Olly Olly Oxen Free!

So last week I posted a traffic counter at the bottom of the blog and since then, Munch! has gotten over a hundred hits. I'm really very surprised by this since I've been lazy in promoting it and haven't proactively built backlinks. I do have a big Mormon family who took "be fruitful and multiply" and ran with it, but I still can't reckon that number. If you aren't a family member, please don't be too shy to comment if you've found my blog. You're very welcome here!

I've decided to post a Flag Counter at the very bottom of my blog to see where the heck you guys are coming from. It's going to be very interesting to see how many people from around the globe find Halle's little corner on the web.

Awkward Love

Halle is tickled PINK during Cole's daily affection time.

Cole keeps coming back to Halle for lovin' and I'm not sure why. I've never ever EVER met a cat willing to be stepped on and treated the way Halle treats Cole. She means well and I think Cole understands that, even when she's being knocked on like a door. She often tries to bury her face in her coat. She is fascinated with the cats because they're so elusive, so different from anxious Olive (our boxer mix) and her annoying, stinky kisses.

Boom boom boom!

This is just going to be a quick note about Halle and her first real thunderstorm experience. I was trying to not make a big deal out of the lightning or thunder so that she wouldn't be afraid of it. When she started rushing to my side, I couldn't help but acknowledge the loud crashes and turn it into something cute. I looked at Halle and I said, "Wow! Did you hear that? Thunder goes boom-boom-boooom."

She took to it quickly and kept playing, but would rush to my side everytime she heard thunder and would say "boo-boo-boo-boo!" with her hands raised in the air and biiig eyes.

If you see her soon, ask her to fly like a bird. Cutest. Thing. Ever.

I swear she absorbs so much everyday. She'll know how to disarm a nuclear bomb before her sweet sixteenth. So watch out for Halle, Iran!

Just Trying to Fatten You Up, My Pretty

It's not so much a weight thing as it is a nutrition thing now. Brad and I have been taking the easy way out and caving to Halle's trusted mealtime stand-by's for too long. It's gotten to the point where I have to call to her for another bite while she plays on the floor. As in, not in her high chair. So I did some research.

Not only did I find out that toddlers typically eat less than three meals a day, I found out that it's not the end of the world if she skips a meal. In fact, most toddlers should be eating a good breakfast, an "okay" lunch, and most will ignore 99% of the food on their plates at dinnertime. Oh, AND that nutritious snacks should be given on a consistent, non-grazing schedule. My world is shaking!

I also think I've been expecting too much of her at each meal time. A toddler's serving size is 1tbs per year of age or 1/4 of an adult serving per year of age. Wow. There's a lot of conflicting information out there, though. I think the average children's nutrition source will site the AAP, which has unrealistic expectations of toddlers AND parents of sci-fi proportions.

All that being said - does anyone have any meal ideas for me? Halle will not be fed from a spoon at this point, despises green things, and my blender doesn't work so well (so no, I can't puree things and hide them in sauces).

Bachelorette Party Necklace

Oh, the fun to be had with plastic jewelry!
Halle on her newest scooty vehicle. She's a good scooter, too! Gosh, she'll be riding a bike tomorrow, won't she?
The lovely hot pink necklace came from her Aunt Robin's bachelorette party. This is a rare stolen moment when Robin's angelic maternal lure bamboozles Halle during a minute or two when she clearly didn't have her wits about her. That Aunt Robin is a tricky little broad! They'll be "tight" one of these days.

The bachelorette party was a lot of fun! As foolhardy as I am, I was glad that it was tame and tasteful. Classy? Yes. Robin's BFF Hannah put a lot of time and thought into it. Here was the hilarious Event graphic from Facebook:

Local Politics

Okay, you can stop holding your breath now. I'm finally posting something political. Don't worry - I'm fairly certain that if you care about education and health care for kids, this won't offend you. I got this letter in my inbox today from MomsRising.org:

"This week we got word that the North Carolina legislature is coming up with some nutty ideas and that the budget debate is getting even crazier. The most recent budget proposal would reduce the state revenue target from $990 million down to $450 million.

That would mean $540 million more in cuts to early care and education, children's health care, and public safety.

We've also heard that some legislators are even beginning to slide on their commitment to raising any revenue at all.

So now is the perfect time to get your legislators' attention and to underscore that families support a balanced budget which raises revenue and makes judicious cuts. It's the best way to protect working families and also avoid prolonging the recession."

When Halle goes to school I want her to have all appropriate curriculums at her feet, and not just maths and sciences. I want her teachers to be motivated. If Halle is an advanced learner (I'm more inclined to believe this than..) or needs a bit of special attention I hope all of those options are available to her.

I also want the children in her class to be healthy, have their immunizations, and get the best care possible. I care not just because I don't want Halle to catch their illnesses, but because I believe all children are little angels that deserve at least a yearly check-up, at most basic health insurance. NOT that I would wish dealing with insurance companies on ANYONE...

I'm sending a letter to the News & Record editor, not something I often do, and I encourage other readers in North Carolina to do the same. MomsRising.org has an easy Letter-to-the-Editor builder. To send a letter within seconds, click HERE.

Finally, in regards to public safety I'd like to introduce an online tool from the GPD that tells you all of your neighbors' business. Hehe, just kidding! Although you can see who was arrested for what or where break-ins are occuring within 2 miles of any given Greensboro street. Warning: this tool may worsen paranoia! To check all incidents and criminal activity in your neighborhood, click HERE.

Thanks for reading this whole spiel! Here are a couple of cute Halle photos, thrown in for good measure:

Photo Credits: Papa Paparazzi (Grandpa)

Steppin' Out With My Baby

Halle's PETA-approved faux fur wrap.
How DOOO you do?

