12 month appointment

On Monday Maisie had her 12 month appointment (12 1/2 month appointment really) and everything went just fine. We had a lot of questions for the Dr. mainly regarding sleep because we are still not getting any of it in this household. That woman is a saint, I always feel like I am causing her to get behind for all her other appointments, but she is so patient and kind. I know I have said this before, but I really do adore our pediatrician. She is very reassuring and real. She doesn't sugar coat anything, but at the same time very personable and sweet. Maisie enjoys her too. Anyway, after getting much needed reassurance and advice it was time for Maisie's vaccinations. Oh man. Austin convinced me to stay in the room and it was the worst EVER. Since Maisie is old enough to put up a fight they have to pin her down good. So Austin was holding her arms while the nurse was holding her legs and I was in the corner of the room literally not knowing what the heck to do with myself. I was fidgeting, turning in circles because I didn't know if I should watch or not and covering my mouth. I seriously looked like a crazy person. I wanted to snatch her up so bad, but couldn't. Before I knew it, it was over and little Maisie was holding her arms out to me with tears streaming down her cheeks. After a little bit of snuggles she was back to normal in no time.

birth: weight- 7 pounds even height- 19.5 inches

1 week: weight- 7 pounds 3 oz gained back the 4% body weight + 3 oz

2 weeks: weight 7 pounds 15oz height: 21.25 inches

2 months: weight- 11 pounds 1 oz height- 23 inches

5 month: weight- 15 pounds 5 oz height- 26 inches

7 month: weight- 16 pounds 14 oz height- 27 inches

9 month: weight- 17 pounds 15 oz height- 28 inches

12 month: weight- 18 pounds 14 oz height- 30 inches

I was a little worried that Maisie hadn't even gained a pound since her last appointment 3 months ago, but they said that it was very normal for babys to peak for awhile especially because she is so much more active than before and it's not like she isn't growing because she grew 2 inches! Maisie is very healthy and even though shes only in the 10th percentile for weight now, she still has a some chunk on her. She is very petite and dainty with chub in all the right places.

Oh and the peditrition then witnessed all of Maisie's brilliantness (I.E mind tricks/games) and she warned us that it's the really smart kids that are the difficult ones. I think we are in for a crazy adventure. Maisie has a crazy vocabulary she knows ALL the names to her toys, everyday utinsils (spoon, cup, bowl), eating terms (milk, water, food, more), facial body parts (eyes, ears, mouth, nose, lips and teeth), clothing items (socks, shoes, hat, diaper) animals (cow, duck, caterpillar, dog, cat) although she doesn't say most of these terms yet she loves proving that she understands by bringing you the item you asked for or when she's being lazy just pointing at it. I knew she knew a lot of names for things, but one day I decided to test her by asking her to bring me pretty much everything in sight and she did it perfectly no help at all. It was a little frightening, but very exciting. Everyday I try to throw a new word or object in to make it interesting. I love how proud she gets of herself and how confident she is in her ability to do something. She is determined and stubborn, but it is so exciting to see her, who she really is now and who she is becoming.

We are teaching her "please" right now, which is a little more difficult because there's no face to put to it. I think she is a visual learner like me and maybe even has a little bit of photographic memory like I do (I get it from my grandpa). We will see, hopefully "please" will catch on soon, I just hope it doesn't make us cave every time she uses it ( I can just see it now. "Maisie not right now" *Maisie signs please* "ok, here you go."). After she masters that one, we will work on "thank you". Nothing is boring with little Maisie that's for sure!

walks & evening tunderstorms

Today Maisie and I decided to walk to Austin's work to greet him as he got off. Maisie woke up from her nap a little later than expected, but I wasn't about to wake her. I packed up the stroller with way too much stuff (that I didn't end up needing) but I was prepared for meltdowns, blow-outs, milk pleas and boredom. The walk was easier than expected ( about 5 1/2 miles) I know that sounds like cake, but I haven't been very diligent about my exercise as of late (but I still complain about not losing weight. I know, I know, I'm crazy) and I also don't have any appropriate exercise garb. I have an old pair of nikes somewhere, but who really knows where. So I was wearing jeans and TOMS. It was muggy out today, so that wasn't the greatest, but it wasn't raining and the sun was shining and that's a plus! I ended up getting way too much sun and Maisie, whom I tried to shield away ended up getting a little burn on her nose and a little bit on her forehead. I tried to lotion her up and keep her out of the sun as much as possible,but I was no match against the sun on her creamy skin. I would have put a hat on her, but there is no way on this green earth she would keep it on, tie and all. Tomorrow we have her 1 year appointment and I am praying that tomorrow her little burn will be gone (baby skin heals remarkably fast) that way people won't think I just keep my baby out in the sun without protection. Anyway, I will post about the appointment tomorrow.

