[1]

Growing pains are real. Or something is real. Violet is not unhappy overall the last two days, but neither is she, oh, SLEEPY. She requires physical comforting to remain content or, say, ASLEEP. For 48 hours, she has required constant holding and has preferred to sleep in chunks of no more than ten minutes—and since this does not count as sleep, I want to say that for 48 hours she has slept only 5-6 hours total. She frequently lets out a short burst of pained crying, and it doesn’t resemble the crying she did when her stomach and gut were upset. Nor do other symptoms point to a gut problem. (BTW I tried going two days with no milk and noticed no difference, so I think if she has food issues they originate elsewhere.) But the point is, WHY IS THIS BABY SO AWAKE AND ALERT GRANDMOTHER YOU DID SPOIL HER HOLDING HER ALL THE TIME!

[2]

A rant: Old crones who say things to a new mother like, “That baby’s too little to be out,” or “It’s too hot out to be walking such a little baby,” are obnoxious, and by obnoxious, I mean ignorant and rude and presumptuous and mean. New mothers are insecure enough without having to hear from old hags in public places who make false assumptions about the care of a baby they see, a baby who is none of their business and who, by the way, is extremely well cared for. I wish I had the nerve to say, “And you are too old and judgmental to be opening your stupid, old, judgmental mouth.”

[3]

Lest you think I am grumpy, I hereby celebrate that bath time has become a wonderful time! See for yourself!

Also, the extreme cuteness continues to be extreme.

[4]

I have watched some good things lately. So I recommend …

[a] Dexter—we are partway through the first season on Apple-TV, and I have never been so sad to see an episode end, nor so eager to move right along to the next episode. Great!

[b] Breaking Bad—interesting characters and premise, and some great acting (a lot of “turns” that shouldn’t be believable, but are, because Bryan Cranston somehow pulls them off). Can’t wait to find out what happens next.

[c] No Country for Old Men—Yes, it’s great, etc. etc.

[d] Michael Clayton—I liked this better than “No Country,” actually. I was just more entertained and moved during this movie, and it’s challenging/engaging to keep up with the plot.

[e] Meet the Robinsons—I can’t believe no one ever mentioned this movie to me. HOW! CUTE! And truly funny.

On a related sidenote, Apple-TV has changed my life, and I’m luxuriating in the fact that my husband works in the industry we’ll umbrella-ize as special-effects/movies/gaming so that we “really must,” in order for him to remain “up” on his industry, have this Apple-TV and Blu-Ray player and surround-sound. Sigh. The burden of maintaining one’s career!