Wednesday, June 30, 2010


Well, my love so far on vacation you have seen Lake Michigan, discovered a love for water and beaches, said your first real word (dog), learned to shake your head no and nod your head yes.

And you're still the cutest baby in town. Even though we're in a much bigger town.

Tonight to put you to sleep I had to hold your arm down. You would grab a pacifier, pop it in your mouth, realize the sucking was putting you to sleep, pull the pacifier out, and fuss and cry. So I gave you the pacifier and held your arm to your side (while you were cuddled in close to me) for a few seconds. You immediately fell asleep. I felt so bad pinning your arm down, but after 2 seconds or so you went limp. And even with hammering, Bauers in the house, and other extremely noisy potential disruptions, you've been sleeping beautifully.

Good night my love.

Sunday, June 27, 2010

"Dog"

Dear daughter, you have finally started pairing a word with its meaning.

"Dog"

"dog dog dog dog dog dog dog"

You reach for Papa, then when he gets close you ask for his "dog dog dog". Shadow is your favorite. I think you might like him more than me some times. You pat him and smack him and get thoroughly excited in his presence. Emma and Grace are also fun, but Shadow seems to be the winner of your affection.

Not mama, not daddy, but dog.

You're also very close to walking all over. You walk while holding on to hands all . day . long . and you're so close to just taking off. Part of me is having a blast with you being little and still a baby, and part of me is so, so happy to see you take this next step (so to speak).

Adelaide, life with you is wonderful.

Friday, June 25, 2010



Thursday, June 24, 2010

Awakenings

Sometimes babies move and do things in their sleep. More than just roll over or sigh. When some babies learn to crawl, they actually crawl in their sleep. When some babies learn to pull up, they pull up in their crib. For most parents, this means a few nights of laying the baby back down and soothing him or her back to sleep. Baby brains have to practice their new skills all night to help build the neural connections that are the physical basis of learning. This sometimes results in less sleep.

Adelaide, you take this concept to the extreme. Last night you would relax, and relax, and get calm and sleepy, then you would wave and wave and wave yourself awake. Then as you calmed down again, you'd clap yourself awake. You were so tired, and so sad, and truly wanted to be sleeping, but your little body and brain just wouldn't let you do it.

I wonder if this is a precursor to a whole lot of sleepwalking. Maybe, when you get older you will sleepwalk all night long. My sweet baby, if that's true, then I'll make sure your mattress is on the floor so you can't get hurt falling out of bed. I'll put a baby gate on your bedroom door so you don't wind up down the stairs, and I'll make sure your pajamas are warm enough in case you kick your blankets off.

Last night, Daddy and I took turns helping you and staying up with you until you finally went to sleep. I'm not sure why these actions were keeping you up, because you've known how to wave and how to clap for a long time. I thought only new skills were supposed to cause this. But today, I'm very glad for a slow, relaxing day to help us recuperate.

And you are the sweetest sleeping baby.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Swimming and Cousin Micah




Adelaide, you L-O-V-E your cousin Micah. You wave to anyone entering or exiting your presence, but cousin Micah gets hugs. Great big, two handfuls of his t-shirt hugs. He even gets kisses. You seem to believe he hung the moon.

Lately we've been spending a lot of time on the beach of Long Lake. Basically, this is the coolest ever. Mean ol' mom and mean ol' dad won't let you stand up and walk around in the bathtub, but you can stand up and walk around on the beach and in the lake. Aunt Hannah and Aunt Naomi walk with you up and down the beach letting you splash and play in the water. You take big steps reaching your legs way up high. You also seem to have no fear about the water. You charge right off into the water letting it get higher and higher until one of us turns you around. I love watching you play in the water and enjoy it without being scared. As soon as you're big enough, we'll get you swim lessons.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Phew!



Adelaide, the last few days have been ka-razy! We've been in Michigan helping Uncle Buck marry Aunt Emma and there has been lots to do. Then, they were finally married and we drove up north to hang out with Daddy's side of the family.

You are such a trooper. Even with all the crazy schedules and missed naps and incoming teeth and strange people and unusual crowds and new, exciting places you are never crabby. You are such a good natured, happy baby.

Dogs are apparently a very strange mixture of cool and terrifying. You love them, you hate them. Generally, we can't tell if you're panting out of excitement or whimpering or laughing. But you reach out and touch them and even say 'dog' sometimes.

You've also started saying 'wow'. It's very cute.

