Sweet Pea,
Every night I nurse you around 10:30 or 11pm. You've already been asleep since 7:30 and really don't need to eat then in order to sleep through the night, but you DO nurse really well and you are so cute and snuggly after that I just can't quite bring myself to give up this feeding yet. As you fall asleep in my arms I whisper to you that you are my perfect, perfect baby. And then, every night, I wonder whether I'll regret this someday when you are doing something that isn't perfect. I hear your "terrible twos" voice already: "But Mo-OM you said I was perfect. So why do I have to say please, clean up my toys, eat my veggies, brush my teeth etc" But then I decide that even though your behavior or choices might not always be perfect, you will still always be my perfect, perfect baby...and I will always love you no matter what.
Mommy
Monday, November 3, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
September
Sweet Pea,
Here it is almost the end of October and I still haven't posted about our exciting September - so here it goes!
First and foremost, last month you met your cousin Joaquin! Auntie Rachel, Joaquin and Juan came out from NYC so you and Joaquin could hang out for the first of hopefully many, many times. Joaquin was 7 months at the time and was scooting around on his belly like you used to do - so cute! I was afraid that you might get cocky because you were older and beat up on him (read: crawl all over him, poke him in the face etc) but you were pretty well behaved. We had many fun outings with the fam - walking to the bakery, going to the zoo, and playing at the park. The adults especially liked it when we put you and Joaquin in the baby swing back to back so you guys could swing together. Not sure how you two felt about it! Anyway, we are very lucky that they came out to visit us and hope to see them again soon!
Also in September we rented a little cabin on Orcas Island for a long weekend - and we took Apple with us! This was by far our best trip as a family so far. Mostly because you went to sleep easily and stayed asleep for the duration every night. Thus we were able to enjoy our daytime activities instead of walking around like zombies. I'm hoping that your better sleeping was because you are old enough now to draw security from the fact that Papa and I are there even though it's a new environment. Maybe it was because Apple was with us...Anyway, we had perfect weather and a very relaxing, fun trip. Here are some pictures from the weekend:
Your first ferry ride:
Your hair is finally long enough to blow in the wind:
Enjoying the sun:
Here it is almost the end of October and I still haven't posted about our exciting September - so here it goes!
First and foremost, last month you met your cousin Joaquin! Auntie Rachel, Joaquin and Juan came out from NYC so you and Joaquin could hang out for the first of hopefully many, many times. Joaquin was 7 months at the time and was scooting around on his belly like you used to do - so cute! I was afraid that you might get cocky because you were older and beat up on him (read: crawl all over him, poke him in the face etc) but you were pretty well behaved. We had many fun outings with the fam - walking to the bakery, going to the zoo, and playing at the park. The adults especially liked it when we put you and Joaquin in the baby swing back to back so you guys could swing together. Not sure how you two felt about it! Anyway, we are very lucky that they came out to visit us and hope to see them again soon!
Also in September we rented a little cabin on Orcas Island for a long weekend - and we took Apple with us! This was by far our best trip as a family so far. Mostly because you went to sleep easily and stayed asleep for the duration every night. Thus we were able to enjoy our daytime activities instead of walking around like zombies. I'm hoping that your better sleeping was because you are old enough now to draw security from the fact that Papa and I are there even though it's a new environment. Maybe it was because Apple was with us...Anyway, we had perfect weather and a very relaxing, fun trip. Here are some pictures from the weekend:
Your first ferry ride:
Your hair is finally long enough to blow in the wind:
Enjoying the sun:
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Good Job, Stinky!
Sweet Pea,
You have developed two adorable new skills lately: clapping and saying "stinky". Last week you learned to clap. Now, every time I say "yay" or "good job" you stop what you are doing, look at me with a big smile and start clapping your hands. And when we are doing something you like (singing, dancing etc) you start spontaneously clapping your hands. You look so proud of yourself every time you do it. You're still trying to figure out how to clap while standing though. You had just been plopping yourself down and then clapping if the need to clap struck you while standing, but now you're trying your hardest to do the stand and clap - to varying degrees of success. So cute.
Also, I'm not sure how or why this started, but Papa and I have been saying "stinky" in a loud, drawn out way lately. As in, "Ewww, your diaper is STINKYYYYYYYYYY." We make a stinky face (wrinkled up nose) for dramatic effect. This almost always guarantees smiles and laughter from you. Then one day you started saying it back and cracking yourself up. Except you say "KINKYYYYY...." Which cracks us up.
