Dearest KB,
You are a year. I can't believe it. It happened so fast. And yet, it seems like a long time has passed since you were a snugly newborn, a first-smiler, a new crawler, a talker. I can't imagine our life and family without you. I'm glad you're here.
So, for your first year, I'll mention some of my best memories of you. Sorry if they are repeats.
We kept your name a secret until you were born. When we got close to the time you were going to be born, and we had finally settled on what we thought would be your middle name, I was bursting at the seams to tell someone. I wanted to hear your name out loud, to hear other people say it. I would take walks at lunch and repeat your name when no one was around, over and over. But it didn't feel the same as telling anyone. In a fit of goofy whimsy, I walked by a bird's nest that must have fallen out of a tree. Looking around first, I bent down and told it your name. Several times. I felt like I was locking your secret away in the most perfect of places, a site of birth, and it made me so joyful to name you. I know that's kind of overly sentimental, but I had spent most of my pregnancy trying to be "normal," like a person who was exactly the same in all ways except for her shape. But at that moment, you felt real.
I also remember seeing your heartbeat on the ultrasound at my first doctor appointment. I hadn't expected to get an ultrasound then, but when they offered (probably to determine due date), I jumped at the chance, but I was scared. I had one baby in my tummy before you, and I found out that they didn't survive through an early ultrasound. So I was worried to go in and get the same news. Seeing the small, pulsing spot on the screen made me want to jump for joy. (Though I still feel kind of bad that Daddy couldn't be there.)
The look on your face when you were first born was amazing. You looked at me like you knew me forever and it seemed like you were trying to memorize all of my features. You were clearly so calmed by my voice, and so interested in me. You still show such sincere interest in me. When you and Daddy pick me up, you seem so pleased to see me. Your reactions have settled down a little bit, but for a while there you would kick and scream and smile like a lunatic when I first came out of work. What a great reception! And sometimes, you give me this look like we have the biggest, greatest secret in the world. It's usually when we are snuggling, and kind of gently playing around, and you look at me and grin that special, conspiratorial grin.
I am so proud of you when you share with me (mostly food, sometimes toys) especially since we never worked on that overtly and you just started doing it on your own. I'm proud when strangers comment about how good you are (you were wonderful on our recent flight to the Grand Canyon and on the train to visit Auntie Lauren in NY). I love when you go out of your way to wave at people - it makes them smile. And you are such a happy eater. You'll eat anything and everything. Your favorites seem to be watermelon (your Grandpa would be proud!), tomatoes and mushrooms although there hasn't been anything you wouldn't eat. I know that the so-called "terrible twos" can be rocky and I'm not sure all of these habits will stick, but overall you seem to me a generally mild-mannered baby, a little bit of a thrill-seeker, a sweetheart through and through.
Speaking of thrill-seeking, I wanted to tell you a little about your 1st birthday. I took off that day, a Wednesday, and gMom stopped by first thing in the morning to drop off a toy, a pretend cell phone. Our cell phones were some of the only "toys" that could console you during some of the epic parts of our Arizona trip. Even though it was rainy (I think it was rainy on your original birth day too!), we headed out to the Elmwood Park Zoo as planned. You seemed to like the vultures (they are always hanging out all over that zoo), the flamingos, the monkeys, and the buffalo tails. We went home for a nap and then went back out to look for things for your birthday party. (I only had about a week to plan/shop for it once I got my act together.) I thought you would like a carousel, so we went by the Willow Grove Mall and the woman at the desk gave us a free pass for you! We hadn't brought any cash and the ATM wanted something absurd as a surcharge. I think it was $3.50. So I asked her about paying for it with a card, and she gave us a pass. She made our day. (Woman at the Willow Grove Mall customer service stand, Thank You!) You seemed to like the stationary ones. The ones that went up and down made you a little nervous, but you didn't cry. Instead of crying, you just grabbed on to my shirt tightly and went with the flow. Not entirely the exhilaration I thought you would have, but you liked waving and pointing after we got off. We went to small group that night and we sang Happy Birthday to you there. We turned out the lights, which seemed to scare you a little, when we sang. And although you ate the cake, you didn't seem obsessed like I anticipated. We went home tired.
Friday we set up for your party at the Swanns' house. I choose an animal theme and improvised with your decorations and I think it looked very festive after all (meaning "despite all that stressing"). Grammy made food and bought some extra decorations. gMom came with the cakes. And BOTH grandmas got you balloons. It was great to see everyone on Saturday. Some of the Trainors were able to make it, and Emily's family was around from Alaska. You spent a lot of the party trying to go up the stairs (a new skill you perfected in the Grand Canyon with gMom and that you use to let yourself off of the bed on your own now!). In a rookie mom move, I gave you ice cream cake and you got brain freeze and yelled hysterically. The singing went much better with the lights on, although you seemed a little shocked that everyone was staring. Present time was fun - I opened most of them. =) But you and the other kids had fun playing with the toys. You got a lot of great ones!
Whew. I'm exhausted just recapping it. It was a great celebration though. I am most amazed that 1-yr-olds are still so small. I guess I thought that 1 meant you were all grown up, but you are still very much our little baby girl. Every day you learn more and more.
Oh, more memories: baby yoga and infant massage were both fun bonding experiences for me/us. You seemed to like doing "yummy toes," being helped to pull to sitting/standing (like baby crunches), and a baby massage technique that made your leg flop all over the place. You love when I sign to the alphabet song and it will calm you down even if I sing it from the front seat and you can't see my hands.
So, all these memories boil down to this: This year has been a great one. There are memories every day - secret smiles, things you point at, games we make up, meals and baths we share, that all add up to one great realization. I love you and I love being a mom. I thank God for giving you to our family.
Here's to a great first year and may there be many more.
I love you.
Mom
Friday, October 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Dearest baby Juliet @ 11+ months; Here's pointing to you!
Dear J,
For the most part, you have been an absolute joy this past month. It is clear that you are really understanding things. I taught you how to turn the lights off in the bathroom (this may have been a bad move because you are enamored like someone who has never seen electricity - you point at the lights and the switch every time we go in there). I also taught you to open up your mouth so I can "brush" your two little teeth. You don't keep your mouth open for long, though, because you seem to like biting the wet washcloth I am using. I've got to watch my fingers!
