In one month my baby will be ONE!! When parents say time flies, they're not kidding! We are having so much fun watching her grow. And, thank God for cameras!
Beulah is starting to take steps! She usually gets one step in before she decides she needs to sit and crawl. But, hey, ya gotta start somewhere, right?! She will walk short distances holding just one of our fingers though!
She's still head banging, but she's added a new little knee bounce and head-shake to her dance, which I have yet to catch on video. Every time she sees the camera come out she tries to come and get it (see video). So, I'll have to try and sneak to get a shot of that so you can enjoy it with us. It'll be well worth the wait. :) Somehow though, I did capture a still shot of her standing unsupported (see picture)! It was a freak moment when I was trying to get a picture of her doing something else, but I was more than happy to get that instead!
Beulah has gotten really good at mimicking us. This is the age when you have to start being careful of what you say and do. It's also the beginning of us seeing how we act as she repeats it back to us. This should be fun!
She copies us when we...
*open our mouths wide and say "Ahhhh".
*bat our eye lashes (hilarious!).
*wave.
*nod.
*shake our heads.
*bounce.
*sway.
*make mouth sounds.
She's also started saying "Hi" and "Bye"! That's been really fun! Even if I'm just hanging up the phone, when she hears me say "Bye", she waves and says "Bye"! She's not as consistent with saying "Hi", but she can do it when she wants to. On occasion she'll mimic us when we make certain word sounds too.
Beulah has become quite feisty at meal times. She's decided she only wants finger food. Pureed or finely mashed foods aren't good enough anymore. Unfortunately, when you only have three teeth, your choices are pretty limited. So, we have a battle of the wills pretty much every time she eats. She's learned that she has to eat the spoon fed foods too though, and will do it rather reluctantly most of the time. We're exploring our options on how to foster this excitement for finger foods in her while still getting all the nutrients she needs as well. If it were up to her, she'd only eat puffs all day every day. But, she also loves banana, avocado, grapes, strawberries, and eggs, which are all soft enough to mush with her tongue. When, she gets the foods she wants, she says, "Num, num, num". And, she hums all the way through her meal, just like her mama. :) Oh, and she must eat with her right foot up on her tray (see picture). Sometimes she'll take a bite of toe in between. :)
She's doing pretty good with the sippy cup (see picture), although, sometimes she gets too much and chokes. I guess that's all part of learning. The mouth piece on her sippy cup is silicone though, and she'd much rather chew it that drink from it. I think any drinking she does is probably accidental. Maybe that's why she chokes!
A handful of nights this month, Beulah slept 10-12 hours without waking up one time! *singing Hallelujah Chorus* Otherwise, she's only waking up once for about five minutes and then she's back down till morning! Earlier in the month, I was walking her in the night and just prayed that God would grant her the gift of sleep. I prayed that He would progress her towards restful sleep through the night, and she got better almost instantly! Praise the Lord! And, thankfully, the first night she slept through was the night I woke up at 3 AM with a stomach bug. It was great to not have to worry about her while I was so sick. Then, poor thing, she caught it from her cousin a week and a half later. :( Oh, so pittyful.
Showing posts with label infant development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label infant development. Show all posts
Friday, March 5, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Beulah, 10 Months!
January has been a mixed bag. The month started out great, with family in town and us settling back at home from the holidays. But, honestly, I'm having a hard time remembering much from this month other than the past two weeks! I feel like this has been a month of very few changes in Beulah's development. Most noticeably, she just looks so grown up to me! Besides that, the two major things I can think of right now are that she knows how to give "five", and she's learned to shake her head "no". :) I think she got that from me, because sometimes when I sit in the back-seat with her, I shake my head so that my hair will fly around and it makes her laugh. And, I LOVE to make her laugh. :) She also thinks it's hysterical when people put things on their heads or on her head.
As you'll see in the video, she loves to head bang. That's something you just can't teach a baby. She's a natural! Sometimes when she's mixing music at her Learn & Groove table, she'll stand on her own for 3-5 seconds. And, her cruising skills are definitely improving. She can really kick it behind her walker! It's hilarious to watch her move so fast (see video). And then, when she hits a roadblock, she stops and looks at it like, "Hey! Get out of the way!", at which point she starts ramming the walker into it. I think I heard her say "TAWANDA" once! (see video below for explanation) :)
You should stop the video at 2:00 if you're offended by cursing. :)
Several months ago we let Andy's brother, Mike, and his wife, Ria, adopt Pedro. We were sad for Beulah, but fortunately, they live across the street, and she gets to see him pretty much every week still. It was best for him because with all of the attention Beulah needed early on, Pedro was severely neglected. He wasn't getting the exercise or attention he needed or deserved, and now he goes for walks regularly and is definitely well loved. Since the flood, we have been staying with Mike & Ria, and Beulah has been so happy to be reunited with Pedro! I think Pedro is happy too, but now Beulah can pull up and often uses his collar or ears as a gripping point (see pictures). :) The first week we were there, we all had the most fun watching Beulah and Pedro together. But, it has also been awesome for Beulah to get to spend this extended time with her aunt and uncle, and fun too! (see video) And, since we've been here, Beulah saw her first snow!
Unfortunately, this week has been a different story. Beulah started out the week with her first fever. Not even Pedro could make her smile. She has never been a cuddly baby, but for three days, all she wanted to do was be held and sleep on us. Since the fever broke (at 102.1 degrees), she has developed a rash; pretty sure it's Roseola. She's also having more tummy troubles, which could be the result of my increased dairy intake since the flood. It's just been easier to eat it since we're not cooking for ourselves in our own home. But, I'm going to make a more concerted effort to lay off dairy since it could be causing her so much discomfort. Anyway, she's been miserable on and off all week. But, there have been some bright spots in the week and we've seen some smiles and laughter. And, for her 10 month birthday, she's getting new floors! They should be in next week! Praise the Lord!!
