Today you are nine-months old. Nine months - I'm reminded of all the joy, anticipation, worry and uncertainty of the nine months I carried you in my womb. At first, wondering if you were growing right, or even growing at all... fearing I may lose you like I lost my first pregnancy. Then, when we saw you on that very first ultra sound and heard your strong, precious heart beating - a blessed confirmation to all my hopes and dreams that you were real. When my belly started to show and a fellow passer by didn't quite want to mention it yet cause hey - I could just be a chubby chick. When I first felt you kick - was it you kicking? Or was it gas bubbles? I don't know, but it was different. When we saw you again, actually moving with arms, and legs, and hands, and feet, and we found out you were a sweet little GIRL! When I was not only showing, and it was a definite there was another person inside there, but I was getting BIG and wondered how in the world you fit in there and still survived. Finally, the moment you were born and we saw that you were a perfect, healthy 8-pound, 12 ounce baby who we were chosen to guide and love. Moments I will never forget. Moments that brought me to you... an amazing, beautiful, active little 9-month old who has attitude, a love of laughter, and a loving soul.
Today you had your 9-month check up. I decided to change to a different pediatrician. I wasn't happy with the one we have been going to. I tried out several of the doctors in the group and none of them did it for me. I think when it comes to my baby, I need to feel great about who I choose to care for her. Also, I really dislike the attitude of the receptionists and all the ladies who answer the phones or work at the front desk. They are the meanest bunch of women I have ever seen together in one place. Every time I called the old pediatrician's office (which is extremely rare) they immediately put me on hold, and usually will not pick up again. Do you know how aggravating that can be for a new mom?? Very!! I called about a month ago to make your 9-month appointment and they put me on hold for 5 minutes. I called back, they put me on hold for 10 minutes. Then to have the audacity to act like I am a dusgruntled customer when I show the slightest bit of irritation over the matter... that was the last straw.
So now we go to Brooke's pediatrician. He came highly recommended by Brooke's Momma. I like him and the office staff and waiting room so much better. The building is nice, and new, and clean, and colorful. They even have a seperate waiting area for WELL babies. The staff were friendly and nice, and they offered me good information and answered all my questions. It was just awesome.
Today you had your 9-month check up. I decided to change to a different pediatrician. I wasn't happy with the one we have been going to. I tried out several of the doctors in the group and none of them did it for me. I think when it comes to my baby, I need to feel great about who I choose to care for her. Also, I really dislike the attitude of the receptionists and all the ladies who answer the phones or work at the front desk. They are the meanest bunch of women I have ever seen together in one place. Every time I called the old pediatrician's office (which is extremely rare) they immediately put me on hold, and usually will not pick up again. Do you know how aggravating that can be for a new mom?? Very!! I called about a month ago to make your 9-month appointment and they put me on hold for 5 minutes. I called back, they put me on hold for 10 minutes. Then to have the audacity to act like I am a dusgruntled customer when I show the slightest bit of irritation over the matter... that was the last straw.
So now we go to Brooke's pediatrician. He came highly recommended by Brooke's Momma. I like him and the office staff and waiting room so much better. The building is nice, and new, and clean, and colorful. They even have a seperate waiting area for WELL babies. The staff were friendly and nice, and they offered me good information and answered all my questions. It was just awesome.
Life is getting so exciting! You are such a vibrant, happy, active little girl - I am so thankful for that. We are pretty much set in a routine... you're hungry around 5:00 am so I usually breastfeed you then. We officially wake up anywhere from 6:30 am to 7:30 am every morning regardless of whether or not it is a vacation day or a weekend. We change your diaper, pet kitty, and then I sit you in your high chair and you play with your toys or with some sort of kitchen utensil or dish while I make breakfast. If it's a weekend sometimes your dad gets up with us and he will entertain you while I make breakfast.
I have oatmeal every morning and you laugh at me as I count aloud the ounces of water that I get from the ice/water dispenser on the fridge. Your breakfast always consists of a yogurt, a grained cereal of some sort that is usually mixed with some pureed tofu and seeds, and then a fruit. You usually eat all of it, sometimes not, depending on whether or not you nursed later in the morning.
