Baby Fashion

So how could I NOT buy THIS sweater for MY daughter?!
What can I say? I had a shopping attack on Sunday and it just 'spoke',
or should I say 'mewed', at me.
So cute!!

Busy Busy Busy Baby

It has been a busy week of firsts for our little princess. Not only has Draya learned to wave bye-bye (she doesn't do it all the time but it's happening more readily) but she also has learned to clap her hands.
Her second tooth has arrived, right next to her first. We have had a few low sleep nights.
Baby took her first minor tumble, of a chair at Auntie Shiny's on Saturday. Thankfully it was a low chair, and she was more frightened than hurt. She sobbed in mommy's arms for a little while and then was distracted by Aunt Dottie's tongue. No goose-egg to be seen - hurrah.
On Sunday I took her out to The Grove for an afternoon get-together and then Auntie K & K babysat her while I went to work. But, I collected her after intermission so she got to come see mommy's theatre for the first time. She watched April Verch on the TV in the lobby, bounced to the fiddle playing and clapped when she heard the audience clap. I look forward to being able to take her inside to see a show someday!

Baby, you are a fidgeter just like your mother. Not content to eat and eat alone, you like to tug your ear, poke and scratch mommy and pull my arm hair. No you’re not being mean, you’re just exploring with your tiny fingers and sharp, sharp little nails. Why do just one thing when you can do two? Someday I will teach you to use your pent up energy for good, to do multiple tasks at once. Until then I will hold your hand while you breastfeed as much as you will let me.

Hangin' Around In The Cat's Pajamas & Playing With Mommy's Slippers

Getting a mite picky

Draya used to take and eat pretty much any food I gave her. Now, my usually not so selective child has a new habit of taking food in her mouth, storing it for a while and then spitting it ALL back out again. Things she used to like, hamburger and shredded cheese for example, are no longer yummy. Yesterday I specifically ordered a second patty on my burger to feed her and 95% of it ended up in me because she just wasn't interested. Feeding time is getting to be quite interesting! Meats and protein are touch and go. In fairness she's never really like the baby food brands. Thankfully cottage cheese and mini-go are still huge hits, for now. I'm going to pick up some all beef hotdogs and see if she'll eat them. Any other suggestions?

Update: The hotdogs were a bust. She didn't like them at all

And the Doctor Says...

17lbs 6 oz & 27.5 inches long! She grew an inch and gained over a pound in 6 weeks. Yes, we've been feeding her well & should continue to do so.
Her night-time cough is nothing to worry about, it's just normal phlegm pooling a little bit in the back of her throat (happens to the best of us sometimes).
We'll be making another appointment in 2 months or so. The excitement continues!

These pictures are a little more recent...

Here are some really recent photos from last week and the past weekend. Daddy loves to dress you up and the "rapper" hat is one of his. Reaching for the camera is from L's birthday party on Friday. The other two are from when we went for and dinner and games at Auntie KJ & Uncle D's place on Sunday.
I think the one with the ball is my favourite.
Baby, you're growing so quickly & changing almost every day. You're still not exactly crawling but you've got the starting position down pat and you're moving further and faster, just not forward. It's too bad I can't post avi video because I've got some really cute ones. Soon mommy has to get the last 4 months worth of photos printed and put then into your baby albums.

Belated Christmas Photos

So many cute photos were taken on Draya over the holidays!!
Here are just a FEW of our favourites...

Thinning out the Clothing Stock

I was sad to put away some of Draya's smaller pants today, especially her little flowered jeans, her white and blue sweats, the time for tea outfit that is a reminder of great-grandma. Most of them were 3-6 month size and were getting too short. She can still fit some of the tops and sweaters that are supposedly that size/age but her legs are getting longer. The jean jacket that matches her jeans still fits but it is 6 month size. When spring comes I will go through all of her onesies, shorts and dresses and cull the bunch. She has grown into a lot more 9 month stuff. I suppose it's only fitting (haha) since she IS about that age, give or take.

Missing Milestones

Yesterday morning you woke up, sat up on your own and started playing with the activity centre in your crib. When daddy woke up you looked over at him, said "daddy" and went back to playing. This may have been your first word, although you say "mommy" occasionally too. (we still aren't sure if you know exactly what you are saying yet). This was definitely the first time you sat up in bed on your own.
Recently you pulled yourself up to standing on Auntie KJ's knee and on your activity table. I missed both. I envy daddy for being there for some of your firsts without me. But, I love my job and somebody has to put baby food on the table. We do spend lots of quality time together in the evening and on weekends. I love you SO much!

Finally - The first tooth!

Well, little baby, it's finally here. Your first little tooth is poking through your bottom gum. It's hard to see but I can feel it with my finger. That's one more first for the memory book.
It sure took a while! Every time you got cranky, drooly, rosie cheeked or snuffly over the past 4 months we've said "oh, she's probably teething now" and then nothing would show up. It kind of felt like we were crying wolf.
I know it's normal, some kids don't get teeth till they're one, and you are technically two months behind but still, I'm glad to see it. I don't know if I'll be all that glad to feel it when you eat though! Chewing, you'll probably add that to your twisting and tugging repertoire. I'll figure out how to discourage it when it happens, you've usually very good.
So, welcome to Draya's mouth little tooth. I'm sure a whole bunch of your friends will be joining you soon. But even though I wasn't worried I'm still happy to see you. You kind of makes the recent sleepless nights worth while.
And so this new phase begins... Hurrah for baby Tylenol!

A letter to Draya

Happy 2006 little peanut. I have decided to start you your very own blog. A place that I can use to update your growth and development. A place to document how your days go and write amusing stories about thing you do and eventually say. I'll post photos and anything else that seems appropriate. This is mommy's plan... we'll see how it goes...
Right now you are asleep on my chest as I type. You have been quite cranky all day so far. We slept in until 11 am and then you didn't want any cereal at breakfast. Ate some bananas and a few cherios but that's it. Now you've been sleeping on me again for over an hour. I figure it's either teething or possibly a growth spurt. Poor munchkin. I know you'll need a diaper change soon but I don't want to wake you.
You just turned 10 months old on January 4th. 8 months adjusted but your definitely further along than most 8 month olds when it comes to most things. You are USUALLY a happy, cheerful child who likes people and having her photo taken. Your favourite foods seem to be banana, oranges, cherios, crackers, puffed wheat and cottage cheese but you have a fairly broad pallet and will usually eat most anything I give you. You can pick up and get some small foods into your own mouth but still prefer when I put them there for you.
Your favourite toys are ones that make noise. Your activity table and moving ball rank pretty high. You also really love your stuffed animals. You are often fine playing on your own (but we play with you lots too) and you are ALMOST crawling. Currently you can scoot backwards on your bum and roll around, so you ARE mobile, but life is going to get even more exciting/harrowing very soon!
You love to babble and I'm pretty sure that your first words are going to be "mama", "dada" and "cat". Your favourite song is "You are my Sunshine", when I sing it to you you calm/quiet down and listen (usually).
Mommy & Daddy, Grandma & Grandpa, Nana & Papa and all of your aunts, uncles and cousins, by blood and by choice, love you very much. You are our little munchkin, punk-a-lunk, peanut, angel, sweetheart, moogle, blessing from above.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
hugs and kisses
Love
Mommy