Six months ago today Avelyn inched her way into the world and what a half-year it’s been! To commemorate her six month birthday (I know how cheesy that must sound to nonparents) I gave Avelyn a special gift: her first childhood scar.
This morning I had her propped up on my nursing pillow on the couch in a seated position and went to tidying up the living room while she watched me putter. I turned my back for TWO SECONDS and then heard a terrible thump followed by the most heart-wrenching wail. I ran to assess the damage and found my girl face down on the carpet wedged between the ottoman and the couch, and she was mad. I would be too if I had such a negligent excuse for a mother tending me. I felt sick with guilt, and also a dose of worry that she had suffered a concussion, but after a few minutes of howling she was back to her genial self.
Sorry, baby girl. I won’t take my eyes off you again.
21 Comments
awwww….poor Avelyn! Poor Amanda, too! You must feel awful but those first childhood scars are a HUGE milestone. Congrats!
Wow, six months without that happening already? You are amazing!
I think my child was 3 weeks old when he jumped off the futon onto his face. What a relief that babies are made of some sort of rubbery substance, otherwise how would any of us have made it through to adulthood? You aren’t a neglectful mama. Anelyn knows you are the best.
Poor Avelyn! What an adorable picture!
Poor Avelyn. The hard knocks of life. She looks okay. Still as cute as ever. Sorry to say my dear, but that is the first of many more bumps and bangs. But I know all too well about the mommy guilt. I’m sure that when we become mothers, the mommy guilt is part of the package, right from the time we leave the hospital with our little bundles of joy. Don’t let it get you down.
You’re just toughening her up for life on the farm with a daddy who loves machines that go vroom! Kidding aside, I know that gut-wrenching feeling. Meagan “just happened” to fall down some stairs in the outlawed walkers they had way-back-when. I’m sure I cried for days after that one…she cried only for minutes…and forgave me instantly!
Avelyn looks as good as new…better than new as her 6 month old face is sparkling with life! Happy 1/2 yr. b-day to Mommy & Babe!
When Brielle was a tiny little baby I would put her in a little moses basket on top of the drier while I folded clothes. When she got a little bigger she’d ask me to put her up there (by pointing and saying mama). However, one day as I turned my back to put a folded towel on the pile I heard a terrible bang and a heart wrenching scream. My little angel had fallen off the drier head first into a garbage can. She had a big black eye and a purple bruise across her nose for weeks. I felt like I was the worst mother in the world (I can laugh at it now though since she survived). So I know how you feel. My only comfort to you would be to tell you that this probably isn’t the most hurt she’s ever going to be…something to look forward to. :)
Belle once fell off our recliner onto the concrete floor. She howled more from the frozen peas I put on her head! Kids really are resilient. I’m sure this is just the first of many a wounds, and you’ll be there to take care of all of them!
Duncan fell off the bed at my parents house. It was so loud that everyone heard… he was fine though…
Just LOOK at that adorable little face. If that’s not a magazine cover shot, I don’t know what is!
One time, when bucky was a kitten, i was sleeping and i rolled over on him and accidentally dislocated his arm. He screamed murder until i put it back in. Perhaps this is a little different because bucky is a cat and not a child..but i don’t have a child so this is the only way i can relate. *sigh*
Haley was about 1.5 years and Christine and I were at a parent teacher meeting for Ben. I received a pager message that said (on the first line) “Haley fell”, when I hit the page down button the second line said “She’s bleeding, call ASAP”.
I left Christine to finish the meeting and raced home. Both the nanny and Haley were crying. The nanny’s tshirt was covered in blood and I took a look a the damage which seemed to becoming from her mouth.
She had bit down on her tongue when falling off the sofa. Well, there were 2 tips of her tongue visible as she had somehow bit lengthwise about a 1/2 inch in.
Six hours later, two hospitals and 5 doctors, we left Haley in the operating prep area as they were putting her under general anesthetic to sew the two tips together.
One overnight stay at the hospital for Haley and Christine and we had her back, good as new!
If you look closely, you can still see the seam and her tongue has two bumps at the tip!
These are the signs of a life lived.
Yeah…remember when Danai fell out of her car seat onto the plywood floor in our unfinished bathroom (probably better than the tile that will one day be there…I swear). I thought for sure she would have brain damage or something. (I think I cried harder than she did.)
She only a few weeks old then. She is now three months old and no sign of brain damage yet!
Yep, I’ve done that too. I can still remember the sound of little Isabella’s body hitting the floor (and my heart breaking).
Beautiful photo.
Face it. Housework just doesn’t pay.
Aww, it’s not funny but the way you worded it made me laugh :) You’re a great Mom! And I’m pretty sure there is no child out there that has never fallen on the floor – so no worries! ;)
It happens to ALL moms, for sure.
My best friend’s mother set her carseat down on the sidewalk to unlock the car when she was a month old, and somehow, the seat tipped, dumping her out into the gutter.
Her mom was so traumatized by that sight that no one is allowed to refer to the experience now.
She only found out it happened because her aunt told her in a fit of giggles 20 years later.
Sad story; beautiful picture!
That is the cutest picture. Don’t feel to bad. She will be just fine.
I love your dad’s comments! He’s always right on – great, quiet, dry humour.
As for Avelyn, she will fall again, and again!! You did! Ask your mother.
oh my god…i prop Hudson in the nursing pillow all the time, and Rob always makes me move Hudson…i always thought he was just being paranoid!!!
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