Brownes in ME

Monday, July 30, 2007

Sunday, July 22, 2007

The Yarmouth Clam Festival is all about the extras...

Jumbo inflatable Dora

Calia loves it.

Face Painting

I can't believe how still she sat.

Zonked out...

Or maybe it's all about the rides?

The train

The big slide with Daddy

The big slide with Mommy

(this was far and away her favorite ride)

The carosel with Daddy...she went once with Mommy, too.

Friday, July 20, 2007

Calia loves Cereal

At least she starts with a spoon...

But, maybe it's just easier to use your other hand...

Maybe if you pick the bowl up and use the spoon...

Or just go right for the face!

(but, still hold onto that spoon)

Thursday, July 19, 2007

Calia sleeps with the blue plastic ring that was her beloved Mick, but that's ok because she sleeps thru the night and goes to bed with little fuss (unless you are Kevin and forget to turn her fan on). But, now she has amassed numerous stuffed animals in her bed with her. We started with her 2 fave blankies, her slumber bear (that has been with her from day 1) and another random bear, now we've added her Leapfrog soft worm, and as of last night her Happy Feet penguin that is almost as big as Calia. After Kevin put her to bed, (and forgot to turn her fan on) , she was crying "penguin". So, I went up, turned ehr fan on, ran down her crib inventory, asked her if she was now ready to go to bed. "Yes" Ok, Miss Bubba, see you in the am...and that was it. I can't wait to see what she drags into her bed tonight. I think as a preemptive strike, I'll remove the random bear, worm and penquin?

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

A Day at OOB

Splashing with Grampa

Running toward the ocean

Ghetto Beach Baby

Cheers!

Calia loves the beach..and pickles.

The Apple Picker

Hiking Mt. Battie in Camden

By the time we got to the top, Calia was out like a light

This can't be comfortable.

But, she woke quickly to pose for pics.

With Mommy on the tower

Camden harbor

Friday, July 13, 2007

Almost there...

Wednesday night, we put Calia to bed at 7pm. She cried and whined for over an hour about Mick, who she had clutched in her hand the whole time. I was distraught. Calia has been a terrific sleeper from early on. Breast fed, she slept 6 hour stretches at less than a month old, and was up to 8 hour stretches at 2 months old. Calia could be going full throttle and if you asked her if she wanted to go to bed, she'd promptly stop and be ready and willing. combine this with her 3-4 hour naps, she's been a dream. Until 7/4/7, now bedtime is a struggle and naps are only 2 1/2 hours. I was close to caving on Wednesday night and giving her one of the intact Micks, but I held my ground and before our second 30 minute check-in, the crying stopped, and Calia wasn't heard form again until am!! Woot!

Last night, it got even easier. Bed at 7:30 (we've moved bedtime out to 7:30 from 7:00), whimpering and whining for 20 minutes, then silence. YES! Then Kevin and his pals returned from biking, Coda barked, and I heard Calia crying. CRAP! I quickly ran up, told her it was ok, retrieved her nub-Mick off the floor, placed it in her hand, and left. The silence continued. SUCCESS!! Another full night of sleep. And according to Kevin, Mick was on the floor this am. I'm sure we'll have setbacks with the sleeping through the night thing, especially since we are still waiting for all 4 of Calia's canine teeth to come through. But, as long as bedtime routine continues to improve, I'll be a happy mommy.

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

McUpdate

This just keeps getting better. Last night Calia took her nub Mick to bed, she woke in the middle of the night crying "Mick." So, I went in to check on her and make sure he hadn't fallen out of the bed. She was sitting up in her crib, half awake, holding him in her hand, looking at him and whimpering "Mick" Poor little Bubba. I think she'll still sleep with the plastic that is left clutched in her hand for a long time to come.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Circumcision of Mick

Once upon a time, Calia had a pacifier that we fondly referred to as Mr. Binks. As time went on and Calia grew up, she called him Mick. Now, I'm not sure if that is his first name (Mr. Mick Binks) or if she is calling it McBink (like McDreamy). Anyway, before Calia left Toddle Inn, they told me she had been napping for weeks without Mick. I wish they had told me sooner because she was still asking for it at home naps and bedtime. I was a bit upset because a window of opportunity had passed. So, on Independece Day, we started our own families Independence from the Mick, or as it has now been called the Circumcision of the Mick.

Since we moved into the new house, we have only given the Mick at bed/naptime and will not let Calia out of her bed until she gives it to us. After reading up on ways to get a pacifier dependent child to give up their beloved companion, we decided that we would cut the top of the plastic off. Theory is this will make the pacifier suck differently and the child will not want it. So, only July 4th, the first cut was made. Kevin and I put Calia to bed together that night. As per usual, Calia made it through books, then as she was headed for her crib, pointed to her mouth and asked for Mick. So, we gave her the Mick and she put it in her mouth. She promptly removed it and put it back in, then removed it again and said "Mick?" She then put her finger down into the hole and shrugged her shoulders, put it back in her mouth and went to bed. HUH? Wasn't she supposed to refuse it?? Kev and I, after laughing hysterically at her reaction, were baffled.

Night by night we have trimmed Mick up and there is barely a nub left, yet Calia still wants it and now she holds it in her mouth to keep it in. Last night, Kevin put her down and she didn't ask for it. She was talking in her crib for about a half hour before I heard her cry out "MICK". Crap! I let her whine for 30 minutes then went in and explained Mick was gone. I was told "no, fine it" So, I left and let her cry for another 15 minutes, I went back into her room and we had the exact same conversation. Finally after 1 hour, I had Kevin go in, same conversation..."fine it" 15 mintues later, we gave up and gave her the nub Mick. Happily, she held it in her mouth, laid down and went to bed. When we checked in on her before we went to bed, we had to laugh, she fell asleep with ther hand holding that darn thing in.

After tomorrow's trim, there will be nothing much left except for the plastic. Poor Calia, losing her first best friend Mr. Mick Binks, or McBink. RIP MICK, and Rest quietly Calia.

Then...