Yesterday seemed to be a comedy of errors on many fronts.
It started to go downhill when I brought Ellie home from daycare at noon. This is our schedule most days and Ellie goes down for her nap while I work, sometimes frantically, during that 2-3 hour window to finish whatever assignments I have for the day.
Well, for some reason Ellie decided Wednesday that she was not going to take a nap. I listened to her alternate between playful babbling and fake "come-play-with-me" cries for the next 45 minutes... and finally went up to assess the situation. It quickly became clear that sleep was far from her mind, so she came downstairs to play.
I spent the next few hours alternating between playing with toys, listening to Ellie read her books and trying to clack away on the laptop. My work arrangement works great when Ellie and follow our assigned schedules... but I had a hard time trying to combine work and playtime. The trickiest parts where when sources finally returned my calls and I had to conduct interviews while trying to mask some of the toddler yelling and crashing toys in the background. Luckily, I was able to set up her prized Elmo video and distract her with animal crackers for some of my phone time.
She was so good during that string of work that I decided we both needed a break. So we put on swimsuits and sunblock and walked over to the pool at the park... only to find it closed. (Apparently it's only open on the weekends now that school is back in session. Sigh.) We looped around to the swing set, but the seats and slides were too hot for Ellie's bare legs (since she was only wearing a swimsuit...), so finally we just retreated home. I filled her kiddie pool in the backyard and that seemed to work as a sub par substitute for our original outing.
When a staff meeting was called at my work for 5 p.m., Brian was able to come home a bit early from his job to free me up. This came not a moment too soon, as Ellie's mood was starting to dissolve before my eyes. Turns out she needs that nap time.
While I went back to the office to finish my story and attend the meeting, Brian and Ellie went to pick up a pizza. Cooking was not happening yesterday.
After dinner and some play time, we got Ellie ready for an early bedtime... as she was seriously overdue for some shut-eye. But she continued to fight sleep. Brian (whose seasonal allergies have suddenly come on in full force) stayed inside to work on Ellie while I went out to mow the lawn.
By the time I finished, he had almost succeeded in getting our overtired girl to sleep, so I decided to slip out for a short run to shake off some of the day's stress. I was less than a quarter mile from the house when I tripped over my own feet and slammed into the pavement. *Luckily?* I was able to twist during the fall and absorb most of it with my palm and my right hip, so as to avoid road rash down my arms and legs ahead of this weekend's wedding... but it hurt! I didn't even bother feeling embarrassed and was glad when a lady pulled over to where I was laying on the side of the road to check on my condition. I muttered something about being fine, I think, and retreated back home.
Battered and bruised in so many ways from the long day, I gratefully went to bed early. Here's hoping for a more successful, nap-filled and injury-free Thursday.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Her boyfriend is back
This is Brian, just for clarification. I figured I'd show up like I do every few months or so.
Dorothy, Ellie and I had dinner with our friends Haley and Dusty over the weekend, giving Ellie some (supervised) quality time with her boyfriend, Dusty. Ellie, like most little girls I'm sure, is shy around men, including all her uncles. But Dusty is another story.
For some reason, Ellie asks about Dusty quite often. Once I asked if Dusty was her boyfriend, to which she gave an emphatic "YES."
I've often said that Ellie cannot date until she's finished her Master's degree, but we like Dusty. There's quite an age difference, and he's married, but as long as she's back by bed time (7 p.m.) and has a clean diaper, we think it'll be OK.
When it was time to leave Haley and Dusty's, Ellie readily gave Haley a hug and kiss. We expected some shyness about Dusty, but Ellie immediately ran over and hugged him. I told her to give Dusty a kiss on the cheek, but she planted one right on his mouth.
On another boyfriend-type note, Ellie's apparent favorite song is "My Boyfriend's Back" by the Angels. The teachers at daycare tell me she asks for the song often, and when it comes on the CD they play, she stands facing the player and sways until it's over.
This morning, they got out the CD, and while Ellie refused to dance for us, she was mesmerized during the entire song. As it wound down, she frantically said "Please, please!" while pointing at the player. She wanted to hear it again.
"One more time!?!? Fireworks!" she squealed.
We learned "one more time" while watching a fireworks video on YouTube the other day. So, whenever she says that, she follows it up with "Fireworks!"
