The Crying Game

After I had my first child, I brought her home and realized I'd forgotten to pick up the how-to instruction manual from the hospital. Ack! What the heck am I supposed to do with this "thing?" Especially when it's crying and can't tell me what's wrong! Am I allowed to muzzle it? Do they make those dog barker things for baby cries?
Some days, I was at my wits end and just had to walk away for a moment to keep my sanity. So I decided to write down an A-Z list to baby cries. It's too hard to think clearly when you're listening to the wailing screams of a banshee, so here is a list that may help you determine what's "wrong" when you can't seem to pinpoint the problem. These are just some reasons/solutions. Hopefully you'll find some of them useful. Just remember, attitude is everything. Your baby can sense stress, so try to stay positive. :o)

A
attitude
(stay positive)
B
burp the baby
C
constipated, colic
D
diaper change
E
environment
(create a calmer setting)
F
feed the baby
G
gassy
H
heartburn, headache
I
irritated
(change activity)
J
just needs to be held
K
keep calm
(baby can sense stress)
L
lay on tummy
M
music
N
needs attention
(feels alone)
O
over-stimulated
P
position change
Q
quiet, too noisy
R
Rash
(check for diaper and heat rashes)
S
sick
T
tired
U
under-stimulated
V
verify diaper is not too tight
W
warm
(baby may be cold)
X
eXamine for scratches/redness
(may be hurt)
Y
you've tried everything...
Z
zilch, baby may need to cry and that's okay

Stick It

Quite the unassuming box. It just sits on the top of the toilet in my bathroom. Those handy dandy daily lightday pads.

While I was in the shower today, my three year old ventured into the bathroom to say "Hi." She played around with some things on the counter and then left to continue watching Elmo. No big deal.

My daughter is not fully potty trained yet, so she still sleeps with a pull-up at nighttime and bedtime. As I was getting her ready for her nap, I noticed what looked like tissue between her legs. Uh oh. She had taken one of Mommy's lightdays and stuck it on... backwards. I had a good giggle, but my daughter wasn't too thrilled with the ouch factor. Good thing baby oil is such a life saver in sticky situations.

While this isn't my kid (thank goodness, can't imagine the ouch factor there), I was reminded of this picture and of the silly things that kids do. I'm willing to bet, she doesn't do it again. :oP

Weekly Featured Artist 5/11 - 5/17

Q: Tell us a little about yourself…
I design and create jewelry, which I'm primarily selling on Etsy right now. I also do some other art/craft-work, such as photography, painting, knitting, but jewelry is my main focus. My alter ego is currently a graduate student studying geoscience, and is interested in planetary geomorphology (studying landforms on planets). Recently moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky a few months ago, and before that I grew up in lived in Indiana.

Q: How long have you been doing this?
Since I was a child I've been experimenting and learning different forms of art. I tried making prints with ink, I taught myself how to use oil paints, and fell in love with pastels. Then I stumbled upon beadwork at a Native American art market, and I've been making jewelry ever since!

Q: Who/What inspires you?
Many things, though I suppose I get a lot of my inspiration from nature. I've always been one who was more intuned with the natural world even as a child, and I think that has carried over into my work. Learning about geology has only enhanced this and made my appreciation of the natural world greater.

Q: What's your favorite piece?
My favorite piece is a choker that I made with a piece of coral from my mother, which I wire wrapped pearls on. She's collected a lot of shells and coral her whole life, and I found this little piece in the bottom of a box. So I 'snuck' it away and created that necklace. Once I was done I found I couldn't part with it and kept it in my personal collection.

Q: If you could meet anyone living or dead, who would it be & why?
Da Vinci, because he was simply brilliant in art, science, engineering - I don't think there has really be anyone else like him in our recorded history. Plus, he was a true renaissance man, and often I've felt like a 'renaissance woman' that has been somewhat misplaced.

Q: If Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter dueled, who would win? Why?
Alas, neither. Snape would come in and stun them both silly ;)

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