11 Month Lu

Today, Lucy is two weeks shy of her one year birthday. Two weeks ago, on the exact day of her 11 month birthday, I snapped these...

  

How is she? Well, today, sick. Two consecutive nights of non-sleeping sass (including pterodactyl protests). But, when I took these photos, she was fab. She has six (non-consecutive) teeth. Stands up on her own from a seated position. We're at two steps and hoping once we get through this sick patch, two turns into multiple. She is obsessed with everything Maizey. If Maizey is eating cereal, Lucy wants to eat cereal. If Maizey is reading books, Lucy wants to read the same books.

So far her big sis has been very tolerant, even when Lucy yanked a dime sized clump of fine blonde hair from Maizey's little head during a chariot-aided bike ride. (From now on Lucy will be biking solo in the IBERT while Maizey claims the entire chariot. Youch!)

Other loves besides Maizey? Her pacifier(s) which she jams into her maw with attitude when upset. Books, especially ones with animal photographs and flaps. Making noise - banging blocks together, shaking bells, playing the spoons. Climbing into chairs. Standing on chairs. Pointing at something then yowling when you don't hand her the correct object. Imitating laughter. Clapping. Waving. Music and dancing. Oh, and eating sand from the sandbox, and the subsequent baths! Girl is a water baby.

She makes me happy, happy. Most of the time. (wink...)

p.s. It's nice to be back on the blog.

Maizey's Birthday Poster!

Coming soon to a store near you!

(The poster, not the kid.)

Sticky Six on Seven

The fact that I'm posting Lucy's six month Sticky Bellies pics on her seven month birthday sums up our life. Always playing catch-up. That said, what about this cutie?

Actual shots were taken late - at six months, 18 days.

Birthday news? At seven months, Lucy is soooo close to crawling. Actually, she does crawl. Only in reverse. And then gets stuck against _______ (insert furniture/wall name). Two teeth are breaking through her bottom gum. Maizey interacts with her sans my urging, as Lucy finds her hilarious. (If Maizey as much as looks at her she flaps and babbles. Peels of laughter. Which is heart-warming. And dealing with a jerky toddler means my heart needs a lot of warming.) She still wakes 2x/night, but is doing great in her own room/bed. Her favorite food is bananas, delivered via a mesh feeder. (A sanitary mom's nightmare. Thank goodness I'm a germie.) Other faves? Sweet potato fries, sweet potato mush and watermelon. Unfaves? Pears & rice cereal. She loves the stroller and no longer requires the car seat adapter. In fact, she abhors it. Girlfriend wants to sit up and look around. (Maizey, when asked during pre-dinner what Lucy is thankful for usually answers, "The wide world." True that.) She makes me wistful that my baby days are waning. But as Will says, "Better to end on a high note."

p.s. And just so I don't forget my latest Maizey-ism... last night I overheard her tell Will, during bedtime, "Dad, I think you're a genius."

Five months, thirteen days

The longest, shortest time...

Funny thing about these photos?

Lucy is a total ham. She is always smiling, laughing, oogling her sister or Kip. 

  And in many of these, she's Captain Serious. 

Or contemplative.

Though she did some grinning once my assistant Maizey was up from her nap.

  

 Loving her big sis.

And for those who ask whether she looks like Maizey did:

I'm not sure. What do you think?

As I always say, Lucy is awesome. For the most part she's a smiley, happy baby. Though lately, she gets very frustrated with her immobility. I don't think she'll be a roller/non-crawler for long.

She's constantly grabbing at our food (and plates, napkins, knives, my glasses, Maizey's hair, Kip's tail...) but isn't digging rice cereal or purees, still preferring a boob-only diet.

Last week she aged out of the cradle. Bob and Betty, after returning from their latest adventure, ferried it back to 1129's attic. We are convinced she holds the record for duration, though. Near the end she would "play" the spindles with her hands while kicking her feet. The cradle would swing wildly, sometimes into the wall. Restful, right? She is, however, very unhappy with her new Baby Bjorn travel crib. Lord help us when we're back in Milford and she has to settle into her own room.

