Sit Down Child!

"Sit down child" - I believe I say that more than anything to my now 16 month old child.   Baby J loves to stand up in chairs and can get out of most every belt.   She's a sneaky one and so I find myself always saying Sit down.  
Baby J and I have had an extremely busy couple of weeks.   We moved and have been in our new place for about 2 weeks.   It's a single floor duplex with plenty of room.  While not totally finished I really like it and Baby J is adjusting well to it.  She loves all the space she now has and will go all over the house on her own.  Someday we will be unpacked.  It also came with a stray kitten that comes around alot.  It's probably just a few months old and is pretty skinny, but clean looking.   Baby J loves the Kitty Cat and so far they do well with each other.   We sometimes give the kitty snacks.  Baby J has started to look for 'kitty cats' everywhere.  She says Kitty Cat, Puppy, and bye bye very clearly now and does so often.  I think she thought Petco was the greatest place ever with all the pictures of pets and the dogs that were there.

At 16 months now, baby J is walking all the time, a huge climber (which often results in falls) and when she is with me, she's usually pretty independent.  She jabbers all the time and now has many words within her conversations.   I asked her one day where her stars went (something that plays at night for her) and she looked up and said their gone.   It is amazing how quickly little ones learn.   She can buckle the top part of her seatbelt now and loves to do so.

While we still have some problems with fussiness at child care she is doing so much better most of the time.   Our sitter does such a great job and I'm sad that J will be going to a different place in November---but I also can't keep doing 3 hrs on the road every day with my schedule.   Poor Baby J and the little boy at childcare suffered from Hand foot and mouth disease this past week.   It came so quickly.  Thankfully J could still go to daycare since they both had it and she is on the mend.   Actually I'm pretty sure she's over it, but her skin keeps marks forever-  it looks like bug bites never heal.  I'm so glad she is feeling better.    Now if we could only get a better night time routine going.   If she gets any sleep on the way home from rehearsal she is up forever and many times very hyper.    I love listening to her talk and have fun.   She is doing really well at rehearsal and the kids are enjoying her most nights.  

We haven't gotten to do a lot of activities together.  Between the move, being sick, and rehearsals our time has been crazy.   We did go to our town fall fest and watch the parade and then Grandma and Grandpa took her to the rest where I know she ate, looked at crafts, and went to a petting zoo.

Baby J is growing up so fast and I'm having so much fun watching her grow.  She cracks me up on a daily basis.   Life has been kind of rough in some areas...but Baby J always makes me smile.  I often have moments where I suddenly remember this baby used to be the size of my two hands.  She's come so far.

Baby J updates

Watching Othello

Today Baby J had her 15 month checkup...finally a checkup that did not include shots.  Yea!  I went with a big list of concerns this time, though all probably minor.   She is now 18 lb 13oz (only a few ounces bigger than a couple months ago), 31 inches long, and a head circumference of 44 cm.   She is in the 71% for height for her adjusted age...she is going to be tall.   The doctor was really impressed with her vocabulary (even if she refuses to say it all the time) and Baby J even said Thank You while she was in there.   I mentioned her reaction to Pumpkin and the doctor said since there wasn't a respiratory reaction, she didn't feel we needed to do a confirmation test since I already know.
We also discussed the milk issue- I was told I needed to cut off the formula supply-which didn't surprise me, but was told it's ok not to give her milk.  She was surprised at what I was saying, but said she can have almond or soy milk instead and when I said I would try again later she said it would be best to wait till after she was 3 years old.   Which is fine, I can tell a huge difference in her when she is off milk.   Even when Baby J is tired, it's not as bad when she hasn't been on milk.  
The doctor also found a nodule behind her ear and said at this point it wasn't concerning and that we would just watch it.    Over all Baby J had a very good check up and impressed the doctor.   However we are now going to see an endocrinologist (a hormone doctor).  I've never shared this, but Baby J has always had rather large breasts- the doctor said it was because it was leftover estrogen from her mother and had been saying as long as they didn't grow and she didn't show any other puberty signs it wasn't a problem.  Today she said that she was waiting till her 1 year adjusted birthday and since they haven't shrunk, we need to test her hormones/thyroid.  The doctor also said that could be what causes the mood swings and stomach problems she's been having.  Hopefully it will be nothing..but I'm glad to make sure.  
Baby J did two new things today while at the doctor...she finally scribbled on paper and she took her
diaper off.  Just sat right down and ripped it off like a stripper ripping his pants off.   She also had her first injury from another kid today.  Lol it was a big day.
Currently we are in rehearsals for the school musical and Baby J loves being there this year.    She likes interacting with the kids and running all over the stage.  She has also figured out how to climb up into her stroller and enjoys going up and down the stairs...both are a little scary for the rest of us.  

