The Nelsons

We've Moved...

2011-03-10T12:46:00.000-05:00

...to a new site!

Hopefully everyone has found our new home, but for those that have not, please see http://thenelsontale.wordpress.com for all future updates on our family. The new site is still under development, so may look a bit wonky from time to time, especially the past posts to this site which have been moved to the new location, but not yet fully edited for that site's specs.

This site will be up for a while, but will eventually be disabled, so please change your URLs/Favorites/RSS Feeds now.

See you on the flip side!

Halloween 2010: Part 3: Old Town Alexandria

2010-11-18T15:26:00.001-05:00

Grandpa John is a HUGE Halloween fan so very much wanted to share the day with the girls. On Halloween night we headed to his and Carolyn's place to show the girls his decorations, enjoy a few pre-trick-or-treating snacks and get ready for the big night.

Getting ready.

The girls.

So, this was almost an awesome shot,

all four of us, decked out for Halloween and everyone happy and paying attention (I was a witch, Keith was Mad-Eye Moody), but I don't think the very nice old man who offered to take our picture knew how to use the camera and unfortunately we didn't discover how bad it was until much later...

Trick-or-treating with Grandpa John.
People kept stopping him and Keith saying how much they loved Aria's costume (yay!).

Grandpa John was very excited about this balloon...hehehe.

This couple was sooo excited when they spotted Aria in the huge crowds of trick-or-treaters and party-goers. They had to have a picture (and so did we)!

This was at the end of the night and Aria was a bit tired and feeling more than a bit shy, so wasn't very smiley; afterward, though, she loved talking about this meeting.

Note: The Fish in the Pot side of the treat bag I made is just visible here. I didn't anticipate the number of treats she'd get, though and one of the straps broke towards the end of the night. Next time I must reinforce those seams!

Aria got the hang of trick-or-treating very quickly and
was soon begging to go to that house and that house and that house...
This was to be the very last house, but...

...they were all out of candy.

Thank goodness for this sweet couple.
Aria got one last treat and ended on a (sugar) high.

Ani staying bundled and getting sleepy.

Tired girls.

Time to head home.

The End.

Halloween 2010: Part 2: Hilloween

2010-11-18T13:01:00.002-05:00

Halloween this year was a full weekend of activity, starting with Friday's Hilloween celebration. We've gone to Hilloween since Aria was but a wee little thing and love the community feel and kid-friendliness of this event. Admittedly (and sadly), we are no longer Hill residents, but we still feel so much a part of the community, frequently visiting Eastern Market's "Pickle Man" or meeting friends on the playgrounds, that going to this event was a must.

Halloween 2010: Part 1: Creating the Costumes

2010-11-18T12:58:00.005-05:00

Halloween began weeks ahead of time for this mama. Trying to get ahead of the game a bit, I talked with Aria early in the fall about what she'd like to be for Halloween. Repeatedly she voiced her desire to dress up as a cat for the holiday and so I deemed it safe to order her a set of ears and a tail for her costume. The very next day, as we were looking at pictures of various things online, Aria saw a picture of a Cat in the Hat stuffed animal and instantly knew that's what she had to be for Halloween. She was very excited about it and I thought the idea to pretty cool, so I called Groovyland (the Hill's toy store) and amended the order for a toddler-sized Cat in the Hat hat. After that I set out to put together the rest of her costume, sewing a white belly on her black turtleneck, finding just the right shade and width of ribbon and creating a Halloween treat bag showing Thing 1 and Thing 2. This was an important detail as Aria originally thought she could be Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 all in one night. I talked her down to carrying Thing 1 and Thing 2 in some way and promised her she'd have them for the big night. I settled on a treat bag made up of blue felt (to match the Things hair and the book itself) with a drawing of the Things on a white felt patch. I also sewed blue felt "hair" onto the drawing for a little extra pop. As I worked on her bag the day before Hilloween, the following conversation unfolded.

"Remember the Fish!"
"What fish," I asked, feeling a red flag slowly rise into the air.
"The Fish in the Pot!"
"But Aria," I said, "you are having Thing 1 and Thing 2 on your bag."
"But you need to put three things on my bag, Thing 1 and Thing 2 and the fish in the pot."
"OK..."
"And don't forget the boy and the girl. You need to put five things on my bag!"
Bossy little thing, I thought, but did not say.
"I'll put the fish, Aria, but not the boy and girl. That's too much."

And so I spent a very late night finishing two costumes (more about Ani's in a minute) and putting together a Halloween bag that had not only Thing 1 and Thing 2, but also the Fish in the Pot (I sewed a little fish cutout onto a drawing of the fishbowl from the book, on a white panel to match the Things drawing). I stopped sewing when I could no longer focus my eyes well enough to thread the needle I was using. (So this is what old people feel like, I thought...). The next morning I put on the finishing touches and looked up step-by-step instructions on how to tie a bowtie. It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun and, in my opinion, the results were worth it:

Getting ready at Grandpa John's on

Halloween night.

I love this picture of her.

It's a bit grainy but you can see her whole costume (minus the tail)

and the fire shoes which she picked out and wears all the time.

I think they look great on the Cat in the Hat

- totally fit with the attitude!

Picture taken in Old Town Alexandria on Halloween night.

Taking a breather with Grandpa John.

Note: The bag is somewhat visible in this pic.

You can at least get an idea of what the Things looked like.

More pics to come...

Ani's costume was another labor of love. I decided early on that I wanted her to be a fairy. I liked that it would be similar to Aria's second Halloween costume but also wanted it to be unique. I bought her a pair of fairy wings and decided to make her a tutu and headband. After a couple of trips to fabric stores to find the tulle and ribbon in just the right colors and a night or two covered in tulle scraps, I came up with this:

I loved making the costumes for the girls. It reminded me of the Halloweens of my youth when we made our own costumes (with Mom's help, of course!) and felt much more meaningful than buying a full costume. Admittedly, there were store-bought pieces to each (when I said something about making the costumes Aria was quick to point out that I did not make her hat or her tail) but even those had a bit of creativity and hard work in them as I tried to incorporate them into the whole costume just so.

Stay tuned for more pics of our action-packed Halloween weekend...

Snowpocalypse 2010

2010-02-06T13:15:00.006-05:00

Snowpocalypse. That's what they're calling it. You know it's bad when the description of the storm is a derivation of the word "apocalypse." Comes with websites like these: snowpocalypsedc.com. There's already about 20 inches on the ground and it's still going, not predicted to stop until late tonight.

This is the second blizzard in as many months and we're not done yet. More snow is forecast for Tuesday. I am not a happy camper; I don't deal well with cold. DC is supposed to have mild winters and in the five or so years we've lived here the winters have been surprisingly tolerable - 40 degree days are not uncommon and snow typically comes in 1-3 inch accumulations and melts within a couple days. That's the DC I signed up for, not this. Especially not with two little ones, cooped up inside for days on end. With snow up to Aria's chest it's not like I can take her out during the week with Ani too. Ani would freeze, Aria would get lost and the stroller is just useless. Worst of all, the nearest coffee shop closed early yesterday, is closed today and may be closed tomorrow. All other walkable shops closed as well. Grrr.

Ok, I've said my piece. For now.

