Wow! Wednesday – Let’s Make a Pattern!

Ok. Here’s the story. Today, Elizabeth was playing by herself with her shape blocks when she stood up and squealed triumphantly to get my attention. So I came over and discovered her perfectly aligned blocks and read out her pattern. Yellow, red, yellow, blue, blue, yellow, red. All by herself! She pointed to each and said their name (in her own language, naturally) and then looked at me at the end. She was missing a yellow. So I found a yellow block in her toy box and offered it to her. She gleefully grabbed it and put it in its rightful spot, nudging it into place to complete her pattern – yellow, red, yellow, blue, blue, yellow, red, yellow.

Needless to say, I’m a bit impressed with my girl.

The Whole Tooth and…Well, You Know the Rest.

For the longest time, about three months (9-12 months old), Elizabeth held stead at two teeth, those adorable bottom incisors. By the time her first birthday rolled around, she had the top two coming down to meet them. And then things got interesting (and still are). In the past two months, she has sprouted at least six more teeth, so she is now at half of her total and I am baffled and amazed. That’s almost a tooth a week!

Thankfully, so far, teething hasn’t been a horror. She has pain, of course, bled once (scared the ever living crap out of me), but, other than that, she hasn’t had an of the major symptoms or anything of teething – fever, runny nose, diarrhea, intense drooling. Granted, she chews on everything – always has – and now she just has more teeth with which to do so. It’s very strange for me to lean over my daughter and tickle her or see her open that mouth to “talk” or shout and to see all those teeth in there. And don’t get me started on the brushing. 🙂 Thankfully, she’s pretty accommodating with the toothbrush so far. Mommy usually brushes her teeth with Bizzy so that helps, I think.

But it’s another reminder of just how quickly she’s growing. If she keeps this up, she’ll have a full head of teeth by summer

Milestone: 1 Year

As my husband says, I look like I’ve been hit by a truck here. Yeah, I felt that way, too. But this moment, it’s the only moment that I allowed myself to be photographed, even requested it. Because I wanted to remember that first moment of ultimate joy with Elizabeth.

Tomorrow, my baby girl will be one year old. I don’t quite know how to put all of that into words. I don’t at all, actually. When I look back through all of the pictures, read through her baby book, look at the portraits on the wall, and see her toddling around or reaching her arms up to be picked up by Mum-mum or Dada, I just…marvel.

Here is this little life that was lifted out of me almost a year ago, whom I fearfully bundled up and brought home through the snow several days later. Here is this babe whom I recorded with the hiccups on her week-old-day in the wee hours of the morning. Here is this baby girl who greets me with a smile and a bounce in the mornings, who sets up a wail when I tell her no or when her loved ones leave. Instead of a tiny baby cuddled in my arms, there is this fearless, energetic kid starting to walk quickly around my living room, squealing and laughing and playing. It’s amazing, beyond words amazing.

So, Elizabeth, on your first birthday, I want you to know how amazing your Mum-mum and Dada think you are, as do everyone else in your life and everyone you meet. Thank you for blessing and challenging us this year, and we are looking forward to many more wonderful years with you, my little love.

New Adventure: Children’s Museum

Today, Elizabeth and I went to the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and enjoyed the day with a friend and the little boy that she nannies for. My girl had a blast! We visited the Playscape area and she really enjoyed the Babyscape and the Cruising Wall. It was the most children she has been around at once and she really enjoyed seeing the other kids and play with the toys and exploring a new area. There was a particular little girl that thought Bizzy was just the bee’s knees and stuck by us most of the time that she was in the Babyscape; very cute indeed. Bizzy is incredibly social and clapped and waved and even climbed on complete strangers, just beaming all the while. I’m very proud of my happy-maker.

Bonus: we got to hear the Doctor Who theme playing over the loudspeakers as we left, as the museum’s Haunted House’s theme this year is “time warp”.

Now I Lay Me Down…

I started a new bedtime tradition with Elizabeth this week. We have started saying prayers before bed. Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. Watch and guard me through the night, and keep me safe ’til morning light. Amen. Of course, Elizabeth dislikes the delay between Daddy handing her to me in the rocking chair and me giving her her bedtime bottle but that’s OK; I can hold onto a squirming infant for a few seconds.

