Kleiner Eisbär

Most of you know Austin is completely fluent in German and occasionally he will speak it around the house and to Maisie, but we have thrown it into high gear. At first he didn't necessarily want to speak German to Maisie because when he imagined having kids he never imagined speaking any other language than English with them. Totally understandable. BUT if I found out that my parents (or just one of them) were FLUENT not just so-so but actually FLUENT in another language and didn't at least teach me basics, I would be upset with them. So we (and by we I mean Austin) now has daily German sessions with the Maisie Moo. We have a few books that he reads to her every night and also has a little play session where he only speaks German to her. Since she has been born he has been singing her to sleep by singing Edelweiss in German of course (not the Sound of Music version). So from day (or night) one, she has been semi-influenced to the German language. Our goal is not for her to be fluent, but at her age her brain is growing at a remarkable rate. She is soaking up everything we say and do so why not give her as much material as possible? Also it's proven that kids that have been influenced to a second language grow up to be fast learners. I just want to give her the best and all that we can and since speaking German to her only has benefits (and great ones at that) we will continue to do so. I think as she gets a little older (when it wouldn't be such a choking hazard) we are going to make labels for her toys and things in her room and then that way she will know the word in English and at least the German spelling of that word. I am hoping to take a German course at PCC in fall and I will do great because I have an amazing tutor (I won't tell my professor or other students of course).

We were going to order German board books online, but most had to be shipped over seas which wasn't a problem it just would have been more expensive and taken much longer to get to us, but we decided to pop into the Burnside Powell's and lo and behold they had a massive German and German/English kid and baby section. They had lots of different sections too like Italian, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Got to love Powell's. Anyway, since Austin and I have been married and some of his German has rubbed off on me I always thought the word for polar bear is very um... obvious? Eisbär (pronounced ice-bear) fitting right? Well since that was the only word I knew and could use in a sentence I would use it as a cute insult. I.E "du Eisbär!" or "Austin ist ein Eisbär" Anyway, when we were at Powell's guess what kind of German kids books we found? That's right... "Kleiner Eisbär" Little Polar bear. We HAD to get a couple of those and we also got a English/German baby picture dictionary. Maisie loves her new books. She is really starting to love when we read to her plus she likes opening the pages and looking at the pictures. I can only hope she finds joy in reading when she is older and has a passion for learning.

Little Polar Bear (his name is Lars by the way)

"Help Me Fly!"

Little Polar Bear

"And the scaredy hare"

Austin said that they use "scaredy hare" instead of "scaredy cat"

See that 18 letter word in the first sentence?!

A crazy long word to say "a girl snow hare"

Maisie loves this picture dictionary.

It's bright and full of fun objects to look at.

She loves when we point at certain ones and tell her what they are called.

7 & 9 Month Appointments

I have been promising that I am going to post Maisie's 7 month appointment numbers for awhile now, but todays the day! We had Maisie's 9 month appointment on Monday because she was showing signs of an ear infection and we wanted to get it checked out. Turns out her ears are just dandy and it was just a cold and crankiness from said cold. She's better now, but shes now going through her 9 month growth spurt and if I am already not getting enough sleep this is just the icing on the cake. I am one tired mommy. She woke up every hour from 9pm last night to 6:30 this morning. I'm praying that she takes a good nap, that way I can catch up on some much needed shut eye as well.

Here are the promised growth numbers:

Birth- weight: 7 pounds 0 oz height: 19.5 inches

1 week- weight: 7 pounds 3 oz (gained the 4% body weight she lost in the hospital plus 3 oz)

2 weeks- weight: 7 pounds 15 oz 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 14oz height: 27 inches

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

She is growing like crazy and I know I say this too much, but it is so bittersweet. I know that she is healthy and thriving, but day by day she loses some of her baby-ness. In 3 months she will be a year old and not only is that a day to celebrate Maisie, but that is a huge milestone for me- 1 year since giving birth; an amazing expirence that now defines me as a person. Shesh, as excited as I am to celebrate my little baby's birth, I can be patient and I will just savor the little (and big) moments.

We're Back!

Ok. I know I have been slacking a little bit. This is definitely the longest I have gone without updates. I don't think it's all that shabby though because it hasn't been THAT long. Give me a break. I am a sleep deprived, busy momma and blogging had to take the back burner for a bit, but I am glad to say that I am back on for the long haul (that is until I choose sleep over blogging which is always an enticing battle). I have been kicking myself over my lack of posts because not only is it something I enjoy and get a little "me time" (what is that again?!) but it's my Ode al la Maisie. Every post is something I want to remember for always.