How did you get to be so cute?
You have developed two adorable new skills lately: clapping and saying "stinky". Last week you learned to clap. Now, every time I say "yay" or "good job" you stop what you are doing, look at me with a big smile and start clapping your hands. And when we are doing something you like (singing, dancing etc) you start spontaneously clapping your hands. You look so proud of yourself every time you do it. You're still trying to figure out how to clap while standing though. You had just been plopping yourself down and then clapping if the need to clap struck you while standing, but now you're trying your hardest to do the stand and clap - to varying degrees of success. So cute.
Also, I'm not sure how or why this started, but Papa and I have been saying "stinky" in a loud, drawn out way lately. As in, "Ewww, your diaper is STINKYYYYYYYYYY." We make a stinky face (wrinkled up nose) for dramatic effect. This almost always guarantees smiles and laughter from you. Then one day you started saying it back and cracking yourself up. Except you say "KINKYYYYY...." Which cracks us up.
How did you get to be so cute?
Where's Mommy?
Sweet Pea,
Pretty much since you were born Ive played this little game with you where I point to me and say "Mommy" and then point to you and say "Elizabeth." You always smile when I do this for some reason. But lately I've decided to change it up and I've been asking you "Where's Mommy?" And over this past week you've started pointing to me when I ask this! The first time you did it, Papa and I nearly fell off the couch with shock. We, of course, think that your ability to do this means you are absolutely beyond brilliant.
Then yesterday while we were looking at the pictures on the wall in the hallway (which you like to do every time we leave your room) I decided to throw you a curveball: I asked where Mommy was, curious if you would understand that I was in some of the pictures. Sure enough, you pointed to me in each of the pictures! This must mean you're a genius, right?
Either way, it just melts my heart that after all this time, you finally know that I'm Mommy...
Pretty much since you were born Ive played this little game with you where I point to me and say "Mommy" and then point to you and say "Elizabeth." You always smile when I do this for some reason. But lately I've decided to change it up and I've been asking you "Where's Mommy?" And over this past week you've started pointing to me when I ask this! The first time you did it, Papa and I nearly fell off the couch with shock. We, of course, think that your ability to do this means you are absolutely beyond brilliant.
Then yesterday while we were looking at the pictures on the wall in the hallway (which you like to do every time we leave your room) I decided to throw you a curveball: I asked where Mommy was, curious if you would understand that I was in some of the pictures. Sure enough, you pointed to me in each of the pictures! This must mean you're a genius, right?
Either way, it just melts my heart that after all this time, you finally know that I'm Mommy...
Friday, September 5, 2008
Growing Up
Sweet Pea,
You are growing up so fast, I just can't believe it. Earlier this week was the first day of school in Seattle and it seems like all of the mom blogs I read had a post about their "babies" starting kindergarten. They all talked about how fast the time had flown and I teared up thinking about you going off to kindergarten some day.
Anyway, in that vain, I want to write down some of the super cute things you've been doing lately so I don't forget them:
*Yesterday (Sept 4) you began clearly signing for milk (or milky as we call it).
*Every night I go into nurse you at 10:30ish. I don't really think you need to eat at this time (in fact, I'm pretty sure you don't), but I just love how cuddly and snuggly you are. You hardly nurse during the rest of the day - you're kind of like "suck, suck, suck, okay now let me down right this moment because I have some very serious playing to take care of." But at night, you nurse well, kind of in a half sleep, and then I pop in your paci and hold you in my arms while you sleep curled up on me. It is one of my favorite moments of every day.
*You always cross your feet when you are in your booster seat where you eat. This is so cute to me, so ladylike.
*We've started singing you a few songs before putting you to bed and you seem to really like this. We sing "Goodnight Elizabeth," "You are my Sunshine," or sometimes even the ABCs. You put your head down on my shoulder or papa's should and cuddle up. We love it!
*You LOVE the cats - even though they spend all day outside because we can't trust them near you. Whenever we walk out to the car and you see them you squeal with delight. You also squeal when you hear them meow downstairs when papa feeds them in the morning.
*You like to "dance" to the ABCs. We recently gave you this little table-type thing that makes noise when you press buttons, slide levers etc. And whenever you make it sing the ABCs you look to me or papa and excitedly waiting for us to sing and dance. Then you put one arm in the air (b/c you are still using the other one to hold on to the table) and waive it around. So cute.