Speaking of which - fingers crossed - re-entry in less than one month...

Four months, ten days

Three Months, Two Weeks

Highlights? Almost rolling, smiling heaps, starting to develop a nap schedule, going to "school," continually balding and just being awesome.

Love this girl.

And her sassy sister...

Watch for some Maizey-isms later this week.

2 Months on 11.22

Lucille Marie turned a big two months last Friday, on November 22.

 

Even my parents commented how much she's grown in only the last week+. She smiles and "talks" when you make faces at her. She tracks objects and is especially smitten with a vintage fisher price mobile above the changing table at 1129. She's gone from squeaking to grunting. There are serious air punch and kick workout sessions.


 
She's developed somewhat of a night schedule. She eats around 9 p.m., then sleeps until 2 a.m., barely waking to nosh, as Maizey would say, "a nibble." (And never cries - just grunts until I feed her.) Then, she usually falls back to sleep until 5:30 a.m. Another feeding and a few more hours of shut eye. Of course, the "schedule" will change tomorrow, but for the last week it's been nice to rely on. She doesn't like swaddling, or her crib/cradle/pack&play, still preferring her car seat or a space in my bed.

And, it seems Lucy (or at least her gut) doesn't love dairy. A huge bummer for this gouda/cream/butter lovin' mama. An occasional slip (or intentional feast of bushey's steak, cheese tortellini with alfredo sauce, and parmesan tomatoes), means an excess of fussing, cramping, and spitting up. Fingers and toes (and eyes, arms, elbows, etc.) are crossed that this is quickly outgrown.

She's a joy. It's her sister that's the pistol...

Lucy at One Month - c/o Sticky Bellies

It's Lucy's monthly Sticky Bellies pics! These were taken at 5 weeks, 1 day.

(Remember Maizey's monthly shots?)

What's happening with Lucy? She's earned the well-deserved nickname of "squeaks" or "squeaker" - due to her constant pterodactyl-like peeps. (Unnerving during the day. Maddening during the night.) Her stint of feeding every four hours was short-lived. Now, during the day, it's about every 3 hours, and at night, between 2-4 hours. (I think she knew I was writing this post today, as she was particularly good last night, opting for four hour stretches.) She does not like her swing or bouncy seat, preferring to be held when awake. She caught her first cold from big sister Maizey and post-nasal drip means for sleeping, her car seat is the place to be. (At night, it gets more complicated: car seat + rocking cradle + blankets + heating pad.) Since week 3, she hasn't been a fan of swaddling - which may change when we implement the "back-to-sleep" campaign post-cold.

Ultimately, besides being a finicky sleeper, I'd call her a good, happy baby.

As for me, I'm enjoying being a mom. Actually, a lot more this time around. With Maizey, I had a bit of an identity crisis. I went from being Maggie to being Mom. Not only was I navigating first-time parenthood, with all its insecurities and uncertainties, I was also trying to redefine who I was, stripped of my familiar identifiers. Now, I am comfortable with the balance. I am comfortable being identified as a mother. And, though I was aware that the first year of a child's life has been called "the longest, shortest time" - now I know the reality of the phrase. Instead of fretting about my to-do list, I'm soaking in Lucy's smooshy, kissable cheeks. Instead of weeping during our 3-5 a.m. feedings, bemoaning the sleep I'm losing, I'm relishing the opportunity to watch back-to-back episodes Top Chef. Sure - some days I want to move on. To push past this phase. But, then I browse blog posts from 2011 and remember just how fast the days go.

As for navigating life with two little kids?
Well, that's a whole different beast. One which I'm still attempting to tame.

(P.S. I am proud to say that I had a hand in designing the line of sassy Sticky Bellies stickers that Lucy is sporting. This design? Wild One. Thanks, Carly!)