All grumbling aside, the snow is very pretty. Keith took Aria out a little bit ago and they had a blast. I went out and snapped some quick pics while Ani slept. Dressed only in pjs, a fleece jacket and a vest, I wasn't planning on staying out long, or becoming the focus of a snowball fight; Keith and Aria had other plans.

Ani's Thumb

2010-01-26T19:24:00.020-05:00

Ani discovered her thumb today. She's been working on it for awhile, loudly sucking on her fist or a couple fingers. Occasionally she would get her thumb in her mouth for a moment or two but couldn't get it back in once it was out, which was monumentally frustrating for her. So instead she would fuss or cry and mainly want to comfort nurse, which was fine with me. Today, though, she figured it out, getting her thumb in her mouth in just the right way so as to be comforting and not choke herself. Hearing her fussing this morning, but busy with something, it took me a few moments to get in to check on her. By the time I got there she was quiet, peacefully sucking on her thumb. Throughout the day she's continued to find it and soothe herself with it, sleeping longer than she normally would without it. She does eventually realize that the thumb is not as good as Mama and wakes up to eat, but she's definitely enjoying this new find.

Thumb-sucking concerns us a bit: What about getting too dependent on it? What about affecting her teeth or messing up her thumb in some way? Well, those are considerations down the line. But for now, it's a natural source of comfort. Maybe she'll be hooked on the thumb at 2 1/2 or 3, like her sister is hooked on the paci. We'll deal with that then. Right now, though, it's just cute.

Ani Sucking Her Thumb

January 26, 2010

11 Weeks, 3 Days

To Mother Nature, With Love

2009-12-18T18:40:00.000-05:00

Dear Mother Nature,

This evening marks the beginning of one of the biggest snow storms this region has seen in several years, a snowstorm for "the record books" says one of the local weathermen. A gift of a white Christmas comes around only so often so I thank you for making the dreams of many come true this year. My daughter will undoubtedly enjoy the countless snowballs and snow angels she will make this weekend.

That said, I find the level of your generosity - a proposed 12-24 inches of snowfall - to be a bit alarming. While the landscape will no doubt be breathtakingly beautiful, the sheer volume of this could bring the city to a halt for days. Any other year this could be a good thing. Recently, though, we welcomed a new little lady to the family and have spent the last several weeks doting on her and her sister. As a result, I have gotten very behind on my Christmas shopping and a storm of this magnitude will seriously hamper any further progress and delay delivery of those gifts I have been able to squeeze in. In addition, my oldest daughter would very much like to visit Santa Claus this last weekend before the big day.

Aside from Christmas shopping, and even more importantly, I know of at least one friend who is very likely to be in labor this weekend and will need clear roads, warmth and electricity to deliver safely and healthily.

So, Madame Nature, I humbly request that you give a slightly smaller gift to this city so unused to large snowfalls and instead bestow the soft powder to those who need it most - the ski resorts. Thank you.

With warmest regards,

Megan

Halloween 2009

2009-11-27T12:51:00.002-05:00

Aria as a Witch

Hilloween 2009

Aria & a very pregnant Mommy

Hilloween 2009

Aria tries on Mommy's costume.

Aria & Grandpa John

(photo courtesy of Carolyn Cason)

Aria & my 39-week pregnant belly.

(photo courtesy of Carolyn Cason)

Announcing Ani Kathryn Nelson!

2009-11-18T18:09:00.000-05:00

Ani Kathryn Nelson

Born November 7, 2009 at 1:21am

8lbs, 4oz

21 1/4 inches

Proud Daddy holding Ani for the first time.

Mama & Ani a few hours after Ani's birth.

Aria & Ani

November 15, 2009

37 1/2 Weeks

2009-10-18T19:52:00.000-04:00

This is what I look like this week, at 37 1/2 weeks pregnant. However big I look, I guarantee you I feel bigger. I have very regular Braxton-Hicks contractions (sooo not "false" contractions, let me tell you), skin so itchy and raw that I can't sleep, and lots of pressure and soreness in places I won't mention or describe. I am a poster-child for the pregger waddle and move at a rate of speed not unlike that of a turtle, and that's when I'm booking it. God forbid I make the mistake of getting down on the floor; getting up again is a struggle of mammoth proportions. My hands are swollen, my feet are flat. I'm done. Aria's Itsy Bitsy Yoga instructor told me that the mark of readiness for labor is when 30hrs of it starts to sound good. Bring it on, I say. Let's get this party started. Whenever this little lady is ready to make her appearance, I'm happy to have her and the sooner, the better.

You Know You're Very Pregnant When...

2009-10-18T19:44:00.001-04:00

Facebook friends will have read many of these already, but for those less technologically inclined, I thought I'd post here as well.

You know you're very pregnant when...

...your husband has to help you get your socks and shoes on b/c you can't reach your feet (bring back flip flop weather!).

...the maternity clothes start to get too small in the belly.

...the lady that makes your coffee and that you see at least a couple times a week and has your drink memorized says upon seeing you for the first time this week, "Wow, that baby is getting big."

...people at the local street festival stop in their tracks to say "You look like you were ready to pop yesterday!" and then you have to explain that you in fact have a few more weeks to go.

...people stop making eye contact, instead approaching you with eyes firmly affixed on your massive belly and the greeting, "Hi. Has your baby dropped yet?"

...you lose your pen, look everywhere around you knowing you just had it, then stand up and see it fall out from under your big baby belly. Beware: This same thing can happen with cell phones, small toys and towards the end, the occasional book.

Family Portraits

2009-09-17T08:15:00.004-04:00

"Mommy" by Aria

Chalk on Chalkboard

"Aria & Mommy" by Aria

Chalk on Chalkboard

Note that the toddler's self-portrait

is larger than the portrait of Mommy.

Coincidence or is there a deeper meaning there?

"Daddy" by Aria

Chalk on Chalkboard

My Cuties

2009-09-15T16:15:00.000-04:00

Can I have some wine with that cheese?

Posing at the Park

2009-09-10T16:38:00.001-04:00

Aria has never posed for a picture in her life...until now. Suddenly last Thursday everything changed. No longer was she too busy running and moving and jumping and spinning. She saw me with the camera, I asked her to stop and smile and...SHE STOPPED AND SMILED!!! I couldn't believe it. Just look at these beauties! Gorgeous pics of a beautiful girl and not at all blurry from the camera's inability to keep up with a zooming toddler. We were at the park and she was loving the motorcycle-bouncy-thingy, so proud she could make it move and shake and climb up it herself. She was happy to show off. Here are a few of her cheesiest, cheeriest moments:

I love that grin!

Our Little Artist

2009-08-26T00:07:00.004-04:00

My mom is amazed at Aria's artwork and often tells those she knows about what a burgeoning artist we have on our hands. I've been told others don't always believe that Aria can draw faces at 2 (when are they supposed to start drawing faces?) but it's true. For weeks, all the images she drew were similar - faces with eyes, ears, cheeks, hair, chin, etc - and she'd tell you what and who she was drawing as she did it. Here's one example:

Faces by Aria
June 16, 2009

And another earlier version of her faces:

Aria's Chalk Drawing of Shelby
March 26, 2009

Favorite Moments of the Summer

2009-08-25T23:37:00.004-04:00

Aria's First Caterpillar
May 2009
We saw this caterpillar as we were waiting for friends on the Hill.
I explained we had to be very gentle with it so Aria let me put it on her arm, then calmly watched it crawl on her, so interested and quiet.