At the beginning of August, I read a baby email that mentioned that the things that you had started pointing at showed the things that you are interested in. Sure, you were pointing, and we sort of knew that the things that you were pointing at were interesting to you, but only on a subconscious level. After I read that and started thinking about it, I used all that pointing as a way of learning about you. We could see what you found interesting or what you wanted. After I shared that with Daddy, he sent me a picture from his phone with the words "things baby points at." The picture was a fun one - row after row of brightly-painted piggy banks. I'd point too! Then I noticed other things you point at. You pretty much love animals and point at them all the time. Over the past few days, you've even started pointing at the fish! I'm not sure you realized he was there before. In the mornings, laying in bed, we used to point to the chimes above our bed over and over. You would point and look at me cheerfully and I would point too, saying "chimes." But maybe they lost their novelty because we haven't done it in a week or two.
We went with my parents to Dewey Beach, DE and it was such a great vacation. You seemed delighted by everything there and the routine seemed to really suit you (aka you went to bed easily). I put your little feet in the water, thinking it would be too cold, but you seemed pleased. When the waves came in, I would pick you up a little so you could kick your feet. As they went out, I put you down and you got this strange pleased look on your face. I think you liked the way the water receding felt on your little feet and how they start to sink in the soft sand at that point. You crawled all over. I was amused at seeing what a crawling baby's "footprints" look like. Hard to explain here. You were just the greatest, happiest little beach baby. I put you in my carrier for the morning and evening dog beach walks and it felt serene. Daddy found a large (conch?) shell on that trip and when we put it up to your ear so you can hear the ocean, you get that same small, peculiar look of amusement and delight that you gave when the waves sunk your feet in the sand. Such a wonderful, wonderful trip.
Oh, you headstand too! I don't know where it came from, but from time to time you will stop crawling, put your bottom in the air, and look at the world upside-down. I haven't been fast enough to get a picture, but it is just so funny.
September 8th you did something that melted my heart. I was spending the morning with you, sharing a handful of puffs. You were taking them out of my palm, one at a time, and eating them. And then you took one and held it out to my mouth! I couldn't believe it. I opened my mouth and in you put it, smiling the whole time. I couldn't believe it - where did you learn that? We didn't overtly teach you that, and yet, there it was. Another glimpse in to your mind.
Oh, a funny thing food-related happened at a cookout we went to at a friends' house at church. I was really proud of you because I cut the food up in to small pieces and then placed the plate on a large tray on the floor with all the other kids. Your first experience of the kids' table! You were adorably munching away until I looked away and turned back to see you grab the top bun of the girl's hamburger next to you. The entire thing you just plucked off of her burger. It was funny, but I felt kind of bad for her too. Guess that's the next lesson.
Oh, you've added a new word to your repertoire - "wow." It happened right after the shore trip mentioned above, so maybe we said it a lot there. But it is funny to hear you exclaim it over all sorts of things.
In the interest of full disclosure of the good and the bad, I am having a hard time getting you to cooperate with diaper changes and with getting in your car seat. You wiggle and squirm and try to turn around. If I get out an interesting toy, sometimes that keeps you put long enough to get the job done. But sometimes it is so frustrating. Daddy does not seem to have this problem.
A couple days ago I tried to introduce you to the idea of Elimination Communication. Even if we didn't follow it all the time, I thought that knowing that you were going to the bathroom might help you once potty training came around. One of my friends mentioned bringing you to the toilet first thing in the morning. One day I did and you went in the potty!!! I made a "ssss" sound and cheered for you. It went well. The next day, the same thing. Only this time you seemed to look to me to cheer. And cheer I did. But I got too overzealous and brought you to the potty numerous times that day, none of which you went to the bathroom during and the ones later in which you tensed up and kind of whined/cried. And the next morning you tensed and cried again. Either you didn't have to go, or I overdid it. And I feel kind of bad because it was going so well. So we'll wait a couple days and try again. I was just kind of hoping to avoid the potty battle in the future.
I feel like I have been so very busy. But I wanted to write this before our trip to the Grand Canyon with my family in a few days. I'm sure that will have some more stories. And then once we get back, we have a week before YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY?! When did THAT happen? I certainly don't feel like you've been here a year and, yet, I can't remember life before you.
You are generally an easy-going and mild-mannered kid. Every now and then you have a bit of a temper or stubborn streak, but, knowing your parents, that's not surprising. I love you so much and I'm so very happy to have you here.
Kisses and Hugs around the neck (and the bushel and the peck, etc),
Mom
For the most part, you have been an absolute joy this past month. It is clear that you are really understanding things. I taught you how to turn the lights off in the bathroom (this may have been a bad move because you are enamored like someone who has never seen electricity - you point at the lights and the switch every time we go in there). I also taught you to open up your mouth so I can "brush" your two little teeth. You don't keep your mouth open for long, though, because you seem to like biting the wet washcloth I am using. I've got to watch my fingers!
At the beginning of August, I read a baby email that mentioned that the things that you had started pointing at showed the things that you are interested in. Sure, you were pointing, and we sort of knew that the things that you were pointing at were interesting to you, but only on a subconscious level. After I read that and started thinking about it, I used all that pointing as a way of learning about you. We could see what you found interesting or what you wanted. After I shared that with Daddy, he sent me a picture from his phone with the words "things baby points at." The picture was a fun one - row after row of brightly-painted piggy banks. I'd point too! Then I noticed other things you point at. You pretty much love animals and point at them all the time. Over the past few days, you've even started pointing at the fish! I'm not sure you realized he was there before. In the mornings, laying in bed, we used to point to the chimes above our bed over and over. You would point and look at me cheerfully and I would point too, saying "chimes." But maybe they lost their novelty because we haven't done it in a week or two.
We went with my parents to Dewey Beach, DE and it was such a great vacation. You seemed delighted by everything there and the routine seemed to really suit you (aka you went to bed easily). I put your little feet in the water, thinking it would be too cold, but you seemed pleased. When the waves came in, I would pick you up a little so you could kick your feet. As they went out, I put you down and you got this strange pleased look on your face. I think you liked the way the water receding felt on your little feet and how they start to sink in the soft sand at that point. You crawled all over. I was amused at seeing what a crawling baby's "footprints" look like. Hard to explain here. You were just the greatest, happiest little beach baby. I put you in my carrier for the morning and evening dog beach walks and it felt serene. Daddy found a large (conch?) shell on that trip and when we put it up to your ear so you can hear the ocean, you get that same small, peculiar look of amusement and delight that you gave when the waves sunk your feet in the sand. Such a wonderful, wonderful trip.
Oh, you headstand too! I don't know where it came from, but from time to time you will stop crawling, put your bottom in the air, and look at the world upside-down. I haven't been fast enough to get a picture, but it is just so funny.
September 8th you did something that melted my heart. I was spending the morning with you, sharing a handful of puffs. You were taking them out of my palm, one at a time, and eating them. And then you took one and held it out to my mouth! I couldn't believe it. I opened my mouth and in you put it, smiling the whole time. I couldn't believe it - where did you learn that? We didn't overtly teach you that, and yet, there it was. Another glimpse in to your mind.
