Friday, September 9, 2011

a post that ended up being super sappy.

Guess who only weighs 17.9 pounds at 10.5 months?

Guess who is only in the 10th percentile for weight?

And the 25th percentile for height?

And the 75th for head size? (big brains for a smart toot!)

Guess who climbed up the stairs (caught her on the 3rd one) today while we turned our backs for a second?

Guess who is suddenly super attached to mama and actually - for the first time - cries for me to hold her?

Guess who said the word "clap" today while clapping?

Guess who stops dead in her tracks, flips around to face the television, then dances to The Hot Dog Song when it comes on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse?


Why, it's Adalyn, of course!

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Yep, her well check-up was today, and it went fabulous - despite leaving with tears streaming down her face -- a HepB and flu shot will do that to ya. I really didn't want to give her a flu shot. No reason specifically. I just hate giving her shots. But we decided to on a whim at her appointment.

Anyway.

We quizzed her doctor with a few questions -- most importantly about her sleep "issues." Adalyn is a horrible sleeper. Since the day I moved back to Kentucky when she was 8 weeks, it's been downhill since. I'll save everyone the major details but just say: she sometimes looks extremely uncomfortable, wakes up about 4-5 times a night (just to nurse for about... 1 minute each time), and randomly wakes herself up by trying to crawl or sit up in her sleep.

Lots of issues here. But common issues, so I'm not too worried or anything. The girl won't be waking to nurse at 10 years old.

At least we hope not, anyway ;)

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So her doctor gave us a new "trick" to try. I'm not going to tell any of you all just yet, because it seems a little crazy to me... and I don't want to spill the beans unless it actually works. But tonight is night one of our little science experiment, and so far it seems to be working great. She usually wakes up 1 hour after going to sleep - and we aren't to that point yet - but hopefully it works.

I really try to keep everything in perspective when it comes to parenting. At the time, it seems like everything is SUCH a big deal. Like I should be freaking out that my 10-month old is a bad, bad sleeper. But during the day she is an angel. Full of smiles, developing just dandy, and life is good! Her sleep will work itself out. I'm trying to focus on her needs at this time in her life. And if she needs a little breastmilk 5 times at night? Sigh. Well, then that's what she needs right now.

Speaking of which, this past week I randomly burst out with watering eyes at the fact that she's growing up. What is wrong with me!? Seriously, every child grows up. But I feel like this time in her life where I get to pack her around, nurse her, hold her tight, squeeze her baby hands, kiss her teeny toes, rub the nape of her neck, smell her baby hair, and sleep with her squashed to me.. I feel like those days will be ending very, very soon. I feel like in a flash she will be five, and my baby will be gone. And she won't need me anymore. And I won't be able to hold her and squish her anymore. We joke that when the time comes that I feel like my "baby" is too big, it's time to have another one! Although we aren't joking at all, actually.

She's laying next to me now on her belly. She's breathing in perfect rhythm. Her little cheek is pressed on the sheets and she looks like absolute perfection. She is more than I could have dreamed of. I never want this to end.


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Thursday, September 8, 2011

10 best of 10

...And now for the TOP 10 best things about having a 10-month old!

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10. You have your own little live audience now, and someone thinks you're the funniest person EVER. And those loud, explosive giggles? Those never get old.

9. You've also become the most popular person on the block, and a certain someone zooms across the room just to be near you. It sure does make you feel loved to have a little toot on your heels at all times!

8. That amazing meal you just cooked? You can now share it with your best buddy and marvel at how she gobbles it up like you're the best cook ever!

7. She's become Miss Independent, but there's no place like Mama's Arms.

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6. She now imitates you. Which can be a funny and cute thing.

5. "Can I have a kiss?!" now means huge open mouthed French kisses from your Mini Me. And those, my friends, are the sweetest (and stickiest!)

4. Those 12-month clothes are just too cute.

3. She literally learns something new every day and it is a complete joy to watch.

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2. Her personality is now really showing! She's her own little person!

1. She now really is your best friend. You can tell her anything, and she won't tell your secrets :) She loves you no matter what. You two experience life together, and she has opened your eyes up to a world you never knew existed.

Oh how I will miss this time in our lives! It is PURE fun, joy, and excitement!

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I just miss her in my belly.



Boy, I miss being pregnant. I remember the exact moment that I looked at my little pee stick and saw the faintest of lines. I'm pretty sure that my heart stopped beating for just a second. It was the most life-changing moment for me.

I loved every second of being pregnant. Sure, I threw up like it was my full-time job, and it was often pretty painful, butttttt it was an amazing experience. This was me a year ago. And it definitely does seem like a year ago!! Crazy how things have changed and how far we've all come since September 2010.

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Now we have a big girl on our hands. A super independent big girl that never wants to cuddle yet is majorly attached to her mama. My little buddy follows me around the house and flies around crawling to catch up to me.

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How is it that my little girl is already giving her babies hugs and kisses? Oh she is the epitome of sweetness personified.

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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

the teeth that just wouldn't come through.



Okay, top teeth, you can come in ANY TIME now!

I miss my gummy-smiled baby. True, her bottom teeth are insanely cute, but these teeth have been nothing but trouble. I'm pretty sure that they're solely to blame for my baby's restlessness at night and her random outcries in the middle of the night.

We're in a season (a long, seemingly never-ending season) of poor sleep habits. I have no idea what to do but to pull up my mommy panties (oh and I most certainly do own them!) and truck on and hope things settle down. Soon. Once she's asleep, we flip on the baby monitor and watch her squirm. Toss. Turn. TossTurn. Flip. Flop. Constantly! I've never seen anyone look more uncomfortable in my life.

Sigh!

She's also got this new thing where she's fast asleep. So peaceful. Then suddenly! BOOM! She pushes right up and tries to practice her crawling at 2am. Thankfully, Dr. Sears says this is normal (#8 on the list) but it's rough to watch. She was such a great sleeper at 6 weeks old. 5 hour stretches. Not a peep at night! Oh how I miss those days.

So come on in, top teeth! I've had it with you. I can see you peeking through my baby's swollen gums, and we're ready for you to make your long-awaited appearance.

Signed,
Annoyed Mom and Baby