After breakfast it's tubby time because I usually let you be a very active part of breakfast and there is never a time food doesn't get in your hair, ears, or eyes. You love to sit in the tub before there is any water so that when the water begins to fill the tub, you can kick like crazy. You also like to stay in the tub until all the water has drained. For months now I have been using your alphabet foam letters to put your name and other words up on the bathtub wall. You like to put them up on the wall yourself now. You don't form words yet, but you get the idea that it means something and you enjoy it. The other day I asked you to spell "Dad" on the wall, and you put the letters "G" and "Q" up. He is pretty darn adorable, isn't he?
We also sing songs, and now it's not just me singing... sometimes you do this quiet, clear moan when I sing. I think it's your way of singing with me. I believe you are going to be a very good singer when you are older because you sound absolutely angelic. And I think I have finally found my karaoke partner!! Madeline I have always loved karaoke and no one I have ever known has loved it the way I think it should be loved. I hope you do. I forsee hours of fun in our future.
We also sing songs, and now it's not just me singing... sometimes you do this quiet, clear moan when I sing. I think it's your way of singing with me. I believe you are going to be a very good singer when you are older because you sound absolutely angelic. And I think I have finally found my karaoke partner!! Madeline I have always loved karaoke and no one I have ever known has loved it the way I think it should be loved. I hope you do. I forsee hours of fun in our future.
After tubby time we get you ready for the day and then play in your room for a while. We practice crawling and standing and we roll around. You don't do a full crawl yet, but you get in the crawl position and you can move your hands forward, you also rock back and forth. You scoot, but it's not all at once. There have been many times that I find you across the room and wonder how you got there. I think your continuous leaning forward and scooting is actually getting you somewhere.
You always try to pull yourself up on things and people. You have very strong legs and stand well. Your Dad has been working with you and you now take steps on your own when someone holds your hands while you are standing. I think you will be walking soon.
You always try to pull yourself up on things and people. You have very strong legs and stand well. Your Dad has been working with you and you now take steps on your own when someone holds your hands while you are standing. I think you will be walking soon.
Whenever music is playing you dance. You bounce up and down and wave your arms. You really like music. The other day at lunch we were listening to the radio. This song by Natalie Merchant came on and there is this part where she says " Na na na na naaaa naa naa na na nana...", and I was doing jazz hands and singing it to you while you ate and you started saying "na na na" and waving your hands too. It was so exciting and cute!!!
You still love Elmo. Your Grandparents in New York brought you a cute Elmo when they came to see you this month that sings two Elvis songs, and they also bought you Elmo Live at the toy store while they were here. We have the Elmo's sitting on your top shelf in your room and every morning you look up at them and laugh and laugh with this uncontrollable excited anticipation for them to speak or dance at you.
Grandma and Grandpa were here to see you for about a week this month. You are a little weary of people you don't see every day right now so unfortunately Grandpa didn't get to cuddle you like he wanted. But we had a good time with them while they were here and you smile and cooed at him from a distance.
You still love Elmo. Your Grandparents in New York brought you a cute Elmo when they came to see you this month that sings two Elvis songs, and they also bought you Elmo Live at the toy store while they were here. We have the Elmo's sitting on your top shelf in your room and every morning you look up at them and laugh and laugh with this uncontrollable excited anticipation for them to speak or dance at you.
Grandma and Grandpa were here to see you for about a week this month. You are a little weary of people you don't see every day right now so unfortunately Grandpa didn't get to cuddle you like he wanted. But we had a good time with them while they were here and you smile and cooed at him from a distance.
Your nap schedule was all over the place this month. You used to take a nap every day around 10:00 am, but some days wait until about 11:30 or 12:00, or you wouldn't take a nap at all, which made you really tired around 4:00 pm/5:00 pm, or sometimes you did take a nap around 9:30 or 10:00 am. Before if you didn't nap, you would have a snack around 10:30 am of breastmilk and then some cheerioes or something, and we would have lunch around 12:30 pm. But now, we have a snack at 10:30, I put you in your crib at 11:30 on the dot for a nap, and lunch is around 12:30 or 1:00 every day. Sometimes you cry, sometimes you just fall asleep (I like those days) but it is helping you to get on a more predictable schedule and help you get used to your crib more.
Your lunch usually consists of a fruit and a couple veggies and maybe half a slice of wheat bread broken into bits or some cheerioes and every other day I give you the yellow part of a hard boiled egg. I like to use lunch time to help you learn to feed yourself. You're doing pretty good with the finger foods. Not so great with spoons yet... you usually end up gagging yourself with it. You don't like avocados or green vegetables, but I have discovered that if I mix them with carrots you will eat them. Carrots are the super veggie for you. I can mix any other veggie with carrots and you will eat it.
