The six month mark has brought about so many changes for our little girl. A very accomplished sitter, she has now added the half-crawl. If she can’t get it by crawling she just rolls and scoots until she can reach something, nothing is safe anymore that is within a 6 foot range. And of course with that, everything goes into her mouth that she can reach. Any kind of cord seems to be her favorite toy right now, and I am not even going to start on my trips to keep her away from the tree and it’s been up for less than a week already! So, in view of all her new accomplishments, I’ve done several things around the house to make sure that she stays safe.
#1. I bought plugs for all the electrical outlets in our house. I hate those things! They are such a pain to get out even just to vacuum! But they will keep her safe so I am willing to put up with that.
#2. Vacuum frequently! That way nothing tracked in on shoes or dropped by one of us inadvertently ends up in her mouth. She hasn’t quite mastered the pincher grip yet but I don’t want to find out that she has by hearing her choke either.
#3. No small toys or small anything laying around for her to find. Everything needs to be put away where it belongs so she doesn’t find it!
#4. Number for Poison Control is on a magnet on the fridge. I found the brochure with the magnet at the Drs. office at her checkup and picked it up. Of course I hope I never, ever need to use it but at least it will be handy if I do. Also, saved it in my cell phone, maybe that’s a bit over-board but, every minute counts when that happens and I don’t need to be looking for that in an emergency.
#5. I put up our nicknacks….I’ve never been a big fan of having little things setting around because I hate dusting them, but the few we do have are up high now.
#6. Locking up or putting up cleaners etc…I have a nice laundry room with shelf space right off the kitchen so that was an easy solution for us.
And finally, keeping an extra watchful eye on her as much as humanly possible! All the safety products in the world are no substitute for watching your baby. At home yes, but even more so when you are visiting friends or relatives or even just going to the store because there are so many things there that you may not have at home. Of all the things you do, in my opinion, watching them constantly is the best way to ensure they stay safe…. 
Yay, for growing babies, who knew work could be so much fun??
Baby-Proofing the House December 2, 2009
Laughing Baby November 19, 2009
Abby has just started laughing that deep belly laugh. It started the other night when daddy was playing with her on the bed and you just knew that she knew she was doing something pretty special. This is one of the times that I look at her and see her as her own little person already. Definitely a far cry from the squirmy little bundle we welcomed into the world 6 months ago.
Already her face has started to take on that toddlery look. People say she has my ears and eyes but definitely has Daddy’s facial features. Someone said yesterday that they see Grandma’s smile in her:) How special….
She likes to sleep cuddled in, either wedged between pillows or in my arms. She likes baths, swimming, her jumpy seat, playing rough, stuffed animals, eating cheerios, baby einstein, sleeping with her face covered, going for walks and sitting in the cart at the grocery store. She likes trying whatever we have on our plates,
She dislikes sleeping more than absolutely necessary, getting dressed after her bath, rice cereal, is not real fond of cuddling yet, or being in her car seat for more than 5 minutes.
As she continues to become her own little person, I’m sure her likes and dislikes will change and we will continue to be amazed at all the things she does, what she likes and doesn’t and how much she is changing everyday from our little bundle of joy to our grown up little girl…I miss the baby already but can not be sad at what I have now…she’s just so much fun. I love being a mother!
Eating Blueberries November 17, 2009
Yesterday we had a fun day. We went out to surprise Daddy for his birthday by getting his oil changed and car washed while he was at work. We then took him one of his favorite smoothies from Jamba Juice to finish the surprise, along with putting some of his favorite candies in the car for him to find after work. Then we had some lunch and Daddy thought Abby would love blueberries and got a small bowl of them for her and was he ever right. After eating eggs, toast and potatoes which she loves by the way, I gave her the blueberries, one at a time What is it with new mommies forgetting to take along a bib? Or is it just me? I just made sure to wipe after each one since I didn’t want to stain any of her clothes. I think she would have eaten a whole lot more blueberries than I gave her because I wanted to make sure she didn’t have a bad reaction to them, gas, etc… She of course was just fine but just before bedtime, I smelled her first mess :/…guess I’m spoiled with her just getting breastmilk. It was her most colorful poopie yet, purple and greenish along the edges which I of course described to my husband at work. (I know he appreciates the vivid updates, right? hehehe…I told him he could thank me later 
Guess I will make use of the frozen blueberries in the freezer now that I know she likes them. She also likes eating peaches with one of those net thingees that she can chew on them with. I think it feels good on her teeth since it is cold and hard. It’s a bit messy though so next time I must be sure to put her in her high chair unless I want to wash her whole outfit and all the toys within reach I love my baby…..sigh…
Restless Baby November 17, 2009
Abby is one of those kids that just doesn’t need to sleep a lot and has been since day one. Her daytime naps are about 30 minutes long and she usually takes 3 or 4 of them a day. It was hard to get used to at first because I had this thought in my head that babies just sleep most of the day and all night, but not her. And she’s a light sleeper too so it doesn’t take a whole lot of noise to wake her up. Good for us that she’s always slept good at night for the most part cause we need our rest too!