As you'll see in the video, she loves to head bang. That's something you just can't teach a baby. She's a natural! Sometimes when she's mixing music at her Learn & Groove table, she'll stand on her own for 3-5 seconds. And, her cruising skills are definitely improving. She can really kick it behind her walker! It's hilarious to watch her move so fast (see video). And then, when she hits a roadblock, she stops and looks at it like, "Hey! Get out of the way!", at which point she starts ramming the walker into it. I think I heard her say "TAWANDA" once! (see video below for explanation) :)
You should stop the video at 2:00 if you're offended by cursing. :)
Several months ago we let Andy's brother, Mike, and his wife, Ria, adopt Pedro. We were sad for Beulah, but fortunately, they live across the street, and she gets to see him pretty much every week still. It was best for him because with all of the attention Beulah needed early on, Pedro was severely neglected. He wasn't getting the exercise or attention he needed or deserved, and now he goes for walks regularly and is definitely well loved. Since the flood, we have been staying with Mike & Ria, and Beulah has been so happy to be reunited with Pedro! I think Pedro is happy too, but now Beulah can pull up and often uses his collar or ears as a gripping point (see pictures). :) The first week we were there, we all had the most fun watching Beulah and Pedro together. But, it has also been awesome for Beulah to get to spend this extended time with her aunt and uncle, and fun too! (see video) And, since we've been here, Beulah saw her first snow!
Unfortunately, this week has been a different story. Beulah started out the week with her first fever. Not even Pedro could make her smile. She has never been a cuddly baby, but for three days, all she wanted to do was be held and sleep on us. Since the fever broke (at 102.1 degrees), she has developed a rash; pretty sure it's Roseola. She's also having more tummy troubles, which could be the result of my increased dairy intake since the flood. It's just been easier to eat it since we're not cooking for ourselves in our own home. But, I'm going to make a more concerted effort to lay off dairy since it could be causing her so much discomfort. Anyway, she's been miserable on and off all week. But, there have been some bright spots in the week and we've seen some smiles and laughter. And, for her 10 month birthday, she's getting new floors! They should be in next week! Praise the Lord!!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Beulah, 9 Months!
This is SUCH fun age! Beulah seems happier every day, and it's obvious to everyone who sees her. When we're out, strangers say, "She's the happiest baby!" One night we were seated in the middle of a restaurant, watching our 8.5 month old literally work the room! She made every single person in the place smile at her, and when the servers walked by, she clapped! It is such a joy to watch and enjoy her and see others enjoying her.
Beulah's first Christmas was awesome! We were in GA, and of course, she was the center of attention. Eight to nine months is the perfect age for Christmas and opening presents (see video). She didn't understand why she couldn't eat the paper, but she loved tearing it and climbing on (or in) the boxes (see pictures and video). Again, who needs toys?! Actually, I never really considered how important toys are to a child's development before Beulah, but it's amazing to see how they help her accomplish new skills everyday. Beulah's new favorite toy is her Learn & Groove Musical Table by Leap Frog (see pictures and video). It is SO fun to watch her cruise around the table playing with the different instruments. It has really helped strengthen her legs and back as she stands at the table to play, not to mention her hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect. This is by far my favorite toy of hers. I would recommend it to anyone with a child 7+ months old.
Beulah also got a walker to push around the room (see video). She's doing really good! It won't be long now before she starts taking steps on her own! She's really good at cruising from one piece of furniture to another, and sometimes she lets go for a second or two! She also climbed the stairs at her Uncle Mike and Aunt Ria's! Thanks to her other toys from friends and family, she's also learned to put objects into a container, and even plays games with us. She'll play peek-a-boo with her bib, pulling it up over her face until she hears, "Where's Beulah?" at which time she pulls it down and laughs. So fun!! She learned another game from her Paw Paw (my dad). He rolled her little miniature wagon around, and each time it passed her she'd either put her toy in it or take it out. She will also offer me her spoon, which I take with my mouth, then I offer it back to her. It's a fun, hands free game we like to play. She's learned to mimic certain gestures, like waving, clapping, and sticking out her tongue, and she can respond to instruction. She claps and waves when we ask her to, and she stops when she hears us say, "No!" "Danger!" or "Not for baby!"
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES (besides everything mentioned above!)
*Beulah will pull up on something (usually her music table), and start bobbin' her head like she's groovin' (see video)!
*She sits on her bottom with her legs straight out and repeatedly raises and lowers her right leg, tapping her heel on the floor.
*She likes to make hissing sounds like she's whispering.
*Sometimes she'll hold her hand up and tuck her chin down as if to say, "Thank ya. Thank ya very much." It's especially funny if she's just finished playing music on her music table.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH LAUGH/SMILE
*When she hears Daddy's keys in the door, she looks at me and smiles and then crawls as fast as she can to the door. Precious!
*Beulah has had the opportunity to spend time with both our families over the holidays, and recognizes them enough now to get really excited when she sees her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So sweet.
Beulah's first Christmas was awesome! We were in GA, and of course, she was the center of attention. Eight to nine months is the perfect age for Christmas and opening presents (see video). She didn't understand why she couldn't eat the paper, but she loved tearing it and climbing on (or in) the boxes (see pictures and video). Again, who needs toys?! Actually, I never really considered how important toys are to a child's development before Beulah, but it's amazing to see how they help her accomplish new skills everyday. Beulah's new favorite toy is her Learn & Groove Musical Table by Leap Frog (see pictures and video). It is SO fun to watch her cruise around the table playing with the different instruments. It has really helped strengthen her legs and back as she stands at the table to play, not to mention her hand-eye coordination and understanding of cause and effect. This is by far my favorite toy of hers. I would recommend it to anyone with a child 7+ months old.
Beulah also got a walker to push around the room (see video). She's doing really good! It won't be long now before she starts taking steps on her own! She's really good at cruising from one piece of furniture to another, and sometimes she lets go for a second or two! She also climbed the stairs at her Uncle Mike and Aunt Ria's! Thanks to her other toys from friends and family, she's also learned to put objects into a container, and even plays games with us. She'll play peek-a-boo with her bib, pulling it up over her face until she hears, "Where's Beulah?" at which time she pulls it down and laughs. So fun!! She learned another game from her Paw Paw (my dad). He rolled her little miniature wagon around, and each time it passed her she'd either put her toy in it or take it out. She will also offer me her spoon, which I take with my mouth, then I offer it back to her. It's a fun, hands free game we like to play. She's learned to mimic certain gestures, like waving, clapping, and sticking out her tongue, and she can respond to instruction. She claps and waves when we ask her to, and she stops when she hears us say, "No!" "Danger!" or "Not for baby!"