I'll leave you with this, the video of the Angels, which Ellie has seen and couldn't take her eyes off.
Dorothy, Ellie and I had dinner with our friends Haley and Dusty over the weekend, giving Ellie some (supervised) quality time with her boyfriend, Dusty. Ellie, like most little girls I'm sure, is shy around men, including all her uncles. But Dusty is another story.
For some reason, Ellie asks about Dusty quite often. Once I asked if Dusty was her boyfriend, to which she gave an emphatic "YES."
I've often said that Ellie cannot date until she's finished her Master's degree, but we like Dusty. There's quite an age difference, and he's married, but as long as she's back by bed time (7 p.m.) and has a clean diaper, we think it'll be OK.
When it was time to leave Haley and Dusty's, Ellie readily gave Haley a hug and kiss. We expected some shyness about Dusty, but Ellie immediately ran over and hugged him. I told her to give Dusty a kiss on the cheek, but she planted one right on his mouth.
On another boyfriend-type note, Ellie's apparent favorite song is "My Boyfriend's Back" by the Angels. The teachers at daycare tell me she asks for the song often, and when it comes on the CD they play, she stands facing the player and sways until it's over.
This morning, they got out the CD, and while Ellie refused to dance for us, she was mesmerized during the entire song. As it wound down, she frantically said "Please, please!" while pointing at the player. She wanted to hear it again.
"One more time!?!? Fireworks!" she squealed.
We learned "one more time" while watching a fireworks video on YouTube the other day. So, whenever she says that, she follows it up with "Fireworks!"
I'll leave you with this, the video of the Angels, which Ellie has seen and couldn't take her eyes off.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Week 15: Apple
Excited to hit the 15th week and still be feeling good. Baby and I are getting along pretty well, with the exception of a cold that may be hitting me today... We'll see if I can fight it off before it gets any worse. No time to be sick, especially with Maggie's wedding this weekend.
Not too much new to report from my end, so I'll just share what the experts have to say for the week:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.
Not too much new to report from my end, so I'll just share what the experts have to say for the week:
Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Babysat
Ellie got to hang out with babysitter Shanna on Saturday night while Brian and I went on a date night. Here's a shot that Shanna snapped on her phone, and then shared on Facebook :)
Shanna doesn't get much babysitting work from us... since we rarely go out. But she was happy that we decided to hit an early dinner on this particular Saturday so that she could play with Ellie. (When we've called on her in the past, the timing is often later in the evening when Ellie is already asleep or just about ready for bed.) It sounds like they had a great time playing outside and then indoors with just about every toy Ellie owns!
Ellie was a bit nervous when a round a thunderstorms hit later in the evening, but Brian and I got home shortly after they started and gave her some cuddles before a late bedtime. (She rewarded us by letting mom and dad sleep until almost 8:30 on Sunday morning!)
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Predictions
The weekly e-mail update I just got on Ellie included a link for "Find out how tall your child will grow up to be..." Curious, I clicked it and entered her height and weight at age 2, and height info on me and Brian. According to this super-scientific (I'm sure) analysis, Ellie is supposed to be 5'9" when she turns 18. Just 16 more years to find out if they're right!
And the baby gender predictions have already begun for #2. We got to hear the heartbeat for the first time at Wednesday's appointment! It was amazing and wonderful. The heart rate was right at 160... so what does that mean? Well, according to random old theories, a fast beat means it's going to be a girl and a slower one means a boy... But I remember Ellie's being all over the board. There's really no evidence to back the theory up, but I guess it's fun to speculate :)
Lots of people have asked us if we're going to find out the baby's gender this time around. And I defer that question to Brian. He's in charge of that particular decision... and he'll have to make up his mind in the next five weeks because we've got an ultrasound scheduled for Sept. 14!! I like the idea of being surprised again, but Brian really wanted to find out last time and was a good sport when I insisted on waiting. I'll be happy either way. Just can't wait to see some pictures of this little one in about a month!
