Watch Me Grow - Thirty Weeks

There isn't a regular Watch Me Grow photo this week while we are visiting with friends and family, but there is still lots of exciting stuff to report! Kaitlin is LOVING being around her family and is being spoiled rotten. On Saturday she turned thirty weeks and has found a new favorite pastime - standing up! Now, she can't really stand on her own but she is getting very good at pulling herself up by holding onto your fingers. She can hold onto the couch by herself, albeit a bit wobbly, and if she can see your hands she will try and grab them and stand right up. Suddenly sitting wasn't exciting enough - and you can forget about laying down! She is getting better and better at pushing herself up to sitting from laying down and is finally doing it outside of her crib. She is also getting better at being on her hands and knees but still can't hold herself up for very long.

This past week I took my first solo flight with Kaitlin and man was it hard! But overall we had a great trip and Kaitlin was a rockstar. All the flight attendants loved her - even more so since she didn't really cry at all on either flight! While flying by myself with her won't top any of my 'favorite things to do' lists at least now I know I can do it :)

My gut says that she has been majorly teething over the last couple of weeks but I haven't seen anymore teeth pop through. Hopefully they come through soon so that she can have a little relief! On Saturday she was lucky enough to meet her other set of great-grandparents. They absolutely adored her and we all had a wonderful time together. I will post a full story and photos later this week. Here are a couple fun shots from this past week!

playing with friends at her first cookie swap

early morning flight

great-grandparents

furry baby boots!

Watch Me Grow - Twenty Nine Weeks

Super late, as usual. Such is life as a new mom I suppose. Speaking of which - how much longer am I allowed to use the excuse that I'm a "new" mom? So what my daughter is almost seven months old - wait, what?! I am most definitely, probably still going to use that excuse when she is 15.

I can't even get her to stay still for 5 seconds so I can take a photo. On Saturday she absolutely, positively did NOT want to lay on her back long enough for me to take a photo. Thanks a lot kid. And since I'm doing this post on my phone (wayyy too lazy to go all the way downstairs to get the computer) I couldn't even make a speech bubble for this one. Not that I would have any place to put it since her head is barely even in this picture. So this weeks photo kind of stinks.

Last week Kaitlin learned how to sit up from laying down. And since she figured that out it is ALL that she wants to do. But she only does it when she's in her crib. Which is infinitely more exciting than taking a nap, obviously. So, not a lot of day sleeping going on in this house. I thought I saw one of her top teeth pop through last week but it quickly disappeared. I thought I was going mad but now I have heard from a few people of these mysterious disappearing teeth, so maybe I'm not so wacky after all ;)

A Christmas Photo Shoot

I just can't help myself...she is my little muse

The Inevitable Question...

...When are you going to have another one?

* groan*

There are a series of questions that you will inevitably be asked during your lifetime:

"Where are you going to college?"

"When are you guys going to get married?"

"When are you going to have kids?"

"When you are going to have another kid?"

(How many kids do you have to have before people stop asking that last one?)

I'm sure there are more, but I haven't reached those stages of my life yet. Admit it - you're guilty of asking one or all of these questions to your friends/family/random people. 

*raises hand*

I am totally guilty of this, even though I don't love being asked these questions myself. I think it's just in our human nature to want to know people's life plan. Also, it's an easy conversation starter, especially if you're talking to someone who you don't really know that well. Which, of course, makes these questions all the more awkward to answer. 

I remember being asked at my wedding reception when were we going to have kids. For the love - the ink hadn't even dried on our marriage certificate and we were already getting pressured to have kids! But in truth, these questions don't really bother me. I know that people sometimes ask them without thinking that it might be an uncomfortable question to answer. I find myself asking these questions to people all the time, and immediately want to put my foot into my mouth. I rarely take offense to it and usually have a witty come back if I'm talking to someone I'm not that close to. Asking these questions between friends is, for me at least, completely fair game and not uncomfortable (again, for me) at all.

And let's be honest...you know you've thought about it too. You have probably asked yourself many of these same questions at least a dozen times. 

Now that we have one happy and healthy baby under our belts I get asked this question all the time - by friends, family, random people and myself. So, when are we going to have another one?

A friend and I were talking about this very topic a few months back when Kaitlin was only a couple months old. I was still in that newborn fog where the days and nights run together and seem endless, you still haven't figured out which cry means what and everything is a bit of a blur. She said to me, "Do you think you'll have another?" At that very moment in time I felt like screaming "HELL NO!" I could barely get my act together with one kid, how on earth would I be able to handle two (or more). At the time, her baby was six or seven months old. She kind of gave me a knowing smile and said something along the lines of, "Just wait. Wait until they get to this age when they are so much fun."

