I'm not sure how all of this happened: I was down the hall putting clothes away, when Little P started squawking. Unfortunately, this was not unusual for today so I kind of ignored it. He was safely in his room, or the hallway, where about the only thing he could do to hurt himself would be to reach over for a toy, lose his balance, and bonk his head. His head is only 12 inches from the floor. Naturally, this is not a terrifying injury.
So I did not get my undies in a bundle over these particular squawks. But they continued. Also not unusual on a day like today - the guy was possessed with the ghost of crabbies past.
I only discovered this thing that I'm not sure how it happened when I left my bedroom, reentered the hall with my now empty laundry basket, and saw...
Little P.
Sitting in the hall crying his eyes out. Nice juicy crocodile tears (the kind he specializes in).
His diaper.
Unhitched on the left side.
One soft, dimpled, precious baby bun.
Bare and resting on the wood floor.
A puddle.
A HUGE puddle.
A puddle that spanned the width of the hall.
Sitting there.
Smelling like urine.
So, allowing the good and attentive mama personality to take over, I grabbed Little P and assured him he was all right, then plopped him in the sink for an impromptu bath. Being that he is practically half fish, he cheered up immediately and began splashing water all the way up the entire bathroom mirror, all the way up to the ceiling.
And I waited until he was bathed, dressed, and happily playing with his blocks before going back to clean up the puddle. I have my moments, ya know.
QUESTION: Do you have any good "remove the diapers" stories from your children? Do tell.
October 23, 2008
October 22, 2008
BenTV 007 - Bedtime Routines
OK, devoted Poddies, we have more mediocre video footage for you! These clips show little glimpses into Benjamin's bedtime routines - a bath, then a bottle, and a book. Also in there is a body massage with baby lotion, a fat overnight diaper, and lots of kisses and tickles. But I couldn't get everything up...these vids take a long time to load.
The Bath:
Benjamin takes a bath from Jessica Petrencsik on Vimeo.
The Bottle:
Bedtime Bottle from Jessica Petrencsik on Vimeo.
The Book:
Bedtime Story with Papa from Jessica Petrencsik on Vimeo.
The Bath:
Benjamin takes a bath from Jessica Petrencsik on Vimeo.
The Bottle:
Bedtime Bottle from Jessica Petrencsik on Vimeo.
The Book:
Bedtime Story with Papa from Jessica Petrencsik on Vimeo.
October 20, 2008
Bates Nut Farm
AKA The Pumpkin Patch
On Saturday we went to BNF's pumpkin patch for a run in with some hay, wheelbarrows, and pumpkins. Benjamin napped on the drive out, so he was groggy and uninspired for the first part (hence all the frowning into the bright light shots). But he woke up eventually, and was downright playful once we were in the parking lot putting pumpkins into the trunk. No matter - it was a grand time and we unabashedly took a ridiculous amount of photos. And, yeah, he was not too into looking at the camera. The sun was really bright.
Here are some of my favorites, followed by a flikr slideshow of the entire series:
On Saturday we went to BNF's pumpkin patch for a run in with some hay, wheelbarrows, and pumpkins. Benjamin napped on the drive out, so he was groggy and uninspired for the first part (hence all the frowning into the bright light shots). But he woke up eventually, and was downright playful once we were in the parking lot putting pumpkins into the trunk. No matter - it was a grand time and we unabashedly took a ridiculous amount of photos. And, yeah, he was not too into looking at the camera. The sun was really bright.
Here are some of my favorites, followed by a flikr slideshow of the entire series:
Nine Months In, Nine Months Out
Yes, Little P has officially been out of the womb as long as he was in it. Actually, I am five days late. The 15th of October was Little P's nine-month birthday. To celebrate, let us examine a few of the changes:
October 19, 2008
Ol' Blue Eyes
Oooh...another tease. We took these portraits while at the pumpkin patch...but there are no pumpkins! That will be the next post. In the meantime, enjoy these shots.
October 18, 2008
Revelling in the Cuteness
OK. I am totally high on my new ability to turn regular photos into studio-quality stuff. Seriously. My stomach is zinging around inside of me, and I really have to force myself to post these shots and GET OFF THE COMPUTER because I have a landscaping guy coming to give me estimates on sorting out our broken sprinkler system and I am stil in my p.j.'s...with no bra on. Ladies, you know how that goes. Ack. I am so addicted to this now. I mean, more so than before. Tearing myself away...
