Week 45

Dear Jorie,

Thankfully this week was much quieter than last week. I forgot to mention last week that you've started doing raspberries! It's so cute! Sometimes you stick your tongue out and do one, and sometimes your just blowing through your lips. It amuses you so much, you sometimes make yourself laugh doing it.

Mommy! Give me FRIES!

You've also started making more purposeful sounds. You say "num num num" for something you like eating, and have distinct sounds you make for the dog or the cat. The other day while you were on the changing table I asked you were Dada was, and you pointed right to him, but we couldn't get you to do it again. 

Pointing is really your big trick right now. You love to point at everything. You point at stuff you want, you point to tell us where you want to go, you point at the dog or the cat when you see them, you point at us and make a noise. We're not quite sure why you're pointing at some stuff, but it sure does amuse you.  

You moved into the "bigger babies" room at the day care recently, and you seem to really enjoy getting to move around more, and play with more things. They tell me you're working on trying to walk while you're there. We haven't seen any signs of it at home yet. It makes me sad to think that you might take your first step at day care, and I'll miss it.

digging the fries!

This week while we were out getting food after a run, we started giving you some of our fries. Your father would hold a little bit in his hand and you would grab it out of his hand and stuff it in your mouth. After a while, you started looking in his hand for fries even when there weren't any! Then you'd look up at him like "Where'd you put it?!" You really did enjoy the fries. We've been giving you little bits of the food that we're eating a lot of the time, and they're feeding you regular foods (albeit soft and sometimes mashed up) at the day care. It's nice to be able to feed you from our plates, especially since no matter what's on your plate, you would always rather have what's on ours! 

We've also noticed that you have no problem with spicy food! We've given you some foods that were a little spicy, even for me. You just smack your lips and then wait for more!

You are getting so big baby girl! I love you so much!

In your new fishy pj's with mommy's running hat

Week 44

Dear Jorie,

Helping mommy with her run

Sometimes, things happen in our world, and I don't know if I should mention them here in these letters to you, or how to talk about it. But it happened and it affected me and your father, so I think I need to say something about it. Something big and bad and scary happened in Boston. Boston is a place where we know a lot of people, even though your father and I have only been there a few times, and you have never been. There was a bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. A lot of people were hurt and a few people died. Your mommy is a novice runner, and so this, outside of the personal connection of knowing people down there, had a profound affect on me. My little way of dealing with it has been to pledge to run a marathon over the next month, in honor of the runners. You were with me on my first "for boston" run, and it helped so much to look down at your face and know that there is goodness and innocence in the world still. I love you so much, I hope the only thing you ever know of these kinds of things are in the words I'm leaving for you.

The rest of this week has been much quieter than the past few weeks. There has been a lot

Your favorite toy

of trying to catch up for your Father and I, and our usual running around, but not much else. Your cousin Sienna is up visiting, so a good chunk of our time has been spent with them over the past few days. On Monday, your uncle Michael and Aunt Becky had a fire in their fire pit and we sat and roasted marshmallows. I think it was the first time you've really seen fire, since the last time we had a fire in the fire pit you were still a tiny infant.

The other big thing this week was that you are suddenly too big for most of your clothes. I know it didn't, but it feels like this happened overnight. Like you went to bed and everything fit, and you woke up and nothing fit anymore. 

Getting so big!

It was bittersweet going through your clothes and packing up all the footie pajamas that looked so very big when we got them, and are now way too small for you. You outgrew almost all of your footie pajamas. We had to go to the store this weekend and buy you new ones, and this next weekend we'll head to the consignment shop and get you some new onesies, since you've outgrown most of those too. 

Daddy! Those are mine!

While we were at the baby store we picked up a few other things, including some "baby sunglasses" which have a strap that goes around behind your head. Your father could not resist trying them on himself, which you found incredibly amusing. The two of you are a trip together!

Drop offs and pick ups at Day Care continue to get easier, now that you're used to everyone there. Today when I dropped you off, it was just about lunch time, so you went straight into the high chair. You were happy to see Miss Darcy and even happier about the food. You're getting day care food now, which means a lot of different finger foods, which you love. In fact, so far, you've eaten everything we've given you as long as you get to feed it to yourself. Even dreaded peas are fine as long as we don't try to spoon feed them to you!

