(re)CAP

Lovie's 1st Thanksgiving and our first Thanksgiving playing host was pretty freaking wonderful. Lovie showed everyone (MIL, FIL, BIL, H's two cousins) her new trick (walking) and everyone was pretty impressed. She was definitely the star of the day. But of course. And she ate like a champ- nomming up everything including the H's turkey and mashed potatoes and my stuffing and green bean casserole. She even ate it all up again the next two days. Mmmmm love Thanksgiving!

Friday was spent around the house for the most part except for dropping off and then later picking up my car that got its front brakes replaced. Following the pickup of my car, we headed to the Home Depot where Lovie got to experience her first taste of Christmas decor. And she LOVED it. She was so excited and giddy over all the lights and music. I let her choose between a Santa or a Snowman door stuffed face with a bell (not sure how else to explain it, eh) and she went gaga over Santa. Her face just lit up and she started shaking it and was just so stinkin' happy.

And as we perused the decor, I found myself incredibly happy. Like this happy energy sort of enveloped me and all I could do was smile. A couple times I even found myself welling up with happiness. And then it dawned on me: I've been a big fat scrooge the past umpteen years during the holidays. Only this year it's completely different. And I like it.

I'm actually looking forward to Christmas and New Year's. Because of her. I was very pregnant with my Lovie last Christmas. Very pregnant. And ready. This year she's this little person already who can enjoy the lights and music and crinkly paper and glittered bows and...

"It's the most wonderful time... of the year!!!"

It is, too! OMG I'm so incredibly blessed!!

Saturday I woke up and still felt this euphoria around me. Honest to god, it felt so great and I sappily updated my Facebook status (something I don't do too often) reflecting on how I was feeling. Comments and Likes rolled in and the tears streamed down my face.

I'm just so incredibly blessed! I just don't know what else to say or how else to describe this!

We spent all day inside playing and playing and playing. Oh god if only I could bottle up the sounds from the day... the giggles, the laughter, the jibber jabber. HEAVEN ON EARTH.

When Lovie napped, I worked on a hat that I've wanting to make her...

only I made the first one for her cousin who was visiting from Texas though the picture is of my Lovie of course.

It was the first knitting project I've picked up and completed since pregnancy induced carpal tunnel stopped me from knitting. And how fucking cute is that hat?

Sunday we visited my mom and grandmother because my brother was stopping there on his way into town from Texas. While waiting for them to arrive, Lovie chased after my mom (seriously couldn't get enough of her- even whined to be near her!!), played some sort of patty cake with my grandmother, then CLAPPED for the first time.

She also started pointing yesterday, too.

So yeah, in the last week, Lovie's main mode of mobility is via walking (and almost running at times- oy!), and she's also clapping and pointing, too.

Could she be any more incredible?

Today, Miss Lovie turns 11 months and the countdown begins until she's the big ONE.

I couldn't help it.

I know today is Wordless Wednesday and I thoroughly enjoy Wordless Wednesdsay in bloggersville but today I won't be participating.  Not only don't I have any new pics to post but I've got bigger news to share.

See they (daycare) finally moved Lovie's crib (end of last week) to the back of the room and she's since been napping twice a day. That, in addition to the 45-60 min nap she takes in the car on the way home, means Lovie and I get to PLAY when we get home because she isn't ass tired!

Oh man have we been having so much stinkin fun- I can't even say!

Sure I could be washing dishes, cleaning the floor, folding (or doing) laundry, etc, but those 2 hours from the time we get home till Lovie's bedtime go by in a flash so why not play, play, play?  We laugh and giggle, wrestle and hug, dance and sing.  I have a big ole grin on my face right now just thinking about the fun we have!

Well last night something happened... something that made me well up with tears in my eyes. I couldn't help it.

Lovie was playing with her activity table- pressing the things to make music and dancing and singing.  Then she came over to me and we hugged and danced. I was sitting on the floor against the wall, she was standing- making us eye level. She turned around to go back toward the activity table which was maybe three baby steps away. Instead of dropping and crawling, she went for it:

LOVIE TOOK TWO STEPS WITHOUT ANYONE HOLDING HER UP.

I didn't even really realize what was happening until it was done because it happened so fast. My hands were right there ready to catch her the whole time, but they didn't need to do anything as Lovie moved one foot forward, then the other, then lunged toward the activity table and pressed a button and danced.

"Yaaaaaaaaaay!!" I proclaimed and clapped.  And then, just like right now, I welled up and cried.

I couldn't help it. And I can't right now.

I'm so proud of her- I can't even convey it really. But... wow. My baby doll took her first steps.  (Holy hell, I just had to wipe my eyes just now, too!)

I'll have to institutionalized when she starts school at the rate I'm going.

Ketchup!!