Here are some old photos that I edited using my mad new skills...er, downloaded actions for dummies.
Here are some old photos that I edited using my mad new skills...er, downloaded actions for dummies.
October 17, 2008
Tongue
I don't even know what to say about this new habit. If he didn't look mischievous enough before...
October 15, 2008
Roof Toof
As if we haven't had enough landmark announcements in the last 48 hours.
Papa was playing with Little P for the last 15 minutes before bedtime while I was trying to clean the kitchen. Suddenly I heard calls for Mama, along with Come look! I dried my wet hands on a dishtowel and went up to Little P's room.
Amidst the squawking of a very tired little boy, we pried open his mouth to reveal, you guessed it, the slight nub of a tooth edging its way through his gums. It is his left upper front tooth.
Maybe this explains all the drool from the last three days. Photos forthcoming...I am working out the kinks of using our other camera.
Papa was playing with Little P for the last 15 minutes before bedtime while I was trying to clean the kitchen. Suddenly I heard calls for Mama, along with Come look! I dried my wet hands on a dishtowel and went up to Little P's room.
Amidst the squawking of a very tired little boy, we pried open his mouth to reveal, you guessed it, the slight nub of a tooth edging its way through his gums. It is his left upper front tooth.
Maybe this explains all the drool from the last three days. Photos forthcoming...I am working out the kinks of using our other camera.
First Real Crawl
Today, in front of my mom and Brent and I, Benjamin crawled a real crawl across the rug. Let's all get on our hands and knees in a moment of solidarity.
October 14, 2008
Let's finalize this thing!
OK - the P-pod is going to Albany the weekend of Oct 25th. We'll be in court on the 27th at 8:45 sharp to get this adoption DONE! Hooray!
Yikes!
So after cleaning up the yard this morning, I noticed a message on our answering machine. It was the adoption lawyer. He said that the courts responded to our requested dates for finalization - dates that were all in November and early December...dates that would allow us time to purchase affordable airline tickets, and to avoid holiday travelers. He said:
The email I received in response to your dates stated that this case has to be closed by 10/28. They gave us four possible openings: the 15th, the 17th, the 20th, and the 27th. I am available at any of those times. Give me a call and let me know what you want to do.
OK, courts...tomorrow? At 8:45 AM? (These procedures all take place at 8:45 AM).
I must wrap this entry up as I have to get on the Internet and figure out who the heck is going to fly us to Albany on such short notice. The good news is, this will all be over by the end of the month.
The email I received in response to your dates stated that this case has to be closed by 10/28. They gave us four possible openings: the 15th, the 17th, the 20th, and the 27th. I am available at any of those times. Give me a call and let me know what you want to do.
OK, courts...tomorrow? At 8:45 AM? (These procedures all take place at 8:45 AM).
I must wrap this entry up as I have to get on the Internet and figure out who the heck is going to fly us to Albany on such short notice. The good news is, this will all be over by the end of the month.
This Morning
Fall is here, no doubt - strikingly clear blue skies, a warmth that grows cool in the shade, dry air, and extreme wind. This is the loveliness of fall in Escondido, and it also signals the beginning of fire season. Last night we saw the smoke billowing from behind the range of hills in the distance. The smoke was from a fire burning on Camp Pendleton, a military base some 40 miles away. But by this morning, the smoke was gone. California is getting more adept at nipping the fires before the winds blow them half way across the state...I hope.
Benjamin ate avocado, lentils, and corn for breakfast. We were out of pears, applesauce, and already-cooked oatmeal, and the bananas were not quite ripe. He might have consumed a few dried cranberries and stale Cheerios left on his tray from yesterday, in fact. But he was OK with it...he's not old enough to know what is traditionally a breakfast food or a dinner food.
We are hosting tea for some neighborhood ladies tomorrow - mostly retirees and a few stay-at-home moms. They gather every month at someone's house for a few hours and this month they are visiting at ours. Benjamin and I went out to clean up the backyard patio in preparation. Mostly, I swept and Benjamin ran around in his walker. And then, Benjamin was ready for his morning nap. Benjamin's morning nap always makes Mama very happy. While he is a joy, it is only when he sleeps that Mama can safely delve into a task with focus and no interruptions.
