A Post Long Overdue!
The warmer weather, preoccupation with Caroline as she becomes more entertaining every day, the decision to move our family away for a year and pure laziness are just a few of the excuses of why I haven’t written in over a month! Here’s a summary of what’s been going on.
Growing So Fast!
I stopped reading the books when they were telling me all the things Caroline should be doing and saying at six months that she just wasn’t. I know babies do things at their own pace and now at seven months, things are happening fast! I believe it was June 12th that I took the boppy away from her and she had no problem sitting there by herself without falling backwards. She’s enjoying the new perspective and can entertain herself for a lot longer, sitting on the floor surrounded by toys. Who can blame her…our ceiling isn’t the most exciting view.
Just this past week she’s started clapping her hands together, scrunching up her nose when she smiles and saying “ba..ba..ba..ba..” over and over starting from the moment she wakes up. This morning, she even scooted her bottom a couple centimeters back on the floor! The trick that takes the cake and melts my heart, however, is when she kisses the air. These are all major milestones in my book.
Support Group 101
Yesterday was my 4th time attending the breastfeeding group. I decided to stop asking questions because to get a satisfactory answer, this is how the question would have to go:
- From birth to six and a half months Caroline did this…
- But for the past week or so she’s been doing this…
- I’ve tried a, b and c without success
- I know x, y and z won’t work because…
- So what solution will work for her?
After rehearsing the question in my head, which takes no less than twenty minutes, I realize that it would be difficult for anyone to come up with a solution without knowing Caroline to the extent I do. The problem is that every baby is unique. There is not one solution that will work for them all. I say it all the time, but obviously still have not fully embraced the fact that only I know what’s best for my own baby. It takes trial and error to figure things out, but whatever solution I come up with will be the right one because I’m intelligent, in tune with my baby, and I will always do what I believe is best for Caroline.
In the beginning, I was embarrassed to admit I even thought about attending a support group like this one. I have since realized there are so many benefits, even when I leave with no more insight to getting Caroline to sleep, which is always our #1 problem. It is so much fun to see the other babies at different ages and stages; some lying in their car seats just a few days old, and others crawling all around the room stealing everyone’s toys. It helps my mental state to know that other mothers struggle too every once in a while. I have so much respect and admiration for every woman in that room. As I sit with Caroline on the floor, with an apologetic look on my face as she happily giggles and shouts over the adult conversation going on, I can’t help but feel like we're doing okay. I always leave in a better state of mind. If I can just stop being so self-conscious and open up a bit more, I might even make one or two stroller buddies over the next couple weeks.
The Big Move
As I mentioned previously, one of the main reasons I haven’t written is the preoccupation with our decision to move out of the country for a year. We’ve been doing much research, planning and have even created a website about it. I think a change of scenery and culture will break up the monotony that goes along with being home all day, every day. It’s the perfect time in our life to try living abroad, since Caroline isn’t in school yet and a great opportunity for our little family to bond even more.
Growing So Fast!
I stopped reading the books when they were telling me all the things Caroline should be doing and saying at six months that she just wasn’t. I know babies do things at their own pace and now at seven months, things are happening fast! I believe it was June 12th that I took the boppy away from her and she had no problem sitting there by herself without falling backwards. She’s enjoying the new perspective and can entertain herself for a lot longer, sitting on the floor surrounded by toys. Who can blame her…our ceiling isn’t the most exciting view.
Just this past week she’s started clapping her hands together, scrunching up her nose when she smiles and saying “ba..ba..ba..ba..” over and over starting from the moment she wakes up. This morning, she even scooted her bottom a couple centimeters back on the floor! The trick that takes the cake and melts my heart, however, is when she kisses the air. These are all major milestones in my book.
Support Group 101
Yesterday was my 4th time attending the breastfeeding group. I decided to stop asking questions because to get a satisfactory answer, this is how the question would have to go:
- From birth to six and a half months Caroline did this…
- But for the past week or so she’s been doing this…
- I’ve tried a, b and c without success
- I know x, y and z won’t work because…
- So what solution will work for her?
After rehearsing the question in my head, which takes no less than twenty minutes, I realize that it would be difficult for anyone to come up with a solution without knowing Caroline to the extent I do. The problem is that every baby is unique. There is not one solution that will work for them all. I say it all the time, but obviously still have not fully embraced the fact that only I know what’s best for my own baby. It takes trial and error to figure things out, but whatever solution I come up with will be the right one because I’m intelligent, in tune with my baby, and I will always do what I believe is best for Caroline.
In the beginning, I was embarrassed to admit I even thought about attending a support group like this one. I have since realized there are so many benefits, even when I leave with no more insight to getting Caroline to sleep, which is always our #1 problem. It is so much fun to see the other babies at different ages and stages; some lying in their car seats just a few days old, and others crawling all around the room stealing everyone’s toys. It helps my mental state to know that other mothers struggle too every once in a while. I have so much respect and admiration for every woman in that room. As I sit with Caroline on the floor, with an apologetic look on my face as she happily giggles and shouts over the adult conversation going on, I can’t help but feel like we're doing okay. I always leave in a better state of mind. If I can just stop being so self-conscious and open up a bit more, I might even make one or two stroller buddies over the next couple weeks.
The Big Move
As I mentioned previously, one of the main reasons I haven’t written is the preoccupation with our decision to move out of the country for a year. We’ve been doing much research, planning and have even created a website about it. I think a change of scenery and culture will break up the monotony that goes along with being home all day, every day. It’s the perfect time in our life to try living abroad, since Caroline isn’t in school yet and a great opportunity for our little family to bond even more.
posted by Alissa at 10:00 PM
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