Our First Backyard
July 2009
This was taken only days after we moved to Takoma from the Hill.
Aria and I were outside playing with bubbles and
enjoying the space and freedom a backyard affords us.

Aria's Big Finish
July 2009
This is the same day, as indicated by the outfit.
Aria was singing and here is performing her "big finish" as we call it.

Shadows
August 2009
Aria and Mommy out for a walk on a sunny, hot August day,
admiring our shadows.

Silly Sad Faces
August 2009
Aria and Daddy pretending to be sad.

I'm Not a Silly Girl. I AM ARIA!

2009-08-11T21:17:00.008-04:00

So she says. I beg to differ.

Um, honey, you have a little something on your face.
August '09

She picked her own outfit that day.
July '09

Trying on Daddy's gear.
June '09

Teasing Mommy.
Such a twinkle in the eye.
April '09

Second Time Around, Together

2009-07-17T18:15:00.005-04:00

Aria and I went to a birthday party today. Our little friend, Grayden, just turned two and to celebrate all the moms and toddlers and some of the dads from our circle met at the park for a big playdate and snacks. It was sooo nice to be back on the Hill, with lovely playgrounds and friendly, familiar faces in wonderful abundance.

It's such a good feeling to be able to get together with other people that are in the same stage in life...and we very much are. As we sat at the table feeding our toddlers (all within a couple months of turning two) grapes and chatting I began looking around and noticing that of the seven mothers there, five are currently pregnant with their second babies and one had a baby less than two weeks ago. And that was just those that could come to this event; there are more in our circle that are expecting. We'll all have our babies in much the same spread as last time, too, within 4 or 5 months of each other.

Unfortunately, they won't all grow up together; some have already moved from the Hill - ourselves included - and others are talking about it. DC is a transient place and no one seems to stay for long. But these kids are forever linked by the times they spent together as babies and toddlers and the moms will long remember the commeraderie enjoyed during playgroups and nursing classes and chance playground meetings. And hopefully in the process, a few friendships have been forged that will withstand the distance.

Aria & Mommy Meet Obama

2009-05-29T17:42:00.009-04:00

This post is dedicated to Joy, who has been patiently waiting for a new post for oh, so long.

In my list of Great DC Moments this one ranks near the top of the list.

As with all great stories, it all started with a trip to the DMV. After a long walk and a long wait and a not-too-shabby photo, we emerged from the non-descript building with my updated license and big appetites and started searching for the nearest something edible. Southwest DC, where we were, is an up-and-coming area and the food joints are not as plentiful as in some areas of the District. But it was lunchtime and the starving toddler would not be ignored and pregnant Mommy was getting slugglish. Following the path of professionals toting carryout lunches, we made our way to the nearest restaurant, a Subway. One look at the line told Mommy that neither she nor her cranky toddler would survive it. The only other visible option was the Five Guys (the DC almost-as-good version of In & Out) next door, still with a long line but not nearly as long as Subway's and with fresh, yummy french fries, grilled cheese for the little one and a veggie sandwich for Mommy. Oh yeah, they serve burgers too.

As we stood waiting for our food two teenage boys and their dad started running back and forth from their table to the window, straining their necks to try to see something. As all others seemed to be acting normally, I paid them little mind other than the brief glance toward whatever they were looking at (I saw nothing). Quickly, however, the hubbub grew and soon people were screaming in excitement outside. Suddenly, 30 or 40 photographers, cameramen and microphone-thingy-guys were flooding backwards through the doorway of Five Guys. And then it becomes clear: President Obama, who is known in DC for his love of Five Guys, is here. He walks up to the counter and places an order (no, I do not know for what - he had a very large bag when he left) and then proceeds to wander around talking to the customers.

Obama orders his burger(s).
The guy in front - Security; the guy next to him - Press.

Working the Crowd

Soon he spots Aria and comes over saying, "And who is this pretty little girl?"

"This is Aria," I say.

"Does Aria like to dance?" he says, munching on some peanuts. Aria was wearing a pink tutu skirt.

"Aria loves to dance," I say. Aria stared intensely, not moving a muscle, as she always does when meeting a new person.

President Obama giggled, munched another peanut and moved on to the others standing nearby, first a guy, then a bug-eyed woman nearly coming out of her skin and saying "Will you take a picture with me!?!?" (he graciously did). I took the opportunity to place Aria on the top of the trash can and capture these images.

Aria & Obama

Obama & Aria

A short but exciting exchange for Aria and her liberal-minded mommy. President Obama left a few minutes later to more screams of excitement from the sidewalk outside, waving as he drove away.

Mommy & Aria after meeting President Obama

Random thoughts on this brief run-in with the President:

- He's taller than I thought.

- I still think it's creepy to ask a politician to hold your baby, but it did cross my mind for a second or two...would've made a great picture.

- The Secret Service were remarkably low-key and nowhere near as noticeable as the press.

- I really hope there is a picture published in the paper with Aria and Obama; I'd love it for her scrapbook (let me know if you see any!)

Aria Performs

2009-04-21T19:06:00.005-04:00

Aria's demonstrates her singing ability with an
exuberant rendition of the Hokie Pokie.

Aria dancing to Dada's Hokie Pokie serenade.

An Artist Emerges

2009-02-16T18:42:00.005-05:00

I love to paint. I was a fine art minor in college and studied a lot of art history. My favorite place to go in DC (before they took it down) was the Rothko exhibit in the modern wing of the National Gallery of Art. I took Aria there a few times pre-mobility and she is regularly exposed to other exhibits around DC (though I admit I'm not sure how much she takes in these days now that she literally runs the entire time we are there...). I have looked forward to days when we can sit at a table drawing or stand at side-by-side easels painting some awe-inspiring coastal view.

We introduced Aria to crayons some months ago now and she loves to color and draw. For Christmas Grandma Janie gave Aria an easel and she uses it multiple times daily. It has a chalkboard, a dry-erase board and paper, but until recently we'd only tried the paper and crayons. This was both an effort to draw out the newness of the easel and it's many features and a little bit of stalling on my part, not sure how much "art" (read: mess) I could handle at this age and in our small space. Last week we broke out the dry-erase markers for the first time, which she loves; I love that they wash off skin quite easily (we'll see about the clothes). We've also pulled out paper and paint brushes and water and practiced painting with no color. She's very interested in that process.

Today, though, I was up for a challenge and being a bit bored with the typical cold-weather routine, decided to embrace the impending toddler mess and try finger paints for the first time. I admit that I've been a little intimidated by these thus far, having visions of multi-colored walls and baby and books and mama and rug and floor and ceiling (i know, i know, she can't reach it...but she could throw it...) each time I've considered using these in the past. Today was different. Armed with a much-too-big smock and drop cloth, I carefully opened 4 jars of finger paint and set them on the cloth.

