tooth; baby on vacation

Casper's 8th tooth is through, completing the set of incisors (lower left lateral). She's realy had little to no teething trouble.

On vacation she:
Climbed stairs like a pro even though she'd basically never experienced them before (we live on one floor). Climbed whole flights of stairs. Up, not down, of course. We did some teaching of "go down butt first" at the vaca house with one step down into the sun porch with limited success.

Stood by herself for brief moments with increasing frequency.

She's now back to bear-walking (hands and toes) in addition to crawling and walking with support. Still very lazy and staggery when walking with support.

I don't know if it was ocean air, lots of new people and activity or what, but she was a little sleep doggie at the Vineyard. Went to bed without a peep by 7 at latest and she's actually kept the not crying at bedtime habit since we've gotten home. She's finally got it that in the crib means sleep time, and crying just makes us all sweaty. Last night was a wonderful night - nursed at 11:40, 4:45 and then up at 7. She was up every 3 hours all vacation long, but in houses with lots of people I was reluctant to let her cry, and also felt she might be disturbed by all the upset from her routine so was not willing to be firm with her.

She liked the beach fine. To eat. Did not seem to find mouthfuls of sand at all yucky. Which, you know, they ARE.

Was rather more iffy about waves (we were mostly on the ocean side of the Vineyard, and it was pretty wavy). The first day she walked with support gleefully towards the surf, but when we got there she was nonplussed by the water (it was quite cold) on her feet. Was generally more comfortable being held and looking at the waves. Very cute in her bathing suit, however. We learned that those "swimmy" diapers are not very useful. She peed on mr. flea while wearing one.

Hated the car seat on a regular basis, which made for a number of very cranky car rides (also, she tended to get sleepy and want naps when we were far from a nappy place - we messed with her schedule a fair amount and overall she bore up well.) We've now turned it around so she faces front and she's much happier.

Had a rushed birthday ceelbration as she was falling asleep tired, but she ate a little cake.

Mother (mine) made her a wonderful photo book of her week, with pictures (viva la digital camera) and captions. She's too young not to eat it now, but it'll keep.

(no subject)

Today is my afternoon at home with The Fussa under the new schedule. So while talking at a baby level I have collected random thoughts all afternoon and must now share them.

My baby LOVES broccoli. Take that, George H. W. Bush!

Fresh Veggie Booty is yum. Stale Veggie Booty tastes like chewy ass. They should really package it in a resealable bag.

I love that the baby likes to play with random stuff. In addition to her toys (we got great funky blocks from my mother as an advance bday pressie - she likes to knock down towers and is especially fond of a yellow cylindrical block) today she played with a canteloupe, a package that came in the mail (she climbed on top of it by herself, and then after a little coaching figured out how to use it to climb on the sofa). She ate a hole in a box of Cheddar Bunnies I gave her to play with at the market. She has her own cupboard of tupperware and metal baking pans and boxes of spaghetti to play with (we took out the cereal boxes after she learned how to spill Rice Chex on the floor.)

Walked across the freshman campus in the midst of move in day today. I like the energy. At the same time, so glad I am not 18 and feeling the need to impress my new friends.

mr. flea has yelled at the frat boys next door already. I guess he will be bad cop and I will be good cop this year. The occasion was use of a table saw at 10pm outside our bedroom window. He now refers to the offender as "Carpentry Boy." I guess they are building a loft or something.

I am not actually watching much of the Olympics, but I am cooking Greek-themes food this week. I have eaten Greek yogurt and honey, made tzatziki, and tonight baked a quiche with spinach and feta. Although, I should note, never in my extensive experience of dining in Greece have I encountered spinach in Greek food - except in spanakopita (spinach-feta pies). Yet we consider it an integral part of "Greek" cuisine in America. Greek salads (horiatiki) have no spinach. (They don't have lettuce except occasionally in tourist areas - just cucumber, tomato, green pepper, onion, big hunk of feta, oil and oregano.) The Greeks eat lots of greens (boiled, with lemon, called horta) but they are wild greens, not spinach. Huh. I guess the power weilded by the spanakopita is mighty.

This concludes your random brain dump for the day. Thank you.