We Don't Have a Flipper on Our Hands

We did swim lessons again this year.  The first 2 weeks of June.  Phoenix loves getting in the water, but hates going under now.  Now sure where this new fear came from but I"m not a fan.

In the days leading up, some were filled with excitement while others were filled with tears.  One day he loved Ms. Lynn.  The next, he no like her.

Obviously, I wasn't sure what to expect from him.  It was either going to be a complete bust or a total success.  I was spinning the wheel.

He cried more this year than he did last.  Not sure why.  Some days it was freezing (literally all their little lips were blue).  Others, I think he chimed in simply because others were crying.  Whatever the reason, it was ridiculous.

In all fairness to Phoenix though, he wasn't feeling well those two weeks either.  I kept telling Jason something wasn't right.  He wasn't acting like himself.  He wasn't eating, he was laying in my lap all the time, he was very whiny and would not follow directions.  He was also acting out.  This is usually how he acts when he has strep.  Never ran a fever though.  I think Jason (along with everyone else) thought I was trying to make excuses for him.  I wasn't.  I will be the first to tell him to suck it up.  But I knew something wasn't right.  The weekend of Father's Day, he started running a fever.  I knew something was up, so instead of waiting the usual 3-4 days, I went ahead and took him in.  It seems he was fighting some sort of virus.  They ran blood work as well.  He is once again anemic and his white count was a bit low.  They aren't too concerned, however they do want to retest him to make sure his levels have risen.  He goes July 1st as well for his 3 year check-up so I'm sure they'll retest then.  I knew in my heart my baby wasn't feeling well but I am still not going to excuse his behavior.  He lost many privileges during those two weeks because of his behavior (sick or not).  It took about a week after the doctor for him to finally be back to his old self.  Man am I glad to have him back!!!

Although there were tears, he still managed to follow directions well and stop crying when it was his turn.  I was at least proud of that!

He did great overall though.  He was swimming from one side to the other (short length), jumping off the rock (diving board), and falling in and getting to the side all by himself.  He kicked and used his arms great (which we struggled with last year), but he didn't want to keep his chin down for the life of him.

He has only been swimming twice since lessons.  Both times resulted in not going under.  What is his deal?????

9 months

Luna,

Wow-9 months.  A few months ago I wasn't sure I'd survive to see this :), however; I'm sure glad I did!!!!  All those months of terror have been totally worth it now.  You are such a joy!  You love to laugh, smile and play.

You can sit on the floor forever, rolling around playing with all your toys.  You crack me up because you grab a tub, tilt it, then grab a toy out-look at it and toss it to the side.  You then go in and grab another and do the same thing.  Its like you know exactly which toy you are looking for!

You still aren't crawling (which I love), but you are now getting in position and rocking.  Therefore, I think crawling will soon be happening.  You can also go from the lay down position to the sit position. I have yet to witness the action, just the results.

You love giving big-open mouth kisses and clapping!  You were watching swim lessons the other day and all the kids were clapping, so of course you had to join in :)!  You clap at appropriate times.  You will sometimes wave bye-bye and even say it (I consider it an attempt, but I swear, it sounds soo right).

We are still working on signs.  We stress more, neh-neh (food), thank you (signing and gracias), all finished and play.  You aren't doing them just yet, but you are responding to them.  I'll take that!

You understand NO.  I mean really understand it.  When I say no, you immediately stop what it is you're doing.  You listen great in that regard.  You also listen when you want to feed yourself and grab for the spoon and I tell you Mama do it.  You immediately stop grabbing.  I love that you are now able to follow directions.

You eat like a champ.  Any vegetables and fruits.  You love love love bread.  You enjoy noodles and chicken too.  You love snacks and enjoy feeding yourself.  You are drinking from a sippy cup great, but we need to work on your throwing your cup.  You've already cracked one from throwing it soo hard.  You also drink from a straw like a champ (credit Icees for that). You are nursing roughly 3 times a day still.  I no longer puree anything for you.  Just cut it finely and you are happy-likely because you enjoy picking it up and feeding yourself.  Its been nice.  You still have just your bottom teeth, but your top should be breaking thru any day now (I think I actually saw a slight part of one two days ago).

Although your sleep is still unpredictable, you sleep great.  I just never know how long you are going to sleep.  Naps (usually 2 good ones, other than cat naps in the car) usually last anywhere from 1-3 hours.  You sleep thru the night roughly 8 hours a night, wake to eat then sleep for another few.

Peek-a-Boo with your BB is by far your most favorite game.  You snatch it off my head and I say Peek-a-Boo.  You then take your BB and try putting it on your head for me to snatch!!! You laugh constantly and whenever you are upset, we play and you are instantly happy!

