Situation: exactly the same

Yes, it seems that I’m in the percentage of people that the “select nerve block” doesn’t really help. He found the nerve (when he touched it I felt it down to my toes), applied medication, and um, nothing happened. I mean, the local numbness stayed for about an hour. After that? Not really any different. Except the injection site was sore. Nice, huh? Next in line at the doc’s office is outpatient surgery (to “shave” a little of the disk material that’s hitting the nerve and causing pain). Not ready for that. So I’m exploring other options, like PT or a chiropractor or something. I’ve never been to a chiropractor, but certainly NOT getting cut open can’t hurt as badly as getting cut open.

It other things, M seems have recovered from her cold and is learning words left and right. In a week, she’s started using “jacket”, “cracker”, “keys”, and “stars”. Rather an eclectic mix of nouns, but I’ll take them!! Her last two canine teeth (bottom) are almost in. Once they are done, then we *should* have a break before her last set of molars. How is it that she’s got all of her teeth? A year ago she was completely toothless.

The working world drama is still turning…Sybil has been sick for two days, so today was her first day back. Everything “seemed” normal. We know it’s not. Now we are just waiting for her to go on another bender, so to speak. I’ll be sure to transcribe as much of the drama to the blogosphere as possible….

Halloween Fun

Our Second Halloween as a Family of Three

We had a fun and festive Halloween here……first, on Sunday, we went to the pumpkin patch with J, G, and Z. We had a grand time, Baby Girl got to go on her first hayride and pick out a pumpkin, see farm animals, walk a muddy corn maze, etc. The weather was perfect, and we had a great time. Of course, we couldn’t believe how big Z is getting, and they were amazed with all M can say and do!!!

Our next visit will be around Christmastime. Lately we’ve been doing emails say, about 2x per month, and then just calling each other the week before the visit to firm up details and so forth. It seems to be working for all involved, and you can’t ask for much more than that. Thankfully, M loves everyone she meets, so she warms up to them quickly each time. We also have photos that we look at, so the faces can continue to be familiar.

(minor detour from halloween details) She’s enthralled with pictures right now–she looks at her little albums all the time, as well as photos in frames around the house and on the fridge. She points and I name everyone, and she’s getting to know the people in the pics. I try to keep the pics of the cousins current (they are all under 5), because just like her, they keep growing and growing!

Tuesday M’s daycare had a little “party” for the kiddos, which was hysterical. They all dressed up, had a little parade and then had a bigger than usual group snack in the large-motor room, complete with Halloween paper products and such. Completely unessecary, but fun. The most exciting thing?? M wore her boots the whole time!!

Later that evening, we went down to the Governor’s Mansion and got a treat bag from the man himself. Say what you will about his politics, he was a darn nice pirate and was very sweet to M!

You can see M in all her cowgirl glory here.

Better click soon though–L’s other photoblog got cancelled by TextAmerica. Apparently, you can only have 50 pics on a “free” account. Soon, he and his pics shall be moving to flickr. I’ll update links as needed. Also, please don’t mind that M’s jeans are undone in some of the pumpkin patch photos—sadly, she’s out grown her Old Navy Flair jeans. Apparently they run small even for kiddos. I didn’t realize that everytime she sat down she popped the snap until we were already at the Pumpkin Patch, and of course, it was impossible to keep up with her and her runaway jeans!

What Else is Happening?

Not too much that is really blog worthy, I don’t think. Our laundry is spontaneously generating. I didn’t do much during the week last week, so that this weekend, I think I did six full loads. And guess what? By TUESDAY it was full again. How does that happen? And, seriously, how do large families cope? Short of installing a second washer/dryer, what, exactly, do you do??

Our time change here was non-eventful, thankfully, M was relatively unphased. We are keeping her up a little later so that she continues to sleep long enough in the morning to allow me to get ready for work before she wakes up. It seems to be working. And we are loving driving to daycare and work in the sunlight for a few more weeks.

There was lots of good reading in the snail-mail today…Pottery Barn Kids, BabyTalk and Parenting all came today. Of course, I haven’t read much of any of them, because I was too busy reading Hop On Pop. Or, more accurately, reciting it verbatum as M turned the pages, pointed at assorted things and made the sound effects she’s deemed appropriate for each page. We will have to video and post our dramatic reading on YouTube sometime soon.

I am counting down the days to Thanksgiving….I could really use a looooonnngg weekend right about now!

Today is brought to you by the letter B

The Babe has the “b” sound down…..and it can mean many, MANY things at any given time. Usually, there’s a visual cue to go with it, and she points to what she sees….have you ever thought about how many of Baby’s favorite things start with “B”??!!

Check it out:

Baby
Ba-ba (in her case, this means milk in any container)
Banana
Butterflies
Book
Blocks
Bunny
Bear
Blanket
Bath
Ball

and I’m sure I’m forgetting a few. Surely a few more syllables, sounds and signs will come shortly, right???

Thanks for the input on the Christmas dresses…I’ll be sure to share my decision once it is made! Alteast getting M to wear a Christmas dress should be easier than a Halloween costume! The boots (NOT on her favorite things list) and hat are a sure no-go this year for her cowgirl costume. She’ll wear the onesie and jumper, but won’t come within 10 feet of the boots or hat. And while she likes to touch the soft lady bug costume, she does NOT like to have it on her body. Soooooo we’ll just wear our halloween turtle neck and call it a day.

And focus on Christmas dresses on November 1st. They are much more ladylike anyway, and PATENT LEATHER SHOES get to be involved!!