Oh, a funny thing food-related happened at a cookout we went to at a friends' house at church. I was really proud of you because I cut the food up in to small pieces and then placed the plate on a large tray on the floor with all the other kids. Your first experience of the kids' table! You were adorably munching away until I looked away and turned back to see you grab the top bun of the girl's hamburger next to you. The entire thing you just plucked off of her burger. It was funny, but I felt kind of bad for her too. Guess that's the next lesson.
Oh, you've added a new word to your repertoire - "wow." It happened right after the shore trip mentioned above, so maybe we said it a lot there. But it is funny to hear you exclaim it over all sorts of things.
In the interest of full disclosure of the good and the bad, I am having a hard time getting you to cooperate with diaper changes and with getting in your car seat. You wiggle and squirm and try to turn around. If I get out an interesting toy, sometimes that keeps you put long enough to get the job done. But sometimes it is so frustrating. Daddy does not seem to have this problem.
A couple days ago I tried to introduce you to the idea of Elimination Communication. Even if we didn't follow it all the time, I thought that knowing that you were going to the bathroom might help you once potty training came around. One of my friends mentioned bringing you to the toilet first thing in the morning. One day I did and you went in the potty!!! I made a "ssss" sound and cheered for you. It went well. The next day, the same thing. Only this time you seemed to look to me to cheer. And cheer I did. But I got too overzealous and brought you to the potty numerous times that day, none of which you went to the bathroom during and the ones later in which you tensed up and kind of whined/cried. And the next morning you tensed and cried again. Either you didn't have to go, or I overdid it. And I feel kind of bad because it was going so well. So we'll wait a couple days and try again. I was just kind of hoping to avoid the potty battle in the future.
I feel like I have been so very busy. But I wanted to write this before our trip to the Grand Canyon with my family in a few days. I'm sure that will have some more stories. And then once we get back, we have a week before YOUR FIRST BIRTHDAY?! When did THAT happen? I certainly don't feel like you've been here a year and, yet, I can't remember life before you.
You are generally an easy-going and mild-mannered kid. Every now and then you have a bit of a temper or stubborn streak, but, knowing your parents, that's not surprising. I love you so much and I'm so very happy to have you here.
Kisses and Hugs around the neck (and the bushel and the peck, etc),
Mom
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Almost One? Actually 10 months. (aka How Time Flies)
Dearest Baby Juliet,
10 months seems awfully close to a year, doesn't it! A year? Have you really been with us almost that long? I can't believe it. On one hand, I can hardly remember our life before you got here. On the other hand, that newborn period seems so far away. It's hard to remember you then, small and helpless, staying exactly where you were placed, having trouble focusing your eyes, blinking blearily. My largest memory of that time is cuddling with you, the hours on the couch with you in my arms. Then I couldn't have imagined all that you are doing now!
You crawl! You pull to standing! You point! You play peek-a-boo!
You are amazing, a person developing before our eyes. If we developed as much as you do in a year, we'd be wonderpeople by now.
It's fun to see you encounter new things. You test them over and over. I went with you and Daddy to his cleaning job and you had your first encounter with stairs. You put one knee up and tried rocking back and forth, finding your balance. You didn't manage the other knee, but I could see you thinking, "how do I get over these?" You've found funny things to do at your grandparents' houses too. At my parents' house, you're showing nearly as much interest in tennis balls as Jake. (No, that's impossible.) And you impress gMom by picking them up with one hand! At Daddy's parents' house, you repeat a funny pattern: you go to the shelf under the television and try to pull out the big heavy books on the bottom shelf, then pull yourself to standing and point to the silver sparkly letters of the Band of Brothers DVD collection on the shelf above it. You will do this over and over again. It is fun to predict it (And next, she'll point at the letters....) and then watch you do it. I love that these things entertain you so much. It is fun to see your mind work via your actions and wonder how the world looks to you.
My favorite thing is seeing you when I get off from work. At the end of the day, once I've packed up all my things, I'm greeted with the most exuberant reaction. Sometimes Daddy takes you out of your seat and you both sit in the front seat to wait for me. When I come out, you often start bouncing vigorously. It's like your joy is going to blast out of you. I can usually see your mouth opening wide and closing. Your big smile. You shout, long and loud, as I walk closer. When I open the door, I can hear it, happily greeting me. I love it so much.
There is another thing you do that I think is precious. It's only every here and there and I don't know if I've mentioned it before. When I nurse you in cradle position, sometimes you will take your fist that is below my armpit and clench and unclench handfuls of shirt. I remember you starting that when you were very little, probably about 3 months, and how it just seemed like a sweet little hug. Every now and then, you still do it. It seems very distinctly you. But maybe all babies do it? I have no comparison. =)
We've spent a lot of time at the pool, and you're still enjoying it. You're no longer content to sit on a blanket like you were last month, but you're still a pretty content baby. We just have to watch you really closely because you want to eat everything.
Speaking of which, the other day at our apartment, I was playing with you on the bed and I noticed you munching. Then, slowly, you pushed something out of your mouth. At first it was just something white and you pulled it back in. Then, pushing it out, it proved to be letters - an "m," an "e." Out it came in one more thrust - the word "mean!" Somehow you must have picked up one of the fridge magnets and put it in your mouth. It was kind of hysterical if you don't think about choking hazards and supervision issues. Where did that come from?
You do not want to be held much anymore; You want to get down! You will push your body away with your arms or arch your back trying to get down. This seems to happen especially at church and at our grandparents' houses. Maybe there is too much to explore and too little time at those places.
Physically, you've started communicating more. You point at things that catch your attention. When you want to get picked up, you kind of hold your arms up. You're not exactly reaching out to be picked up, but more like raising your arms so I have better access to your torso. You pull cloths over your head and move them away slowly to play peek-a-boo. You wave your whole arms to say bye-bye. You tense up your body and shake when you want something we have (you love to eat, especially watermelon, and if you run out before we do, you let us know). Even though Daddy might disagree, it seems like you make the sign for milk a lot. You open and close your fist right up next to your nose. I imagine that when I make the sign while you're nursing, it looks like it's supposed to be there, right in front of your face. (You can do it down near your body too, but the way you do it now is pretty cute.) However, it seems like you make it when you want to be rescued from where you currently are, like in your carseat or when you are overly tired and I'm trying to change or dress you. I'm not sure it means "milk" as much as "come and get me - I don't want to be here." And that's fine too.
