Driving Miss Chase

Or more like pushing. Up until now we've been using a Snap n' Go to wheel her around when she's not in our Ergo. But as she gets older and we find ourselves out and about more, it becomes very clear that we need something more substantial very soon. Cobblestone streets and old European walk ways are not very forgiving and we need a stroller with a splendid shock absorbing system. When I first started researching strollers while still pregnant with Chase, the frustration level was beyond what my hormone-ravaged body could handle. All the names I was accustomed to and interested in were either unavailable in Germany or could not be shipped to an APO address. The German strollers and prams were as big as I was at the time and it just seemed incredibly overwhelming to push them around and uphill. Most of them have enormous fixed wheels, very bouncy shocks, come with their own infant cots that are even bigger than some umbrella strollers, and weigh more than my noodle arms can lift comfortably. But I've come to realize over this past year that those are the kind of strollers one probably wants to brave the German element comfortably. So while I don't want to become one of those crazy stroller collectors, I don't think we'll be able to have just one stroller for everything we'll need. We're looking at a Pliko P3 for an everyday running around and perhaps will add a giant German stroller for Chaster once we move off-post and have a garage (hey, I can dream). I really want a BOB, a Phil & Ted, or an Mountain Buggy but don't think it's in the cards for us. First they have no authorized retailer here (except for the MB, which I MAY be able to find on Monday during our Trier trip!) and I'm not about to shell out 400 bucks just so it could hang on a big ship for the next foreseeable future (if I could get it shipped at all). In a way, the inefficiency of military mail system has really saved me a lot of money. I'm too cheap and impatient to spend the dough and not see what I buy in two or three weeks (or more if it weighs more than a loaf of hearty sour dough bread). Also I'm thinking that if they are not for sale here, maybe they are not really meant for this weather and environment? Now I'm uber thankful for the VAT forms. Combining that with a slightly more favorable exchange rate that we're having lately and we can almost save enough to feed and cloth the child, too. I did say "slightly" favorable, didn't I?

Friday Wandering

Well, our venture to the lake and park was rather uneventful. The weather was typical of a late summer/early fall Germany day--cloudy with a slight chill in the air, which prompted us to ditch the lake plan and just go to the new dog park on Ramstein. Well, it was new, clean, and flat, although not very big. We were joined by a little puppy and her owner, but otherwise the park was ours. I think I like our park at Baumholder much better, so it doesn't look like it's going to be the boys' new hang out place right now. The real reason we trekked that way today was because of our move. I'm not going to bore you with all the details but basically we elected to stay in this neck of the wood for a few more years. The new job that Wil will be taking requires that we move to Kaiserslautern area, which is the biggest military community outside of the United States. It's only about 45 minutes from where we are now, but more than likely we'll be moving into a house (with a yard, fingers crossed) on the economy. Wil loves the convenience of living on post, but I think we owe it to ourselves to truly experience the German culture by living on the economy. Plus the boys will greatly appreciate anything that is bigger than our apartment now. I just couldn't get over how quickly our tiny pad got tinier since Miss Chase's arrival. Two big dogs, all their hair, soon-to-be-mobile baby, and her belongings sure do take up a lot of space. Chase and I were having a crabby day, as she was completely off her schedule and I suffered because of it. We think her funny cough might be an early sign of a cold. She didn't sleep well last night and was extremely tired and fussy towards the end of the day. But she was a good sport for most of the car ride part, thank goodness. Anyway, here are a few pictures from the park.

Inspector Brutus and baby Coco.
Paddy was more interested in playing fetch than chasing around the puppy.
Baby Coco. Her owner actually worked in Labor and Delivery and was there when I gave birth to Chase. I knew he looked familiar.
Kun Tha, I think I have your ears.
Hanging out with Papa at the park.

And my new personal favorite--her new crunched-up nose smile:

The Invasion!

We are taking our pups out to swim in a lake on an Air Force base today. Yes, us rugged Army folks and our dirty dogs will be rubbing our scents all over their pristine lawn. Carol, if you don't hear from me in 24 hours, please come see us at their SF station. Pictures to follow.