Well - Kaitlin is now that age. And I completely know what she was talking about. Kaitlin greets us with a million smiles every morning, thinks that peek-a-boo is the funniest game on earth and is learning and growing in leaps and bounds. This really is the best stage - if only they came out of the womb at this age (ouch, maybe not). Some days we even resemble a family that has it all together. Naps are a dream, everyone is in a good mood and we have so much fun together. But those are few and far between. That's not to say that every other day is a drag - not even close - but they are a bit more, ahem, challenging. And again - that's only with one child. That alone would be reason not to reproduce anymore, but on top of that I'm pretty sure I'm still not 100% healed from having the first one. And my memories of her birth are far too fresh, I think I'll need them to fade a bit more so that all that are left are the rosie, happy ones before I can seriously consider having another one. 

But, like an itch you can't help but scratch, those little thoughts come creeping into your brain. You find yourself thinking about all the things you'll do differently next time. You think of how wonderful it would be to have two little ones smiling at you like a maniac and how fun it would be for them to play and grow up together. (Those angst ridden teenage years aren't even a blip on your radar at this point) And before you know it you find yourself pondering that age old question, "When are we going to have another one?"

Watch Me Grow - Twenty Eight Weeks

This little munchkin is getting ready for Christmas - are you??

If you're a regular around here you know that Kaitlin has been scooting, rolling and turning in circles for a few weeks now. She really wants to be mobile and she is super close to getting there. One day last week while we were playing she managed to lift her whole torso off the ground. It looked like she did one big, girlie push-up and then collapsed in a heap on the floor (kind of like me after I do one girlie push-up, heh). Later that day, when I was going to get her from her nap, I found her on her hands and knees in her crib! She has only managed to do each of those things a few more times since then, but I can tell she's getting stronger and starting to figure out that this is a step in the right direction. She is also super close to being able to push herself up to sitting from laying on the ground. Maybe I'll get her some baby dumb bells to work out those biceps - because once they are strong enough there won't be any stopping her!

In the mean time she continues to roll around constantly. She can now sit up by herself for longer periods of time. I am not using the Boppy to support her that much anymore. She has learned that if she falls over that it doesn't really hurt, provided she's on the carpet and not on the hardwood floor. That doesn't stop her from looking slightly nervous and startled when she does tip over, but she is pretty quick to recover (especially if we make a lot of noise like it is a good thing).

And finally - we had a swimming break through! We had her fourth lesson on Saturday and, even after a two week hiatus, she didn't hate it! She only fussed a few times - which was easily remedied by giving her a pool toy - and only cried after Brian dunked her under water a couple of times (rightfully so). We were shocked at how far she had come and even the teacher was giving us silent thumbs up (so we didn't jinx it). She's well on her way to becoming a little fish!

The Sixth Month

*warning - this is a long one!*

I'm pretty sure I said this last month, but the sixth month has been one of the most exciting months yet. Not only has Kaitlin grown and developed so much over the last 30 days (31? I don't know) but it has also been a very busy month - we had family in town, she celebrated her first Halloween, started swimming lessons, got her first tooth and started solid food!

Over the last month she has become even more of a woman on the move. She is scooting and rolling and turning in circles like a champion. She is still lunging for everything in sight and wants to touch/grab/chew on anything and everything. This month she got her first TWO teeth (both bottom teeth have arrived) and we got to learn about the joys of teething. I think she lucked out pretty well with the teething thing. We had a few days of disrupted naps, definitely some irritated gums and an urgent need to chew/gum on anything wet and/or cold. But other than that she handled it pretty well, especially considering she had two teeth coming in at the same time.

In addition to moving around the floors like a wild woman, Kaitlin also learned how to sit up on her own. I still use the Boppy to help balance her but she is geting better and stronger at sitting on her own every day. She started off staying upright for a few seconds and can now sit for a few minutes on her own at a time. If she wasn't constantly trying to reach for something she could probably sit for a bit longer, but that would be too boring. I started putting her in her high chair at the beginning of the month to get her used to it because by the end of the month we were going to start solid food! We started off with some oatmeal baby cereal and it was a rousing success. She made a few funny faces and pushed the majority out of her mouth the first time around but overall she seems to really like it! Actually, what she seems to love is chewing on the spoon. But if it helps encourage eating and she gets excited about it then I am all for it!

We also had Kaitlin start swim lessons this month. Although they haven't been too successful - most of the time is spent with her crying and mom/dad trying to distract her - I think she will love being in the pool eventually. We got her a new bathtub that allows her to sit in the water and splash around. I'm hoping that helps get her used to being in deeper water. Of course her little ducky tub is a lot different from the giant community pool, but hopefully it will help a little.

Our little pumpkin loved Halloween. I hosted a Halloween party with all of her (my) friends and she had a grand old time. She didn't even seem to mind being in costume, she was too busy watching all the other babies and playing with her toys. We took her to a pumpkin patch (she was not impressed) which rounded out our fall activities and started to gear up for Thanksgiving. It was a super busy and very exciting month, and to say I learned a lot would be an understatement.

