Sunday

There are only 4 days left before summer vacation, so this time next week, we will all be pretty happy campers.

The quickest path is a straight line...

Why go around, when you can go through things?



but it doesn't always work out so well.

It seems as if Emily has no fear these days, as it should be. She'll go under, or through, anything in her path to get to what she wants. And it's hard to distract her away from what she has in mind (the dogs' tennis ball, a cord, a shoe). And she is now pulling herself up on anything and everything! Sure enough, the morning after we lowered the crib mattress, she greeted me in the morning standing in her crib.

Babyproofing

It was time to start baby proofing the house - the crib mattress was lowered as far as it would go and safety plugs are in the outlets. Now we need to start shopping for a gate for the staircase (boy, that's going to be difficult for a blind dog to figure out!).
Discovering the other side of the room - where are all the toys are kept! Despite this, I think her favorite place to go is under the rocking chairs.

Breakfast

This is a photo I received from Aaron on Friday. Emily was eating breakfast and decided to hold her spoon hostage.

Almost to 1

You're 11 months today!

At this point, you can crawl, but not very well. Especially when you find yourself on the hardwood floor. You sort of spin your wheels...
You talk - a lot, but aren't saying any words yet.
You know how to scream. Lungs are not a problem.
You are a total momma's girl. I'm okay with that.
Most of the time you sleep through the night.
You like to eat almost anything, but I think Gerber Puffs might be your favorite. Not the most nutritional choice. But you get to eat a lot of what we eat.
You like to bang your toys, pull my hair, and bite with your 8 teeth. We need to work on the last two.
You're in size three diapers and nine month clothes.
You love shoes. The fastest you move is when you eye shoes across the room.
The dogs make you laugh.
You make us laugh.

Spaghetti...

is yummy (and check out all my teeth!)

8 months adjusted age

Not that anyone is counting - but I only have 15 days left before summer vacation. I'm not sure if I gave the update about our daycare situation for the fall. The lady we had originally planned on taking care of Emily suddenly wasn't so sure about having in-home daycare past summer (due to personal reasons) so luckily we were able to score a spot with another in-home daycare with someone who happens to have been a pediatric nurse in her former life. It was ideal having Mom move in this year and be able to keep Emily home, but having a nurse watch Emily is probably the next best thing. I'm really happy with the outcome of what felt like the start of a bad situation.

Emily has pulled herself up twice without help, but she hasn't been able to differentiate between what is and is not stable enough to help her!

It was such a nice weekend here. We spent most of it outdoors getting some planting done. Emily observed from her stroller - sometimes pleased, sometimes not so much.






By the way, this ball popper toy is a total hit with Emily. I'd highly recommend it. It's one of those toys that the music is good enough that even after you hear it for the fiftieth time it isn't totally annoying.

Emily likes to stand. She'll pop up when she gets to hold your hands, and is just starting to get the idea that objects can be used as well. It was Saturday night when she learned this is her pack n play. I thought she was sleeping, and Aaron was shocked to see her standing there behind me when he walked by. Guess what got lowered Sunday morning!

Here she is, trying to use her cube to get up. She's so close!

Another favorite is her stacking cups. The best thing is knocking them over, but she is also quite pleased to put them in her mouth. We use these a lot in therapy trying to get her to bang them together or dump them out. She's slowly getting the idea, but using them to make noise is not as fun. Is that such a bad thing?

Happy Mother's Day

Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.


























I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.


Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.

Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom

For all my friends who have angels with Nadia...

What Makes a Mother

I thought of you and closed my eyes.
And prayed to God today.
I asked what makes a mother and
I know I heard him say,

A mother has a baby.
This we know is true.
But God, can you be a mother
when your baby's not with you?

Yes, you can, He replied
with confidence in His voice.
I give many women babies.
When they leave is not their choice.

Some I send for a lifetime
and others for a day.
And some I send to feel your womb
but there's no need to stay.

I just don't understand this. God,
I want my baby here.
He took a breath and cleared His throat
and then I saw a tear.

I wish I could show you
what your child is doing today.
If you could see your child smile
with other children and say,

"We go to earth to learn our lessons
of life and love and fear.
My Mommy loved me, Oh so much,
I got to come straight here.

I feel so lucky to have a Mom
who had so much love for me,
I learned my lesson very quickly.
My Mommy set me free.

I miss my Mommy, Oh so much,
but I visit her each day.
When she goes to sleep,
on her pillow's where I lay.

I stroke her hair and kiss her cheek
and whisper in her ear,
'Mommy don't be sad today,
I'm your baby and I'm here.'"

So you see, my dear sweet one,
your children are okay.
Your babies are here in MY home
and this is where they'll stay.

They'll wait for you with ME
until your lesson is through.
And on the day that you come home,
they'll be at the gates for you.

So now you see what makes a Mother—
It's the feeling in your heart.
It's the love you had so much of,
right from the very start.

Though some on earth may not realize you are a Mother,
until their time is done.
They'll be up here with ME one day,
and know you're the best one.

The Week in Review

On Tuesday we journeyed to Twin Falls for the monthly therapy session. Emily was really unhappy with the therapist that day, crying the whole time we were there. I think part of it was the fact that we were in a room without a mirror, the one thing that usually distracts her from what the therapists are making her do. Overall, I think the therapist is pleased with Emily, but it's an elusive goal. Once Emily starts doing what we work on, they change the goals to something else, ie she's starting to sit up, so now we need to get her to not walk on her tiptoes... Okay, whatever. In my book, Emily is doing just fine.

Emily has been a great sleeper this week, sleeping the night through. We've also introduced her to meat this week, starting with chicken. She's really getting speedy in the forward direction, although she's got her own style.



Emily loves to have help walking around the room. She has really improved at picking up her feet and actually walking. And for the first time tonight she actually initiated using a toy to pull herself up to standing. I guess it won't be long now...

Then and Now...

Emily is slowly outgrowing the 6-9 month clothes into the new section of her closet, 9 months. One outfit that was given to her is one that she also had as a preemie. The then pictures were taken three days after she came home, September 11.

Sunday Drive

We took a drive today to Stanley, stopping at the fish hatchery along the way to look at the salmon that just finished their run up stream to spawn.

Playing House