She's Got Teeth

Lots of stuff to report today. First, Lucy has teeth. That's right. Her two bottom teeth finally came in and did it at the exact same time. She's still teething, but I'm not sure which part of her mouth is bothering her because she moves her teethers around depending on the day and the time. There are pictures of her pearly whites.

Lucy took her first and second bubble baths last month. Check her out in the pictures. She seemed to think it was pretty fun and had a good time hitting the water to move the bubbles around the tub. Next month, food coloring. We'll see what she thinks when the water is blue or green or orange or maybe even purple.

She is trying to crawl a lot, but she still hasn't quite figured out how to launch herself forward. She just keeps getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth. The other day she tried getting off her knees and going up onto her tippy toes, but when it didn't help she stopped doing it. She is otherwise pretty mobile and able to roll/squirm her way where she wants to go. There are some pictures of her on all fours trying to go forward.

I snapped some pictures of the nursery now that it is together (sans wall art) for people who have not seen it. It came out really cute I think. It'll be pretty spacious once we're able to take out the rocking chair, but for now it suits our purposes.

In some pictures you may notice the inclusion of cake pans and pots. Lucy is in love with making noise right now. Mommy encourages it, but Daddy isn't so sure. I keep reminding him that a noisy baby is a happy, healthy baby. Besides how many years do you get to make as much noise as you want for as long as you want without anybody saying anything. There aren't actually that many perks that come with being a baby. She should live it up. I keep telling him to let her try and feed herself too, but he isn't feeling the messiness. Don't you ever wish that you could just go out and get as messy as you wanted. I wonder what's going to happen the first time she and I go out to make mud pies.

I also included some pictures of the rest of the house that is mostly together. We hope to have a housewarming soon, but haven't had a free weekend since the move. Hopefully things will quiet down a bit now that the fourth has past. We'll keep people updated.

For those keeping track, Dr. Janzen (my advisor) said to go ahead and put my chapters into a complete draft (all 450 pages of them). I'm hoping to have that done by the end of August. After that, we'll review it (cut some stuff out) and make sure it is nice and solid and then give it to the rest of my committee. They'll read it, let me know any problems they have with it, and then when everyone agrees we will have my defense. This process can take anywhere from a month or two to a couple of years (don't worry I took that professor off my committee). I hope to defend soon and will keep everyone updated.

Happy Fourth of July

Lucy is 7 and 1/2 months old and moving ahead with leaps and bounds. Although she still can't go from a lying position into a seated one (and boy she sure does try), once seated she has no problems staying that way for a very long time. She gets up on all fours and rocks back and forth too, so crawling is just a few days away (right now she mostly pushes herself backwards on accident moving further from whatever object she is trying to move towards, which seems to perplex her more than frustrate her). She rolls all over the place and, just to be contrary I'm sure, still hasn't had any teeth pop through her gums. You can see them through her gums perfectly, but they are just taking their slow sweet time actually coming out. Poor Kiddo! Most of the time she is fine, but some days nothing soothes her. This week I purchased one of those mesh feeder bags (it is a little mesh bag that attaches to a handle). One of the mothers at the lactation class suggested putting some frozen grapes or watermelon balls in it and letting her suck on it to numb her gums, so we're going to give that a try today.

Lucy slept through the night for about a week, but then started waking up again. I think it is the teething. Major thinks it is a combination of the sun staying up so long and the sound of fireworks going off at dusk. This too will pass in time whatever the cause. It was nice to sleep for a little while. I'm calling it our summer vacation.

We're moved in and mostly unpacked. Still a few boxes here and there. I'm working on picking up odds and ends for the house (like drapes). We were hoping to do some of that this weekend, but I'm not sure we'll get around to it. Lucy and I ran errands all day Friday and then yesterday we drove to St. Joe, so I'd kind of like to keep her home today where she can crawl around and play. If it was just a trip to Target it wouldn't be so bad, but the best drapes are at the Penny's Outlet, so it is a bit of a drive. Speaking of driving, I'm hoping Major will call John and Jan to see if they'll watch Lucy on one of these upcoming weekends, so we can go to a movie. Maybe if I put it in the blog he'll remember (and maybe not...I'm going to invent digital string that not only ties around your finger, but has a scrolling line of text that tells you what you're supposed to do).

Uh-oh, sounds like nap time is over. I'll post again as soon as I can.

Finally a New Post

Sorry it has been such a long time, but moving with a baby while working on a dissertation takes a lot of time. We are into the new house and have a large proportion of our things unpacked, but still have a ways to go. I think we'll be done in a week or two though as long as we set our minds to it and keep motivated.

