Well, yesterday Lily hit 2 months. She's snoozing on my shoulder as I sit here on the couch, so it's a perfect opportunity to update the journal. First of all, she's growing, natch. I took her to the doctor on the 18th, and she weighed in at about 11.5 lbs, and 22.5 inches. This is right along the 50th percentile, which is consistent with her growth from 0 - 2 weeks (the last time that we visited the doctor).

Since I'm still on the fence about when I want to start her immunizations, I didn't have any done for now. The doctor gave me an information sheet with each immunization shot, and the purpose and such. I have a few books that appear unbiased coming at the library, so I'm hoping that helps me determine which ones are actually needed. The doctor was very receptive to my concerns.

I read this article a few weeks ago, and thought it was fairly creepy and intrusive-sounding. Lo and behold, when I filled out the intake forms (or whatever those are called) at Lily's appointment, there were questions about how often I used a car seat, and whether I have guns in the house (and if so, what kind). From the article, it seems like something recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. I get the car seat since accidents are the leading cause of death for children (car accidents taking the lead). But guns? I think on the list of things that kills kids, accidental gun death is probably way down the list. I read that adolescents were more likely to die in an accident sustained while playing football than by accidental gun death. I'm not too worried about it; I'll never let a doctor or nurse be alone with my child until she's old enough to call bullshit on overly-intrusive questioning. Still, I thought it was very interesting to see that question on the intake form.

Last week two nurses and two doctors commented on Lily's AMAZING FABULOUS NECK STRENGTH! Heh. So, since she was born, Lily has had great control of her head and neck. It seems to be the most common thing people have noticed about her since her birth. She's been pushing her head way up on her elbows when I lay her on her tummy, and has managed, with the help of her legs, to push herself about a quarter of the way over toward her back. It seems that turning over is the first "big" milestone, so we'll see when she gets there.

My favorite thing about her, though, despite her freakishly strong neck, is how alert she seems to be. When I have her in my front carrier, if she isn't tired, she refuses to lie against me and enjoy the ride. She pops her head up as high as possible and starts whipping her head from side-to-side, taking in the view. I have a photo to post (which I will as soon as she wakes and I can put her down for a moment) to show. She throws her eyebrows up and opens her eyes so wide she nearly looks alarmed at her surroundings. It's amusing to me. Then again, it's my baby. Most everything amuses me about her, including the way her mouth looks when she's wailing.

For the first few weeks, I put her in the Amby each night to sleep. I've gotten lazy, though, because she fusses a lot less if we keep her in our bed, just on a sleep positioner. I'm conflicted about this, and as much as it pains me, I figure I better get her back in it soon. But OH IT IS SO MUCH EASIER.

I have trouble thinking of stuff to sing to Lily to soothe her to sleep. Yesterday, I was singing Elliott Smith songs to her, and it occurred to me that while Elliott songs are pretty, they're not exactly kid-friendly. Send the poison rain down the drain/To put bad thoughts in my head, but "Miss Misery" just sounds so pretty!

I guess that is about it for now, Lily-wise.

As for me, I've been reading some music magazines I picked up at Barnes & Noble, because I feel really out of the music scene lately. I'm excited because I'm supposed to be going to The Pipettes show coming up, and I've been guest-listed. I know the keyboardist from an online community of which I used to be a part, and he invited me to the show a few weeks back. A show, AND I don't have to pay. This fits into the new post-me-working Hale budget nicely.

I started Weight Watchers on Monday, and so far I haven't managed to eat all my points yet each day. I'm really trying, but most of what we have around here exceeds a reasonable meal/point amount, so I get frustrated figuring out what I want to eat and then just give up. I used to eat constantly when I was younger, and I was heavy to show it. I got pretty sick at one point, and lost about 40 lbs from my highest weight, and stayed within about 15 lbs of that weight for 8 years or so (some years I was up, and some years I was down). At my lowest weights, I was always sick or depressed, and didn't eat a whole lot. Now I feel like I'm not eating a whole lot because I'm lazy. I need to get it together, though. Gotta keep the breastmilk plentiful.

We rented Knocked Up and it is still funny.

That A Fine Frenzy chick isn't really my style musically, but I covet her hair FREALS.

Guess that's it for now. Thanks for reading this fairly lengthy entry!