The weather around here is getting nicer out, it's even going to be in the mid 70's this week. Your father and I are going to do some work in the back yard soon to get it closer to being able to be used. I can't wait to get out of the house with you this summer, and take you to all the amazing places here. There is so much for you to explore! 

I love you munchkin! Here's hoping for another quiet week!

You and your protector

Week 43 - 10 months old!

Dear Jorie,

First off, happy 10 months munchkin! Tomorrow (the 11th) will be your official 10 month birthday. Only two more months until you're a year old! I can't believe it!

This week (and really the past tow weeks) have been very hard on your father and I. You seem to be dealing with this never ending round of sickness fine, but it really is taking it's toll on us. 

Thursday, your father stayed home with you, and since you still had a fever, back to the doctor you went. They decided the Amoxicillin wasn't working, so they switched you to another antibiotic, and sent you home. The new antibiotic did the trick, and your fever broke over night. 

You spent Friday morning at Grandma and Grandpa O's, and I came home early (around 2). You seemed happy and normal, if still a little snotty. We thought the worst was behind us, and got ready to enjoy a low key weekend.

Saturday we had the crew over for breakfast, and you enjoyed your usual amount of attention. Then we headed out to the Canal path and I ran while your father walked with you. We had dinner at my parents and every thing was great. It was a nice low key day. One we all desperately needed.

Sunday was also low key, with Brunch with Farley, grocery shopping and random small chores. 

Monday, we got started off well. Your father dropped you off at Day Care, I headed to work, and all was well, however, when I picked you up from Day Care, I walked in to find the staff very upset. They had been trying to call me while I was driving over. When they woke you up from your nap to get you changed before I picked you up, you were covered, head to toe, in a rash. You had red bumps all over. You didn't seem to mind, but it was a very alarming rash, so we headed over to the doctors office once again.

Turns out you are allergic to the antibiotic you were on. It took four days to show up, but that's what the rash was. So, another new antibiotic, and some benad.ryl to help clear up the rash. Your father and I have not been sleeping very well, since we're both a little paranoid about the possibility of you having breathing difficulty in the middle of the night.

Yesterday I went over to the Day care at lunch to give you some benad.ryl. You tore me up when I put you back in the crib and you started reaching for me and crying. It was all I could do to leave you there. I'm so sorry for that baby girl.

In the stroller at the end of the run.

The water wasn't very warm, so the only thing I can think is that your skin is more sensitive than normal right now. You fell asleep with me holding you later and I had another one of those moments where it took almost all of my self control to get myself together, take you to day care and go to work. I just wanted to stay home with you so badly. 

Knowing you're still sick, and some one else is taking care of you tears me up just a little bit every day. I know that my being at work is allowing us to take you to the doctor and get the medicine you need right now is the only thing keeping me from throwing up my hands and trying to find another way.

So far today, you're still all rashy, and you're having some of the less pleasant side effects of the new antibiotic. You've been going through a lot of outfits this week, but none of this seems to be affecting you. You're still as happy as ever. 

I love you Jorie Bear. I hope you get better soon!
 

Daddy and Me!

Week 42

Dear Jorie,

This has been quite a week. There was outside time, Easter bunnies, petting zoo's, your uncle Mike's birthday, and unfortunately a lot of sick time. 

Playing with your new toy!

Your Aunt Becky got you a new toy this past week, a sort of walker toy. You haven't been interesting in walking with it much, but you really enjoy playing with all the buttons and things on the front of it. It was hard to get a good picture of you playing with it, because you were constantly in motion with it, which you are most of the time now.

You are a constantly wiggling blur of happiness most of the time. You really are a very happy baby, although you are moving towards toddler so very fast. You aren't walking, but you have mastered both standing and bending down. You have no problems getting yourself around between crawling and pulling yourself up on whatever is handy, whether that's a person, the dog, some furniture or your car seat. On Thursday when we came home from day care, you spent some time with me showing off all your new skills puttering around in the living room, and playing with all sorts of toys. 