Lately though she has been very restless at night and we are not sure why. She cries out which the Dr. told us is just her having a dream and to just let her go back to sleep which she does since she doesn’t really even wake up. At 6 months, even though she eats solids real well, she still doesn’t sleep more than 3 hours at night. At first we had her crib right beside our bed so I could just reach over and stick in the bottle and we were good to go. I kept finding myself falling asleep leaning over her crib with the bottle at an odd angle and her asleep after taking just part of a bottle so needless to say, she woke up more often. I then started bringing her out on the couch and trying to stay awake through a bottle and keeping her awake to take the whole thing. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t and usually I was asleep before the bottle was empty as well. She sleeps soundly on the couch with a pillow to keep her from rolling off so I began placing a pillow in her crib and just laying her against it and that has seemed to help a bit. I don’t know if she thinks there is someone there or what, but at this point I will take whatever works! I would not have done this if she were younger but since she is well able to turn her head, and can sit up, I don’t worry about her suffocating or anything. I started propping her bottle up on the pillow but not too successful with that as she is just restless. She keeps turning her head and next thing I know she is crying again because her bottle fell out and is leaking on her or it has hit her in the head on the fall down I’ve heard that it’s better not to prob up their bottles as it can lead to them having more ear infections but I do not know if that is a proven fact or not. I am not having a whole lot of luck propping them up anyhow so I will probably just do the take her to the couch thing again as that kind of wakes her up enough to eat most of a bottle. Now I just need something to keep me awake!
So I really haven’t come up with a surefire remedy to get your baby to sleep or anything like that, but I’m trying! We’ll just keep trying different things until I find something that works for both of us. Good luck to me…
Feeding Baby…..mmmmmm November 12, 2009
Abby has been eating off and on, more on some days than others and as long as she takes her bottle I guess I won’t be that concerned if she doesn’t eat too much. Nothing really seems to bother her as far as eating goes. Sunday we went out to eat and she ate what I ate and kept wanting more. I gave her small bites of my eggs, potatoes and toast and she just loved it. Then she polished off a small container of yogurt. That definitely was the most she’s ever eaten in one setting.
One thing she really likes is peanut butter. I guess she is our child after all so we should expect that right? She will eat pretty much anything with peanut butter on it The other day I gave her the can of peanut butter and I’m sure she could smell it and kept trying to bite it. But, then again, she tries to bite everything but I’d still like to think she was really trying to get some peanut butter. She looked like a little Pooh Bear trying to get his hunny out of the pot Definitely a photo op moment for us!
Last night I gave her little bits of pasta and cheese and she just smacked her lips…
As far as I can tell she has loved pretty much everything we’ve given her as long as she is in the mood to eat. If not, she will just turn her head every way but at you no matter how hard you try to give her a bite and know that it is something she loves. I guess that is her way of saying, “Not now!”
The New Toys November 9, 2009
Abby was given a new toy on Saturday A walker that she quickly fell in love with! She mostly just stands up in it and plays with the toys but she can also move it a bit. Its times like these that make me wish for a whole lot less carpet because she can get it going on the kitchen floor a whole lot faster. She’ll go until she is backed up against a cupboard somewhere and then just stop to play with her toys again. I think she thinks she is in her jumpy seat still as she tries so hard to jump in it! That is when she moves it the most and I don’t think she really realizes yet that she is on the move in it. I can’t wait to see her face when she realizes that she can!
She also got a Safety 1st bath seat on Saturday which we of course had to test drive right away with not so good results as the walker. I’m sure there are people who love them but we don’t. It’s great the way it adjusts to fit over the side of the tub and the seat swivels all around but other than that, not so hot. I’ve been wanting one for a while, thinking that Abby would just love it and I wouldn’t have to worry about her leaning over the edge of her little tub and falling out or anything but that wasn’t the case.
For starters, the seat thingee is 2-3 inches thick and in order to have the water even come over her legs, I had to put at least 6 inches of water in the tub! And then the top part came up so high under her arms that she couldn’t splash at all. And to make the matter worse, her fishes all floated away and she couldn’t get them….it was almost pathetic to watch her desperately trying to reach for her fishes. I don’t leave her alone in the tub anyhow and just hang out in the bathroom while she splashes and talks to her fishes and sings so I guess we will just keep the little bathtub in play until she can sit good enough to keep from falling over backwards and just chalk this up to a learning experience. I guess this is just another one of those contraptions where people just want to let their kids play and I am sure that for some people it works great but I just need to be close to my baby around water.
So I guess what I would say is that if you are wanting a device where you can feel safe to leave your kids in the tub unattended I don’t think they make one. And if they did, I would still want to be there just in case. Better safe than sorry I say.
Sanity through more teething November 6, 2009
We are still in a battle to get those two bottom teeth out. At least it feels like a battle 
Abby wakes up crying in the middle of the night, just wanting to be held. I’ve spent several part nights on the couch with her and am just trying to be patient this morning. She doesn’t want to eat, doesn’t want her bottle, doesn’t want the swing, jumpy seat, toys or pacifier and her eyes have that I just want to sleep look to them and still she fusses on.
