April, 10 Month Update

Our little girl turned 11 months on the 26th, so for the majority of the month, she was 10 months old.

We spent the first week of April at her grandparent's place in Oregon. Once again, she was wonderful on the flight. Since we boarded before the other passengers, she was a one-person welcoming committee, smiling and waving to anyone who made eye contact with her. It is usually rainy this time of year in Oregon, but we had a lot of sun and warm weather.

Being in Oregon is so relaxing and low-key. They live 30 minutes from town, so most days all we had on our agenda was walking her pony around the lake and helping cook dinner. I am very fortunate to love spending time with my mother and father-in-law, and we left wishing our trip could be longer, already planning our return.

Her personality continues to blossom. She has started imitating our sounds, including a new laugh that sounds more like she is imitating us instead of really laughing. As we were leaving church and Nathan laughed, we heard a "He he he he" from under her stroller canopy. She follows some simple directions now, such as "Put the giraffe in the box" or "Give Daddy his wallet" and will kiss on command, though it is still adorably, with an open mouth.

Returning to daycare was surprisingly easy even after a week off. She had a great first day and week back. But, on Friday of that first week back to daycare, there was an outbreak of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). Although the CDC describes it as "a common viral illness that affects children younger than five years old" is sounds like a horrible affliction that you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. I mean, it has the word disease in it! She had one tiny spot by her mouth that looked like a pimple, but we took her to her pediatrician anyway, because 1) they have same day openings, 2) it's cheaper than extended care, and 3) we're first time parents. He took a look in her mouth and confirmed that it was HFMD, confirmed that there is no treatment for it other than to control her temperature with infant Tylenol or Mortin (because it is viral) and stated she must have a very mild case of it.

It was really mild, until Saturday afternoon. Poor thing! She was super fussy and needy, but still inconsolable at times especially during the night. I can't complain because this was the very first time I was pacing the house, holding her, at 1 am. On Sunday, I came down with a fever myself (102) and sore throat. She was better by Tuesday morning, but not allowed to return to daycare for the entire week. She returned on that Thursday and passed "inspection" but then we were called and told that two blisters were found on her foot that had not dried so she needed to be picked up. While leaving work with nearly no notice is frustrating, it is good that they take preventing the spread so seriously.

She said her first word, dog, although at the time we weren't really sure it "counted." We were in the bedroom and I pointed to a big black lab on the cover of the "Dog Breed Selector" book I bought my husband. I said "dog!" and she repeated "da!" I turned the page, to a different looking dog and we both repeated the words. This went on close to twenty times! But it wasn't until the next day, on a hike, that I realized she knows what she's saying.

Baby A and I joined a friend (and her friends) and hiked Top of the World in Laguna. We were finished with the almost 6 mile hike, and posing for some pictures at the trail head.Two women with two dogs walked by and again she exclaimed "Da! Da!" That's when I realized that she was not simply repeating what I said as I turned the pages of the book, but actually knew what she was looking at. "Da" is now what she also calls our cat, and anything that looks similar to a dog.

Catalina Island is visible behind us

I try to view everything we do as an adventure together. It doesn't need to be a hike with an ocean view or the zoo. One of her current favorite places is PetSmart. Even if I'm just stopping in for a bag of food, I take her around to look at the fish, the birds and the dogs being groomed. We also have a great time at Hobby Lobby, where I will let her touch the fabrics, or will tickle her with a feather or other decoration. Our backyard is also a place now filled with adventures. She loves playing in her house and will now open the door when we knock! She goes out the sliding glass door at every opportunity, and loves to stand and pick at the dirt in the potted plants that are at her level.

We went over to a friend's for dinner toward the end of the month and she was fascinated by a parrot that they had. She really seems to love animals and was fascinated by it the whole night. Before we left, she "kissed" each person bye, shown by leaning forward with an open mouth. I guess the next thing we need to teach her is how to blow kisses instead. She also kissed Sebastian at daycare and our dog, Trevi. Already showing her nurturing side, she will pat her baby's back and also put my hand on it's back so that I pat it.

For Mother's Day, and for my birthday, we had our first professional photos together since her newborn session.

She continues to love going outside, and is in the backyard at every opportunity. She spends some time now on the back patio when we're getting ready in the morning, and loves going out when there's afternoon shade.

While we were having dinner at our neighbor's we realized that she can climb up on things. We were eating on their back patio and she was playing with their 4 year old. Before we knew it, she was up on the bench of the toddler-size picnic table. She took a tumble before we could reach her, but was brave enough to go on their enclosed trampoline by herself just a little while later.

I've been planning her first birthday for a long time and it is fast-approaching. I've already started putting up some decorations, even though we're a month out! I'm trying to crochet favors for every child that comes and need to complete one a day in order to have enough! They take almost an hour. Thankfully, my husband's cousin Cassandra is helping by stitching the 6 points on the sun together, allowing me more time to crochet more.

Milestones:

• FIRST WORD 4/19: Dog, which sounds more like "Da"
• Kissed a boy
• Sits in her baby chair at daycare
• Climbs on things
• Drops objects for me to pick up. Again and again
• Solo play
• Uses sippy cup
• Learned "If You're Happy and You Know it" and will clap at appropriate time 
• Learned how to flush the toilet
• Can squat down and back up while holding on

Things I don't want to forget about this month:

• Patting my back - especially when I pick her up in the morning
• Giggling when she toots
• Knocking on her playhouse door and asking "Is A home?" While she comes to the door.
• Seeing her rough-house with daddy
• Saturday walks for breakfast at John's place and stopping by the little library for books
• How she loves Trevi's water dish and will make a beeline for it at every opportunity
• That she loves standing and touching the dirt in the potted plants
• She loves water, and will try and drink from the hose, bathtub and sink when I wash her hands

Routines we're continuing:

• Singing to her: You Are My Sunshine, Amazing Grace (bedtime)
• Reading children's books to her
• Evening walks
• Crocheting
• Nightly prayers
• Morning snuggle time - she now sleeps in the crook of my left arm.
• This little piggy. She now anticipates the "Wee, wee, wee all the way home" part and will smile and scrunch her shoulders.
• Asking "Where's Daddy?" or "Where's Trevi?" and cheering when she looks
• Lunch visits - every day!
• Peak-a-boo 
• Listening to the same record at every feeding. I have it on the floor, by her high chair, and she loves watching it spin. Its an old Disney record, "Mother Goose."
• Brushing her teeth
• Playing with items in the cupboards, taking items out of the diaper bag or refrigerator. We always thank her for "organizing." 

Routines we're establishing:

• "Chasing" her around the house

New Foods This Month:

• Too many to list! She's joining in on the lunch that daycare provides, and finally eating finger foods. Some favorites: Ground turkey, string cheese, butternut squash, spiral whole wheat pasta, carrots, peas, brown rice, yogurt, cottage cheese, strawberries, blueberries, bananas.

Thick as thieves, these two!