Melina's first plane trip

Just got back from a short vacation in Nevada, where we met up with Jeff's dad and stepmom. Despite several near disasters, we had a relaxing and fun time.

The first near-disaster came just as we were leaving to go to the airport, and I realized my car key had broken in half - there was just a short stub left on my keychain. Jeff found a replacement key in the basement and we managed to drive to the airport. However, once we got there we realized the replacement didn't open the trunk, where all our luggage was stowed. (It just occurred to me that the key must have broken off after we packed all our things in the trunk!). Jeff had disabled the automatic trunk latch, so I had visions of missing our flight while we waited around for a locksmith to arrive. Luckily we managed to get in through the passenger seats, and we made it comfortably to the gate.

At the gate, we were picked out for a special security check. This meant that they had to go through all our bags, which were full of baby food, diapers, toys, and all the myriad accoutrements of a traveling baby. It also meant they had to frisk Melina, our little terror suspect. She took it well, holding out her arms to the security lady to be picked up. Then she grabbed her badge on its elasticized cord and snapped it back in her face. Way to go, Melina.

On the plane, Melina entertained a family of women behind us and spent most of the time trying to crawl around in the aisles. She didn't seem to mind the takeoff and landing, although she studied the safety card extensively.

In Vegas, we got a free upgrade on our room at the Monte Carlo (probably because they knew Melina was a high-stakes gambler), so we enjoyed a very nice luxury suite. Melina napped, and Jeff went downstairs to find us food. He came back with salads from McDonalds, which he was destined to live off of for the next several days. I have to admit that their new salads are pretty good.

The next day (after Melina's naps) we found a Whole Foods market, where we stocked up on tofu, fruit, and quinoa cakes for our little organic baby, and then drove to Mesquite. Mesquite is one of those desert towns that really shouldn't be there. It's far too dry (though they have their own spring, which produces hard, unpleasant tasting water) and it's hot, hot, hot. Of course, golf courses and developments are springing up everywhere. We stayed at the Casablanca Resort, a big pink building with a casino, a buffet, cafe, fancy restaurant, spa, Starbucks, and a very nice pool with a waterfall, waterslide, and plenty of palm trees. For the next three days, we alternated between reading in the hotel room while Melina napped; sitting by the pool; swimming with the baby; drinking froufrou drinks; visiting Starbucks for iced coffee and green tea; and losing small amounts of money at the slot machines.

On our second day we drove up to a corner of Zion National Park and went for a hike. The trail was at 6,000 feet so it wasn't too hot. We tried out our new Kelty backpack, which worked very well. Melina (who has suddenly become very conscientious about greeting people) waved goodbye to every hiker we passed. (She hasn't quite gotten "hi" down yet). We hiked up to a cool grotto in the red rock cliffs, where the sound of dripping water and screaming ravens echoed through the canyons.

On Sunday, Mother's Day, I treated myself to the "Dead Sea experience" at the resort spa. First I was rubbed down with salt, then I was steamed for a while, then I was covered with mud, then showered off, and then anointed with sweet-smelling lotions. I was given a bathrobe and a full day pass to the quiet gardens and pools behind the spa. Needless to say, it was very relaxing, and I realized that I need to do it again. Soon.

At the end of the trip we left Mesquite and went back to Vegas, where we did not receive a room upgrade, but found ourselves adjoining a loud neighbor through a thin wall. We moved rooms, dragging our eight pieces of luggage with us. That includes the plastic booster seat, the car seat, the Kelty backpack, the cooler full of tofu and other half-eaten baby food, the backpack full of toys, the diaper bag, the baby, and our own luggage.

Once settled, we went out on the town with Melina. We met up with Jeff's dad & Alba at Il Fornaio, an Italian restaurant in the New York, New York casino. Melina behaved herself fabulously and we had a really nice time. On the way back, Melina was awed by the bright lights and neon. Throughout the whole trip, she showed an affinity for the slot machines, and was repeatedly told that babies are not allowed to loiter near the slots.

