rock-a-by lady

Sun, 30 Nov 2008 23:49:45 -0800

The Rock-A-By Lady

The Rock-a-by Lady from Hush-a-by Street  Comes stealing; comes creeping; The poppies they hang from her head to her feet And each hath a dream that is tiny and fleet --- She bringeth her poppies to you, my sweet,  When she findeth you sleeping!

There is one little dream of a beautiful drum ---  "Rub-a-dub!" it goeth; There is one little dream of a big sugar-plum, And lo! thick and fast the other dreams come Of pop guns that bang, and tin tops that hum,  And a trumpet that bloweth!

And dollies peep out of those wee little dreams  With laughter and singing; And boats go a-floating on silvery streams, And the stars peek-a-boo with their own misty gleams, And up, up and up, where the Mother Moon beams,  The fairies go winging!

Would you dream all these dreams that are tiny and fleet?  They'll come to you sleeping; So shut the two eyes that are weary, my sweet, For the Rock-a-by Lady from Hush-a By Street, With poppies that hang from her head to her feet,  Comes stealing; comes creeping.

- Eugene Field

just bobbing

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:52:01 -0800

It’s a movie day! Avery’s just been getting better and better at her tummy time and we can’t help but show her off! Sorry it’s so blurry in patches ... our camera gets a bit hyper when it comes time to film and can’t seem to settle down and focus on the task at hand. Kinda makes you think your eyes are going wonky. Don’t worry ... it’s not you.

three months

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 00:08:26 -0800

Avery is three months old today! She’s a girl who likes to wiggle and kick, coo and squeal, stand strong on her legs, hold her head up high, and sit contentedly in a warm tub. She likes being sung to ... talked to ... hummed to ... shush-shush-shushed. She loves to be held (so we will hold on tight while we can), loves to rub her face all over Daddy’s, and loves the feel of her hands on her face - fingers spread wide (some may say they’re ‘jazz hands’). She’s a funny little sweetie-pie and we just love her to bits. Happy Quarter-Year Baby!

why so busy thou?

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:21:57 -0800

The Cottager to Her Infant

The days are cold, the nights are long,
The North wind sings a doleful song;
Then hush again upon my breast;
All merry things are now at rest,
Save thee, my pretty love!

The kitten sleeps upon the hearth,
The crickets long have ceased their mirth;
There’s nothing stirring in the house
Save one wee, hungry, nibbling mouse,
Then why so busy thou?

Nay! start not at the sparkling light;
‘Tis but the moon that shines so bright
On the window-pane
Bedropped with rain:
Then, little darling! sleep again,
And wake when it is day.

- Dorothy Wordsworth

in that tree sits a chocolate cat

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:03:26 -0800

Remember when I started my little project of collecting sleepy-time poems and I suggested that Avery was in a little bit of a fussy phase? Ya well ... a potential culprit has been unearthed. Chocolate!! Remember this other post where I happily blabbered on about a new chocolatey, slickery sweet, good to eat treat? I have been eating WAY more chocolate than I usually do. I’m actually much more inclined to salty snacks usually (well, maybe that’s why I love that treat - because there’s salt sprinkled on it!). Add to that: chocolate milk, chocolate ice cream, chocolate muffins, hot chocolate, chocolate mint sticks, chocolate chip cookies ... etc. THEN, I was watching the Mom Show as I sat there feeding Avery and whaddayaknow - chocolate can be a nightmare for breastfed babies. My rare craving (no I’m not pregnant again) = one very cranky and unconsolable baby.

Since my revelation, I’ve cut back on the excess chocolate treats and she has settled right down - at least back to regular baby fussiness, which in her case is pretty mild anyway. We still read her sleepy-time poems, and Goodnight Moon ... twice ... and I still do enjoy our happy little routine.