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES (besides everything mentioned above!)
*Beulah will pull up on something (usually her music table), and start bobbin' her head like she's groovin' (see video)!
*She sits on her bottom with her legs straight out and repeatedly raises and lowers her right leg, tapping her heel on the floor.
*She likes to make hissing sounds like she's whispering.
*Sometimes she'll hold her hand up and tuck her chin down as if to say, "Thank ya. Thank ya very much." It's especially funny if she's just finished playing music on her music table.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH LAUGH/SMILE
*When she hears Daddy's keys in the door, she looks at me and smiles and then crawls as fast as she can to the door. Precious!
*Beulah has had the opportunity to spend time with both our families over the holidays, and recognizes them enough now to get really excited when she sees her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. So sweet.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Beulah, 8 Months!
What a difference a month makes! This stage in a baby's development must be the most fun, because it seems that new things are happening everyday. Her newfound mobility broadens her world and makes her boundaries limitless; that is until mama stops her from doing something that might hurt her. But, despite my efforts to protect her, I've learned that bumps and bruises are inevitable at this stage; especially if I turn my back for one second. In fact, she fell off the bed at her Nana & Pop Pop's house over Thanksgiving. She was laying on her back in the middle of the bed, so I bent down to get her pants to put on her when I heard a thud followed by a loud cry. Ugh. There's no worse sound in a mother's life. She's OK, of course. Thank God! But, we spend a lot more time on the floor these days, and I have become pretty skilled at changing a diaper while she's rolling or crawling away. I'm lucky if I have any kind of strap or tag nearby to occupy her. She likes those much more than any toy she has.
Everyday Andy and I talk about how joyful she is. When I asked him if there was anything in particular that he'd like for me to mention in her 8 month post, he said, "just her sweet disposition." When I describe her, I say, "She's just delightful!" She LOVES to go places and see people. I'm pretty sure she's an extrovert, because when she's around people she's super happy and hardly ever thinks about sleeping or eating. But, when the people are gone, she comes crashing down.
NEW THINGS BEULAH CAN DO
*crawling on hands and knees (see video)
*pulling up! (see video)
*claps hands (see video)
*She's making much more sophisticated sounds and letter combinations. Sometimes I hear "words" like "boosh" or "this", and sometimes she makes a hissing sound. I heard her make sounds with every letter, except maybe "c", "k", and "q".
FIRSTS
*Beulah got her first tooth!! Two actually! Her two bottom, front teeth are peeking through. I haven't gotten a picture because everytime she opens her mouth, her tongue covers it up.
*Beulah saw the ocean for the first time over Thanksgiving! While visiting Andy's parents in FL, we went to St. Augustine for a day. It was COLD, so she didn't get in the water. But, since she falls asleep to ocean waves on her sound machine every night, she fell asleep as we walked to the sound of real ocean waves. :)
*Beulah met a large number of her extended family over Thanksgiving in FL.
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES
*Sometimes when we make eye contact, she'll just laugh out of the blue. Love it!
*While sitting on her bottom, she bounces from her pelvis while flapping her arms up and down. (see video)
*After she wakes up, she peeks through the slats in the crib at us when we come in and squeals with excitement.
*Sometimes she'll cover her ears with her hands. Unfortunately, the first time she did it was when she was being introduced to her adult cousin for the first time. :)
*She holds her bottle with her hands AND feet. (see picture)
* She chews on and rolls her tongue. The most common comments we get from strangers are about her blue eyes or her tongue.
*She's been "blowing raspberries" with her lips for a while, but now she does it with her tongue too.
*She sits "cris-cross" (or "Indian style" if you're from my generation or before).
*She pats my shoulder when I pick her up or while she's nursing.
*While laying tummy to tummy when nursing, she tries to stand and bend forward to nurse.
*Sometimes while nursing, she rubs her feet together really fast.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH SMILE/LAUGH
*When she bangs things together, she smiles. (see video)
And now for even more videos than last month!
shaker = teething tabs
symbol = lid from toilet paper holder
creative inspiration = blinds?
Everyday Andy and I talk about how joyful she is. When I asked him if there was anything in particular that he'd like for me to mention in her 8 month post, he said, "just her sweet disposition." When I describe her, I say, "She's just delightful!" She LOVES to go places and see people. I'm pretty sure she's an extrovert, because when she's around people she's super happy and hardly ever thinks about sleeping or eating. But, when the people are gone, she comes crashing down.
NEW THINGS BEULAH CAN DO
*crawling on hands and knees (see video)
*pulling up! (see video)
*claps hands (see video)
*She's making much more sophisticated sounds and letter combinations. Sometimes I hear "words" like "boosh" or "this", and sometimes she makes a hissing sound. I heard her make sounds with every letter, except maybe "c", "k", and "q".
FIRSTS
*Beulah got her first tooth!! Two actually! Her two bottom, front teeth are peeking through. I haven't gotten a picture because everytime she opens her mouth, her tongue covers it up.
*Beulah saw the ocean for the first time over Thanksgiving! While visiting Andy's parents in FL, we went to St. Augustine for a day. It was COLD, so she didn't get in the water. But, since she falls asleep to ocean waves on her sound machine every night, she fell asleep as we walked to the sound of real ocean waves. :)
*Beulah met a large number of her extended family over Thanksgiving in FL.
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES
*Sometimes when we make eye contact, she'll just laugh out of the blue. Love it!
*While sitting on her bottom, she bounces from her pelvis while flapping her arms up and down. (see video)
*After she wakes up, she peeks through the slats in the crib at us when we come in and squeals with excitement.
*Sometimes she'll cover her ears with her hands. Unfortunately, the first time she did it was when she was being introduced to her adult cousin for the first time. :)
*She holds her bottle with her hands AND feet. (see picture)
* She chews on and rolls her tongue. The most common comments we get from strangers are about her blue eyes or her tongue.