Benjamin ate avocado, lentils, and corn for breakfast. We were out of pears, applesauce, and already-cooked oatmeal, and the bananas were not quite ripe. He might have consumed a few dried cranberries and stale Cheerios left on his tray from yesterday, in fact. But he was OK with it...he's not old enough to know what is traditionally a breakfast food or a dinner food.
We are hosting tea for some neighborhood ladies tomorrow - mostly retirees and a few stay-at-home moms. They gather every month at someone's house for a few hours and this month they are visiting at ours. Benjamin and I went out to clean up the backyard patio in preparation. Mostly, I swept and Benjamin ran around in his walker. And then, Benjamin was ready for his morning nap. Benjamin's morning nap always makes Mama very happy. While he is a joy, it is only when he sleeps that Mama can safely delve into a task with focus and no interruptions.
October 10, 2008
Adoption Legalization Progess
Another reason to celebrate! We do NOT have to have another social worker visit to our house. This is a relief because we really would like to be done jumping through hoops.
And...our lawyer is finally free to schedule with the courts our finalization hearing. We should get our appointment soon, but for now we know it will be in either late November or early December. I am hoping that whenever it occurs, we will not encounter bad weather that would result in us stuck in an airport with an energetic 11-month-old who really needs his routine naps.
And...our lawyer is finally free to schedule with the courts our finalization hearing. We should get our appointment soon, but for now we know it will be in either late November or early December. I am hoping that whenever it occurs, we will not encounter bad weather that would result in us stuck in an airport with an energetic 11-month-old who really needs his routine naps.
Happy Napping
I am soooo happy that Benjamin is getting back to his nap schedule! For the past two weeks, Little P's sleep habits were all messed up - waking up at 2AM screaming, waking up an hour earlier than usual in the morning, cutting his morning nap short, and squawking through his entire afternoon "nap". I don't know what makes a kid go from being a great sleeper to being a difficult one, but here's my hunch.
It's been really, really hot around here (99 degress or more). We do not air condition the house, though my guess is that it's a good 15 degrees cooler in our house than it is outside. However, we've all been a lot thirstier. I think I did not compensate for Little P's need for additional liquids. He doesn't like plain water, except for a few swallows with a meal. Otherwise, he drinks "milk" (formula). He gets four bottles a day of that. I assumed that because he refused additional liquid that he didn't need any more. Now that I'm giving him more "milk" to drink, I think he was only refusing liquids because I was offering him plain water. Lightbulb moment!
So now we are giving Benjamin a bottle of (seriously) diluted "milk" before he goes down for a nap or bedtime. It's working! Poor little guy...all thirsty and all. Mama's learning curve is a bit slow sometimes...
It's been really, really hot around here (99 degress or more). We do not air condition the house, though my guess is that it's a good 15 degrees cooler in our house than it is outside. However, we've all been a lot thirstier. I think I did not compensate for Little P's need for additional liquids. He doesn't like plain water, except for a few swallows with a meal. Otherwise, he drinks "milk" (formula). He gets four bottles a day of that. I assumed that because he refused additional liquid that he didn't need any more. Now that I'm giving him more "milk" to drink, I think he was only refusing liquids because I was offering him plain water. Lightbulb moment!
So now we are giving Benjamin a bottle of (seriously) diluted "milk" before he goes down for a nap or bedtime. It's working! Poor little guy...all thirsty and all. Mama's learning curve is a bit slow sometimes...
October 9, 2008
A Day in the Life of Mama
So what has Mama been up to today?
