Leiyah

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0sK5TUpEEw]

She’d rather roam the property!

As I watched Leiyah play I realized she had picked up a dirty diaper that I intended to throw away just as soon as I replaced the bag in the diaper garbage.  I took this as a teachable moment.  I took the diaper and walked over to the doaper garbage as she followed.  She already learned how to open it weeks prior to today.  She actually put a CD in it and I forgot and threw it away with the dirty diapers.  Anyway, I showed her that the diaper was supposed to go in it.  I opened it and placed it in and closed it.  Moment was over.  Or so I thought.  She proceded to pick up the clean diaper she was holding earlier while I changed her dirty one.  She walked over to the garbage and opened it, placed it in, and closed it.  I was amazed.  I know it is not the most important thing to learn to do, but I was so proud.  I just showed her once and then she did it twice after that.  I know all mothers/ parents think that their children are smarter than the others, but I really think she is.  

This moment was part of a larger moment.  I was sitting in the glider reading from her Dr. Seuss book.  She was just being adorable.  Walking around like she had things to do.  She opened her bedding drawer, took something out and left the room.  Then did the diaper thing.  After that she found her Hello Kitty purse in her closet and carried it around while she ventured into my closet to pull on my clothes.  Between these activities she would glance at me and smile while she left the room and when she came back.  She also would come over to look at the book that I was reading.  Just adorable.

Ok, I wish I was talking about the kind of shots you drink for fun, but I am not.  I brought Leiyah to her 1 yeah check-up.  She is a wonderful baby and healthy.  Just above average for height and just below for weight.  Developmentally good.  Ok, then came the shots.  I am weary about giving her shots just because you hear all of the talk.  I know there are risks when she gets a shot, but I think that the pro’s outweigh the con’s.  I am taking a chance, but what am I supposed to do.  I don’t think I am educated enough about the shots to really opt out on the administering.  

Here is my point, I get very nervous for the possible reactions she could get from these shots.  I honestly am scared she will die from some crazy side effect.  Today we went to the doctor’s at 9.  Out by 10.  HOme by 10:15.  played a little, she was happy to be home.  I put her down for a nap like usual at 11.  She woke up just before 1.  We had an alright afternoon.  She was a little cranky and not eating like normal, but I thought it must have been the shots.  So by 3:45 we took a walk, went to Acme, played in the pool, and played inside.  I decided to put her down for another nap because she was just that cranky and I would just deal with her bed time later.  She needed to sleep.  I put her down and walked out and she passed out.  I watched the screen on her monitor every 5 minutes or less.  She didn’t move.  And this is my fear, that she will not wake up due to one of the shots.  I hate this feeling.  I guess it comes with being a mom.  She finally moved and I felt much better.  All along I knew she would be ok, but there is always that slight chance it would not be that makes me worry.  She woke up at 4:44 and we ate, played, and read books.  She went down for sleep at 6:45 and I am happy.  She just went down, no crying, and she is still down.  I am so happy everything worked out.  Another 3 months until I get to do this all over again. Yay.

Leiyah is one smart cookie!  Today I gave her a snack on her little rug in the kitchen.  She had a small bowl of cheese and milk.  Well, I stepped out of the kitchen and guess what she decided to do… feed the dog.  She held out a piece of cheese and smiled while he licked it out of her hand.  Later she found her cheerios.  I let her have a few and she decided to share with Maximus again!!  At least she knows how to share.  She will even some times hold out food from her highchair for the dogs.  Silly baby!  It is hard to say know when she is just so cute!  She definitely has me wrapped around her finger.

I have to say that my little angel has been a perfect little baby since thew day she was conceived.  She never really cried and if she did, it was for a reason (hungry, tired, wet diaper, gas, or lonely)  I have put her to bed every night with a few exceptions.  We began our routine by breastfeeding and falling asleep during the process.  Then I moved on to feeding her and then rocking her to sleep.  After some reading I figured it was best for her to learn to self soothe and learn to fall asleep on her own.  She learned how to do that very quickly.  I was very impressed and proud.  

Now, I feed her dinner, change her into pajamas, read her a story or two, sing her a couple songs and put her down in her crib.  Almost every night she will roll over and cuddle with her teddy bear and fall asleep for the night.  On the rare occassion she will cry for a little bit and then fall asleep.  On the super rare occasion she will cry and cry until I go in and calm her down and solve the mystery of the crying baby.  I have decided that she probably cries these times due to a tooth coming in.  

Tonight, she fell asleep with about 10 seconds of crying.  She then woke up about 1.5 hours later crying with real tears.  I of course calmed her down and her daddy made her smile while I changed her wet diaper.  I then went to get her to sleep again and it was impossible.  She was fine when I held her and rocked her.  She even played her binky game with me and was laughing.  Then I calmed her and she had her head down.  I put her down, she cried.  I eventually tried to pretend to go to sleep next to her crib, thinking this would give her the hint.  No, she thought it was hilarious.  She laughed and began dropping binkies on my face.  I couldn’t help but laugh.  She is so adorable.  

Long story short (not so much), she is sleeping now.  I sit her finally feeling peace.  I just can’t relax when she is not sleeping peacefully.  I just know her teeth are bothering her and she just needed time for the motrin to work.  I really have to remember to give that to her when I put her to bed at 6.  Anyway, I am going to relax now before I go to bed.  Bed time is still one of my favorite times of the day.  Always has been and always will be!  It is such a nice time to relax, bind, and reflect on the day and look forward to the day to come.  Good night.

It is so wonderful being able to stay home and enjoy watching my baby grow up.  She does something new each and every day.  Within two days of her first birthday she began feeding herself finger foods, walking, playing more independently, brushing her hair, and drinking whole milk out of a sippy cup!  

Today is a little different because she is taking 2 naps.  She woke up early from her first nap because Maximus wanted to scare off the mailwoman.  Silly dog.  So I just put her back up to nap again after our trip to Acme to get milk.  

That bring me to another point.  Organics.  I know I can not afford to give her strictly organic food.  It is unrealistic.  I am in the understanding that organic foods do not have hormones and antibiotics in them and will benefit my baby later in life.  I have decided to buy her organic milk.  I thought that she drinks milk more than she intakes anything else.  This would make the most impact at an affordable price.  

Talking about foods, she does not eat vegetables or fruits now.  When she was eating baby food, it was not a problem.  Now that she is determined to eat finger foods, I cannot get her to eat fruits and veggies.  I have tried sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe, potatoes, bananas, apples, strawberries and peaches.  I just cant get her to eat them, once they are in her mouth she takes them out, looks at them and drops them on her tray.  I just don’t know what to do.  I guess just keep trying.

Well, I better clean out my car while she is still sleeping.

• Wake up at 6:30, Mommy feeds me cereal and mommy milk
• Go back to play in my crib
• Play downstairs from 8:30-11
• Eat brunch at 10
• Nap at 11 for about 2 hours
• eat lunch at 1
• play from 1:30-5:30 (and bath)
• dinner at 5:30
• bedtime at 6

Foods:  I love to eat yogurt, cheese, ravioli, meat sticks, ice cream, cheerios, and other snacks.

Play:  I love my push toys, talking to the dogs, dancing, and practicing my walking.

Bedtime: I sit with Mommy and listens to a book or two before my song and cuddling with my teddy bear.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=I-zpIcr-OQ0]

This was the video for Leiyah before her Birthday.

Daddy & I on my first birthday!

it was a great weekend with the family! I thank everyone for coming!