*She's been "blowing raspberries" with her lips for a while, but now she does it with her tongue too.
*She sits "cris-cross" (or "Indian style" if you're from my generation or before).
*She pats my shoulder when I pick her up or while she's nursing.
*While laying tummy to tummy when nursing, she tries to stand and bend forward to nurse.
*Sometimes while nursing, she rubs her feet together really fast.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH SMILE/LAUGH
*When she bangs things together, she smiles. (see video)
And now for even more videos than last month!
shaker = teething tabs
symbol = lid from toilet paper holder
creative inspiration = blinds?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Beulah, 7 Months!
My Boo is 7 months old today! Everyday Andy and I say to each other, "She is awesome!" We are overwhelmed by the blessing of having Beulah in our lives. There is not much more exciting than watching a human being accomplish something she couldn't the day before. She has grown into such a happy and delightful little girl.
Many people have said that Beulah looks more and more like me the older she gets. I love it that she crinkles her nose when she smiles, because I do that too (see pictures below). She also loves to stretch her body like me when she wakes up. Andy loves to watch the two of us do our morning stretches together. The crazy thing is, she naturally stretches the exact same way I do! She's growing like a weed, so we had to raise her jumper because her legs have gotten so long. When she stands on my lap, her head is higher than mine!
Beulah's sleeping continues to get better and better. She's now taking at least two 2 + hour naps a day. And, even better, she sleeps for 11 hour stretches at night, only waking once or twice! Several nights she has slept seven hours straight before waking up, and then went right back to sleep! Praise the Lord! We are ALL doing SO much better these days!
NEW THINGS BEULAH CAN DO
*She's crawling!! (see video below) Andy's mom said Andy crawled the exact same way when he was a baby. This morning she crawled all the way across the living room to get to me! My heart was so full!
*She babbles M's, D's, and B's. If she wants something, all she has to do is babble a "Ma ma", and I'll do whatever she wants. :)
*She can pull up half-way (to her knees)!
FIRSTS
*solid foods: sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, squash and corn. Carrots are her favorite.
*She had her first cold. Fortunately it was a short, two day cold.
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES
*She gives me kisses! Well, actually, she puts her wide-open mouth to mine, smiles, and licks my mouth. Oh well...it's sweet and I love it!
*She raises both her arms above her head, and we say, "so big!"
*She lays on her back, holding her feet in her hands, and opens her legs straight out to each side.
*She sits on her bottom and leans forward to suck her toes. (see video below) Hilarious!
*Sometimes she'll play while her legs are in a straddle split. (see picture below)
*She'll look at her hand while opening and closing it repeatedly.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH SMILE/LAUGH
*She always smiles when mama blows her kisses or makes kissey faces across the room.
*Our amateur beat boxing always makes her happy.
*Her best laughs come when we munch her belly or her neck. (see video)
*She loves to go places and steals the show when she flashes her smiles and blue eyes at passers-by.
It seems that Beulah will have a pretty strong personality. She can be very feisty and determined. She'll throw a toy when she's finished playing with it. And, if she doesn't want you to do something, she will PUSH you away from her. Sometimes I feel like I'm wrestling with her when I put her shirt on. Often I just have to pin her arms down! But, if she wants something, she's going to go for it, and you better be ready. Last Wednesday I wasn't ready. I was standing while holding her when she turned and threw her weight back. She fell back against the arm of the chair and because I was still holding her legs, she continued to fall until her HEAD stopped on the floor. I immediately dropped to my knees while holding her close and started praying that God would protect her, heal her, spare her... When she calmed down, I nursed her and saw that her mouth was bleeding. That was the greatest moment of horror I've ever experienced. Andy and I checked her out and couldn't find the source of the blood. But, by then she was smiling and acting normal. We're guessing her gums smacked together and that's what caused the blood. That or something was really wrong and God had mercy and healed her on the spot! I wouldn't doubt it! People keep saying, "It happens to everybody!" But, I can't say that makes me feel any better.
Since I dropped her, I've been much more cautious. But, unfortunately, that doesn't keep things from happening to a mobile baby. The next morning she leaned forward in the tub and sucked water up her nose and mouth. That afternoon she was sitting in the floor and leaned forward to reach for something and hit her head on a door frame. She constantly crawls towards cords, and is not afraid to throw herself towards whatever she wants. Yesterday she was sitting with me on the bed, and Andy came over to sit with us while he was brushing his teeth. In a matter of a split second, she "leapt" out of my arms and across the bed, reaching for his tooth brush. We were both in shock. Thankfully she didn't get hurt because she was on the bed. Whew! The ol' ticker can't take it! Andy said, "Honey, you better get used to this." I told him that I think she's trying to kill herself!
Despite the bumps and bruises, it is such a joy to parent this child and watch her grow. Thank you, God, for allowing me to be her mama.
Many people have said that Beulah looks more and more like me the older she gets. I love it that she crinkles her nose when she smiles, because I do that too (see pictures below). She also loves to stretch her body like me when she wakes up. Andy loves to watch the two of us do our morning stretches together. The crazy thing is, she naturally stretches the exact same way I do! She's growing like a weed, so we had to raise her jumper because her legs have gotten so long. When she stands on my lap, her head is higher than mine!
Beulah's sleeping continues to get better and better. She's now taking at least two 2 + hour naps a day. And, even better, she sleeps for 11 hour stretches at night, only waking once or twice! Several nights she has slept seven hours straight before waking up, and then went right back to sleep! Praise the Lord! We are ALL doing SO much better these days!
NEW THINGS BEULAH CAN DO
*She's crawling!! (see video below) Andy's mom said Andy crawled the exact same way when he was a baby. This morning she crawled all the way across the living room to get to me! My heart was so full!
*She babbles M's, D's, and B's. If she wants something, all she has to do is babble a "Ma ma", and I'll do whatever she wants. :)
*She can pull up half-way (to her knees)!
FIRSTS
*solid foods: sweet potatoes, carrots, green beans, squash and corn. Carrots are her favorite.
*She had her first cold. Fortunately it was a short, two day cold.
