big week

I'm no good at this blogging thing. Between teaching and keeping an 8 mos old dressed, fed, dry-bottomed...well, you know that goes. I've got my excuses for not posting more often but I don't feel like rolling them out.

But it's spring  break and instead of tackling the pile of research papers I have promised myself I would chip away at during nap time, I will post something on my long neglected blog.

It's been a big week. I haven't had to shower before 6 AM or hustle myself and the wee girl out the door at an ungodly hour. We've had our cereal in our PJs and danced to Beyonce in the living room. I've figured out creative ways to create pillow road blocks to our brand new army-crawler, yet she manages to get into places she's not supposed to.


On Sunday, we met Auntie Em in the city and went to the Shedd Aquarium. Caroline was introduced to penguins, otters, fish, frogs, turtles, sting rays, the whole deal. It was awesome. Probably more awesome for her parents, but I'd like to think it was awesome for her, too.

She had her first haircut yesterday. If I was a better blogging mom (which I am not, nor do I really aspire to be) there would be pictures and a weepy monologue about how my baby is growing up too damn fast. A hair cut at not quite 8 months old? Oh yes.The mullet was out of control and her Rod Blagojevich coif was getting too hard to sweep out of her face. Our little Samson cried, knowing perhaps that her strength as a beautifully hairy baby would be diminished by the shears of Lucy the stylist. Nevertheless, she has been groomed and is a better girl for it.

We went to the park today and Caroline learned the joy of swinging. The expression on her face as she threw her head back while I pushed is one that will get me through the last 8 weeks of the school year. There is nothing on the planet that's happier than this kid on a swing.

It's certainly a different kind of spring break. I had prepared myself to be overly frustrated with erratic nap times and fussy feedings, but being home with her makes the stress of work and the never-ending grading grind that much better. As crazy as it sounds, I find myself waiting for her to wake up from her naps so we can play on the floor or read together. And no, it's not because I don't want to grade. Ok, maybe just a little.