Merry Christmas! And, Happy New Year's!
Well, since my last post, which was over a month ago, a lot has happened. Surprise, surprise!
Rachel is now really crawling and pulling herself up on anything that is greater than 1" off the ground. She can stand up in the middle of the room by herself and lets go of the object she was holding on to and will stand alone for a little while. But, her "sea legs" tell us it will be awhile before we see real first steps.
She's getting more teeth. To date, she has the bottom center teeth. It looks like ones on either side will be coming in next followed quickly by the top centers.
She gives us the finger all the time...the pointing finger that is. Her pointer fingers are constantly out and she will point at everything. Sometimes it's helpful (like when she points at one of three dishes that we're feeding her from) but othertimes it's frustrating because she knows what she wants and I can't figure it out. She also uses the finger to shake at me when she's doing something she's not supposed to (I shake my finger and say "no, no" when correcting her). Unfortunately, she then laughs so I'm not thinking our discipline is being understood (yes, I know she is too little).
She now has said: dada, mum-mum, no (kinda), papa, hey, hi, and she growls like a bear/tiger/lion/daddy in the morning (ha!) or whatever I prompt her with.
She gives BIIIGG hugs, especially to Ethan and slobbery wet kisses to anyone who wants one. She is getting a little bit better with stranger shyness (strangers being anyone other than mom, dad or Ethan). She loves her bath and acts like quite the little lady while in the water, not! She splashes wildly, attempts to drink half the water and knocks over any bottles she can get her fingers on.
She's sleeping through the night (8:30-6ish) but still cries everytime we put her in her crib awake and everytime she wakes up. She has quite the set of lungs on her. Her volume and pitch are very, um, unique. She will let you know when she doesn't like what you're doing and definitely objects when you take a toy away--in the form of throwing herself backwards regardless of where she is and using that "unique" scream.
Other than that, it's business as usual. We're hoping she avoids this terrible illness that Ethan has. We're waiting to hear back from the docs as to what it is that he has--probably influenza but maybe pneumonia. I think they're a little jumpy and really he just has a bad cold. But, better safe than sorry.
The next post promises to have pictures and/or a video so you can see that really my children are alive and well. Until then...
Jan 9, 2008
Dec 7, 2007
Dec 5, 2007
Glass Half Empty
Rachel is great. Really, she is. She's doing all the wonderful things babies at her age do if not more (remember, my children are extremely advanced. They are. Just ask me :) )
Butttt...there is one thing that she hasn't done that is preoccupying 90 percent of my effort. That's right. She hasn't said "mama" yet.
So, maybe it's self centered. Maybe I carried her for nine months, act like a milking cow and wrestle her multiple times a day to get her dressed, change her diaper, avoid her getting her fingers bit off my the dog...you know, normal stuff.
Oh, she says "dada" just find. "Hi, Dada". "Dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada". Sounds like, "Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah." to me. I mean really, where's the love?
Who gets up with you at night, Rachel? Mama. Who produces nourishment for you? Mama. Who carried you? Had labor? Suffered? Pain? Agony? That's right. Mama. But, if you want to say Dada, that's fine.
Seriously, I will sit there any try to get it out of her. Like saying it slower is going to help.
ME: "Rachel, say 'Maaaaaama'"
RACHEL: "Dada"
ME: "No, 'Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaama'"
RACHEL" "Dada"
ME: "Mama"
RACHEL: (Spitefully, with an attitude and maybe a little twinkle in her eye) "Da.Da."
ME: (Crying) "For the love! Say, 'MAMA'"
RACHEL: (Hysterically laughing) "Ginger" (yeah, that would be our dog) "Ethan" (brother) "President Bush" (well, you know).
ME: (in anguish, weakly) "mama?"
RACHEL: "Um, no. Dada"
Okay, so maybe there's a little hyperbole. But really, am I asking too much?
Butttt...there is one thing that she hasn't done that is preoccupying 90 percent of my effort. That's right. She hasn't said "mama" yet.
So, maybe it's self centered. Maybe I carried her for nine months, act like a milking cow and wrestle her multiple times a day to get her dressed, change her diaper, avoid her getting her fingers bit off my the dog...you know, normal stuff.
Oh, she says "dada" just find. "Hi, Dada". "Dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada". Sounds like, "Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah. Blah." to me. I mean really, where's the love?
Who gets up with you at night, Rachel? Mama. Who produces nourishment for you? Mama. Who carried you? Had labor? Suffered? Pain? Agony? That's right. Mama. But, if you want to say Dada, that's fine.
Seriously, I will sit there any try to get it out of her. Like saying it slower is going to help.
ME: "Rachel, say 'Maaaaaama'"
RACHEL: "Dada"
ME: "No, 'Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaama'"
RACHEL" "Dada"
ME: "Mama"
RACHEL: (Spitefully, with an attitude and maybe a little twinkle in her eye) "Da.Da."
ME: (Crying) "For the love! Say, 'MAMA'"
RACHEL: (Hysterically laughing) "Ginger" (yeah, that would be our dog) "Ethan" (brother) "President Bush" (well, you know).
