Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Anna: 8 months

Oh, sweet baby girl... You are possibly the funniest baby we've ever known. Your disposition is off-the-charts amazing. Neither hunger nor fatigue defeats you and a smile is always ready, just waiting to make our day. That smile of yours - sometimes a smirk, sometimes a grin, sometimes tickled pink, and sometimes so enormous that I swear your cheeks must ache. 



Over the past two months, you've become very mobile with the "roll, roll, pivot, roll, pivot, scooch, pull, roll" maneuver. You have two bottom teeth yet you're already chewing food like you've got a full set. Food: you rapidly progressed from your pureed squash, sweet potatoes, and avocado to soft chunks of green beans, carrots, cantaloupe, and chicken... the latter all carefully pinned between your index finger and your palm and then smashed into your mouth. You are also delighted with yogurt and oatmeal as well as smoothies made from any combination of banana, yogurt, peach, etc... You are into pointing and the "finger game", especially with Uncle Travis, as he slowly moves his index finger toward you and, with a very watchful eye, you wait... and wait.. and wait... then you reach out and touch his finger with your own. And then you smile, of course. You also love the "bobbing" game - in your high char, you look me right in the eye and then quickly bob your head forward. Then you wait. So I quickly bob mine back at you. To which you respond with another bob. This may go back and forth 4 or 5 times until I crack up laughing and, as if my laughter signals defeat, you then squeal with delight at your victory. Sleep: you're usually down for the night around 8:00 and often check-in for a snack in the morning around 5:00, after which you snooze again until 7:30 or 8:00. If we're home and not running about, you'll easily nap for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at least once a day; the other nap is often shorter but we rarely stay home and quiet long enough for any more. It must be enough because you're charming. 



You ADORE your big sisters - just yesterday, they were gone for the afternoon and when we arrived at Gran and Grandpa's to see them, your bouncing and smiling and yelling at their sight was the best "I'VE MISSED YOU" that one could receive. You had a runny nose...once... for about day. So basically you've never been sick. I have no idea how much you weigh or how long you are or what your percentile is - you have little rolls in your thighs, you're outgrowing 6-month clothes, you're signing "daddy", "dog", and "milk", saying "mama", clapping your hands to music and you seem perfect in every way. Keep it up, babykins, keep it up.



Monday, January 19, 2015

Happy New Year!

As I sit here and attempt to sum up December, I'm realizing that it may very well have been one of our busiest months. Ever. While the girls and I wrapped up our first semester of school, John wrapped up his final weeks at KU. We celebrated Hanukkah and Christmas and New Years. Anna turned 7 months, started signing, and grew some teeth. We bought a new car. We were together A LOT. :) And it's no secret around here that the return of a routine in January has been good for everyone. 


We welcomed 2015 with open arms. We had a wonderful holiday season - don't get me wrong - but I am raising children who crave consistency and, when life feels unpredictable or somewhat off-kilter, they react (what's that saying? "the apple doesn't fall far..."). I have to constantly remind myself of how intuitive my children are ... how influenced they are by my emotions... and how they don't miss a damn thing. 



For Abby and Elise, 2014 went like this: homeschooling kindergarten free-play all day with mom to structured, student-teacher lessons at home... first-born babies in the house to big sisters... mom available 24/7 to mom on bedrest/hospital/new-baby duty... well-rested, level-headed parents to exhausted, patience-lacking parents. These were big changes for ME. They were even bigger changes for my girls. 



Happy 2015. Change is inevitable... and while it can throw us completely off-balance, clearly it can result in amazing outcomes.