Anyway, at about 7:30 pm Austin, Maisie and I decided to sit on the front porch to cool off. There was a storm brewing and the breezy air was cool and refreshing. As we sat there we were talking about how we wished Oregon had thunderstorms and no joke, 5 minutes later a huge flash and then rumbling thunder sounded 10 seconds after (yes we counted). Then random giant raindrops started to fall. It felt so good on our warm skin. Maisie was clad only in a diaper and I remember looking at Austin holding her while raindrops were hitting their skin and all of us were laughing in between the random bouts of lightening andthunder. It was such a sweet family moment. We were worryfree and enjoying everything in that moment.

Here comes the sun... (finally)

The weather man promised sun this weekend, but today was incredible. Anyone who lives in the green state of Oregon knows 2 things; 1) It's green because it rains a lot and 2) the weather men don't get it right often. So when it was actually beautiful allll day long, I could have jumped for joy (I may or may not have done a cartwheel or 2). You better believe Maisie and I took advantage of this rare sun sighting (so depressing seeing how it's June and EVERY day should be like today, but I'll take it). Austin joined the fun when he got off work at 1:30pm.

Maisie and I started our day opening all the windows in the house and letting the fresh morning air in. We went about our normal routine of breakfast, play, reading and sometimes a baby Einstein or 2 and then down for a nap. When she woke up I fed her a snack, slathered SPF on her and suited her up in her bathing suit and hit the kiddie pool. I set up the umbrella and put a few pitchers of warm water in the pool and it was good to go. Maisie was having such a great time splashing and enjoying the warm sunshine. I set a towel down, put some music on and sipped on ice cold water as Maisie splashed around. Austin came home about a half hour into the pool party and he snuck into the backyard and surprised Maisie. Then we all sat outside and talked until we decided to go to the park. Austin and I just got a bocce ball set, so any chance we have to go play, you better believe we're taking it. So we went to a local park and played a round of bocce ball while Maisie rolled around in the grass and soaked in a little more sun. Then we came home lit the BBQ threw a couple of hot dogs on and I made a summery spinach/orzo/feta salad. It was the perfect taste of what summer has in store. BBQs every night, fresh salads, iced tea, warm air, lots of sunshine and tons of pool/park time. Come on summer can't you just stay here?!

Here are a few pictures of our 76

degree day!

This is her cold face. If you notice the little hair she does have is being blown by the wind it was chilly for a second if you were all wet!

Splash.

Park time!

Future Bocce ball champ.

Today was a great day and I have high hopes that tomorrow will be just as wonderful.

My phone says that tomorrow's high is 85! :)

Austin's Infamous Leprechaun Story

Ever since Austin and I were dating I noticed that in the downstairs living room of his parents house, in the very corner, over a built-in desk, there is a framed story that Austin wrote. It doesn't have a date, but Austin is pretty positive he wrote it in second grade. I remember the day that I first read it and every time I pass by it, I smile because of how funny, yet disturbing the story about Austin's adventures with a leprechaun is. I thought I would share this story, and if you know Austin, remind yourself that he is a good and relatively normal person.

I will write exactly what he wrote and in parenthesis I will clarify what word he was trying to use/spell.

One day, I was walking in my back yard, and I suddenly say (saw) a leprechaun. He had a tiny violin and he was dancing to the tune. I ran back into the house and pulled out my dad's 44 stud "FREEZE"! I shouted at it. I thretened (threatened) it to tell me where it hid it's gold. He told me his gold was under a rock that was down town. I asked him if he could drive. He told me yes. I told him to get into the car and take me to his gold. While he was driving he disapearded (disappeared), the car wrecked and I died.

I have to say I am so excited to have a son one day! If our son is a fraction of the character that Austin was and still is, we will have some fun adventures and hopefully some interesting school papers to read.

Ok. To prove that Austin was a normal kid (or at least looked normal) here is a picture of him and his older brother Andrew.

