Hannah's first cold

I think poor little punkins has her first cold. She's got a nose full of snot that I can hear and see, she had a little fever earlier this week, and a little cough that is the real cough - not the look what I can do cough. Poor thing, but then I discovered yesterday afternoon she'd given it to me. I think this is the first time I've been sick in about a year! I don't think I was ever actually sick sick while I was pg and I know I haven't been since. So I am certainly due. But as much as I'd like to go curl up in bed and stay there, I can't! That's a new one for me, LOL! This little baby could care less that I don't feel well.

This last weekend we went to mom's house for Easter weekend, so it was Hannah's first big long road trip. She was such a little trooper and did great. We got about to Rockford before she decided she'd had enough and started to snuffle and cry and before long she'd lost it entirely, her shit, that is. As long as I sat in the back with her so she could see me and let her squeeze my hands, she seemed to do better. But I felt so bad for her having to be confined and not understand why.

Once we got to mom's though everything was good. She was tired and cranky and needed to eat and go to bed but the next morning she was ready to go! I took her to go meet a bunch of old high school friends of mine for lunch and she got passed around to pretty much everyone. I think all but one of them are moms so they are totally familiar and comfortable with babies and I had no qualms about handing her over. She seemed to enjoy herself too, as long as she was being held and coo'd to. She was so comfortable in Jana's arms that she fell asleep! 

On Easter she got to meet a whole slew of relatives. She was being a little picky that day though and did good with some, but not so good with others. I'm not sure what her criteria is but she was partial to my nephew's new wife and my sister's husband but that's about it. The whole weekend I was sure she was going to roll over for the first time. She kept getting to her side and rocking a little but not quite all the way over. I think the cold she came home with has hampered her trying a little, but I think this big milestone is just around the corner. Everybody says 3 months is the norm for rolling over but then all babies progress on their own time frame, so we'll just have to wait and see. She is doing really well at sitting up though, we practice that a lot. She sits for a pretty long time before sliding down or tipping over...just like mommy :)

Franklin and his pig

When we went to pick up Franklin as a baby (puppy) we brought along this cute little pink stuffed pig thinking it would be his first toy. It turned into more than his first toy, it became more like his pacifier. He goes through about 3-4 pigs a year now, he doesn't shred them or un-stuff them so much as they literally fall apart from over-use. When he gets a new replacement pig, the first thing he does is suck on the ears and chew them off. That's it though, once the ears are removed, he is content with the pig as is.

Part of his routine is to be put to bed with a treat and his pig. In the mornings when he is let out of his kennel he always makes sure to grab his pig and bring it with him downstairs. Sometimes during the day I forget or am too lazy to take his pig and put it up for the day and I'll see him sucking on it as he naps. It wasn't until we had Hannah and I was waking up during the night for feedings that I saw how much Franklin really uses his pig. He sucks on it throughout the night and I think he does it while he's still sleeping. I would hear him and look over to see his jaw working and a little bit of pink peeking out from his mouth. How sweet!

The morning routine is for him to take his pig downstairs with him, drop it by the backdoor as he goes outside, eat, drink, and retrieve his pig to come back upstairs and lie in bed with Hannah and I. Today though, he forgot to drop his pig by the backdoor before he went out. Lance looked out the window at the dogs and saw Franklin pee-ing with his pig stuffed in his mouth. I can picture it now and it is just too funny for words. He really is a one of a kind boy.

Easter eggs!

I've been looking forward to coloring Easter eggs ever since I saw the Paas kit at the grocery store a few weeks ago. I had to call mom to remind me how to boil eggs though, not something I ever do. Strange too, considering I like boiled eggs and like deviled eggs even more...

So, Sunday was the big day - all my eggs were boiled, I'd remembered to have plenty of vinegar, Hannah was in a great mood - we were ready! She didn't really participate all that much, but I'm pretty sure she enjoyed herself. Lance wasn't entirely certain we needed to do this but once he got going, I could tell he liked it. You'll notice the blue egg underneath her Pooh Bunny. That is a window into Lance's humor....

We were talking about what our future Easters will bring and how we want to celebrate them with Hannah. What are the pieces from our childhoods we want to bring in to her childhood. Since she'll be 1 and probably a bit more mobile next Easter, we can start doing it then. One thing that I told Lance is important to me is we need to ditch the Easter ham. I hate ham and never make it. Sometimes he has a hard time letting go of how he thinks things should go so he is still considering my request for 'Easter fish' or 'Easter lasagne'. We'll see what next year brings and what I find myself cooking, lol.

Last week Hannah and I went out with a group of working moms from Meredith. They were doing some research for Parents magazine and wanted some input from new moms. I'm all about giving my opinion, so of course I jumped at the opportunity. Hannah was a really good baby and let just about every mom there hold her and coo to her with no squaks. I think it was the first time in months that I was able to eat lunch with both of my hands! It was good for both of us to interact with some people during the day. I've been wanting to but have been waiting for the weather to get a bit nicer. While I could take her out in the cold and snow, I'd really rather not. Now that it is April though, we can get some more regular outings going. It was reassuring in many ways too. Just to talk with other moms about some thoughts and feelings that are all new to me. Other moms understand :) I was talking about how different it is when our friends come over to see us and the baby vs when our relatives come over and all the moms knew exactly what I meant and were all, "Uh-huh!!" I'm excited for mommy groups, we're going to try and do about 1 a week.