You are really coming in to your own this month. It is great to see you making such progress. I love being a parent. I still don't always feel like one, but it is great when I reflect on it. I can't imagine you walking and talking confidently. But I know it will come, as quickly as these changes have come. Farther and farther away from that cuddly little newborn and further and further in to the person you will be.
I love you.
Mom
10 months seems awfully close to a year, doesn't it! A year? Have you really been with us almost that long? I can't believe it. On one hand, I can hardly remember our life before you got here. On the other hand, that newborn period seems so far away. It's hard to remember you then, small and helpless, staying exactly where you were placed, having trouble focusing your eyes, blinking blearily. My largest memory of that time is cuddling with you, the hours on the couch with you in my arms. Then I couldn't have imagined all that you are doing now!
You crawl! You pull to standing! You point! You play peek-a-boo!
You are amazing, a person developing before our eyes. If we developed as much as you do in a year, we'd be wonderpeople by now.
It's fun to see you encounter new things. You test them over and over. I went with you and Daddy to his cleaning job and you had your first encounter with stairs. You put one knee up and tried rocking back and forth, finding your balance. You didn't manage the other knee, but I could see you thinking, "how do I get over these?" You've found funny things to do at your grandparents' houses too. At my parents' house, you're showing nearly as much interest in tennis balls as Jake. (No, that's impossible.) And you impress gMom by picking them up with one hand! At Daddy's parents' house, you repeat a funny pattern: you go to the shelf under the television and try to pull out the big heavy books on the bottom shelf, then pull yourself to standing and point to the silver sparkly letters of the Band of Brothers DVD collection on the shelf above it. You will do this over and over again. It is fun to predict it (And next, she'll point at the letters....) and then watch you do it. I love that these things entertain you so much. It is fun to see your mind work via your actions and wonder how the world looks to you.
My favorite thing is seeing you when I get off from work. At the end of the day, once I've packed up all my things, I'm greeted with the most exuberant reaction. Sometimes Daddy takes you out of your seat and you both sit in the front seat to wait for me. When I come out, you often start bouncing vigorously. It's like your joy is going to blast out of you. I can usually see your mouth opening wide and closing. Your big smile. You shout, long and loud, as I walk closer. When I open the door, I can hear it, happily greeting me. I love it so much.
There is another thing you do that I think is precious. It's only every here and there and I don't know if I've mentioned it before. When I nurse you in cradle position, sometimes you will take your fist that is below my armpit and clench and unclench handfuls of shirt. I remember you starting that when you were very little, probably about 3 months, and how it just seemed like a sweet little hug. Every now and then, you still do it. It seems very distinctly you. But maybe all babies do it? I have no comparison. =)
We've spent a lot of time at the pool, and you're still enjoying it. You're no longer content to sit on a blanket like you were last month, but you're still a pretty content baby. We just have to watch you really closely because you want to eat everything.
Speaking of which, the other day at our apartment, I was playing with you on the bed and I noticed you munching. Then, slowly, you pushed something out of your mouth. At first it was just something white and you pulled it back in. Then, pushing it out, it proved to be letters - an "m," an "e." Out it came in one more thrust - the word "mean!" Somehow you must have picked up one of the fridge magnets and put it in your mouth. It was kind of hysterical if you don't think about choking hazards and supervision issues. Where did that come from?
You do not want to be held much anymore; You want to get down! You will push your body away with your arms or arch your back trying to get down. This seems to happen especially at church and at our grandparents' houses. Maybe there is too much to explore and too little time at those places.
Physically, you've started communicating more. You point at things that catch your attention. When you want to get picked up, you kind of hold your arms up. You're not exactly reaching out to be picked up, but more like raising your arms so I have better access to your torso. You pull cloths over your head and move them away slowly to play peek-a-boo. You wave your whole arms to say bye-bye. You tense up your body and shake when you want something we have (you love to eat, especially watermelon, and if you run out before we do, you let us know). Even though Daddy might disagree, it seems like you make the sign for milk a lot. You open and close your fist right up next to your nose. I imagine that when I make the sign while you're nursing, it looks like it's supposed to be there, right in front of your face. (You can do it down near your body too, but the way you do it now is pretty cute.) However, it seems like you make it when you want to be rescued from where you currently are, like in your carseat or when you are overly tired and I'm trying to change or dress you. I'm not sure it means "milk" as much as "come and get me - I don't want to be here." And that's fine too.
You are really coming in to your own this month. It is great to see you making such progress. I love being a parent. I still don't always feel like one, but it is great when I reflect on it. I can't imagine you walking and talking confidently. But I know it will come, as quickly as these changes have come. Farther and farther away from that cuddly little newborn and further and further in to the person you will be.
I love you.
Mom
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Power Struggles
Power struggles?
Rachel, are you having power struggles with Juliet already? Is her stubborn streak starting to show? You're not alone. Write about how Juliet is asserting her independence and the struggles that it causes. Write now.
How could I not write immediately?! Baby Weekly Journal is constantly imploring me to write now. It's kind of amusing. BUT if you could see all the posts that I haven't done (the ones that just have the question and not any answer yet) you would know that I am taking them seriously, if a little disorganized-ly.
This does remind me of something Juliet does when she gets frustrated. I've mostly seen this when she is in her high chair and she wants whatever we are eating (watermelon and raspberries seem to be her favorites) - she tenses her whole body up, clenches both fists and shakes them quickly. Auntie Lauren affectionately dubbed her Katie Ka-boom after the Animaniacs character that would get so mad she would explode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Animaniacs_characters). Gulp. This doesn't bode well for our teen years, does it?
Rachel, are you having power struggles with Juliet already? Is her stubborn streak starting to show? You're not alone. Write about how Juliet is asserting her independence and the struggles that it causes. Write now.
How could I not write immediately?! Baby Weekly Journal is constantly imploring me to write now. It's kind of amusing. BUT if you could see all the posts that I haven't done (the ones that just have the question and not any answer yet) you would know that I am taking them seriously, if a little disorganized-ly.
This does remind me of something Juliet does when she gets frustrated. I've mostly seen this when she is in her high chair and she wants whatever we are eating (watermelon and raspberries seem to be her favorites) - she tenses her whole body up, clenches both fists and shakes them quickly. Auntie Lauren affectionately dubbed her Katie Ka-boom after the Animaniacs character that would get so mad she would explode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Animaniacs_characters). Gulp. This doesn't bode well for our teen years, does it?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
On sleep and teeth
Okay, perhaps a flaky move on my part, but suddenly I've gotten through that newborn-longing and am so happy to interact with KickyBaby and get to know her. I'm enjoying seeing how her mind works, putting together different actions. I love playing cause-and-effect games with her. Her favorite seems to be in her carseat - I purse my lips and when she points to them, I pop! I love her laughing - it is the sweetest.
