The "Will She/Won't She" Season Cliffhanger

Still waiting on actual crawling.

Getting to a sitting position from her belly? Check
Getting to standing (pulling up on anything 4" off the ground) from sitting position? Check
Pulling Daddy's leg hairs out one by one in the process? Check

Crawling? Not so much.


Sidewinder from Deb on Vimeo.


Which Way Should I Go? from Deb on Vimeo.

Seven Months

July 23

July 26

Autumn,

We've come to month seven! I've noticed that there is a lot of hurry up and wait with you these days. A few weeks ago you were so close to crawling. All the time you were up on all fours, rocking back and forth. And if you weren't doing that, you were rolling everywhere. I haven't seen you try to crawl in over a week. Oh no, none of that crawling stuff, you'd rather STAND! ALL THE TIME! I'm beginning to wonder if you will skip crawling altogether and go straight to walking. I was so sure you were going to crawl any minute, now it feels like you're going to walk at any moment. You haven't figure out how to get yourself in a sitting position yet, but once you are in one you can pull yourself up to your feet. We're on lookout for that moment so we can lower your crib. Here you are with Grandpa, up on all fours (no knees) doing your full body press!

Another hurry up and wait situation is that darn teething. I thought you were teething at 4 months. Turns out you were allergic to milk-based formula and we had to switch you to soy-based. I said that if you were this fussy and it wasn't teething, then I didn't want to experience teething! Well, true to form, you're proving me right. That was not teething, and if what we're going through right now isn't teething, then I don't want to experience teething! Wait... Oh well. This better be it, kiddo, because you and I are having some issues. Everyday, sometimes 5 times a day, I check for teeth. "Do you have any teeth?" "Show me those teeth!" The area isn't inflamed, but from the rare good glimpses you let me have, there are white things there that didn't used to be there. Any second I'm expecting them to pop out. Notice a theme?

You are growing so fast. Wednesday I put you in an outfit that when I received it as a gift I thought it was HUGE! I waited so long to put it on you and now it fits perfectly (6-9 month). I had such a hard time imagining it fitting my little baby that I almost waited too long! Of course, you're not a little baby anymore. But every time I have to move you up to the next size I am very surprised.

At the end of July we were thrown quite the curve ball. It seems that the harness you were in back in March and April didn't completely fix your right hip. We were told at the time that your hip looked "perfect" and "normal". But we were also given a follow up appointment for an x-ray around 6 months when your bones finally show up on film. The sonograms were accurate at the time, but the x-rays show much more clearly the fact that your right hip ball isn't the same size as your left. In fact, its a whole 2 mm smaller than your left. The doctor said that it was "very, very, very, very, can I add one more 'very' in there, slight", but very worth it to fix the problem now. You cannot begin to understand the frustration we feel having to put you in the new brace every night. And how Daddy says every night how much he hates having to put you to sleep in that terrible thing. It is hard plastic on the outside, with a layer of foam. The straps don't stay in place during the night, and its just an all around pain. You have managed to turn yourself over on your belly a few times, though! We don't go back for another x-ray for 4 months. That's a VERY long time. Here you are giving the brace what for.

The cats are still Not Amused by you. You, however, are quite enthralled with them. I'm pretty sure you know that when I say, "Hi Phoebe/Pheebers/StopThatPhoebe" or "Hi Luke/Lucas/Buddy" you know that a cat is nearby because you always turn to look for them. I think that's pretty amazing. The cats however, would rather you not look in their general direction, thankyouverymuch. Here are two very Not Amused looking cats.

Car rides are still fairly dicey. If it is a long ride, I try to time them during your nap so you are more likely to fall asleep. Falling asleep is not a guarantee. Whining, throwing your toys out of the car seat and general annoyances pretty much are. I can't tell you the amount of times lately I've regretted my decision to go the 10 min drive to Target/HEB/Hobby Lobby, all places you thoroughly enjoy once you're there, because of all the whining. "Don't make me turn this car around, young lady!" I don't really say that, because I actually NEED to get out of the house with you, but the drives are just not pleasant. Daddy and I are both looking forward to the day we can turn your car seat around.

You are much better at eating baby foods these days. Most times you actually sit there very nicely and eat every spoonful put in front of you. There are times when you sneeze into the spoon, or blow into the spoon, sending green beans/peas/banana orange medley straight at Momma and Daddy. You are in Stage 2 foods and once you get those teeth in we'll start giving you some actual SOLID foods mixed in there. I'm looking forward to that. You've figured out how to use a straw, but are still terribly shocked when something actually comes out of the straw. So much so that you open your mouth and let everything fall back out. It is quite messy, and very entertaining.

Bath time is getting to be a bit of a struggle because you want to stand up! Or at the very least, pitch yourself head first over the "boat" and into the rest of the water. You've gotten on your knees a bunch of times, only to have me pull you back down. I think the days of the "boat" are coming to an end. It was great while it lasted, though. Here is a picture of you "swimming" in our big tub (I put swim diapers on you, keep the water room temp and get in with you).

Naps are pretty much going well. The majority of the time it only takes you a few minutes to relax in my arms and when I put you down, your eyes fly open, but usually close again. There have been times when you just wouldn't relax, so I put you in the crib and leave. You babble and whine, but I wait until you get upset. When I come back in, you are usually ready to relax. There have been a handful of times that I haven't had to come back in, you've actually put yourself to sleep. We are slowly working on getting you to sleep on your own. Night time is still a problem though, because of the brace. It throws quite the wrench into everything. You had been sleeping through the night, but add the brace and (faux?) teething and you have a baby that wakes up WAY too many times. It has gotten MUCH better though the past two weeks. Here you are looking very much like Momma.