Playing with Little P on the furry rug; cleaning puke off the baby jumper (which she let sit for three days because she couldn't bear to deal with the slime); dropping poopies in the toilet (not her own...these are from diapers); washing diapers and hanging them outside to dry; checking email and finding nothing new; feeding the dogs; petting the dogs; installing a baby gate and deciding that she hates baby gates, but Little P took a tumble down a short flight of stairs yesterday (6 steps) and scared the juice out of her so it is officially time for the gates; feeding Little P peas and cranberries and yogurt and freshly-steamed squash and Cheerios and applesauce; searching for her sewing machine manual because she can't remember how to thread a bobbin on this machine; singing to Little P before laying him down for a nap; telling a band that was interviewing her as a back-up singer that she can't be part of it because they hold five-hour practices on Saturday afternoon which is not convenient given her husband's work schedule, her baby's sleep schedule, and the family hang-out-and-have-adventures schedule...that if they only had a three-hour practice on a week night she could do it; thinking about doing yoga but craving a nap, but knowing that by doing yoga she would no longer crave the nap; listening to the trash man pick up the fruit of her labors from yesterday - cans full of dead leaves and trimmings and debris from the most desolate part of the yard; listening to Ray LaMontagne; wondering if she can make it to the Over the Rhine concert coming up at the Troubadour in LA; looking for her dog's rabies vaccine papers so that she can take him to get his toenails clipped at Petco because he makes it so darn hard to clip his nails at home; feeling defeated by the stacks of important papers in the office closet that really need to be sorted and responded to; feeling yucky from eating ice cream at 11:00AM; wishing it wasn't so hot; wanting a better hairdo; setting up her iGoogle page so that she can get to news and NPR efficiently; setting up a date to hang out with a neighbor and her grandson; folding laundry; writing down ideas for gifts to give people for Christmas; wondering when we'll get notice that we will be going to Albany for the adoption finalization; simmering bean and barley soup on the stove; talking to the Papa on the phone; and typing an update onto her baby blog.
What are all of you up to today?
Playing with Little P on the furry rug; cleaning puke off the baby jumper (which she let sit for three days because she couldn't bear to deal with the slime); dropping poopies in the toilet (not her own...these are from diapers); washing diapers and hanging them outside to dry; checking email and finding nothing new; feeding the dogs; petting the dogs; installing a baby gate and deciding that she hates baby gates, but Little P took a tumble down a short flight of stairs yesterday (6 steps) and scared the juice out of her so it is officially time for the gates; feeding Little P peas and cranberries and yogurt and freshly-steamed squash and Cheerios and applesauce; searching for her sewing machine manual because she can't remember how to thread a bobbin on this machine; singing to Little P before laying him down for a nap; telling a band that was interviewing her as a back-up singer that she can't be part of it because they hold five-hour practices on Saturday afternoon which is not convenient given her husband's work schedule, her baby's sleep schedule, and the family hang-out-and-have-adventures schedule...that if they only had a three-hour practice on a week night she could do it; thinking about doing yoga but craving a nap, but knowing that by doing yoga she would no longer crave the nap; listening to the trash man pick up the fruit of her labors from yesterday - cans full of dead leaves and trimmings and debris from the most desolate part of the yard; listening to Ray LaMontagne; wondering if she can make it to the Over the Rhine concert coming up at the Troubadour in LA; looking for her dog's rabies vaccine papers so that she can take him to get his toenails clipped at Petco because he makes it so darn hard to clip his nails at home; feeling defeated by the stacks of important papers in the office closet that really need to be sorted and responded to; feeling yucky from eating ice cream at 11:00AM; wishing it wasn't so hot; wanting a better hairdo; setting up her iGoogle page so that she can get to news and NPR efficiently; setting up a date to hang out with a neighbor and her grandson; folding laundry; writing down ideas for gifts to give people for Christmas; wondering when we'll get notice that we will be going to Albany for the adoption finalization; simmering bean and barley soup on the stove; talking to the Papa on the phone; and typing an update onto her baby blog.
What are all of you up to today?
October 4, 2008
Saturday Morning with Dogs
Poor Little P. He has a cold. He woke up this morning with a nose that had been running all night - running on his cheeks, running in his hair, running on his fingers. This would have made for a very miserable morning, if not for the distraction of...
...a visiting dog! Gramma and Grampa are out of town for the week, so we are hosting Buster, the world's weirdest Sheltie. You know how doggie psychology experts say that dogs do not have emotions? How they merely make associations that either stimulate or calm them? I would believe that in almost every case...except Buster. He actually throws tantrums. He huffs around the house when he's mad. He's also a crotchety old senior of a dog. He doesn't like strangers or other dogs. So he's keeping his distance from Buckley. Buckley, meanwhile, is playing alpha male...surveying his street below, puffing out his chest and acting very machismo.
Despite Buster's obvious character flaws, we're finding him to be quite tolerant of Little P. And curious.
