Speaking of things that scare me...

The other day I wrote about how I am scared pregnancy will leave me with permanent brain damage. Today let's discuss another of my very legitimate fears, my daughter's hair.

Like most expectant parents, while anticipating her arrival, Dingle and I spent hours talking about what Lily would look like. What color eyes would she have? Who's nose would she get? Blah blah blah. There were several features we sort of hoped she wouldn't get, mainly her daddy's gigantic dumbo over-sized ears and my dreadful hair. Can you say double whammy!

I have written about my hair before and those that know me will attest to it's fineness. I have never met anyone with finer or thinner hair...until my daughter was born. Let's just say, I see tears and thousands of dollars in styling products in our future. Luckily for Lily I have picked up a few tricks along the way for dealing with our hair's unique unmanageability (yes I just made that a word, it works. go with it). Unluckily for Lily she didn't just get my hair...she also got her daddy's fabulous double cowlick. What the hell is a double cowlick you ask, allow me to introduce you to what I call "The Perfect Storm". Be afraid.

As you can see in the above photo my daughter's hair grows in from the back of her head in TWO different swirling directions. Matt has something similar however his swirl in the same direction. I have absolutely no idea how to tame this beast. No matter how I try and brush it, inevitably I am "forcing" some of the hair in a direction it was not meant to be.

If the perfect storm was her only issue I wouldn't be as afraid. Add to the ridiculous swirling effect that she only has about 100 stands of hair total, that each strand is baby fine, and every morning without fail her hair looks like this. *Warning what you are about to see is not for the faint of heart*

Yes, those are the makings of baby dreads. Every single day. The friction of rubbing her head on the crib combined with static from the dry air twists her delicate strands into intricate knots that stick straight off the back of her head. When she sees me coming at her with the detangling spray and a hair brush she runs screaming in the other direction as I yell "...but it smells like watermelon!!"

We all live in a constant state of fear that one day her hair will become immune to the detangling spray and will succeed in its plans for world domination.

Constant fear I tell you. 

Warning, gratuitous cuteness ahead!

Lily and I went to play at Vicki and Griffin's today. Having just come from a fun-filled music class the kids were both in great moods...at the same time!! Vicki (whose full name, according to Lily, is "not mickey mouse just vicki") took some adorable pictures of the kiddos during a snugly moment. Fair warning, the cuteness is out of control.

http://griffinhendrix.blogspot.com/2012/01/lily-griff.html

Will I even remember my own name??

I am beginning to worry that pregnancy will leave me with permanent brain damage. Maybe it already has, AND maybe you've been thinking the same thing too, but are just too polite to say so. Although I have to admit, that seems unlike you. I have come to accept that it is entirely possible that I am the last to know just how stupid I have become. What is that saying, ignorance is...something...you know...that thing...oh yeah, bliss.

When I was pregnant with Lily I had a few classic "pregnancy brain" moments.

School was the worst. I habitually lost my keys and left my water bottle everywhere. More than once I walked all the way to the main office to make photo copies only to discover that I had not brought the worksheet with me...not the end of the world, until...I walked back to get the worksheet, back to the office, made the copies, walked back to my classroom only to discover I had left the copies sitting on the machine!! Are you FREAKING kidding me!?!? Oh and there was the one time I left my car RUNNING in the parking lot. Luckily, a coworker thought it was odd and called my room to ask me why. Why was my car running?? Not a clue.

People at school teased me constantly, it was all just so unlike me. At the same time I think they thought it was endearing, poor stupid April and her pregnancy brain.

The symptoms did not completely go away after Lily was born, but I blamed that on the pressures of new mommyhood and gave myself a pass. I started to make lists and became compulsive about checking for keys, pacis, wallets, phones, and sunglasses...which were usually perched on my head.

Now that I am more than half way through yet another pregnancy, I am starting to become legitimately concerned about my short term memory. An hour from now I will realize I never hit "publish post". Some days I wash my hair twice in the same shower because I honestly can't remember whether I did it or not. I walk aimlessly around the house from room to room, only upon returning to the couch do I realize I had originally gotten up to pee.

And now for the punchline. I just spent 3 or 4 minutes telling Matt a story about Lily's music class only to realize that he left for work 30 minutes ago...and yes, I had kissed him goodbye.

This.is.bliss.

Overheard

Listening to Lily's pretend play has got to be one of the funniest things I have ever heard. Her imagination, coupled with her crazy vocabulary, is just too much. Here are a few excerpts from her morning play!

While playing with her little people farm:


"Pig, ride goat all way home, wee wee wee!"


Farmer to cow, "What cow say?" 

Cow, "Baaaa" 

Farmer, : "No, ha ha. Night night silly cow!"

"Don't get me goat! Don't get me goat!" 

While playing with her toy kitchen and feeding baby girl lunch:

"Baby girl eat fish and cheese!" - mmm fish and cheese my favorite


"Eat apples baby girl, noooooo cookie"  - how many times has she heard that one!


"Be a nice girl" - hmmm


"Baby girl not all done!" - can you tell we struggle with meal time?!?

2011 Wrap Up, Hello 2012!

My blog's official birthday actually passed a couple of weeks ago with no fan fair to speak of, the irony of which will surely not be lost on those of you who know me. In a belated celebration of my blog turning one and as a way to welcome in the new year here is a list a my 10 most popular posts from the past year!

(in no particular order)

A Semi Finalist!

Food Fight!

How I feel about all of this today...

A letter to the grownup fairy

If she wants more she'll tell you

A series of unflattering pictures

Boy, OH BOY was I wrong

A story involving a cart corral, oh boy!

She does her little turn on the catwalk!

Birthday top 10

A huge thank you to everyone who reads my blog. Amazingly our little page has had over 5,000 page views in the past year! May 2012 bring you all nothing less than love and laughter. With a toddler about to turn two and a baby on the way, I am sure the laughs will keep on coming here are growingupmaine!

We have big plans for you 2012, watch out!