The vacuum trick kind of worked when she was a neonate

Jake was never one of those kids, but Ben was. He had his first cast on at two weeks (modified club foot) and I'll never forget the awful nurse telling me how much he would scream when they used the saw to take it off. I was appalled and terrified, but when the doctor turned it on he was mesmerized. Absolutely silent, staring at the thing in fascination. If I hadn't been so relieved, I would have given that nurse the biggest Fuck You evah.

He was a weird baby -- even running water calmed him down. He could be screaming and if I walked up to the kitchen tap and turned it on, sudden quiet.

I had one kid in my care who was only calmed in her parents absence by running warm water over her feet. She cooed and grasped happily at my hair.

Sorry, I have no advice on the sleeping, Plei. We can get Isaac to nap for only short bursts. I am willing to try switching him to disposables for a few days to see if he's just really averse to wetness.

Today's lesson: SoS works so much better when a body's eating peanut butter and/or has more than just the dregs left in the Nutella jar. Soynut butter just doesn't cut it. I suspect sunflower seed butter is the same.

The no peanut butter thing sucks. My favorites substitutes are almond butter and cashew butter, or--if your Trader Joes stocks it--cashew/macadamia nut butter.

My favorites substitutes are almond butter and cashew butter, or--if your Trader Joes stocks it--cashew/macadamia nut butter.

On sandwiches, I actually like the soy and sunflower ones.

But plain--ugh.

She's crashed out now. I'd love to stand up, but I don't want to disturb the sleeping baby, because that never ends well. She's got her left arm thrown over my right wrist. It's making typing amusing. I will say I'm very glad that I touch type, or I'd never be able to get any typing done at all--the laptop is an arm's length away from me, and I can't even see the keyboard.

My future goal: to have enough money that, when something breaks, we can just call someone in to fix it.

Current spin on the house: it's a learning experience and next home, we'll know what to look for.

Burrell, have you tried the flushable woven diaper liners with Isaac? They do seem to wick the moisture away from the skin pretty well, and would work with a diaper service diaper.

Katie - it is a case study of a hospital that needs to have all of its current management fired. Unfortunately that is not one of the options I can propose....so I'm writing CRAP. I hate papers like this.

She's crashed out now. I'd love to stand up, but I don't want to disturb the sleeping baby, because that never ends well. She's got her left arm thrown over my right wrist. It's making typing amusing. I will say I'm very glad that I touch type, or I'd never be able to get any typing done at all--the laptop is an arm's length away from me, and I can't even see the keyboard.

I must get to Seattle.

Jilli! And here I thought that going to the doctor was kind of sucky on your birthday -- good luck with the surgury although I am sure you won't need any and it will go very smoothly and you will recover quickly and easily.

t skips, skims, waves

Work is going to be OK, I think. I'm starting to suspect that beneath New Boss's prickly exterior lurks a damn funny woman. I have an office with a door that closes, and nearly twice the size of my former office (whose door also closed), which is to say it couldn't be mistaken for a walk-in closet. It's overwhelming--there's a lot to learn, and I'm actually NOT a glorified secretary, much more of an office manager/administrator type. That said, I think once I get the hang of it it'll be a good job for my lifestyle, because I think the hours will be regular, and it doesn't seem like emotionally taxing work.

Annabel did well at daycare, though she went through all the replacement clothes I sent with her, didn't nap well, and barely touched her tuna casserole at lunch, filling up instead on fruit and cheese. But she was good and happy. When I came to pick her up, the teacher said, "Annabel, look who's here!" She grinned, ran toward me--and veered off to run to the little indoor slide. Which I guess means, "Oh good, Mama's here. But we don't have that slide thing at home, and I wanna do that one more time!"

Susan, I'm so happy that your new job is going to be good for you, and I'm glad that Annabel is enjoying day care. As for the tuna casserole, well, fruit and cheese is soooooo Continental. Classy-like. Who could resist.

Can't blame anyone for skipping tuna cassarole. Actually, I think fruit and cheese is much healthier.