I think my missing of the baby period was furthered by our recent sleep struggles. Suddenly, it got so hard. And then, it got easy(ish) again. Why, you ask? Well, Daddy and Baby picked me up from work on Friday and KB tried to eat my finger as she usually does and I felt something sharp! A small jagged ridge of tooth was visible in the bottom middle of her gum line. I believe I exclaimed to Matt mid-sentence (Matt's sentence, not mine), "A tooth! We have a tooth!" It makes so much more sense now. We're still putting her to bed protesting and bringing her in to our bed in the middle of the night, but I'm not nursing all night long anymore. Whew. I love my nursing relationship with my daughter, but that was getting trying.
The flakiness does emphasize one thing that I will try to keep remembering. Everything will pass. It is so easy for me to get thoroughly wrapped up in things - the way I feel at a particular time, a decision we are trying to make, wondering about parenting and how-will-this-screw-her-up-in-a-few-years-oh-no type dilemmas. And then, they are gone as fast as they've come and there is just the soft hint of a bump in the road, the slight memory of a rough time. Wow, it is amazing how different sleep problems look a few days later. When you are right in the middle of them, at the crib, rubbing the belly of a screaming baby and saying shhhh over and over and over, it becomes your life. You're ready to throw in the towel, turn in your parenting badge, call every mother you know in the world and beg for advice. And then, give it a few days or weeks, and it's all a distant memory. Funny how that works. And wonderful. And such a huge relief.
I think my missing of the baby period was furthered by our recent sleep struggles. Suddenly, it got so hard. And then, it got easy(ish) again. Why, you ask? Well, Daddy and Baby picked me up from work on Friday and KB tried to eat my finger as she usually does and I felt something sharp! A small jagged ridge of tooth was visible in the bottom middle of her gum line. I believe I exclaimed to Matt mid-sentence (Matt's sentence, not mine), "A tooth! We have a tooth!" It makes so much more sense now. We're still putting her to bed protesting and bringing her in to our bed in the middle of the night, but I'm not nursing all night long anymore. Whew. I love my nursing relationship with my daughter, but that was getting trying.
The flakiness does emphasize one thing that I will try to keep remembering. Everything will pass. It is so easy for me to get thoroughly wrapped up in things - the way I feel at a particular time, a decision we are trying to make, wondering about parenting and how-will-this-screw-her-up-in-a-few-years-oh-no type dilemmas. And then, they are gone as fast as they've come and there is just the soft hint of a bump in the road, the slight memory of a rough time. Wow, it is amazing how different sleep problems look a few days later. When you are right in the middle of them, at the crib, rubbing the belly of a screaming baby and saying shhhh over and over and over, it becomes your life. You're ready to throw in the towel, turn in your parenting badge, call every mother you know in the world and beg for advice. And then, give it a few days or weeks, and it's all a distant memory. Funny how that works. And wonderful. And such a huge relief.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
P.S. I DO miss the newborn period. Is that allowed?
Per BabyWeekly Journal: Rachel, as you watch Juliet grow, learn, and become a little person, do you ever long for your cuddly little baby again? Many women start missing their little newborn baby when he or she reaches toddler-hood. Do you have any longings for your baby of days past? Write now.
Man, this couldn't have come at a more apt time. This came in on 6/29 and it was probably at the peak of my missing of the cuddly little baby I used to have. It felt weird to feel that disconnect - to love this new person who is emerging, but to also kind of miss the smallness of newborn KickyBaby and the cuddling. I was destined to love the newborn phase - I love little things (ie, baby animals) and cuddling and that's about all the give-back you get from a newborn. Now I'm trying to figure out negotiating life with a person who has their own preferences and intentions, and who can go where she wants (to a point). And when I hold her, she wants to squirm to face forward or get down. Except for the sleepy cuddle. We've still got those. So maybe I shouldn't be SO unhappy to be kept up at night nursing. You are still my little cuddly baby in there somewhere. Welcome to exploring the world!
Man, this couldn't have come at a more apt time. This came in on 6/29 and it was probably at the peak of my missing of the cuddly little baby I used to have. It felt weird to feel that disconnect - to love this new person who is emerging, but to also kind of miss the smallness of newborn KickyBaby and the cuddling. I was destined to love the newborn phase - I love little things (ie, baby animals) and cuddling and that's about all the give-back you get from a newborn. Now I'm trying to figure out negotiating life with a person who has their own preferences and intentions, and who can go where she wants (to a point). And when I hold her, she wants to squirm to face forward or get down. Except for the sleepy cuddle. We've still got those. So maybe I shouldn't be SO unhappy to be kept up at night nursing. You are still my little cuddly baby in there somewhere. Welcome to exploring the world!
Letters to Mrs. Baby, 9 months
Hello Mrs. Baby!
If I wrote this when you *actually* turned 9 months, I wouldn't be able to mention your forward-crawling and your pulling to standing! Yes, it happened that fast! Before you were rolling and scooting backwards but now, wow, you are a fast forward crawler. The other night we set you on the carpet and mom and dad were both in the bathroom and, here you came, crawling furiously toward the bathroom. It was kind of adorable.
Though it makes Daddy's job much, much harder.
I just introduced you to the song "If you're happy and you know it." You love mimicking clapping and you just seemed delighted. I'm amazed at what goes on in your mind. You definitely understand cause-and-effect; I have fun making a fishy face at you in the car and waiting until you point to my lips to "pop!" I cherish our little games.
On the food and sleep fronts, we have a win and a lose. We've been giving you smaller food and you've been doing really well. With some small slippery food (kiwi, mainly), you've been pulling it to the edge of your tray and trying to slurp it up off of it from there. You are certainly industrious, but we should have known that when you ate your puffs off of the back of your hand (or anywhere else they would stick!).
Sleeping is so very hard and kind of horrible. We seem to have 2 options at night. Nurse you indefinitely or let you cry to sleep. Neither option works very well, honestly. We've been letting you cry at first and then bringing you in to bed when you wake up overnight, but it is so, so, SO hard for me to hear you cry and let you cry. I really don't like it and am desperately trying to find a better way.
You had your first full-body pool experience at my parents' house and you loved it. You kicked your legs and waved your arms and seemed like a natural. Then you drifted off to a peaceful sleep laying on a towel on the grass. That is the life! Just like your mama. gMom says I was the same way as a baby.
We had your first appointment with the new pediatrician and we really like her. You had a couple shots but Daddy sent me out of the room. I guess it is pretty sad to see you hurting. I loved holding you afterward in hopes that I could help you feel better. I seem to have a calming effect on you. Those are the times I feel most like your mom.