This dog has hot spots, so he's been scratching a lot lately. Not a flea on him! Oh so interesting to watch!
Or not. Remember, there's someone even furrier around.
Look who's standing on his own these days! Such a big boy! So proud of himself!
But, wait...it's fun to feel proud of oneself, but even more fun to...
...watch a furry beast pass by!
Buster attempts to assume alpha male position. Benjamin remains unfazed. He knows that once he is able to run around on his own two legs, HE will be alpha male among the canines.
Back to business.
Drat! Distracted again by a furry fiend!
Must...break...out..the..SNIFFY...face.
Let's see that again.
Welcome to our Saturday morning with dogs.
...a visiting dog! Gramma and Grampa are out of town for the week, so we are hosting Buster, the world's weirdest Sheltie. You know how doggie psychology experts say that dogs do not have emotions? How they merely make associations that either stimulate or calm them? I would believe that in almost every case...except Buster. He actually throws tantrums. He huffs around the house when he's mad. He's also a crotchety old senior of a dog. He doesn't like strangers or other dogs. So he's keeping his distance from Buckley. Buckley, meanwhile, is playing alpha male...surveying his street below, puffing out his chest and acting very machismo.
Despite Buster's obvious character flaws, we're finding him to be quite tolerant of Little P. And curious.
This dog has hot spots, so he's been scratching a lot lately. Not a flea on him! Oh so interesting to watch!
Or not. Remember, there's someone even furrier around.
Look who's standing on his own these days! Such a big boy! So proud of himself!
But, wait...it's fun to feel proud of oneself, but even more fun to...
...watch a furry beast pass by!
Buster attempts to assume alpha male position. Benjamin remains unfazed. He knows that once he is able to run around on his own two legs, HE will be alpha male among the canines.
Back to business.
Drat! Distracted again by a furry fiend!
Must...break...out..the..SNIFFY...face.
Let's see that again.
Welcome to our Saturday morning with dogs.
October 3, 2008
More Movement Milestones
Benjamin is finally able to get himself into a sitting position from his belly. This is great!
In other news, he can almost pull himself up to standing, but not quite. And, he continues to try to walk around the house holding onto our fingers. It won't be long before I'm chasing him!
As for crawling, it's still mostly army crawl. But he has been getting up on his knees and rocking back and forth like he's going to crawl the traditional way.
In other news, he can almost pull himself up to standing, but not quite. And, he continues to try to walk around the house holding onto our fingers. It won't be long before I'm chasing him!
As for crawling, it's still mostly army crawl. But he has been getting up on his knees and rocking back and forth like he's going to crawl the traditional way.
October 1, 2008
Rant: Soft Long-Sleeves in 9-12 Months
So, this week I wasted nearly four hours searching for soft, long-sleeved shirts for Little P in the 9-12 month size, at a price that did not make me wonder if I should scrap buying for him and go buy for myself instead.
I started at the mall. I never go to the mall. I have only been to the mall once since returning to this town and it was only to accompany my mother on a baby gift hunt for her friend's daughter. I chose the mall because I figured there would be a couple of baby stores and a couple of department stores and somehow I would accomplish my task in one and a half hours tops. Ah, ha, ha.
I was only right about finding a multitude of stores: Gymboree, Baby Gap, Naartjie, Pumpkin Patch, Limited, Too, and The Children's Place...plus the less creative Sears, JCPenney, and Macy's. Egads.
First of all, let me describe what I was looking for: long sleeve t-shirts, 100% cotton, SOFT, no plasticky designs across the front, no funky decorations, SOFT, stretchy, size 9-12 months. Despite evidence to the contrary (it was 99 degrees today), it actually has been cooling down here. What typically happens is that we put Little P down for bed and his room is hot. So he goes to sleep in a t-shirt or no shirt. By the time Brent gets him up for his 5AM feeding, it is quite cool or cold. Brent dresses him in a long-sleeved shirt and soft pants. It's not cold enough for fleecy, footy p.j.s. Just a knit top and bottoms. So Little P needed some shirts.
Another consideration is that Little P is busting the seams of his 6 to 9 month clothes, and most of his 6 to 12 month clothes. I thought that if I could find a 9 to 12 size, we'd be able to get by until Christmas or his birthday, when all the grandmas and aunties just can't help themselves.
