Grandma Streett Daycare

A big thanks to Daren's mom for coming to NC to be Willa's daycare for three days. Willa loved her cuddle time.

Eight Month Pictures

Is my baby really eight months old? Everyone says it - but where did the time go?

The exciting world of eating solid food continues. Sometimes Willa is a great eater and other times she spits like a camel. She makes such a mess of her bib, her high chair, the floor and usually me. I shouldn't laugh...but I do.

Naps are great okay. She goes down fairly easy but she doesn't always sleep long enough to suit mom and dad. The afternoon nap remains crucial to us having a happy baby in the early evening.

I think having cousin Regan here for almost two weeks got Willa to be very interactive. The laughing was infectious. Also, Willa got to listen to lots of books since Regan loves to read. Reading to Willa is something that we need to do more of.

The eight month photo shoot was a quick one because the camera battery was dying. Also, Willa doesn't sit still for long. She wanted those blocks and her elephant. It is a good thing our camera takes fast pictures.

The Seventh Month

We had some big things happen during the seventh month. We've got some accomplishments to check off compared to  the milestones listed in What To Expect The First Year.  

What your baby may be doing -

...should be able to:

• feed self a cracker Our attempts at giving Willa puffs didn't go as planned. She enjoyed picking them up and tossing them around. However, the puff that went in her mouth led to peaches coming out of her stomach. Puff fail. 

....will probably be able to:

• sit without support We have the sitting down pat. Still working on the dismount. 

• bear some weight on legs when held upright Holding Willa upright means she can bounce. This little girl loves to bounce. 
• Object if you try to take a toy away Maybe instead of a toy this should say phone, remote, or laptop.
• Work to get a toy that's out of reach This is how we first saw her army crawl. She was working to get a toy on the other side of the blanket. 
• Play peekaboo Had no idea this was a milestone. We better get working.

...may possibly be able to:

• Creep or crawl Movement has started. 

...may even be able to:   

• Pull up from a standing position to sitting  Nope
• Get into a sitting position from stomach Nope
• Clap hands or wave bye-bye Nope
• Pick up a tiny object with any part of thumb and finger She can pick up puffs. The right hand is better than the left. 
• Say "mama" or "dada" Nope, still just babbling da-da-da-da

Natty Champs Video

It looks like this fall Willa is going to enjoy coming to watch the Tar Heels play soccer. I think we have a fan.

Oh, and this is also the first recording of her starting to army crawl/face-plant. Time to start baby proofing the house.

Iowa Visitors

I am going to miss having Regan running around our house.  I got a great refresher course on toddler songs and I learned all the great actions and hand gestures. Did you know the doors on the bus goes open and shut? I sure didn't!

Of course having my older sister around was also fabulous. She was here to experience some of Willa's newest milestones - cutting teeth and sitting unassisted. Very exciting stuff.

Here is their 12 day visit in pictures -

Day trip to Wrightsville Beach

Saturday was filled with friends.  We went for a three mile walk, hung by the pool, and stuffed ourselves silly

Buckles are one of Reg's obsessions

Monday was Willa's first time sitting unassisted

Sheila and Regan finally earned their keep on their final evening of the visit. Thanks for scrubbing my screen porch!

Hope you can come back and visit soon!

One year ago...

One year ago we had the hearts ripped out of our chests. One year ago we were told that our baby had an abdominal wall defect. One year ago we were told our baby might not survive the remainder of our pregnancy.

That was one year ago and that day sucked.

Today my baby enjoyed a three mile walk. Today my baby kicked her legs in our neighbor's pool. Today my baby sat unassisted for the very first time.

Today was an amazing day shared with amazing people.

What is Happening Now...

Here is our life through photos...

                                     Trying out the mesh feeder with some mangos! Willa was a slobbery mess. Her new foods are - peaches, spinach and rutabaga (from a pouch), and bananas. 

Willa got dumped in the bathtub after the mango. She finally enjoys the water! I think we going to have a splasher on our hands. Here she is all wrapped up in her hooded towel after she got all clean.

Our friend Heather came over to take a look at Willa's neck since our pediatrican didn't seem concerned. This is from the very start of the therapy/stretching. Willa was a great sport...for the first 30 minutes or so. Heather's copay was a BLT and some guacamole.                          