CUTE THINGS BEULAH DOES
*She gives me kisses! Well, actually, she puts her wide-open mouth to mine, smiles, and licks my mouth. Oh well...it's sweet and I love it!
*She raises both her arms above her head, and we say, "so big!"
*She lays on her back, holding her feet in her hands, and opens her legs straight out to each side.
*She sits on her bottom and leans forward to suck her toes. (see video below) Hilarious!
*Sometimes she'll play while her legs are in a straddle split. (see picture below)
*She'll look at her hand while opening and closing it repeatedly.
THINGS THAT MAKE BEULAH SMILE/LAUGH
*She always smiles when mama blows her kisses or makes kissey faces across the room.
*Our amateur beat boxing always makes her happy.
*Her best laughs come when we munch her belly or her neck. (see video)
*She loves to go places and steals the show when she flashes her smiles and blue eyes at passers-by.
It seems that Beulah will have a pretty strong personality. She can be very feisty and determined. She'll throw a toy when she's finished playing with it. And, if she doesn't want you to do something, she will PUSH you away from her. Sometimes I feel like I'm wrestling with her when I put her shirt on. Often I just have to pin her arms down! But, if she wants something, she's going to go for it, and you better be ready. Last Wednesday I wasn't ready. I was standing while holding her when she turned and threw her weight back. She fell back against the arm of the chair and because I was still holding her legs, she continued to fall until her HEAD stopped on the floor. I immediately dropped to my knees while holding her close and started praying that God would protect her, heal her, spare her... When she calmed down, I nursed her and saw that her mouth was bleeding. That was the greatest moment of horror I've ever experienced. Andy and I checked her out and couldn't find the source of the blood. But, by then she was smiling and acting normal. We're guessing her gums smacked together and that's what caused the blood. That or something was really wrong and God had mercy and healed her on the spot! I wouldn't doubt it! People keep saying, "It happens to everybody!" But, I can't say that makes me feel any better.
Since I dropped her, I've been much more cautious. But, unfortunately, that doesn't keep things from happening to a mobile baby. The next morning she leaned forward in the tub and sucked water up her nose and mouth. That afternoon she was sitting in the floor and leaned forward to reach for something and hit her head on a door frame. She constantly crawls towards cords, and is not afraid to throw herself towards whatever she wants. Yesterday she was sitting with me on the bed, and Andy came over to sit with us while he was brushing his teeth. In a matter of a split second, she "leapt" out of my arms and across the bed, reaching for his tooth brush. We were both in shock. Thankfully she didn't get hurt because she was on the bed. Whew! The ol' ticker can't take it! Andy said, "Honey, you better get used to this." I told him that I think she's trying to kill herself!
Despite the bumps and bruises, it is such a joy to parent this child and watch her grow. Thank you, God, for allowing me to be her mama.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Half-Birthday Already?!!
Around 5 months, we hit our stride. Beulah started sleeping better (2 hour naps and waking only twice at night!), which meant Andy and I started sleeping better. With more sleep, medication, and help from loved ones, I also started to lighten up. I finally feel like myself again! And, whether it is because I am less stressed, because she's sleeping better or because she's just maturing, Beulah seems SO much happier! This past month, being parents has felt more like we'd always dreamed it would; rewarding and FUN!
Beulah's moving all over the place now! I have to keep my eyes on her at all times, because before I know it, she'll be halfway across the room. She's not crawling yet, but she is doing what they call "creeping". She'll roll over and over or push herself with her feet to get wherever she wants to go. And, this month, she hit her biggest milestone yet...sitting up! I never understood how exciting these milestones are for parents until now!
Beulah is too tall for her 3-6 month clothes, so we've switched to 6-9. Her Ninnie and Nana came to visit this month, and instead of them having to do damage control, we got to play! We did quite a bit of shopping. Poor Beulah. We drug her around until we wore her out. Ninnie got Beulah ready for the cold weather coming up this fall/winter, and Nana couldn't resist the cute spring/summer dresses on sale. So, she is set, thanks to the generosity of her grandparents!
It seems that Beulah has entered the stranger anxiety phase a little early. There have been a few times when people have wanted to hold her, and she would poke her lip out and start to cry. Man, that lip will kill you! So pitiful! But, thankfully, she's still doing well in the church nursery.
My girl's also got a little fire in her. If we're trying to clean her face, give her teething tabs, button her shirts/sleepers and she doesn't want us to, she will swat our hands away. And, she's strong! So, sometimes one of us has to hold her hands while the other does what needs to be done. She's a feisty one! If you're not doing what she wants you to do fast enough, she'll squeal LOUD. And, if she's through with a toy, she'll throw it! But, all is well when she lights up at the sight of us and reaches her hands out to us. Well...she does that to Pedro too, but still. It's special. :)
The pictures and videos below may seem excessive, but I couldn't widdle them down any more. (Go ahead, call me a proud mama. I'll admit it!) Together, they give you a good idea of Beulah's bubbly personality, and what the past month has been like.
For my birthday in May 2008, several friends pooled their money together to get us a sitting with a photographer with the expectation that we'd be receiving our adopted child soon. I got pregnant in July 2008 + 9 months of pregnancy + a rough start to parenthood, and we just now redeemed it. :) Photos were taken by the talented Lori Winters.
Beulah was having a great time with Pedro until daddy coughed and almost knocked her off her seat!
Beulah's moving all over the place now! I have to keep my eyes on her at all times, because before I know it, she'll be halfway across the room. She's not crawling yet, but she is doing what they call "creeping". She'll roll over and over or push herself with her feet to get wherever she wants to go. And, this month, she hit her biggest milestone yet...sitting up! I never understood how exciting these milestones are for parents until now!
Beulah is too tall for her 3-6 month clothes, so we've switched to 6-9. Her Ninnie and Nana came to visit this month, and instead of them having to do damage control, we got to play! We did quite a bit of shopping. Poor Beulah. We drug her around until we wore her out. Ninnie got Beulah ready for the cold weather coming up this fall/winter, and Nana couldn't resist the cute spring/summer dresses on sale. So, she is set, thanks to the generosity of her grandparents!
