Vanity

When it comes to running, I am extremely vain. I wonder how I look to other people. Does it look like I'm going fast or slow? Do I make it look easy or can they tell I'm huffing and puffing? Do I look determined or do I make weird faces? Can they smell my B.O? Can they tell I didn't shave my legs?

I prefer people not watch me run. I feel like my privacy is invaded. My running time is my me time. It was impossible to be alone while running in Provo, but I got spoiled here in Arizona. Very few people are up early here on campus, especially in the heat. The worst is sharing the track. If people drive, walk, or ride by, no big deal, though I'm still self-conscious. But when others are running or walking, I tense. In addition to my vanity, I get a little competitive with runners close to my pace. And then I wonder if they notice I've quickened my pace. And if they did notice, I wonder if they've quickened theirs too. Yeah, I'm crazy. Vanity makes you think and do silly things. What brings out your vanity?

You Can't Catch Me!

Caden is crawling! He figured it out the first Monday night in May. He only crawled for a few seconds before dragging himself again. Then the next day he did a funky crawl-with-one-leg-and-drag-the-other thing. Wednesday he didn't have much time to practice because we ran errands all day, but by Thursday he was pro! Now I spend half the day chasing him because I forget to close doors and check on him. I'm not used to him being so mobile! He is not so fast as he is sneaky. Then last week Thursday he started doing the gorilla walk, crawling on his feet instead of his knees. He's really fast at that. He looks like one of those spiders that walk on water. When he decides to take a break, it's really funny watching him sit. He sticks his bum way out and then plops down. If I call, "Come to Mama!" he crawls really excitedly to me.

Ever since he became mobile he has been a little troublemaker. He loves opening and closing drawers. He's only hurt his fingers once. The other, funny problem was if he was sitting and opened a drawer all the way, his fat thighs would get stuck underneath and he couldn't close the drawer without scraping them. He also likes to close his bedroom door and then cry because he can't get out. This is a problem because he likes to stay by the door and I can't open it without hitting him. His favorite thing to do was pull out all the movies from our bookshelf. The time had finally come for a new entertainment center. We got one at IKEA and bought doors for it. He was so mad he couldn't get the movies anymore. So he moved on to the other bookshelf and took down all the books. I didn't think he could reach them. Well, one day he fell and bumped his cheek. He has a nice little bruise, and the bookshelf is now empty in the laundry room. Now if only I could get him to leave the shoes alone! If it's not one thing it's another.

Caden can pull himself up to a standing position and loves to do it using anything, even boxes. He can stand on his own for a couple seconds, but grabs onto something because he doesn't trust himself. The other day he was pushing the laundry basket around--only a few inches before he fell. It was so cute! Once he figured out how to stand up in his crib, we lowered it. There is no middle setting, so the crib is really low and looks more like a prison now, but he is safe. He is just dying to walk! I help him walk around the house sometimes and he loves it and gets upset when I stop. If I try to sit him on his bum, he won't bend his legs so he can stay standing. This kid is really stubborn and has a little attitude: he shakes his head violently when he doesn't want something.

We also got a new bumper. Both bumpers are jungle themed and were bought at the thrift store for $2.49!

Caden is so dark now from the sun hitting his legs in his car seat. I have to remember to put socks on him so his little feet won't get burned. We run all our errands in the early morning before it gets too hot and poor Caden toasts in the back seat.

First time in shoes! You can see the bruise on his cheek.

Caden had his first strawberry a couple weeks ago and gobbled it up. He has one every now and then as a treat. I have to stop him from inhaling it, he loves it so much! He also eats puffed brown rice as a snack--melts in his mouth, super cheap, and no additives or preservatives, only rice. Caden's bottom right tooth is coming in, resulting in a very cranky, gnawing baby. Also, look how thick his hair has gotten!

I can't believe my baby will be nine months in a week! I know I always say that with every age, but it's true. He won't be a baby for much longer. Go here for more photos.

What's in Your Shopping Cart?