*You love bath time. Most often papa gives you a bath - while I scurry around trying to do laundry, put clothes away and generally clean up - and he reads you this book called "Little Quacks." He also drips water or bubbles from his hands and you love it! I think bath time is one of your favorite times of the day. Of course when we take you out you get really pissed b/c you know it is almost time to go to bed and you HATE bed time - you have so much more playing to do!
*While you nurse you put one hand on your head and open and close your hand over and over, feeling your short little hair. You also do this when you are about to fall asleep. I guess it is comforting to you and I always wonder if you will keep doing this as you get older.
I'm sure I'll add to this list over time, or do similar posts - because time is flying, and you are just the cutest ever!
You are growing up so fast, I just can't believe it. Earlier this week was the first day of school in Seattle and it seems like all of the mom blogs I read had a post about their "babies" starting kindergarten. They all talked about how fast the time had flown and I teared up thinking about you going off to kindergarten some day.
Anyway, in that vain, I want to write down some of the super cute things you've been doing lately so I don't forget them:
*Yesterday (Sept 4) you began clearly signing for milk (or milky as we call it).
*Every night I go into nurse you at 10:30ish. I don't really think you need to eat at this time (in fact, I'm pretty sure you don't), but I just love how cuddly and snuggly you are. You hardly nurse during the rest of the day - you're kind of like "suck, suck, suck, okay now let me down right this moment because I have some very serious playing to take care of." But at night, you nurse well, kind of in a half sleep, and then I pop in your paci and hold you in my arms while you sleep curled up on me. It is one of my favorite moments of every day.
*You always cross your feet when you are in your booster seat where you eat. This is so cute to me, so ladylike.
*We've started singing you a few songs before putting you to bed and you seem to really like this. We sing "Goodnight Elizabeth," "You are my Sunshine," or sometimes even the ABCs. You put your head down on my shoulder or papa's should and cuddle up. We love it!
*You LOVE the cats - even though they spend all day outside because we can't trust them near you. Whenever we walk out to the car and you see them you squeal with delight. You also squeal when you hear them meow downstairs when papa feeds them in the morning.
*You like to "dance" to the ABCs. We recently gave you this little table-type thing that makes noise when you press buttons, slide levers etc. And whenever you make it sing the ABCs you look to me or papa and excitedly waiting for us to sing and dance. Then you put one arm in the air (b/c you are still using the other one to hold on to the table) and waive it around. So cute.
*You love bath time. Most often papa gives you a bath - while I scurry around trying to do laundry, put clothes away and generally clean up - and he reads you this book called "Little Quacks." He also drips water or bubbles from his hands and you love it! I think bath time is one of your favorite times of the day. Of course when we take you out you get really pissed b/c you know it is almost time to go to bed and you HATE bed time - you have so much more playing to do!
*While you nurse you put one hand on your head and open and close your hand over and over, feeling your short little hair. You also do this when you are about to fall asleep. I guess it is comforting to you and I always wonder if you will keep doing this as you get older.
I'm sure I'll add to this list over time, or do similar posts - because time is flying, and you are just the cutest ever!
A Quiet August
Sweet Pea,
August was a fairly quiet month, which was a relief after our busy July. We spent our time going on walks, playing at the park and hiking with friends. It was so nice to have time together as a family to just enjoy life (and the nice weather)! Here are some photos from the month:
Hiking Denny Creek with Ben, Tammy, Hannah, Ethan, Nicole and Paia:
Hanging out outside in the play yard:
Reading with Hannah:
Your first busted lip:
You seem to like Obama as much Mommy does:
Papa's got skills:
August was a fairly quiet month, which was a relief after our busy July. We spent our time going on walks, playing at the park and hiking with friends. It was so nice to have time together as a family to just enjoy life (and the nice weather)! Here are some photos from the month:
Hiking Denny Creek with Ben, Tammy, Hannah, Ethan, Nicole and Paia:
Hanging out outside in the play yard:
Reading with Hannah:
Your first busted lip:
You seem to like Obama as much Mommy does:
Papa's got skills:
Saturday, August 9, 2008
First Teeth/First Virus
Sweet Pea,
You got your first tooth! Well, actually, you got your first THREE teeth - all in one week. And what a week it was, especially because you got your first virus the same week! It was a rough one for all of us and left me feeling a bit frazzled about my mommy skills. I have a feeling I'll be getting better at this because everyone says kids get sick a lot the first few years, but I really don't like it when you're not feeling well and I can't figure out how to make you feel better. Anyway, the week was traumatic enough for me that I needed to write it all down so here's a rundown of the fun:
I noticed your cute little tooth - your top left one - poking through on Sunday morning (July 27th) and I was so excited that you were finally getting some teeth! That evening you were pretty fussy so we took you to the park to swing thinking this would make you happy. But you really had no interest and just wanted me to hold you - which should have been my first clue that something was off. I thought you might feel a bit warm, but couldn't really tell (your cheeks were okay, but your trunk felt hot). I figured you might have a bit of a fever and be feeling fussy from teething so we put you to bed a little earlier than normal. When we put you in your crib you didn't make a sound and then you didn't even roll over to watch us leave your room like you usually do. Papa said "she seems relieved to be going to bed." Again, I chalked it up to teething.
