One and a half years

Seriously? She's only been here for a year and a half?

I remember my life before Jane. But it is more of a hazy memory when I try to recall it with my darling daughter wrapped in my arms.

It's true what is said: "The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." -- Rajneesh (pilfered from a fabulous lady (that's right, la-dy) Tamara's blog).

Every day it hits me hard how absolutely wonderful it is to have these two tiny beings in my life.

I'm obsessed with them. Is that wrong?

Every morning I retrieve my darling from her crib, my heart fills with joy. I could watch her all day. (Actually, I do.) And I could spend hours rocking her when she as she sleeps and feel her warm little body pressed against me, head buried into the crook of my neck and her arm tightly locked around the other side of my neck -- it just fills my soul.

But beyond that, this child is into everything. And I mean everything.

All day, I hear "shoes, shoes." It's a never-ending crusade to get me to put her shoes on.

Some of her other causes? Her pursuit to get out the door. I have round doorknobs and this escape artist can open them. She's learning to unlock. Scary.

Relentlessly getting Lane and I to read her books is another daily constant.

But her heart's fondest desire? Elliot. Or, as Jane says, "Baby Elli". She knows right where he is at every moment of the day. Forget laying her down to sleep until she's said night-night to Elliot. Jane's got a lot of love and a big heart, but Elliot has usurped most of that heart.

And we made our monthly trek to Dr. C's office ... this time for Jane.

I proudly exclaimed that she was walking the minute he walked in the door, but no balloons or streamers fell from the ceiling. Disappointing.

According to her measurements, Jane actually shrunk a little, but Dr. C seems to believe she hardly grew and one of the measurements was off. Lane was less than convinced and is acting slightly concerned.

Again this doctor asked for the number of words she is saying. Seriously. Who counts the words when there's a slew of new ones every single day? Is he aware that the only time she isn't talking is when something is in her mouth or she's asleep?



Height: 32.5 inches


Weight: 27.8 pounds