The Hardest Yet

The past four months have been difficult in the sleep department for Sophia and me. She is the world's lightest sleeper. I'm not kidding. She awoke this morning when I was slipping ever-so-quietly into my pants from across the entire room. Ahh, the soft rustle of jeans rings like the morning rooster's crow in her delicate little ears.

So I decided it was time to try something new. She needs to be on a good sleep schedule before Poppy arrives, or this momma will go cuckoo. I realize I have some time, but now is a good time to start. I would like to get some sleep during this pregnancy.

On any given night, I nurse Sophia and she falls asleep in my arms. I hold her for awhile, then gently ease her into the crib. Whether or not she remains asleep is very hit-or-miss. Sometimes she does great all night. Mostly though, she wakes up immediatly. The process starts all over again, and by the middle of the night I am so exhausted that she usually ends up in bed with us (where she is guaranteed to sleep soundly all night. Happy baby. Happy mommy.)

So tonight, I nursed her and cuddled for a few minutes. While she was still drowsy, but not asleep, I laid her in the crib. Of course the crying started immediatly. I quietly walked toward the door and allowed her to cry. I sat in the living room, listening to my baby cry her eyes out. It took everything in my being not to go in there and rescue her from her peril. Every ten minutes or so, I walked in, stuck her nuk back in her mouth, gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and reassured her of my love, then turned around and walked out again. It was seriously one of the hardest "mommy moments" yet. Soon the tears started flowing down my face as well. Gary came downstairs and prayed with me. I am so glad that God sent him down to encourage me. I needed it. (Jared is out helping a friend tonight, or he would have been by my side too.) After what seemed like an eternity, the moniter stopped screaming at me and the room grew quiet.

She has been peacefully sleeping for 30 minutes now. I am encouraged, and exhausted. Listening to your child cry like that and not running to their rescue takes a lot of strength. But God is watching over her, and teaching us both through the process. I love my little girl. I hope she always knows that.

Sheeeee'll Scratch Your Eye Out!

Yesterday morning before church, Sophia and I were enjoying some early morning moments together. We were sitting on the couch, talking and playing, when suddenly her razor nails came full speed at my eye. Before I could even react, she made a nice clean slice across my cornea. YOWZA!!! My eye slammed shut, and remained that way for the rest of the day. It stung and burned when my eye was closed. It stung and burned when my eyes were open. It even stung and burned while I took a nap.

After "the incident," I toughed up and got ready for church. We made it, late of course. By the end of the service, all my resolve melted and I turned into a pool of self pity. My eye was drooling more than Sophia, and my nose was trying to keep up. I had a kleenex for my eye, and a kleenex for my nose-- both soaked. This kept up fo the rest of the day. So after church, I eagerly took my dad's invitation to let them care for me while Jared did some more packing. I got to spend the afternoon under the watchful care of my dad. He administered eye drops and antibiotics when needed. He made up the bed for me so I could take a nap. He found an eye mask to keep out the light. (Which I wore for several hours, including during lunch. Going about the day blind gave me quite a different perspective. It was so frustrating.) All the while, Grandma, Aunt Anna, Aunt Shinae, and Uncle Josh took care of the wee babe. Thanks everyone for your help.

Last night when I went to bed, not only did my eye burn, but it was also swollen and red. I awoke this morning to a new eye. It feels so much better and I can actually use it again! Not completely restored, but a huge step up from yesterday.

Rough Start

We moved into Jared's dad's house on Wednesday night. This is the beginning of our 1-year plan. As I anticipated, it has been somewhat of a rough transition for Sophia... at night. I believe she knows our home, and feels comfortable and relaxed there. It will probably take awhile for her to adjust to our new home.

My brilliant plan was to use the pack 'n play as a crib until we are able to transfer her crib to Gary's. Yeah, that's not going to work. The pack 'n play has two mattress levels. When it is on the lower one, it is way too low to lay her down without nearly dropping her (much less waking her up)! The higher level is at a good height, but is suspended in such a way that is sways back and forth like a hammock, making a ruckus every time she moves, which also wakes her up.

There is the bassinet option. She barely fits anymore. She is too tall. It can be done, but when I lay her in it, there is no extra room for me to get my arm out from under her. So, if I stood over her bassinet all night that option could be a winner. But alas, not happening.

