Mom Skin

It's the weirdest thing. Ever since I became a mom, it's like I've been reborn. It seems that no matter what I do, there is always a sign across my forehead that reads "I'm a Mom." It doesn't matter that my ripped up jeans are the complete opposite of "mom jeans," because you can still see parts of my mom skin, which struggles to cover my enlarged mom heart.

What is it about me that just screams "mom" lately? Is it that last remaining bit of stretched skin on my tummy that serves as a constant reminder of the commitment I made to Chloe, much like my wedding band serves as a reminder of the commitment I made to Paul?

Is it because I no longer walk into a room wearing four and a quarter inch heels and a new Coach purse slung over my shoulder, but instead a pair of flats and a diaper bag?

Is it my watchful eyes? The bags beneath them?

Is it because talking to a person without kids sometimes feels like I am conversing with an entirely different species? Because all I want to talk about is how Chloe has diarrhea right now. And I think she might be allergic to spinach. And is that normal? Wait, are you sleeping? Did I just put you to sleep? Oh, you are tired from being up at 2:00 a.m. last night. Phew. Finally, something we have in common. Except it is different, because you probably had your hand jammed down a Doritos bag and didn't have a baby latched to your boob.

Is it the faint undertone of sour milk in my classic perfume?

Is it my constant state of nostalgia? Except I yearn only for the moments that occurred AC, After Chloe. The unfamiliar tears shed from simply packing away 3-6 month clothing?

Is it because carrying around an 18 pound baby somehow feels like I am carrying around the weight of the world?

What I do know is that no amount of money could turn me back. It is like once you've discovered God, freedom... sugar. I love this skin I'm in - this mom skin.

Chloe - 9 Months

I'm getting later and later on these monthly posts. Luckily, I keep up pretty well with the paper baby book, so that when I go to write my monthly update I'm not getting confused with Chloe's new tricks. I realize that it is almost time for Chloe's ten month post, but I figure it is better late than never. The winter is always the craziest time at my office, and I have been struggling a lot with the balance between work and family. More on that in a later post. For now, I'd like to give you a quick update on the life of Miss Amelia.


At her nine month appointment Chloe was 18 pounds, 5.8 ounces and 27 inches long. She was in the 50th percentile for weight and 30th percentile for height. This time we met with the nurse practitioner. She had laryngitis and so in my opinion she shouldn't have been at work treating little babies in the first place. She was being a huge you-know-what through the whole appointment; probably, because she was sick. I told her that Chloe wakes up sometimes at 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. to nurse. She said that was a bad habit and it should have stopped at 7 months. She told me to give her a pacifier. I told her that is funny, because a pacifier sounds like a bad habit, too. Besides, Chloe has never liked a pacifier. She also said that Chloe should not be eating any baby food because it isn't nutritious. I told her I make almost all of Chloe's baby food so SUCK IT. No, I didn't really say that. But I did decide to start feeding Chloe more table food. More on that. I'm just venting. Overall, the NP said that Chloe was doing well and meeting all of her milestones. After a quick flu shot, Hep B shot, and finger prick/iron test we were on our way.

A few days later I had to take Chloe to the lab to have her blood drawn for a lead test. Since our house was built in 1926 there is an increased chance that Chloe could get lead poisoning, say, if I were to feed her some paint chips for dinner. Luckily, the tech was successful with one prick and even though Chloe screamed BLOODY MURDER, I was grateful that it went so well. Future Cassie wants you to know that we are in the clear for lead poisoning.

Chloe has had a very big month, but lately it seems that all of her months have been big. She is growing up so fast and she is surprising me every day with the things she does. Just a simple thing like copying me as I put blocks into a bucket just blows me away. I think that Chloe's biggest accomplishment this month would be learning to feed herself without gagging. This happened at the very end of the month, mind you. It took about a week of practice, but since I have a sneak peek into future (10 month old) Chloe, I can safely say that she is becoming a self-feeding pro. She thinks she is really cool stuff.