Whenever I go to the store, it amazes--and slightly disgusts--me what I see in people's shopping carts. No wonder Americans suffer from obesity and a cartload of other health issues! On a typical shopping day, not when I'm restocking shelves or grabbing something I need for a specific recipe, this is what is in my shopping cart:

• 100% whole wheat bread (Nature's Pride is my favorite)
• mild cheddar cheese
• nonfat milk (though Justin prefers 1%)
• instant brown rice
• white rice (long-grain and Asian)
• fresh fruits and vegetables, including salad and lots of onions (we put them in everything)
• frozen vegetables
• non-sugary whole grain cereals (such as Corn Chex)
• water bottles
• orange juice, with pulp
• pasta (not whole wheat)
• nuts, sometimes raw, sometimes roasted and salted
• Kashi granola bars
• spaghetti sauce

Other foods I frequently purchase: chicken, eggs, corn and flour tortillas, canned tuna or salmon, macaroni and cheese, Progresso soups in winter, Campbell condensed soups, chicken broth, canned beans, salsa, sour cream, yogurt, Mighty Mango Naked juice, ground beef, smoked sausage, tofu, canned pineapple, canned olives, mozzarella cheese, peanut butter, jelly, crushed garlic, soy sauce, tortilla chips, flour, sugar, popcorn, raisins and other dried fruit, potatoes (Idaho, red, or sweet), hummus, and plain old-fashioned oatmeal. As you can see, we don't buy much packaged/snack food. When we do get junk food, it's usually Double-Stuf Oreos or ice cream/popsicles. Sometimes Justin will buy himself soda. And every few months we'll bake cookies or brownies. What's in your shopping cart on a typical trip to the supermarket? What junk foods do you buy?

p.s. Just because we don't buy or make lots of junk food, doesn't mean we're really healthy either! We buy desserts at fast food places or restaurants a couple times a month. And this doesn't include all the goodies at ward activities, baby showers and other parties, friends' houses, holidays, etc.

Follow-up

So last night, we got Caden to bed, but he awoke shortly thereafter. We let him play for another hour, I rocked and sang him to sleep, and took him straight to bed with us. He slept great all night. Of course, I woke up frequently out of habit, but I did get rest. Then today he fell asleep on the way home from errands for both his naps and stayed asleep for an hour and a half each time. I'm thinking (and hoping) Zombie Night was a one-time thing and that whatever was the problem has passed. And if not, I bought teething gel (I'm sure it's not an ear infection). I guess I'll find out tonight!

On another note, I see that none of you have entered my current giveaway! Perhaps because you were unaware of it. The prize is a cute brooch/hair clip in the color of your choice, a $13 value. Go here to enter before it ends on Friday!

Night of the Living Zombie Mom

If anyone wants to be in a real-life zombie movie, stop by my house. I play the leading role, with cameo appearances by Justin. Caden plays the screaming victim. I have no idea what is up with him! We were doing great with sleep day and night. Then a couple weeks ago teething pained him, which made him wake frequently and cry, but he would easily fall back asleep. Now nothing will console him, and I don't know what is bothering him. Last night I was up for 2 hours. He went to bed really early and slept for nearly 3 1/2 hours before waking up, but after that it was a nightmare. I nursed him to sleep and he slept for an hour. Then I got him back to sleep again, but he woke up 20 minutes later. Then for the next 2 hours he wouldn't stay asleep. Every time I put him in his crib he cried. I took him to bed with us but he was wide awake. I let him fuss in his crib for a little. Then I took him potty to see if that would help. I finally got him asleep and tried laying down with him on the couch. He woke up crying miserably. Ok, that usually works. So I tried falling asleep sitting up with him in my arms. I couldn't, and he was wiggling in his sleep, so I tried lying down again. Nope. He freaked out again. I lost it and just started sobbing, which woke Justin up. He sent me to bed and took Caden, miraculously getting him to sleep and putting him in our bed without Caden waking up. Even after all that, Caden woke up at his usual 6:30. I nursed him back to sleep, but he only slept for another hour.

I am not a happy camper. Today, I tried getting him down for his morning nap. As usual, he fell asleep easily, but woke up after I put him down. I was not repeating last night, so I said, "Too bad!" and didn't try again until 1 p.m. when he was really cranky and tired. I am not playing anymore games with him! If he doesn't want to stay asleep even after I indulge him with nursing and rocking and singing, then I am done! He either doesn't get to nap until later or he can fall asleep on his own. I still haven't decided what to do about night time though. I'm thinking if he is as ridiculous as last night where nothing will please him, then the only thing left to do is let him cry it out. I hope it doesn't come down to that because that will drive me insane as well!