Gwen Update

Gwen is now cruising.

Also, trying to eat bits of paper that the other kids leave lying around. She's getting better at her fine motor skills, so it won't be long until she's succeeding.

nwz

Sleep

Gwendolyn has turned me back into the "Sleepinator (hat tip to Rob Schneider). More than half of my interaction with her is putting her to sleep.

We sit in the computer chair. I hold her in one arm and play on the computer with the other. She usually cries a bit when we sit down but shortly, either through exhaustion or lack of hope, she fall a sleep.

As an aside, because one hand is being used by Gwen, the games that I can play are limited to mouse only (or otherwise one-handed) games. I'm currently playing Plants vs Zombies (which is quite good) but there are a fair number of other one-handed games.

mwz

Tooth

Some time in early December, I was vigorously brushing Frances' teeth. She winced, put her fingers in her mouth and pulled a tooth out.

I didn't even know her tooth was that loose. Arial and I thought the whole thing was awesome but Frances just cried.

This was also the first tooth where I got to play Tooth Fairy. That was 50 cents of fun.

Bigger

Two days ago, we used the last newborn diaper. Gwendolyn has moved up to size 1.

There is one thing I can do that reliably entertains/stops Gwen from crying. With my right hand, I hold on to her torso and support her bottom with my left. Then I move her in a clockwise circle while singing a circus song. The effect is like a little Ferris wheel.

The Ferris wheel doesn't run as long as it used to. When I first discovered the trick, I could keep it going nearly indefinitely. Gwendolyn's weight didn't seem to add that much to my empty arms. Now, I can only keep it going comfortably for a couple minutes.

It's amazing the difference that a couple pounds makes.

mwz

Parenting Tip

If it's been a day or more since you baby has pooped and you finally hear her go, don't wait until she's "finished". You will wind up cutting her out of here new Hawkeye onesie (fortunately, you got it at Wal-Mart in a three pack for only $10).

Don't let this happen to you.

mwz

Baptism

We finally got Gwen baptized. So now there is a little less pressure to keep her alive (but only an itsy, bitsy bit less).

One of my brothers and my sister came down, each of them bringing their three boys. It was crazy to have 9 kids (including Gwen) around. They played together amazingly well, so there wasn't any difficulty involved (other than trying to figure out where everyone was going to eat).

My parents and Arial's mom were there too. There were a lot of people in the house. Fortunately it was nice out, the kids played outside a lot.

Really not much else to say other than the Hawkeyes beat Michigan. The only flaw was that the game pulled my attention away from the people who weren't watching.

Finally, a shout out to C who was there but didn't get mentioned in this post.

mwz

Cute Noises

Over the last week, Gwendolyn has progressed to making vocal noises other than crying. She makes these cute little uh's.

They seem to be warning noises, her way of saying "I'm not happy with the situation but not mad enough to cry... yet". She probably isn't trying to imply the "yet" on the end but that is the practical application.

Ignore them at your peril.

mwz