She has been climbing the stairs for a long time now, but she can climb all the way up over and over and over and over again. One day I was upstairs paying bills when I heard Paul coaching and cheering and Chloe crying and complaining. This went on for about a half hour and when I came down to check it out I found Paul teaching Chloe do go down the stairs. She was so pissed. But she figured it out. I have a vision of Paul coaching her team someday and I have a feeling it will be a love/hate type of relationship. Chloe can whiz around the house on all fours and can walk along the furniture. She loves to explore and knows her way around the entire house.

Let's see. What else? In the beginning of the month Chloe got Roseola. Oh the new words we learn upon becoming parents. What the hell is Roseola you ask? Well that is a very good question. All I know is that it gives your baby an instant fever and makes them HIGHLY irritable for 2-3 days straight and then when you think it is over they get this big rash on their tummy. Poor baby.

This month marks the first time Chloe stayed home with Grandma and Grandpa for longer than 6 or 8 hours. Paul and I went to Traverse City to celebrate our 3rd anniversary and attend a wedding. We were in far worse shape than Chloe. When we got home it was like she didn't even notice we were gone. And I always thought I loved my parents more than they could ever love me. I guess there are some things you just can't understand until you have kids. Who would have known?

Taking Chloe's nine month pics was very difficult this time around... you'll see what I mean. For the first picture I caught her off guard.

And then we were into the chairs...

Up the stairs...

Into the cabinets...

And then the dog food...

And eventually I just gave up.

Where have YOU been you ask?

First, I'd like to apologize for my absence; however, please know that this apology is male in gender, meaning I fully intend to continue to disappoint you. And just when you have had it, you are done, you are never checking this website EVER AGAIN, I will write a post with the most adorable pictures of an elephant baby looking at kitties, and you will forgive me and forget that I never called you back... I mean left you high and dry without a post for a whole month. Here is a quick update in photos because I am just too crazy busy to give you anything more than that!

Paul and I celebrated our three year anniversary up in Traverse City sans baby. Here we are at our fourth winery.

I hung out with Sara the same weekend at Josh & Lydia's wedding. I love you and miss you, Sara!!

Shortly after I hung out with Kelly and Julie. We had an impromptu lunch date. So fun!

I taught Chloe to sweep the floors. She has to start pulling her weight around here!

Chloe got a jack-o-lantern smile just in time for Halloween.

Chloe learned to feed herself and here she is having some blueberries. YUM!

Chloe met her Great Grandpa Jack for the first time. She was sad that she wasn't able to meet her Great Grandma Alvina who has been with Jesus for just over two years now. I know my Grandma Al would have been beside herself.

Chloe the elephant found some cute pumpkins while cooling off on the front porch. That costume was extra warm.

Elephant babies are scared of mice, but are enthralled by kitties!

I Heart Daddy

Chloe - 8 Months

Chloe is now eight months old and I am starting catch a glimpse of the "kid" in her. Paul's Grandma T bought Chloe this really cool wagon from a garage sale this summer. Last weekend was the first time we went home in maybe forever, and Paul decided to try out her cool new toy. We sat her in the bottom and started pulling her down the driveway and it took one, two, three seconds before she was beaming from ear to ear. She stood up and held on to the sides and rode that little wagon down the dirt road like the daredevil I always thought she would be. It was adorable. When I took her inside to change her diaper she actually started crying because she wanted more wagon. So there I was just standing on the porch watching my husband pull my beautiful daughter around in this wagon and I was thinking... how did we get here? I'm watching my baby do kid things. It's amazing. It's terrifying. It's indescribable.


On top of that my Dad taught her how to stick out her tongue. And it didn't take her very long to figure out that if she sticks her tongue out at people, nine out of ten people will stick their tongue out back at her. Chloe's other favorite trick is making noises with her lips either using her fingers or blowing air through her lips to make them vibrate. I have been trying to teach her to patty cake for a couple of months now and she is finally starting to get it. She can sort of clap, but her favorite part is to "roll it." I always catch her rolling and rolling cakes as fast as she can! She is getting to be pretty hilarious. Also, we are getting close to waving buh bye.

Where last month Chloe was a little shaky at pulling herself up, this month Miss Amelia has truly mastered the skill. I used to sort of hover behind her because I thought she would fall and hit her head on the hardwood floors, but now she is so steady and strong that I'm not even worried. She even figured out how to climb the stairs. She went up four stairs right in a row. I, of course, was hovering behind her for that!