I have post ideas lined up. Inspiration hits at random times, but thanks to my trusty "notepad" on my phone I am able to jot down something to add. I have a little list and I am going to try my very best to get all caught up in the next couple days.

Also, my very first blog post I had a mission statement of what this blog was intended for (you can read that post here). Well, that totally fell through. Instead of my personal goal to broaden my mommy skills, this blog has totally followed Miss Maisie's haps. Which I am so happy happened! BUT I don't want to forget about my goal. So I am going to have a side blog of my journey of honing in my skills via cooking, projects and crafts. This blog is still the main priority and will always take precedence over the next, but I would like to hold myself accountable to that mission statement. Therefore, I am hoping within the next week to start up a new blog and start getting creative. Stay tuned!

Maisie's Playlist

The other night when Austin was humming Maisie to sleep, it got me thinking about all the songs that Austin and I have dedicated to Maisie. We sing all kinds of songs to her daily, and a lot of the times they are made up, but there are a few that belong in Maisie's repertoire and will forever. That when we hear them we will always think of our sweet muffin in different stages of her life. I thought I would share those special songs with you.

When we finally decided that "Maisie" was the name, Austin picked me up from work and he said he wanted me to listen to a song he rediscovered. He said "I know the song says Gracie, but it's easy to put Maisie there instead." and he put on the song . The song is very cute and I recommend you give it a listen, it will melt your heart with the Daddy to daughter cuteness. Heres the lyrics, but of course I'm going to change the lyric to Maisie.

Gracie by Ben Folds

You can't fool me, I saw you when you came out

You got your momma's taste but you got my mouth

And you will always have a part of me

Nobody else is ever going to see

Maisie girl

With your cards to your chest walking on your toes

What you got in the box only Maisie knows

And I would never try to make you be

Anything you didn't really want to be

Maisie girl

Life flies by in seconds

You're not a baby Maisie, you're my friend

You'll be a lady soon but until then

You gotta do what I say

You nodded off in my arms watching TV

I won't move you an inch even thought my arm's asleep

One day you're gonna want to go

I hope we taught you everything you need to know

Maisie girl

And there will always be a part of me

Nobody else is ever gonna see but you and me

My little girl

My Maisie girl

Then when Maisie was born and I was having a hard time with breastfeeding (because of the soreness) and also recovering from the birth that it was hard to relax during feedings. Making Maisie more tense and prohibiting my let down. So I started to play classical songs during every feeding session. Maisie loved it because it was so peaceful and calming as we were bonding, but it also helped me to relax and enjoy every feeding. There are a few songs that will always remind me of her as a little newborn snuggled up skin to skin. So precious. Here they are:

Eward Elgar- Enigma

Schuman-Intermezzo from Momentum Suite

Chopin- Nocturne in B flat minor op 9/1, 9/2 & 9/3

During Maisie's fussy hours there was one song that would always calm her down when I sang it to her. I don't know how I was inspired to start singing it in the first place, but I'm glad I did. It's still a go to when she's in a bad mood or just wants to be comforted. I don't sing it nearly as often as I used to when she was a newborn, but it's still a goody.

Banana Pancakes by Jack Johnson

Can't you see that it's just raining

Ain't no need to go outside...
But baby, you hardly even notice
When I try to show you this
Song is meant to keep ya
From doing what you're supposed to
Like waking up too early
Maybe we can sleep in
I'll make you banana pancakes
Pretend like it's the weekend now

And we could pretend it all the time
Can't you see that it's just raining
Ain't no need to go outside

But just maybe, laka ukulele
Mommy made a baby
Really don't mind the breakfast
'cause you're my little lady
Lady lady love me
'cause I love to lay here lazy
We could close the curtains
Pretend like there's no world outside.

