Sitting Pretty

Mia Marie sat all by herself tonight!!! We are so excited! She's been doing a great job of sitting while we support her, and she's sat for a few seconds at a time before falling over, but tonight she sat for minutes and minutes all by herself. There were a few times when she started to fall backwards and I caught her (that happened when she tried to get her feet into her mouth as she sat), but when she started to fall forward or to the sides she caught or balanced herself. It was so fun to watch!! What a big girl she's getting to be!

In other news, I had my annual exam yesterday and the doctor commented that it appears I have an allergy to the suture material they used for my c-section. My lower abdomen is still swollen and it itches on occasion. But she acted like it was no big deal and will clear up on its own. We also discussed the timing of our next child. She said that if we're planning on having another, it's not too soon to start thinking about it. With my age, my PCOS, and the fact that it took us 9 months the first time, she's going to be proactive and test my progesterone levels after my next period. If they're okay, we won't do anything, but if they're low she'll give me a prescription for Clomid to use when we're ready. 

Family Fun

I took Ms. Mia to the doctor last week. She needed a check-up on her ear, since she still had fluid on her ear at her 4 month check-up. It was still there last week, but was not infected. They will check it again at her 6 month visit, and we will continue to keep our eyes open in case another ear infection presents itself. Otherwise, Mia has gotten even bigger, weighing in at 16 lbs, 7 oz. I asked the doctor again about the quantity of food we're feeding her, and she said we're right on track. She assured me Mia is not a fat baby because she's in the 90th percentile for height and only the 75th for weight. She's right on track, just a big baby!

In other news, the teething is getting pretty serious. She wants to gnaw on something almost all the time. I've caught her putting her paci in her mouth, chomping down on it really hard, and yanking it out of her mouth over and over. It must work her gums really well. She has several teething rings, keys, stuffed animals, etc. that she loves to chew on as well. I've had to remind myself that some of her stuffed animals have small eyes or ribbons on them that could choke her. I've had to go back and put away some things I thought would be okay for her.

Mike went to New York City for a trade show last week and Mia's grandparents took the opportunity to give me some time to relax by myself. Mia spent last Sunday with Granny and Grampy Hollkamp, last Tuesday and Wednesday with Nana and Pawpaw Wilson, and Friday with Mamaw and Papaw Robbins. The grandparents love to play dress-up with Mia, and she always comes home with new outfits and toys. Nana and Pawpaw were in rare form last week and decided to dress her up like a Bratz doll. Fortunately they took pictures, posted above. 

We got together for Sam's birthday over the weekend. Cousin Cara was in town so Mia got to hang out in the pool with her. That was pretty cute! Mia misses Cara and wishes they could play together more often. Mia loves spending time with cousins Sam and Emie also. They take such good care of her, feeding and holding her and especially making her laugh.

Mia Month Five

5 Months Old

Mia turned 5 months old last Saturday. I can't believe how quickly it's gone by. She's so much fun and I feel like I can't get enough of her. I love hearing her laugh and I can't imagine a sweeter feeling than when she smiles at me. She definitely knows Mike and I are special people to her and she loves watching us to see where we are and what we're doing. She loves to talk to us and my favorite conversations with her are in the car. Sometimes I give her a commentary on what we're doing or where we're going. Other times I speak "Mia" and mimic the sounds she makes.

Mia still loves doing anything that involves using her legs. She still likes to kick the rattles when she's on her mat, but now she also loves to jump in her bouncy activity center. Of course when she tires of those things she uses her legs to propel her feet straight into her mouth, another favorite pastime. She also likes to put her fingers, fists, teething rings, toys, bibs, blankets, my fingers, my hair - basically anything she can get her hands on - into her mouth. She's a drooler these days also.

