Makes a mother's heart jump

Maeve has been testing her limits (read: mine too) lately. Mostly with gravity and the basic forces of physics. Being the responsible parents that Mark and I are, we ask that she limit her chances of disaster, knowing that we will still encounter many downfalls.

This week has been particularly hard. First mishap of the week was a back arching tantrum about getting in the car. This brought her sweet little eye into contact with the car door and now she looks like Rocky Balboa. Not such a good look for an 18 month old.

Then there were lots of falls in between, most of which produce some sort of small mark - a badge if you will. Like the blister on the heel of her right foot. This from insisting on wearing too small shoes. They were cute, but come on. I'm hoping not to teach a daughter that it's always about fashion and maybe not always about comfort either. If I ever catch her wearing Cobbie Cuddlers I'll just die. Earth shoes on the other hand, I say rock on.

All those badges that she is wearing led to questions at her regular check up that Mark took her to. It didn't take Mark long to realize that he was being questioned about her safety - thankfully they believed that he is just fine.

Last but not least this week (and it's only Wednesday) was her fall off the highchair. Now I like to think I'm reasonably calm for a first time parent. I've been through plenty of falls myself, so I usually don't get all pumped up about Maeve getting hurt. Watching your daughter fall straight back off the top of the highchair onto her head though was enough to send adrenaline through me. We tell her all the time, "on your bum or on your knees." As she saw me witnessing her tempt of fate, she quickly tried to sit, but sitting on the back of the highchair is not enough to hold that big diaper butt. Backwards she went and as fast as I was moving, I still didn't get her in time. She cried for a bit as would be expected, but then kept crying, which is out of character for her. I was busy making dinner so I put her in the backpack and kept making the falafel. Maeve kept whining on and off over the next 20 minutes and I figured her head just hurt - mine would if I fell like that. Then came the vomit...all over my back and neck. The nurse in me did not care I was covered in puke, all I could think was she had a hemorrhage or swelling of the brain and I started doing neuro-checks. Pupils equally reactive, she is responsive, balance is good...check, check, check. Thank goodness.

As it turns out she probably had some adrenaline coursing through her too and it didn't agree with her stomach. After it came up, she stopped crying and all was well. She resumed playing with Silas and wanted nothing to do with me. Sam later came over to check her out and cleared her. It certainly was a lot faster than sitting in the ER.

I'm sure we'll be there before long, just glad it was not tonight!