ME: (in anguish, weakly) "mama?"
RACHEL: "Um, no. Dada"
Okay, so maybe there's a little hyperbole. But really, am I asking too much?
Nov 3, 2007
6, er , 7 month check-up
Due to several scheduling snafus, Rachel's six-month check ended up being at seven months. She's very healthy, 19lbs, 26.75" and 17.23" head circumference which is the 78th, 53rd and 73rd percentiles. And, someone told me she was "so small" yesterday. I asked if she had ever seen a baby before ;)
This month was eventful. She is now sitting very well and able to go from her belly to a sitting position. She also has learned she can pull herself up on things and that her crib mattress really is a great trampoline! She got her first tooth on Oct. 16; the better to bite me while nursing with...and looks as though she's getting a few more. She learned how to wave bye-bye (whole arm wave) and can say hi though I really don't think she knows what it means. However, whenever she is on my lap while we're reading other baby's blogs, she'll wave at the baby and say hi about six thousand times.
I have also begun teaching her some simple signs--milk, eat, more, all done, cup and poop (you know all the important ones). Anyway, after her shots yesterday, I nursed her as usual and when I thought she was done, I started getting her ready to go. Let me tell you, she made the sign for milk like there was no tomorrow. Poor baby wasn't done :) But, I'm hoping this helps alleviate her grunting when she's not getting what she wants.
She also has learned how to bounce in a sitting position which can scoot her a little. However, the funnier thing is watching her reach for something in front of her, fold completely over, make the crawling motion with her hands but have her feet still stuck underneath (video forthcoming).
With the first one, you want them to hurry up and move--crawl, scoot, walk, whatever. But, with Rachel, I'm really happy right now knowing I can sit her down and she'll still be there when I get back. Over the next few weeks, Ben and I are going to have to baby-proof the house because I'm sure the inevitable is going to happen soon!
This month was eventful. She is now sitting very well and able to go from her belly to a sitting position. She also has learned she can pull herself up on things and that her crib mattress really is a great trampoline! She got her first tooth on Oct. 16; the better to bite me while nursing with...and looks as though she's getting a few more. She learned how to wave bye-bye (whole arm wave) and can say hi though I really don't think she knows what it means. However, whenever she is on my lap while we're reading other baby's blogs, she'll wave at the baby and say hi about six thousand times.
I have also begun teaching her some simple signs--milk, eat, more, all done, cup and poop (you know all the important ones). Anyway, after her shots yesterday, I nursed her as usual and when I thought she was done, I started getting her ready to go. Let me tell you, she made the sign for milk like there was no tomorrow. Poor baby wasn't done :) But, I'm hoping this helps alleviate her grunting when she's not getting what she wants.
She also has learned how to bounce in a sitting position which can scoot her a little. However, the funnier thing is watching her reach for something in front of her, fold completely over, make the crawling motion with her hands but have her feet still stuck underneath (video forthcoming).
With the first one, you want them to hurry up and move--crawl, scoot, walk, whatever. But, with Rachel, I'm really happy right now knowing I can sit her down and she'll still be there when I get back. Over the next few weeks, Ben and I are going to have to baby-proof the house because I'm sure the inevitable is going to happen soon!
Oct 17, 2007
The missing socks and DaDa
I think it's funny that she actually reacts to my question, "Where's your socks?" by looking down like, "Gee, I don't know?!"
Why I Hate My PCP's Office Staff Part II
I showed up for Rachel's six month appointment at 11 a.m. today only to be told that the appointment is tomorrow at 11 a.m.
Now, I have an appointment at 11 tomorrow, which was scheduled after my first OB followup appointment so I know that it has been in my planner forever.
Why would I schedule Rachel's appointment for that day? So, I say to the receptionist, "Well, how are we going to fix this?" And, she says, "I don't know. I wasn't the one who showed up on the wrong day." EXCUSE ME?
Then, I think she caught herself. "Let's look at the schedule and see when we can reschedule you for." Yeah, do you think?
So, we begin looking at dates and every day or time she gave I couldn't do. And, then, like icing on a cake she peers over her reading glasses and says sternly, "You're going to have to work with me to get this scheduled." What exactly does one say to that?
"Really? Because up until this point, I've been trying to see how long until you snap. Looks like I've done it. Now, let's get down to business."
Now, I have an appointment at 11 tomorrow, which was scheduled after my first OB followup appointment so I know that it has been in my planner forever.
Why would I schedule Rachel's appointment for that day? So, I say to the receptionist, "Well, how are we going to fix this?" And, she says, "I don't know. I wasn't the one who showed up on the wrong day." EXCUSE ME?
Then, I think she caught herself. "Let's look at the schedule and see when we can reschedule you for." Yeah, do you think?
So, we begin looking at dates and every day or time she gave I couldn't do. And, then, like icing on a cake she peers over her reading glasses and says sternly, "You're going to have to work with me to get this scheduled." What exactly does one say to that?
"Really? Because up until this point, I've been trying to see how long until you snap. Looks like I've done it. Now, let's get down to business."
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