usually kids without health insurance).

Starting Jan 1st we have health insurance (yippeee). We found a family practice close to home and decided to see if she was what we're looking for in a doctor. We chose a family practice so we could all go to the same office for treatment and have a doctor and her staff that are familiar with our whole family and our history not just one of us at a time.

So we made an appt. for Esther and took her in on Tuesday. After A LOT of discussion we decided to have her vaccinated (Rowen, i hope you don't hold it against us). We did however wait until she was almost 4 months old. I wanted to wait until she was 6 months, but we compromised and 4 months it is. For weeks I had been agonizing over the shots. So when we finally got to the office for her check-up and shots i was a mess of nerves trying to play it cool.

Everyone in the waiting room could tell it was our first baby. We were walking piles of proud parents as well as so nervous as to speak louder than was necessary.

To make a long story short: Esther was fine. She handled the shots as best as could be expected, which is to say she cried and was rather indignant with the nurse administering them. She has quite a temper and when the nurse grabbed her arm to give her the third shot she gave him the nastiest look and began to yell as loud as she possible could. Ben held her and i distracted her and the nurse was kind.

We spoke with the doctor about our philosophies regarding modern medicine and our belief that we live in an overly medicated and surgically removed society. How we believe in nutrition and prevention and homeopathic remedies before antibiotics and whatnot. She was kind and did not seem offended or put off or scolding (which is normally the reaction i get when i talk to medical professionals about how much i dislike how medicine is practiced in this country).

Esther did not have a fever or any excess crankiness due to the shots (thank goodness). And we believe we've found a good match for our medical needs.

She is 12lbs and .5 oz. She is 23 inches long.

She is in 50th percentile for weight and 25th-50th percentile for Height.

Now if only we could find a sliding scale dentist. heh.

conceptual baby photography with a low end digital camera

Tour of downstairs and Husband eating cereal

Who's child is this?

Many of you have been commenting on how she has my eyes. Well after diggin' up some old photographs, i've determined you're right. Glad to know she's not ALL Ben. Although, she'd grow up to be quite a looker if she was...

Tempting Fate

The Joys of Breastfeeding

Foods i can't have because they make Esther cranky and, on a scale of 1-5, how irritating that is for me.

Chocolate 5
Cheese 4
Broccoli 5
Onions 5
Garlic 6
Cauliflower 1
Kale 3
Collards 1
Ginger 4


In other news: she has a propensity for eating non-food stuffs including her toys, her parents, and herself.

Bath Time

My Little Esther-bug

I realized that with all the baby happenings i never got to show everyone my beautiful house. Stephen brought this to my attention as he commented on a baby picture by saying, "nice walls." My talented and gorgeous husband built us our teeeny tiny dream home. It is smaller than most cheap new york apartments and can be heated by 4 sleeping bodies all winter long... although we use propane.

Small Homes are becoming a trend it would seem. And what better way to grow up close (sometimes too close) to your family.

1st day back at work... sad

Giant Diaper Butt and other Photos

getting old

I just bought a new vaccuum which makes me so excited that i practically wet myself when i used it for the first time lastnight.

and

there is nothing sexier than a good daddy.

Wearing us down

Thanks for all the moral support!

Colic and Cranky Mommy

She's developed colic and although in all these pictures (and in truth, she looks so cute and pleasant in most of the pictures we have of her, as when she's fussing and crying we're predisposed in quelling the noise rather than taking pictures), she is actually turning into an auditory nightmare. But she sure is cute (thank goodness, otherwise she'd be left on her own to work out whatever is causing the colic rather than being held close and cooed to while she screams and turns an unnerving shade of purple. Nonetheless, I still find myself battling the late-night-i'm-a-horrible-mommy feelings that bombard me when i'm at the end of my rope and she shows no signs of letting up with the shrieking... on some level i feel really bad for whatever discomfort (as i can only assume that's what it is) is causing all the drama, but mostly i'm frustrated and fried, and sort of in need of other mommy's or perhaps just someone to sit around with me and assure me i'm not losing my mind...
If any of you guys feel like coming by on a weekday afternoon say 2ish to share in the joy of the colic walk (a two hour jaunt around the woods with the wee one strapped on with a homemade leather contraption and listen to me rant about how i feel like the worst mother in the world) please feel free.