Mia is now sleeping on her belly, unswaddled. She sleeps just as soundly that way as she did when swaddled, so we're happy. We use the angel monitor for peace of mind, but we try to remind ourselves that we slept on our bellies and we are (reasonably) okay! The only difficulty I've run into is when she's not completely tired and I put her down. She likes to roll around and usually ends up rolling onto her back. I have yet to witness her rolling from her back to her stomach, so she stays on her back, playing and kicking and pulling her paci out of her mouth. So we end up making several trips to turn her back over and get that paci back in her mouth.

Mia has now eaten rice cereal, green beans, squash, carrots and sweet potatoes. The carrots are her favorite so far. She is one messy eater, and I've quickly learned that even the toughest stain removers aren't so great on orange stains.

Mike and I have been working on helping Mia learn to do some things herself. We're trying to get her to hold her bottles more often. I purchased some cups for babies her age with progressive nipples that graduate to more of a sippy cup type. We're making her work a little to get that paci back in her mouth when she pulls it out and to work her way over to toys she wants when she's playing on the floor. She definitely has a temper and gets very mad when she can't get that toy or paci as quickly as she'd like. But at this age her anger just makes us laugh. It's definitely much more important for her to learn to problem solve on her own.

Tonight I worked on sitting with Mia. She can sit like a tripod, with her hands in front of her to support her. I put her between my legs with her back to me. I scattered blocks around her to encourage her to reach forward and to the sides, using her back muscles to come back to the sitting position. My legs were also there to keep her from falling too far to either side. She did really well. Later, when she was in her bathtub, I put her toy out in front of her. She repeatedly pulled herself up to sitting from a reclined position so she could get her toy.

Some other things of note are that Mia loves her book "Pat the Bunny", she has taken an interest in the dogs and likes to feel them, and she likes to put her hands on our faces. My favorite is when she puts both hands on either side of my face and she leans in to me so that our foreheads are touching. Oh...that girl has completely stolen my heart.

Also thought I would mention that a doctor asked me yesterday when I was expecting. I said five months ago and made some jokes about the weight not coming off as quickly as I'd like, blah, blah, blah. Then I went and cried my eyes out. I know I don't look as bad as that comment made me feel, but I will absolutely admit that my perceptions of how women should look five months after having a baby were very different from the reality I face every day. I really didn't have a clue how hard it is to lose the weight, how much my body would change, how puffy and swollen my c-section area would still be, how sponge-like my stomach would still feel even though I've managed to tighten the muscles underneath, and how my appetite wouldn't automatically be curbed just because I'm no longer pregnant. After working all day and then trying to play, feed, bathe and put Mia to bed, then clean and do laundry, occasionally go to the gym, and spend time with Mike once he gets home from the store, it's much easier to go for quick and easy food instead of healthy. So getting my pre-baby body back is proving to be quite a challenge. The best thing that has come from me sharing that story has been hearing several other people say the same thing happened to them. It lets me know that it's okay to be where I am now, and I wanted to put this on here so other new moms or future moms won't beat themselves up like I have. 

21 Weeks

Well, I spoke too soon. The swaddle isn't gone just yet. In the interest of all of us continuing to sleep at night, I found a compromise and am only swaddling Mia's arms. Her legs are free so she can still move herself around well, but she's not whacking herself in the head or inadvertently pulling her paci out of her mouth. It's working for now so we're sticking with it.

Mia is a big fan of squash and carrots. She also has a sippy cup and can hold it herself, although when the liquid gets low I have to help hold her arms up so she continues to get something out of it. Mia hasn't scooted anymore, but she did play in the pool with Nana, Pawpaw and Emie today and they reported that she was kicking and moving her arms. I'm sure she'll be an Olympic swimmer in no time!

Mom and I took Mia up to visit Missy and Cara last weekend. We had a great time with the babies and we even got in some scrapbooking when they were in bed. Mamaw Carol watched Mia while Mike and I had a very much needed date night on Sunday. With so much going on, we really need those nights to reconnect. Thank you Carol!

