43 Weeks

Another weekend I'm working, wishing so badly I was home snuggling my not-so-little baby.  

She seems to be hitting all her milestones at once, 

Waving and clapping, pulling up and standing, getting much better with eating finger foods, her chatty babble picked up some new sounds, & she loves her playtime.  

6th Tooth (finally)

Just checked

& the sixth tooth (the other "two front teeth") broke through

The count is six!

You'll Always Be My First

You'll Always Be My First

by Amy Wruble Jan 28 2016 

 

The following post was originally featured on Carriage Before Marriage 

Dear Daughter,

"You're my favorite person in the whole world" is not something you're going to hear me say anymore. Not only is it unfair to Daddy, but it really won't go over well with your baby sister, once she's born and learns to talk. For now, though, it's hard not to keep thinking it.

You, you, you. You're the one who burst my heart wide open. You taught me what wild, uncontrollable, unlimited, unconditional love feels like. You changed everything. You turned me into a mom.

And even though you will no longer be my only child, or even my only girl, you will always be my first.

You're the first one to make me forget myself. You're the first person I ever said "I love you" to more than 10 times in one day. You're the first human whose temperature I took, whose nose I wiped, and whose projectile vomit I was too tired to clean up and just sort of slept in.

With you, I made my first-time mom mistakes, like letting you roll off the bed onto the floor. Who knew you could roll? Thank you for not getting hurt and also for not holding a grudge.

Our baby's coming soon, and while you may not be my only child anymore, you'll probably be the only kid who knows what it's like to have my undivided attention. Because how do I ever stop myself from thinking about you?

This realization gives me the guilts, but then again, your sister will have some advantages. I can't imagine she will ever be bored or lonely for long — not with you and your unlimited repertoire of songs, dance moves, costumes, and magic tricks. I can't wait to watch her watching you.

You. You were my first newborn, infant, toddler, and preschooler, and the one who continues to surprise me every day. You're the intrepid explorer who pulls me by the hand into the future. You're in all my thoughts and dreams, and every wish I make upon a star.

So when you're feeling frustrated that I'm nursing your sister instead of playing dress-up, or that I might use stern words with you, but not her (she's just a baby), or that I can't stop talking about how cute she is (I like infants the way you like ponies), know that there is more than enough love for both of you, because of the ever-expanding place in my heart that you made.

You, you, you. You will always be my first.

Baby carriers

I've amassed quite an embarrassingly extensive stash of baby carriers.  James has his one ergo 360 that he uses almost daily

But it got me to thinking, what I'd recommend a new or expecting mom.  

I used a stretchy wrap (ktan for me, maybe next one a cute Solly) in the beginning

Only when she was bigger, I alternate between the soft structured carrier & ring sling, both Tula brand.  For the Tula, Didn't like Having to use a blanket to get a deep seat (hassle, another item that'll fall on the ground), how it was bulky, & baby never had a good view.  But great for longer walks. I do Love how the RS folds up tiny. It was convenient especially if I pre-thread it.  For baby and me, it worked best for short ups. And still does, Especially from car to front door.  Anytime, I need arms to carry the stuff I bought.

But then at one point, maybe right at 4 months, I ventured into the world of we wrapping.  It's versatile, beautiful, and of course an expensive hobby.  Other than lending out a wrap, not something I'd recommend. Just from the coat perspective 

Pulling up

1/22

Getting better at pulling herself up.

First on daddy, then her toys. & just today she pulled herself up on the crib

Time to lower it 

First cookie

Today, she had her first cookie

A Girl Scout cookie, none the less

Was so happy clutching onto it, waving it in the arm. Maybe a good 20 minutes of gnawing, she ate a little piece and celebrated afterwards 

MOTY Award

Mother of the Year here,
This morning, Natalie crawled off our bed.  I heard a thud, and I knew. I just knew. It wasn't even a second later, and I saw her laying there. She wasn't moving, she wasn't crying.  I picked her up screaming.  So loud, James rushed out of his morning shower.  He came out horrified, that look in his eyes.  He knew what happened as I was crying and holding her.  At that point, she was crying.  She and I sobbed together, and in that moment I knew my life would end if anything happened to her.

