Baby talk

How do you really know when a baby says their first word? They are saying dada and mama from so early on. Sure, sometimes they babble it, but other times you swear it is in reference to mommy or daddy. So I don't think I really want to count either of those as first words.
Also, there is the issue with not understanding what in the world a baby is saying even when they do start to talk. Maybe they have been "talking" for a long time, only you are too dumb to understand what they are saying! It just all so subjective, and it kind of stresses me out that I am expected to put a little "first word" sticker on a calendar to mark the momentous event.

Here is what prompted this post:
Last night, E and I were sitting on the floor. She went over to her hippo and started taking balls out of its mouth. Then she would hand them to me, one by one, saying "datzzzzz" each time. Now, she is obviously saying something because it was very deliberate. If she thinks she is saying an intelligible word, does that count? I am thinking she probably means "got" or "that", but she could be saying zebra or monkey for all I know!

Megan Grace

Megan Grace is a sweet little babe that hasn't even been born, yet she is already in the hearts of so many. Her mommy is an acquaintance on a local message board where we all share our ups and downs and questions and concerns. Well, Megan and her family are facing a really hard and heartbreaking battle.

At their 20 week anatomy ultrasound, Megan's parents, Amber and Steve, were given some distressing news. They found out that their baby likely had some form of dwarfism and made another appointment with a specialist the next morning to see what Megan and her parents would be facing. The diagnosis at this appointment was severe skeletal dysplasia, which means that little Megan may not be able to survive outside of her mommy more than a few moments.

I can only imagine how this news must have hit Amber and Steve, but they are remaining strong and going to give little Megan the chance to receive one of God's miracles. Amber is going to carry Megan to term and at the very least they will get to meet and hold her, and with God's Grace, who knows what may happen beyond that.

Please keep this family in your prayers and if you have a moment, check out the Blog set up for little Megan. There are going to be updates on her condition as well as ways that we can help her family.

She is just so dang cute!

Every day E just gets more and more...amazing... and we have found ourselves saying she is so- cute, smart, adorable- about a hundred times a day lately. It is so fun to just sit around when she has gone to bed, or while we are on the phone during lunch breaks, and tell stories back and forth about her. Just marvelling at what a sweet (and sassy) little girl she is becoming is one of my favorite parts of the day!
We love to find out what new thing she is doing each day and seeing her advance skills she already has. What a wonderful time in our lives!

Not the newbie anymore

Emily's little friend Lily has joined her in the Toddler I room. I don't feel so bad that E got forced up now that another baby has been too! She is probably right around 6 weeks younger than E, since they started daycare about the same time, but E was 12 weeks at the time rather than 6.
I hope she is adjusting OK- but at least now there are 2 babies that are crawling and cruising but not yet walking.
Which reminds me. E has been standing and balancing for a few seconds at a time recently. Her teacher says she has been doing it a lot when she is over checking out the book case. I think the key is to get her interested in a toy or book so she doesn't realize she isn't holding on to anything!
It would be really neat if she was walking by her birthday, but she has to get moving if that's going to happen :p

This time change thing might not be so bad...

I don't want to jinx it, but it looks like we may have lucked out with the time change. I was really worried Sunday when I was fighting just to keep Emily up until 6. Recently she has been sleeping 6:30pm to 5:30-or earlier, but she went down at 6 and slept 'til after 7 am. It was restless sleep, but at least she didn't get up even earlier than usual.
I thought we would try our luck last night and put her to sleep at 7. She got pretty fussy towards the end of our routine (bath, bottle, snuggle) but she went down easily and woke up around 6 am and drifted in and out of sleep for about an hour until I went in and got her at 7am.
I hope we can keep her bedtime pushed back so that I will get more time with her in the evenings and we can get in the routine of feeding her supper before bed! But like I said, this is only 1 1/2 days in the making, so she may just be adjusting to the new time and will go back to her old ways.

Oh the joys of wandering clueless down the path of parenthood!!

Is it spring yet?!

It sure feels like it! It's been so beautiful the last few days, and it would be a shame to get cold again. But NC weather is so schizo, that it might been snowing again in a week!

E and I took advantage and went out to the park where we met Callie and Mr Nate for some play and exercise!

E really enjoyed the swings :)