Terri Lynn's Adventures

I didn't know it would hurt so much to have a baby. No, I don't mean the actual labour and delivery (although that wasn't exactly pleasant.) Rather, I mean that I didn't anticipate what it would feel like to love a child so much that it actually hurts. Veteran parents would respond by telling me I know nothing yet, but at least I have a taste of what pain is to come.
You see, yesterday we took Malana in for her 2 month "Well Baby" appointment. My most recent Well Woman appointment consisted of my doctor jamming something metal up my under part for a routine pap smear. So it should come as no surprise that a "Well Baby" appointment is no less uncomfortable.
Immunizations. THREE. I had to hold my precious baby while a nurse poked her little legs THREE times! As my eyes saturated with tears that threatened to spill over, Malana yelped in pain - a unknown feeling that scared and confused her, or so her mother imagined.
As I think of the experience, I hurt all over again. Boy, am I in for a fun ride for the next, well, for the rest of my life. The pain of watching her hurt is far greater than the pain she ever felt from those needles. In fact, she's already forgotten about it. But a mother's love can't do that, can it? It can't forget the pain that her child feels.
How will I ever handle her first scraped knee, failed test, and rejected heart?
She's mine, and I love her - so much that it hurts.

Did you wash your socks today? I didn't. You see, I had a lot on the
agenda today. Places to go, people to see! I went for 5 walks - 3
with a baby in a stroller, 1 with a baby in a carrier, and one with a
baby in my arms. I bounced around the kitchen and living room
countless times, trying to rock a baby to sleep. I changed numerous
diapers and wiped a little bottom clean. I fed a hungry baby more
often than I knew it was possible to eat. I didn't have time to clean
my socks!

But I did have time to be a hero. When a little bottom needed to be
wiped clean, I was there to perform the privileged task - all twenty
seven times. When little tears needed wiping dry, I was there to
soothe and comfort. When a hungry little mouth was searching for
milk, it didn't need to look for long - I was there. Today, I was a
hero to a precious child of God, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
But my socks? Well, they're still on the floor.

Don't you just love having your passport photo taken? There's really nothing like it. Angle your head so that your chin ends up above this line and your forehead is below that one. Make sure that you don't smile. Don't wear glasses unless you're going to wear them at the airport. Look your best, unless you won't at customs. All of the hassle and effort leads to one thing - an unattractive mug shot that adds splotches to your face and wrinkles to your nose that you have to carry with you for the next five years and show all those curious people who say, "Oh, let me see your passport picture!"
It's one thing to experience this for myself. It's a whole different experience to take a four week old baby to the photo booth. It sounds simple. Just make sure that she's sitting up, looking straight at the camera, and has her eyes open. Please do not be deceived by the perceived simplicity of this request. As we positioned our newborn baby for the photo, we quickly learned that it was anything but easy. Problems:
1. A newborn baby cannot sit up.
2. A newborn baby cannot hold her head straight at the camera in order to "see both ears in the picture."
3. A newborn baby cries when in uncomfortable positions.
4. A newborn baby does not follow directions given by a friendly photobooth operator and isn't impressed by stuffed animals and funny sounds.
The experience was quite traumatic - perhaps more on the parents than baby. Malana was hoisted up on the stool with her mother holding down her arms, and her father behind her with his hand under a white blanket forcing her head in place. All the while, Malana alternated between crying and sleeping. Crying and sleeping. Sleeping and crying. Excreting waste and looking for milk. Sleeping and crying.
After a diaper change and two mini meals, Malana gave in, looked forward, didn't smile, showed off both ears, and successfully had her first passport picture taken.
Do you think the customs officer will recognize her in three years?

We've all but disappeared from the world of updating this Web site. It's not because we WANT to avoid it, but rather that we have chosen to put that time into OTHER computer-related ventures - namely, stock sales. We've been working hard at taken pictures, posting them on various stock agencies, and watching them sell.

My maternity leave begins after my last day of work, which is tomorrow! Our baby is due in about 2 weeks! Time flies...I'm feeling great and ready for this baby to come! Well, at least, ready as I'll ever be for this huge life-changing event!

Well, Chris is gone to Portland, so it's just me and our unborn baby. I leave tomorrow morning for Toronto! My friend Kristina is getting married on the weekend, so I am going to be there for that.

We've been enjoying the deep freeze and wind chill warnings. Yesterday was -29 C, with a windchill in the -40s. Brrr! Time to bundle up!