So I'm a little slow getting here but we all know this.  Andy and Charlize have been asleep since 9:30 and I should be sleeping but the idea of a bath w/out anyone needing me and a bottle of wine Andy picked up for me were far too tempting.  My apologies for the spelling.  I really like wine.
I was just reading through my last blog.  How arrogant I sounded at the end!  Like I was through the hard part!  Good grief.  I'm scared to death to say the last month has been getting easier...it's like a curse!  The dairy and soy elimination did work wonders but then things always tend to regress.  We finally started baby food and the girl loves it!  She prefers it to breast milk! (I'm trying hard not to be offended)  So all day long she is offended at the very idea of my breast but then is up 5 times a night getting all that she missed during the day.  Yes.  It's a beautiful thing.  I believe that in heaven, men will lactate.  So at her six month visit the doc tells me to make her breast feed during the day and she won't need to at night.  What a novel idea.  Why didn't I think of that?  I bought the book, "The Baby Whisperer," and am pinning my hopes on Ms Tracy Hogg.  She would define Charlize as a "spirited baby."  I would have to agree. :)  I am only 50 pages in but have decided that this woman is amazing.  The reccomendation is that Daddy feeds the baby w/a bottle @ night and then she will want the breast more during the day and less at night.  Hence the bubble bath and red wine.  I am too excited about all the sleep I could be getting to actually go to sleep!  Another amazing thing I have discovered over the last few months (An anonymous comment below was kind enough to share...thank you!  It can feel lonely!) is that sooo many other parents go through this!  What in the word is in all the crap that we eat and put on our bodies that so many babies suffer from dairy intolerance?!  Or just acid reflux?  One of the Drs we saw said the biggest change she has seen in her 20 years of dr'in (is that a word?) is the food sesitivities and/or intolerances.  Never heard of it when she started and now it's everywhere.  It amazes me how quiet people are about it.  My cousin was kind enough to call me and share her similar experiences w/me.  She pointed out, and I believe she is 100% correct, that parents have selective memories about it.  I remember my sister's first child.  He was a "spirited baby" as well.  Then she had what we like to refer to as "magic baby," and couldn't wait to have her third..until she met Charlize. Ah the memories began to flood back to her.  She decided to give it a little more time. ;) Don't get me wrong, it sounds like I'm dogging on Charlize but I'm not.  She is the coolest little person I've ever been around but I think she would have to agree that she has had a rough start.  That call from my cousin saved me from a lot of shame and embarrassment I was feeling.  I hadn't heard this from any family member of mine.  It all seemed to come so natural to them!  I think the biggest favor I have done for Charlize has been cutting myself some slack.  I absolutely hate when people are chronically late so that fact that I can not get out the door on time...ever...stressed me out to no end.  I try to move a little faster and plan to be early bc who knows when she will finally decide my breasts are acceptable or that the prune food/baby juice we pumped in her for her constipation will kick in. (never an opportune time for a diaper blow out I realize but it really does seem to happen in her car seat every time!)  So I'm late once in a while.  I have been waiting on other people my whole life...they can wait a little for me. :) I'm trying really hard to give myself time to get a body I recognize instead of looking down at the battle scars and depressing.  Being on stage certainly doesn't make it easy but it's only been six months.  (I'm saying this for my benefit...)   I also have stopped apologizing to people when they ask me when I'm going to Nashville next.  No I have not "given up," but damn it, I have a lot going on.  Bigger things than Nashville.  (I can just see the appalled look on every single person from Nashville's face..."Bigger than Nashville?  How dare!"  Puke...yes.  There is life East of you)  Pretty much the same week I quit worrying about it a trip fell in my lap.  My amazing mother is going to go w/me and watch Charlize while I write.  (btw...thank God for spell check!  I have only had to glasses but I haven't had a night off in a while!)
On a diffent, it's not all about me note...Brian had to have a triple bypass done on Wed!  Scared us all to death!  I am so glad everything went well for him.  He has such a great little family.  I think Allison is great and little Willow needs her daddy around!  I mean, the whole thing had been a little inconvenient for me...sub bass players and all but like I said...not all about me. ;)  When I called to express my concern the first thing he talked about was which shows he could make.  I wanted him to make it prefectly clear to Allison that I had not asked nor did I plan to.  We're all just glad everything went well.   We're missing you Brian! 
Brad's baby is on her way as well!  Haha, don't let Jen read my blogs...she may change her mind. ;) 
Travis is still rockin on as well.   Haha...I was told that taking him back (or him taking me back...whichever way you want to look at it) would turn out the same way it did last time and we would both regret it...well eat it!  We're just a happy little family! teehee...That felt good. ;) (Travis, if you leave me now I will find your new apartment.  Then I can say...I know where you live and I've seen where you sleep and I swear to God your mother will cry when she's seen what I've done to you! [Tommy Boy, anyone????] Mom, that's a movie quote...I'm not quite that visious)
Ok, so now it's almost midnight.  It snuck up on me.  I must sleep.