Monday, November 3

A Doting Mother

Have you ever met one of those crazed Must Cover the Baby people? You know, the ones that dress their newborns in five layers of clothing, then stuff them into a snowsuit, wrap them in blankets, and shove them in a car seat with one of those Nifty Covers? They are the same people that lose sleep trying to make sure that the kid stays swaddled 24/7 then fuss every time the temperature drops below 50 degrees, constantly worrying that the kid is not warm enough.

I am not one of those people. Alexis just has never been the kind of kid that wanted to be covered. She fought swaddling tooth and nail which was fine by me. So what if she wanted her arms out? When Alexis was born in late January 2006, we didn't even have a winter coat for her. She went home from the hospital in a sweater, and the lack of a coat issue wasn't resolved until the next winter. I just didn't see the point in buying a winter coat for a month or two. I figured the nifty cover for the car seat was sufficient, and the fact that Alexis was always a sweaty ball of hot fury just reinforced for me that I didn't need to bother with several layers. To this day the kid sleeps in sleeveless night gowns that tend to flutter up around her waist and positively refuses to keep covers on herself. I figure if she's cold, she'll seek out a blanket. Not worth my stress.

So, you see, I am not responsible for this:



No, it is not me who is the Heat-Conscious Helicopter Mom. That dubious honor would belong to none other than the stalker formerly known as Alexis. She is CONSTANTLY monitoring Cody to make sure he is adequately covered. If he so much as twitches, Alexis rushes over to adjust his blanket. The poor little guy doesn't seem to mind the never-ending doting. It's a good thing, too, because Alexis isn't willing to listen to the voice of reason. You know, the voice that keeps telling her he has a fur coat and REALLY doesn't need a blanket. Or, for that matter, a pillow. I'm also pretty sure he doesn't need tucked in with his stuffed dog.

I think it's safe to say that Alexis will not have to admit to turning into her own mother. Not yet, anyway.


35 comments:

  1. I can not get over the cuteness! To. Cute. Must. Look. Away;)

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  2. First! and second:)

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  3. Oh, and that should have been Too. Cute:P

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  4. Awwww! What a patient pup and a cute doting mommy.

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  5. That first pic looks like he's saying 'what have I gotten myself into?' .

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  6. Anonymous6:12 AM

    I have a pic of our dog with this totally defeated look on her face. Sitting in a dolls pram (buggy?) wearing a bonnet.

    And my girls grinning manically. Waiting to feed her a dog bone made of Playdoh.

    Dogs are amazing. I would have swiped her upside the head by now... ;)

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  7. she is too funny! I am with you - if they are cold, they will find a blanket. As for the dog- at least he is patient with her!

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  8. Adorable! You are really convincing me that a Havanese is my next dog. I love that he and Alexis are bonding so quickly. That's a great sign, and it will teach her all kinds of good lessons on caring for others. Just maybe not with so many blankies.

    :-)

    Peace - D

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  9. He is just the cutest dog ever. :) Sorry. I can't get over how cute he is.

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  10. What a sweetheart! She is totally in love, isn't she? Poor Meg must be jealous.

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  11. @jen--Meg is starting to get jealous. Last night she parked herself in my garden and refused to move, and I'm sure it was a spiteful act.

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  12. I am not a lover of hairy dogs, but he is darling. And no, I don't want one.

    I am not a Cover The Kid kind of mom either. It was 30 below 0 when Becky came home from the hospital. She was wearing a sleeper, and 3 blankets. (They hadn't yet invented those fun car seat covers yet.) I still don't insist that my kids wear hats or gloves.

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  13. She is SO DARN CUTE!!!!!

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  14. Anonymous9:01 AM

    I think when/if she becomes a big sister, you will have your hands full. Smooches.

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  15. Anonymous10:51 AM

    holy cats, that's adorable. The dog, too, but Alexis doting on him. That's is beyond cute.

    Bun tucks in her stuffed animals and dollies. Wonder how she would do with a puppy...

    No, no. Never mind. I will leave the dogs, puppies, and adorable-ness to you and Alexis. Enjoy.

    ciao,
    rpm

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  16. precious. both of them!