So I go to the mall. And here I begin my rant:
1. What happened to the 9 to 12 month sizes?! I feel like I've landed in the Bermuda Triangle. I'm flying along, dressing my child, when suddenly all clothes that could possibly fit have vanished. We are floating in the atmosphere, dear Little P stunned by his own nudity, grasping at cloud particles and finding them damp and clammy and not at all like soft, pure cotton...speaking of which, soft cotton will be rant #2. But let's get back to sizes. See, all the stores have multitudes of 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, and 6-12...but 9-12 appears in a handful of measly designs, which were lacking in either a) affordability, b) softness, or c) simplicity. The 6-12s were about half a pound away from making my dear young man look, and feel, like a sausage. (Nobody likes to feel like a sausage...believe me. About half my jeans now...oh nevermind.) So what's an empathetic mama to do?
2. Let's pick up on that cotton thing. Or rather, that SOFT cotton thing. What happened to all the soft cotton? Are little ones who dare to age past 6 months no longer eligible for soft, snuggly clothing? All I wanted were a few Carter-like infant t-shirts...the single color, super stretchy (to avoid sausage body), SOFT stuff. It's like, as soon as your baby starts looking even a little bit like a boy, you have to buy an OUTFIT. And the OUTFIT must look like and feel something a pubescent child would wear - t-shirts with elaborate surfer/skater/hip-hop/bling vinyl or whatever-substance-that-is designs on the front - the stuff that makes the t-shirt all STIFF and CRUNCHY.
Or, the OUTFIT has to make him look like a little man. A balding, porky little old man. These OUTFITS have crunchy collared shirts in Hawaiian prints to match their daddies' Costco shirts, or plaid to suggest that they are rugged and ready to attend a free workshop at L.L. Bean on fly-fishing.
Or, how about the OUTFIT that makes him look like a rock star or actor? The ones that have cut-out parts with other parts stitched in, so that all he has to do is bend his arm and there's, like, a hard knob of three layers of fabric bunched together. These make me feel like I should start dying his hair purple and gelling it into a faux-hawk or something, they're so stylistically self-conscious.
And that's just the shirts. Don't even get me started on baby jeans and infant cargo pants. It's a good thing I was only after a t-shirt.
3. Why didn't I just buy pajamas? Well, first off, at least half of the stuff out there is some yucky make-your-skin-slippery fake fabric stuff. I don't even know what it is, but it's supposed to be fire retardant. Would that be polyester? Olefin? Hello...those chemically things that retard fires are on my child's skin night after night after sweaty night? How many children die in nighttime fires that would otherwise have been prevented by their choice in sleepwear? (Hmm...I should look that up.)
OK, I did find some 100% cotton jammies that were deliciously soft at Gymboree (which actually had an entire store full of soft cotton), but they were $26. $26! For one pair of p.j.s! I needed, like, three sets. I really, REALLY, wanted to buy the little two-piece set (that way the tummy could hang out without giving Little P a wedgie...that happens with one-piecers when he nears the high end of the weight recommendations), but that would have blown most of my budget. So I put it back and wheeled my stroller out into the mall. Side note: I did try to buy soft, cotton pajamas at Sears, but they did not have any in the 9-12 size.
4. And, finally, price. I am a stay-at-home-mama. As I write this I am thinking...I should probably just go shopping at the thrift store seven blocks away. Yep. That's what I should do from now on. But STILL. What is up with the $40+ outfits (I am only talking a shirt and pants, here) for an 8-month old?! Throw in a hip-hop hoodie or an L.L. Bean sweater and you're up to $60+.
I mean, seriously. There used to be one kids' clothing store in the mall. Now there are six, in addition to the usual department store purveyers. Six. Six is not a bad number, except when you think that those are six stores with boutique prices that can all survive in a single mall. And there are malls every 10 miles in Southern California.
In truth, I would probably not even care about all this if I could have just found a darn soft, long-sleeved, cotton t-shirt in a plain color or in stripes in the 9-12 month size for a reasonable price. But I couldn't, because simplicity and function were edged out of this prolific market by infant, er, adult fashion for infants. But I am not the average consumer, thus I should not be surprised by my inability to find what I am looking for at the average consumer's mall o' overpriced, overly self-conscious stuff.
