Most of January volleyed between parenting a sick child and parenting while sick – neither of which is particularly enjoyable. Schedules were different and sleep was broken. It was a tricky month and I’m glad it’s now February and we can mentally wipe the slate clean!
But anyway, January memories:
Just an average morning with some bedhead hair!
At the start of the month, Ada started child care. Aforementioned sicknesses caused us to miss a few days, but all in all, she’s adjusting very well and seems happy. I love the pictures I get throughout the day of her making artwork, eating, and playing with this wooden walker toy she loves.
We made use of the Chicago Mom’s Swap Facebook group and Ada got a toy train that she loves to crash.
This month brought Ada’s first friend birthday party. It was at an indoor play place in the city (I never knew these things existed before I had a kid – why would I, I suppose – but they are very cool). This particular one had several walking toys and a mini kitchen. Ada loves mini kitchens.
January 20 was 60 degrees! This is a total anomaly so we had to make the most of it. I had a terrible sore throat, but I filled the diaper bag with lozenges and headed out with Ada to enjoy the weather.
We went to one of our favorite local parks. This one has four baby swings (key as those things are very popular), a rubber play surface (no mulch under the swings and equipment!), a fountain, and, most importantly, several ride on/walker toys that the kids share. Ada is just getting the hang of these things and can walk with them or scoot along if someone places her astride. It’s fun to watch her try new things and see different areas of the playground open up to her.
We end each day with a bottle of toddler formula. We started this routine when Ada tested low on her iron in early December (she’s doing great now, though, thanks, spinach omelettes!) and have continued because it’s become part of the bedtime process. We call it “shake-a shake-a” because you have to shake the powder in the bottle to prepare it. I want to remember how Ada beams when you say “shake-a shake-a” and shakes her hand to show you what you need to do. It cracks me up every time.
One of Ada’s favorite toys right now is my winter boot. She loves scooting along using it as an over-sized walking stick or dropping something into it and peering in to pull it back out.
At the end of the month, I went to Lake Geneva with friends. We’d been planning this trip (well, my friend Allison had been – she was the crucial element in making this happen!) for a month and I was definitely looking forward to some time away. I almost backed out when Ada gave me her pink eye (thanks, kid!), but I’m glad I was able to go. It was my first night away from Ada, which was odd, but I checked in on her and she did very well napping and sleeping through the night for her father.
We spent most of our time wandering through the stores in the adorable downtown area. I’d love to go back in the summer and spend more time on the lakefront path!