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  17. That kid just keeps getting cuter!

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  18. How cute! Little Miss took care of our new puppy for all of 3 minutes. The cat, she still carries it everywhere and does everything for it after 9 months. Hope they continue to get along so well.

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  19. So cute. My dog loves to be covered. She constantly has to be under the covers. If she's not, she will bug the crap out of you until you cover her up. Does Alexis want to come over and keep my dog covered, it would save me from going insane.

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  20. She is so cute!

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  21. My kids all kick their covers off, AND sleep in nothing but underwear (which drives my mother crazy - she buys PJs at every opportunity)

    That dog is still the sweetest thing! Alexis is a good little mommy. ;)

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  22. I stopped fighting a long time ago with my sons about the whole coat thing. I have learned that they are, in fact, not cold...maybe because they're boys, but they seem to radiate this heat even when it's frigid outside.

    BUT...my mother is Italian and is horrified if arms, tummies, ears, and hands are not covered properly when the weather is cold. The only time my boys will consent to a coat is if Nonna is here...respect and all that.

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  23. I never swaddled. I also rarely put coats on the kids - especially since you're supposed to take them off before you put them in the car seat. However, I spend all.night.long putting blankets on them. I just can't stand it! If I'm not covered head-to-toe, I can't sleep. My mind can't comprehend how anyone can be comfortable without covers. So, I'm sorta that mommy. I can see Alexis's need. Really.

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  24. Anonymous1:44 PM

    Too freakin' adorable. Both of them!

    I second the coat thing - Maren was January 2007 and did just fine with the car seat cover. Cooper was born in southern California - he was nearly 2 before we every put him in a jacket!

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  25. She is sucha good little mama :)

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  26. Eeeek, the cuteness!

    I am pretty much the same way with my kids. Alyssa was born in early January 2006 and was early so we didn't even have clothes that fit her. I did do the swaddling. But, she would wake up all.the.freakin.time if I didn't. But, I didn't do it to keep her extra warm!

    Even now, my 8 year old will put on flip flops when it's cold outside. I just tell her I don't wanna hear any complaints about being cold. Alyssa walks around in a diaper like it's summer. It's just whatever. Being cold doesn't make you sick so...

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  27. Anonymous6:52 PM

    Morgan was born in early January 2006 and she left the hospital in a sleep sack thing in her carseat with the Bundle Me thingie. Never had a winter coat that first year. Senseless to me.

    She, too, never wanted to be swaddled or covered up. She just recently started using a blanket in her crib at night and even then, it's usually off of her when I go in to check on her before bed.

    The second picture? KILLING me!! The intense look of concentration on her face is entirely too much :)

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  28. Stop with the constant cuteness!! You're killin' me over here!! AHHHHH!

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  29. Granilla is total "baby cover syndrome" guilty. She can't stand seeing Sumo without socks (which, of course, he rips off immediately) and walking around barefoot. She can't stand it when he goes outside (in 70 degree weather) without a jacket.

    She's crazy as hell.

    That is all for now.

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  30. cuteness factor ... waaaaay high!

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  31. I am so not one of those mom's either. I have one of those car seat covers, but the Baby goes right in there with what ever he is wearing. No coat.
    Many people don't know this..but kids/babies wearing heavy winter coats under car seat straps is unsafe. You can never get them tight enough, and if you are in an accident the winter coat will compress and now the straps are too loose and the baby/kid can be ejected from the car seat.

    Puppy.too.cute.

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  32. Alexis was born in Jan and winter was over two months later. Oh, hahaha, you are SO not a Canadian. I pretty much hate you!
    Those nifty car seat covers, a must have here!
    So jealous...
    ps. that Cody is sure cute and Alexis is making a wonderful puppy parent!

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  33. They are so adorable! Nothing like a girl and her dog.

    Mine little girl refuses to keep covers on. If ever I try to cover her when she's not completely asleep, she freaks out. If she is asleep, she will kick it off while she tosses and turns. Not a big deal to me, so I gave up long ago. They don't all need or want to be bundled. I'm totally with you.

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  34. Poor Meg. It must be hard for her having to compete with so much cuteness in the house.

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