MamaBlogga

Hayden was very whiny while Ryan and I ate dinner. We were even nice enough to feed him some of our dinner from our forks. But it soon became clear that the food wasn’t really what he was after. He continued to scream. We were both getting pretty frustrated.

Finally I realized he wanted to hold our forks. No way—I don’t want him to poke himself. Or us, come to think of it.

So I grabbed one of his spoons for him. Ryan realized that he just wanted to be like Mommy & Daddy:

We probably should have figured this out sooner. Tuesday he did the same thing—clamor for our flatware and then eat out of the bowl. I have a video of him feeding Daddy and himself pretend stew.

Just goes to show you: change your frame of reference. Here I was, getting frustrated with a whiny kid and all he wanted to do was emulate me. When will I ever learn?

Sleep update: Last night, Ryan and I went to bed at 9, since Haydie usually sleeps for a while at first. Of course, as we walked by his room, the door creaked and he stirred. He moaned for a little while, but finally fell asleep on his own. And slept until 4 AM—at which point, he screamed very loudly. He soon fell silent, though.

Ryan still went in to him since he has a horrific diaper rash and we didn’t want him sitting in a wet diaper. Ryan found Hayden sucking his fingers, which he continued to do contentedly throughout a quick diaper change. I could hear him talking to Ryan a little—almost as if he were giving him instructions. After that he went right to bed and slept until 8 AM. It was wonderful.

Yesterday I took my sister Brooke and a couple of her friends to look for apartments for next fall. We looked at three places, including the complex where I lived my first year off campus. It was my idea to go there—I was arguing that it’s really nice to have enclosed hallways, instead of your apartment opening up right into the cold. (Also, with the strict curfew rules the university imposes on approved housing, it’s a warm place to hang out with friends after curfew.)

It was kind of weird to be back there. It even smelled the same. Brought back a lot of memories. We sat in the office and ate the freshly (under)baked cookies they had for us, and I imagined how much fun my sister and her friends will have, no matter where they live. I reminisced about how much fun I’d had, and my mind came back to something I think about probably all too often—what my single friends are doing now.

They’re following their dreams in law school, grad school or careers. They’re doing things for themselves. They’re dancing, partying, having fun. I’m getting up at 7 AM, changing diapers and watching television all day long, and going to bed early. I’m not even twenty-four. While I love Ryan and Hayden and I know this is where I belong, I can’t help but feel jealous of my friends who can still live for themselves.

Yesterday as I was back in my single stomping grounds, I reminisced about how I spent my singlehood—in those conveniently enclosed hallways. There was one boy in particular. I wanted so badly for him to care about me—not in a romantic way, though. I wanted him to be my best (guy) friend, my greatest confidant. And while he wanted to be my friend, he never could give me the depth of friendship that I needed. After I moved out of those apartments (and into Ryan’s neighborhood), he and I spoke only twice.

Last night, after stoking the fires of nostalgia all afternoon, I came home to Ryan waiting for me on the couch. He invited me to curl up with him. As I settled into his arms, I realized that Ryan was the friend that I’d yearned for years earlier, my greatest confidant. And while my friends do get to pursue their dreams now, I know I’m where I belong.

Hayden’s typical daily diet:

• Breakfast: nursey
• Second breakfast (a real meal in Bavaria): yogurt, applesauce, a few Cheerios, whole milk
• Elevenses: toast with peanut butter or cream cheese, whole milk
• Tiffin (a real meal in India): pears & cheese, cut into bite-sized pieces, fruit juice, maybe some graham crackers, rice cake pieces and/or baby goldfish
• Lunch: pocket peanut butter sandwich, torn into bite-sized pieces, whole milk
• Dinner: nursey
• Supper: pasta, meat, peas, cheese, cut into bite-sized pieces, whole milk (Can you tell he really likes the milk?)
• Dessert: nursey

Why does this kid weigh less than 20 pounds?! (And do you like his mini mohawk?)

My typical daily diet:

• Breakfast: water
• Second breakfast: half a loaf of bread made into pocket peanut butter sandwiches or a huge bowl of cereal, milk
• Elevenses: water
• Tiffin: leftover pizza, soda, leftover pasta side dish
• Lunch: chocolate
• Dinner: Let’s see… My fridge and freezer are completely full, so it’d better be leftovers: Thai chicken, pasta & veggies, corn & black bean soup with red pepper salsa, or chicken enchiladas with Spanish rice and beans (the last one was a gift from a friend). And those are just the leftovers in the fridge.
• Dessert: chocolate, ice cream, hot cocoa, or all of the above

I don’t feel so good…

The title says it all: more of Hayden’s latest antics:

I’m on the phone, Mom!

Cat treats: delicious! (Actually, he loves playing with the toys in his right hand)

Hayden climbed up on this rolled up piece of carpet and practically into the window well all by himself.

Fold arms?

Last set tomorrow, then doctor’s appointment news on Friday. Video Saturday? We’ll see.

Today’s momento from last year: today was Hayden’s due date. Sometimes when I hear the date I have this instinctive reaction: I know there’s something important on that day. Then I remember—it’s not that important (now).

As promised, here are some of Hayden’s latest antics:

Brusha brusha brusha! Actually, we have no idea how Hayden knows what to do with a toothbrush. He’s always in bed when we brush our teeth.

Fishy face!

Yes, that’s a rake. Why?

We had a little tongue phase there.

It’s not over.

More tomorrow (and probably the next day, too!).