I'm sure I'm not making a revolutionary statement when I say that I am probably one of the worst bloggers around. I'm working on being more consistent -- we'll see how that goes.
I'll tell you what has been consistent though -- this ridiculous "spring" weather. I'm about to boycott any form of a weather forecast and look out the window each day when I wake up. I'm really tired of watching the little sun forecasted for various days turn to clouds and then, inevitably, to rain. Ugh. I don't ask for much -- it doesn't have to be beach weather at this point, but a little sun would be nice. Needless to say it's been a bit of a trying time. Vera and I have gotten a lot of play inside time which is always fun, but I'd like her to get to know the outside world too. She's a little afraid of grass at this point and I can't really blame her -- the rain makes it really tough to get outside and play in the grass when you are 10 months old. And I may be just the slightest bit nervous too, I guess.
About a month or so ago we took Vera on her first visit to urgent care. The reason? She had a deer tick on her. We had spent the evening before outside (like the one nice day in the last month) and I'm sure that's when I got on her. Having the tick on her didn't seem to bother her at all, it was the removal that didn't sit with her too well. It's so hard to watch your little baby scream and cry and squirm but know that what is happening needs to happen for her well being. It was slightly traumatic for all parties involved. We were there around dinner time and so we just stopped at Wendy's on our way home so I didn't have to make dinner once we got home. Derek and I decided that we should get a frosty that all three of us could share -- because Vera would need a little treat for her rough evening. She of course was just fine once we got home and fed her some carrots and pears. And she loved the frosty. Probably could have eaten the whole thing if we let her.
For the rest of the evening and into the next day I wanted nothing more than to shield Vera from everything. And I mean everything. I didn't want anything to happen to her. I just wanted to keep her inside and safe forever.
But that is so unrealistic.
If I never let her explore, how will she learn? If I never let her fall, how will she learn how to get back up? Bruises, scraped knees, little cuts, band-aids -- those are all a part of growing up. If I deny her those things it's almost like I am denying her a normal childhood.
But it's hard. It's hard to know that she might fall and get hurt. It's hard when we are on a walk and it gets windy and I know it's blowing on Vera's face. I just want to go and cover her up and make sure the wind doesn't touch her. But then she can't see anything and I'm sure the walk would be no fun anymore.
I'm obviously not going to just let her climb all over the bricks around the fireplace -- some things need to be avoided out of common sense -- but I need to let her explore. I need to let her get out and see the world. I'll be right by her side while she does it all, but I need to let it happen.
And so, if the weather would just cooperate, I think we're ready to play in the back yard and get used to that grass.