Your lunch usually consists of a fruit and a couple veggies and maybe half a slice of wheat bread broken into bits or some cheerioes and every other day I give you the yellow part of a hard boiled egg. I like to use lunch time to help you learn to feed yourself. You're doing pretty good with the finger foods. Not so great with spoons yet... you usually end up gagging yourself with it. You don't like avocados or green vegetables, but I have discovered that if I mix them with carrots you will eat them. Carrots are the super veggie for you. I can mix any other veggie with carrots and you will eat it.
After lunch we go on a walk outside or to the park, or we might read some books or play some more. It depends on the weather. It is so hot here in the summer. It's disgusting. I will never get used to it. Ever. I hate humidity mixed with heat. But I grew up in the desert of Utah so that's the reason for that. You will have a different experience. You will probably hate desert. It is good for your hair and skin though... humidity. We also have some days where you sit and play and hang out with me while I do laundry or clean up around the house a little. Sometimes I'll let you get in your walker... you are so great at that now. You go forwards and backwards and you can turn corners and you have the most excellent time chasing kitty around. And then there are those days when we have somewhere special to go or have friends come over to the house.
Usually on Thursdays you and me hang out with Misty and Brooke. They come over here sometimes and we go over to their house sometimes. We try to spend some time outside as much as we can, but if it's hot we usually hang out inside. You have a great time with your friends.
This month you went swimming in Brooke's pool. It was the first time you have ever been swimming and I think, after the initial introduction, you really had a good time kicking in the water. I plan to buy you your own kiddie pool soon so you can enjoy the water a little more when we can't go to Brookes and you are feeling the urge to swim.
Every Friday you and me go grocery shopping together. You love sitting in the cart. I finally got one of those cart cover thingy's so you can chew on it and your toys to your hearts content and I can relax about germs a little more. I'm not what you would call a germafobe, but there is a difference between letting you play in the dirt a little and letting you lick the grocery cart. You kick and wave your arms like crazy when you are in the cart. I have a lot of people comment on what a happy, beautiful baby you are. People still think you are a boy a lot. Especially if I don't do your hair or put a bow in it or drench you in pink. I don't get it. You are so "girl".
On May 29th, 2009 you started waving at people. We were at Sam's Club and the cashier lady said hello to you and you started doing this adorable, very controlled and thought out, wave at her. It was really a surprise to see you do it because you hadn't waved at me or your dad yet. I told the cashier that it was your first time waving and I was so excited I just sat there smiling and laughing at you and telling anyone who was walking by that it was your first time waving. I'm sure they thought I was nuts. You also do this really cute shy face where you lower your head like your looking down at the ground, look up with only your eyes, and then you close your eyes...
This month you went to your first birthday party. Your friend Tyler turned one on June 2nd and had a Backyardigans BBQ birthday party the weekend before. You cried when we arrived because Tyler's dad said hello to you. Stranger anxiety alert. You also cried right after everyone sang happy birthday to Tyler. I think the combined singing and clapping afterward must have startled you. There were a lot of little kids there and you had a good time playing with Tyler's toys and with the other kids. There were also some dogs walking around. You love animals so you laughed a lot at the dogs. Because it was a party, I let you have some of the baby testers from the food table - baby puffs and baby cookies. I also gave you some of your own food that I brought and some watermelon. I forgot my camera. I'll try to get some picture of the event from Tyler's mom. Man that bummed me out. I hate when I forget my camera.
You love to cuddle. You have always loved being held, but this month you started doing this thing where you just lay your head on me or your dad just because. It's like you're giving us a little hug or something. It is so adorable Madeline. You do it when we're winding down for the evening... when we're watching a movie, when your dad is playing his video game and you're sitting next to him, when you're getting tired or when we are reading stories.
Now that you are moving, I have had to tough it out and start putting you in your crib more. I'm just scared you may wake up one morning or after a nap and decide to try and get off the bed without me. Our bed is pretty high up so this would not be a good thing. When you are awake, you are all over the place in your crib. You can pull yourself up to a sitting position using the bars and you try really hard to pull yourself up to peak over the side. Usually you end up getting a leg stuck. I will try to make it a more interesting and comfortable place for you.