I think one of the funniest places to see Chloe standing up is in her crib. She was been doing this since the minute she figured out she could pull herself up, and now every morning I wake up to my little girl peeking her head above the railing. She is typically smacking the top rail like a drum. If I toss some toys in her crib in the morning she will usually sit back down and play with them while I hop in the shower. Good Chloe.

Chloe seems to think she is ready for more solid foods. She begs worse than Griffin whenever we are eating. She wants pizza, spaghetti, hamburgers... everything. The problem is that she chokes on any semi-solid food. And I really do mean chokes. Like, I gave her the teeny tiniest chunk of solid banana and it got stuck in her throat. She started coughing and gagging before throwing up. Twice. I waited two weeks and tried giving her yogurt bites that dissolve in your mouth. She choked on that. Melissa asked if she could give Chloe some Cheerios at school because all of the other kids get them and Chloe seems to want some so desperately. I decided to send some baby puff things to school with her that also dissolve in your mouth. When I went to pick Chloe up Melissa said she is definitely waiting a while to try that again, because she started gagging. So we are done with super solid foods for a while. Sorry, Chloe. You'll get there someday.

This month Chloe graduated to a big girl car seat. She got both of her top teeth, and is now sporting a four-toothed grin. She was granted one blanket in her crib. She eats two meals per day and has added beets, yogurt, apples, mangoes, and much more to the menu. She has figured her way around the downstairs and can follow us from the living room, through the dining room, and into the kitchen. She still goes to anyone, but has a preference for people she knows in addition to strange people with bountiful facial hair. Pretty much the only time she cries anymore is when I try to get her dressed. The worst time is getting dressed after a bath. Chloe still takes baths in the sink. I guess you could call it a bath even though it is really Chloe standing up and grabbing anything she can get her hands on rather than play in the water like most kids, and me plunking her back down on her butt over and over again.

Ooh ooh how could I forget the greatest news? I have noticed when we are at family gatherings or when Chloe is really upset or tired she will look around for me and you can just see the words "mama" on the tip of her tongue. There have been a couple of times where I swore she said "mama" and I'm all "DID ANYONE HEAR THAT?!?!?!" Paul thought she has been trying to say it, too. But the other night she was kind of saying "mama" and then when Paul and I would say it to her she would parrot the words right back. I think it is safe to say that her official first word is "mama!" Yay!

My "New" Waistline

A few weeks ago I was getting dressed in front of the full length mirror in my bedroom that I have so vehemently averted over the past year when out of the corner of my eye I noticed... What in the? Could it be true? Was it the start of my waistline? I couldn't be sure because I always tip my full length mirror at an upward angle to ensure my reflection body is always three inches taller and ten pounds thinner than my flesh body. But after spinning around in the mirror a few times I was convinced that, yes, it was indeed the start of my waistline. Let's be clear. My new waistline looks nothing like my old waistline. There is no trace of an abdominal muscle in sight, and my "hourglass" figure looks as though it has been warped in the dishwasher. But it is a sign that maybe my metabolism was just dormant for the past nine months rather than gone, lost forever.

I got pretty cocky and started dusting off all of my old pants. To my surprise, I could pull most of them up for the first time since I found out I was pregnant. I could even button some of them, and I will, too, whenever I feel like sporting a muffin top. But for now, I'm happy to be able to slip into a pair of jeans that require the assistance of a hair rubber band rather than an entire waistline of elastic.

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

READER BEWARE. There is a serial thief in the neighborhood. The accused is known to target innocent ducks, puppies, and elephants. Victims have been found in their own homes and are reportedly chewed, bitten, and smothered before being left for dead. Authorities need your help in identifying the victims.


The perp has been described as being male with shiny, brown hair and long, floppy ears. If you see this villain alert the authorities immediately and proceed with caution. Do not be fooled by his innocent demeanor. He will attack anything that is soft, fluffy, and squeaky.


(According to authorities, a more recent photo of the perp was not available as his parents have neglected him since his sister was born seven months ago.)