Quick Post

I haven't written in a while. When wrangling a 2 year old and a 5 month old, my down time becomes do-as-much-as-I-can time, or more recently, do-as-little-as-possible time.

Aria is 5.5 months old now. Craziness! I don't know if it's because she's the 2nd, or if I'm just slower this time around, but I really feel like she's such a baby still. And then she'll go and do something that reminds me that she isn't a baby, she's growing up and learning and doing new things all the time. I mean, I can't get it in my head that she can start trying solid foods soon. Like, what?? I'm ready for that, but also so not.

She's firmly planted in our bed now. I haven't tried her in the pack-and-play for almost a week. Why? She just squirms and cries all night if I do, and I would like some SLEEP, thankyouverymuch.  I'm hoping it's a temporary arrangement. Nick and I have talked about getting the mattress for the crib we got off Craigslist to see if she'll sleep in it any better than she sleeps in our bed. It isn't too big of a deal right now, but she is getting bigger, and her feet are in the middle of my back all night long, which is a drag. I NEVER thought I would co-sleep, but these days, I do what I've gotta do to get some sleep. When she was in her pack-and-play, she was squirming and whining every 20-30 minutes. Ain't nobody got time for that nonsense!

Avonlea is awesome. She's funny and smart, and playful and expressive. She's mimicking everything we say, which makes us have to be a little more careful--not that we say too many bad phrases or anything, but when a toddler says "Aaaw, shoot!" sometimes it doesn't really sound the same, and we get strange looks in the store.

Sunni and I took the girls to the beach a few weeks ago. Aria loved laying on a blanket in the sand. Avonlea wasn't a big fan of the sand or the ocean, but she got used to it after a half hour or so, and spent the rest of the day building things in the sand with Sunni.

I'm so glad I get to spend every day with these beauties. I didn't do anything to deserve them, but I'll keep them.

Lovey-Dovey Feelings

Miss Avonlea and I have been learning about each other.

And I am falling in love more and more every day.  I seriously can't stop staring at her. I love watching her falling asleep. I love watching her smile in her sleep. I love watching her twitches when she hears a loud noise. I love when her eyes go super wide when the lights go off at night. I love when she realizes I am watching her and I see the recognition in her eyes--and the last week, watching her burst into a huge smile.

God has really been faithful to me, and taking our rough start and helping me to get over it.

I'm also learning about her cues. She has been really fussy in the evenings--I'm learning that it is a cue for her being sleepy and needing another nap!  The last couple of days, she's gotten up around 7:30 or 8am, she'll take a 3-hr nap at 10:30, and another 3-hr nap about 6.  Then she'll go to sleep at 9:30 or 10.

Right now, she's such a good sleeper. I know I need to appreciate it while I can, because it might not last. Of course, she could prove to be just like me and be a great sleeper.

She's firmly in the "5 S's" camp. The theory is that babies have a 4th Trimester outside of the womb, and they are happiest when you simulate the 5 S's that they are able to experience in the womb: swaddling, side/stomach position, shushing (loud white noise), swinging (rhythmic jiggly motion), and sucking.

The only S I don't do frequently is sucking--I do not want her using a pacifier because she has nipple confusion. She has found her hands a few times and I'll catch her sucking on those, though.

But, when she's fussy, I wrap her up nice and tight, hold her close to me on her side, shush in her ear, and sway back and forth or bounce-walk around. Shuts her right up--and usually makes her fall asleep. :)

Tomorrow I'm hoping to take Avonlea to a Babywearing Clinic at a local park. I have a Moby wrap and an Ergo carrier, and she really hates both. I'd like to do more babywearing while we're out and about, but she fusses so badly that it doesn't seem worth it. I'm wondering if a different carrier would be better.