Side note: I had NO IDEA that finger paint was gelatinous! Is this common knowledge? I have no memory of using anything like this before. Was I deprived as a child? Or is this a new development in finger paint technology? I may have pulled them out a bit sooner if I'd only known. Anyway, back to the story...

Our Studio
(Thanks to Carolyn for providing the paints and canvases!)

Pulling out one sheet of finger-painting paper at a time, Aria and I sat down on opposites sides of the drop cloth and slowly began experimenting with the paints. Now, I am not a neat painter. I am messy, with little drops of spattered paint falling like rain all around me in the art studio. I like to get it on my hands, clothes, etc, and to really experience the paint. In my mind, it'll wash off eventually, so no worries. Aria, on the other hand, has not enjoyed any foreign matter on her hands/fingers. She will get the tiniest speck of something on the very tip of her finger and will point it at us and ask over and over and over to get it off until we comply (or at least pretend to if we can't actually see anything). So, she was a bit wary of the fingerpaints and started off slowly, just the tip of a finger dipped into color then wiped off on the paper over and over again. She watched me, though, and after requesting a few apples and letters and bananas, she began to get into it and eventually was painting with gusto. Her favorite finger to use was the thumb. She dipped each thumb into a jar of paint (one on each side of her for different colors) and instructed me to do the same with my thumbs. Yes, it had to be the thumbs. She would then say "Ready, Set, GO!" and we would paint with passion for several seconds, using up the paint before starting the entire process over again.

Aria with paint-covered hands
in her huge (but very protective) smock

All in all we had a great time, with minimal mess. The few drops on the clothes and floor have washed up easily. I learned that "art" can in fact be art and not just mess for Mama to clean up. Aria learned that it isn't always bad to have messy hands. And though it may be a bit premature, I don't think it's over the top to say that I think we've seen the birth of the world's next great artist.

Our Collaborative Masterpieces
(My parts are swirly, Aria's are vigorous lines)

Meg's All-Time Favorite Picture of Keith

2009-02-06T13:06:00.006-05:00

From now on I'll publish the occasional historical picture depicting our favorite moments or scenes.

To date, this is my favorite picture of Keith. We were newly engaged and driving cross-country, turning a 1500-2000 mile trip into one well over 4000 miles. We traveled the northern states and stopped at Monterey's magnificent aquarium, the rocky beaches of Oregon, and Yellowstone National Park, to name a just a few. Here we were walking along a path over the natural pools at Yellowstone. Keith dropped down for a closer look and I caught the moment, the vivid orange pool a perfect color for my handsome guy.

Keith at Yellowstone National Park
August 2002

Potty Time!

2009-01-28T18:51:00.007-05:00

Today Aria went pee-pee in the potty for the very first time! We are so proud of her!

With the help of Elmo (Elmo's Potty Time) and Prudence (Once Upon a Potty) we've been talking about the process for a couple of weeks and trying out her potty every day. Today was the first time she actually used it!

Congratulations, Aria Grace!

Note: To preserve Aria's dignity now and in the future there will be no pictures of her potty time. To preserve what's left of our dignity, we will also not take photos of her pee-pee or poo-poo (or if we do, we won't post them here. =P)

Inauguration 2009

2009-01-20T16:28:00.006-05:00

Independence Ave running along side Capitol...

See the crowd in front of us and far in the distance.

Crowds.

More crowds.

Still more crowds.

Keith in front of the Rayburn House Office Building, across from the Capitol.

Aria's in the stroller, asleep.

The celebratory couple.

You can just make out the crowds through the trees. We could hear the cheers.

President Barack Obama's Inauguration Speech 2009.

We warmed up, grabbed some burgers (yes, mine was veg) and watched the swearing in
on the floor of Good Stuff Eatery on the Hill.

Michelle Obama on one of several big screens at Good Stuff.

Throngs returning from the Capitol.

Life with Aria Is a Blur

2009-01-14T12:33:00.014-05:00

Running through our local coffee shop

When Aria was born I didn't immediately realize how early one's personality begins to show. I now know that a baby's uniqueness can display itself the moment she is born - from how hard she cries to whether she is awake and alert and watching her surroundings or sleeping peacefully for hours. Does she sleep in one spot or spin in her crib? Does she lay or sit quietly on a blanket on the floor or squirm and scoot and wind up half way across the room before she can even crawl?

Mirrortime in Mama's apron

Rocking in the rocking chair in Mama's apron

Aria cried passionately and watched intently and rolled over the very first night she was born. She hasn't stopped moving since. I often look with wonder and awe at a baby that can be placed on a blanket on the floor while mom makes dinner or straightens up or has a cup of coffee. This was never my girl. And while it's exhausting at times, it's also exhilarating and creatively challenging and just plain fun.

Running through the house is a favorite pasttime...
up and down the halls, over and over again,
giggling and laughing and screaming all the way.
Playing hide and seek and peekaboo,
she loves being chased.

Spinning in Mama's apron

An attempted closeup

Our life, in pictures, shows Aria on the move. And that's the way it is; keep up or she'll leave you behind. She has her moments of quiet play and loves to read, but still the mind is always going. "Play hard, live big" seems to be her motto. And while I do occasionally yearn for a portrait that is not blurry from movement (or a quiet cup of coffee), these too show precious moments of our girl in action, passionately committed to whatever she's doing without concern for who might be looking. This is real life, lived large.

More interested in seeing how the camera works than in being the object of the photo.

Long, uncrowded walkways and brightly colored aquariums full of fish and turtles, oh my!
The DC aquarium is an active toddler's dream.

Aria Meets Santa

2008-12-20T19:48:00.007-05:00

We went to see Santa for the first time today. Aria's been seeing Santas all over town and even saw one on the Metro last night. So today, we took her to meet him firsthand. She was a little shy when sitting on his lap but kept walking back to him over and over and even lay down (briefly) on her tummy to watch him. So cute...

Packing Peanuts

2008-12-20T19:37:00.007-05:00

We got a package the other day. Guess which part Aria liked best.

Deep Thoughts

2008-11-15T11:53:00.004-05:00

Of all the Sesame Street songs to get stuck in one's head, I believe"Me Lost Me Cookie at the Disco" to be the worst.

Change We Can Believe In

2008-11-05T11:10:00.005-05:00

I am so happy to be raising my daughter in a country that has finally moved past the issue of race in a presidential election. For the first time in my adult life, I can honestly say I'm excited about the direction this country is headed.

Aria's shirt was a gift from her Granddad.
He's been a fervent Obama supporter throughout the Campaign
and accurately predicted VA's conversion to a Blue State.

Aria's Election Day outfit: Isn't it cute!

Tired, but still hopeful after a full day of voting and other outings;
results were just starting to come in.

Halloween

2008-11-01T00:00:00.005-04:00

Fairy Princess Takes Flight

Mama & Aria

Dada & Aria

The Fam

Aria at Hilloween.
The fairy dress was a gift from Great-Grandma & Bampi Nelson
and was a perfect base for the costume.

