We got it! We're sure to have the Happiest Baby on the Block!
I'm convinced that the steady stream of supplies that made their way from our next door neighbor's basement to our nursery upstairs came to an end only because we took flight to California. In fact, the last donation showed up after we left and is waiting for Meadow when we get home. Our parting visual was of our happy neighbor waving goodbye with her son and her adorable daughter, sure to be Meadow's role model, sitting in our lawn and waiting for our return. It's an understatement to say they've been supportive.
Is she not the most adorable neighbor ever?
Meadow is so lucky!
One of our borrowed gifts from the south side of the property line has yet to prove it's worth, but sure inspired us this evening. We were warned that watching The Happiest Baby on the Block might scare us a bit since "there are a lot of crying babies." Still, we braved the unknown and popped it into the DVD player tonight.
I'd guess that it took a mere five minutes for me to shed a few tears...of excitement, of fear, of sheer oh-my-god-edness! We've been living in a world of 2 and 4 year olds. It's hard to remember how small a newborn can be. When we saw the babies in the movie and they were fresh outta da womb, it just jolted me back into the reality of who's to come. And, she's really little.
Now that we've seen how to wrap her up like a burrito (or what looks more like a straight jacket), flip her over on her side (but only a slight angle more than vertical towards her belly), shoosh (unexpectedly loud) in her ear, jiggle (but not shake) her little head and last, but not least, plug her pie hole with a pacifier (or a finger if you are desperate), we feel 100% prepared to end all sleepless nights.
Okay, just kidding. But, it's another good set of tools to have in our arsenal. And, it gives us hope that we can manage what we're signing up, submitting lots of paperwork, spending lots of phone calls talking about and prepping a nursery for. After all, if those kids next door are Meadow's competition for the happiest baby on our block, we've got to work some magic. Wish us luck!