She's a dainty little thing when she's not playing with plastic dinosaurs and growling.

Also, this curious little plant has sprouted and bloomed in our front yard. At first I thought it was an okra plant - the little pods are shaped like okra anyway. I'm still not sure if it's a weed or if a garden fairy planted vegetables seeds to surprise us with. I don't remember throwing any food off the porch... anyone with botanical expertise in the building?

A Full Recovery!

See for yourself! Halle is back to being danced by Daddy.
Almost literally after I wrote that last post Brad gave me an update: "She seemed fine today."
It kinda makes me feel like Grover on the last page of The Monster at the End of This Book.

Oh I am so embarrassed...

An Update

At the doctor's office yesterday the nurse told Brad to add a degree whenever you take a temperature under an arm. I'm surprised that more parenting books don't mention this (they probably do) because really. Really. WHO has the patience and the heart to throw a squirmy, feverish infant over their lap and check their temperature in a very uncomfortable place?

Anyway. Her fever was actually at 102.9 when the nurse took her temperature through her ear. Brad said she was talking up a storm in the waiting room. I think rather than moaning and groaning her aches and pains... (keep in mind she was really out-of-it yesterday) that she may have been discussing her opinions about Elizabethan Gardens and kite-flying* with Mia, Grandma & Harriet all at once.

No, really, she is out of it. I've never seen her so weak and cuddly and pitiful. There were times when she was laying on Brad and watching television last night and generally BEING STILL when she would just frown and whimper. Although I melt like butter with sympathy and wish she felt as good as ever, I guess I am insensitive enough to say that I love this cuddly version of her. I KNOW! I feel horribly selfish for thinking it and I don't wish her any pain, of course. I guess sometimes being a needed source of comfort and having moments of pure affection is what puts beauty in the battles. The battles of parenthood.

There. That was eloquent enough to make me feel unselfish for a couple of minutes.

Gosh, get to the point, Rae!

Sorry.

We were instructed to collect a urine sample and keep it on ice. In our fridge. You know, where the food is? I'm not complaining, it's just that it was a surprise every time I opened the door. We dropped off the sample this morning and now...

it's just a waiting game.

I don't think she was nearly as hot as she was yesterday, but it's difficult for me to tell. I am hoping that it's just a tame strain of virus, like a really weak flu. It's apparent that it's not a cold and she does seem to have some of the more obvious symptoms of influenza such as fatigue, achiness, fever, chills, and watery eyes.

Another question has arisen: how big a mountain can a new parent make of a molehill? I do go on, don't I. I am hoping I can rely on my trusty system: the more I worry, the smaller the problem will be in actuality.

*She loves kites! Maybe I will get her one when this is all over with. I used to get a toy on sick days, too. Maybe it's spoiling, but isn't that a reflex when one's child is sick?

Trying Not To Be a Sissy

Mwah! We're instilling values of a healthy self-image.

Halle woke up with a fever today. She was awfully fussy last night and now we know why. Well, I don't know why yet but her fever is at 100.3 and she's sleepy, irritable, and won't eat. Do you realize how difficult it is for me NOT to look up every last crippling disease that her symptoms might be expressing? VERY.

To take my mind off of the first-time-parent-sissies (that's the scientific term for it, don'tcha know) here are some impossibly cute photos of my favorite little girl in the whole world.


If we'd had twins, they'd have their cute moments, too. I don't know if the world is big enough for two Halles.

Halle is 16 months old today, by the way.

What does a snake say? We're trying to teach her to say SSSSSS but she is convinced that snakes hiss with their NOSES. heh heh.

Postcards from Yo Momma

I've just discovered a wonderfully funny blog! It's called Postcards from Yo Momma and it makes me cringe to think that someday... I will be one of these Mommas! I love it so and yet I am very afraid. Here are some snippets of some of the kind of posts that wind up there:If the text is too small, just click on the box and it will magnify. My computer screen at work is deceptively large so it's hard to tell how the blog appears with differing resolutions and browsers.


Hehe, I think the most common response from a son or daughter has been "WHAT?" or something to that effect.

Pictures of Halle coming momentarily... oops! Left my cord at home. Pix tomorrow!

Movie Fun Time!

I originally intended this to be a post about the state of music videos and how artists don't seem to care anymore. Instead of boring you all with that stuff, I'd rather present to you The Feel Good Music Video of the Year! It's a fan video of "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear and is also an homage to the movie, La Ballon Rouge. This is my new favorite song and even if you hate the music, which I don't easily foresee, the video will definitely put a grin in your cheeks.


And now for your FEATURE ATTRACTION - Halle and her Shell Phone! Some of you have only seen the shy version of Halle. Rest assured, she is saving up her precious words for you. Any day now you'll call us and get an earful of this:

Amazing Nursury

I found this blog today and am amazed by this lucky little girl's nursury! Click HERE to see it. I especially liked the sign that says "Future Miss Arkansas". I'm going to try to make it a habit to post some of the really exquisite nurseries and kids' rooms I come across.

Peekaboo Pictures

As soon as I took this one, I knew I was going to "blog" it. Yes, the word blog is both noun and verb. This is random, but don't you just loathe the word "blog" phonetically? It's right up there with "swab", "moist" and "lugubrious".

Mommy can you pretty, pretty please post more pictures of me?

Before we get to the 10k watt smiles, here is a delicate-looking Halle wearing one of my favorite dresses!

I've discovered a fool-proof way to take great pictures of Halle - to surprise her! Yet another pocketful of smiles today.