Sunday Snuggles

I got to do a rare thing with Abby yesterday. We took a nap today.

We snuggled up on the couch. Her on my chest, both of us under the blanket. The TV softly in the background.

It takes me back to the first few weeks. And those weeks were that's all I would do during the day.

She's a lot bigger now, but she still fits on my chest. Her little head nuzzled into my neck.

I finally woke her up because I was worried she wouldn't be sleepy enough to go to bed. She didn't like that very much. She clung to me to 20 minutes before she would willingly go to someone else. I secretly enjoyed the separation anxiety. I know it won't last forever.

The fall will get busy soon. Soccer games will start. Sunday snuggles won't get to happen very often. I'm glad I was able to take advantage of it when I could.

Super Trooper

Yesterday was a busy day. I picked Abby up early from school for her 9 month check up. Picked her up just after nap time had ended and before the afternoon bottle. We drove to the doctors office. She patiently played with my keys while sitting in my lap. Occasionally she would squirm and she would crawl around on the floor, but she would quickly return to pulling at my pant leg. We waited 20 minutes in the lobby with out a peep.

Everything during the visit went well. Weight is up to 15 pounds 6 ounces. Length is 26 1/4 inches. Good and Good. Development is on target. Just keep doing what we're going.

After the doctor, we went over to the grocery store to pick some things up. Abby pleasantly rode in the cart. Smiling of course at everyone. Again, not a peep of discontent.

We rushed home to unload the groceries and to pick up JJ to go to soccer. Abby feel asleep during that time, so she did catch a 30 minute nap.

After dropping of JJ, we headed to Sam's to get more things for a party. Again, she rode int he chart like a champ. Smiling at everyone, especially old men. Not one peep of content.

We returned to the soccer fields and took a dinner break in the car. She chowed down on the usual. We put on a fresh diaper and then headed to the fields.

We pick a spot on the sidelines. She happily plays in the stroller for a while. Then she sit in my lap and we play some more. We take a bottle. Then we snack on a mum mum. Just exploring the surroundings. Too bad it was muddy and wet or we would have sat on the ground. When practice was almost over, we changed into our PJ's and started to snuggle. Still, no signs of discontent. Just pleasant smiles and babbles.

It was announced that practice would run a little longer, probably an additional 30 minutes. I thought for sure the bomb would go off and Abby would have a melt down. It was already so close to her bed time. I distracted her the best I could. We played some more and we enjoyed the stroller. I started to hear a few peeps, but then, luckily, practice ended.

We loaded up and headed home. She was asleep before we left the parking lot. She woke briefly for Gene to take her inside when we got home, but she went right to sleep when he laid her in her bed.

I truly feel blessed. Not one single meltdown yesterday. Not one moment of anger or frustration. I sure hope this continues to last.

Me- Mama

We've been working on Abby's speech. She's good a mimicking. She can say dadadada really well. She can do a ba sound. She can babble a few other things as well. But I've been waiting for her to say mama.

I'll say it a few times and wait for her to parrot it back. But she just stares at me. I'll go slow so she can see my mouth, but still nothing.

Last night I thought I would try again. I said it, and I waited.

I could see the wheels turning in her head. Then all of a sudden, there is was mama.

Now, I know she doesn't connect me to mama, but just hearing that sound made me so excited. I waited so long for that. So long

It wasn't a one time occurrence either. She did it again after that, and again this morning. I think she's added it to her vocabulary.

Now we can start on other words. We keep trying Woody, Dog, Joejee (which is a hard one and will take a while). I'm very curious now what her "first" word will be. The one where she makes the connection between to object and the word.

Crusin for a Brusin

Abby has started to comfortably cruise along the furniture. She can make it from one end of the couch to the other. She can go between the chair, the side table, and the couch. She often gets hung up in the end table at the end of the couch. She hasn't figured out yet how to untangle her legs.

I'm not ready for all this movement. Gene and I believe that she will be walking within the next month. OMG!!! Walking within a month. She's only 9 months old.

She's getting more stable on her legs each time. Pulling up is so easy for her now. She even figured out how to get back down to the ground once she was up. Although its not so pretty sometimes, and she startles herself, but she can do it. Its fun to watch her thinking about it and what she's going to have to do to get down.

This is all amazing to watch, but its all happening so fast. I thought she would crawl for a while, but it doesn't look like it. She's ready to move!

First Day

Today is the first day of school. JJ starts the 7th grade. Middle of middle school. Hopefully this year will be kind to him. Although I think we will still have the same battles we have every year. Too much talking, too much goofing around, too much, too much, too much. Someday the lesson will sink in, lets hope it already has.