Lucy is growing by leaps and bounds. She had a big brain growth spurt a couple of weeks ago and has just gotten over the associated fussiness (getting smarter is actually a little scary). She's not as talkative as she used to be. She still talks, but seems to think about it first now. She still loves to bounce, but we had to raise the bouncer by a notch. She also stairs at things for a lot longer than she used to and cocks her head sometimes while she's looking at them. This is partially due to the bigger brain and partially due to her developing depth perception. Once put into the position, she can sit up on her own for a few minutes and likes to play with things this way, but tends to try to manipulate objects with her feet as much as she does with her hands right now (it's a primate thing). She generally only wakes up once at night now (thank goodness). She is sleeping in her crib. She is also a very mellow baby saving her tears for bedtime. Of course, her Dad and I respond to her needs very quickly, so perhaps she just doesn't need to cry.

I'm posting some pictures of the house mixed into the newest pictures (sorry there are so many together, but I don't have time to sort right now) and will write more when I can.

A quarter of?

Little Lucy is 25 weeks this Saturday and as adorable as ever, but she sure has grown. I remember when she used to curl up in a little tiny ball and lay on my chest pretending she was still in the womb. Now I can barely burp her because when I lay her against my shoulder her legs go just past my waist (and she enjoys standing up on her tippy toes, which sort of kills the whole process).

If she doesn't have a tooth in the next day or two, I'll be very surprised. She has a definite bump and her new favorite thing is grabbing people's fingers, putting them in her mouth, and chomping down as hard as she can. She's having an awful time with sleeping until I put a little bit of numbing stuff on he lower gums. After that she usually will drift off, but it's rough until then. Tomorrow I will go pick up some teething tabs. I have no clue what they are except that they are some kind of homeopathic thing. Hey the doctor recommended them, so I'm game. If they won't hurt her, then all they can do is help at this point. I'm pretty sure it is good that none of us remembers teething because it sure looks painful.

No other new milestones to report. We're working on sitting, but these things take time. She's lost her triple chin and seems to be thinning out a bit, but, except in the morning, she's still a healthy eater. She has mastered solids, but it is hard to tell what she likes and doesn't. For the most part she seems to eat anything on a spoon pretty dutifully (except prunes, which she would rather not have...those she just sort of sits and stairs at you like, "you aren't seriously thinking I should put that in my mouth"). Tonight we try sweet potatoes or bananas (I think she'll like them both, but only one new food every three or four days (doctor's orders)).

I know everyone is dying to know and yes, we closed on the house. Everything went well, mostly. There were some issues with the keys (being misplaced...), but all was resolved by the afternoon and we were there just yesterday getting ready to get ready to move in. Major plans to shampoo the carpets tonight (although there is a massive storm brewing). Tomorrow the exterminator will spray (and it better be completely baby safe or heads will be rolling). The next day the new A/C and heater are installed. Saturday we paint and go to a graduation party (party at 6). Sunday we paint some more. Someday I will finish my dissertation, but don't hold your breath this month (really I'm that close....ahhhhh!!!!!).

Pictures will be forthcoming, but I don't have my camera with me, so be patient. As soon as were settled we'll have people over to visit and check out the new digs...oh and yes we're getting a kitten, but the puppy will have to wait until the dissertation is finished. I just don't have time for three babies. When we get the puppy I'm thinking we want either a golden retriever or border collie (I had a border collie when I was a child...his name was spot...he was the best dog ever (besides Duke of course)...he followed me like a shadow...or a black version of Lassie...I still miss him).

Rainy Days

Lucy is 23 weeks now and is so different from when we brought her home last November. Not only is she more than twice the size that she was, but she is very interactive. She talks all the time, laughs, makes funny faces to make other people laugh, grabs, pulls, holds, tries to sit up, rolls on her tummy and on her back, and avoids sleeping whenever possible. She is absolutely amazing.

Lucy's biggest milestone to report this post is that she now says Mama all the time. She still doesn't know what she is saying, but with Mama's immediate, exuberant reaction, she'll have it figured out before long. Much to Major's consternation, she has yet to day Dada. I have repeatedly assured him that she will.

Other milestones.

She hugs...really nestles in there when she wants a squeeze and you're holding her. It feels wonderful.

She is also eating other foods besides cereal. The first real food we gave her was pureed carrots, which she wasn't sure about the first day we gave them to her, but the second day she devoured them. I tried them (I have to eat everything to show her its edible before she'll try it) and have to say baby food carrots taste canned (ooh gross). I think I, at least, will enjoy homemade baby food more. I bet she does too. For those who enjoy the gross out files (you're so weird), the carrots did make her pooh orange, which only freaked mom out for a minute. Tonight we eat squash.