It seems that Beulah has entered the stranger anxiety phase a little early. There have been a few times when people have wanted to hold her, and she would poke her lip out and start to cry. Man, that lip will kill you! So pitiful! But, thankfully, she's still doing well in the church nursery.
My girl's also got a little fire in her. If we're trying to clean her face, give her teething tabs, button her shirts/sleepers and she doesn't want us to, she will swat our hands away. And, she's strong! So, sometimes one of us has to hold her hands while the other does what needs to be done. She's a feisty one! If you're not doing what she wants you to do fast enough, she'll squeal LOUD. And, if she's through with a toy, she'll throw it! But, all is well when she lights up at the sight of us and reaches her hands out to us. Well...she does that to Pedro too, but still. It's special. :)
The pictures and videos below may seem excessive, but I couldn't widdle them down any more. (Go ahead, call me a proud mama. I'll admit it!) Together, they give you a good idea of Beulah's bubbly personality, and what the past month has been like.
For my birthday in May 2008, several friends pooled their money together to get us a sitting with a photographer with the expectation that we'd be receiving our adopted child soon. I got pregnant in July 2008 + 9 months of pregnancy + a rough start to parenthood, and we just now redeemed it. :) Photos were taken by the talented Lori Winters.
Beulah was having a great time with Pedro until daddy coughed and almost knocked her off her seat!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Beulah, 3-5 months!!
My baby girl is five months old! I can't believe it!! The biggest privilege and greatest joy in my life right now is to watch her interact with and respond to the world around her. I love to see her reactions to each new sight, sound or sensation. I knew all these milestones were coming, but I never anticipated how much joy each one would bring me.
Beulah is super alert and always afraid she's going to miss something. She has a big personality and a big smile to match it (as you can see in the pictures)! My new favorite sound is the sound of her laughter (see video), which is more frequent every day, especially since we've discovered that she's ticklish! One thing that will make her laugh every time (even if she's fussy) is Pedro. She squeals and giggles at him every time she sees him. He is so good with her, and they "play" together all the time. She also enjoys seeing herself in the mirror. Put her in front of one, and you're guaranteed at least a smile.
We've recently discovered that Beulah LOVES books. She gets a free book each month from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and we try to read to her each night before bed. Last month she received a sweet cardboard book called Peekaboo Morning. Its illustrations are colorful and its language is simplistic. We read it to her one night, and she seemed to get really excited, squealing and kicking her feet. So, we decided to read it to her again the next night. When we pulled it out and she saw it, she got so excited, she started moving her whole body! The third night, when Andy showed it to her, she gasped and looked at him in the eyes as if to say, "Are you serious?! Thanks, dad!" Yay, books!
Beulah's favorite toys are hands and feet. Whether hers or someone else's, she loves to play with them. She especially loves looking at painted toe nails. I was SO excited when she started sucking her toes. Precious! She seems bored with all the real toys we have, and would much rather play with a cup, water bottle, or Tupperware lid. She prefers toys that hang so she can grab and bat at them. Be sure to check out the picture of her nursing the elephant's trunk. Hilarious! And, what a joy it was to watch her roll over for the first time! It's so amazing to watch a tiny, helpless human become more independent and mobile every day! We love it when she joins us for dinner, sitting in her Bumbo seat (which she loves!) on the table top. Cuteness!
It appears that Beulah will have quite a sense of humor. For about a week, she started talking in a funny voice that we labeled the "man voice". She would tuck her chin, looking at you out of the tops of her eyes, and talk in this deep, throaty voice. So funny! And, at night, when she's tired, she either gets really silly or really grumpy. If she's grumpy, WATCH-OUT! Especially if we're trying to put her in her car seat; she will stiffen her body so tight that we can't bend her to sit her down!
Beulah visited my parents' house for the first time in July, and Andy's parents' in August. She met her great-grandmother on her visit to FL. It was such a blessing to see her interact with that great woman, and get some pictures of them together. Beulah also got to go swimming for the first time in her Nana & Pop Pop's pool! She LOVED it, which was no surprise since she loves baths so much.
Last month, it was a big deal for baby AND mama when Beulah went to the church nursery for the first time! That morning, I felt very strongly that I needed to put her in the nursery. When I got there and saw that there were nursery workers who I loved and trusted and who knew Beulah, I felt comfortable leaving her with them. Sure, I had so many butterflies in my stomach that I could have thrown-up, but I didn't even check on her one time during service! And, when I went to pick her up, my sweet friend Kylie was holding Beulah the same way I hold her when she's in pain. I didn't even tell her! God orchestrated that for sure! It was very healing for me to be in worship again. I am so thankful that we have a safe place for our babies while we focus on the LORD.
We finally took the changing pad out of Beulah's crib! Sometimes, she would wake up and start playing with the mobile; batting at the animals. As she reached up, she pushed with her feet and would end up with her head off the end of the changing pad. So, we took it away to see what would happen. And, lo and behold, the child flipped over onto her belly and went to sleep! We put her down on her back, and every single time, she flips to her stomach to go to sleep. As you can imagine, this helps with the legs flying up in the air. :) So, she is now a stomach sleeper who only wakes up twice a night and takes hour and a half naps! Praise the LORD!!!
Life is good. :)
Beulah is super alert and always afraid she's going to miss something. She has a big personality and a big smile to match it (as you can see in the pictures)! My new favorite sound is the sound of her laughter (see video), which is more frequent every day, especially since we've discovered that she's ticklish! One thing that will make her laugh every time (even if she's fussy) is Pedro. She squeals and giggles at him every time she sees him. He is so good with her, and they "play" together all the time. She also enjoys seeing herself in the mirror. Put her in front of one, and you're guaranteed at least a smile.
We've recently discovered that Beulah LOVES books. She gets a free book each month from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and we try to read to her each night before bed. Last month she received a sweet cardboard book called Peekaboo Morning. Its illustrations are colorful and its language is simplistic. We read it to her one night, and she seemed to get really excited, squealing and kicking her feet. So, we decided to read it to her again the next night. When we pulled it out and she saw it, she got so excited, she started moving her whole body! The third night, when Andy showed it to her, she gasped and looked at him in the eyes as if to say, "Are you serious?! Thanks, dad!" Yay, books!