Today is also Abby's first day in her new classroom. She's no longer the baby of the school. She moved up to the older infant class. The cruisers. Right now there are 10 kids all between 9 months and 14 months. I'm sad she left the comfort of the baby room, but I know the new room will be great for her development. She had no problems crawling around this morning and playing with new toys.

I left a note for her teachers. (There is a sub in there till the teachers can get there after they drop their kids off at school). I hope I don't seem like that crazy, overcontrolling, helicopter mom. They suggested we send the childs schedule, so I did. I just added details to help them out. Hopefully when I pick her up today there isn't any strange looks.

Of course, I had to take her picture on the front porch today. Its a first day of school tradition to have your picture taken. I know she's not really in "school" but we call it that, and she does learn. In 18 years, there won't be any more firsts.

You usually have such pretty eyes

People comment on Abby's eyes all the time. They are beautiful. They are a dreamy shade of bluish grey. Very similar to mine. Very similar to many Christophers. She's got the most striking lashes. Long, and full. They nearly touch her eye brows.

She's so expressive with her eyes. But usually without even knowing that's what she's doing. They can glow with her smile and they will spill tears when she's sad.

But yesterday, her eyes were not pretty!

Her eyes were crusted shut when she woke up. It really scared her. It scares me too, both having felt what that feels like and knowing she's got something funky going on with her eyes.

I woke up yesterday with a red crusty eye, so I knew I had pink eye. Her eyes were just crusty and not red, and since this was her first time with it, I called the pediatrician and scheduled an appointment as soon as I could.

His diagnosis, yes its pink eye, but she also has a sinus infection, which most likely caused the pink eye. I probably got it from her.

Amazingly, he prescribed oral medication instead of drops. He said drops wouldn't kill what was going on on the inside. So, for the next 10 days, 2 times a day, we squirt pink goop into her mouth. It smells like fake bubblegum. She doesn't seem to mind it though, she just doesn't like to be forced to consume anything.

It should clear in a few days. And her beautiful eyes will be back to normal.

Dwight

Abby's hair is growing in. It looks rather nice. She has a lot more than I ever did at her age.

But lately, if its not brushed to the side, it hangs funny on her forehead and I think she looks like Dwight from the office.

It's this weird bangs parted thing. Yuck.

I try to brush it over whenever I can. When we go out I put a bow in it so it doesn't appear!

Movin on Up

I got the official word yesterday that Abby will be moving up to the Older Infant class on the 19th. I'm not ready for this. This is suppose to happen when she's a year old. I've still got three months to prepare myself.

They are moving her now, because there is a large group of them at this stage and they would like to keep them together. I know this is what's right for Abby. Developmentally this is the best thing. She will be with kids and teachers that can teach her new things. But I'm just sad that she's leaving the baby room.

I love her room teachers. Even though Peggy left a few weeks ago. They are always so sweet with her. I know every teacher will be like that, but this is the first non family member I trusted with my childs care. They know her, I know them, they know me.

Mostly, I am just stubborn to change. I always have been, and I certainly hope this isn't a trait I passed on to Abby. So the best thing I can do is suck it up and put a smile on my face.

I get to meet the new teachers next week, and take a peek at her room. Its just next door to her old room. It sounds like it will be a little more structured. Which I guess she is starting to need. I'm hoping there is some flexibily. I feel like she is still young and still has needs. The schedule only lists one nap time, and she does better with two. It does say they will nap, change, and feed, as needed for each child, but I just don't want Abby to be the burden or the outlier. I know that's just my crazy mom brain and it won't be that way. I know initially taking her there I laughed at their "schedule" but she really has molded well to their schedule. Whatever crazy thing that might be.

Argh... somebody hold me.

9- yes 9!

Its that time again. And once again, I can't believe it. My baby girl is 9 months old, today! I held a newborn the other day and its was hard to imagine that really wasn't that long ago. The baby was so tiny, but bigger than Abby was.

This month has been so fun with development. Baby girl has learned to crawl! She did a really cure Army crawl all over the floor, but now she is learning to push up on her arms and move her legs. Its still not reciprocal crawling yet, but its really close. She's also started to pull up. Yikes. She will really work at it too. Nothing like her mother's determination! I'm not ready for her to be crusing yet. The house isn't ready for her to be cruising yet. I'm so worried about her hurting herself on the hearth. Its solid concrete. Its got pointy edges. I can see a disaster coming. I need to prepare myself.