I love you KickyBaby. It is going so fast though.... where is the Pause button?
Except for the sleeping thing - let's fast-forward to good sleep soon. =)
All my best,
Mommy
If I wrote this when you *actually* turned 9 months, I wouldn't be able to mention your forward-crawling and your pulling to standing! Yes, it happened that fast! Before you were rolling and scooting backwards but now, wow, you are a fast forward crawler. The other night we set you on the carpet and mom and dad were both in the bathroom and, here you came, crawling furiously toward the bathroom. It was kind of adorable.
Though it makes Daddy's job much, much harder.
I just introduced you to the song "If you're happy and you know it." You love mimicking clapping and you just seemed delighted. I'm amazed at what goes on in your mind. You definitely understand cause-and-effect; I have fun making a fishy face at you in the car and waiting until you point to my lips to "pop!" I cherish our little games.
On the food and sleep fronts, we have a win and a lose. We've been giving you smaller food and you've been doing really well. With some small slippery food (kiwi, mainly), you've been pulling it to the edge of your tray and trying to slurp it up off of it from there. You are certainly industrious, but we should have known that when you ate your puffs off of the back of your hand (or anywhere else they would stick!).
Sleeping is so very hard and kind of horrible. We seem to have 2 options at night. Nurse you indefinitely or let you cry to sleep. Neither option works very well, honestly. We've been letting you cry at first and then bringing you in to bed when you wake up overnight, but it is so, so, SO hard for me to hear you cry and let you cry. I really don't like it and am desperately trying to find a better way.
You had your first full-body pool experience at my parents' house and you loved it. You kicked your legs and waved your arms and seemed like a natural. Then you drifted off to a peaceful sleep laying on a towel on the grass. That is the life! Just like your mama. gMom says I was the same way as a baby.
We had your first appointment with the new pediatrician and we really like her. You had a couple shots but Daddy sent me out of the room. I guess it is pretty sad to see you hurting. I loved holding you afterward in hopes that I could help you feel better. I seem to have a calming effect on you. Those are the times I feel most like your mom.
I love you KickyBaby. It is going so fast though.... where is the Pause button?
Except for the sleeping thing - let's fast-forward to good sleep soon. =)
All my best,
Mommy
Friday, June 10, 2011
8 months and going strong - a letter to Mrs. Baby
Dear Mrs. Baby,
You have become very interactive this month and are showing the first signs of becoming mobile! In an effort not to forget things, I've been sending 1-line memories from my phone to my email. So many things you do give me so much delight and I am sure I will never, ever forget the joy in that moment. Then give it a couple days or weeks and we're off to the next phase and that memory is forgotten. My darling, I have always cried over spilled milk even though I know how useless that can be. But you are always changing and there seems to be a new thing every day. So, I will try to capture those small moments in a way that is not melancholy, but celebratory. Because there is more to come and I have the privilege of being along for the ride.
This month you clapped for me. On May 28th, I was doing the dishes and you were playing in the living room. I would look over from time to time to check on you and engage you and one time I looked over and you clapped! And you did it again and again. I felt like quite the celebrity, being applauded for chores. =) I had just started showing you clapping a few weeks before and it surprised me that you seemed to pick it up AND direct your practice to me.
Right around the 8 month mark, I spent an entire afternoon switching your clothes over to the 3-6 size! I know you're still on the small side, but no more 0-3. And they fit you really well - we probably should have done it earlier.
You hand is the length of my pinky from the base to the top joint. I wonder how big your hand was when you were born. Time has passed so fast.
The past few days, you've been giving me the biggest smiles! Your Grammy said that your Daddy used to give those type of smiles(the mouth stretched long and thin as can be, the eyes closed to wee little slits) and calls them "line smiles." I tried one today - they kind of hurt the face, actually. You must have good facial muscles.
And you move - mostly rolling and crawling backward - but look away from you for a couple minutes and you will have moved several feet!?!
Our biggest challenges are sleeping and eating. Bed-sharing with you saved my sanity in the newborn period and helped our nursing relationship and I am glad we did it. But as you get a little bigger, the challenge is how to transition you to your own bed so I can spend some time reconnecting with Daddy and have some solo time.
And we had been doing baby-led weaning with you, giving you the same foods we were eating, and it worked really well when we first started. We would give you large pieces of food and you would hold one end and gnaw on the other. Now, though, you shove the entire piece in your mouth. It's scarey for me and I realize that, with your new dexterity, we have to rethink our strategy. Maybe you should graduate down to smaller pieces. You seem to really love mealtimes and are really adventurous in your eating (2 of the proposed "perks" of BLW) but it can be stressful!
I've been trying to teach you sign language so you can communicate with us more easily. Sometimes you get really frustrated and tense your fists and whole body up. I'd love to spare us that disconnect, but I'm not very diligent at teaching you.
Oh, I almost forgot that you had your first day at the pool too! You were SO happy. Even though the water was very cold, you seemed to like putting your toes in. And then you spent a very long time sitting on a towel on the grass, playing with toys and watching the kids trying to make you smile from the pool. It worked better then I thought it would and you seemed really happy. I shouldn't have been surprised - you seem to like crowds. Our little social butterfly.
So you are making leaps and bounds to independence and it's hard to remember the helpless newborn time. And then, try to think about this time next year and it feels impossible! What will be next?
Love,
Mom
You have become very interactive this month and are showing the first signs of becoming mobile! In an effort not to forget things, I've been sending 1-line memories from my phone to my email. So many things you do give me so much delight and I am sure I will never, ever forget the joy in that moment. Then give it a couple days or weeks and we're off to the next phase and that memory is forgotten. My darling, I have always cried over spilled milk even though I know how useless that can be. But you are always changing and there seems to be a new thing every day. So, I will try to capture those small moments in a way that is not melancholy, but celebratory. Because there is more to come and I have the privilege of being along for the ride.
This month you clapped for me. On May 28th, I was doing the dishes and you were playing in the living room. I would look over from time to time to check on you and engage you and one time I looked over and you clapped! And you did it again and again. I felt like quite the celebrity, being applauded for chores. =) I had just started showing you clapping a few weeks before and it surprised me that you seemed to pick it up AND direct your practice to me.
Right around the 8 month mark, I spent an entire afternoon switching your clothes over to the 3-6 size! I know you're still on the small side, but no more 0-3. And they fit you really well - we probably should have done it earlier.
You hand is the length of my pinky from the base to the top joint. I wonder how big your hand was when you were born. Time has passed so fast.
