Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Michaela @ Eight Months

Mommy's Little Librarian

Eight months old? Already? I am just amazed at how quickly my Little Baby Punkin is growing and changing.


Growth: We will not see the pediatrician for another month, so I can only guess at Michaela's current length and weight. She has not outgrown most of her 9 month and 6-12 month sized clothing, but I think we're getting close to the next size(s) up. She's mostly a size 3 in shoes. She's still wearing a size 3 diaper. Dressing her is one of my favorite things. She has a dresser and a closet full of cute things, and I really enjoy choosing her outfits when I get to dress her on the weekends.


Feeding: She's still just not that into her baby food. I just read up on month eight in my copy of What to Expect the First Year that it's okay to start finger foods. They gave a pretty extensive list of soft foods we can try, and we will be doing so. Michaela enjoys feeding herself. She likes rice crackers, various flavors of puffs, and small bites of banana. Pretty much anything she can pick up and put in her mouth without Mommy's help. Well, okay then. . .

Sleeping: Naps are really unpredictable. It's a frustration of mine because I count on that time to get things done around here. Her naps can vary from thirty minutes to two hours. She "works it" with her grannies and her nanny and often gets to nap in their arms for lengthy periods of time. Mommy is not up for that, and as soon as she gets good and drowsy, I place her in her crib. Sometimes she keeps on sleeping, and other times she protests. Little stinker! Nighttime is much more predictable, however, She goes down anywhere from 6:00 - 7:30ish and she sleeps through the night. We still co-sleep. I love having her close to me. Sometimes, when she's having a hard time settling down, I hold her in my arms and we turn on her Cloud b Twilight Constellation Night Light. It's this really cool ladybug nightlight contraption that displays stars on the walls and ceiling of a dark room. She will lay there and stare at those lights until she just can't keep her little eyelids open anymore. It's a sweet way to fall asleep.

Fun Stuff: Well, she's very mobile these days. She not only crawls, but she pulls herself up on her knees. My dad secured the bookshelf to the wall, so we do not have to worry about her ever pulling that over. She "talks" all the time. I cannot discern any particular words at this point, though. I'm sure she knows exactly what she's saying! She loves all the noisy toys she received for Christmas. She likes watching Jack's Big Music Show, Yo Gabba Gabba, and our Jana Alayra DVD. In fact, it's the Jana DVD that "babysits" her while I take a shower each morning. The more music a show features, the more excited she is about it. She also has a crush on Moose A. Moose. Every time he comes on she gasps or squeals with delight. I don't know what it is about that little guy, but she is crazy about him. I just find it so interesting and amazing that at her very young age that she is so aware of her surroundings, and that she has such noticeable preferences.

Michaela has definitely developed separation anxiety. It is very hard for me to get much done if she can't see me. If I walk around a corner in our very small house, it is very distressing to her. This keeps me close, and it means the chores get pushed back. Thankfully, Elizabeth (our nanny/housekeeper) seems to have superhuman capabilities, and she gets done what I can't. She is such a blessing to us!

I can't believe that we are already three-quarters of the way through her first year. I'm already starting to brainstorm for her first birthday party. Oh, my!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Where Does the Time Go?

I did not mean to be away from the blog for so long. It's just that my days are spent at work, and I don't have a lot of time to myself in the evenings. By the time I put Michaela down, I'm so tired I can't think of what to write about. It all seems kind of mundane, too. I get up and go to work. I come home and play with Michaela. She goes to bed. I zone out on the couch. Repeat. I'm kind of sick of it (the zoning out on the couch part), but I don't know that anything will change before the school year comes to a close. Sigh...

Many of my readers know me from a social networking site, too, and so you are aware that my dad has a cancerous growth on his cheekbone. It is not skin cancer. It is underneath the skin, but we do not know the cell type yet. He is waiting on approval to see the head/neck specialist again so that they can come up with a treatment plan. I have been terribly concerned about him. It was getting the best of me, and then I decided that I needed to refresh my understanding of healing and begin praying scripture for my dad. In doing so, I was reminded of a teaching I heard at church a while back (because I found some notes in my Bible!) where we were taught some biblical approaches to praying for the sick. Three great points were to pray, believe, and expect a miracle. Since I've re-focused my thoughts on what the Lord can do, instead of what cancer can do, I've been feeling better about the situation. Hopefully the week ahead will give my dad some answers about what comes next.

In just a few days Michaela will be eight months old. I'll be working on a post all about Michaela, but I will tell you now that she is just amazing. I am so blessed to have her!

Despite some reservations (maybe I should have taken them more seriously?), I joined a couple of Christian dating sites. Ugh! I am disappointed in what I've seen so far. I know several people who have met their spouses online, so I know it can work. I am looking for a good-looking guy with a heart for the Lord. He's got to be out there somewhere. Right? Keep praying, dear readers. LOL!

So, there you have it. Just a little update on what's going on with me and mine.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Looking Back and Looking Forward

Happy New Year!

The past year was a year of change, of healing, and of blessings. The best change, healing agent, and blessing is (of course) Michaela. When I lost Michael, I seriously thought that my dream of having a child might be lost, too. My pregnancy with her was so challenging, but she is the best baby. She was worth it all. It is not easy doing this on my own, but it is so rewarding.

Other changes were work-related. While I wouldn't call my new situation perfect, it is an improvement from where I found myself a year ago. I am working with some other teachers who have experienced great losses as well, and there is an understanding amongst us that I truly appreciate and need.

For the most part, I have been living in the moment - not looking back too, too much, and not looking forward so much, either. Looking back can be painful, and looking forward overwhelming. However, I am beginning to think about my future more and acknowledging the desires of my heart to the Lord. I would like to be married again someday, and I would like Michaela to have a man in her life who would love her as his own. I know that Michael would just want me to be happy, and to have the Lord's best for Michaela and me. I have known of several "widow friends" who married again this past year, and their new happiness is a beautiful thing to see. So, I enter the new year with an open heart to the possibility of a new relationship, and the intention of waiting on the Lord to see where He leads me in that.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11