This American Wife: December 2014

Wednesday, December 31, 2014

23/6

A snapshot of 23 months and 6 months.

A little preview of their personalities?

Clem has started taking her clothes off -- now entering The Naked Time.

Clem is gaining more and more words, but no novel phrases. She goes to bed around 7 or 7:30 and sleeps until 8ish. We cap her at three bananas a day. She also loves cheese (CHEEZ), cottage cheese, and raspberries. She says milk 'mm-UH'. Favorite toys: keys (real ones, mama didn't raise no fool), bubbles, the remote control, her baby doll:

grrr

I turned the corner and became ashen - I thought she was pulling with all of her might on Josie's legs. But it was just BA-BEE. Then I got her to recreate it for this pic.

We tried to get her to watch a movie (Free Birds) but her attention lasted only five minutes (new record). Pediatricians, how can I increase my child's screen time? I have a stack of New Yorkers to catch up on!

C's ear infection re-announced itself with another gush of green pus and an absolutely foul, putrid odor (ears shouldn't smell) ten days after completing a course of antibiotics so she was given another course for what may have been an undertreated sinus infection all along. Josie turned out to have impetiginized eczema and received antibiotics and steroid lotion. Here we are at the end of month, everyone much improved and no development of C. diff (I was certain this was going to happen and hospitalize all of us) - hopeful this is the last of our frequent doctor appointments for a while.

Noodlecam! Her giggle at the end is so cute.

Josie smiles, eats, and sleeps. Actually, she doesn't nap much but remains in a good mood...so... we'll take it. She is a fat pile of smile according her father and the smooshiest sugarbear in the whole world according to her mother. To her sister she is Jee-jee.

As of the latest Costco trip the girls are wearing the same size diaper. 3s all around!

Just casually discussing holiday travel, ugh it's the worst, amirite?!

Lucas Jack ends 2014 with a rendition of Josie On My Piano (isn't it so cute how her head whips around when he says her name?)

What's Making Me Happy

// Following a new blog Classy Cubicle and her instragram feed @maryorton. I like how she makes conservative workwear fresh and chic rather than fuddyduddy. (Step 1: be 5'10 and a size 2).

I'm going to bonk her over the head and steal these outfits.

from @maryorton

However, she just gave her man low T by having him pose for this engagement announcement.

"I'm dying inside."

// Dallas Clayton's inspirational/aspirational illustrations on Instagram. (@dallasclayton)

// Bookends of three day workweeks with four day weekends (Christmas here). I love working during the holidays because 1) the case load is usually low and 2) it's quiet around the hospital and 3) no traffic. I think about traffic way too much - that's why I'm getting a jet pack next year (picture a rocket emoji here. Learn about the past, present, and future of emojis here). Luke will be very busy from here on out so a lazy weekend at home was w-o-n-d-e-r-f-u-l. Now I'll be all alone with the wolves! Send help! Send sedatives!

// The Mind of a Chef - a PBS series we found on Netflix. Luke isn't particularly interested but I skipped right to season 2 hosted by Sean Brock because I am so excited to eat at his restaurant Husk in Charleston in the spring. Any other Charleston recommendations?? The show is some history, some cooking, some celebrity chef interview, some agriculture.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Year in review: 2014

2014 was The Clementine Show with a featured role - very minor, in Clem's eyes - for Josie.

Some of my favorite moments of the year were:

My grandfather cracking a joke during grace that made everyone erupt with laughter (He prayed for special recognition for our servicemen and women and my dad piped up - especially the retired! - and Grandpa, without missing a beat said - for they would serve if called to do so! -- and we all dissolved in laughter)

Luke winning Battle of the Bands and opening for Foreigner at the landmark theatre downtown.

Meeting Josie.

Reclaiming the breastfeeding experience if only so briefly. It was nightmarish the first time around and very positive the second, though not sustainable after returning to work.

Our vacations to Palm Springs, St Louis, and Michigan.

I was awed recently by Clem's speech. She mimics me when we step outside and I say 'ooo, cold, cold!' -- COLE, COLE! (we say this when it's 60 degrees, by the way). At the doctor's office for her ear checkup this month, the doctor placed the stethoscope on her chest and Clem said softly, 'cole, cole' and I was awed that she applied the word, unprompted, to a novel situation and sensation.

Here's our year in review!

January/February