How Is Adalyn

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People always ask us how the baby is. “Oh she’s awesome!” we reply, even if she is yanking down my shirt in public while Sheaff is picking up the bag of cherrios she joyously flung to the floor (where is Wallie when you need her??), as she squawks loud screeches that greatly resemble a dying cat.  Sometimes we have the coherency of mind to remember there is a world outside of our diaper-bagged, pile o’ onesies, toy-scattered bubble, and we actually ask how that person is doing in return.  Other times, I get home an hour later and realize I forgot to ask about their mom, or new job, or honeymoon, etc. One day, I will be thoughtful in a timely manner again.  For now, there should be a big orange blinking sign in the road that says “Expect Delays.”

I digress. I figured an easy way to start the blog is to answer the question, for those who do in fact want to know, How Is Adalyn. Sheaff’s response is, “She is happy and super-actively-great.” I asked if he had any other specifics and he looked at me blankly [see paragraph above].

To answer some of the frequently asked questions…
Does she sleep through the night? Most nights, the answer is a grateful, grateful yes, which we typically whisper while knocking on wood and praying vehemently to the baby gods lest they remove their Favor and smite us with 4am poopy diapers that are impossible to change without Fully waking her up. 

Does the dog do okay with her?  Wallie and Adalyn have a deal.  Adalyn can pull her collar, help- sometimes not so gently- wag her tail, fold and unfold her ears, throw herself onto her at any time, and even try her rawhides when we aren’t looking so long as Adalyn continues to throw mashed up bananas, cherrios, rice, and spaghetti down to Wallie from the high chair.  They are best buds, and frequently stand at the door together to wave at anyone who passes or to flip out when Sheaff comes home.


 Is she crawling. Yes, yes she is. She is a pro. She is also training to be the High Ropes Instructor for LC’s new climbing wall. She has her Granny’s affinity for speed, but particularly likes crawling through things, over chairs, onto shelves, into drawers, etc.  More than anything, she wants to crawl inside the dishwasher, and is thoroughly Pissed when we catch her before doing so.  She has taken a few steps without us holding her hands, but mainly that involves her closing her eyes and shrieking as she falls towards whoever is closest. She may look like Sheaff, but she got my grace and coordination.

 Does she talk? Well, she growls. It’s a Godfather/Exorcist type noise. She says Mama-Dada, and will throw in a cute baby babble here and there to throw us a bone, but mostly, it’s a mix of a werewolf and a language Sheaff calls Squawkadoodledoo.  It is high pitched and alarming.

 How much do the grandparents love her?  My guess is I could write a book on how much love this child has received from her grandparents, uncles, aunties, family and friends. But to keep it simple: Jane has bought out most little-girls-clothing sections of all major stores. Chris will wake her up at any naptime, despite my threats of violence, so that he can get his hands on her.  Granny (mom) swings by daily, just to “get her kisses” and teach her SO BIG and to crawl in circles around our house.  Pops (dad) has glasses and a beard, ergo he is better than Any Toy. He walked Adalyn to sleep for her nap at the beach, and a man told him as he passed by “You will never forget this walk.”  Dad had tears in his eyes when he told us, and squeezed mom’s hand tight while his head rested on Adalyn’s cheek, and that was a moment in which I knew what joy Adalyn brings them.  I feel the same when I watch Sheaff rock her to sleep at night.  Children find that peaceful spot in your heart and lay there, a heavy, content weight. [1]



I asked Sheaff to help me come up with some of her favorite things, and this is our list so far, that for which she will wave, jump, and clap with reckless abandon:
  • ·         Dogs
  • ·         Sunshines
  • ·         An opened fridge
  • ·         Stairs
  • ·         “Puff” containers
  • ·         Babies
  • ·         Pictures of babies
  • ·         Mirrors
  • ·         Newspapers
  • ·         Large trucks
  • ·         The lap top at Uncle Ty’s and Aunt Casey’s
  • ·         Electrical sockets
  • ·         Wallie’s food
  • ·         Things with wheels
  • ·         Piping behind toilets
  • ·         Books
  • ·         The Dishwasher
  • ·         Combs
  • ·         Name badges
  • ·         The dirt in potted plants
  • ·         Visitors
  • ·         Uncle Jordan video chat
  • ·         The ocean
  • ·         Bearded men

Stay tuned folks; it’s bound to only get better.

[1] Metaphorically speaking.  Adalyn does not lay still anywhere. 

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