The past few days, you've been giving me the biggest smiles! Your Grammy said that your Daddy used to give those type of smiles(the mouth stretched long and thin as can be, the eyes closed to wee little slits) and calls them "line smiles." I tried one today - they kind of hurt the face, actually. You must have good facial muscles.
And you move - mostly rolling and crawling backward - but look away from you for a couple minutes and you will have moved several feet!?!
Our biggest challenges are sleeping and eating. Bed-sharing with you saved my sanity in the newborn period and helped our nursing relationship and I am glad we did it. But as you get a little bigger, the challenge is how to transition you to your own bed so I can spend some time reconnecting with Daddy and have some solo time.
And we had been doing baby-led weaning with you, giving you the same foods we were eating, and it worked really well when we first started. We would give you large pieces of food and you would hold one end and gnaw on the other. Now, though, you shove the entire piece in your mouth. It's scarey for me and I realize that, with your new dexterity, we have to rethink our strategy. Maybe you should graduate down to smaller pieces. You seem to really love mealtimes and are really adventurous in your eating (2 of the proposed "perks" of BLW) but it can be stressful!
I've been trying to teach you sign language so you can communicate with us more easily. Sometimes you get really frustrated and tense your fists and whole body up. I'd love to spare us that disconnect, but I'm not very diligent at teaching you.
Oh, I almost forgot that you had your first day at the pool too! You were SO happy. Even though the water was very cold, you seemed to like putting your toes in. And then you spent a very long time sitting on a towel on the grass, playing with toys and watching the kids trying to make you smile from the pool. It worked better then I thought it would and you seemed really happy. I shouldn't have been surprised - you seem to like crowds. Our little social butterfly.
So you are making leaps and bounds to independence and it's hard to remember the helpless newborn time. And then, try to think about this time next year and it feels impossible! What will be next?
Love,
Mom
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
My favorite memory from Mother's Day
My favorite memory on mother's day was not the card (though adorable) or the dinner with gMom and Grandpa (though.... interesting.... I guess I don't like German food, but the atmosphere was fun) but the feeling I got when I woke up early on the morning of Mother's Day. I looked at KickyBaby's lovely face and felt something in my heart affirm, "you are a mom" and the warmest, tenderest feeling came over me. I wanted to capture that feeling forever - to stay snuggled there in bed with my daughter. Nothing that anyone did or said could match the gift of actually being a mom on that day. (The recognition was just a perk!) As I realize the sweetness of motherhood, I am amazed over and over again that I was someone else's baby in the way that my daughter is my baby. So Happy Mother's Day gMom! How sweet it is.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Music Juliet loves
Music Juliet loves
Rachel, do you have any lullabies or songs that you sing to Juliet? It doesn't even have to be a lullaby; she loves music and hearing your voice at this age, and will probably enjoy any music you expose her to. This week in your journal write down any type of music or specific songs that Juliet really seems to enjoy. Write down her reaction when you dance around or sing to her. Write now.
When Juliet was very little, I would put her in the bathroom with me while I showered. I would sing some songs and talk to her from the other side of the curtain to keep her occupied, but her favorite part of that routine involved a song I sang to her once I got out of the shower. I would sing Itsy Bitsy Spider while I dried off my hair, like so:
The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout (finger gesture)
Down came the rain (flip towel and hair over baby)
and washed the spider out (dry hair)
up came the sun and dried up all the rain (pick up head and towel)
and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again (finger gesture).
Repeat until reasonably dry.
These days she doesn't want to sit in the bathroom with me while I shower (I think she knows that I am on the other side of the curtain and she doesn't like it!) but she still gets quiet and alert when I sing this song. I think she remembers it from her infancy. =)
Rachel, do you have any lullabies or songs that you sing to Juliet? It doesn't even have to be a lullaby; she loves music and hearing your voice at this age, and will probably enjoy any music you expose her to. This week in your journal write down any type of music or specific songs that Juliet really seems to enjoy. Write down her reaction when you dance around or sing to her. Write now.
When Juliet was very little, I would put her in the bathroom with me while I showered. I would sing some songs and talk to her from the other side of the curtain to keep her occupied, but her favorite part of that routine involved a song I sang to her once I got out of the shower. I would sing Itsy Bitsy Spider while I dried off my hair, like so:
The Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the water spout (finger gesture)
Down came the rain (flip towel and hair over baby)
and washed the spider out (dry hair)
up came the sun and dried up all the rain (pick up head and towel)
and the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again (finger gesture).
Repeat until reasonably dry.
These days she doesn't want to sit in the bathroom with me while I shower (I think she knows that I am on the other side of the curtain and she doesn't like it!) but she still gets quiet and alert when I sing this song. I think she remembers it from her infancy. =)
Who are you? A letter at 7 months.
Hello KickyBaby!
I think everyone is inclined to think that what their baby does is what every baby does. It is only recently that I've realized that some of these things may be character traits, giving us glimpses in to the person that you are becoming.
You have been a great sport coming out to all of my breastfeeding events. You've made appearances at the NMAC (http://nursingmoms.net/) Breastfeeding 101 talks at BabiesRUS and 2 weeks ago you came with me to my breastfeeding counseling training class. People told us afterward that you were so good, better then their kids would have been. And I got to wondering, is this true? You have been an incredibly social little girl. You love smiling at people and interacting with them. You have always been happiest "in arms" so to speak and I thought it was just because you were a baby. But maybe it is also because you are you! You seem happiest in groups of people, watching them and listening to them. (Especially other children!) I rarely need toys when we are in a room of chatter and bustling; You seem perfectly content to soak in the interactions. It makes outings very easy. (On the flip side, it can be tough being the only one spending time with you because you are not necessarily content to play on your own!)
Also, you love the wind in your hair! I wonder what this will mean in the future. I first noticed this when the weather got warmer and we rolled our windows down in the car. You seemed to love the air whipping through the car, blowing everything around. On Saturday I brought you to the park to walk with the Dresher Parents group and you got your first taste of the swings. You kept smiling, swinging back and forth. I think some kids would be startled, but you seemed nothing short of delighted.
I love to witness that delight, to get to be a part of some of your firsts. Thank you for being my little pal in life, for coming with me and capturing all these smiles and hearts. Thanks for being my wonderful little girl.
Your mom,
Rachel
I think everyone is inclined to think that what their baby does is what every baby does. It is only recently that I've realized that some of these things may be character traits, giving us glimpses in to the person that you are becoming.