And, I would probably have been more patient about my search if I had not just pitched two big ol' bags of outgrown stuff into the closet, leaving Little P's drawers shy of soft, long-sleeved, cotton shirts.
THE HAPPY ENDING: I did find a simple, snap up cotton jersey tee for $4 at Old Navy in a 6-12 month size that actually looks like there is room for another pound or two. And I found some cute, stripy two-piece pajamas at Ross for $6. I found a two-pack of those kimono shirts at Target, but I'm not sure they will fit. Have to take them out of the package. I think they were about $6 for the pack. So...at least, with frequent laundering, we will get through this awkward period (too hot for full pajamas, too cold for t-shirts) until the weather sorts itself out and Little P lands squarely in a 12-month size.
Egads.
P.S. To all the well-meaning grandmas and aunties out there...I don't really have a problem with outfits or fashion. Really. It's just that, for every day apparel worn around the house, it seems a little over the top. (Especially as he still drags his belly when he crawls and thus ruins every t-shirt he has). I would just like the simple stuff to be as available as the snazzy stuff. You are still welcome to provide Little P with cute and stylish clothing whenever you feel inclined. And I promise to take lots of pictures of him in those cute and stylish outfits. :)
P.P.S If you have a little girl in the family and you feel like spending way too much on an outfit in the name of fashion, check out Naartie. This store's little girl collections could make me change my tune...(but the outfits are soft and cotton!)
I started at the mall. I never go to the mall. I have only been to the mall once since returning to this town and it was only to accompany my mother on a baby gift hunt for her friend's daughter. I chose the mall because I figured there would be a couple of baby stores and a couple of department stores and somehow I would accomplish my task in one and a half hours tops. Ah, ha, ha.
I was only right about finding a multitude of stores: Gymboree, Baby Gap, Naartjie, Pumpkin Patch, Limited, Too, and The Children's Place...plus the less creative Sears, JCPenney, and Macy's. Egads.
First of all, let me describe what I was looking for: long sleeve t-shirts, 100% cotton, SOFT, no plasticky designs across the front, no funky decorations, SOFT, stretchy, size 9-12 months. Despite evidence to the contrary (it was 99 degrees today), it actually has been cooling down here. What typically happens is that we put Little P down for bed and his room is hot. So he goes to sleep in a t-shirt or no shirt. By the time Brent gets him up for his 5AM feeding, it is quite cool or cold. Brent dresses him in a long-sleeved shirt and soft pants. It's not cold enough for fleecy, footy p.j.s. Just a knit top and bottoms. So Little P needed some shirts.
Another consideration is that Little P is busting the seams of his 6 to 9 month clothes, and most of his 6 to 12 month clothes. I thought that if I could find a 9 to 12 size, we'd be able to get by until Christmas or his birthday, when all the grandmas and aunties just can't help themselves.
So I go to the mall. And here I begin my rant:
1. What happened to the 9 to 12 month sizes?! I feel like I've landed in the Bermuda Triangle. I'm flying along, dressing my child, when suddenly all clothes that could possibly fit have vanished. We are floating in the atmosphere, dear Little P stunned by his own nudity, grasping at cloud particles and finding them damp and clammy and not at all like soft, pure cotton...speaking of which, soft cotton will be rant #2. But let's get back to sizes. See, all the stores have multitudes of 0-3, 3-6, 6-9, and 6-12...but 9-12 appears in a handful of measly designs, which were lacking in either a) affordability, b) softness, or c) simplicity. The 6-12s were about half a pound away from making my dear young man look, and feel, like a sausage. (Nobody likes to feel like a sausage...believe me. About half my jeans now...oh nevermind.) So what's an empathetic mama to do?
2. Let's pick up on that cotton thing. Or rather, that SOFT cotton thing. What happened to all the soft cotton? Are little ones who dare to age past 6 months no longer eligible for soft, snuggly clothing? All I wanted were a few Carter-like infant t-shirts...the single color, super stretchy (to avoid sausage body), SOFT stuff. It's like, as soon as your baby starts looking even a little bit like a boy, you have to buy an OUTFIT. And the OUTFIT must look like and feel something a pubescent child would wear - t-shirts with elaborate surfer/skater/hip-hop/bling vinyl or whatever-substance-that-is designs on the front - the stuff that makes the t-shirt all STIFF and CRUNCHY.
