One Little Bean
Monday, May 21, 2007
Letter to Lily
Dear Lily,
It's been so long since I've written to you, and so much has changed that I hardly know where to begin.
I suppose the biggest change came 2 weeks ago when I got my wisdom teeth removed. Because I was sick for a week, I couldn't nurse you, and Tatus and I decided it might be better to just wean you off breast-feeding altogether. It's not recommended to stop nursing suddenly, but that's the way it went for us. And you were AMAZING about it. Really incredible. I thought you'd be cranky and fussy having your entire routine go upside-down since instead of spending your days with me and being nursed, you were spending your days with your Tatus and getting a bottle. But you adjusted to it all with no problem--in fact, you are less fussy and more "grown up" now since I no longer nurse you. You sleep through the night, often from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m., and you even have a set nap time now--between 12:30 and 1 p.m., after we go for a nice walk and play at the park we will come home and you usually fall asleep right on your own.
During your awake time, however, you are into EVERYTHING. And since you've discovered how to grab onto almost anything and pull it down onto the floor, that is what you do. Books, clothes, paper, anything you can reach. I don't pick up after you as soon as you pull things down, because I don't want you thinking it's a game. I've seen the concentration on your face when you empty a shelf of books, and I think right now you are just discovering more of your own motor skills and the control you can have over objects. So for now I'm okay with having books on the floor and folding the laundry after it's landed on the carpet and been thoroughly investigated by you.
The days are definitely getting easier now. I have much more energy now that I'm getting an uninterrupted nights' sleep, and I think that has attributed a lot to your good moods as well.
You have SIX teeth now, and you can eat a rice cake like a pro, putting it up to your mouth, taking a nice crunchy bite, letting it get soft in your mouth, chewing and swallowing. I can't wait till you can eat what we eat at the table. We gave you some spaghetti the other night, but it just stuck to your face and hands, so it was more of a tactile experience for you rather than something you ate.
I think you are beginning to understand "yes" and "no" now, too. Almost anytime someone says "no", you'll shake your head vigorously back and forth. If you are finished eating or don't like it, you will clamp your mouth shut and shake your head. You also say "ya" a lot, particularly when we go for a car ride and Tatus or I open the door to get you out. We are almost always met with an excited "ya!" from you.
You will probably be walking very soon, too. You love to walk when you have two fingers to hold onto and someone following along behind you. And you creep along furniture very well, too. When we go to the park we will often walk with you after a nice swing, and you are so excited to follow other kids around and watch them. We can tell you are itching to get out there and run around and play with them.
When we are winding down in the evenings, a sure sign you are getting ready to sleep is when you stick your thumb in your mouth and snuggle up against any bit of our bare skin that you can find--arms, legs, tummy. You are so comforted by the feel of our skin. Normally you aren't too into cuddles. You squirm away to start your next great adventure, into the kitchen or under the dining room table. But last night I rocked you in my arms, a last-ditch attempt to get you to fall asleep short of going for a walk. You were tired, but so restless. I rocked you, and you quieted right down and sailed off to sleep. It was such a sweet moment.
I love you, little bumbelina.
Mama
It's been so long since I've written to you, and so much has changed that I hardly know where to begin.
I suppose the biggest change came 2 weeks ago when I got my wisdom teeth removed. Because I was sick for a week, I couldn't nurse you, and Tatus and I decided it might be better to just wean you off breast-feeding altogether. It's not recommended to stop nursing suddenly, but that's the way it went for us. And you were AMAZING about it. Really incredible. I thought you'd be cranky and fussy having your entire routine go upside-down since instead of spending your days with me and being nursed, you were spending your days with your Tatus and getting a bottle. But you adjusted to it all with no problem--in fact, you are less fussy and more "grown up" now since I no longer nurse you. You sleep through the night, often from 11 p.m. to 9 a.m., and you even have a set nap time now--between 12:30 and 1 p.m., after we go for a nice walk and play at the park we will come home and you usually fall asleep right on your own.
During your awake time, however, you are into EVERYTHING. And since you've discovered how to grab onto almost anything and pull it down onto the floor, that is what you do. Books, clothes, paper, anything you can reach. I don't pick up after you as soon as you pull things down, because I don't want you thinking it's a game. I've seen the concentration on your face when you empty a shelf of books, and I think right now you are just discovering more of your own motor skills and the control you can have over objects. So for now I'm okay with having books on the floor and folding the laundry after it's landed on the carpet and been thoroughly investigated by you.
The days are definitely getting easier now. I have much more energy now that I'm getting an uninterrupted nights' sleep, and I think that has attributed a lot to your good moods as well.
You have SIX teeth now, and you can eat a rice cake like a pro, putting it up to your mouth, taking a nice crunchy bite, letting it get soft in your mouth, chewing and swallowing. I can't wait till you can eat what we eat at the table. We gave you some spaghetti the other night, but it just stuck to your face and hands, so it was more of a tactile experience for you rather than something you ate.
I think you are beginning to understand "yes" and "no" now, too. Almost anytime someone says "no", you'll shake your head vigorously back and forth. If you are finished eating or don't like it, you will clamp your mouth shut and shake your head. You also say "ya" a lot, particularly when we go for a car ride and Tatus or I open the door to get you out. We are almost always met with an excited "ya!" from you.
You will probably be walking very soon, too. You love to walk when you have two fingers to hold onto and someone following along behind you. And you creep along furniture very well, too. When we go to the park we will often walk with you after a nice swing, and you are so excited to follow other kids around and watch them. We can tell you are itching to get out there and run around and play with them.
When we are winding down in the evenings, a sure sign you are getting ready to sleep is when you stick your thumb in your mouth and snuggle up against any bit of our bare skin that you can find--arms, legs, tummy. You are so comforted by the feel of our skin. Normally you aren't too into cuddles. You squirm away to start your next great adventure, into the kitchen or under the dining room table. But last night I rocked you in my arms, a last-ditch attempt to get you to fall asleep short of going for a walk. You were tired, but so restless. I rocked you, and you quieted right down and sailed off to sleep. It was such a sweet moment.
I love you, little bumbelina.
Mama
Labels: monthly letter
posted by Krista at 12:56 PM
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