Also this month, Little Bit finally started cutting some teeth! In the bath tub on Friday, I noticed the tooth buds. Both bottom front teeth are breaking through. I haven't noticed any behaviors out the the ordinary. Besides going to bed early, but daycare says all the girls her age stopped taking a nap because they are too busy playing. Its hard to check her gums because her tounge is in the way, but if you can get her to smile big and sneaky a look, you might be able to see them. I would think that maybe by the end of the week, we will see teeth.

Little Bit, is still little. Still wearing 6 month close. I finally took out all the 3 months things, just because there was so much else, I wanted it all to get worn. There is some 9 month things that are summery, so I'm trying to get use out of those while I can. Those items are a little big, but not that bad. Her 6 months sleepers fit her well. She still though can fit 3 month pants. 6 months are still big around the waist. She's comfortably in size 2 diapers. She can barely fit a size 2 shoe.

Her hair is filling in. She will tolerate a bow in it. But there hair is still fine and short and it doesn't stay in long. It is fun to brush her hair though. We brush it every morning when we get dressed. She doesn't wear bows to school because the other kids take them out and then out them in their mouth. I don't want to be the reason another kid chokes, so we save them for the weekends.

She still is babbling all the time. Dadadadadada is her word of choice. She also giggles and squeezes, blows raspberries in your face. She'll talk to herself in her crib in the morning. Its really cute to listen to. I often wonder what she is saying, or thinking about.

Speaking of crib, she's in her big girl bed all the time now. She can go all night without waking, or without needing one of us. She will stir occassionally. And, at most, she just needs help getting the pappy in her mouth (although she can do that now herself). She's decided her bedtime is around 7:30. It can be sooner, or it can be later, but usually around that time she's getting cranky and rubbing her eyes. She will sleep soundly until 6:30- or 7:00. Sometimes on the weekends, she'll go a little longer, but thats usually when she's snuggled up with one of us.

She's eating well and not afraid to try new things. She likes anything we put on a spoon and give to her. She also seems to get upset when you are eating and she is not. Even if she's just eaten, she will get cranky and fuss at you. I've started to just leave her in her seat and let her eat some puffs, or some table food while we eat. Its hard to feed her and yourself at the same time, so she usually gets to go first.

She does great in public. She's not loud, or fussy. She can sitting in a highchair and entertain herself. Although a lot of times that means one of us is constantly picking toys up off the floor, but she will sit there and be content. She will smile at anyone that passes by. Sometimes she will wave. She hasn't quite grasped the concept of waving, but she can mimic you, so if you wave, she will flap her arm back at you.

She loves daycare. She does great at drop off and pick up. They are so nice to her. But this month, one of her "teachers" decided to leave. I don't know why, and they won't tell me. But, we miss her. She was really great with Abby. They don't spoil the children, but they love them. They take good care of them and make sure each one is happy. I've heard a rumor that she might move up to the older infant room. I'm not ready for that yet. She's still a baby. Even though all the kids in there will be close to her age and will all have her abilities, it's just hard so me to imagine her in a different room everyday.

She's a happy baby. She loves her mommmy and daddy. She loves her brother and she LOVES the dog. She will sit on the floor and play with her toys. She will splash around in the pool. She will happily ride in a shopping cart (just watch our for Grabigail's arms. she's sneaky like that). She's not afraid of strangers (although she will play shy every now and then). She loves things that make noise, and she loves to dance to music. She will still snuggle into your neck first thing in the morning and when she's gone to sleep at night. Still my most favorite time.

I can't believe next month with will double digits. Her birthday will be here before we know it.

Modern Medicine

We've spent the summer catchin up on Downton Abbey (thanks Amazon Mom for the free prime videos). Its a great little series, lots of drama, even Gene likes it!

Anyways, in the last episode we watched (SPOILER ALERT: if you haven't watched any of them yet, do not go on!!!!), the youngest sister died after child birth of eclampsia.

This got me thinking. I wasn't diagnosed with pre-eclampsia until we went into the hospital with contractions. I had been swollen, but they said that was normal. My blood pressure was never high. There was no reason to suspect it. In the triage area the OB explained that they would normally do a 24 hour urine catch to check for protein, but since I was 38 weeks already, they would just induce labor. I had the other two signs, swelling and high BP, so the urine catch was unnecesarry.

But I did require medical intervention. Which I refer to as Satan's breath. Because it was hot as Hell! The magnesium was awful. It set my body on fire from the inside out. Again, and Again, and Again. (yes caps was needed there).

After watching Downton last night, I'm thankful with the medical advances and the medical intervention. Watching Cybil convulse and then die was really scary. That could have been me. She too showed the pre-eclamptic signs, but in true drama television, of course they argued about it and possible treatments.

Just another reason to hug and kiss my baby a little bit more.