Out cold after the Jog

Friday, your Father didn't have work, so he got to stay home with you all day! You went and visited your Fathers grandparents, your great grandparents, and even met me for lunch at Pa.nera! Then after I got home from work, we went out and I took you for your very first run in the jogging stroller! It was a lot of fun being able to look down at you while I ran, and see you smiling up at me. Even if it was a bit of extra work controlling the stroller while I ran! You really seemed to enjoy it, and you were out cold by the end of the run. I'm so glad we have the jogging stroller now, so as the weather gets warmer I can take you out on my runs more often. 

Saturday your Aunt Becky, Uncle Mike, Wesley and Andy came over for breakfast again. Wesley is getting so big! You two really seem to like each other now. He smiles and giggles at you all the time. We have to watch you with him though, since you're not too good at being gentle yet. But have a little patience, he'll be big enough to play with you soon!

Totally unimpressed.

After they left we met your Grandma and Grandpa O at the garden center to get your picture taken with the Easter Bunny, and to check out the petting zoo there. You were really not impressed with either the giant person in a bunny suit, or Turkey, goats, pigs, baby chickens or even the little bunny's in the petting zoo. The only animal you seemed interested in was the dog that was there, which you squealed and laughed at whenever you saw it. Your Grandpa O got some good pictures of you with the animals, where you actually look like you're interested in them, and not the straw they're eating.

Later Saturday night, you started running a low fever, So Sunday, I stayed home with you while your Father met Farley for brunch. We had a lot of fun playing and cuddling at home. It was a really quiet day at home, just hoping to help you get better.
  

Hanging out waiting for your prescription.

Unfortunately your fever did not go down Sunday, and by the morning you were also coughing a sort of dry barking cough, so Monday you stayed with your Grandma and Grandpa R in the morning, and I left work early to take you to the doctors office. Turns out you have the Baby Sickness Trifecta: A cold, An Ear Infection and Croup. I'm amazed you were as good natured as you've been with all that sickness! 

Playing in the bouncer

After the doctors appointment, we went and picked up the medicine at Weg.mans, had some lunch, and then went home to play. It was so nice having the time home with you, even if you were sick. Every time I'm home with you like that it makes me miss how it was when I was on Maternity Leave. I really love being home with you. There are so many special moments when we're just hanging out around the house getting things done! We played with a lot of your toys, and did some chores. You even helped me fold some laundry! You look so big in your bouncer now, I remember when you needed a pillow to stand on when you were in it! The laundry was a lot of fun too. 

Helping with the laundry

You loved crawling into the hamper to pull the clean clothes out for me, and you would get really excited when you found socks, which are by the way your favorite toy. Socks are apparently the most amazing things ever. But they do not go on your feet, oh no, they must be instantly pulled off from there so you can wave them around and stretch them and pull them and put them on your head.

Tuesday, you were still sick, and so you got to stay with your Grandma and Grandpa R again, all day long! Since we had dinner there, you were really there all day long. I was told you gave great cuddle time all day. It was your Uncle Mike's birthday so we had cookie cake and ice cream. I opted to have a root beer float with my ice cream! You didn't get to have any, since you're still a little young for the sweets, but you did get to have some of the roasted potatoes and pork that we had for dinner. 

Today, you were still sick when you woke up this morning. Your fever has been up around 101 most of the time, dropping down around 100 when we give you medicine. Today you stayed with your Grandma and Grandpa O. Your father should be there picking you up around now. I have to say, one of the hardest things this week has been going to work, knowing that you are sick, and I'm not there to take care of you. I know I'm at work so that we can have health insurance, so we can take you to the doctors. I wish I was home being the one that's giving you cuddles.  

Since you still had a fever today, your Father is going to stay home with you tomorrow. If you still have a fever by morning, we will have to take you back to see the doctor again. Both of us are very worried about you, and more than a little scared that you're still as sick as you are. But we're doing everything the doctor said to do, giving you lots of fluids, running the humidifier at night, and giving you medicine. Get better baby girl. It kills us to see you sick. 

I love you so much.

Mommie and Me!

Week 41

Dear Jorie,

This week, you've been working on building your crawling speed, learning new sounds you can make, blowing bubbles, and generally enjoying life.

