Friday, August 29, 2008

First Night Apart

Last night was my first night away from Marlee...not necessarily by choice. I got a call at 6pm that a client's water had broken. By midnight, she was ready for me to come to her house to help her labor. After a very long night, her little boy was born just before noon today. I knew it would happen eventually...I've been really lucky with labor timing so far. Still, it was a little sad to know that MJ was waking up without me. :( I guess there's a first time for everything.

On a related note, I am really really tired.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

More Cuteness!

Click here for the Schug Shots from Marlee's party. We're lucky Marlee's godfather is such a talented photographer!

Click here for a slide show of Marlee's portrait session at the park with Lori.

One Year Check-Up

Marlee had her one year well visit today, and it was good all-around. We were surprised to learn that she weighs 20 pounds, 2 ounces! That's the 31st percentile! She's 29 inches tall. She has finally started to drink milk (I had to mix it with a bit of yummy yogurt), which should make weaning a bit easier. My plan is to cut back to nursing twice a day for now. We also got a thumbs up from her pediatrician on the selective/delayed vaccine schedule I planned. So, other than a couple toe pricks for blood, the appointment was good.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Party!


Here's the first of many party pics...thanks to Uncle Mike!

Saturday, August 23, 2008

One Year Pictures

Click here for a sneak peek at MJ's portrait session with Lori.

Good Night My Someone

I just put Marlee to bed for the last night before she turns one. As I sang her her lullaby for the 366th time (leap year!), I got a little teary-eyed. I'm not sure if she noticed a quiver in my voice or just sensed my emotions, but she squeezed a little tighter and pat my back.

At this time a year ago, Michael called to tell me he was on his way home from a meeting. His mom had just left, and I told him I had been feeling some contractions. I had been having them on and off for weeks, but I joked, "You never know. Tonight could be the night!" And it was. It was the night...and the following day that changed my life forever. And for so much better.

I am so in love with my baby girl and so proud of her. She's sweet, silly, and smart. Truly a bundle of joy. Who knew I could love so much?

Here are 12 things about Marlee at 12 months:

1. Walking? That's the question on everyone's mind. I dunno. Maybe she is. I think not quite. She'll take a few steps, but I'm waiting to call it walking until she can cross a room.

2. Talking...oh yes. She has quite the little vocabulary. The most recent addition is "fish."

3. She makes animal sounds and will answer, "What does the doggy say?" She can also do kitty, and best of all, beats her (or your) chest with fists when asked what the gorilla says.

4. Smarty pants can identify pictures in a book...mostly animals. She'll point to dogs, cats, cows, chinchillas (yes, chinchillas), gorillas and more when you ask her to find them. She can also identify lots of real life items. Some she had down months ago (chupa, shoe, book, cup), but now she's branching out (banana, red fox, baby).

5. She's a great eater! Her favorite foods are blueberries, mac n cheese and saffron rice with black beans, but she'll eat just about anything.

6. She's still a signing machine and goes a bit overboard with the sign for "more."

7. She can sort items (we use wooden beads) by color (two colors, but not yet three).

8. She has two full teeth and four partials.

9. She always wants to be a helper. First it was unloading the dishwasher. Now its flushing the toilet.

10. She LOVES to read and be read to. She'll hand you a book, then climb into your lap and wait for you to get the hint.

11. She has not only masted the art of climbing up onto furniture, but can finally also get down. It's adorable to watch her scoot to the edge of the bed, lie on her belly, and lower her feet down.

12. She is the greatest, most wonderful, fabulousiest baby in the world...at least in my book.

Happy Birthday My Someone!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

What Part of "Nur-Na" Don't You Understand?

I have started the process of slowly and gently weaning Marlee. We've dropped one day time feeding, but I have to keep her distracted so she doesn't realize it. A few days ago, I got her up from her nap and sat on the floor to play (we used to nurse after every nap). After a while, MJ crawled in to my lap, nuzzled me, and said, "Nur-na (nurse)?" I said, "Not now. Ooh, let's read this book!" A few pages in..."Nur-na?" "Look! Mommy has your hippo!" "Nur-Na?" "Let's play music!" At this point, she crawled over to our end table, opened the drawer where I keep my nursing cover for times when we have company over, took it out, crawled back to me and put it in my lap. "NUR-NA!"

This is going to be harder than I thought.