On our last night, Frank & Alba watched Melina for a few hours so Jeff and I could go out on the town. Since we weren't organized or motivated enough to buy show tickets, we were free to roam the strip, and ended up at the top of the faux Eiffel Tower at the Paris casino. From there we could see the fountains at the Bellagio and the strip in all its glory. The next day, after hours of trekking down the strip, across pedestrian bridges, and through casinos, we went to the Shark Reef exhibit at Mandalay Bay, which was very well done. Basically, it's an aquarium of predatory fish and sharks, set inside an ancient, sunken stone temple. I'm glad we went.

The trip home last night was unremarkable. Melina fell asleep as the plane took off (thank God) and woke up as the plane landed. She cried a bit, but it was manageable. Jeff took off to retrieve our car, ending the trip with the same small near-disasters that we began with. First he went to the wrong parking lot, then when he arrived, the battery was dead. Luckily he got a jumpstart and picked us up at 11:30, just as Melina and I were about to blow our mutual gaskets.

All in all, it was a relaxing trip. Melina did great, although we are still somewhat sleep deprived, and traveling with all her luggage can be exhausting. I feel a little more confident about going on plane trips with her in the future - though not too soon.

First year appointment

Melina had her one-year well-baby appointment yesterday. She continues to be a skinny little stringbean with a big head. Her official stats are: 90th percentile for head size; 75th for height; and 20th for weight. The doctor said that based on her current height, it's likely she'll be 5'6" as an adult. It's strange to have this glimpse of the future Melina. Will her hair be blond, red, or brunette? Will her eyes ever decide between green, gray, brown or blue? Will she be a Democrat or a Green Party member? The doctor couldn't tell me.

Today we leave for a short trip to Las Vegas and Mesquite, Nevada. Given Melina's nap schedule, I expect to be spending a lot of time reading in a hotel room, interspersed with trips to the swimming pool. It will be her first plane flight, so I'll let you know how it goes.

Meanwhile, here's a picture of her with her favorite chew toy, a bottle of Infant Tylenol.

Four molars

Poor baby M is getting four molars at once. They look wicked, too - little wicked sharp points poking up through her gums, three per molar. This afternoon she just cried and cried, which is really unusual. I gave her some Tylenol and that seemed to help. She has 12 teeth now, which is a lot for a one-year-old.

An Interview with Jennifer Margulis

Jennifer Margulis is the author of the new book Why Babies Do That: Baffling Baby Behavior Explained, an entertaining look at some of the most frequently asked questions about our mysterious little family members. Jennifer is also editor of, and contributing author to Toddler: Real Life Stories of Those Fickle, Irrational, Urgent, Tiny People We Love, a compendium of thoughtful and funny essays by moms and dads of toddlers. Jennifer is the creative nonfiction editor of the online journal LiteraryMama and contributes to the Mother Talk series of literary salons. I interviewed her about her recent book and how she gets the time to write with three little ones at home.

Octopus Jenny: Tell me a little about Why Babies do That and how you got the idea to write the book.

Jennifer M: The publisher actually invited me to write this book. They have a series (Why Dogs Do That, Why Cats Do That, etc.) and they wanted to branch out into baby books. The editor was actually expecting her first child and I think that was one of their motivations. But the idea behind the book is to inspire and inform parents, especially new parents, about baby behavior. Babies are bizarre little creatures, they do a lot of weird stuff, and this book helps explain why. So it's meant to be both informative and reassuring (and fun to read).

O.J.: How did you learn the answers to these questions?

Jennifer M: I spent several months researching the answers, talking to specialists (psychologists, doctors, researchers, and moms--who are the ones who know the most). I have also worked on a child survival campaign in Africa and have three children of my own. So I brought my professional and personal experience to the book as well.

O.J.: What was the most interesting thing you learned about babies while you were researching the book?

Jennifer M: That's a hard question to answer. I learned so many interesting things. Perhaps the most interesting was about head banging. I had no idea it was so normal or common (I have three children and no head bangers) and that even babies who are getting lots of attention may bang their heads. The American Academy of Child Psychiatry has reported that up to 20% of otherwise normal babies will bang their heads. I mentioned this at a talk I gave and there were so many people in the audience nodding in agreement--all parents of head bangers who were otherwise normal, healthy kids.

