An Egg, A Walk, and Chaco

Normally my walks with Chaco are a little stressful, primarily because he doesn't little to me when it's time to go back in his kennel. (Just for the record, he used to listen to me more, but ever since Harper was born, I've spent much less time with him.)

Anyway, Dan told me to have Chaco sniff an egg before I took him on a walk this afternoon, then put the egg in my pocket, which I did. Then, when we were at the creek crossing on our way home, I was supposed to show Chaco the egg and say "Go kennel," which I did (although I interjected the "to" into that command - I just can't do without the preposition!). Chaco went right to his kennel and waited patiently for his egg - it was amazing! Dogs - especially our dear Chaco - are smarter than we (or I should say "I") give them credit for.

Ducky Robe

Here's a picture of Harper after a bath, wearing the little ducky bath robe that I saw one day at Target when shopping with my mom before Harper was born. This little robe got me so excited about having a baby, and I just had to share this picture with my mom and sister. :)

Our Little Pea Pod

We did what every veggie farmer is secretly dying to do - dress our son up as a pea pod for Halloween. :) For more pictures of our Halloween adventure, you'll have to do what I did on Saturday amidst much happily received peer pressure - join Facebook!

Our Literate Baby

So I know Harper is not even 3 months old, but I'm pretty sure he somehow read what I wrote in my last post and decided that things were a little too rosy for his mom. Remind me not to post when things are happy! Just kidding, sort of. The day after I wrote that post, the fussiness began again - and I mean the inconsolable type of fussiness, the type that refuses the rocker and will only respond to pacing, pacing, and more pacing, and then sometimes won't respond to that either. We think Harper might be teething, which, looking at it from his perspective, cannot be pleasant. Does anyone remember the feeling of their baby teeth fighting their way through their gums? No, because we were all too little! But I'm sure it hurts.

On a positive note, Harper has his moments of smiles and giggles (he laughed for the first time on Saturday!), which last for about 15-20 minutes during the "I-just-ate-and-am-loving-life" time periods of the day. :)

Stay-at-home Mom

I realized yesterday that I am enjoying my life - a lot. I think this surprised me in some ways, especially considering how angry/annoyed/out-of-sorts I felt during the first 6 weeks or so of being a mom. Now that Harper has become less fussy (I cut out ALL dairy - yes, even my favorite brie sandwich - and have been giving him catnip/fennel), he's actually enjoyable to be around and much more easily soothed. I can rock him and read at the same time (!) and nurse and read at the same time, so when I received the latest Atlantic and Harper's in my mailbox on Monday, I was ecstatic - and I've already finished The Atlantic, which certainly wouldn't have been possible if I were teaching.

One of my biggest concerns about being at home was that I'd go out of my mind without constant social interaction, but that hasn't happened. I get to see Dan throughout the day, and I do go out and have friends over sometimes, but most of my "social interaction" comes through reading. My latest "conversation" has been with one of my favorite authors, Barbara Kingsolver, as I re-read her novels and essays.

I know this won't last. Once Harper can move around - and especially once we have more kids - my reading will probably be reserved for Sundays and late nights, but that's okay. Once Harper can move (and talk!), he'll probably be a bit more interesting to hang out with. :)