Tina Fey for President

2008-09-29T13:50:00.003-04:00

Growth

2008-08-24T20:19:00.020-04:00

Mom & Her Little Diva

Dad & Aria on the 4th of July

I can't believe how big Aria is, how quickly she's grown into this little person with thoughts and imagination and opinions. She looks through books on her own now, making the appropriate animals sounds and studying the pictures with intensity and fascination/amusement (depending on the book). She plays with us and teases us. She feeds herself and poses for the camera. She has favorite books, toys, music, games, animals and people. She loves hats and sunglasses and she speaks to us as if communicating fully and though her words are not often discernible, the emotion behind them is. I had an entire conversation on the phone with her today; she babbled conversationally and I imagine she told me all about her morning with daddy. She giggled and laughed and explained just why my request to put daddy on the phone was not a good idea (daddy had no idea she was talking to me or that the phone was even on and giving the phone to him would have blown her cover; besides, she had more phone calls to make). When I said her name she would echo me in her singsong voice..."Aria"..."Ayia"..."Can I talk to Dada?"..."Mama!"

Eating Chili

Our girl has gotten about 5 teeth in the past month (including a molar or two - ouch!), with more on the way, and is transitioning from two significant naps a day to one very necessary but often fitful nap, all in the middle of what seems to be a couple of growth spurts. Understandably, she does not always quite make it through the day a happy camper. It seems that the stroller nap, an old standby and favorite for mom, dad and baby alike, is no longer working. To get that one nap in good measure we need to be home where she can quietly nurse, rest and sleep to her heart's content. Going out in the mornings and afternoons is to be our new pattern, I believe, and that is OK, as it is quickly becoming even better than our old ways. We've recently gone for walks in the cooler morning air or taken a swim before the local daycare centers bombard the pool, then gone home to lunch and a siesta before trekking back out for an afternoon romp around the local playground or a nearby museum. Aria does much walking herself these days, so other times we just amble around, not going anywhere in particular or very quickly. This works out well and while I miss the once-reliable afternoon stroller nap, our afternoon playtime is much-treasured time together.

Running around the playground,
in an adorable dress from Grandma Janie

This afternoon the three of us ran around the playground, Aria ambling up the stairs, squealing down the slide and rocking on the teeter-totter. She's a tough one, rarely crying even when she tumbles head-over-heels on the twisty slide or falls on a brick walkway. Her cheeks flame red and her nose prickles with tiny beads of sweat, exhibiting the trademark puppy-dog nose her parents each sported as little ones. The steroids, which give us significant pause and cause for concern, seem to be doing their job...no trace of cough or wheezing in our hot, active girl.

Running freely and happily
(Aria often throws her arms back like that
and squeals with delight when she runs)

This week we have our appointment with a much-recommended allergist, to hopefully make some headway in determining the cause of the coughing and wheezing and recurrent colds and ear infections and get her off the meds once and for all. This is where our girl's toughness crumbles to a point and the numerous doctors' appointments and hospital visits exhibit their toll...She is terrified of doctors and fights any sort of procedure - be it IV, shot, temperature taking or just a bandaid on the toe to measure her oxygen levels - with a passion and ferocity that takes several adults to control and eventually exhausts her and reduces mom to (somewhat hidden) tears as she tries in vain to comfort her little one. We do not look forward to this, but persevere in the hope that we will get whatever is needed over with quickly and that no more tests or doctors' visits will be needed anytime soon.

Dada did my hair

Our daughter is an amazing little girl and the love I feel for her fills and overflows my heart a million times over. I've thought a lot about her birth recently and can't believe how fast she's grown, how our tiny, passionate little baby has grown into this active, passionate toddler. She has changed so much, yet somehow stays the same.

A beautiful weekend morning at the park
(with Dada - Mama doesn't do mornings)

15 Months Today: A Rundown on Aria-Speak

2008-08-12T15:57:00.021-04:00

Just a brief rundown on Aria's vocabulary thus far (for those interested).

Note: Though Aria is saying and understands all of the following words, pronunciation is still in development and understanding may be limited to mom and dad in some cases. She still often leaves the end/beginning off her words...Just this week "all duh" became "all done."

WORDS
Hi
Bye-Bye
Uh-Oh
I Don't Know
Turtle
Dog
Bird
Milk
More
All Done
Bath
Bed
Night-Night
Paci[fier]
Ball
Bubble
Book
Banana (or na-na!!! in a throaty-growly voice)
Cheese
Pizza
Cracker
Water (or wa-wa)
Paper
Hat
Door
Shut
O (as in the cereal)
Mama
Dada
Grandma
Aria (Ayia)
Elmo (her favorite!)
Big Bird
Nose
Toe
Eye
Arm
Belly Button
Mouth

...oh, and of course...NO!

SIGNS
Hi
Bye-Bye
Dog
Kitty
Bird
Milk
More
All Done
Bath
Change (as in diaper)
Bed/Sleepy
Eat/Hungry
Hat
Dance
Grandma

Our girl also makes various animal noises, such as roaring like a lion and mooing like a cow, and can point to and identify lots of body parts (eye, ear, nose, mouth, belly button, toes, feet). Most of all, though, she loves to sing and dance, stopping whatever she is doing when a favorite song (she does have discriminating taste, even at 15 months, and seems to prefer songs with distinctive notes and rhythms) comes on to bounce and move and sing along.

Pictures!

2008-07-18T13:48:00.018-04:00

Aria's first birthday was spent (in part)
feeding Great-Grandma Nelson yummy birthday cake.

The Bubble Room at the Columbus, IN Children's Museum

Giant toilets are a bit daunting whether you're three or 30!

Auntie Kiki and the Ballerina
whirl around Grandma Janie's dance floor.

Step off...I need some space.

Tentative first steps

She's a-swinging!

Roooaaaaarrr!

Aria Discovers O's

2008-03-15T08:04:00.001-04:00

After two more bouts of illness that included a 104 degree fever and a second trip to the ER for our little one, the winter fog is finally lifting. The weather is warming up and the Nelson fam is all about town soaking up the sun. Bring on spring!

This week our girl turned 10 months old. I can't believe it; she's almost one. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were bringing her home from the hospital? She's grown and changed so much, so fast. It seems that this is a magic age for Aria, as she's pulled one new trick after another out of her hat this week.

For example: Sing a note. Any note. It doesn't have to sound good, just make a noise. Ahhhh... Now tap your hand to your lips repeatedly. Note the vibration-type sound. This is Aria's new favorite sound. Last week it was NaNaNa - "Na Na Na Na, Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye." We've sung that line a lot recently (yes, just the one line; surprisingly - or not so surprisingly to those that know me - I don't know the rest of the song). This week, though, it's AhAhAhing that thrills our girl. It's her goto sound when playing, when upset, when seeking attention. She does it to me, to strangers, whoever. So cute. Others think she's blowing kisses, but I know better. Still, after a couple of days of seeing others blow kisses back, Aria's learned that too. I think we have a genius on our hands.

What else? Well, Miss Aria was no where near interested in finger foods a week ago, but what a difference a week (and a healthy dose of competitiveness) makes! Last Friday we had lunch with another set of Nelson girls, Sandy (mom) and Emily (baby). No relation, but Emily is just a couple weeks older than Aria and the two girls are by now pretty familiar with each other. The two also tend to hit their developmental milestones right around the same time. This time, however, Emily was way ahead, having gotten the whole finger foods thing down some time ago. At lunch we sat the babies across from each other, giving Aria a perfect view of Emily's eating prowess - Cherrios, banana puffs, lentil stew...whatever it was Emily ate like a pro. And once Aria saw her friend do it, she just couldn't resist. She gobbled up her only-moments-before rejected lunch of avocado and banana, keeping one eye on Emily all the while. Then she played with some banana puffs, going so far as to lick one of them. By the next day, she was ready for more, picking up and eating one, then two, then three Os. Now, she just can't get enough of the Os and eagerly reaches for more before the first one is gummed up and swallowed. Which leads us to our next new skill...Pointing!