"One day there were three tomatoes walking down the street, a mama tomato, a daddy tomato and a baby tomato. Baby tomato is walking too slowly, so the daddy tomato goes back, steps on him and says 'ketchup!'"   (Muahahaha I love Pulp Fiction!)

Anywho, seems like I’ve got quite a bit of catching up to do as I've fallen quite behind.

Hahahaha get it?? I've fallen "behind" and it's a picture of my baby doll's butt?! Hahaha..Oy.

But since this is my blog, I’ll catch you up first: Lovie was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday. Scary, huh? Fortunately it was the end of it and she’s fine now. Last week was pretty rough to say the least. My heart hurt so much for my sweet Lovie. But she’s back – and with a vengeance.

By Wednesday she was sitting up all on her own. We’d put her in the crib to nap, peek in on her, and see her sitting there in the middle of the crib. Little stinker. Then she started latching herself onto the side of the crib rails and peering through the rails (and yelling and/or crying and/or throwing out her paci), as well as trying to peer over the top rail. Needless to say, the crib got lowered Wednesday before bedtime.

Then yesterday, a little after noon, little Miss Thang officially started crawling! My little baby doll is growing so fast, so quickly. I can hardly keep up with it all. By the end of the day, she was crawling over to the jumperoo and trying to lift herself up by grabbing onto one of its legs for support. Oy. And, on the rare occasions she’d allow me to hold her, she’d wiggle her way out of my arms (as I sat my happy fat ass on the couch) so that she ended up with her feet on the floor to stand. All be herself- with the help of my legs and the couch.

We’re in trouble now, eh.

The timing actually couldn’t be better. We finally found an apartment and signed the lease Saturday: a three bedroom, two bath place on the 2nd floor of a two flat. There’s a sunroom which will be Lovie’s play room off the huge-ass living room and a long-ass hallway (with the bed and bathrooms jutting out from it leading to the kitchen) that will, I’m sure, be Lovie’s racetrack where she can cruise to her knees, legs, and heart’s content! We move at the end of the month so these next couple weeks will be quite interesting to try to pack everything up with a crawler on our hands.

Life couldn’t be any sweeter (just please no repeats of last week!)!

TGIF and TGFMBBG

I posted this a couple weeks ago on my Facebook page: TGIF and TGFMBBG (thank God for my beautiful baby girl) who I thank God for every.second.of.every.day!

It's the truth, too. 

She's just... so... unbelievably... words can't really describe it... amazing.

Such a blessing.

Awesome.

My baby doll.

Work's been a little crazy lately, but I think about posting often. I have a lot of things rumbling around this brain and I just need to find some time to sift through it all... For now, I'll just say that my sweet Lovie was in an exceptional mood this morning. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact that she went to sleep last night at 7 without any fussing and slept the whole night through until 5am.  God, I love mornings with her.  Even if she's sound asleep and I have to wake her (which I'm not a fan of doing but don't have a choice most weekday mornings), she *always* has a smile on her face.  But this morning was a bit different. She was ... giddy, if it's possible for a baby to be giddy! Just all smiles and giggles and talking.  In fact she said her second "word" this morning after breakfast: Baba (her first was Dada on Father's Day no less!). But, again, we're pretty certain she's just making noises and not really realizing that that noise can be a word used to communicate.

Man I just love this kid.

TGIF, TGFMBBG!!

Kiss

(One of my all time favorite Prince songs. Love this man, love his music, love his moves, love him!)

About a week ago Lovie did something that left me wondering if she was giving me hugs and kisses. We were playing on the couch and she laid her head down onto my neck and chest and really held it there so that I couldn't move my head for several seconds, then she'd pop her head up and look at me and smile and then go back down again. I was convinced she was giving me hugs and kisses because by the fourth (or so) time she did it, her mouth was on my skin which was getting all slobbered on.

But I also wondered if maybe I was just wanting her to be hugging and kissing me.

Then a couple days ago she did something similar when I picked her up out of the crib for the day- and yesterday when I picked her up from daycare she did it again!  When I scoop her up into my arms and go to give her kisses, she puts her hands on either side of my face (which it, in itself, absolutely melts me) and then moves her open mouth to me and forces her head there for a second. Yesterday's mouth action was on my cheek, which again, was left with slobber residue (love). 

And I'm now positive that she's giving me hugs and kisses.

Seriously, does it really get better than this?!!??

bedtime

Last night was a bit rough (when it comes to Lovie) as far as getting Lovie to go to sleep.

Ever since she's been about 2 weeks old, she's been sleeping in her crib.  And this whole time we've basically been following the same routine at bedtime: bottle, bath (every other night- though this may change to every night now that day care is starting to apply sunblock when they take the kids outside), story (or 2 or 3- minimum is Goodnight Moon), cuddles and kisses, lay down in crib, (swaddled up to 3 months old), paci if wanted, Seahorse on, noise machine on, Nighty night.  Sure, in the beginning, we would have to stay very nearby for up to an hour at times to pop the paci back in or to rest a hand on her to reassure her we were there and everything was safe, but both the hubs and I remained very consistent with our routine and Lovie was very rarely ever picked up and/or rocked, etc, once she went down for the night - except for another bottle.