I can see you...why can't I touch you?

On Saturday we met up with Jaimee and Zeta for coffee and baby play time. We have decided that in the future, play dates will be at one of our houses, you two are getting too hard to corral! Zeta is walking, and MAN can she walk fast! At one point you crawled under the glass coffee table at the coffee shop, and both of you were very confused by the clear force field keeping you apart. It was so much fun watching you two interact. You've both grown and changed so much since the first time you met! It really is awesome to watch you guys both growing up together. I hope you stay really good friends as you get older. 

This past Sunday, it was really nice out, so we packed you up and headed out to Mt. Hope for a run for me and a walk for your father. We used the jogging stroller for the first time, and you really seemed to love it, I know we do. It's really awesome to be able to take you out on jogs now, especially as my runs get longer and the weather gets nicer. We used it again on Tuesday when I went for a jog along the canal. Again, your father was pushing you in the stroller while walking, but he was walking almost as fast as I was running! Having you there watching me and smiling and laughing helped me keep going even when I was really tired. 

There really isn't much more to report about this week. Just the usual craziness and fun. This morning was really nice though. Since today is my late day at work, I got to spend all morning with you, and you were in a really good mood. You let me sleep in until 8, and then even when you were up, you were just hanging out in your crib playing. After I got up and dressed, I took you downstairs and gave you some Oatmeal mixed with Pureed fruit, and then a cut up banana and some cheer.ios. While you were eating that, I was able to do a few small chores, like starting the chicken marinating for dinner, and I was able to sit down and drink a cup of coffee while "talking" with you as you ate. After breakfast, we went upstairs and you played with the toys in your room while I folded some of your laundry and changed the crib sheet. 

It was just such a perfect morning. It reminded me of when I was on Maternity Leave and I got to spend all day every day with you. Some people may think I'm crazy, but I'm ok with that kind of life. A life spent helping you grow and learn and play. 

Daddy, you're too slow!

Yes, I have to work right now, so that you can grow up in a house with a dog and a cat and food on the table. But honestly, that's why I'm working, not so that I can go out and feel fulfilled having a career. I thought that I would never want to be a stay at home mom, and then I met you.  Every day is something new with you, a new food, a new place, a new trick. Both me and your Father are completely enthralled with you, still. We take pictures of you doing the most mundane thing, because it all seems so exciting when you do it. 

We've been slowly working on getting some baby proofing done, our plan is to baby proof the living room, and then gate it off so you can have free reign in there. We bought a baby gate, but it's too small and we need to get some extensions for it before we can put it up. This weekend I'm going to make your Father go to the dreaded B.uyBuyB.aby so we can decided on all the baby proofing paraphernalia we need.

I love you baby girl. I hope you are as happy as you make us.

Best Friends at 9 months!

 

Week 40!

Dear Jorie,

This week was so full! We had guest over on Thursday, and art opening, a birthday party for a family friend on Saturday and all of our usual shenanigans.

This past Thursday, we had Becky M. and her son over for dinner. Her boyfriend Adam came too, which was cool because you Father knew Adam a long time ago. We had a great time, although I think you were frustrated you couldn't run around with Becky's son (who's four.) I could just see you thinking "I want to do that!" while you watched him tearing around our house.

I should mention that this weekend was St. Patrick's day, although we did not go to the parade on Saturday. We figured we'll try to go next year when you'll be old enough to enjoy it.

Instead on Saturday, we went to see Ruth at a craft show, so she and the girls could get some time with you. They miss watching you so much! After that we headed up to an Art opening for Amy and Jason. Amy was so excited to meet you, and for the first time I've ever seen, you reached for someone you'd just met to pick you up! You seemed to really love Amy! 

This week we've started expanding your repertoire of finger foods. We added in ring pasta, which we give you mixed with peas, and which you absolutely love. Your Grandma O says it's the Italian in you, I think you just really like being able to pick up your own food, and pasta is of course tasty. The day care is also going to start feeding you steamed carrot bits today. You really seem to enjoy being able to feed yourself, so we're going to try to move towards mostly finger foods. I'm not sure what we'll try next, but it will definitely be something you can feed yourself!