I don't know if I have ever written these down, but these are a couple songs I sing to you pretty much every day that I made up the first couple of months after you were born. I don't want to forget them so I am writing them down. They read simple, maybe even silly to some, and repetitive, but they always make you smile, and that is all that matters...
Song #1:
I don't know if I have ever written these down, but these are a couple songs I sing to you pretty much every day that I made up the first couple of months after you were born. I don't want to forget them so I am writing them down. They read simple, maybe even silly to some, and repetitive, but they always make you smile, and that is all that matters...
Song #1:
Madeline... you are so beautiful. Madeline.... you are so pretty, oh Madeline, you are so smart and I love you very much. Oh, Madeline I love you and I want you to know I'll love you for eternity!
Song #2:
Song #2:
M! A! D.E.L.I.N.E. M! A! D.E.L.I.N.E. M! A! D.E.L.I.N.E. Madeline!! Olivia (whispered with force).
Song #3:
I love Madeline. I love Madeline. Yes I do. Yes I do. I love Madeline. I love Madeline. How 'bout you? How 'bout you? She's so pretty and so sweet. She's so smart and she's so neat. Oh, I love Madeline. I love Madeline. How! About! You?!
On a regular basis I have mini battles with my momma, your Grandma Suzi, over who loves who the most and recently, it has been who loves their child more. She commonly comes back with some form of reply like, "Sorry toots. I have Grandmother's AND Mother's priviledge." I can't argue with that reply - it's a losing battle. Though, I do love you more than another human being could fathom and as much as there are stars in the sky and sands in the sea, and one more time than anyone ever says.
The point is, she loves me a whole bunch. She went through what I am now going through 31-some years ago. She watched me grow and change and learn. She was there when I first began to crawl and walk. When I ate my first foods. When I said my first words. When I fell off my bike and bashed my front teeth. She was there when I had my first crush. She was there when I felt alone because my friends decided they didn't like me and needed some time away from me for some reason. She was there when I needed someone to hug and tell me everything was okay, when something went wrong or when I was devastatingly sad or deleriously happy! She has spent countless hours praying for me, worrying about me, and hoping I would make the best decisions. And it all went by so unbelievably fast. She has always supported me in every decision I have ever made. She is the mother I hope to be to you Madeline. So I look forward to each new moment in your life. I look forward to those times when I can pray for you, support you, and be there when you need a hug or advice. And someday I will get to say,
"Sorry Toots. I love you the most - Mother's priviledge."
Love,
Song #3:
I love Madeline. I love Madeline. Yes I do. Yes I do. I love Madeline. I love Madeline. How 'bout you? How 'bout you? She's so pretty and so sweet. She's so smart and she's so neat. Oh, I love Madeline. I love Madeline. How! About! You?!
On a regular basis I have mini battles with my momma, your Grandma Suzi, over who loves who the most and recently, it has been who loves their child more. She commonly comes back with some form of reply like, "Sorry toots. I have Grandmother's AND Mother's priviledge." I can't argue with that reply - it's a losing battle. Though, I do love you more than another human being could fathom and as much as there are stars in the sky and sands in the sea, and one more time than anyone ever says.
The point is, she loves me a whole bunch. She went through what I am now going through 31-some years ago. She watched me grow and change and learn. She was there when I first began to crawl and walk. When I ate my first foods. When I said my first words. When I fell off my bike and bashed my front teeth. She was there when I had my first crush. She was there when I felt alone because my friends decided they didn't like me and needed some time away from me for some reason. She was there when I needed someone to hug and tell me everything was okay, when something went wrong or when I was devastatingly sad or deleriously happy! She has spent countless hours praying for me, worrying about me, and hoping I would make the best decisions. And it all went by so unbelievably fast. She has always supported me in every decision I have ever made. She is the mother I hope to be to you Madeline. So I look forward to each new moment in your life. I look forward to those times when I can pray for you, support you, and be there when you need a hug or advice. And someday I will get to say,
"Sorry Toots. I love you the most - Mother's priviledge."
Love,
Momma
2 comments:
She is so darn cute! Wow, 9 months already. I am telling you the time sure does just keep flying. Cute post for Maddy I am glad that you have had so much fun with her over the past 9 months.
That was the cutest post. You have a beautiful daughter!
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