Good times and bad

It has been a long day here at the Murphy home as Sullivan has had some sort of fever virus for the last 24 hours or so. I stayed home from work today and we fussed, slept briefly, ate a little, attempted to play and then fussed and started the routine all over again. She has just not been herself today, poor thing. I think she is on the mend now...I pray that she sleeps well tonight as she has been fitful for a long while and not slept much at all today or last night.

The last week has been a a good one, as you can see in the recent photos. We had our dear babysitter, Mrs. Judy, come by; Daddy serenaded a jumping Sull with the guitar and mandolin and also attacked her tummy, which she adores; fun times were had in the bath tub; intense play sessions occurred as well as more fun with mom, but hey, as the photographer, I play the role of phantom.

Cups and a tantrum

Sullivan is changing so quickly and it is hard to believe it! She has now fully accepted switching to cups from bottles and I feel like we are leaving a part of infancy behind. This is a great thing and I am so happy that she took to the transition very fast, much faster than I expected. I was preparing for a two-month process...I think she really likes the independence that she has in grasping and drinking when she likes during a meal instead of sitting with me and having a bottle.

She has also developed a keen love for balls, especially the plastic ones from Walmart. I bought her a little care bear one (about the size of a grapefruit) and she adores grabbing it and letting it go and "playing ball" as we roll it to her and she "tosses" it about. So, we went back to Walmart the other day to buy another one. We approached the massive bin of balls and I searched for a small one and came across a medium-sized one with horses on it and gave it to her to see if she could hold on to it well. She couldn't, but was enjoying trying, so I searched for a smaller one. I found a nice Spiderman one and proceeded to switch the big one for the smaller one. Whoa! As I took the larger one from her, she began to wail like I have never heard her! This was a tear-less, frustrated scream from deep within and I swear this is the worst tantrum we have had yet!? Who knew!? A plastic ball! So, after about ten minutes of cuddling, a handful of puffs and a few sips of milk while strolling the toy aisle, we made it through the plastic ball tantrum! Whew!

Mama

Sullivan has finally fully incorporated that simple, yet deeply meaningful phrase of "mama" into her working vocabulary. Although she has said it before, now it is part of her constant babble and Ah! What a smile it brings me! It is really awesome to watch her learn each day and the simple joys she finds in watching our dog run around the yard, seeing silly faces from Daddy, enduring my ridiculous dance moves and splashing around in the tub. Having a child keeps one so grounded! When I become engulfed in deep thought about our economy, the abortion clinic down the street, challenges in teaching, etc., she has a way of really lifting my spirit and making me smile. Another of my favorite things that she does is her "singing." She "talks" and sings to herself as she plays or rides in the car or eats...it is really endearing.

Last week Lee went to Charlotte,NC from Wednesday night until Sunday afternoon for a medical conference and me and Sullivan had some serious bonding times at home, the park and downtown. We missed Lee so much and are thrilled that this weekend, in honor of Valentine's Day, Lee has taken off Friday and Monday and we even have a babysitter for Saturday night so that we can have dinner and more out on the town. Can't wait! Have a great Valentine's Day!

productivity

What a day! Surprisingly, I have tackled my to-do list today AND enjoyed serious family time. Is that possible? Never before, but today I am enjoying the high. Although Lee has been on call often this week (and tomorrow!) his nights have been light and we have thus had more time together on his days at home. This morning Sullivan and I braved 9:30a mass (a tough time due to the usual morning nap) and barely made it through unscathed. We then quickly rushed home to the crib for her to take a weird 11am nap. This made a nice transition to Lee's schedule. So, as Lee and Sullivan napped from 11-1pm, I scurried about making soup, sweeping, dusting, cleaning the bathrooms, tackling the laundry, etc. and had it almost all done by the time we were ready to enjoy the unseasonably warm afternoon by going downtown for lunch, coffee and strolling. Back by 4p, Sullivan took another snooze and Lee and I have enjoyed our warm fireplace and being together as a family on this very surprising, super Sunday. I hope that yours has been a good one.

3 good things

Last week was a long one for me...lots of things to juggle at work! Now, I feel ready to conquer this week thanks to a few good things that happened this weekend:
1. Fun time as a family with Lee off this weekend. We made fires each evening,had pancakes Saturday morning and he got up with Sullivan on Sunday and I slept in! Ah...
2. Visiting my friend Cammy and her new 4wk old, Lexie, in the photo above. How precious is Lexie! It is so hard to believe how much they change in 12mos! Sullivan also loved interacting with Cammy's little dogs, Ernie and Sammy. She loves animals more than both me and Lee combined!?
3. Sewing. Well, maybe not exactly "sewing," but I did (for the first time in my life!) re-attach 3 buttons on my coats and re-stitch a tear in another sweater. Who knew this simple activity with needle and thread could do so much good mentally and practically! I am embarrassed to say all this as my mom is an amazing seamstress...It is my own fault for not becoming her apprentice, but perhaps my season to sew is only now upon me. Before I never had an interest and my gracious mom never forced it on me.

Saturday friends

Sullivan and I got an opportunity to meet up with a few college girlfriends this past Saturday morning. Meghan, Michelle, Amanda and Laura came from near (Atl) and far (Boston and NC) to be together this weekend in Atlanta and they were gracious to meet us in Commerce, GA, for a little brunch. Here we are enjoying some good 'ole southern treats in the Cracker Barrel. Thanks girls for being so loving and patient with me and Sullivan! I had a great time visiting with you and I really appreciate y'all getting up early and driving to meet up with us! *Thank you!*

In other news, another friend, our Smokey, has a rude awakening coming to her. Her belated Christmas present: a shock collar. Our 1.5 yr old shelter dog, a lab-doberman-who-knows-what-else canine is mostly a gregarious creampuff, but packs a big punch with her 65lbs of youthful enthusiasm. The barking during dinner, running away when we open our gate to our driveway, jumping on people when excited, etc., has all got to stop for us regain some harmony with our pup. So, Lee and I have finally decided to purchase the collar and hopefully train her quickly (with minimal shocking) to create Murphy-Smokey utopia.

the trouble with teething...

is that for us it means a low grade fever, various and random bouts of writhing and crying/screaming, as well as an unusual amount of saliva and mucus emerging from nose and mouth. Whoa! The poor child!? We are only on tooth #2, which just erupted today, and there are how many more!? Thank goodness for Motrin and Orajel, our two best buddies during said episodes of pain.
I also had to hold her down by myself (Lee's on call) and try to use the nasal aspirator on her to help relieve some of this horrible winter congestion...So, between the aspirator, forcing the Motrin in via medicine siringe, and prying my Orajel-coated finger into her mouth to try to rub her delicate gums, I've placed her into her bed, turned on her humidifier and sweet-sounding crib aquarium and I'm hoping she'll forget the trauma she just endured from Dr..., I mean, Mom.