Beulah's favorite toys are hands and feet. Whether hers or someone else's, she loves to play with them. She especially loves looking at painted toe nails. I was SO excited when she started sucking her toes. Precious! She seems bored with all the real toys we have, and would much rather play with a cup, water bottle, or Tupperware lid. She prefers toys that hang so she can grab and bat at them. Be sure to check out the picture of her nursing the elephant's trunk. Hilarious! And, what a joy it was to watch her roll over for the first time! It's so amazing to watch a tiny, helpless human become more independent and mobile every day! We love it when she joins us for dinner, sitting in her Bumbo seat (which she loves!) on the table top. Cuteness!
It appears that Beulah will have quite a sense of humor. For about a week, she started talking in a funny voice that we labeled the "man voice". She would tuck her chin, looking at you out of the tops of her eyes, and talk in this deep, throaty voice. So funny! And, at night, when she's tired, she either gets really silly or really grumpy. If she's grumpy, WATCH-OUT! Especially if we're trying to put her in her car seat; she will stiffen her body so tight that we can't bend her to sit her down!
Beulah visited my parents' house for the first time in July, and Andy's parents' in August. She met her great-grandmother on her visit to FL. It was such a blessing to see her interact with that great woman, and get some pictures of them together. Beulah also got to go swimming for the first time in her Nana & Pop Pop's pool! She LOVED it, which was no surprise since she loves baths so much.
Last month, it was a big deal for baby AND mama when Beulah went to the church nursery for the first time! That morning, I felt very strongly that I needed to put her in the nursery. When I got there and saw that there were nursery workers who I loved and trusted and who knew Beulah, I felt comfortable leaving her with them. Sure, I had so many butterflies in my stomach that I could have thrown-up, but I didn't even check on her one time during service! And, when I went to pick her up, my sweet friend Kylie was holding Beulah the same way I hold her when she's in pain. I didn't even tell her! God orchestrated that for sure! It was very healing for me to be in worship again. I am so thankful that we have a safe place for our babies while we focus on the LORD.
We finally took the changing pad out of Beulah's crib! Sometimes, she would wake up and start playing with the mobile; batting at the animals. As she reached up, she pushed with her feet and would end up with her head off the end of the changing pad. So, we took it away to see what would happen. And, lo and behold, the child flipped over onto her belly and went to sleep! We put her down on her back, and every single time, she flips to her stomach to go to sleep. As you can imagine, this helps with the legs flying up in the air. :) So, she is now a stomach sleeper who only wakes up twice a night and takes hour and a half naps! Praise the LORD!!!
Life is good. :)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Beulah's First 12 weeks
Beulah is 12 weeks old. I can't believe it! As I was putting away her newborn sized clothes, I was amazed at how TINY she was and how much she's grown! She's around 12 lbs now and growing!
We've decided that she has her daddy's facial features with my facial muscle structure and shape. She is very expressive, like me, crinkling her eye brows and nose. As you can see from the pictures and video below, she's got such a happy disposition and a smile that will melt your heart. The only time she's not smiling is when she has gas pain. Seriously, she even smiles in her sleep (see pics)! And, in the middle of the night when I change her diaper and put her back down, she's always flashing smiles. I think it's her way of trying to get me to stay up and play...tempting!
Speaking of playtime, she loves her floor gym, especially the hanging monkey. She laughs at him, the hanging bumblebee on her swing, and the ceiling fans. I caught her having a riveting conversation with the bee the other day. Too cute! She doesn't like tummy time too much, but loves her daily anatomy lesson. I start at her toes, and with my silly voices I tickle and name her body parts. As soon as I start, she starts grinning. We also say our ABCs and count while I work her legs doing the bicycle. This helps with her gas too. Fun and functional!
Beulah loves baths. One night she was pretty fussy, but needed a bath. The minute we put her in the warm water, she stopped fussing and started smiling! Bingo! Now we know! We've recently discovered that she has another comfort (besides baths, nursing or the paci), her snugglie. It's a miniature blanket with the silk edges that we all loved as kids. Her "Aunt" Carrie sent it for her, and we're so glad she did! It says "Miracle" on it. :) She loves to hug it and sometimes chew on it when she's tired. Personally, I'm hoping she'll find her thumb soon so that she won't keep waking herself up when the paci falls out of her mouth.
Recently we've been trying to work her towards a manageable schedule. She is super alert and doesn't like to nap. So, I've been trying to be diligent about having her nap in her crib with the lights low and the sound machine on like at night. But, I haven't quite been able to put her down awake and let her put herself to sleep yet. I am much more of a wimp than I thought I would be! Ugh! We try to include books and a song in our routine. I've heard that if you sing the same song each time it will trigger her sleep memory, so I have altered the words to the old church song "Beulah Land" to say, "Beulah Grace, I'm thankful for you. And through life, I'll hold your hand. Child, my love shall be eternal. Beulah Grace, sweet Beulah Grace."
She has the funniest sleepy time routine. First, she starts talking. (I wonder if this will continue when she gets older!) Then, she'll do the best Stevie Wonder impression you've ever seen, at which time we sing "Isn't She Lovely" or "I Just Called To Say I Love You." As she turns her head from side to side, with her chin slightly raised for effect, the back of her head rubs whatever she's leaning against, which explains the bald spot. However, the hair just below it has been well preserved, which makes for a classic rat tail. Nice.
She's sleeping pretty well at night. One night she slept 9 hours! The next night she slept 7 hours. Ever since then, she gets up once in the night, usually because of gas, and then goes right back to sleep. She's only up for about 30 minutes total. She's been sleeping in her carseat (at the recommendation of the pediatric nurse), to help with reflux and gas. She sleeps much better on an incline, but we'll need to make the transition to the crib soon, so pray for that! She would much rather sleep on daddy or while nursing on mommy. :)
Beulah has gotten to know our doctors pretty well. Besides her one month check-up, we've taken her to the pediatrician for "excessive" weight loss (1 week old), gas, reflux, congestion, and baby acne. Sheesh! We've kept them in business! Lately, however, we've been taking her to a chiropractor for adjustments. She went four or five days without a BM, and her gas was unbearable. After a week of being adjusted, she has had multiple dirty diapers EVERY day! And yes, one of them covered most everything in the nursery. Let's just say I took the diaper off a second too soon and she went straight to the bath afterwards. :) But, since then, her gas pain has been MUCH more bearable than before, and her bouts of pain are more sparse. We could not be more grateful. We've also been able to take her off the Zantac that the pediatrician prescribed! We're happy to have found Dr. Bagwell's help when we did! I think we've found our new "pediatrician"!
