====================================================================== ========================== ======================== ======================== PEBBLES PRESS ======================= ========================== ======================== ====================================================================== ``The Straight Poop on Heather'' 9 December 1994 Vol. 1, No. 3 Editor-in-chief: Heather Contributing Editors: John & Marie Fashion Editor: Aunt Susan -- MOTOR DEVELOPMENT UPDATE ************************************************** ************************************************** *** EXTRA! EXTRA! *** *** READ ALL ABOUT IT! *** *** AMAZING SITTING BABY! *** ************************************************** ************************************************** That's right, Heather has finally figured out how to sit up from a lying down position! She's practically mobile, folks. (Well, okay, she still can't crawl to save her life, but I'm sure she will... someday.) She managed this feat once or twice last week, but yesterday morning she pulled herself up to sitting on the changing table, and then last night when I put her in her crib at bedtime, she rolled onto her tummy, pushed up onto hands and knees, pushed back into a split (ouch!), and sat up! Now she can't get enough of it. Last night I heard her crying at around 2:30 (unusual for her) -- I went in, and there she was, sitting in her crib, looking completely befuddled as to how she had gotten there. This morning she must have sat up twenty times -- every time she fell or leaned over too far, she'd just push herself right back up. Whee! -- TRAVELIN' BABY In early November, Marie and Heather went to New Orleans for several conferences -- and Grandma dJ volunteered to come along and babysit! In her words, "as long as I keep her moving, she's fine." I think Grandma wore out a couple of pairs of shoes walking Heather all over New Orleans in the stroller. We had a wonderful time, though -- lots of good food, boat rides (including a fantastic swamp tour, where we saw a real live baby 'gator in the midst of hibernation season), a zoo visit, a streetcar ride, a trip to the aquarium, and many, many sleepless nights. (Yes, the trip did disrupt her schedule just a tad...) When Heather can't go to the grandparents, the grandparents come to Heather! Grandma and Grandpa Park came out for a week before Thanksgiving to spoil Heather silly -- and what a great job they did! Despite being home with her *all day every day* for the entire week, they were surprisingly lucid on their departure, though they did seem to have a touch of Heatheritis (a complete inability to stop saying, "she's so cute!" (in Korean, of course)). For Marie's birthday, John planned a (wonderful, of course) surprise trip to St. Orres, a B&B in Gualala (coastal Mendocino County). We had a private cottage all to ourselves, and had a great time driving up the coast (in the rain!), hiking, shopping, and going to fancy restaurants and showing off Her Highness. This baby is cute enough to stop traffic (again with the unbiased maternal opinions!). Everywhere we went, people cooed over her, and she was VERY well behaved, even at the fancy schmancy restaurants. She's getting really good at feeding herself bread and small pieces of food, so we can keep her entertained that way for quite a while. Oh, and from the lighthouse at Pt. Arena we spotted a whale -- the first one the docent has seen this season. Heather even attracts animals! (Remember the 'gator?) Unfortunately, partway through the trip she developed a bad cold with a nasty cough and a bit of a fever. After keeping her home on Monday, we took her to the doctor on Tuesday (she got a clean bill of health -- no ear infection, no fluid in the lungs). By Wednesday, she was back at day care, if not back to her usual cheery self(*), and today she seems to be completely recovered. (*) Yes, that's right, her usual cheery self -- sometime in the last couple of months, somebody took our fussy baby and left a happy one! She still has her moments, but the joy quotient has increased substantially. Hooray! -- ALL THE POOP THAT'S S*IT TO PRINT Whoa! You should have seen the one she generated yesterday morning! BIG?! I should say so! Of course, Daddy wasn't home to share in the joy. I'll get him for this. (He did, however, change ALL poopy diapers during my birthday weekend, so he can't be all bad.) And then there was the day when she set the all-time record at our day care of SIX poops in one day. Just trying to keep those disposable diaper companies in business! -- BABY TALK Heather has become more and more verbal. She makes all kinds of word-like sounds, mixed together in long sentences. An example of a recent statement from Her Highness: bada hebla inga hebrrr ga! Notice the "Heather"-like word, "hebla" (usually pronounced more like "heh-thththththth," with lots of spit. "Mama," sadly, rarely appears in her vocabulary. (I think she's saving it for her first real word.) On Thanksgiving, she had a difficult time with all of the new people, and was particularly bothered by Bacchus, Jeannette and Ashok's golden labrador. At one point, he came into the room, and she looked fiercely at him and screamed "ba! ba!" at the top of her lungs. Translation: if you don't get that dog the hell OUT of here, I'm going to lose it! -- FASHION The eight-month birthday was skipped in favor of advance Christmas purchases. Speaking as a December baby, I can state emphatically that this "combined birthday and Christmas present" concept is NOT appreciated. She did get a lovely birthday package in New Orleans from her grandma (see "TRAVELIN' BABY"), primarily focusing on cute pajamas and warmer one-piece outfits, in preparation for the chilly East Coast holiday visit. Of course, she acquired some new togs in New Orleans, notably several t-shirts and a sweatshirt that's MUCH too big for her, so she's just going to have to grow FAST! Aunt Susan really outdid herself this month; here, forthwith, is the FIrst Occasional Guest-Edited-by-Aunt-Susan Fashion Column *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* Here it is time for Christmas, and of course, time for Christmas shopping. (Needless to say, MOST importantly, time for Christmas shopping for Heather. Any Jewish subscribers, please feel free to substitute "Hannukah" for "Christmas" throughout this column.) Anyway, I'm sure you're all wondering "oh no, what kind of clothes should I buy Heather?" Don't worry, I'm here to help. And if you really can't decide, anything size 8 women's, made of wool, down, or fleece, and ready for cold Michigan weather would be appropriate (she of course, plans to donate all such items to her worthy, and soon to be frozen, Aunt Susan). In order to help, we've decided to interview the princess: [that's EMPRESS to you, bud! --HdJP] Aunt Susan: Heather, we all know you're cute, but what clothing items do you find both attractive, yet functional? Heather: "Gah" S: You say pajamas are one of your favorite outfits but you can always use more. Which type do you prefer? H: "Goo" S: Long sleeved with snaps at the crotch. How practical for those messy diaper nights (see All the Sh*t That's Fit to Print). Are you still that slim 6 month size? H: "Ah-Gah!!" S: No insult intended I'm sure. 9 bordering on 12 months reflects a healthy appetite and good nutrition. Your mom must be proud. I know (as does my credit card account) that your wardrobe is virtually complete. Tell me, what else are you looking for to complete your ensemble? H: "Ga, Goo Gah, Ah-Goo" S: Long sleeved shirts (that snap, for those frigid California winter nights), pajamas (ditto), and anything purple and/or with dinosaurs. Well I think that about sums it up. And remember, shoppers, when you're out at those pre- and post-Christmas sales, the desJardins shopping slogan: It's not how much you spend, it's how much you SAVE. That's it for me. Time to shop. Aunt Susan, Sartorial Consultant to Her Majesty *-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* -- CARDS AND LETTERS After the last issue, where it was revealed that cards and letters would actually be PUBLISHED, a distinct reluctance to contribute to this column was noted. Please be aware that our editors are only too willing to remove all identifying information from your missives if you so request. So don't be shy -- speak on up! -- STAY TUNED for more exciting motor and cognitive developments, and maybe even a tooth one of these days (yes, Heather is still the gummy toothless wonder).