We didn't read any "sleep training" books or anything, we just started a "routine" very early and we're both very firm believers that consistency is key with anything baby/child related.

It's not rocket science, after all.

Anyway, last night was quite odd because for months now, Lovie generally will go to sleep within minutes of laying her down... except for last night. It was like she reverted back to being a brand spankin' new baby.  We gave her a bottle, gave her some cereal, a bath, cuddled, read stories, cuddled and kissed, laid her down, Seahorsed, noise machined, Nighty Nighted... and after a couple minutes, she started fussing. And that fussing turned into crying. First daddy went in to give her the paci and calm her a bit and after a couple minutes more fussing.  So I went in.  Then again the fussing, then crying, then screaming.

Lovie does not scream unless something is wrong or unless she's super hungry and we neglect to realize that she's hungry.

I had the hubs make a bottle while I did something I normally do not do: I picked her up. I had to. She was so upset and I'll be damned if my sweet angel get so upset for no apparent reason.  It was like she was scared or something!  Poor baby!

I picked her up and she immediately calmed down.  I started singing softly to her and she remained calm but very alert, never once really relaxing.  After several minutes of singing and rocking I laid her back down.  She started to get excited again and I softly told her it was bedtime, that we were here for her, that we weren't going anywhere, that it was OK to go to sleep.  I placed my hand on her chest and belly as I softly spoke and shhhhhhushed.  She grabbed onto my hand with both of her hands and just looked into my eyes.  We stayed like this for a good five minutes before she started to really relax and release her grip a bit.  I slowly removed my hand and quietly walked out of sight.

She was out cold in a matter of seconds.

I was glad I could help her, but I was also a bit upset that she was so upset. Does that make sense?

Well... she ended up sleeping the entire night through - something she's NEVER done. She's gone a night without waking to eat, but she'd always wake and fuss long enough to get us to give her a paci before falling back asleep.  She did that for 5 days in a row several weeks back but since has been back to wanting to have a bottle (and eating it all up!) once in the middle of the night.

Last night was the first night she just slept.  (I know I'm a freak of nature but I actually *miss* her when she STTN because I love that time with her when she wakes to eat - it's so peaceful and quiet and after she's done eating, she closes her eyes, smiles, and nuzzles into me and goes right back to sleep.)

I think it's because she's been rolling onto her belly to sleep. Because this morning (the 5th morning finding her on her belly) when I went in to wake her, I said, "Good Morning!" in my trying-to-be-excited-and-happy voice and she instantly popped her head up (she was on her belly) and smiled super big though her eyes were still closed.

SO.FRIGGIN.CUTE!

Good Morning Baby Doll!!  Good morning, Good day, Good night, Good LIFE!!

... 7.5 more hours

Tired and a little ticked off: Mother's Day review

Saturday night was rough, to say the least.

Lovie spent all last week sleeping thru the night for the first time in her life. It was kind of nice but also a little sad. Call me crazy, but I actually enjoy feeding her in the wee hours of night when everything is so quiet and peaceful. And the smile she gives me and the way she burrows into me when she's done is just so incredibly magical...

Well that all went out the window Saturday.  We had a good day, Lovie and I - like we always do when we're together.  We played, we laughed, we read, we sang, we played, we laughed, we napped during the day.  Daddy was gone from 630am until about 3pm so it was just us girls.  When it came time for her afternoon nap at about 330, Lovie wasn't having any part of it.  And while she can fuss like any baby, she is normally not a crier - unless something is really wrong.  After about 10 minutes of trying to soothe her, we popped a bottle in her mouth and she guzzled it down like crazy and took a nap right away following. Poor baby was starving - but how were we to know this when she just has 6 ounces an hour prior?!

Gotta love them growing babies. :)

I ended up having to wake Lovie because it was getting late and she needed to eat dinner (rice cereal and a bottle) before going down for the night.  All of this went off without a hitch.

I went to bed around 10pm. The hubs stayed up (he's a night owl).

Around 1230am I heard Lovie crying, but the hubs was still up so would take care of her so I tried going back to sleep. Again, I heard her crying and this time it was like 130 in the morning and the hubs still wasn't in bed. I laid there for a couple minutes listening to the crying and getting angry. Why wasn't my husband taking care of my baby girl?! I get up and Lovie is in hysterics and DH is lifting her up looking at her like Are you OK? WTF?!?! He tells me he thinks she has gas. I tell him to give her to me and when he does, I take her into our bedroom which is dark, cool, and very quiet. I rock her and sing to her quietly, holding onto her tightly. She calms down in about 10 minutes or so. After another 10 minutes of just rocking her and ensuring she's calm, I lay her down in the crib on her belly - something I don't normally do since she's not rolling on her own yet.  But she was able to remain calm and went to sleep.

