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Owies

So...we're starting to reach the age of owies.

People used to give me suggestions on how to get Mira to start to move on her own. Tummy time, certain toys to help her strengthen her muscles...and I would just say "She'll do it when she's ready." Of course she did some tummy time, but I didn't force her. And now I know why.

Why would I force my baby to be more mobile for the sake of doing it so she can be exactly perfect on the development scale when all that meant for us is the sooner she bumps her head and falls off chairs? No thank you, she has figured all this out on her own with only minimal encouragement on my behalf ;-)

Mira headbutted me this morning. And as I put my hand over my mouth and nose to recover and protect myself from another blow, I peeked over my fingers to see how she was doing.

That pouty face, oh that face. The lip went down, the eyebrows furrowed, and she gave me this look as to say, "Why mommy did you do that?" She cried for maybe 10 seconds, and then was back at it.

She rocks back and forth and side to side in her high chair when I'm trying to feed her. I literally have to put my hand on her chest to pin her to the chair for each bite or we risk the possibility of the spoon choking her as she lunges forward in an attempt to swallow the entire utensil. Not like that's ever happened.

The other day I had to take our toy poodle, Mopsie to the vet because she'd been throwing up for half the day. It was an unplanned visit, so I was a bit frazzled when we got there, trying to keep Mopsie from wrapping her leash all around the carseat as we walked into the office. We were ushered into a room where they have a bench for you to sit on and an examining table. I put Mira's carseat on the bench and gave her a couple toys to play with.

As Mopsie yipped and begged to be held while we waited, Mira started to cry because she didn't want to be strapped in that seat. So, I unbuckled her and let her sit up because I'm a nice mommy like that. HA.

The technician came in and started checking Mopsie out. Mopsie tried to bite her, and I grabbed her to hold while we spoke about treatment.

HOW IN THE WORLD I FORGOT MY BABY WAS SITTING ON A BENCH UNBUCKLED RIGHT NEXT TO ME I COULDN'T TELL YOU.

Next thing I know, Mira was on the floor. Yep, right in front of me, my baby leaned over the carseat and tumbled from the height of the bench to the floor. I don't know if she rolled, I don't know if she hit anything on the way down. But she was on the floor.

The look she gives right before the lip goes down and the tears well up...oh my it kills me.

I scooped her up as she started to scream and tears sprang in my own eyes. I know it looked and sounded all dramatic (just as it does now), but this was the first real fall she's had ever.

She was totally fine, I think it scared her (and me) more than anything. She got strapped back in, and we left mostly unscathed. The biggest pain either of us felt in that office came from the estimated vet bill for the dental surgery Mopsie needs. OUCH.

I laugh now when I play these things back in my head. And of course I know and have heard from countless mothers who've had worse happen. My mother, for example, got quite the shock when she heard a thump one night coming from my newborn sister's bedroom only to come in and see me leaning over the crib as I had picked her up and rolled her over the edge. She was on her back not making a sound because the wind had been knocked out of her. Apparently I wanted her to play with me. Needless to say, I got a well-deserved spanking for that one.

I know Mira is going to do way worse than this. And there will be blood. (Actually the other day she cut her thumb with her vampire-like little teeth and there was blood everywhere before I figured out where it was coming from.)

The one good thing I have to say that comes from owies is the cuddle time. Mira is constantly moving and never wants me to hug and kiss her right now, only when she sleeps. But when she gets hurt she's all over mommy (and of course I don't want her to hurt but I secretly love the cuddling that results.)

I love doing this. I am incredibly privileged to get to raise this beautiful baby girl, and that I get to stay home to do it. Tears, blood, pouty faces, and all.

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