My heart just swells when I look at my girl. Her smile can make my heart ache, I love her so much. I will truly do anything to make her smile, and she just loves when Mike and I talk and play with her. She knows we're special people to her, and her love for us has made us fall for her even harder. Mom commented last weekend that I'm so confident with Mia, and she's right. I know how to read Mia and I know what she needs from me just about all the time. I'm not naive enough to believe I'll always have all the answers she needs, but my confidence comes from knowing I love her enough to always keep working to figure it out. She's my baby, and I trust that my love for her will always lead me in the right direction.

20 Weeks Old

Mia has broken free of her swaddle for good. She's far too big for it now, and last night rolled over onto her tummy while swaddled. After several attempts, we know she will not sleep on her back without being swaddled, so we have fretted all day about what to do. I've done some research today and I'm going to buy a breathing monitor so I can put her to sleep on her tummy. She's also been waking up several times a night the past few nights. I wonder if she's going through another growth spurt, or if it's just the swaddle issues that's causing her to wake? We'll see how tonight goes.

Mia's not eating "real food" as heartily as I thought she would. She eats the rice cereal best, but just kind of plays around with the green beans. I have carrots, sweet potatoes and squash to try over the next few weeks, so maybe she's just not a green bean fan. I've also decided not to get her a high chair. I've seen boosters for babies her size that you attach to your kitchen chairs. They have play trays on top so the baby is occupied while you're making dinner, then you remove those when it's time to eat. They save space in the kitchen, plus they fold up so you can take them to grandparents' or a restaurant. Guess I'll buy that tonight when I'm getting the breathing monitor.

Toot Scoot Boogie

Mia's had a very upset tummy the past couple days. We've changed 6 dirty diapers so far today. Fun times. As usual my stomach has been upset also, since our bellyaches typically coincide. Mine is clearing up so I'm hopeful hers will be soon.

I have been more diligent regarding Mia's tummy time and tonight it paid off. She scooted herself forward! I put a toy in front of her and she pulled her legs up under her and scooted forward. The funny part was that she did not use her arms, so she was basically scooting on her face also. It didn't seem to faze her, so it was incredibly funny. That girl is so entertaining!

On a Mommy/Daddy note, Mike and I had a date night last night. We went out for sushi dinner, drank lots of wine, and kept the party going once we got home. Thank you so much to Carol and Brent for keeping Mia while we reconnected. It was very much needed relaxation!

Jabber jaws

Mia loves to hear herself talk. Every evening on our drive home from daycare, we enjoy a lively conversation about her day. She is very animated, and loves to try to mimic my tone. She really keeps us entertained with her jabbering and we can't wait to hear all she has on her mind.

Mia continues to be a kicker. She is always moving! She was like that prior to birth, so it's no surprise to me, but I can't imagine how we'll keep up with her once she's mobile.

She ate green beans for the first time yesterday. She didn't care much for the taste, and had a belly ache afterward. I'm not sure it was just from the beans though, because she'd had a belly ache Thursday evening, and last night Mike and I both got sick to our stomachs as well. So I may try the green beans again.

We spent our Independence Day with Mom, Bruce, Bernie and Sally, drinking and playing cards. Mia sat at the table and entertained us while we played. We had a great time!

MODA had a great first week. We've already had repeat customers, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. We're pretty excited!

Eating habits

MODA's grand opening was a huge success. It was a long weekend, but Mia was a trooper, hanging out and entertaining everyone with her smiles and giggles. She now has a tickle spot that Mike and I both found today. It's under her chin and it's hilarious to see her laugh so hard when we find it.

The cereal hasn't been a big hit. Mia will eat some, but grows tired of it pretty quickly. Judging from the attached picture, she appears to prefer to snack on her toys instead. She's doing better with tummy time also. She pushed her arms up straight yesterday and held them for a second. She's been so anti-tummy time that I've been worried she wouldn't develop well enough to crawl on time. But she appears to be a quick learner.