Well, I spent all day in misery.  Just replaying the fall.  Almost felt like snapshots, of stories other moms speak of. So unreal.  Yet, it happened this morning

And it happened couple months ago, James found Natalie playing with the humidifier.  Which is on the ground.  From that incident, we took precautions.  It's not enough

Time to be stern and use the crib

Unless,.. I set up our travel crib at the foot of our bed
And place Natalie there, and she's continue to sleeping peacefully.  Her sweet rhymetic breathing, iiiiin out pause iiiiin out pause,..

I am so happy right now, in this moment

42 weeks

We really see her personality developing

Easy going, curious, with a lot of spunk and some mischievous streak. Total 까불쟁히 Ggabool Ggabool

Her interest in solids are not quite there, but randomly she'd slurp up an entire pouch. Her happiness with an orange wedge led to me buying some. But unfortunately the ones from Ralph's were too sour. 

At this point her bottom tooth teeth are quite pronounced, like reverse bugs bunny. Three of the top four have broken through, with teething pain quite real. Especially at night, she'd wake in pain. Sob sob sob 

Sick & Teething

1/22

Never ending, temped 103.8

Luckily we had a stash of Tylenol suppositories

41 weeks

maybe my last weekly checkin?

Not that I was consistent with it, but it was nice to take a second to jot down what's happening 

Today, I thought maybe I can write down her schedules

Feeding (Milkies)

7 times , maybe more

BFing

1. before bedtime 

2&3. Twice MOTN, once when I go to sleep & another when James sleeps. Trying to cut this down, but then we end up awake. Sigh,.. Then sometimes we got a nice 4 am feed

4. early AM, usually 530/6 before I go to work

Then Bottles/or BF if I'm home 

5. before lunch

6. after lunch

7. evening

Sleep

I also control wake up by 6am, if she doesn't already wake independently. & it's really so I can squeeze in a feed & then rock her back to sleep before heading out to work. It helps that she sleeps in until 8/830 for James to get ready for work.

Now, she konks out so easily for this early morning nap.

& latest bedtime being 10/1030, anytime before we don't try "too" hard. Thinking 10 hours of night sleep is good

That helps create a routine..?  We've tried to change the times, but this really works with our schedules

Natalie gets total 3 hours of daytime +evening naps. If she does 2+ hours on her first nap, she ends up staying up longer & only sleeping maybe 30 mins if lucky. So I actually wake her up on her first nap :(:( but never on her 2nd or 3rd( if there is a 3rd) to set the tone of the day

Last X-rays

Today is Natalie's X-ray & orthopedic appointment, I am nervous. I think Natalie somehow senses my anxiety cuz she hasn't been able to sleep well all night. Kept waking if I'm not standing & holding her. We ended up on the floor, with her deliriously playing (toys, play gym) since 4 am

GREAT NEWS- Natalie has beautiful NOrmal hips
All confirmed by X-ray & physical exam
Yay yay yay

Chatty

I have a chatty baby, but it's more like.. A parrot
Tries to mimic but honestly i doubt she knows what she's saying
Well except,
Her good mood talk is.. ddddaaadadada & ap pa pa pa pa , both meaning daddy
& her crank face whining is... Ummmmm maaaa umma umma , meaning mommy in Korean, haha

9 Months

The days of just us two, baby & me, have dwindled to a rare few.  So today, I relish my lone time with my daughter on her 9 months

Waking in the same bed

The changing of a heavy overnight diaper

Some morning play, where toys were soon forgotten at the discover of a ziploc full of Korean sheet masks 

Breakfast of fruit purees 

Little more fun, including some iPad screen time 

Nursing

Then wrapped up for a stroll in the neighborhood 

We got home, gave her a fresh diaper, and rocked her to sleep

As I lay here, with my sleeping daughter dreaming on top of me, I feel so blessed. This moment, this time I have with her, I am so grateful

--

Got back from Chickfila (& apparently the last day they serve Cole slaw)
She's playing and grunting appa over and over and over
And waving different toys hahaha
She's super happy, now Rolling around and screaming appa
Then she got stuck, & started whining
And crying out ummmmmmaaa

40 weeks

40 weeks out

She's been here in my arms, as long as she's been in my belly

Third Tooth

Just saw, then confirmed by my touch, the third tooth!  Her top right, and just peeking through looks like a tiny shark tooth.  Too cute

So first two as she turned six months
Then the third right before the ninth.

39 Weeks

Still sick..
Runny nose, cough, randomly low grade fevers.

When will this end?