At 11 weeks, Beulah discovered that she can touch things with her hands and feet. She's not super coordinated yet, but she's having a blast figuring it out, and it's fun to watch! She spends a lot of time looking at her hands and feet, and you can just see the wheels turning. What's next?!
People have been asking how Pedro (our 7 year old Boxer) has been with her. He totally loves her! He's been really good about not licking her with his abnormally large, stinky tongue, even though it's obvious he wants to. He walks past and sniffs her, and she just watches him and grins. When we go for walks, he walks right beside the stroller, turns when it turns, and looks in at her every 10 seconds. It's going to be fun watching them as she grows. I have a feeling they're going to adore each other.
Some of these pictures you've seen, some are new, so check them out! The video is an example of the joy I feel with her every day. I am so thankful for this time with this precious little angel.
We've decided that she has her daddy's facial features with my facial muscle structure and shape. She is very expressive, like me, crinkling her eye brows and nose. As you can see from the pictures and video below, she's got such a happy disposition and a smile that will melt your heart. The only time she's not smiling is when she has gas pain. Seriously, she even smiles in her sleep (see pics)! And, in the middle of the night when I change her diaper and put her back down, she's always flashing smiles. I think it's her way of trying to get me to stay up and play...tempting!
Speaking of playtime, she loves her floor gym, especially the hanging monkey. She laughs at him, the hanging bumblebee on her swing, and the ceiling fans. I caught her having a riveting conversation with the bee the other day. Too cute! She doesn't like tummy time too much, but loves her daily anatomy lesson. I start at her toes, and with my silly voices I tickle and name her body parts. As soon as I start, she starts grinning. We also say our ABCs and count while I work her legs doing the bicycle. This helps with her gas too. Fun and functional!
Beulah loves baths. One night she was pretty fussy, but needed a bath. The minute we put her in the warm water, she stopped fussing and started smiling! Bingo! Now we know! We've recently discovered that she has another comfort (besides baths, nursing or the paci), her snugglie. It's a miniature blanket with the silk edges that we all loved as kids. Her "Aunt" Carrie sent it for her, and we're so glad she did! It says "Miracle" on it. :) She loves to hug it and sometimes chew on it when she's tired. Personally, I'm hoping she'll find her thumb soon so that she won't keep waking herself up when the paci falls out of her mouth.
Recently we've been trying to work her towards a manageable schedule. She is super alert and doesn't like to nap. So, I've been trying to be diligent about having her nap in her crib with the lights low and the sound machine on like at night. But, I haven't quite been able to put her down awake and let her put herself to sleep yet. I am much more of a wimp than I thought I would be! Ugh! We try to include books and a song in our routine. I've heard that if you sing the same song each time it will trigger her sleep memory, so I have altered the words to the old church song "Beulah Land" to say, "Beulah Grace, I'm thankful for you. And through life, I'll hold your hand. Child, my love shall be eternal. Beulah Grace, sweet Beulah Grace."
She has the funniest sleepy time routine. First, she starts talking. (I wonder if this will continue when she gets older!) Then, she'll do the best Stevie Wonder impression you've ever seen, at which time we sing "Isn't She Lovely" or "I Just Called To Say I Love You." As she turns her head from side to side, with her chin slightly raised for effect, the back of her head rubs whatever she's leaning against, which explains the bald spot. However, the hair just below it has been well preserved, which makes for a classic rat tail. Nice.
She's sleeping pretty well at night. One night she slept 9 hours! The next night she slept 7 hours. Ever since then, she gets up once in the night, usually because of gas, and then goes right back to sleep. She's only up for about 30 minutes total. She's been sleeping in her carseat (at the recommendation of the pediatric nurse), to help with reflux and gas. She sleeps much better on an incline, but we'll need to make the transition to the crib soon, so pray for that! She would much rather sleep on daddy or while nursing on mommy. :)
Beulah has gotten to know our doctors pretty well. Besides her one month check-up, we've taken her to the pediatrician for "excessive" weight loss (1 week old), gas, reflux, congestion, and baby acne. Sheesh! We've kept them in business! Lately, however, we've been taking her to a chiropractor for adjustments. She went four or five days without a BM, and her gas was unbearable. After a week of being adjusted, she has had multiple dirty diapers EVERY day! And yes, one of them covered most everything in the nursery. Let's just say I took the diaper off a second too soon and she went straight to the bath afterwards. :) But, since then, her gas pain has been MUCH more bearable than before, and her bouts of pain are more sparse. We could not be more grateful. We've also been able to take her off the Zantac that the pediatrician prescribed! We're happy to have found Dr. Bagwell's help when we did! I think we've found our new "pediatrician"!
At 11 weeks, Beulah discovered that she can touch things with her hands and feet. She's not super coordinated yet, but she's having a blast figuring it out, and it's fun to watch! She spends a lot of time looking at her hands and feet, and you can just see the wheels turning. What's next?!
People have been asking how Pedro (our 7 year old Boxer) has been with her. He totally loves her! He's been really good about not licking her with his abnormally large, stinky tongue, even though it's obvious he wants to. He walks past and sniffs her, and she just watches him and grins. When we go for walks, he walks right beside the stroller, turns when it turns, and looks in at her every 10 seconds. It's going to be fun watching them as she grows. I have a feeling they're going to adore each other.
Some of these pictures you've seen, some are new, so check them out! The video is an example of the joy I feel with her every day. I am so thankful for this time with this precious little angel.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Talking at Nine Weeks?!
Beulah is practicing her vowel sounds. She will actually look us in the eyes and "talk" to us! Usually it means she's tired or hungry. Until she matches the vowels with appropriate consonants it will be a fun guessing game!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
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