JoJo News
Some recent developments in JoJo Land.

First, she's started extending her arms fully to mean, "Pick me up!"  Well, sometimes it seems to mean that, anyway.  It definitely means, "I don't like my current status.  Change it!"  It's mighty cute.

This afternoon, I was changing her and I took a break in the middle of everything to wash my hands.  She was left waiting for the diaper.  (She's right there next to the sink -- don't worry, she's wayyyyy too wiggly to be left unattended.)  So she got impatient, extended her arms, and I said, "Oh honey, Mama is washing her hands, and anyway you still need a diaper."  She gave up.  Then a few seconds later, she peed everywhere.  So...okay.  If I'd have picked her up, she'd have peed on me!  Humph!

Second, the naps are going much better now that I'm darkening her room. SO much so that today she slept TOO long for her morning nap.  I went up after 2 1/4 hours, and she was still snoozing.  So I opened the blinds.  Nada.  So I made some quiet noise.  Nope.  I waiting 5 minutes and went back.  Zzzzzz.  Finally I just had to gently wake her. 

The result?  She was an hour late going down for her second nap, and boy was she hard to put down.  However, in the plus column, I successfully for the first time "wore her down."  And the nice thing about the sling I use is that it can be unfastened and slipped out from under her, so I can gently ease her out of it, hold her a bit longer, and then lay her in her crib.  But man, I had to use the paci and everything.  She did not want to nap, even though she was tiiiiired.

I've been inspired to start using the sling more.  I went for awhile without it.  Partially I stopped using it b/c it was so challenging to keep a newborn in a sling.  They're uncoordinated and you really have to keep a hand on them at all times.  Partially it was the baby blues, when I stopped doing a lot of things for no good reason.  (Tho' one thing I stopped doing when I had the baby blues was watching TV.  Like, nowadays I never turn the TV on.  Ever.  It's not like I was watching a ton -- it was just a snippet of Law & Order now & again on Tivo -- but we've moved into a totally TV-free zone.  I'm really pleased about that.)  (Oh, John & I watch Tivo'd stuff after JoJo goes to bed, but that's different.  And actually, we're so far behind on SG-1, SG-Atlantis, and House that TV watching has almost become a chore.  Huh!)

But back to the sling.  Today I took it with me to Babies R Us, and Johanna loooooved it.  She was completely patient while I shopped for a swim diaper for her.  Found an adorable one (photos coming).  I need it for two reasons.  First, John and I are going on a little getaway this weekend to San Antonio.  We're staying here.  Happy anniversary / Mother's Day to me!  Second, I plan to take the YMCA class for itty-bitty swimmers later this summer, when Johanna is old enough.  They require a swim diaper.

QUESTION:  Do you think it's weird to put your baby girl in just a swim diaper?  (Mind you, it's frilly & purple with butterflies on the butt.  And a matching sun hat.)  Or, do you think it's weird to put your baby girl in a bikini?  I'm from the latter school.  A 6-month old in a bikini reeeeally kinda bugs me.  But, being new to parenting, I have no clue what our culture's attitude is towards these things.  Thoughts out there?

OK.  Last but not least, I think I'm gonna pick up one of these kinds of slings, too.  For when JoJo gets older.  Her current sling is wonderful, but it's not going to support her for much longer.  The Ergo looks to be exactly what I need for when she's a litte tyke.  Which seems like it's coming much faster than I ever imagined....