My post-partum hair loss reached it most disgusting peak around 4 or 5 months out. I got a nice haircut around 6 months, and the hair dresser told me that he could tell I'd had pretty severe post-partum losses because my scalp was covered in regrowth.
Jump ahead to now. I got out of the shower the other day and realized two things; it was freezing cold out (about 25) and I needed to spend some time outdoors (fun pre- ski season festival in the outdoors). So I used the blow drier for the first time since about last winter.
Matt and I both started laughing out loud when I finished drying my hair. All over my scalp was a coat of fuzz at about 1 to 1 1/2 inches long. The most obvious was near the border with my forehead, where the regrowth was so thick and obvious that it looks like I cut myself some really short bangs.
I stuck a ski cap on and called it good. It is a lot of short cute fuzzy regrowth. I'm glad it will be back to normal soon.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Letting go
He's letting go.
In the last two days, I've watched Cooper let go of furniture with both hands and stand unsupported for a few seconds. He gets this look of total pride and thrill in his eyes- and then he either grabs something to steady himself, or crashes violently to the floor.
Three times now he's bloodied his upper lip on his giant beaver teeth from falling awkwardly, which results in screaming, bleeding, and then some light whimpering. I feel bad for him, but I can't catch him 100% of the time. I figure his violent falling phase will pass pretty soon. Or at least I hope so. My guess is that he'll figure out how to stand steadily in a few more days, which at this rate will be 1 or 2 more bloody lips.
In the last two days, I've watched Cooper let go of furniture with both hands and stand unsupported for a few seconds. He gets this look of total pride and thrill in his eyes- and then he either grabs something to steady himself, or crashes violently to the floor.
Three times now he's bloodied his upper lip on his giant beaver teeth from falling awkwardly, which results in screaming, bleeding, and then some light whimpering. I feel bad for him, but I can't catch him 100% of the time. I figure his violent falling phase will pass pretty soon. Or at least I hope so. My guess is that he'll figure out how to stand steadily in a few more days, which at this rate will be 1 or 2 more bloody lips.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
God and Country
We get a lot of Obama volunteers in my neighborhood, which is nice but distracting. Because I work from home, and my dog freaks out when someone knocks on the door, I pretty much have to say Hi to all of them and tell them to go on their merry way.
Yesterday, I was on a conference call (on mute, thank god) and I saw two women holding notebooks coming towards my house. I had Cooper on my hip, the headset on for the conference call and was wrestling the dog when I opened the door. I smiled nicely and told them, as I tell all of them, we already did 'early voting' and thanks for dropping by.
They looked at me blankly. I looked at them. And then, a realization. They were holding bibles, not voter registration forms. I had just opened my door to the mormons! NooooOooooOooooo!
Without thinking, I blurted out, "Oh jesus, you're not Obama canvassers, are you... sorry, we don't believe in God. But you have a good day." And then I shut the door in their faces. Shut, not slammed. And then I cringed.
Yesterday, I was on a conference call (on mute, thank god) and I saw two women holding notebooks coming towards my house. I had Cooper on my hip, the headset on for the conference call and was wrestling the dog when I opened the door. I smiled nicely and told them, as I tell all of them, we already did 'early voting' and thanks for dropping by.
They looked at me blankly. I looked at them. And then, a realization. They were holding bibles, not voter registration forms. I had just opened my door to the mormons! NooooOooooOooooo!
Without thinking, I blurted out, "Oh jesus, you're not Obama canvassers, are you... sorry, we don't believe in God. But you have a good day." And then I shut the door in their faces. Shut, not slammed. And then I cringed.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Getting things done
Cooper is starting to nap a bit less, and be a heck of a lot more demanding i.e. destructive and active. At the same time, Matt's school and internship schedule are getting crazy.
