Papaya Mom

Sometimes when I am with Papaya I wish I could freeze time and take a
moment to write a poem about her.

I’m inspired by her every day. She now crawls and she’s gone from a
few short movements to reach a toy to all-out climbing through
furniture in a matter of a week. Her little muscles are amazing as
she flexes them to push her little rubber body through contortions
that make adults wince. What could be more fun than resting your
foot on your Mom’s shoulder as you nurse from the breast on the same
side? Why chew on toys when your toes fit so easily into your mouth?

Bath time is usually Dad’s time, a chance for Mom to have time to
herself to write in her blog at the end of the day. The other night,
I had the honor. She was sweet, her soft fluffy hair begins to curl
at the hint of warm water in the air. When her hair is wet it almost
disappears and her eyes get pink when water touches them. Her
eyelashes get dark and beautiful when wet, as if she had the makeup
we would pay millions for. The muscles in her back are strong as she
pulls herself to standing on everything possible; Mom’s knees, the
couch, the side of the tub. Her little toes curl as she flexes to
maintain her position, her sweet hands grab with all their might.

Sometimes out of the corner of the eye she sees my breast, it is like
a magnet. She forgets what she was doing and moves open-mouthed
towards me. Although I have yet to try it, I’m sure she’d be willing
to nurse upside down. I am forever grateful to the bond that nursing
has given us, and the seventy pounds it helped me loose after I gave
birth to her. I look back at that first exhausted moment when I
nursed her, I was so worried it would not work or she would refuse
me, and now I am over the moon at the health it has brought both of
us. Looking back I’m emotional even though at the moment I was
overwhelmed.

Being held; she loves it of course. It is the only thing better then
being worn, ooh, being worn and nursed at the same time. That is the
jackpot! Sometimes when she is tired she’ll lay her head down on my
shoulder and rest….just a moment. Other times she’ll even fall
asleep on Adventure Dad or I, these moments are magic. Then she’ll smile at
you and push away with her arms, at the same time gripping me with
her feet.

She has the sweetest little look when she falls asleep in my arms.
The dribble of milk on her cheek, the almost-closed eyes, the
adorable mouth so relaxed. She cuddles into the crook of my elbow so
sweetly and wraps her arms around mine. I handed her off to Adventure Dad
so he could take her to bed, and I miss her already.

She is the most amazing little creature. I feel so blessed to be the
witness to her life, her every tiny growth and amazing detail. Her
ears, her toes, the small of her back when she rolls over naked on
the changing table, oblivious to my dire need to cover her before,
well, you know what! She is creative and determined and smart and
beautiful, Adventure Dad and i are obsessed even more than I ever thought
possible.

Just thought I’d share.

Popularity: 12% [?]

After a GREAT workout this morning with Julie (my partner in pregnancy, crime, and the like) I met up with Dad & Adventure Dad. We allowed Papaya to nap, as if we could have stopped her, and then headed into Seattle to take my Dad to the Russian Submarine Tour and Metskers Maps.

Ooops. The Russian Submarine that used to be right next to the ferry terminal moved to San Diego. How dare they? After three years of living here we finally made it over to take the tour and damn….nothing but a red star painted on the dock. Hmmm. So, off to Pioneer Square. We perused galleries, one I enjoyed had very vibrant paintings of women which Adventure Dad saw as “unfit” for Papaya’s bedroom due to the naked women. Since she will someday be a naked woman in her own room I see no need in give her the idea that a strong happy naked woman is something to be ashamed of. It was a fun conversation, I was of course right, but the painting I wanted was $9000 which is a BIT out of our price range. We stopped in at Elliot Bay Books and drooled, I wanted every book but could not decide on one. I do need something good to read soon and I don’t want that Oprah book about someone getting sober his own way that is so “life changing.” I suffered through my years in AA and have no intention of self help for those without self control any more. Humph.

Metskers Maps had moved to the center of humanity in Seattle, Pike Place Market. It was busy but I found parking, the parking gods were given my name by my grandfather who had the family luck in parking. Between that and my skill at parallel parking I am a parking godess, it is when I’m driving and the wheels of my new-ish car almost fall off that I’m in trouble. So we went to Metskers and bought Papaya a stuffed globe and complained that when Africa is at the center of a map Hawaii is too far off to the edge.

Dinner at Ivars was a treat and we enjoyed the ferry ride home as Adventure Dad read aloud to Papaya and I from his Palm Pilot. It was the translated letter of a Al Queda leader that was distributed Navy wide, but he and I had a few fun tats back and forth over motivation and strategy, and of course I got a few good jabs in at Bushy Pooh.

Off to bed…

Popularity: 12% [?]