New skill

Those who know me well know there is rarely a photo where I am not sticking out my tongue. Imagine how awe struck I was when I found out SP did the same thing. And then! Yesterday Miss C spent the entire afternoon sticking her tongue out and blowing bubbles. That's our girl!


So, as most parents know, introducing your baby to solids is a messy affair. I am all about Miss C exploring her food and grabbing the spoon to shove more into her mouth. But the mess, wow! My solution? I took some of the receiving blankets that she no longer uses because they are too small, cut holes in them and now when she is eating she wears them like a poncho. Works pretty well because those receiving blankets make good burp cloths too. I will be selling these for $29.99 if you are interested. (Ha!)

Currently, my snotty bebe is sleeping. I am actually halting the sweet potatoes because she is all congested and as a touch of gas. This could be a sign that she isn't taking to them too well. We shall see.

I am finally, FINALLY back at my desk after spending an entire month in the Command Center. Sounds very N*SA like doesn't it? It wasn't. I get one week of a break and then I have to do it again on a much (thankfully) smaller scale.

In other baby news, I would like to send my heartfelt congratulations to my Aunts Marsha and Cathy, and Michelle on the arrival of the newest addition to our family. Now Miss C has another little boy she can hang.

Things I like to do

Hi everyone! My Mom is exercising so I thought I'd sneak on here and say Hi! She thinks I am napping. Fooled her. Just wanted to tell you what I'm into right now.


I really, REALLY like to chew on things. Mom totally busted me here sucking away on my toy. It tasted so good and well, my gums hurt and this helps them as well.


I also like to stick my butt in the air. I know you can't see my face here, but really don't I have a cute bum? I am working on my crawling because Mom and Dad are a little slow in getting me what I want so I figure I'll just get things myself.


I've also taken an interest in reading books that have fuzzy pages. Who knew horses felt like that? Not me! I spend hours when I am pooping just touching the pages, kinda like my Dad.


Oh, and here's Mia. We like to hang out in our diapers and sunbathe. Yes, we are wearing sunscreen, but how long are we really going to get to go topless without being arrested? Might as well enjoy it while we can.

Speaking of sunbathing, I am just chillin' here in Papa's pool It was Cousin Sam's birthday party and I was just way to cool to be bothered with anything beyond relaxing.

And, here you can see why I like chewing on things because they keep feeding me all this mashed up orange stuff. Mom says it's sweet potatoes, which I eat because I want to make Mom happy. But man, I can't wait until I can get a filet. Yummy.

Well, I can hear Mom coming so I have to go. Shhh! Don't tell her I was here.

Love,

Miss C

Will drool for money

If I could make money from Miss C's drooling, I'd be a gazillionaire. She definitely is teething between the gallons of drool and the random outburst of fussiness that indicates she is experiencing discomfort. Poor girl.

Otherwise all is well at our house. I believe she is going to be crawling before we know it. Her latest thing is to stick her butt in the air and try to push off with her feet to get to things just barely out of her reach.

She also grunts when she is trying really hard to do something, like grab a town or stick her paci in her mouth. It's hilarious. So determined.

We have successfully managed to consume brown rice cereal this week with no incidents of diarrhea. Of course, there was an entire day of no pooping at all followed by some very vocal pooping the next day, but we are making progress.

This weekend we are going home for Cousin Sam's birthday and to visit Miss Edie who was born on Tuesday. I can't wait to get Cara in the pool at Dad's and let her kick around. Lately she's been kicking up a storm when we give her a bath so I think in addition to being a master crawler, she may also go out for the Olymp*c swim team.

Things for me are sort of slowing down a bit with work. I am still working in our "command center" but the hours have decreased. Thankfully. It's nice to get my life back a little.

5 Months Already?

Dear Baby Girl,

Tonight I was working on your baby book and I am amazed at how different you look in such a short period of time. You are still distinctly you, but now even less baby like and more toddler like. Often I find myself just looking at your beautiful face and wondering what you will look like when you are older. Will your eyes still light up with delight? Will your smile be contagious like it is today? I hope so.

I love this period in your life right now where you are truly seeing things for the first time. When we take you on walks you are constantly looking around at the trees and the sky and who knows what else. We stop and look at the leaves and touch everything. It's a new world to me seeing it through your eyes.

You are doing so much developmentally right now it's hard to remember everything. Everything is touched and grabbed and passed from hand-to-hand. Then there's the shoving things in your mouth thing that satisfies you to no end. If it's not nailed down you try to suck on it. We're doing a lot of sitting, though still assisted. And there's the rolling over...you love to roll straight onto your stomach as quickly possible. Of course, you haven't figured out how to get back onto your back, but that's likely coming soon.

While you aren't crawling, you are managing to move yourself a little to get things you want that are just out of reach. I definitely think you are going to be an avid explorer soon. And I am quite confident you will continue to jibber jabber tales of those adventures like you do now. Seems only fitting since your parents never really stop talking, singing, laughing or whatever. You are joining right in with all the mayhem.

For the most part, you have outgrown your 3 month old clothes. You're still on the petite side but definitely growing a good rate. We have made a few attempts at feeding you rice cereal but your belly isn't liking it despite what appears to be a huge appetite on your part. We also tried oatmeal with the same result, diarrhea. We'll keep trying and when it's the right time you will make the transition.

I am struggling with the fact that you are 5 months old and I feel like I am already losing touch with those first couple of months. Some of it is exhaustion that comes with being a new parent, some of it is being so consumed with who you are right at this exact moment, that I see nothing else. You are a true joy to me and I want to package up and seal tight all these wonderful moments with you so that I never forget a second of them.

I love you baby girl. Thank you for being so utterly amazing.

Mom

Update

Took Miss C to the doctor this week for some shots. She is now 14 pounds. Can you believe that? My back can.

There's been a lot of rolling over in our house. Miss C doesn't spend much time on her back anymore and it's hilarious because she used to HATE being on her belly. Now she even sleeps on her stomach.

Right now she is fascinated with my face. She is constantly touching it and rubbing her hands over it. And then there's my hair. She LOVES my hair and grabbing it in her tiny little fists with a death grip. I am working on the term "ouch" and telling her gently she is hurting mommy. Because for as tiny she is, it hurts when she pulls.

I am feeling pretty good that our "routine" that we worked our asses off in the beginning is working. It make life so much easier knowing when she is supposed to eat, sleep, etc. and it helps identify when things might be wrong with her. It was tough in the beginning but I am so glad this day has come.

Right now, I am struggling with comparing Miss C to all the other babies I know her age. I know they develop at their own pace and she is doing things that other babies her age aren't, but it's really hard to not compare a little. I wish I didn't. So, I am working on it.

More later...

My how you have grown

Whatcha lookin at?

It seems Miss C is quite curious about what is going on around her when she is in her crib or pack n play. We have found her many a nap/sleep time on her belly with her little head peering around. It's quite comical to watch. Her face and actions are like, "Hey guys, I can hear you. I know you are there. Can I join you?"

I am trying to not be totally freaked out by the fact that Miss C also seems to love sleeping on her stomach. I guess if she can roll over there she can roll back. Yet, I still wake up in the middle of the night checking to see that she is breathing. Boy, the world sure can freak a new mom out with all it's SIDS talk and such.

We tried rice cereal again yesterday. We'll see how she does this time.