Turns out a day of shaken formula (generally we make a batch the day before and heat as needed - yes, formula as my boobs don't work) makes for a gassy Lovie.

:(

After an hour, Lovie started screaming bloody murder again.  I quickly scooped her up and tried rocking/singing to her again but she just screamed and I ended up crying... my poor baby was in pain and nothing was helping! :(

Finally she calmed after about half an hour of rocking and singing. She fell asleep in my arms again and instead of laying her down again, I just kept her in my arms and rigged the couch up so that if I fell asleep she would not roll onto the floor.  We "slept" like this until she woke at 630 and looked at me and smiled.

I did my job. Sleep deprived like I haven't been in months, I was happy because Lovie was happy.

We picked up the hubs's mother at 11 and met my mom and grandmother for brunch at 1pm where Lovie was the star: Three people commented- one coming out of their way to stop at the table on their way out- that Lovie was a very good baby in addition to being incredibly cute.  Happy Mother's Day!  :)  After brunch, we said good bye to my mom and grandmother, and the hubs, MIL, Lovie and I went looking at high chairs (we have our eye on this one) where another person commented on how insanely good and cute Lovie is.   We dropped MIL off, stop for Peanut Parfait Busters from Dairy Queen (holla to the Ice cream gods!), and come home (fin.a.lly!).

By then it was like 530. Lovie and I played and laughed until dinner and she ate her rice cereal, drank her bottle, and when right to bed without fussing like normal.

And I was pissed... because this picture of my Lovie is the ONLY one taken from the day (from my cell phone in the car on our way to brunch)... my official first Mother's Day.

Whatever. I think the hubs took a pic or two of me and my Lovie after we got home (and changed - and she was dressed super damn cute during the day!) so I'll check. But as for now, I'm ass tired today because I have a horrible time sleeping on Sunday nights and I'm still trying to catch up from the non-sleep I got Saturday night, but it's all good because in 4 hours I get to leave and pick up my Lovie and smother her with hugs and kisses!

My big girl: the results

Lovie is in the 75th percentile for height and weight and in the 50th percentile for head size. So I guess she has a small head? Meh. Doc didn't seemed concerned or anything; in fact, he said he wouldn't be surprised if she started hitting her 6 month milestones early. My big girl!

As of yesterday she weighed 14 pounds 13 ounces and is 25 inches long.

And she had her first taste of solids last night, too: a couple (baby) spoonfuls of rice cereal!

My big girl!!

It was such a beautiful day out and she handled her shots like a champ so after we bought spoons and baby food (and I fought back the tears because my itty bitty baby is growing so fast, so quickly) and she took a nap, we headed out to the park for the first time.

7.5 more hours peanut butter...

Well, well, well. Guess who feels as if she got hit by a big ol Semi? That would be me. Since last Friday, I've gone through FIVE boxes of tissues and and I don't know how many rolls of toilet paper. Honestly, if I could've I would've worn the damn tissue on my head if I could've.

It's been hell, to be honest. I don't recall the last time I was *this* sick. I mean, fuck. The coughing fits are incredible. It probably wouldn't bother me so much if I was actually coughing something up but there's nothing. Just a dry hacking that leaves me gasping for air and/or on the verge of vomiting. And oh.dear.god. how sore my mid-section is from all this motherfucking coughing.

And so help me if my baby girl gets this!! I know I got it from that fucking daycare. And when I dropped off Lovie yesterday before going to the doctor, they pretty much confirmed I got it from them because when I described what was happening, how I was feeling, the head teacher (who I really do like) said she had the same thing that lasted for about a month and finally ended the week prior... Yeah, um, Lovie started daycare that week prior.

Well fuck. Whatever. What can you do? It'll be good for her to build up her immune system. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Whatthefuckever. I mean, Lovie's two and half months old. 11 weeks old. She's still so little goddamnit! Is it wrong of me to try to guard her from the sicknesses this world has? Is it wrong of me to get upset that after two fucking days in daycare she had a hard time breathing through her nose and my throat was hurting... which turned into the cold from hell?!

Argh.

Anyway... maybe this is why I was feeling SO incredibly tired last week? So maybe this working mom thing might eventually be OK? Yeah, not likely.

At least Lovie's dad and I were the first to hear her first giggle!

Hot damn was that an awesome moment. One that will be forever tattooed in my memory bank, I promise (and if not, it's in her blog). I know she's going to have firsts with Them (daycare) but, like a working mom friend of mine told me, it'll still be a first when we witness it (because it'll be the first time we witness it you see?).