what went up has come down

thanks, everyone, for writing in with comments, advice and sympathy for the mystery crying. many of you had compelling theories as to what was happening. well, guess what. you were all wrong! especially you, kara.

just as mysteriously as it started, it ended. she has been connecting a lot of cognitive dots lately, so that's an attractive possibility (just yesterday i taught her how to clap ... and then instantly had twelve heart attacks from the cuteness). also. she did just get over a cold, so the ear-ache theory was a popular one around here: after two nights of no sleep and lots of screaming, i called the pediatrician and booked an appointment for the following morning. then, just like that, she started sleeping like a champ. problem solved, mystery not.

i suspect it was the threat of going to the doctor's that whipped her into shape.

want to know the real pisser? mrs nice guy opted out of the peter luger dinner with friends so as to spare the sitter massive trauma (i had actually volunteered to stay home, but the birthday friend is more my friend than hers). so she stayed home ... for nothing. the baby slept.

meanwhile, i masticated a mountain of marvelous marbled meat and marinaded myself in maker's mark manhattans. mmm! (sorry, i have a thing for alliteration.)

anyway, the baby does appear to have yet another, brand new cold. and so do i, which i doubt has anything to do with staying out too late and drinking. i cannot tell you the joy this new illness brings me. her nose is stuffed all the time, but at least she's sleeping -- sleeping, that is, thanks to baby advil, having her mattress at a slight incline, rubbing her down with baby vicks after her bath, and spiking her milk with baby vodka.

so she slept until almost 7 this morning, which is great. but i had been too busy coughing since 5 to reap the sweet fruit of that extra hour. the madness, when will it end?