A few (more) things I have learned...

Look Up
Kaitlin has always been very inquisitive about the world around her. From the day she was born she was constantly looking around, taking it all in and trying to figure out everything that was going on around her. Now that she is a bit older and can filter out more of the "stuff" that is going on, she can hone in her concentration to things that really interest her. One of her favorite things to do lately is look up. She is always looking at the ceiling when I carry her around - although what, specifically, she is looking at I'm not sure. Whenever we go outside she always, always stares at the trees and their leaves. You will very rarely find her outside with her head down. Sometimes I think she must be getting a neck ache with all the looking up that she is doing but she perseveres. Often times she is staring at something so intently that it causes me to look up to see what she's looking at. I've seen some beautiful sights this way - birds on a wire, leaves rustling in the wind, beautiful fluffy clouds - and I am thankful that she has caused me to pause, look up and observe these everyday, yet special scenes, that I might otherwise miss.

It only gets more expensive
Everyone always says that having children is expensive. But, at first, I didn't really believe them. As Kaitlin gets older I am finally starting to understand. Now that she is on formula and starting solids her food budget has increased (not hard considering it used to be free). As diapers get bigger so does their price tag. Clothes are the same way. And toys...don't forget the toys. In the beginning there is very little that babies need and what they do need you will have probably received as a baby shower gift. But after the first few months the well dries up and this little, smiling, stinky bundle of joy starts to make a dent in your bank account. And it only gets more expensive as they get bigger. Soccer teams, rollerskating parties (umm, do kids still do that?), prom dresses - I can hear my bank account screaming as we speak. Now - finally - I understand why my parents were always on me about getting a college scholarship ;)

Babies are strong

Sure, they may look cute and innocent - but babies are freakin' strong! Kaitlins little legs kick with all their might and I am always surprised at how strong they are. I can't see a six pack but her abs must be made of steal. She is constantly trying to sit up when she's in a reclined position. I started pulling her up to sitting from laying down and now when she sees my thumbs she automatically grabs on and starts to pull herself up. I barely have to help her. And man, does she have a good grip. Your hair is only safe when securely tucked away in a tight ponytail, and even then it's not a guarantee. Your ears, eyes and nose aren't safe either. I'd guard your cheeks and chin too, just to be safe.

I will always think she is the best/brightest/smartest...

I think every mom/dad/parent/grandparent must think - at one time or another - that their child is gifted. Just think about all of the new things that baby learns in the first year of their life. When is the last time you have seen someone learn so much in such little time? Especially during the middle of their first year, they are mastering so many amazing tasks and learning new things every day. Personally, I don't really know much about when babies are supposed to learn what. I know rough timelines of when certain milestones are supposed to be achieved, but the time frame is usually so wide and varied that it isn't really much help. The phrase "every baby develops at their own speed" gets thrown around a lot and for good reason - it's true. I am continually amazed at what Kaitlin learns and accomplishes on a daily basis. I am almost always certain that she is ahead of the curve, mastering things many babies her age aren't learning yet. Sometimes I am right, sometimes I am wrong - but I don't really care. In my eyes she will always be the best, brightest, most talented, funniest, sweetest, intelligent baby/child/person I  have ever known. It's hard not to compare your baby to someone else's, just as it is difficult not to compare your pregnancy to someone else's. But in the end it doesn't really matter what Johnny, Jack and Jane are doing. What matters is what your baby is doing at that moment and how proud of them you are. Just rolled over for the first time? Shout it from the rooftops! Found her fingers/toes/fist for the first time? Blast the news out on facebook/twitter/newest-social-media-too-cool-for-me. I hope I never get over the excitement of my child(ren) learning and accomplishing new things - big and small.

Watch Me Grow - Twenty Seven Weeks

Happy belated Thanksgiving! It was a crazy week over here and I am just now beginning to catch my breath. On Saturday this little munchkin turned 27 weeks old!

We started off the week with her six month check up at the doctors. It went good and bad. Good because she is now in the 25% for weight (Woohoo! Up from 15% at her four month appointment). Her doctor was very happy and encouraged us to start with solid foods now that she weighs a bit more. She also checked on her TWO teeth - thats right there are TWO of them in there now! - and said that overall she is in great shape. It went poorly because she had to get five inoculations; four shots and one oral. Believe it or not it was the oral one that set her off and got her upset and then the four jabs in her thighs didn't help much. It was one tearful walk home, thats for sure.

But she soon perked up because Grammy and Pop-pop were here! She LOVED having them around and was showered with attention and affection for five days straight, she was so spoiled! Kaitlin has been super smiley lately (if that's even possible) and I'm sure their visit had something to do with it. Grammy got to help feed her some solid food, we went on lots of walks and had a wonderful Thanksgiving together.