You LOVE the water. We took you to the beach on Long Lake and you thought the waves and the sand and the cool water was the best. Even when you started to get cold and your lips seemed blue, you wanted to play.

OOps, you're up from nap.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Your debut

Did I tell you that you were featured on a baby fashion blog?

You are famous.

The picture is a little dark, but I'll be careful about that next time. I'll also be more careful to get pictures of you in every cute outfit you wear.

Stairs!

Guess who knows how to go up and down stairs!

At home, our stairs are blocked off by a very large baby cage. Several panels of gates wrap around the base of the stairs, past the TV, and around a wall outlet. It's a pretty fancy system, and it seems to keep you safe.

The three teeth you are working on keep you uncomfortable enough to make the church nursery impossible. You were miserable and sad so we came to get you and brought you to sit with us. During the sermon you got antsy, so we went to walk around.

Your friend Jamie was also antsy and uninterested in the nursery, and she and her mom were also walking around. Recipe for fun!

Jamie left the mother's room, Adelaide left the mother's room. Jamie went by the coffee and donuts, Adelaide went by the coffee and donuts. Jamie went up the stairs . . .

You looked at Jamie, looked at the stairs, and went for it. You needed no encouragement from mom. If Jamie could do it, you could do it. And Jamie did it fast. You got up on that bottom step like you were an old pro. You crawled all the way up without hesitating. When Jamie went up the next flight, so did Adelaide.

My darling, brave daughter, you didn't even hesitate to come down the stairs. Face first. Luckily for my poor heart, I saw it coming. Jamie went down the stairs, mom grabbed you by the hips and held on while you laid on your belly and crawled right down those stairs. No fear. Not my girl.

The whole rest of church was spent on the stairs, and I think I've never felt so close to God. You are an amazing creature my love. Covered with the fingerprints of He who made you.

(I'm glad I got to help.)

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Mmmmm. . . plastic!


There's not much in life that's as yummy as playing cards. Daddy and I keep a set of 'invisible' playing cards in our camping stuff, and you thought they were amazing. You loved them. Dear daughter, I'm not sure I've ever had more fun than I have being your mom.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

Clap, clap, clap!


Guess who's clapping now! You are, my sweet baby! You realized today that when you clap your hands together, other people get excited. Especially the big people in your life.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

So much new on vacation

Well kiddo, you have 2 more teeth, and one or two more on the way.
You took your first steps in the tent at Liberty Falls on Friday.
You give high fives with enthusiasm.
You read books to yourself. Turn the page, talk and babble. Turn the page, talk and babble.

Basically, you are the coolest child on the planet.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

more teeth

Well, the doctor confirmed what we had suspected. More teeth are on the way!

Generally, you protest very loudly and passionately when I try to look in your mouth, and the information is not worth the trouble so I don't always know what's going on in there. But tooth #5 is giving you some trouble. Naps are heartbreaking, diaper changes are traumatic, nursing without pain (for one or both of us) is impossible, and you, my darling daughter, want to be holding on to mommy all . the . time!

I love that you come to me when something doesn't feel right. I love that only I can make it better. I love that you rest your head on my shoulder and sigh when I pick you up, and I love that you pull up on my leg and hold your arms out to me when you want me to pick you up. I love that you love me.

We have a camping trip coming up sweetheart. I really hope your teeth let you enjoy the trip. After that, we have a trip to Michigan. How many teeth will you have when we get home? Will you learn to walk on vacation? You are such an adventure.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

You are such a star

Today, Daddy and I took you to a parent's group. Most of the kids were upstairs, but the babysitter really had her hands full with the older kids, so you, a friend of yours, and the two little babies stayed downstairs with the parents. You LOVED it! You had so much fun crawling around to check out the little babies, and you followed your friend around eating her animal crackers (sometimes right out of her hand), you also visited each adult in the room, checking to make sure everybody got one of your big, toothy smiles.

Adelaide, you are so fun.

Bedtime was not as smooth tonight. By the time we got home you were so tired. But you're now happily tied up in your Moby wrap, right on Daddy's chest, your favorite place to be.

Goodnight sweetheart, sweet dreams.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

sleep

Dear one, you went to sleep tonight without fuss. Without pacing, or walking, or rocking, or pleading. I laid back on the bed, placed you on my tummy, and you s.l.o.w.l.y went to sleep. It was amazing. So amazing, that I think I may join you!

 

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