Sad Face :(

I wish I had an amusing anecdote to add to Babykins' blog this week, but she has been a very sick baby.  Between high fevers, throwing up, and a white tongue, we have spent most of the week cuddled on the couch.

Although I hate to see her sick, it's been sweet to see the progression of Babykins' snuggling.  When she was first born, cuddling wasn't a guaranteed way to quiet her down.  Within days, though, Babykins realized the joy of being held and rocked (she especially enjoyed this at 3 am).  It was an amazing day when Babykins was able to reach out her arms when she wanted to be picked up.  It's simultaneously heart-breaking and overwhelmingly sweet to see your crying baby reach out for you.  Fast forward a couple more months, and instead of just cuddling when she was upset or hurt, Babykins started giving hugs.  What a wonderful feeling to have your baby put her arms around your neck, not because she's sad, but because she's so happy to see you.

This week, I've been so worried about Babykins' illness that I've had her sleep in with us so I could keep an eye on her.  In the past, I've found that if she's restless, she'll often quiet down if I snuggle her in to my side.  These last few nights she's realized the same thing.  Instead of lying there fussing until I pull her next to me, Babykins has started rolling over and cuddling into my side.  It's moments like these that cause us to forget the pain of childbirth.

Fashionista

When I pick Babykins up from daycare, I try to sneak in quietly so that I can spend a few minutes watching her play before she notices me.  Last week, I walked in to find her prancing around the Wobbler room in a fluffy pink princess skirt. 

When I called her name, Babykins was thrilled to show off her new skirt.  The teachers told me that during dress-up time, Babykins had immediately picked out the skirt and carried it over to them for help in putting it on.  When dress-up time ended, she refused to take it off and spent the rest of the day swishing in sparkly pink tulle.  Add to this the green purse that Babykins has started carrying around all day, every day at daycare, and it seems we have a fashionista on our hands.

To encourage Babykins' budding fashion sense, Hubbykins and I have started letting Babykins pick out her own outfit in the morning.  For the most part, this is a success.  She has an affinity for onesies and seems to like pink, which could partly be due to the fact that that accurately describes 90% of the clothing in her dresser.  Admittedly, she doesn't have a large range to choose from.  Babykins does occasionally like to be cutting edge, though.  Friday she wanted three different colored barrettes in her hair, and proudly went to daycare with them accessorizing her outfit.

Yesterday I watched as Babykins patiently stood still while the teacher fitted her with the hand-painted hula skirts they've been working on for a week.  And last week Babykins came home with her hair in two "palm tree" pig tails on top of her head.  Although she'll often run away half way through a diaper change, it seems that even Babykins is willing to make exceptions when it comes to fashion.

The Number 1 Reason I Love Daycare

Babykins and I are both finally starting to adjust to her daily trips to daycare.  She has fabulous teachers, they do fun activities, and every time I walk in there, someone's cleaning something.  The number 1 thing I love about daycare, though, is the art projects Babykins brings home.  There's just nothing cuter than seeing the end result of her daily foray into art time. 

For Mother's Day, she finger painted paper plates, which they turned into a bouquet of flowers.  All together now...Awwww :)

Babykins' Handmade Mother's Day Bouquet

I Wanna Hold Your Haaaaaand

Now that Babykins is a walking machine, we got her new shoes that she can wear outside.

To celebrate this new purchase, Babykins and I decided to take a walk to the Post Office.  This consists of leaving our building, crossing the street, and walking across a parking lot.  On my own, I can make it in 5 minutes.  Thirty minutes later, we arrived. 

In that half hour, we discussed why cigarette butts are yucky and not for eating, chased a flock of birds, almost caught a bird and had a fright, stopped to examine the dirt in the crack in the sidewalk, walked back and forth between the sidewalk and the grass to figure out why they feel different under our shoes, and detoured into Sears for a quick ride up the escalator.  It was a major adventure.

After finishing at the Post Office, I was feeling brave and decided we could quick stop at the grocery store next door.  Within seconds I realized my mistake.  Walking Babykins quickly yanked her hand free from mine, made a break for it, and began pulling everything she could off the bottom shelf.  As I tried to put everything back in its place, she fled across the aisle and plastered herself to the door of the frozen foods, fascinated by how cold it was.  I got there just in time to see her lick the glass.

At this point, I tucked her into the one-armed football hold and made a dash for the produce section.  As we moved down the aisle of fruit, she started calling, "Nana, Nana."  I grabbed a bunch of bananas, broke one off, and gave it to her to hold.  It was like magic.  Babykins proudly cradled her banana and followed me through the store, thrilled that she was carrying her own Nana like a big girl.

An hour and a half after we left, we were back in the building, heading for our apartment.  As we walked down the hallway, Babykins reached up her little hand and grabbed my finger, holding on until we reached the door.  Now that Babykins doesn't need help to walk, there's something extra sweet about her choosing to hold my hand.  I know a day will come when she won't be seen in public holding my hand, so for now I'm cherishing every moment of having her little hand wrapped in mine.