Aria pointed for the first time this week. At the Os! Not mom or dad or the kitty...at the Os. Well, there you go. The way to our girl's heart is through her stomach; she is a Nelson, after all.

In other news, Aria got to experience a playground for the first time this week. She loved the swing; the higher and faster it got, the more she laughed.

The slide was also a hit. Aria easily maneuvered up the 3 small platforms to the slide and then was able to slide down by herself after only a few times going down with help. True, she didn't always intend to slide down (not really understanding that here it's flat but over there, not so much), but she came down with a big smile every time. Dad is convinced (and thrilled) that we have a future lover of roller coasters on our hands.

A New World for Aria

2008-02-19T22:32:00.001-05:00

Maybe there's hope after all.

Sick & Tired of Being Sick & Tired

2008-02-04T19:35:00.000-05:00

January was a rough month and February is not off to a great start. I don't think I've ever been sick as many times as I have been this winter. A lovely myriad of colds, flus and a truly butt-kicking episode of mastitis have come my way of late and this time the horrible cold got to Keith and Aria as well. Oh yes, we're a happy household. I guess that's what perpetual sleep deprivation will do to you. Grrr.

Will write more when we have something nice to say.

Knitting Book Sneak Peak

2008-01-19T19:41:00.000-05:00

The following pictures were taken in August of last year for an upcoming book of baby knitting patterns. The book is being written by Marie Connolly, owner of Stitch DC and will be released November of this year.

All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth...

2008-01-02T14:29:00.000-05:00

...my two front teeth, my two front teeth.

Yes, folks, Aria has a 2nd (bottom) tooth just popping through. And after a couple of rough days (lots of fussiness), she seems to be feeling much better.

The holidays were full of Aria developments, most notably that she's now crawling, pulling herself into a standing position and sitting herself up from a laying down position. What a difference a couple of weeks make! Our girl's also started dancing to music and mimicking us a lot more, singing back to us what we sing to her (La, la la, la la) and trying to repeat words. Most words come out as some variation of DaDa; for example, "Shadow" comes out "DaDuh", but the wheels are definitely turning.

Aria's first Christmas was filled with hustle and bustle. In order to have time to do our family Christmas, not cut into Aria's naptime and still get to my dad's Christmas lunch on time, we opened gifts as soon as she got up on Christmas morning. At 7am. I don't remember the last time I got up that early to open gifts; for many years (if not always) I've pushed the gift-opening as late as possible, wanting to sleep in. (There's a great gift - extra sleep.) But this year, sleepy-eyed and in desperate need of caffeine, we began a new tradition =).

I think the whole gift-opening thing was a bit overwhelming for Aria. She was most interested in the tissue paper and boxes which we kept taking away from her, much to her dismay, as she would chew them to the point of disintegration. Yum, paper... She received some very cool gifts, though, among them wooden rattles and a little wooden wagon she can pull around, a musical, tri-lingual octopus and a brightly colored, oh-so-soft elephant, a handmade Peruvian llama, a couple books, some awesome clothes and even a CD of beautifully soothing lullabies. Aria's now played with and chewed on all the toys (and a little on the books), giving them all the official Aria Seal of Approval.

Words

2007-11-26T13:24:00.001-05:00

Aria says "MaMa" now. (Yeah!) And while she uses both "MaMa" and "DaDa" throughout the day and in a variety of settings, she seems to also be assigning meaning to the words, often saying "DaDa" just as Keith walks into the room and "MaMa" when she wakes up in the middle of the night hungry and in need of a cuddle.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-26T12:50:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving weekend was a crazy one here at the Nelson household. Lots going on:

We had a great Thanksgiving dinner at another Nelson household (no relation). I met Sandy through prenatal yoga and the four of us (Sandy, Jason, Keith and I) often ended up in the same birthing courses at Sibley hospital (little Emily was born about 2 1/2 weeks before Aria). Now Sandy is one of the moms that I am fortunate enough to get to hang out with on a fairly regular basis. Anyway, the Nelsons were great hosts and fantastic cooks. And, much to my delight, they too are vegetarians so there was an abundance of delicious non-meat dishes (as well as turkey for carnivorous friends and family).

For Thanksgiving dinner Aria got her first taste of butternut squash (appropriately festive, we thought). She loved it.

Friday and Saturday we had visitors. My cousin, Brody, and his wife, Kourtney, came to visit. They are from Missouri and had never been here before so we had fun showing them around a bit. Kourtney is 7 months pregnant with their first baby - a boy!

We did manage to get in some "Black Friday" shopping. I love that the after-Thanksgiving sales are online too!

Sunday we spent the day with my dad and his girlfriend where we had another wonderful meal and walked around Old Town Alexandria (trying, in vain, to get Aria down for a nap).

And so, we start the week anew...

Six Months Old

2007-11-22T12:25:00.000-05:00

On November 12th Aria turned 6 months old. It feels like a huge milestone. She's grown and changed so much in these first months. To celebrate we met Dad for lunch during the day, then he and I had a nice dinner after the birthday girl went to bed.

On Friday we had her 6 month appointment. Our girl weighed in at 17 lbs and measured 28 inches. That's over the 97th percentile for length! At some point that should taper down, but for now Aria is heads above the rest - literally.

There were more shots this appointment too. Aria was a trooper and calmed down fairly quickly once they were done, but this time a flu shot was included and within hours she had her first fever, measuring 100.7 degrees. We stripped her down and dosed her with Tylenol and within 45 minutes to an hour the fever had gone down by one degree. She was a bit more fussy than usual (she was entitled), but went to sleep pretty easily. We checked on her throughout the night; as long as we kept giving her Tylenol the fever stayed in the manageable range. The next morning she still had a bit of a high temp, but after a walk outdoors and a nap or two (and more Tylenol) it finally broke that afternoon. The next couple days she was a bit out of sorts, but all in all bounced back beautifully.

With the fever gone, Sunday seemed like the perfect time to try solid foods for the first time. With Dad snapping pictures, I fed her her first spoonfuls of rice cereal. More got on her face and hair and bib than actually got into her, but she seemed interested and ate several spoonfuls.

Since then, she's really taken to these small meals. While still quite messy, she dives for the spoon and makes "mmmm" sounds with every bite. (This actually makes it messier, as she closes her mouth around the spoon to make the sounds.)

First Bite

What am I supposed to do with this stuff?

Firsts

2007-11-10T18:23:00.001-05:00

After a short hiatus we have this week the return of the raspberry. Just to show how little babies forget, even at this young age, Aria has made an impressive display of blowing raspberries the past couple of days. And with them have come a new set of exciting skills...

...Drum roll, please...

Aria said her First Word!

