Twas Brillig!

Mardi Gras has come and gone. I held back the tears as the floats drove by. The parades were semblances of normalcy. The city has grown out of panic mode and stands poised for its next course of action whatever that may be. Pickup trucks still outnumber permanent residents but the population along the river continues to grow while the rest of the city remains dark.

We had out of town guests for the festivities this year and many of our New Orleans friends returned as well. It was harder to watch them leave this time as time spent with them reminded us of what we've lost.


What began as my pregnancy journey sometime in November of 2004 has become the journey of two people. I have no fewer than three written journals in addition to this blog; one for myself; one for Adelaide; and one that gets traded back and forth with a close friend. Although this blog has been a great way of recording the past year, I would like to devote more time to my written journals. I want to thank every single person who took the time to comment on my blog. I also want to thank other online moms, some of whom I started to refer to as my "imaginary friends" when talking about their posts to The Husband especially Alfred's Mom, Ali, Banal Drivel, Beth and Catbird.

Thanks for reading and best wishes especially for those of you expecting your own bundle of joy!

Luv,
Kelly

Dear Adelaide: Month Six

Dear Addy,

Last night we put you in your crib and sat in the living room with the TV off giggling at the sounds coming from your room. You love to "sing", especially at 3 AM. You also smack your lips and make "B" and "P" sounds. One of Daddy's co-workers said that babies are great, just don't ever teach them how to talk because they never shut up. I don't think that we have much choice in the matter.


You've slept all night in your crib only a handful of times. Unless the house is freezing, we tuck you in around 9:30 PM but you seem to make your way into our bed either at midnight or 3 AM - if you are in your crib past the witching hour then you are golden. Gone are the days of sleeping in as you're are bright eyed at 7 AM sharp and usually do not see the need in a morning nap. It's been an especially rough few days with you as you cut your first tooth and more are on the way.

During the day I try to get some housework done but we also go on long walks with our new friends. It's incredible to watch you interact with other babies. You love them so much and give great big smiles when they are around. Your father, the kitties and myself are the only other ones that can command such adoration.


It could be my imagination but after playing with a couple of eight month olds you have since refused to lie down when not asleep. You insist on sitting all of the time and rarely do you want to merely sit on my lap. You want to practice sitting up and you're getting rather good at it. When I put you down, I surround you with a wall of pillows to prevent the rage that spews forth if your head meets the floor. You are still not interested in rolling over. You've done it once or twice but apparently have found no use for it.

After six months we still don't know your hair color. Is "calico" acceptable?

I was ashamed of myself a few nights ago as I became one of those mothers that I always frowned at - I brought you into the French Quarter after dark. However, it was for a good reason (your first Mardi Gras parade - Krewe de Vieux) and we did not go onto Bourbon Street. Furthermore, I was only drinking hot chocolate. This month we also brought you to a hotel bar (The Columns), a poker game and a Superbowl party. Please don't use this against me later when you want social services to take you away.


The first of two great changes in the last month has been your keen interest in the world around you. You have been alert from your early days but not since week number seven have I noticed such an increase in how you take in your surroundings. I have to fight with you to keep your hands away from cups, hair and eyeglasses. The second big change is your developing relationship with your father.

Daddy likes to hang you upside down and you enjoy it! If I were to try something like that I'm sure that it would be followed up with a lot of screaming and vomiting. You've become much more comfortable with him and give him sly grins and giggles. On mornings that we drop Daddy off at work, he comes to the back window, taps on the glass, you turn your head and he waves "goodbye". The other morning you anticipated this sequence of events and turned your head and smiled even before he tapped on the glass. It was such a small moment but it made me all gooey inside.

Love,
Mommy

Big Pimp'n'

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Open Letter

Dear America,

If my daughter needed a hat, I would have put one on her when we left the house. Isn't it enough that she is wearing socks?

Love,

Kelly

"I'm a different kinda cop!"