O.J.: Tell me a little about your other book, Toddler.

Jennifer M: Toddler is the book I wanted to read but couldn't find on the shelves when my girls were little. I had my first two children 19 months apart and to say I felt like I was going crazy is a gross understatement. My "easy" baby morphed into a really challenging toddler and my second child came out screaming and screamed for what felt like forever. I wanted to see how other parents tackled the toddler years--I was so hungry for real-life stories from real moms and dads. How to books never really helped me (though I read them and continue to read them) but I always appreciated reading about other peoples experiences. That's why I like to read blogs, too.

O.J.: You mean my little angel could become... difficult? Say it ain't so.

Jennifer M: Not your baby, of course!

O.J.: Do you have any favorite blogs you can recommend to parents of young ones?

Jennifer M: There are so many good blogs out there for new parents. I really like “So Close,” “Fussy,” and “Suburban Turmoil,” but there are dozens of others I enjoy reading as well. (And if you visit the blogs that are stops on my baby blog book tour, you’ll find all the best ones!)

O.J.: Based on reading Toddler, it sounds like your mom was, um, a challenge. How does she feel about the book?

Jennifer M: She said: "ripped jeans, floss in my teeth? Sounds like an accurate description of me!" and she has bought books for everyone she knows, and continues to give them as gifts. My mom is very upfront about her shortcomings and never pretended to be a good mom, or to like being a mom. She's an internationally known microbiologist, one of the only women ever elected to the National Academy of Science. She's been awarded a presidential medal of honor. So at least she has a legitimate excuse for neglecting us!

O.J.: Any other books in the works?

Jennifer M: I'm working on a book about West Africa right now, and I just found out that my family and I will spend next year in Niger. I got a Fulbright Fellowship and I'll be researching the book and teaching a class or two at the university in Niamey.

O.J.: That sounds fantastic. How do you think your kids will handle the transition? Are you doing anything special to prepare them?

Jennifer M: I think it will be easier for my little ones than for my husband, who doesn’t like the heat. We talk about it all the time, we’re learning French together, we play pretend stuffy games about going on airplanes and being in Africa. It will be a huge change for all of us but it should be a fascinating experience.

O.J.: How's your blog tour going?

Jennifer M: It's wonderful so far. It's great to see what bloggers write about. Fussy's entry was hilarious and I had a PR person in Portland (whom I've corresponded with because I'm working on updating a guidebook) who reads her regularly tell me she was buying the book for a friend. It's amazing to be able to go all the way to South Africa (So Close is on the tour. Her stop was May 2nd) and Western Australia but stay in my pajamas!

O.J.: Finally, how DO you find the time for all these projects with three kids? Some days I can barely find the time to make myself a bowl of cereal.

Jennifer M: It's not easy and if you could see my house right now (it looks like a train crashed in the living room--the kids decided to make a fort with the couch and... well, I'll spare you the details) you wouldn't be so impressed. Seriously, housework is the first thing to go. In order to be a productive writer (and this is the way my husband and I support our family of five) and an attentive mom, I really have to prioritize. I don't get enough sleep and my house is often a disaster (which is honestly hard for me. I used to look forward to cleaning my apartment on Saturday mornings when I was in my 20s!).

I also write magazine articles, my weekly column in the Ashland Daily Tidings called "Tales From the Crib," and a monthly travel article. And I consult with other writers to help them get published. Writing is my job. If I don't do it we don't eat. I think that's the secret. Also, I have a very supportive husband who also works from home and we switch off with the kids as much as possible to give each other time to write. I really care about being a good mom though, which is why I'm often sleep-deprived. Even if I have a pressing deadline, I wait until the kids go to sleep before I finish any work leftover from the morning (morning is my time to write, afternoon is my husband's). My other secret is dried mango. I swear it makes you smarter and more focused and I eat dollar-depleting quantities of it when I'm on deadline.