But then when I went in for your 10:30p feeding you were burning up. Your little hands were on fire. And you seemed listless. It was so sad. We gave you some Tylenol and then I brought you to bed with us so I could keep an eye on you. You couldn't figure out what you were doing in our bed. You would kind of lift your head up, look at me quizzically and then plop your head back down. Then you'd lift it again, look at Papa, plop it down again. I really wanted you to sleep with us but it didn't seem like it was going to happen, so Papa got up and put together the Pak-n-play in our room. I thought this might work, but then I think the Tylenol kicked in and you started to feel better and then you were VERY awake. Basically from that point until 4am you and I moved back and forth between your room and my room trying everything to get you to sleep. Papa slept on the floor of the office in his sleeping bag with earplugs because he had to go to work in the morning. I was happy to sit in the rocking chair all night and let you sleep on me if you wanted, but you just wouldn't go to sleep even though you were clearly very tired and wanted to sleep. Eventually I put you in your crib and went back to my room alone. You cried and it broke my heart. But I knew you needed to sleep and unfortunately (well, most of the time it is a "fortunately" but in some circumstances it is an "unfortunately") we've trained you to fall asleep on your own in your crib and you don't seem to be able to fall asleep in any other circumstance. If you know I'm around you think it is awake/play time no matter how tired you are.
Anyway, you eventually fell asleep, but then had a fever on and off for the next three or four days and continued to be very fussy. You would be especially fussy with me which was hard, because as your mom I wanted to be able comfort you. I didn't understand why you'd be mostly okay with Grandma or Papa or Amy and then get so upset whenever you saw me. Grandma told me it was because you felt comfortable with me so you could really let your guard down. I wasn't sure what was going on: if it was teething or if maybe you were starting to go through some kind of separation anxiety (which apparently is common at your age) or if you were overwhelmed by the constant stream of company we'd had for two weeks or if maybe you had picked up some bug. I talked to the nurse at Dr. M's office on Tuesday who assured me that babies can get fever when teething so I decided to just ride it out for a few days rather than drag you into the docs office. Then on Thursday night you developed a rash. I called the after hours on-call nurse who said it could be a food reaction (I had given you formula for the first time that evening thinking that maybe you were fussing because you were starving and my milk supply was low) or that since you'd had a fever during the week the rash could be viral. Friday I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on any longer so we took you to Dr. M who took one look at your rash and said "Oh yea, that is from a virus." Apparently there is some fever/rash virus going around that causes a really bad headache and sore throat.
I felt so bad for not figuring out sooner that you really were sick - what kind of mother doesn't know when her kid is sick? Seriously. Grandma tried to make me feel better by pointing out that you were probably feeling bad from everything all together - illness, teething, company, separation anxiety - and that I wouldn't have done anything differently anyway. But still, I'd like to think that I'd be able to differentiate between teething and illness. Next time, Sweet Pea, I promise to be more on it.
Anyway, you were doing much better by the next Sunday thankfully and now things are back to normal. Your next two teeth (bottom right and top right) started poking through soon after and you really didn't seem bothered by them at all. I'm just so happy that you're feeling better and back to your normal, happy, content self. I hate getting sick more than almost anyone I know, but hands down I would rather get sick myself any day of the week than have you get sick. I guess I'll have to get used to it over time, but I'm not going to like it!