I remember when I was a little girl, my mother kneeling by my bedside with me as I said my prayers before she would put me to sleep. I want to continue that tradition with Elizabeth. So after Daddy takes her on walkies (walking around the house, saying good night to all of the Bizzies in the mirrors) and he hands her to me, we both put our arms around her and I say that little prayer. In a few years, her young voice will take over and it will make my heart swell each time.

Yes, I’m very much looking forward to that.

Month 8

Elizabeth is 8 months old today. 8 whole months! Right now. she can:

• Crawl fairly well
• Sit up on her whole fully
• Move to crawling from sitting and sitting from crawling
• Say “mama”, “dada”, “nana”, and “baba” indiscriminately for the most part
• Pick up finger foods (Gerber crackers) and feed herself
• Show preference for toys and object if they are taken away
• Enjoy/show preference for particular parts of her routine (walks outside, saying night-night to the house)

I am thrilled day by day to watch her change and grow, play and sleep. She’s very outgoing with adults and other children thus far. When she and Amelia were last together, Elizabeth stretched out her arms as if to give Amelia a hug, though the poor girl is more shy than Elizabeth but my girl was gentle. They did “talk” together for a little bit and it was adorable. That personality of hers is more evident than ever, as is her curiosity. True to form of any baby that crawls, she enjoys getting into everything. She’s bonked her bean on the entertainment center once already, as well as exploring the living room. She has not yet worked up the courage to venture through the doorway and into the kitchen. The floor feels different and banks her courage.

She grows more and more beautiful every day and I am constantly amazed by her features. We have decided that she takes after her grandmothers a great deal in her looks. That smile is bright and shining and, as I like to say, she ‘makes happy’ wherever she goes. I have had people stop me in the grocery store to look at her and, after getting a lovely smile from Elizabeth, one woman in particular told me “Thank you! That just made my day.” And that made mine. Keep on being an encourager and making happy, Bizzy. It is a blessing beyond anything you will ever understand. 🙂

6 Months: Future Hopes

Etched on the wooden photo frame that I bought for Elizabeth in Cayman:

Elizabeth
Hebrew: Elizabeth – “My God is bountiful; God of plenty”
A form of Elisabeth

She likes to do bold things. She knows who she is and where she’s headed. Limitless, boundless, feels family time makes treasured memories. A girl who is proud of her manners. Her smile is as dazzling as a morning sunrise. She uses her knowledge of the divine. Does today what could be done tomorrow.

I truly pray that this will be true of my little girl as she grows up, which she is doing so very quickly.

Happy Six Months, Bizzy! ^_^

Falling into Routine

I realized a few days ago that, without realizing it, I have fallen into routine with Elizabeth. It’s usually, after she wakes: change diaper, tummy time/play, bottle, play, nap time, change diaper, play/read books, nap, change, bottle, play/cuddle with Mommy…you get the idea. I just didn’t realize until I just knew what she wanted that we have fallen into routine. It’s rather nice to know that I know what she needs and she is beginning to tell me what she needs/wants when she wants it because she knows I can take care of her. She fusses when she’s hungry and/or tired (though she’s learned to the little baby squeal and does so when she’s the slightest bit upset). She knows when she wants to go to bed at night or when she needs a nap and tells me so in her own way (when she’s not overstimulated and refusing to do so).

It’s nice. 🙂

She is growing constantly. She has pretty much tripled her birth weight (5 lbs, 15 oz. then; 15 lbs, 12 oz. now). And, today, she rolled over for the first time during tummy time, from her tummy to her back. I squealed and clapped and congratulated her, and I think she was confused. Plus, it was lunchtime so no encore for video. Still, yay!

Milestone: Pushing Up

Look at me, Mommy!

Elizabeth hates tummy time and I have been worrying for a while that she hasn’t been pushing up lately. However, today, when I set her down for tummy time, she instantly pushed herself up and looked at the TV, which was playing “Justice League Unlimited”, and grinned.  Good taste, I guess. 🙂

Easter 2013

Dad, Mommy, and Elizabeth on Easter’s Sunday

This was Elizabeth’s first Easter and I am so glad that her Granny Pat was able to come up for the occasion. It was great to be able to spend Easter with all of her family. ^_^

With Granny Pat