Brother-My how you love him! You try to be near him at all times.  You love when he plays in your crib with you.  You stop crying the second you see him and you give him the biggest, wettest kisses ever!  His love for you is just as great, if not bigger.

You are in mostly 12 mth clothing, size 3 diapers.  We go for your 9mth check up on July 1st, so we'll have stats then.  You are roughly 20lbs though-based on sick visits throughout the month.

happy....

happy....

girl!!!!

eating....

eating....

eating!!!!

Yea for surviving the first 9 months :)!!!!

Easter 2014

We had a wonderful Easter holiday celebrating Christ is Risen!

We started the celebration off Palm Sunday....

We had pictures taken with the Easter Bunny.....

The Easter Bunny came to visit....

But apparently my pictures got deleted....Soo sad....Sorry Sissy but no pictures of your first Easter basket :(

We celebrated with Family and an Egg Hunt

Okay, apparently those were also deleted :(.....

And we finished the celebration off with an Easter Egg Hunt at Church

Christ is Risen! He is Truly Risen!

8 Months Already

Luna,

I swear, the months are flying by.  I feel like I was just writing a post about you turning seven months.  As the days pass, you are slowly growing into a playing buddy for your brother.  He told me yesterday that he wants you to walk.  He's ready for you to grow up, but I'm definitely not!

This month you went on your first vacation.  We spent Mother's Day weekend in Orange Beach.  You were a trooper, even though you were still fighting a double ear infection.  You slept great in the pack n play, napped like a champ and enjoyed many meals.  You didn't like the beach though.  Not one thing about it.  Thankfully, you did great on the car rides there and home!  You also had your first swimming experience.  You definitely enjoyed it more than the ocean, but you preferred to be held and not in your float.

You are roughly 20lbs and wearing mostly 12 mth clothing.  Still in size 3 diapers.  Still not enough hair for bows yet either.  Hate wearing shoes.  Hate getting dressed.  Love bath time.  Love meal time.

Chubby thighs are the BEST!!!

You are sleeping great.  Napping twice a day.  Eating 3 meals, with snacks in between.  Starting to use a sippy cup.  Nursing roughly 3 times a day.

You laugh a lot now.  You totally break down when you are ready for bed.  Nothing can calm you down other than putting you to sleep, even if that means a 5:30 bed time.  You are talking and making noises all the time.

You mimic what we do.  We squeal and you do the same.  We click our tongue and you do it right back.  You are also getting pretty good at giving "five."

You are scooting.  A very little, but scooting nonetheless.  You still just prefer to roll all around the place.  I left you and Phoenix in his room the other day while I took a quick shower.  Got out and you had rolled yourself into the hall.  How you managed to roll out the doorway, blows my mind.

You also enjoy feeding yourself.  You rarely let me feed you anymore.  I love your independence but HATE the mess it makes.  Just this morning, I had to vacuum the floor 4 times because you kept making a mess eating your muffin.  You also had your first Krispy Kreme donut.  Poor employees had their work cut out for them after you were finished!  You are eating whole food better, at least you enjoy it better.  Its nice now because you can eat what we eat (for the most part).

You truly are a happy baby now.

You still only have two teeth, but your top two are starting to make their way down.  It has left us with a few sleepless nights, but overall, you're handling them great!

You are totally a Mama's girl, but give the biggest smiles to anyone who talks to you.  You get very shy around your Dada, and whenever you see Brother, you start screaming with joy!

We love you to the moon and back, our sweet, sweet, sweet girl!!!!

That bow lasted all of 5 minutes.  But we had to wear our purple to support Rett Syndrome!

A Few Milestone Catch Ups

Luna,

You got your first tooth on March 22, 2014.  A little after turning 6mths old.  Your second tooth followed very shortly after.  I love seeing you smile with 2 tiny teeth peeping through.  You were NOT a fan of getting them, however you seem to enjoy them now :)

Thanks to your new teeth, we tried puffy's with you on April 11, 2014.  You took right to them.  Brother loves feeding them to you, but you like to be Little Miss Independent! 

You have also, as of April 7th, been bathing in your ring instead of your baby tub.  We tried this about a month ago, but you were still too lazy to sit.  However, now you really seem to enjoy chasing all the toys around trying to catch them!  Brother likes it much better too, as he finally has room to move in the tub again!!!!

And you rode in the grocery cart like a Big Girl on April 8th.  This was a trip to Costco with me, Dada and Brother!  Look at that love between the two of you!!!!

Big Brother Hugs!!!