Milestones

Mabe had her one-year checkup this week. Yes, I know, she's way past her birthday, but this is what happens when A) your pediatrician's office is booked very far in advance and B) you wait until the week before your kid hits the 12-month mark to make the appointment. Moving on! Mabel's checkup was good, and as usual she charmed the socks off Dr. Snow. Mabel weighs 24 pounds, 12 ounces and is 31 and 1/4 inches tall, putting her in the 80th percentile for both. To quote Dr. Snow: "She seems to have moved past her maximum fatness point." Hmmmmm, I don't think I like the sound of that.

Mabel's Favorite Things, Summer Edition

Once again, and in no particular order, from the home office in Hyattsville, MD, we present a few of Mabel's favorite things.

1. Pink stuffed bunny

2. Blueberries

3. Swimming

4. Vintage rocking horse (see previous post for photographic proof)

5. Sorting through baskets of laundry (no need for it to be clean) - who doesn't want a pair of socks to wear on their head?

6. Waving

7. Tofu hot dogs

8. Sesame Street

9. Mom's headbands

10. Cat toys (please see photo above)

Back in the Saddle Again (sort of)

Well, as it turned out Mabel had a double ear infection. Also, a 103.4-degree fever, which apparently accounted for why she gave off the heat of a roaring campfire whenever you got near her. (Note to self: maybe our thermometer needs new batteries, since it told us Mabel's fever was a normal and non-panicky 99.6?) At any rate, she's on antibiotics now and feeling increasingly better, although still pretty tired by the end of the day and a bit more snuggly than usual. Which suits us just fine. She is a very good snuggler, a Snuggle Bunny if you will, and only occasionally sticks her fingers in your mouth. Or up your nose.

I should also add that while Mabel is, in fact, wearing pants in this picture (they're just not visible), her co-pilot Winnie the Pooh is not.

Sick Day

Mabel's had a rough couple of days. Thursday night we were up with her every two hours - feverish, crying, barfing. Yesterday she took a three and a half hour nap and went to bed for the night at 4 p.m. Not much of an appetite, although still happy to play 'Where's Mabel?' if you ask. We're off to the doctor this afternoon and hoping for some good medicine (or advice) to clear this all up.

Upstairs, Downstairs

Mabel can now climb the stairs. All of them. All at one time. We tried last week and she had no interest. We tried again over the weekend and she just went to town - climbed all the way up on her first try. Of course I hover behind her to make sure she doesn't plunge to her death, and once I inadvertantly got a bit too close and touched her bottom. She turned around and gave me a look that I have a feeling will become all too common as she gets older: Mommy, I can do it myself! Next on the to-do list: install those baby gates that have been collecting dust in the front hall closet for the past six months.

Very Casual Baby

I guess when you're a baby, pretty much every day is Casual Friday. Food on your shirt? No problem. Bananas from yesterday's breakfast still where you left 'em, rubbed all over the back of your head? Not to worry. Wanna spend the day hanging out in your t-shirt and diaper? By all means, go right ahead. Mabel so embraces this laid-back approach to life that whenever she gets the chance - in her stroller, riding in the cart at the grocery store, after a satisfying meal in her high chair - she likes to put her foot up and relax. Ahhh, yes, that's much better. One must be comfortable in order to thoroughly enjoy the adoration.

Blueberries for Mabel

We've started a nice weekend tradition of making blueberry pancakes for Mabel. Usually we do it on Saturdays, all the better for swimming lessons to wash away the blueberry stains left behind on someone's little nugget fingers.