You have been a great sport coming out to all of my breastfeeding events. You've made appearances at the NMAC (http://nursingmoms.net/) Breastfeeding 101 talks at BabiesRUS and 2 weeks ago you came with me to my breastfeeding counseling training class. People told us afterward that you were so good, better then their kids would have been. And I got to wondering, is this true? You have been an incredibly social little girl. You love smiling at people and interacting with them. You have always been happiest "in arms" so to speak and I thought it was just because you were a baby. But maybe it is also because you are you! You seem happiest in groups of people, watching them and listening to them. (Especially other children!) I rarely need toys when we are in a room of chatter and bustling; You seem perfectly content to soak in the interactions. It makes outings very easy. (On the flip side, it can be tough being the only one spending time with you because you are not necessarily content to play on your own!)
Also, you love the wind in your hair! I wonder what this will mean in the future. I first noticed this when the weather got warmer and we rolled our windows down in the car. You seemed to love the air whipping through the car, blowing everything around. On Saturday I brought you to the park to walk with the Dresher Parents group and you got your first taste of the swings. You kept smiling, swinging back and forth. I think some kids would be startled, but you seemed nothing short of delighted.
I love to witness that delight, to get to be a part of some of your firsts. Thank you for being my little pal in life, for coming with me and capturing all these smiles and hearts. Thanks for being my wonderful little girl.
Your mom,
Rachel
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Things to remember about KB
There is one thing that KickyBaby does that Matt just loved. When she woke up, she used to arch her back and stick her butt out, curling her knees in and raising her hands over her head. It was really precious.
And then, suddenly, it passes. I am amazed how fast she changes. I wish I had spent more time when she was an infant memorizing the way she looked and her small idiosyncrasies because I don't remember it now.
I cherish her first smiles and her first laugh. The smiles were kind of unclear when they started because we'd just see a glimmer of glee and then it would vanish entirely. But I think I remember the first laugh - in the car, probably on my way to work. I was sitting with KB in the back and I thought I heard her laugh. I couldn't believe it! And then we heard it again and it was confirmed.
I am always completely amazed when Kicky picks up new skills. I just never expect it, even though I know it's coming. She can sit up now with very little assistance, and she looks over at me when I talk! When she was first born, she couldn't focus her eyes! And she couldn't move her head either. I can't even imagine that now.
I love this baby.
But, boy, time goes so fast.
And then, suddenly, it passes. I am amazed how fast she changes. I wish I had spent more time when she was an infant memorizing the way she looked and her small idiosyncrasies because I don't remember it now.
I cherish her first smiles and her first laugh. The smiles were kind of unclear when they started because we'd just see a glimmer of glee and then it would vanish entirely. But I think I remember the first laugh - in the car, probably on my way to work. I was sitting with KB in the back and I thought I heard her laugh. I couldn't believe it! And then we heard it again and it was confirmed.
I am always completely amazed when Kicky picks up new skills. I just never expect it, even though I know it's coming. She can sit up now with very little assistance, and she looks over at me when I talk! When she was first born, she couldn't focus her eyes! And she couldn't move her head either. I can't even imagine that now.
I love this baby.
But, boy, time goes so fast.
Ups and downs of pregnancy
I was listening to an old episode of Pregtastic today from the 1yr anniversary of the show and they were talking about the ups and downs from your pregnancy. For me, my downs were the awful hemorrhoids and the absolute dread of delivery. I should have switched health care providers, I know that now, but I just can't let go of that bad decision. I also often felt kind of disconnected from my "true" self. I kept talking about, and being asked about, my pregnancy and the baby and I never felt like I really owned my pregnant role. One of my ups was that I think I truely looked the best I have ever looked. My skin was clear and the hormones just made me glow. I also learned a TON about childbirth by reading all those books in my panic and it led me to a passion of mine - the childbirth and breastfeeding world, this community of women who suddenly become something so unlike their former selves. I love it.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Introduction to BabyWeekly Journal
I don't remember signing up for emails from BabyWeekly, but I must have. It was probably and extension of one of the pregnancy emails I got every week outlining her growth steps. (We had a GREAT time with which fruit/vege she was every week!) But as I've been getting them and Kicky's been growing, I am intrigued by the questions they send out for journaling. I always want to go answer them and think about them. So, I'll do that here. Just look for the label BabyWeeklyJournal for these interesting tidbits!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
My First Post - for KickyBaby
I have been thinking about this blog for a while. I never considered my pregnancy document-able, but now I wish I had a way to relive it, to experience again the ups and downs. To laugh and nod understandingly over my blaze disregard of the whole pregnant experience and my sheer panic over my birth. Because, once I came out on the other end, I just love this whole thing. My last prenatal yoga class made me want to run around and hug everyone. I was never keen on the room full of pregnant moms and usually felt out of place. But suddenly I just loved all the women that take this journey, that become huge and unwieldy and then mothers. I want to learn about childbirth, breastfeeding, and mothering. I want to spend time with other mothers and children and, maybe, even, hold a baby or two! I don't even recognize myself, but I'm glad I'm here.
My KickyBaby is 4 and a half months now. She is a smiley baby, watching people and rewarding them with huge grins. She loves to be held and is generally good-natured. She likes to sit up and will lift her head up when you lay her down if she doesn't want to be there. Once she can pull herself up to sitting, there will be no stopping her; I anticipate that it will make diaper changes tricky! She has just discovered her feet- she's always grabbing them when she is laying down. She's also decided that tongue-sucking is a favorite hobby and everyone wonders if there is something in her mouth! I love when she laughs, but she does that sparingly. Or maybe we aren't funny....
I love being a mother. I knew I was at risk for postpartum depression because I had depression in my history. And I am surprised to feel a lot better then I used to. (In general. The cleanliness of the house makes me crazy. But it always has.) But generally, I feel really happy. It is surprising. Your whole life changes and, somehow, you don't mind it.
I've struggled with starting this blog because I felt like I needed to define it first. Slap me if I try. It will be as it is, no holds barred.
My KickyBaby is 4 and a half months now. She is a smiley baby, watching people and rewarding them with huge grins. She loves to be held and is generally good-natured. She likes to sit up and will lift her head up when you lay her down if she doesn't want to be there. Once she can pull herself up to sitting, there will be no stopping her; I anticipate that it will make diaper changes tricky! She has just discovered her feet- she's always grabbing them when she is laying down. She's also decided that tongue-sucking is a favorite hobby and everyone wonders if there is something in her mouth! I love when she laughs, but she does that sparingly. Or maybe we aren't funny....
I love being a mother. I knew I was at risk for postpartum depression because I had depression in my history. And I am surprised to feel a lot better then I used to. (In general. The cleanliness of the house makes me crazy. But it always has.) But generally, I feel really happy. It is surprising. Your whole life changes and, somehow, you don't mind it.
I've struggled with starting this blog because I felt like I needed to define it first. Slap me if I try. It will be as it is, no holds barred.
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