In the past couple of weeks, we have had time to play with friends, gone to Othello (which Baby J sat all the way through and even watched parts of), gone to a parade, and stopped at a petting zoo.   I love spending time with baby girl and while I sometimes wish my job took up less time, I'm glad she can come with me in the evenings.   This weekend is moving day for us and I'm so ready mentally for the move, though I feel broker than broke and am not sure it's the right move.   Please keep us in your prayers that some financial things will work out.  Also remember you can still use my Amazon link to do your shopping...Help us pay off
the money we still owe for the adoption.   :-)  
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Happy 1 year Baby J...Again

Baby J is officially at the adjusted age of 1 year or basically in her case 15 months (technically I think she hits 1 year next week---but we say 3 months difference)

helping the dog tear up things

This past month she really caught on to patty cake and do all the actions on her own.  She walks everywhere, barely crawls, started regular daycare, and is mimicking more sounds.   She has several words she can say and now throws epic tantrums.
She still loves the pool and water--had her first bubble bath today.  I wish we could go more to the pool.   She loves going to the zoo, especially the petting area..she isn't scared one bit of the goats.
She loves books and likes to be read to and to read to herself. She likes to annoy the dogs and her and Herbie have a contest to see who can sit on each other the most.  

Her laughs still make me laugh and she is ticklish everywhere.  She now has two teeth (though one still is not far out), but hasn't let just two teeth stop her from eating most everything.  
She likes to steal phones and has even been known to record herself on them.   She likes playing with all the high school kids and is learning to share.   This past month I have even seen her pretend play with her kitchen dishes.  
It amazes me how far this little one has come and how well she is doing.    Not much scares this child and she is becoming more outgoing everyday.  She jabbers constantly.  
Sometimes she drives me a little crazy...she loves her momma and climbs on me constantly,  and most my friends have pretty much jumped ship, but I love her so much and I wouldn't want it any other way.   And even though things have been rough lately, I can't imagine life without her anymore and I'm so lucky to have her in it.  

Baby J's weeks are improving!

My last post was a big downer.  After a nightmare with daycare, I was stuck searching.   It is so hard to find childcare at a reasonable rate for a young child, especially after school has started.   But I'm happy to report that Baby J has now spent 5 days in the same place.   Thankfully my family helped out for the first two weeks.   A former student is watching her till November when
she will start going to a center closer to where we will live then.  So far I know it's been rough, but everyone has stuck it out and things have improved.   Baby J is making a new friend and enjoying it.   I'm so thankful for the wonderful care she is getting.

Poor Baby J has been bit by some type of bugs that she is really allergic to and I've got to figure out a plan with those.   :-(   They even leave scars so that isn't fun.

School is already keeping me busy and I miss the summer days where I got to spend so much time with baby Girl....even though it did cause  a lot of problems with the transition.  Tonight was the first time we have done much---we went and swam.   I love seeing Baby J in the pool, she loves it so much and tries to be so independent.  Now she is getting taller and can walk further out and she loves it.   Although we can't do as much we will still find time to do some stuff this fall.

Baby J weighed in at 19.4 lbs on the scale at the Y.  She walks everywhere, talks a lot, and finally got a second tooth today.  At night when she starts getting tired she starts bring books to me to read.  It's so cute.  I love how much she likes books and it's so cool to start to see her personality really start to take shape.

Baby J and the Nightmare of a Week

So tomorrow I start my 2nd year at my job and I thought we were ready to go, but this past week did not go well.   Tomorrow I officially start and my daughter still doesn't have a daycare.   I was so excited that I had it planned out, but as many of you know that did NOT work out.  That woman has no business being in daycare if she can't handle a baby that cries.  After our two days of trying out the place, Baby J was traumatized and I was angry...at the provider not Baby J.  

And now I'm having a hard time finding a daycare. Either they don't take kids this young, are full, or are way out of my price range....Why is daycare soooooo expensive????   I tried to get a scholarship at a couple places but they denied me because it looks like I make a lot....none of them take into account my bills.  I wish I was more financially stable.

In other news, Baby J now walks all the time  and sleeps in her own room every night and pretty
much all night.  Unfortunately she has become super clingy and also attached very much to her blanket and now cries any time she is left somewhere.   I'm hoping it will pass.    A couple days ago she had the first fall that included blood.  She busted the little piece between her lips and gum..with her one tooth.  Of course she was over it before I even figured out where the blood came from.