She rolls. She rolls to her tummy from her back and from her back to her tummy and sometimes she just rolls a couple times for fun. She loves to lay in her gym so she can roll. We don't have the living room baby safe yet because Daddy is waiting until we move into the new house, so Mommy has to watch her like a hawk when she's on the floor. I'll be happy when we have a playroom.

I've managed to piece together most of Lucy's summer wardrobe. I did a little bit off of Craigslist, a little bit at the Goodwill, and we went to the Kid's consignment sale yesterday. Daddy bought because Mommy was broke. We got some really cute outfits at very reasonable prices including some Jayhawk bloomers that Daddy hopes she won't grow into until the Fall (we'll see). Picture day is May 14, so I'll have to figure out which new outfit she should wear.

We're getting more and more excited to move and plan to paint Lucy's room a nice shade of Lavender. We also need to paint the cupboards in the kitchen and Mommy's debating painting some accent walls throughout the house. I also need to order some curtains (as the house has none) and the only curtains we have are for Lucy's room. We'll keep everyone updated on our progress.

Daddy Found a House and Lucy's 21

I know some of you have heard that Daddy found a house he wants to buy and are dying to see it. There are some pictures mixed in with this post's update. The house is very pretty. It is a foreclosure, which is why we can afford it. I know that some of you have been a little bit nervous when you heard it was a foreclosure, but the majority of the foreclosures here in Lawrence have been very nice. There have been some HUD foreclosures that were a bit sketchy, but otherwise all have been in extremely good shape and very reasonably priced.

The house passed inspection with the exception of the air conditioner. We've asked the seller to replace it, but assume they won't (our realtor pointed out it never hurts to ask). Major will use some of the money from my little nest egg that I gave him for the down payment, associated fees, and miscellaneous expenses. I've got all, but two chapters done on my dissertation (of course I'll have to edit it and do some rewrites), so I'm upping myself to 75% time at work. It'll be hard to be away from Lucy for another day, but it will also ensure we don't end up house poor (Major says we won't, but Mommy's pretty frugal (which is how she managed to have a nest egg in grad school)).

Lucy still loves her high pitched scream and blowing bubbles. She can sit up with minimal support now, but still doesn't like to roll over (she can she just doesn't want to). It's getting pretty tough to get her down for naps. Bedtime has been a breeze pretty much since we started Dr. Sears method (establishing a consistent bedtime routine that includes laying her in the bassinet and sitting or laying next to her with your hand on her tummy until she falls asleep). I think we need to set specific nap times and a routine and am in conference with her daycare provider about it. Right now I usually put her in the vibrating chair and let her watch the bubbles as she drifts off. The swing doesn't really work anymore (the fishes are boring these days).

As you'll see in the pictures, she's successfully started solids. She's only had rice cereal, but took to it like a natural. She opens her mouth and moves it around with her tongue, swallows and generally gets more in her tummy than on her clothes. Once we move, I'll start making her baby food, but for the next couple weeks we'll continue with just cereal or pick up some of the Gerber supported sitter (number one) foods. Daddy likes to make the cereal really soupy, but Mommy's gotten it up to the consistency most of us eat our cream of wheat (well for those of us that eat cream of wheat).

We've all had colds this week, but are recovering. Except for one night when Mommy's milk production was down because she was sick, Lucy's been sleeping for one five hour and one three hour block consistently. She's got a head full of blond hair coming in and has the biggest blue eyes. Her eyelashes are thick and a mile long. She's also perfectly symmetrical, which in biological anthropology terms means Daddy wants a shotgun (he promises he'll only use rock salt).

Daddy's Nesting

Lucy is 19 weeks this week and is doing very well. She is a very happy baby who giggles and laughs nearly all the time (except bed time and nap time). She's figuring out how to play with some of her toys (listening to her play the same musical tune over and over is so much fun).

I'm sorry I haven't posted lately, but we had a death in the family. Racelin, our loving kitty died suddenly on Sunday night (around 3 a.m.). He had not been ill or indicated in any way he was sick. I woke up and fed Lucy around 1 a.m. I love him up and gave him food, which he ate. He was fine. At 3 a.m. I woke up again because I heard strange noises from the food of the bed (I actually thought Race was killing something) and jostled Major. He woke up and went to the foot of the bed where he just kind of froze. I could tell by looking at him that something was terribly wrong and jumped out of bed. Race was gone. The next day Major announced we were buying a house and moving.

We've spent an insanely busy week house hunting all over Lawrence. We have a great realtor who has held our hand and helped us a lot. We've picked our favorite three properties and begun the process of making offers and eliminating those that will not come down to where we want them in price. Major is in charge of this part of the process. We'll keep you updated.