Or, the OUTFIT has to make him look like a little man. A balding, porky little old man. These OUTFITS have crunchy collared shirts in Hawaiian prints to match their daddies' Costco shirts, or plaid to suggest that they are rugged and ready to attend a free workshop at L.L. Bean on fly-fishing.
Or, how about the OUTFIT that makes him look like a rock star or actor? The ones that have cut-out parts with other parts stitched in, so that all he has to do is bend his arm and there's, like, a hard knob of three layers of fabric bunched together. These make me feel like I should start dying his hair purple and gelling it into a faux-hawk or something, they're so stylistically self-conscious.
And that's just the shirts. Don't even get me started on baby jeans and infant cargo pants. It's a good thing I was only after a t-shirt.
3. Why didn't I just buy pajamas? Well, first off, at least half of the stuff out there is some yucky make-your-skin-slippery fake fabric stuff. I don't even know what it is, but it's supposed to be fire retardant. Would that be polyester? Olefin? Hello...those chemically things that retard fires are on my child's skin night after night after sweaty night? How many children die in nighttime fires that would otherwise have been prevented by their choice in sleepwear? (Hmm...I should look that up.)
OK, I did find some 100% cotton jammies that were deliciously soft at Gymboree (which actually had an entire store full of soft cotton), but they were $26. $26! For one pair of p.j.s! I needed, like, three sets. I really, REALLY, wanted to buy the little two-piece set (that way the tummy could hang out without giving Little P a wedgie...that happens with one-piecers when he nears the high end of the weight recommendations), but that would have blown most of my budget. So I put it back and wheeled my stroller out into the mall. Side note: I did try to buy soft, cotton pajamas at Sears, but they did not have any in the 9-12 size.
4. And, finally, price. I am a stay-at-home-mama. As I write this I am thinking...I should probably just go shopping at the thrift store seven blocks away. Yep. That's what I should do from now on. But STILL. What is up with the $40+ outfits (I am only talking a shirt and pants, here) for an 8-month old?! Throw in a hip-hop hoodie or an L.L. Bean sweater and you're up to $60+.
I mean, seriously. There used to be one kids' clothing store in the mall. Now there are six, in addition to the usual department store purveyers. Six. Six is not a bad number, except when you think that those are six stores with boutique prices that can all survive in a single mall. And there are malls every 10 miles in Southern California.
In truth, I would probably not even care about all this if I could have just found a darn soft, long-sleeved, cotton t-shirt in a plain color or in stripes in the 9-12 month size for a reasonable price. But I couldn't, because simplicity and function were edged out of this prolific market by infant, er, adult fashion for infants. But I am not the average consumer, thus I should not be surprised by my inability to find what I am looking for at the average consumer's mall o' overpriced, overly self-conscious stuff.
And, I would probably have been more patient about my search if I had not just pitched two big ol' bags of outgrown stuff into the closet, leaving Little P's drawers shy of soft, long-sleeved, cotton shirts.
THE HAPPY ENDING: I did find a simple, snap up cotton jersey tee for $4 at Old Navy in a 6-12 month size that actually looks like there is room for another pound or two. And I found some cute, stripy two-piece pajamas at Ross for $6. I found a two-pack of those kimono shirts at Target, but I'm not sure they will fit. Have to take them out of the package. I think they were about $6 for the pack. So...at least, with frequent laundering, we will get through this awkward period (too hot for full pajamas, too cold for t-shirts) until the weather sorts itself out and Little P lands squarely in a 12-month size.
Egads.
P.S. To all the well-meaning grandmas and aunties out there...I don't really have a problem with outfits or fashion. Really. It's just that, for every day apparel worn around the house, it seems a little over the top. (Especially as he still drags his belly when he crawls and thus ruins every t-shirt he has). I would just like the simple stuff to be as available as the snazzy stuff. You are still welcome to provide Little P with cute and stylish clothing whenever you feel inclined. And I promise to take lots of pictures of him in those cute and stylish outfits. :)
P.P.S If you have a little girl in the family and you feel like spending way too much on an outfit in the name of fashion, check out Naartie. This store's little girl collections could make me change my tune...(but the outfits are soft and cotton!)
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