So there's the bed. The double bed. Me. Jared. Sophia. And the arm she's laying on. All fast asleep in the bed. Sigh.

The "F" Word

The Little Miss in our house has been developing quite a personality lately!

She has learned how to show frustration. While she is lying on her changing table and she decides she has had enough wiping and diapering, she flexes her whole body and her face scrunches up. Then she looks like she is pushing with all of her might (it really kind of looks like she is trying to "push one out"). Then, from deep within her throat arises a loud grunting wail (it also sounds like she is trying to "push one out"). She follows this same routine when she has had enough playtime in her exersaucer, or flings a toy off the edge, or in general needs attention. It is actually kind of cute. Here is what it looks like...

Sick Day

Yesterday afternoon, Sophia started coughing. It was nothing too serious, but it was obvious a cold was brewing. Last night, when we were getting ready for bed, she got very congested. Her coughing got much worse, and before long it got so bad that she threw up. This was no normal baby spit-up. It was throw up. She was exhausted and went to sleep by 9:30. An hour later, she started to stir, so I went in to check on her. She felt like a furnance. I stripped off her blanket sleeper, and rushed her into a cooler room (hers is heated warmer than the rest of the house). I took her temp and it was 101.9! I scurried around the house looking for the infant tylenol, and of course, couldn't find it. So Jared threw his pants on and rushed to the store. By the time he returned, her fever was down to 100.7. An hour later, the fever was gone, and she was out cold. This morning, a little fever returned of 99.5, and she is still coughing and congested.

I have been feeling very crampy and nauseous today, so we are having a sick day together on the couch, cuddled up with with pillows and blankets.

Poppy

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The Biting Has Begun

Enough said.

Teephers!!

This morning, I was reading over the feeding chart I have hanging on the fridge, going through the checklist of what Sophia has to accomplish before we give her infant cereal.

• Sits with help (check!)
• Pushes up with straight elbows while on tummy (check!)
• Holds mouth open as spoon approaches (hmmm... I don't know. Let's check.)

I went to the silverware drawer and grabbed the only baby spoon we have, which is metal. I brought it to her mouth. She turned away. I drew the spoon back and tried again. This time she opened wide and I put the spoon in. She bit down, and I heard click click click.

My eyes widened as I threw the spoon on the counter and replaced it with my finger. I traced her gumline and felt not one, but two teeth!!! I drew back her lip, and here is what I saw...

A New Day, A New Discovery

I have been realizing that Sophia falls asleep really quickly (when she is tired) on her contoured changing table pad. So last night, the light bulb went off...







It was a good night. No games. Just sleep. Praise God.

Playing Games

Sophia has added a new trick to her repertoire. She has learned how to play mommy like a violin. Here is how the night goes...

11:00- Put Sophia down in her crib for the night. Creep out of the room. She usually sleeps well for several hours. Then the games begin...
3:00- Sophia whimpers. My ears perk up and I wait, listening for more. Sophia whimpers again, louder this time. I wait. Then she starts crying. I get out of bed and walk to her room. By the time I get there, I peek in the door, and she is out like a light, fast asleep. Looks like she hasn't moved in hours. I go back to bed.
3:12- Repeat previous step
4:00- Repeat again
4:05- And again
4:20- I wait longer this time after she starts whimpering. I wait until she is crying for a minute. Go to her room. Guess what? Silent as a lamb. Out like a light.
4:30- Repeat all steps throughout the remainder of the night until I give up on trying to sleep, and just get up.

Now people, it literally is 10 STEPS from my bedside to hers. How she accomplishes this new trick baffles me. In fact, on one of my trips back to my bed last night, I actually considered the possibility that the moniter next to my bed is no moniter at all. It is a pre-recorded tape player.

Natalie Ann

Congratulations Sarah and Aaron on the birth of their baby girl, Natalie Ann.
Head over to Erin's blog for all the stats.
We went to visit Natalie this afternoon. She looks like her momma! Sophia wanted to meet her new friend! Here are some photos of our visit.

The happy new family

Look at all that hair!!! I just want to brush it and put barretts in it!

Sophie meeting her new friend for the first time. They really hit it off!

Natalie and Sophia, friends since Day #1

I already forgot how tiny they are!!