Retiree

This week we retired the swing...our little girl is growing up!!  During the first 3 months of Evelina's life, we used the swing quite a bit.  It was a great soothing tool, and, before we were adamant about her taking naps in her crib, she would take naps in the swing.  But, over the past month or so, it had just been siting in the corner and occasionally used.  Since she started doing her baby crunches and reaching for everything, the swing was more of a hazard then a relaxing papasan chair. I also thought it would be more fun for her to play on the floor and practice new skills instead of just sitting in a swing.  So, unless we need the resurrect the swing in a last ditch effort to get Lina to sleep at night during a bad cold, the always favorite jumperoo has replaced it's spot in our kitchen area. 

Hallelujah!!

The turmoil of month 6, weaning from the binkie and swaddle, followed by wonder week 26, two teeth and a cold, have passed.  Man was it a tough 4ish weeks in the sleep department.  Lina has always been a good -- borderline great -- sleeper (if you would've asked me this when she was a newborn or even a month or so ago, I would've thought differently, but looking back and hearing stories from other moms makes me realize we don't have it so bad...you live and learn), and when she started sleeping 7p-7a straight at 13 weeks, we were stoked and very lucky.  When all of that started going out the window, I got frustrated and wondered if it was all just a fluke...would she ever do it again?  I was beginning to lose hope, but alas, rip van Lina is back... for the time being that is.  

Over the past week she hasn't had any night-time wake-ups and I'm loving it!!  Although, she still loves to wake-up and party around 5:30a, but I can live with that.  Most mornings, after 5:30a, I will pull out the binkie and more times than not, she will go back to sleep.  Hence why I am able to write this post.  She woke up at 5:30 this morning, I gave her the binkie around 6a and she is still sleeping.  Why she doesn't just stay asleep continuously in the morning is a mystery.  Oh babies!!  

This past month has taught me that we have a great night-time sleeper on our hands, but there will always be regressions and set-backs due to development leaps, teeth and illness, so we just have to ride the wave.  I'm also more confident in what the symptoms of teething are, so when she does start waking again during the night, I will have a better idea of what is causing it and I won't always think that the days of her being a good sleeper are doomed. 

AND, I mustn't forget that to successfully make it through the next wave, I have to practice that thing called patience. 

Brown Eyed Girl

I think Evelina officially has brown eyes.  Sometimes, in certain light, they look hazel but I see chestnut most often.  

7 Months!!

Dear Evelina,

You are 7 months old (+ one day)!! You are closer to your first birthday than the day we first met and time just continues to fly by at warp speed (I better start planning your first birthday party, stat).   

This past month you experienced many firsts.  You got your first tooth (two!!), you celebrated your first Christmas, you survived your first blizzard, you got your first real cold.  Although you continued to be your happy, smiley self, your new teeth and the congestion from your cold made for some very tough nights for a few weeks.  Your papa and I shared many sleepless nights and you even had to sleep in the swing with the dreaded binkie for a couple of those nights so we could make sure you got the rest you needed to fight that cold of yours.  I am happy to report that you are feeling better and nights have gotten much easier.  You still aren't sleeping 7p-7a like you used to, but I can live with one babbling wake-up...as long as you don't decide to get up for the day before 5:30a!! 

Many things make you happy, here are just a few:  being held up in a standing position, reaching out to anyone and anything, touching faces, pulling facial hair, taking off eyeglasses, grabbing noses and putting your hands in people's mouths (not great during this cold/flu season!!), thumping your legs down in your crib when either me or you papa enter your nursery in the morning to show excitement, playing pat-a-cake, looking in the mirror, and of course mama and papa.   I think your all time favorite thing at the moment has GOT to be the jumperoo.  You could stay in it for hours if we allowed you too.  The second we place you in the contraption you begin to bend your legs in perfect form for optimal bouncing.  Sometimes we fear you may fling yourself right out of the seat.  If we are holding you and happen to walk by the jumperoo, you will lean forward and just stare at it hoping we will plop you in for some fun.  It is so adorable, you are so adorable!!  

Over the past month we've been introducing homemade solid foods to your repertoire of milk and milk, and you really seem to be adapting well to the new method of feeding.  You had some minor digestive issue during the first week on solids but your system appears to have adjusted...well, expect for the occasional dirty diaper at 3am, but it just gives you an excuse to chat with me for a few minutes before babbling your way back to dreamland with Gigi.  

So far you've tried oatmeal, sweet potatoes, peas, butternut squash, carrots, apples, pears, avocado, and zucchini.  It usually takes you a couple of days to decide if you really enjoy a new food, and your face is priceless when trying something new for the first time, but if anything has sweet potatoes or apples blended with it, you gobble it up in seconds.  Yum-O!!  It is seriously the cutest thing when you are in love with a particular food, as soon as you swallow a spoon full, you open your month immediately and stare at the spoon approaching.  Many times, you will close you month before the spoon even enters and the yummy goodness will paint your face.  We get many good chuckles during mealtimes, that for certain!!  Some new foods we plan to try this month are bananas, mangoes, peaches, parsnips and I may even try adding some herbs and spices to some of your purees to really jazz up lunch and dinnertime. 

What new and exciting things will you do this month?  Will you say your first official word, will you finally roll back to belly (you are seriously so close!!), maybe you will sit up on your own, army crawl, wave or cut more teeth?  Your papa and I can't wait to discover what January will reveal, but in the meantime we will continue to enjoy getting to know you along the way. Happy 7 month birthday!!   

You are the sunshine of my life,

Mommy