I was almost to the point of frustration and ready to just give her some tylenol which I knew she didn’t really need because as long as I held her or walked around with her, she was just fine. Now she is down for one of her 20-30 minute naps again. Oh well, at least it is that long right? Hopefully that is not going to be the routine for today! If so, I guess we’ll just go for a long walk as that almost always puts her to sleep and calms her down.
The teething tablets and vanilla extract give her a lot of relief and she loves chewing on the cold wash cloth so I have my arsenal ready and now am just going to prepare myself mentally and find some inner peace while she sleeps. Isn’t it crazy how big of a difference that makes? Take some time for yourself to just calm yourself down because frustration just makes it worse for them and for you because you lash out and lose your compassion for what they are feeling. I am having a cup of tea and just relaxing for a bit. What ever helps you to relax for 15-20 minutes while they are asleep. You will have a much better day if you do this than quick trying to do the dishes and rushing around the whole time they are asleep, which I know is a tendency that is hard to fight because you think, “finally I can get some things done, undisturbed” and then every little noise you make you have to stop and make sure it didn’t wake them up. Life is so short, and sure you don’t want to live in squalor but the time you take for your SANITY, yes, that is what it’s called! will be well worth it in the end!!
More with the teething November 2, 2009
Poor Abby is having a miserable day teething again. She’s not been wanting to eat and hasn’t even wanted her favorite pudding that she likes so much. So there has been a lot of cuddling, singing and toe counting going on at our house today. Anything to distract them right?
She still loves to suck on a wet washcloth when she feels up to playing and the teething tablets help as well. So far she hasn’t had a fever or anything and I am greatful for that. She ouches when I touch her gums though and I can feel those little bumps so I know it can’t be far away. I am just ready for them to come and stop making her miserable!
I took her out to the mall for a bit this morning and that always seems to distract her as well and keeps me from getting frustrated because she just wants my attention. She will still watch baby einstein good thing that always grabs her attention, huh?
my thoughts November 2, 2009
There is something surreal about having a baby. As much as you have wanted it and waited for the moment it would happen to you, the thought that this can’t be happening to me and this can’t be real was the first thought that crossed my mind after Abby was born. There are still times when I just look at her and and have to tell myself, yes, that is my child, it is real, it has happened to me!
Having a baby changed me in a way that nothing else has before. I have always worked hard all my life and often had 2 jobs working 70 hours a week just because I enjoyed it. That doesn’t say much about my social life but, I had my friends and loved being busy and having the money I needed for anything I wanted. Fast forward to Abby being 2 months old and I got laid off. As much as I wanted to be a stay at home mom, I knew there was no way that we could have only one income and still be ok. I was completely stressed I didn’t even enjoy being home with my baby. I cried a lot, and it has been one of the hardest things I have gone through in my life. I worry so much about everything but know that there is so much that I have to be thankful for. I have to think Abby is probably happy that I got laid off as well because we spend every minute of every day together. We go to the store, take walks, clean the house and take baths, read books and watch baby einstein and I know I should just be completely happy at the wonderful gift that I’ve been given and instead I worry. I know I do not enjoy all the things we do because I worry. My mind is constantly moving to the what ifs of the future and I feel like my mind has become a jumbled mess of endless stress.
Sometimes I still have the feeling that I’m dreaming and this is all a wonderful yet, awful nightmare that I have no way out of. I look at my baby and my heart is filled with pride and awe that such a small person could cause so much emotion inside my heart. Can I keep her safe? Make her happy? Be the best mommy I can be? Let me learn to be still in the middle of all that goes on around me and find peace my heart cannot explain that guides me securely through this unknown place.
Standing up! October 31, 2009
Yesterday Abby stood alone for the first time! Of course I was right there and she was leaning against my leg but still. She has very good balance considering the fact that she hasn’t even begun wanting to crawl for really anything. Actually, I take that back. She will pull herself along if she thinks she can get the keyboard or mouse or, daddy’s iphone! Everyone who has been to our house knows that we sit on the floor a lot, not because we don’t have a sofa but I guess it’s just a habit and so our wireless keyboard and mouse are there as well….don’t ask, I know it’s crazy!
I noticed about 2 weeks ago that whenever I am online typing and what-not, that she kept reaching for the keyboard in my lap. Now it’s like it can’t be within 2 feet of her body or she is making a beeline for it, and talk about a long armspan! Isn’t it funny how far out they can reach? I have a feeling our days of leaving things on the floor within handy reach are fast coming to an end…
That said, most babies don’t stand alone until the are 8-9 months old. Abby still couldn’t stand by herself without help but she did a good job of it without wobbling much at all. So of course today I had to get a picture of her standing on the couch in her costume! What fun! She is still too young to go out trick-or-treating or anything like that but we sure had fun just dressing her up!
