The Cure for Baby Fever
Words cannot even begin to describe just how amazing Saturday's March for Babies really was. I was near tears just about the entire time, in great part because my team was comprised of some of the most amazing, caring, compassionate people Pittsburgh has to offer. It also didn't help that for as far as the eye could see, there were people who were walking to honor a NICU survivor, or who were walking to remember a baby who didn't make it. Team t-shirts often listed the names of those who were the inspiration for the walker, and each time I read a name and vital stats of a baby who had not made it, I was reminded that the effort our team had put into raising a little bit of money was more than worth it, if only it can help to prevent the same thing from happening to another innocent child.
Fortunately, amongst the members of Team Maddie, we had several very healthy kids. Walking with me was a absolutely healthy Miss Alexis, who was demonstrating her good health the only way that seemed fit to her early on a Saturday morning--she was in a fantastically bad mood. The very second a crowd started to gather at our team meet-up location, she buried her face in my leg and did. not. come. out. When I turned mobile and she ran out of places to hide, she switched to slapping a very lovely shade of cranky all over her face. She kept it there for two solid miles of the walk.
Then, suddenly, she decided it was OK to have fun. And she did. She completely flipped her bad mood upside-down and started having a blast with The Girl, just as she has the other times they have hung out. She had so much fun with The Girl, in fact, that by the time we sat down for lunch, Alexis had completely forgotten that I existed. For the first time in her short life, she actually sat at a different table than me, and didn't care one bit.
Until I stole the best-looking member of the Sportsocracy family, that is. Oh yes, the minute I snagged the uber-cute little man, suddenly I was the center of the universe. Both Alexis and The Girl gathered round to play with he-who-still-smells-like-baby, and the jealousy dripping from Alexis was visible to everyone in the restaurant. She carried it well, though, and mostly just played it off as, "I want a baby brother."
Of course, she's been very dedicated to wanting a baby sister, so I had to drill her about it. She continued to insist that a brother would be OK, and then I asked it. The question. I asked, "How about if we just take this baby home?"
She looked at me, her head tilted sideways, and she thought long and hard about it before finally saying, "OK!" Her eyes betrayed her mouth though. She really didn't like the idea of sharing me for another minute.
Fortunately for Miss Alexis, a certain WAY too cute for words little man started fussing. I LOVE being able to give kids back when they are unhappy, so I handed him right over and Alexis crawled up into my lap to reclaim her territory.
Ever since then, I have continuously messed with Alexis' head and asked her things like, "Should we go pick up that baby brother today?" Each time, the answer has been a very resounding, "NOOOOOO!"
Who knew baby sister fever could easy be cured by a few minutes with this guy?
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Reader Comments (22)
He's adorable!! And so is Miss A, even with a pouty face. Glad she perked up though.
Aww, look at her pouty face during the walk. She's just too much.
I'm so pleased about your walk. Congrats X infinity. You did great work. I wish I could've walked, too.
I should have done a test run like that with my Rocco... or at least given him some kind of warning. To this day, he's not so sure about his 17 month old baby brother!
Oh goodness, that cranky face is Hilarious!
Promise me you will pull that pic out of Alexis ate her wedding. Her future husband ought to know what face to look for when it's time to GET OUT OF HER WAY!!
Hallie
Lushie was in love him. That is a fantastic photo.
See that's why I'm proceeding with Kid # 2 while Kid # 1 is too young to remember that he was, at one point, the only kid. Since he'll be 2 and 4 months when Kid # 2 is born, he won't ever remember being the sole recipient of attention. That's my theory, anyway. He can just have a dull sense of anger but won't know the real reason. *snort*
@Spoon--The very second Teaspoon starts sleeping through the night, I'm stealing him. Yinz Team makes some freakin cute babies.
Oh, he's adorable! And Alexis's pouty face? Too cute for words! :)
...Makes me want to get number two out of the way before number one realizes he was ever the only one.
Ta-da! I finally finished reading the entire archives! I have to admit: I was kinda hoping for a reveal about a new Penguin fan who would be joining your fam. Yes, I am totally on Team Alexis re: the whole baby sister thing. (Because strangers caring about whether or not you have more kids is NEVER annoying!)
Anyway - I've enjoyed your blog so much! Reading your stories about Alexis has helped me see my youngest (also 3) with new eyes. Now, if you could magically send me more patience, I promise you'll be my very favorite blogger. :)
LOL
It's amazing to me that with a really cranky, almost "I might just bit your nose off if you come any closer" face, Alexis still manages to be one of the most gorgeous little girls I have ever seen.
@Katie in MA--I think I have a crush on you. ::blink::blink:: My archives? THE SUCK. But, thank you.
Project #2 is on hold for now, at least until Child Protective Services lets go of that silly idea that you can't keep a baby in a storage shed 10 miles from your house.
Both of these pictures are incredibly adorable!
My son has mixed feelings about his baby brother. Sometimes he'd Craigslist that baby if he didn't need my help getting on the Internet. Other times, more often, he really thinks he funny and loves him a lot.
Oh I was so in love with that little guy. Had my daughter seen him, she would have gladly relinquished her role as the baby of the family. But not when she was 3. You are the center of her Universe, and she knows that it is vice versa too. :)
Oh I love that photo of Alexis!!! And the little one? It doesn't matter what type of face, how cranky, how miserable a little baby is...just seeing one starts igniting that urge for more! Crazy, because when I was in my 20's, I was so far from being a "baby person" it wasn't even funny. Now I can't get enough!!! The more the merrier for me!!!
So cute!!!!
What a cool experience!
So wait, your saying that even a parent you still great join in giving back other people their children...thats is my favorite part now, and I just have one in the oven...I AM SOOOO GLAD TO HEAR THAT!!!!!!
I just want to point out that if all kids were as adorable when cranky as Alexis, there would be a huge baby boom. What a great pouty face!
Funny how a couple minutes with Jack has cured her desire for a baby sister, but every time I look at him, I want another one!
@Burgh Momma - What if you kept Project #2 at our house? Okay, we'll even take Alexis and feed her plenty of sports. Except, um...we're from Boston. (You know where that is going, right?) ;)
@Katie in MA--Dude, Alexis was born to bleed black and gold. She just barely made it home from the hospital for the Super Bowl victory, but she did.
And Pens hockey? She did that. Totally.
If only she hadn't taken her dedication to Pittsburgh sports so far as to include the Pirates . . .
I love it.