You got your first tooth! Well, actually, you got your first THREE teeth - all in one week. And what a week it was, especially because you got your first virus the same week! It was a rough one for all of us and left me feeling a bit frazzled about my mommy skills. I have a feeling I'll be getting better at this because everyone says kids get sick a lot the first few years, but I really don't like it when you're not feeling well and I can't figure out how to make you feel better. Anyway, the week was traumatic enough for me that I needed to write it all down so here's a rundown of the fun:
I noticed your cute little tooth - your top left one - poking through on Sunday morning (July 27th) and I was so excited that you were finally getting some teeth! That evening you were pretty fussy so we took you to the park to swing thinking this would make you happy. But you really had no interest and just wanted me to hold you - which should have been my first clue that something was off. I thought you might feel a bit warm, but couldn't really tell (your cheeks were okay, but your trunk felt hot). I figured you might have a bit of a fever and be feeling fussy from teething so we put you to bed a little earlier than normal. When we put you in your crib you didn't make a sound and then you didn't even roll over to watch us leave your room like you usually do. Papa said "she seems relieved to be going to bed." Again, I chalked it up to teething.
But then when I went in for your 10:30p feeding you were burning up. Your little hands were on fire. And you seemed listless. It was so sad. We gave you some Tylenol and then I brought you to bed with us so I could keep an eye on you. You couldn't figure out what you were doing in our bed. You would kind of lift your head up, look at me quizzically and then plop your head back down. Then you'd lift it again, look at Papa, plop it down again. I really wanted you to sleep with us but it didn't seem like it was going to happen, so Papa got up and put together the Pak-n-play in our room. I thought this might work, but then I think the Tylenol kicked in and you started to feel better and then you were VERY awake. Basically from that point until 4am you and I moved back and forth between your room and my room trying everything to get you to sleep. Papa slept on the floor of the office in his sleeping bag with earplugs because he had to go to work in the morning. I was happy to sit in the rocking chair all night and let you sleep on me if you wanted, but you just wouldn't go to sleep even though you were clearly very tired and wanted to sleep. Eventually I put you in your crib and went back to my room alone. You cried and it broke my heart. But I knew you needed to sleep and unfortunately (well, most of the time it is a "fortunately" but in some circumstances it is an "unfortunately") we've trained you to fall asleep on your own in your crib and you don't seem to be able to fall asleep in any other circumstance. If you know I'm around you think it is awake/play time no matter how tired you are.
Anyway, you eventually fell asleep, but then had a fever on and off for the next three or four days and continued to be very fussy. You would be especially fussy with me which was hard, because as your mom I wanted to be able comfort you. I didn't understand why you'd be mostly okay with Grandma or Papa or Amy and then get so upset whenever you saw me. Grandma told me it was because you felt comfortable with me so you could really let your guard down. I wasn't sure what was going on: if it was teething or if maybe you were starting to go through some kind of separation anxiety (which apparently is common at your age) or if you were overwhelmed by the constant stream of company we'd had for two weeks or if maybe you had picked up some bug. I talked to the nurse at Dr. M's office on Tuesday who assured me that babies can get fever when teething so I decided to just ride it out for a few days rather than drag you into the docs office. Then on Thursday night you developed a rash. I called the after hours on-call nurse who said it could be a food reaction (I had given you formula for the first time that evening thinking that maybe you were fussing because you were starving and my milk supply was low) or that since you'd had a fever during the week the rash could be viral. Friday I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on any longer so we took you to Dr. M who took one look at your rash and said "Oh yea, that is from a virus." Apparently there is some fever/rash virus going around that causes a really bad headache and sore throat.
I felt so bad for not figuring out sooner that you really were sick - what kind of mother doesn't know when her kid is sick? Seriously. Grandma tried to make me feel better by pointing out that you were probably feeling bad from everything all together - illness, teething, company, separation anxiety - and that I wouldn't have done anything differently anyway. But still, I'd like to think that I'd be able to differentiate between teething and illness. Next time, Sweet Pea, I promise to be more on it.
Anyway, you were doing much better by the next Sunday thankfully and now things are back to normal. Your next two teeth (bottom right and top right) started poking through soon after and you really didn't seem bothered by them at all. I'm just so happy that you're feeling better and back to your normal, happy, content self. I hate getting sick more than almost anyone I know, but hands down I would rather get sick myself any day of the week than have you get sick. I guess I'll have to get used to it over time, but I'm not going to like it!
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