Oh, the weather outside is frightful

Not the weather right now. But the weather in Connecticut last week was a little more than my Houstonian family was used to. Elle saw more snow in a week than she probably will in the next decade.

 

 

This was actually just a light dusting on Christmas Day. The real storm blew in the next night, just in time to make our 90 minute drive back from Nick's aunt's house take more like 2.5 hours. Ick. And Nick's poor sister and her baby ended up crashing in our hotel room with us because it was too icy to get all the way to her house. Fortunately for her, she got stuck with people who also have a baby; we had plenty of wipes and bottles to go around. Can I take this opportunity to say how glad I am we splurged on the Residence Inn? The sleeper sofa and fully-closeable door between the living and bedroom were soooo worth it. Not to mention the hot breakfast, which Elle enjoyed immensely. Well, I think she mostly enjoyed waving at strangers to see who would wave back, but she got her fill of eggs and oatmeal while she was doing it.

By the way, that's her new thing. Waving at anything and everything (including inanimate objects). And once she starts, that girl does not quit. This poor couple (slightly younger than us and apparently childless) made the mistake of waving back at her as they walked behind us at the ball last weekend. Bad move; it only encouraged her, and they got stuck in a waving war that lasted all the way from Godiva to Nordstrom at the Galleria. So if Elle comes waving at you, consider yourself warned.

 

Over and out, and happy New Year.

Battle of the sexes: In sickness and in health

Merry belated Christmas, faithful e-readers. We're back from Connecticut. Pictures and stories of Elle's first birthday, plane ride, snow, etc to follow. But today I want to tell you this tale.

We spent Christmas Day at Nick's mom's house. Towards the end of the day I started feeling a little... green, if you will. I thought it was just all the cookies, cider, etc.

Me: Uh, I am so nauseated.
Nick: Are you pregnant?
Me: Not funny. Hopefully it will pass.

It didn't. But somehow I managed to watch the baby while Nick played video games with his brothers. Then a few short hours later I was puking my guts out in our hotel room. I kept shooing Nick out of the bathroom. I mean, he's already seen me in labor. Let's not add insult to injury here. Fortunately, the emesis (=puking) was short-lived. I felt achy and tired the next day but was at least able to enjoy some more cider at Nick's aunt's house.

Fast forward one more day. Nick thinks he just has a little tummy ache from too much fudge. Ha. He wishes. Now he's puking his guts out in our hotel room.

Me: At least we know it shouldn't last too long.
Nick: Yeah, but now I think I should have felt more sorry for you two days ago.
Me: Yup. But at least I feel appropriately sorry for you.

Because I know you're wondering... Nick is feeling back to himself, and the baby never got sick!

Hey guess what?!

There's a lot of big events coming up within the next week or so at the Scholz house..

1) Ellison turns 1 year old!
It's hard to believe we've been on this wild ride for a whole year now. But it's true. I'll save my thoughts on baby girl's first year for later in the week on her actual birthday.

2) I am off for Christmas!
I know that technically I was off for Christmas last year, but it doesn't really count since we had just come home from the hospital with our newborn baby. That isn't vacation; it's work. Work is less work than that was. Anyhoo, this will be the first time I'm really, truly off for Christmas since medical school. I was on call or post call every year in residency, so this is going to be such an amazing treat. I can't hardly wait for my nine (9!) days off in a row. How will the hospital survive without me? It turns out that I don't care.

3) All the Zarnow girls will be together for Christmas!
I know we did in fact spend many Christmases together when Laurie and I were kids. But the point is that we haven't all been together at Christmas very often over the last several years, so this will be a treat. I've been telling Elle all week that she needs to get excited because Gramzy (Or is it Gramzie? Mom, which do you prefer?.) and Auntie Laurie will be here on Wednesday.

Baby steps

Speaking of baby steps, Ellison isn't taking any. Zilch. None. She moves at rocket speed crawling. I mean seriously, how does anything meant to walk on two legs move that fast on four? And she starting cruising* pretty early, like 9-10 months. But she seems quite content with this mode of ambulation and exerts minimal effort attempting to let go and stray from the very safe edge of the couch. I was contemplating her lack of bipedal ambulation yesterday as I gave her a bath, and I had an epiphany.

My kid is at a serious disadvantage for this whole walking thing. She is long and really, really skinny.
The other kid in her daycare class who's her age but already walking is short and stout (ie, normal baby), which gives him a lower center of gravity and puts him at a distinct advantage not to fall down and go boom crash. But then I remembered how her feet are giant (no joke, you need to see these things to understand fully) and should provide the perfect wide and stable base for her first trepidatious steps.

So it comes down to this. She just doesn't want to. I'm not worried; for crying out loud, she isn't even a full year old yet. Besides, she's totally beating that other kid at eating solid foods, napping, and the ever-important category of not crying. Take that.


*For those of you not in the know (as I was a few months ago), "cruising" is when a baby can walk around holding onto stuff but not independently.

Me vs. my subconscious

I awoke this morning with a feeling of dread. Monday. Ick. That means clinic. All. Day. Double ick.Wait a minute... It's not Monday, it's Wednesday! No clinic! Just think of all the thing I can get done at work today.

It seems my subconscious was trying to tell me something. Two hours later just after morning conference, the nurse reminded me I have a make-up clinic today since I cancelled next Monday's usual clinic because I'll be out of town. Ug. Suddenly I felt very sad on the inside. And the outside, too. I mean, how would you feel if you got walloped with a Monday in the middle of the week?

The good news... apparently no one else wanted Monday on Wednesday either because I had a 40% no-show rate. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

A change is gonna come

OK, two days in a row to make up for the last three weeks. Nothing all that funny, but I have two moderately important announcements.

1) It's demo day!
My mom is actually, really, truly, no turning back remodeling her kitchen. The contractor is ripping out all the cabinets, appliances, and tile. It's so crazy to think that the next time I'm in WF, the kitchen will look completely different. I mean, it's been the same for as long as I can remember. But I know one thing that will never change... the avodaco green Kitchen Aid. Oh, my sweet security blanket.

2) Hello, Charlotte!
Our niece made her grand entrance into the world last night. I have two words of advice, Katie and Rob... baby burrito.This prevents involuntary arm waving with resultant involuntary face smacking with further resultant inadvertent self-waking of the sleeping baby. We're so glad we'll get to meet her in a few short weeks at Christmas.

That is all. Class dismissed.

Battle of the sexes: The sacrifices we make

Finally some blog-worthy Scholz shenanigans. And not just one but two in one day. I hope this marks a trend of breaking the cyber-silence.

1) Get out of jail free
On the way home this afternoon, I called Nick so we could figure out who would be picking up the baby.
Nick: You sure are addicted to that baby, rushing home every day to pick her up from daycare.
Me: Yup. But I'd rush home to see you, too, if you were in jail.
Nick: No, you wouldn't. You'd just let me sit there in jail.
Me: She's in baby jail, not real jail. I'd come visit you in baby jail.

2) A labor of love
When discussing the fact that Katie (Nick's sister) is in labor and wondering whether or not she'd get an epidural.
Me: She can do whatever she wants, but I advocate for the epidural. I've been there, and I want the epidural.
Nick: Yeah, me, too. I've been in the room for the pain, and I want the epidural. I love you, but I wouldn't take that pain from you.
Me: What?!
Nick: Yeah, anybody who says that is lying. Or an idiot. I mean, I might fall on a grenade for you, but I wouldn't do that.
Me: So you'd die for me, but you wouldn't live in painful misery?
Nick: Nope. You gotta draw the line somewhere.