Aria has been working up to her first word for a while now, babbling so much, trying out different sounds and consonants, and saying "yayayayayaya" and "dadadadadadada" over and over. Today "dadadadada" became very clearly, very distinctly "DaDa". While we're not sure she completely understands what she's saying, we feel she does to at least some degree, as I repeat the word over and over to her in the morning when Keith is on his way to work ("Tell DaDa bye; give DaDa a kiss") and in the evening when he gets home ("DaDa is home! Look - it's DaDa!").

Accompanying this major milestone was another huge development - Learning to Clap! We often clap for her when she's doing something new (sitting up by herself, rolling over, etc, etc) to show her what a good job she's doing and to encourage her when whatever she's doing is difficult (scooting forward, reaching for something). Today Dad was clapping for her again and she started mimicking him, at first bring her hands almost together, but missing them, one going over the other. After a few tries, however, she got the hands together and clapped a few times.

Witnessing all this were our good friends from Indiana - Jen, Lucas & 2 1/2 year-old Parker. Aria loves Parker and Parker loves Aria. Parker dances silly dances for Aria and Aria giggles her infectious, beautiful laugh, making all of us laugh as well. It's really too cute.

So, it's been a big day in the Nelson household. I'm off to feed the baby...and maybe demonstrate a few "mamamamamas" before bed.

In Search of the Great Pumpkin

2007-11-06T16:43:00.000-05:00

The Fam at the Farm

Last Saturday, before the Halloween festivities, we set off on a drive through the countryside, looking for a pumpkin patch. We instead stumbled upon an organic farm just outside the District in Maryland. Though tours were not running over the weekend, we were able to walk the grounds, both beautiful and serene. A variety of animals were on display in centralized pens and Aria, ever the animal lover, giggled with delight as ducks, geese and chickens clucked and cawed just over the fence.

Duckies & Geese & Chickens, Oh My

Aria & Dad

Aria's First Halloween

2007-11-04T17:10:00.000-05:00

This year for Halloween Aria dressed up as a Ladybug (thanks, Grandma!). Yes, the bright, spotted ladybug is truly a male bug, but this just added to the mystery and wonder of her costume. (Actually, it seems that boys don't dress as ladybugs and for once, no one mistook our little lady for a boy.)

We began the season with a Halloween party made up of new parents and their little ones, all decked out in their holiday best. It was Aria's first party EVER and probably the first party her parents' have attended since she was born (it's hard to remember, really). We had a great time! Aria was asleep when we got there, but awoke shortly thereafter and mingled (albeit a bit groggily) with the other babies and parents.

Partying baby style

On Halloween night, we attended "Hilloween" - an annual Capitol Hill Halloween festival for area kids and featuring such treats as face painting, a moon bounce and free cider. Geared mainly toward the older kids, there were still plenty of young ones milling about, parents in tow. Costumes abounded, with everything from an adorable 2-year-old Princess Leia to bears and Tiggers, oh my.

At "Hilloween" 2007

Little Ladybug & her good friend Tigger
(Tigger is just 4 days older than the Bug)

Catching Up: WV and The Dalai Lama

2007-10-20T12:55:00.000-04:00

It's been a busy few weeks and I've been a horrible blogger. To all those who regularly check for updates, I apologize and present the following pix, stories and ramblings as penance.

As I said, it's been busy at the Nelson household. Two weeks ago we made a last minute trip to the West VA cabin to celebrate Aria's cousin's 17th birthday. I was not easily convinced to take another roadtrip after the trauma of the last drive, but finally relented so as not to disappoint the birthday girl or her doting uncle. Plus, opportunities for Aria to see her far-away family are few and far between.

We set out much earlier this time, seeking to avoid the dreaded fussy hours of late afternoon and happily, the drive went much more smoothly. We had a great time hanging out with everyone and especially enjoyed our visit to Seneca Rocks - a beautiful park probably best known for it's rockclimbing, but with great hiking trails as well. (The Bugaboo was amazing on the gravel and dirt hiking trails.)

It was a full-circle kind of trip to the Rocks. We spent last Thanksgiving at the same place. At 4 months pregnant I stood on a little foot bridge in the middle of the woods with golden leaves raining down and a waterfall rushing behind me. This time, a now very present Aria Grace was just about to turn 5 months old. Though the waterfall was only just drizzling down the rocks this year (due to severe drought in the area) the leaves again rained down through rays of sunlight, creating an ethereal atmosphere.

This week Aria and I made another last minute trip (this time local) down to the Capitol lawn to see a public address given by the Dalai Lama. It was a beautiful day on the Capitol lawn. Aria played in the grass for the first time while His Holiness delivered a message of peace and nonviolence, a message so refreshing in a country that often takes a very different approach. I treasure the opportunity to expose Aria to such a message, even at this young age. Teaching values such as these early on will hopefully instill them into her moral fabric, allowing her to appreciate an approach to life that is less confrontational and judgmental than so many in this world utilize.

The Dalai Lama on the JumboTron

Aria on the Capitol lawn

Fake Coughs & Raspberries

2007-10-05T11:37:00.000-04:00

This week in Aria sports...

Each day seems to bring something new to Aria's repertoire. This week she's mimicking like crazy and as such, is learning new sounds almost daily. There's the fake cough (I taught her that) and the raspberry (courtesy of Dad). Then there's the raspberry with her tongue sticking out (a Mom-Dad hybrid), currently in development. These are in addition to the babbling sounds ("ya ya ya ya ya ya ya"). She gets "stuck" on a sound for a day or so, fake coughing or raspberry-ing whenever she makes eye contact or to get attention, practicing each sound until it's perfect and she's able to do it with both ease and passion.

In addition to sounds, the lady's getting more mobile. Not quite crawling yet, Aria scoots forward like an inchworm - sticking her butt in the air and pushing with her feet, her head and belly on the ground. A bit slow, but effective none the less, especially when teamed with a couple rolls this way or that to move her to the left or right.

Mom & Baby

2007-09-25T21:47:00.001-04:00

First Trip to the ER

2007-09-23T11:44:00.000-04:00

Just before midnight in the lobby of Children's Hospital,
awaiting a cab ride home

Let me preface this story by saying Aria 's fine. Really. No lasting issues or damage to our little one; we parents, however, are a different story...

It all began last Wednesday just as we were settling in for the night. Aria had been asleep but awoke shortly after Dad got home and the two were enjoying a bit of father-daughter time before dinner. Aria lay on the bed and began rolling over, a maneuver she's quite adept at these days. This time, however, she got her (left) arm stuck out to her side and couldn't get all the way from her stomach to her back. Keith did the obvious thing and helped her out a bit, lifting her up and placing her safely on her back. It was then, however, that Aria began to wail - cries that got only more intense as time went on. As it was her bedtime, we at first attributed the cries to tiredness, but grew concerned as we realized that the arm that had gotten stuck while she tried to roll over - her dominate arm - now hung limply to her side. Touching or moving it in any way only resulted in more intense cries. So, after a quick consult with the pediatrician on call and a cab ride filled with hand wringing and worry, we found ourselves in the waiting room of Children's Hospital, where, it seemed, every other child had TB. (Not really...I don't think so, anyway.)

