No Regrets

Actually, I have lots of regrets at the ripe old age of 31. Choices I should have made, action I should have taken, things (and people) I should have avoided. I should have been braver, smarter, better than I was.

I often think about those parallel lives, and use what’s left of my imagination to explore them.

But one thing holds true — if I accomplish nothing else in my life, I do not regret having Molly. Oh, I may complain on and on about the frustrations I feel at not being able to calm her tummy troubles, or get her to sleep. I often throw my hands up in the air, saying “I give up,” and yell that I am running off to warmer climes. I may lose my cool (and probably do too often).

Yet when the tears dry and my blood pressure returns to normal, I look at her and I can’t imagine a world, my world, without her.

I hope, when all is said and done, that counts for something.

More Fun With Colic

If I were to choose one word to describe life with Molly, it would be unpredictable. From day to day, I never know what to expect. Sure, you say, it’s like that with all children. But with Molly, it’s a hundred times more intense, because she is that much more intense.

After four months, however, I am finally starting to figure out Molly’s colic. I always thought it was one thing that caused her to shriek at the top of her voice, usually her stomach. Well, I was wrong. It’s never just one thing. She’s actually very tolerant of one source of discomfort or irritation, and perhaps even two or three. But at some point, she’s had enough. Up until now, I was only noticing (and trying to fix) that one thing, without any success.

Now, I just work my way through the following (choose any combination):

• too hot/too cold
• bored/overstimulated
• surroundings too noisy/too quiet
• too much motion/too still
• hungry/too full
• full diaper/unable to create full diaper (of #2)
• regurgitation (with or without heartburn)
• hat or other clothing annoying her
• hit herself in head with toy or otherwise physically injured herself
• startled or frightened

She has also recently added another variable:

• teething!

Every parent has to play this guessing game. Not every parent has a child that punishes them for the wrong choice by trying to render them deaf. And she doesn’t stop until you get it right.

Now that’s what I call “fun”.

Molly’s March Adventures, Part Two

I’d better finish this two part tale before April is over as well. Now, where was I?

Molly visited her New York grandparents one weekend (March 24-26), and was off to see her Florida family the next (March 31-April 3).

She managed to complete the next two firsts in one trip:

3. FIRST BUS RIDE

AND

4. FIRST PLANE RIDE

Molly handled both surprisingly well, especially the bus trip (she fell asleep.) She did cry on the plane, but was relatively easily soothed. She screamed twice, both times when we brought her into the cramped airplane bathroom to attempt to change her after she let out some horrific-smelling farts. Those were even more embarrassing than the screaming.

Molly earned her wings from a very enthusiastic flight attendant. He was delighted to meet her, although she apparently couldn’t say the same, and cried whenever he saw her. Poor man.

A brief two and a half hours later, and we were soaking up the warmth of the sun and Grandma and Grandpa Watkins in Florida. The rest of the weekend was a blur of activity and eating- much eating.

Here are some highlights (click on each highlight for more info):

FAMILY TIME

Molly was able to spend a little time with each family member, plus a little bit extra for the grandparents. She also met Aunt Dianne and Uncle Joe for the first time, along with their incredible bird collection.

Sorry Grandma. Molly doesn’t do “happy”.

Grandpa could never have a serious conversation with his little buddy.

Maybe it was hard to do serious in that hat.

Who entertained who more?

Near the end of the day, Molly both looks and acts like her father in the enthusiasm department.

BATH TIME

As the caption for the first photo below mentions, this was a very special bath in a very special bathtub. Molly became the third generation of Watkinses to rub a dub in this tub, and Jeff and Grandma Watkins were there to record it.

All clean, and all smiles.

OUR LITTLE TOURIST

Molly managed another first in Florida:

5. FIRST WARM/HOT WEATHER

Although Molly seemed to enjoy not having to be thoroughly bundled, she still had to be shaded to protect her fair skin. We didn’t want to introduce her to her first sunburn as well.

All she needed was a camera around her neck.

80-something degrees was quite a shock for us northerners.

Molly is rather well insulated, and as she is yet unable to partake of the appropriate amount of lemonade to counter the heat, we decided to head inside.

THE RIDE HOME

Our four days down South ended rather quickly, and soon we were back on our way to the frozen (but thawing) North.

Happily home and back in our “routine”, we are resting and recovering before our next travels!

Thank you again to our wonderful hosts! See you soon!