The telephone is singing
Ringing it's too early
Don't pick it up
We don't need to we got everything
We need right here
And everything we need is enough
Just so easy
When the whole world fits inside of your arms
Don't really need to pay attention to the alarm
Wake up slow, yeah wake up slow

When I was little I really liked (okay maybe I was a tad bit obsessed) with Raffi. Austin being a Raffi fan too growing up, it only made sense to introduce Maisie to the wonderful goodness that is Raffi. We would sing the songs, but our go to was always Baby Beluga. Then one day while staying in Salem with Austin's family, my sister in law Miranda, and Mother in law Diane volunteered to babysit while Austin and I went out for a mini date. When we got back we came home to a very happy dancing baby. Miranda had discovered that Maisie LOVES the song Banana Phone by Raffi. I guess while we were gone Maisie started to get a little fussy and they put that song on and instantly she was back to her happy self. The song still works too. I can't tell you how many times we have blasted Banana Phone in the car when Maisie is grumpy from a long car ride. Works like a charm.

Then we have our "Night Night" Maisie songs. Austin and I alternate nights putting Maisie down for bed and we have our signature songs we sing/hum while putting her down. Austin's song is Edelweiss. He sings it to her in German of course, but humming it is what does the trick. Austin's low bass voice lulls Maisie faster than I ever could. My song is Let me call you sweetheart by Joni James. When I was little I had a wind up stuffed animal that played it. It's such a sweet comforting song and it reminds me of being cozy in bed, so I had to pass it down to my little Maisie.

There you have it. Maisie's playlist. The songs that in a very special way belong to her and always will.

Too Close

One of the scariest things happened last night. I am still recovering from it and the experience has really upped the paranoia of my already worrying mommy brain. Maisie has had a couple close calls with choking. Both were caused by our Christmas tree. One time at the farm and the other when she rolled under and tried to eat one of the lower branches. Both were scary, but we were able to fish the debris out of her mouth without a hitch. Last night was different.

After dinner Austin just started a show via netflix. I sat on the other couch with Maisie in my lap and I proceeded to fold the heaping pile of laundry to my left. Maisie was half way standing up bouncing on my right knee while hitting the couch cushions with her hands. Suddenly she started to cough. Not the I want attention cough, or I swallowed wrong cough. It was definitely trying to get something out of her throat. I turned her around quickly to hear her gasping and to see her eyes red and watery. I stood up in lightening speed and panicky said " She's choking, Oh my gosh she's choking!" Austin put out his arms and I put her belly down in his hands. I collapsed right by her face so I could see her. That's when she stopped coughing and breathing. Her face was bright red, her little body squirmed about and her eyes locked onto mine and were filled with terror. Austin turned her around tried sweeping her mouth and felt nothing. He also got a good look and still there was nothing there. Whatever it was, was in her throat and so he turned her back around and patted her back firmly. At that moment I thought "I am going to watch my baby die." Right then one of the most glorious sounds. A huge inhale followed by a very scared whimper and then she belted out a big cry. Now we all could breathe, together.

After the ordeal was over and Maisie was back to her giggling self I thought "what if this happened when I was by myself" During the scare I couldn't even think straight, I was filled with emotion and literally turned into jello. What if I didn't have Austin's calm hands to take over. He was seriously so calm and relaxed and thank Heaven for that because had he showed even an ounce of fear I would have really lost it. So I am now going to sign up for an infant CPR class. I took a course in high school, but obviously I lost that training. Plus it is entirely different when it's your child choking. So hopefully brushing up will better equip me with the knowledge and confidence to take charge and not flounder.

We still don't know what the culprit was, but we were on the couch next to laundry so maybe a lint ball or a small piece of paper? I really have no clue, but there was nothing dangerous on the couch to the best of my knowledge. She didn't even have toys on the couch, no tags, small objects what so ever. I went a little crazy last night after she went to bed and throughly cleaned. I vacuumed like a mad woman this morning before I set her down to play. I am still paranoid that at any moment shes going to find something she could potentially choke on.

Since the event last night Maisie has been extra needy. Wanting to be held more than anything. I don't blame her. It's scary not being able to breathe. I am just so glad shes okay and doing just fine. I think we are just as (or maybe even more) traumatized as she.

Lefty?

Since Maisie was tiny I had a inkling that she might be left handed. For some reason she seemed to favor it, but she still used both hands a lot so it was hard to tell. I have noticed more and more that most of her actions I.E shaking, examining, reaching are done with her left hand. She still picks up stuff with her right, but it almost always ends up in her left. Maybe shes ambidextrous? I guess only time will tell.

Today while going through all of the pictures on my phone I noticed again how much she does in fact use her left hand and I have the goods to prove it...

Evidence #1

Maisie 4 months old

Evidence #2

Maisie at 5 months old

Evidence #3

Maisie at 6 months old

Evidence #4

Maisie at 7 months old

So what do you think?