Six Months

How did it get to be six months already? It's almost inconceivable that it was half a year ago that we brought home a tiny, crying bundle. We were both so terrified of doing something wrong, of hurting her. I'm not certain about Minion #2, but for me, the time in the hospital was an oasis of calm, a reassuring time when I had experienced help just a few steps away and people who were there to take care of me.

Then we came home and all too soon I was on my own with only the barest idea of how to take care of this tiny person. Oh, I'd taken classes and read books. I'd helped my mom take care of my brother long ago when I was a small child myself. I'd baby sat for kids over the years. But I had no experience with a child this young, and I was terrified, and overwhelmed and exhausted. It was the hardest thing I've ever done.

Now, things are much easier. I'm not saying EASY, I'm saying easier. I have a much better idea of how to take care of her, of what she wants. She's better at communicating with me. She's perfectly happy playing with her toys for 10-15 minutes at time, which gives me a chance to eat or take out the trash before it gets smelly, or empty the litterbox before the cats use the floor in front of it in rebellion. All of the thousand and one things that I have to do to keep the house running.

Some nights, if I'm lucky, I can get her in bed between 8:30 and 9. If I try to get her to sleep earlier it's a disaster. I think she equates darkness with sleeping; I need to get some blackout curtains for her room. But the fact that I'm contemplating how to get her to sleep on her own a bit earlier is, in itself, quite the victory. In the first month, getting her to sleep at all at night was a battle. I spent most nights walking around the house for hours, trying to get her to sleep at all. And when she did, it was only if she was nestled in my arms.

More and more, she's becoming a little person. She laughs when I'm silly and make huge, exaggerated kisses all over her belly. She smiles at me in the mornings, which is enough to make all of the rest of it worthwhile. She has a definite personality, including a temper. She wants things HER way, and she wants them NOW. She loves the new experience of eating solid food. So far I think banana is her favorite, but squash and oatmeal seem pretty tasty too.

She plays with her toys. I have a little monkey that someone gave us that travels with her in her car seat. She chews on him and pushes his button nose, which makes him play a song. She mashes the keys on her tiny toy piano with evident delight. Splashing in the tub or her tiny baby pool is very fun. And she loves books - well, chewing on them, but it's a start, right?

Six months since this tiny, incredible person came into my life, turning it upside and absolutely taking over every aspect of it. And it's been wonderful.

Tooth! And Food

Today, Grandma K Minion found Her Lilliputian Ladyship's first tooth! It's just broken through the surface.

Also, she's been experimenting with new foods. Squash has been deemed acceptable, and tonight her first taste of banana seemed to be enjoyable. The next food adventure will be baby oatmeal, then maybe peas. All of the fruits and veggies have been fresh made at home so far. The Lilliputian Ladyship has discerning tastes.

Summer Solstice

Six months ago, at the Winter Solstice, I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of Her Supreme Smallness. Throughout the long, dark, cold winter nights, I looked forward to this day, the longest day of the year. I looked forward to having a six month old baby who could interact with me, who could spend a few minutes at a time playing with her toys.

Things have changed so much. I do miss the closeness of her sleeping on me, her tiny body snuggled as close to me as she could get. She slept on me for a month, then she slept in her swing in front of the couch, which is where I slept for her second month. For her third month, she slept with me in our bed. After that, she slept in her bassinet right next to my side of the bed, until this past weekend, when she finally outgrew the bassinet and moved to her crib.

I recently had to change her clothes to the 6-9 month size. I remember those first few days, when even the 0-3 months clothes were too big and she only fit in the hospital newborn shirts. The day I had to box up her 0-3 month clothes and say goodbye to my favorite outfits for her was a milestone. Now she's on her third set of clothes.

At first, we had to restrain her arms, because they kept flying up and hitting her in the face. Then she graduated to hitting the toys hanging from her floor gym. Now she has great control of her hands and can grab and hold things reliably.

It's been the most amazing period of my life. It will be exciting to see what the next six months bring. Happy Summer!

Summer Break

I've looked forward to this time ever since I went back to work at school. We usually start the morning with a walk around our neighborhood, then a short nap. She plays for a bit, then hopefully I can get her to take a long nap. In the afternoon we run errands or go shopping. Or we might go splashing in her pool, if the water is warm enough. Minion #2 gets home sometime between 5:30 and 6:00. After he pays homage to her Minute Majesty, he makes dinner and we eat. Sometimes we have playtime, but most of the time she's getting tired and cranky, so we have bath time, story time, some nursing to top off her tank, and then it's bedtime.

We've been feeding her rice cereal lately. She wasn't sure of it at first but she seems to like it now. I'm going to start thickening it up, and when she's used to that I'm going to try some pureed veggies, probably squash or zucchini, since those are in season. I'll steam them and then puree. I'll probably buy some organic baby foods from the store, but right now I'm planning to make a lot of what I give her by just pureeing something from our dinner.

Today I went through her closet and put most of her 3-6 month old clothes in a bin and unpacked the 6-9 month old clothes, which are now hanging in her closet. I'm debating between taking the bin to a consignment shop and getting some more 9-12 month clothes, since we don't have too many of those, or keeping them for such a time as a friend has a girl baby, or donating them to a charity.

Speaking of doing something with clothes, I have some outfits that are adorably cute, but which won't be reasonable for the season she will fit them. For example, I have a really cute tank top that is sized for 12 months. At 12 months it will be December, and I don't foresee dressing her in a tank top. All gifts of clothes have been truly appreciated - we haven't had to buy her any clothes at all! But I don't want a gift to go unused. Would anyone be offended if I returned such clothing for something more in tune with the seasons?

note: I'm planning to ask Minion #2 to take some new photos of the Tiny Overlord this weekend, so look for new photos soon!

Ready Set Bumbo

edit: this now links to the original website http://ready-set-bumbo.com. I had to share this great video made by someone else. The only reason we haven't made a follow up film is that none of our cameras do stop motion animation. Although the Bumbo does fit the Roomba vacuum...

Ready-Set-Bumbo. @ Yahoo! Video

Ready-Set-Bumbo II @ Yahoo! Video

Ready-Set-Bumbo III @ Yahoo! Video

June Update

At her latest doctor's appointment, the Slight Sultan weighed 14 pounds, 12 ounces and measured 25.5 inches long. Her bassinet is only rated to 15 pounds so she will soon be relocating to new headquarters (her crib) in her new secret lair (her bedroom). Minion #1 will likely be a mess for the first few nights.

The Slight Sultan has also indicated that a diet consisting solely of milk is no longer pleasing to her. Rice cereal is posing quite a challenge, but she is working on conquering it. (video of her first cereal to be posted soon)

Sleepless Night

The hardest part of parenting is something I never even thought about. It's the uncertainty. Am I doing the right thing? Is this the right choice? When am I being too hard, when I am too soft? I don't want to be one of those parents who hovers, always protecting my child from everything. Children need to explore the world, get bumps and bruises, learn their own limits. But I also don't want to be harsh. I want her to know that I will always be there for her. How do I walk that line?

It's incredibly hard, and there are times, like tonight, when I have no idea if I'm making the right choice. I don't buy into the idea that one bad choice will scar her for life. Children are resilient and a lot tougher than a lot of people give them credit for. But I still worry, and agonize over what to do. And it doesn't get easier.

This is the part that's much more difficult than I ever thought it would be. And that's why I'm up, typing here, when everyone else in the house is sleeping.