   

We have visitors!!!! My older sister Sheila and her daughter Regan are here for a long visit. It is lots of fun to have a 21 month old running/jumping/dancing/flying around the house. 

I Want Your Flip

I think my Flip video will help speed up Willa's desire to crawl.

Kung Fu Fighting

Willa has ninja like skills when it comes to sensing a video camera being aimed her way. My attempts to catch videos of her are often thwarted because once she sees the Flip all motions/noises stop and she just stares.

Last  night Willa was chilling on her blanket while wearing her brand new swimming suit. Willa's arms and legs were going a mile a minute. I had to get it on video. I tried hard to keep her from seeing me and kept hiding the camera behind the couch. My kid can't be fooled.You can see that she busted me a few times.

Sleep Training

Daren and I can't complain about Willa's sleeping habits. She goes down fairly easy at night.  Most nights she falls asleep while drinking the last bottle of the evening. Generally, Willa falls asleep at 830pm and sleeps until 645am.

Naps used to be easy. Willa started off napping in a swing while at daycare. When I heard daycare Sharon was getting Willa to nap 1-2 hours in the swing...we ordered a swing of our own.

We have a much happier baby when she gets in two naps. A good afternoon nap is key to us having a happy baby in the evening.  It is more difficult for Willa to take a substantial nap now that Sharon is watching three babies. Willa has lost the ability to sleep through noise and chaos (one huge plus of being a NICU baby). On Friday, Sharon requested Willa start taking two scheduled naps. Oh, and these naps supposed to be happening in her crib. No more using the crutch of the baby swing.

Daren started the sleep training on Saturday. I say Daren started the training because I was in Raleigh all day coaching my former Orange County softball team at the Special Olympics State Games. We are five days into the training. The morning nap is going great - 60-90 minutes. The afternoon nap is a bit more of a struggle.

Oh, check out this picture Daren took from Saturday. Love it! Thankfully, Daren was able to reposition Willa and save Sophie the Giraffe without waking princess from her nap.

Seven Month Pictures

Willa does not shy from the camera. I can still get her to smile even when I'm hidden behind the lens.

Willa has been eating solid foods for a month. It is too early to say which food is looking to be her favorite...but I think I have to go with avocado as the early leader. We are putting on weight! Willa is 11 pounds! We just had to pack up all her three month onsies. Time to break out the six month stash.

We head back to our pediatrician on Wednesday to make sure the second medicine cleared up her ear infection. Unfortunately, we realized that Willa doesn't hold her head straight. She cocks her head slightly to the side. It isn't noticeable if you are holding her but is easy to see if you are looking at her. I'm pretty sure we will have to do some physical therapy. Yippee, another doctor.

The Sixth Month

For those keeping track, it is time to see how far Willa has come developmentally through the sixth month as compared to the milestones listed in What To Expect The First Year.  Again, I'm not going to list those milestones previously accomplished.

What your baby may be doing -

...should be able to:

• say "ah-goo" or similar vowel-consonant combination I'll take your "ah-goo" and raise you a "da da da da." 

....will probably be able to:

• sit without support Nope, Willa is still top heavy. We are trying to strengthen her core muscles by having her sit in her boppy. 

...may possibly be able to:

Napping with Daddy

• object if you try and take a toy away We have not tried this. 
• work to get a toy that is out of reach She can do a 45 degree spin/shimmy/shift to get to her toys. 
• look for a dropped object We have given her a spoon during feedings to distract her while we shove food in her mouth. Often the spoon is being dropped and consequently looked for. Fun game. 
• babble, combining vowels and consonants such as ga-ga-ga, ba-ba-ba, ma-ma-ma, da-da-da See above. I think da-da-da happened first because Daren is having secret training sessions before daycare drop off. 
• feed self cracker or other finger food Nope, we just started solids only a few weeks ago. We are taking it slow. 

I'm not even going to post the "may even be able to" portion of the sixth  month. Willa isn't crawling, sitting, or standing, 

The sixth month has been a lot fun. We have seen some big changes in Willa and her personality. She is a very happy baby and shares her smiles and laughter freely. Still no stranger danger in our little girl.