We waited, and waited, and waited...Aria slept on Daddy's chest, well comforted though still in pain. Mom & Dad had a lovely dinner of Coke and Snickers from the hospital vending machine. Mom then paced the waiting room, psychically willing the TB to stay away from her daughter.

Eventually we were seen. Aria's arm was inspected and examined and X-rayed (all to her most heartfelt dismay) and diagnosed with a muscle strain. Baby Tylenol and warm compresses as needed, but should clear up in a few days. See ya. We got home at 1am; Aria slept soundly and awoke only a couple brief times to eat.

The next morning she still wasn't using the arm so we made a follow-up appt with the pediatrician and gave her some Tylenol. Then she and I went to the Botanic Gardens while Dad went to work. Slowly she began using her arm more and more, but I couldn't tell if it was actually feeling better or if it was temporarily doing so b/c of the Tylenol. By the time we saw the pediatrician though, the Tylenol had worn off. Aria happily chewed her left fist, waved it at the doctor and tore up the exam table paper with gusto, prompting the Dr. to give Mom a "Why are you here again?" look and Mom to swear up and down that really, she hadn't used it at all last night and only a little this morning.

And so, our first (and only, please) trip to the ER resulted in little more than a long night for all involved. Mom & Dad have been traumatized a bit, but are so relieved that Aria is OK that the rest doesn't even matter (not even the embarrassment felt at the Dr's office for bringing in an apparently healthy child).

First Road Trip: A Lesson in Parenting

2007-09-10T10:20:00.001-04:00

Our Family: Tired after the long drive, but

enjoying the peace & quiet and the gorgeous view.

Aria's first Labor Day was marked by her very first road trip - to her aunt & uncle's West Virginia cabin. Once there, we relaxed and took in the beautful scenery, panoramic views and, at night, a sky full of stars. The trip there, however, was a different story...

Aria's "fussy time" starts around 4pm each day and generally lasts until bedtime (around 7/8pm). This "fussy time" is Aria in winding down mode; she's tired from the day's events and wants to eat frequently and be held constantly. Sometimes she'll nap for a bit before going to bed for the night; sometimes she won't. At home this time of day is quite manageable as we've come to accept it as part of our nightly routine and can anticipate and react quickly to any wants/needs, thereby heading off any major meltdowns. Generally if we go out, it's a short walking trip just after a nap, allowing us to make it home quickly when our little lady deams it necessary.

When planning the roadtrip to W. VA we did take "fussy time" into consideration and chose to leave during the afternoon, figuring it could go one of two ways - either she'd sleep through it or she'd have a meltdown; we were obviously hoping for the former. Aria usually likes the short car rides we take around town and though not a huge fan of the carseat, she doesn't hate it when we put her in it for walks or quick trips. And so, pulling away from the apt Saturday afternoon, with naptime looming large, we were sure she'd fall asleep soon, allowing us a blissful drive across country.

What a huge error in judgment. A 3hr drive became a 6hr drive, with frequent stops generated by high-pitched screams, lots of tears and just general hysterics (by all involved). Aria was miserable in her carseat and so wanted to be cuddled; we were miserable about causing her such misery. At 1030pm, still 15 minutes from the cabin, Aria finally crashed, exhausted after just one 20 minute nap during the entire drive.

Her parents vowed never again to drive anywhere. Ever.

The Aftermath: Aria's schedule was a bit off for a few days, but we did have fun hanging out in the cabin. Aria slept very well in her new travel crib (much to her parents relief) and when awake got to spend some long overdue and much enjoyed time with her aunt & uncle. Keith and his brother, meanwhile, got to do the male bonding, physical labor thing, hacking up overgrown brush and whatnot.

The ride back (done much earlier in the day) was not nearly as bad as the ride there. After the 1st hour (lots of crying and two pit stops), Aria slept for 2hrs and awoke happy and amenable to a stop at Target. All in all, not a bad trip, but we'll think twice before traveling very far by car anytime soon.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

2007-08-27T09:44:00.000-04:00

At 5:20 AM this morning Aria Grace rolled over from her back to her belly! She finally was able to get that offending arm (see previous post) out of the way and up onto both hands, holding up her head and chest. I can't say she was thrilled to find herself in that position as there was a whole lot of grunting going on. But for the next hour she continued to roll over whenever finding herself on her back. (It was a bit early - and dark - for pix, but hope to capture her in action soon.)

Two hours later, another developmental milestone...Aria took the pacifier out of her mouth, then put it back in! I read somewhere that most babies aren't able to put a pacifier back in the mouth until around 6 months; if that's the case, she's well ahead of schedule.

Add these developments to the now frequent grabbing of the feet on the changing table, the evolving sucking of the thumb (from the occasional thumb in the mouth while all other fingers covered her face and poked her eyes, to the now purposeful thumb-in-mouth with the rest of the fist closed) and the growth spurt that has jutted our baby into larger sizes and I'm suddenly realizing why parents always say "It goes so fast." This morning's mobility development seized me with a moment of panic: "She's moving! Quick, child-proof the apt! Any minute she'll be crawling, no running, through the house!" Perhaps a little premature, but with all the changes of the past 3 months, it really doesn't feel like it.

Toes! etc.

2007-08-26T15:27:00.000-04:00

Feet are fascinating!

At 15 weeks old, Aria measures 27 inches long (!) and weighs just about 14 lbs. She's so long that she's outgrown her newborn (long ago) and 0-3 month clothes and is into 3-6 month and 6 month + clothing. The onesie she has on in this picture is sized 6 months! For a girl that was almost too small for newborn sizes when she was born (she would have fit some preemie sizes), she's sure grown fast!

Happy

Not So Happy

15 Weeks Today

2007-08-25T23:29:00.001-04:00

Each moment with our little lady is better than the last. Aria smiles easily now and giggles, too. Other recent accomplishments include:

- Learning to play with us, i.e., reaching her hands into our mouths and waiting for us to pretend-bite

- Starting to roll over from her back to her belly. She pretty much has it down, but gets one arm stuck under her that keeps her from getting all the way over. If we help out a bit she can get up onto her hands, holding her head and chest way up off the bed. Yesterday she stayed that way for quite a bit, then toppled over with a decent thud. She looked a little shocked, but Dad and I played it off and soon she was smiling again.

- Reaching a lot - for us from her crib or bassinet or the arms of the other parent, for a toy hanging above or lying beside her

- Plays with the little rolling crab and starfish on the musical aquarium that attaches to her crib

Aria To Be Published!

2007-08-24T16:20:00.001-04:00

Exciting news! Aria is going to be featured in a book, to be released next spring. Marie Connolly, the owner of Stitch DC (a yarn store), will be releasing a new book on knitting. Many of the patterns are for babies and young children and Aria was chosen to model some of the items. The photo shoot was today and they got some great shots of Aria in a beautiful cashmere romper and a lovely blanket.

Some of you are aware that I love to knit. See completed projects, etc, at moogielight.blogspot.com.

My, How We've Grown

2007-08-23T21:41:00.001-04:00

3 months old.

Announcing Aria Grace

2007-08-23T21:01:00.000-04:00

Aria Grace Nelson

Born May 12, 2007
6 lbs, 15.7 oz
20 3/4 inches