And the baby gender predictions have already begun for #2. We got to hear the heartbeat for the first time at Wednesday's appointment! It was amazing and wonderful. The heart rate was right at 160... so what does that mean? Well, according to random old theories, a fast beat means it's going to be a girl and a slower one means a boy... But I remember Ellie's being all over the board. There's really no evidence to back the theory up, but I guess it's fun to speculate :)
Lots of people have asked us if we're going to find out the baby's gender this time around. And I defer that question to Brian. He's in charge of that particular decision... and he'll have to make up his mind in the next five weeks because we've got an ultrasound scheduled for Sept. 14!! I like the idea of being surprised again, but Brian really wanted to find out last time and was a good sport when I insisted on waiting. I'll be happy either way. Just can't wait to see some pictures of this little one in about a month!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Playtime, cars and closets
It was a busy and productive Tuesday at the Schneiderheimer's house!
First up, the cute stuff: Ellie and I played outside and enjoyed the cool evening when Brian had to go back to work for his monthly Science Cafe event. Ellie stole my sandals and played with some of the bubbles she got for her birthday. Happy girl!
Earlier in the afternoon she accompanied mom and dad while we completed the sale of my former car, the Mercury Sable we recently replaced with a minivan. I am so excited to have that car sold and the money applied toward our minivan loan! We got a pretty good sale price for it and unloaded it on a Purdue international grad student — who seems very excited about his first car.
After Ellie went to bed I spent a couple hours sorting clothes in my closet. I pulled out a bunch of pants, skirts and shirts that are too tight these days. And I started pulling out maternity wear... but I also found a bin of clothes I packaged up in the past year as I dropped a bunch of weight. I'm glad I held on to some of this stuff because it'll serve me well in the next few months. I'm sure I'll get to the point later in the fall where it's maternity-or-nothing... but it's nice to still fit in to some real pants, and to feel like I have more than 2 options when I go to pull an outfit out for work. I've only gained 5 pounds so far — right on track for the end of the first trimester — but it's all in the waist and chest, which seriously alters how my clothes fit (or not). I caught myself feeling a bit nervous and sad as I put away my newer, smaller clothes. But I've promised to remain upbeat about my growing body and my plans to regain my shape post-pregnancy... and I intend to do so. When pregnant with Ellie I had nothing to go on except the widespread warnings about how hard it is to lose baby-weight and how many women don't. Knowing that I was able to pull it off (and then some!) after Ellie was born gives me more confidence that I'll do the same the second time around. So, I'll say good-bye to my "skinny" clothes for now and count on pulling them back out next year.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Week 14: Lemon
While I'm happy to officially be in my second trimester now, this week has brought with it some twinges and an increased discomfort that's reminding me not to overdo it. Brian and I tend to pack a million things into every day, week, month... and I've forgotten that the pace needs to slow a bit during pregnancy.
More literally, on the pace topic, I'm seriously slowing down in my running. With the recent heat I've only been able to get out a for a few runs each week, since my early work schedule only gives me running openings during the afternoon or evening hours during the week. I've been taking advantage of the weekends, trying to get my miles in early in the morning, but I've had trouble getting more than 10 miles in total some weeks. Now that I'm 9 weeks out from our next half marathon — the Indianapolis Marathon/Half on Oct. 15 — and the weather seems like it might cooperate a little, I'll be ramping up my mileage... but still taking it slow. I found during my first pregnancy that running was very helpful in working out the kinks and general discomfort, but also that the increased weight and shift in balance requires some adjustment. But I'm still hoping to get a "pregnant PR" in this half — which would only mean running faster than the 2:26 half I did while 5-and-a-half months pregnant with Ellie.
Well, enough from me. Here's the Week 14 update from the experts:
Welcome to the second trimester! This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him -- a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.
More literally, on the pace topic, I'm seriously slowing down in my running. With the recent heat I've only been able to get out a for a few runs each week, since my early work schedule only gives me running openings during the afternoon or evening hours during the week. I've been taking advantage of the weekends, trying to get my miles in early in the morning, but I've had trouble getting more than 10 miles in total some weeks. Now that I'm 9 weeks out from our next half marathon — the Indianapolis Marathon/Half on Oct. 15 — and the weather seems like it might cooperate a little, I'll be ramping up my mileage... but still taking it slow. I found during my first pregnancy that running was very helpful in working out the kinks and general discomfort, but also that the increased weight and shift in balance requires some adjustment. But I'm still hoping to get a "pregnant PR" in this half — which would only mean running faster than the 2:26 half I did while 5-and-a-half months pregnant with Ellie.
Well, enough from me. Here's the Week 14 update from the experts:
Welcome to the second trimester! This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him -- a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.
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