Thus, I've hired a part-time nanny! Yikes! Her name is Nicole, and she's a really nice college student that I used to teach a few years ago when I was a TA. She's also worked for a friend of mine for a few summers, so I know she's really good natured and dependable. Right now we are doing two afternoons a week of her "hanging with Mr. Cooper." They go for walks, hang out at the park, and make a mess out of the living room. It works out pretty well- it sure isn't cheap, but it is cheaper than daycare, pretty hassle free, and he probably won't get the million colds, stomach bugs, and so forth that he'd get if he was with lots of other kids.
This provides me with more motivation to get work done while she is around, as well as more motivation to get our baby gear all set for winter. Nicole is from Alaska, so she's excited to take Cooper cross country skiing. Gotta get him a warm little ride-along sled! Fun!
Thus, I've hired a part-time nanny! Yikes! Her name is Nicole, and she's a really nice college student that I used to teach a few years ago when I was a TA. She's also worked for a friend of mine for a few summers, so I know she's really good natured and dependable. Right now we are doing two afternoons a week of her "hanging with Mr. Cooper." They go for walks, hang out at the park, and make a mess out of the living room. It works out pretty well- it sure isn't cheap, but it is cheaper than daycare, pretty hassle free, and he probably won't get the million colds, stomach bugs, and so forth that he'd get if he was with lots of other kids.
This provides me with more motivation to get work done while she is around, as well as more motivation to get our baby gear all set for winter. Nicole is from Alaska, so she's excited to take Cooper cross country skiing. Gotta get him a warm little ride-along sled! Fun!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
More teeth and more skills
Cooper is picking up speed, I swear it.
He's starting to let go of things while standing. This sounds like a bizarre statement, but it represents something interesting. For a few weeks, he's been clinging to things with a death grip- and almost never falling down. Now he's falling down again all the time. Matt and I have discussed this, and now take this to mean that he has discovered the idea of standing up without help, and practicing this skill isn't a peaceful or comfortable endeavor. Just today he fell hard enough to give himself a bloody, fat lip on one of his giant beavery front teeth... sigh... being a baby is hard, physical work.
He's also getting two more teeth. Top and bottom right, which is an odd combination. Normally they are horizontally paired, not vertically. The teeth should be through the gums in about two more days by my reckoning. He's being a good sport about it.
Cooper's pincher grip (picking up tiny stuff with thumb and first finger) is getting skilled. He's an expert cheerio grabber and has surgical precision for grabbing lint and dog hair. Eww.
And the walking. Oh man. He's getting so good with that laundry basket. And now when we help by holding his hands, instead of letting us steer him around the house, he tries to go in the direction of his choosing. Cute. Intimidating.
Da da! Da da! Yup.
He's starting to let go of things while standing. This sounds like a bizarre statement, but it represents something interesting. For a few weeks, he's been clinging to things with a death grip- and almost never falling down. Now he's falling down again all the time. Matt and I have discussed this, and now take this to mean that he has discovered the idea of standing up without help, and practicing this skill isn't a peaceful or comfortable endeavor. Just today he fell hard enough to give himself a bloody, fat lip on one of his giant beavery front teeth... sigh... being a baby is hard, physical work.
He's also getting two more teeth. Top and bottom right, which is an odd combination. Normally they are horizontally paired, not vertically. The teeth should be through the gums in about two more days by my reckoning. He's being a good sport about it.
Cooper's pincher grip (picking up tiny stuff with thumb and first finger) is getting skilled. He's an expert cheerio grabber and has surgical precision for grabbing lint and dog hair. Eww.
And the walking. Oh man. He's getting so good with that laundry basket. And now when we help by holding his hands, instead of letting us steer him around the house, he tries to go in the direction of his choosing. Cute. Intimidating.
Da da! Da da! Yup.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Baby names
We just discovered that Cooper's name, had he been born to Sarah Palin, would have been:
Spackle Camshaft
Fabulous!
Spackle Camshaft
Fabulous!
Faster than a speeding laundry basket
He learns quickly. And he's big and strong. This is a fun combination (but it means Mom and Dad need to get very serious about babyproofing.)
Wanna see him practice walking?
Wanna see him practice walking?
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