Maisie definitely inherited those ears! P.s how cute are the suspenders holding up the railroad striped shorts and Andrew's blazer/bowtie combo?!

Anyway, I love my husband and I wish I could have known him as a kid, but since the day I met him our Junior year of high school it has been an adventure. He always makes me laugh and is truly my best friend and partner for all time.

Cough Drops & Cherrios

Maisie is going through a funny stage right now and it's all about hiding things. She is discovering that small items are really fun to put into other things.

For example:

When my mom and Katie were still in town, Katie came downstairs to slip her shoes on and just about when she had her foot half way in, she quickly removed her shoe and dumped out 6 cough drops. Maisie had been ransacking my purse minutes earlier and I saw that she had got into the bag of ricolas, but I took them away from her, but I guess not before she had put a handful (or 2) into Katie's new shoes.

The cough drop incident was just the beginning, it has reached a whole new level with cherrios. I find random cherrios in about every square inch of this house and I vacuum and clean A LOT. And no, these are not scattered cherrios from a messy baby because they are strategically placed. They will be on top of a block, in a cup, in the baby wipes box, in her shoes, on the book shelf, on a book and even IN a book. These are no accident. It hasn't failed to get a laugh out of me yet. Like the American flag on the moon, Maisie has left her mark. That little stinker!

In the next few days I will try to take some pictures of the interesting places where I am finding Maisie's hiding skills at work. Hopefully I will have some good ones to share!

Milk

Since Maisie turned one 2 weeks ago, the idea of weaning has been heavy on my mind. Not that I feel she or myself (mainly her though) are ready to give it up quite yet. Honestly I feel she would go as long as I let her. She shows absolutely no signs of wanting to self-wean. But the weaning concept is intriguing me.

You mean I could finally have my body back!?

Like I said intriguing... very intriguing.

Reasons for NOT weaning (yet):

1) Well of course all the health factors for her.

2) Her not being ready (but I feel she may never fully be ready on her own)

3) Goes along with 2, but the battle of weaning. Tears for mommy milk.

4) No more being bitten. OUCH!

5) Losing the ultimate soothing technique.

6) The close bond created through nursing.

Reasons FOR weaning:

1) I will finally be able to lose the pregnancy weight.

Yes. I just happen to be one of the rare few that don't lose weight while breastfeeding. Instead my body clings to every calorie and fat molecule in order to produce milk. I haven't lost 1 pound since she was 3 months old. So sad.

2) Losing the pregnancy weight so we can start thinking about getting pregnant again. I am not doing this for vanity issues, but simply for health reasons. If I gained another 40 pounds like I did with Maisie on top of the weight I haven't lost (40 pounds) that would be bad. So my goal before we plan on trying, this old pregnancy weight has got to go! It would be nice to have a good 6 months in between that too!

3) Bye-Bye nursing bra! Finally be able to wear cute bras again! Wahoo!

Ok so obviously the reasons to not start the weaning process totally out-weigh the reasons to, but when will be the right time!?

Since I have been thinking about this whole weaning thing, I decided to give Maisie some organic cows milk (not instead of nursing, but just for her to try it). I started giving her sips from my glass which she seemed pretty happy about, but then again she is always happy when she knows she is eating or drinking something that was intended for me or Austin. So then after a couple tries of that and having good results, I put some in her sippy cup and she seemed offended. She spit all the milk out and refused to drink it. Hum... I have been trying it every morning and still no luck!

So that kind of put a hamper on my weaning dreams, but to make it worse...

Maisie just started signing the word milk. I used to sign it to her before I nursed her and during, but I have been totally slacking. Then last night totally out of no where, while I was playing with her on the floor, kissing her belly, she sat up looked right at me and signed milk. At first I thought it was on accident, but then she came flying towards me as she started to settle in to the "feed-me position". I was laughing so hard. 1) because I was so impressed and 2) she was so dang cute. So now she does this seriously all day long. I think I nursed her more times today than when she was a newborn in a growth spurt! She just kept coming up to me all day signing milk and then would chuckle because she knew I was going to feed her. They were all very short, but a million tiny sessions and I think shes doing it for a couple reasons. I think she finds it amusing that when she signs it, I immediately feed her and the other reason being she is teething very badly and constantly needs comforting. But regardless now that she learned how to sign milk, the weaning idea has gone out the window for now.

But it's still an appealing idea to say the least.