You had your official 9 month evaluation on Tuesday. Your Father took you, and everything looked good to the doctor. She even asked if you were always this happy, which I have to say, yes, yes you are. You are 27.5 inches tall and weigh 16 lbs 3 oz. So you're still tall and skinny! The only problem was that your iron levels were a smidge low, so we're supposed to make sure you're eating more green veggies. 

Since you're not a fan of green veggies right now, we've started hiding them. I blended up some spinach and mixed it in with some pears. You seemed to like it when I fed it to you, so hopefully that's the answer. 

You're getting so big and strong lately, it's hard to believe how fast you're growing! You crawl fast as lighting now, and you can pull yourself up to stand easily. You're working on standing unsupported, sometimes you do it for a second before you realize you're not holding anything. You haven't really worked on walking too much, I think you find it easier to crawl somewhere then just stand up when you get there.

Lately you've been working on saying Mama and baba although I'm not sure if you actually know what you're saying yet. You definitely babble up a storm these days! You've also started using some definite signs for things like "Give it to me!" and a couple of times you've made the sign for food or for milk when you were hungry. You've also almost mastered waving, which is still super cute to watch you do.

I would like to note that I am still nursing you, but only once a day now. I'm hoping I'll be able to keep it up until your first birthday. I haven't talked about it much here, but it's definitely been a struggle to maintain my supply while working. 

I love you Jorie Bear. Stop growing up so fast!

Week 39

Dear Jorie,

9 Months! Wow. It's hard to believe that you've reached this milestone. I feel like the time has gone by so quickly, and yet I can't imagine our lives without you in them. 

This week has been going well so far, after we survived the return of the sickness last Thursday. Because you had a fever Thursday night, you couldn't go to Daycare on Friday, so your grandparents all stepped up to help us cover the day. Grandma and Grandpa O watched you in the morning and then dropped you off with Grandma R around 2. I picked you up from Grandma R's at 4 and we saw the doctor again at 4:30. No ear infection or anything, just another round of whatever is going around it seems. Your Grandma O thinks you're faking it to get out of going "to school." She was also disappointed that you got better in time to be able to go back to Day Care on Monday. She was looking forward to having another day with you, she misses watching you once a week.

You do seem to be getting used to Day Care now, you don't give us much trouble on drop off now, and you're starting to trust the teachers there. We've told them they can feed you "breakfast solids" so this week you got to have your first croissant! They've been working on waving with you, which is super cute when you do it.

On Saturday, it was really nice out. And even though you were still not feeling 100% we packed you up in the stroller and took you and the dog on a walk through Mt. Hope. Well your Dad walked with you, while I did my run with the dog, until I tired the dog out, and your Dad walked with you AND the dog (he's got skills.) You really seemed to enjoy tooling around in the stroller watching the world go by. I'm hoping to get my hands on a Jogging stroller soon so I can take you running with me!

You were still kinda crabby on Sunday when we went grocery shopping, so I tried to entertain you by playing with my scarf. You did enjoy the scarf, right up until you decided that the best way to play with it was to stuff as much as you could in your mouth!

Last night at Ross family dinner night you spent a good long time charming your Uncle and Aunt into playing peekaboo with you. Earlier you also had your Grandpa R on the floor playing with you and some of the millions of toys they have at their house for you.

Lately your father and I have been trying to create "baby safe" zones in the house. Places where you can have free reign to play without us worrying about what you'll get your hands on. I thought I had baby proofed your bedroom, but the other day while we were in there you became obsessed with your nightlight, and managed to pry it out of the outlet on the wall. Which you were then enthralled with trying to stick your fingers in. So we're going to have to find you a new night light, and put covers on those outlets! We're also working on getting a baby gate for the doorway between the living room and the bonus room. It's a REALLY wide door way. We thought we had a gate wide enough, but no, we need to get extenders for it. Hopefully we'll have it up and functional by next week!

It's been an amazing nine months baby girl. I'm so excited to see what's to come this spring and summer. We have a zoo membership just waiting for warmer weather, and there are so many places to take you now that you're able to move around and explore! 

I love you!