Baby Elephant Update

Elephants are sacred animals in Thailand. There was a pair of momma and baby elephants at a beach resort we frequented when I was little. We always played with them and considered them friends. Since I saw the video about the baby elephant at Oregon Zoo the other day, I've been glued to its website for the update on the baby. I'm so happy to read that he's doing great and is completely reunited with his mother! Now I'm addicted to the site and can't wait to vote on his name. I know, I should be taking a nap or vacuum the house instead, but I just can't help myself. It's those big yellow eyes and the sad cry. He's like a hungry baby with jaundice. Hmmm....

On to another monkey business, Chase gave me quite a scare yesterday. She started coughing all morning. It sounded dry and she was not at all congested. The first time she did it I just thought she had to clear her throat because that was exactly what it sounded like. Then she kept doing it again and again. So then I was thinking she might be choking on something (air?!?) or have a sudden onset of allergy attack (at this point I was furiously searching for dog hair in her nostrils and mouth while the child gave me a puzzled look). After a couple hours of worrying, I just gave up and realized that it was just a new sound she discovered that she could make. Joy. Later I took her to visit one of our neighboring friends, who also had 2 small children. Her youngest is almost 3 months older than Chase and gave my kid quite a fright with his mobility. He was hopping around in his jumper and banging his rattle against its plastic tray. All that movement and loud noises didn't sit well with Chaster, who kept giving me a grimace and a look her brothers gave me when they just had enough at the park. It was interesting to see her interact with another baby. I wonder if she would be that active in a couple of months.

My Daily Ritual

Everyday when I check my emails and you guys' blogs after Chase goes down for her morning nap, I find myself wandering to my picture folder to look at her baby pictures. I just can't help myself. My little Love is growing and changing so fast that I'm always amazed when I compare the little baby in the pictures to the gigantor child I just put in the crib. I don't think I ever posted these on here from her early day. Take a look!

I think this was her very first picture. She started to cry when the nurse brought her to the warming station for a clean up, so Wil talked to her and tried to comfort her. He later told me that she immediately stopped crying and just stared very intensely at him. Nice to finally have the face to go with that voice!

Her delivery was very difficult and it showed here. She was stuck in an angle, and although the vacuum assistance failed to bring her out completely, it did leave a rather noticeable lump that didn't go away for a couple of months. All that hair of hers was probably the reason the vacuum didn't work very well. Too bad a lot fell off already. I'm working on growing it back.

This picture cracks me up.

You can really see jaundice setting in, especially around her eyes. I just can't get over those cheeks!

I can objectively say that my kid is super cute even with a lopsided head and yellow eyes. No, I'm not at all biased. She looked very Asian when she was first born, didn't she? And it took me FOUR months to remember why I was so out of it on that day. They gave me Ambien! I hadn't slept in days and they sent me home with one in hope that I would get some rest before the real work began. I apparently took it right before going into active labor. Since I rarely take any kind of medication, and never a sleep aid, it completely wiped me out. I remember falling asleep in between contractions and waking up to scream when I was in the middle of it. What a weird day!

This Makes Me SO Sad

This makes me cry. I'd breastfeed him in a heartbeat if I could. Becoming a mother has turned me into a pile of mush.

She's Practically in High School Already

My darling baby Chase is 4 months old today. Every time I look at her, I see the little baby I carried home in April. I loved her from the start, but caring for her didn't come naturally to me. The first few weeks felt like a very involved babysitting job and her real parents were going to come and take her away. Now she's the reason I get up in the morning. There's no feeling better than going into her room just when the sun is coming up and getting that big smile that lets me know that she is just as happy to see me. She's starting to reach out for us now and my heart gets a little bigger when she grabs my face to give me an open mouth kiss--completed with drool.

Rattles are wayyy overated.

How does a baby say, "screw it, I quit?"

Check out my 4-month-old mohawk.