So this week has probably been harder for me than her.

Please keep baby J and I in your prayers again.  For my job to continue to go well and for us to find a daycare she will do well in (and that I can afford).  I'm still hoping the church daycare in Rose Hill will have a spot open up.  In the meantime, I'm sooooo thankful to family again for helping me out.

Happy 14 Months Baby J

Whew time is flying by.  It's the end of the summer and I'm so sad.   I'm not quite ready to go back to my busy schedule, but I'm so lucky and blessed to have gotten to spend time with my baby all summer.   She has come so far even in the past few months.  On the 22nd when we had to go to the doctor to get a bug bite and ears checked she weighed in at 18.5 lbs.   Over the past few weeks she has been really working on her walking and at home walks nearly everywhere.   She's added more words to her vocabulary and can now say Momma, uh-oh, up, dog, and there have been a few others we swear she is saying.  

 In the big news this month, Baby J was dismissed from Rainbows (the local early childhood intervention/services).  We decided that she was doing really well and if in the future I need her back in all I have to do is call.   I still worry about what delays we may face, but they are really impressed she had so many words without being a steady walker yet.  

Over the past couple weeks it's amazing the things that Baby J is doing now.  We have new sounds, she has become a very good climber, and she is copying actions and sounds as well as understanding much of what we are saying and now follows simple instructions...or at least makes it obvious she understands and then refuses to.  ha ha.  

This summer has been filled with trips, hanging out with friends, and lots of swimming.  Baby J is getting so good at swimming and loves the water (though not a huge fan of the sprinkler park.   This past week, my 3 nephews (age 7 and two age 3) have stayed with us.  It has been extremely crazy, messy and loud, but I have loved getting to spend time with them.   Plus I think it was a huge help to prepare Josephine for daycare.  They got up every morning at 6:30am (the time she will have to get up), she had to share toys and people, and she got to play with them.   We did all types of stuff this last week.  We went to a dinosaur event, swimming, a sprinkler park, the zoo, Chucky Cheese, and the movies.  Baby J went to the new Ice Age with us.    I'll miss the boys, especially since I'm not sure I can go down during the winter---Baby J always got sick after those trips.    

Tomorrow Baby J starts daycare (and I go back to work Friday---though I will be spending time up there this week).  I'm glad I found a daycare and I know it will be good for her, but I wish I could spend more time with her.   I'm hoping she stays healthy to being around other kids.   Please say a small prayer that she does well and this daycare is a good fit.   It's a new home daycare and I think she will be loved on there.  But it will be the first time that Baby J has been watched by someone other than family. And I will be heading into my 2nd year at my new school so I'm praying this year goes well.

Baby J is a Walker

Baby J is now a walking toddler.   She really started to walk last Wednesday, but life has been so busy I haven't written a blog.  It's so cute, because she is now choosing to walk almost all the time instead of crawling.

The past few days have been kind of rough.  I'm not sure if another tooth is trying to come through or she has an ear infection, but she has been very fussy.  Today though she is almost normal.   It makes taking her in public very hard.    Of course it could be me and not her, I haven't had much of a break from her this summer.  

Yesterday we went to Exploration Place- it was a new experience for her.  She liked the dinosaurs and the play area, but we didn't get to sit through the movie as she wouldn't stop screaming and a child screaming in a dome theatre is crazy.  

 

We've also spent lots of time swimming and some time with friends the past couple weeks.   We also went to visit my Great Aunt and Baby J played with her dogs--it was cute. Baby J still only has one tooth and we are really working on finding sippy cups that she can't chew through but will still drink from.   She has started to eat cheerios and even uses a snack container.   She's pretty happy about that.  I'm still working on getting her to get more food at mealtimes or she's going to really struggle at daycare.   I did find a daycare near my job and I hope it works out.  Daycare is SO expensive fyi.    Also in other news, Baby J and I will be moving in late September to a brand new duplex.  It's a little pricier, but its a 3 bedroom, 1 story with a garage.   It also has a tornado room which as we all know is awesome in Kansas.   And while it is definitely not where I want to end up permanently it will be nice for the next year or so because it puts me closer to my parents.  My mom is expecting to have some knee surgeries over the next year and while I'm not home often, hopefully I will be able to help out a little more if I'm closer.  

Summer is almost to an end and that saddens me.  I do enjoy spending time with baby J and watching her grow.   I'm so glad I have gotten to be around so far for her big milestones.