You still do your Sniff-Laugh face. It is your ace in the hole to make anyone smile for you.

Here you are at IKEA. Daddy thought it would be funny to set you on a pile of animal skins.

Here you are with your IKEA Barnslig Struts Ostrich. According to IKEA, he is good at hugging, comforting and listening and is fond of play and mischief. Daddy thought he was ugly at first, but now thinks he's pretty cool.

Retrospective perspective:

August 24, 2007

August 24, 2006

Yup, seven months. Seven whole months. In a flash.

Love,

Momma and Daddy

Six Months

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Autumn,

Another month has gone by and my, how you've changed! I wouldn't have thought that a month could make such a difference, but it does.

You continue to sleep through most nights. There were one or two nights in there where you were a little resistant to actually staying asleep once we put you down, but most nights we don't hear from you until around 7:30 in the morning. Let me tell you, Autumn, that makes all the difference in the world to your two parents' sanity. You are sleeping in your crib and have been for almost two months. In the mornings you are in all kinds of different positions then when we put you down the night before. And on the 4th of July, you slept through some of the loudest, most annoying fireworks I've ever experienced (because once you have a sleeping baby everything seems ten times louder), but woke up about an hour after they all stopped. Go figure.

As for naps, you are just now getting the notion that a nap doesn't automatically equal 30 minutes. Nap times have improved considerably, and most days I'm able to get a few 1.5 to 2 hour naps out of you. I feel like you are making up for all the 30 minute naps you took the past 5 1/2 months, though it is taking me awhile to get used to it. Most days I sit on the computer just waiting for you to wake up, then realizing it's been over an hour I jump up to "get something accomplished" and that's when you decide to wake up. I'm afraid to get too used to these naps and then they'll go away, but I really need to start taking advantage of nap time.

You are still a fan of bath time and all that it entails (with the exception of putting on your pajamas). Daddy gets you ready for the bath while I fill the tub. He brings in !NAKED BABY! and we tickle and pinch your bottom while you giggle and squeal. It is quite entertaining. Then you sit in your Boat and splash around for awhile and play with toys. After about 10 minutes of that Daddy comes back in and he sings you a song that consists of, but is not limited to the lyrics "we're washing all your parts, we're washing your knees, we're washing your butt, and your toes, and your delicates" all to a different style (country and western, big band, rap, Meatloaf, etc.) song each night. The trauma comes when its time to put on your pjs, but that has never, ever been a highlight of your day. Maybe someday soon!


Eating. Eating has become quite involved. You've tried green beans, peas, carrots and sweet potatoes all over the past 3 or so weeks. You'd better believe that the food that stains the most is your favorite. Carrots! The high chair tray is a pretty orange hue where you rest your obviously tired mouth after taking almost every bite. After carrots we experienced a little plumbing set back, so we've introduced water, juice and sippy cups! You were pretty good at sippy cups, reaching for it with your mouth right away, however you do not like to lean back to actually get anything out of the sippy cup. Sure, you've taken a few small swallows, but nothing major. Just a few days ago you really figured out just what to do with biter biscuits. You were sucking and slurping on that thing like there was no tomorrow. Oh, and rice cereal is still a pursed lips ordeal. Not gonna do it!

Sitting and standing up are still your favorite positions. Just last week we noticed that if you were laying down in one spot, a few minutes later you would be about 5 feet away from that spot. Being on your tummy isn't your favorite, but it's a means to roll somewhere else. We see you put your behind up in the air and also raise your belly, but so far not at the same time. I really don't think that crawling is very far off. And the one thing that might just make you do it is the remote. You've wanted one of those for the past 3 months, and doggone it, you're determined to get one!

You had your 6 month check up yesterday and you weigh 16 lbs, 10 oz. The doctor said that you are growing like nobody's business! You are 25", which is over two feet, as Daddy puts it. You were completely worn out from the appointment, but you only slept for 30 min on the ride home. As soon as I opened the car door to get you out those eyes FLEW OPEN! They closed again once and I thought I was safe, but was I wrong. Tonight while Daddy was giving you your bottle you were splayed out on his belly, mostly asleep and making these adorable little mews. They were like snores, only baby-sized.

Retrospective perspective:

July 22, 2007

July 20, 2006

We can't wait to see what the next 6 months brings!

Love,

Momma and Daddy

Autumn's Boat

We had to get Autumn a new gadget for the bath. We had been using a bath pillow but on Monday she started refusing to lay on it. Richard called her a crocodile because she was desperately trying to roll over in the water. I just couldn't control her at all (she's very strong). It was taking both of us to bathe her. So I got this "boat" for her. She loves it! I'm thinking we might need to get another one that can stay dry so she can sit in it all day long!



Autumn's Boat from Deb on Vimeo.



Autumn's Boat, Part II from Deb on Vimeo.

If you click on the "Deb" right above this it will take you to the Vimeo site and you can see two other videos from June 11 where she is "still working on it".

Autumn Takes a Tumble

Autumn Takes a Tumble from Deb on Vimeo.

Autumn is starting to sit up with little help for short periods of time. It's amazing. My parents were here a few days ago, and on Sunday it didn't seem like she was anywhere near ready for such things. This morning she was sitting on my lap and actually stabilizing herself. These images are from the 9th.







I swear that she is also starting to push her behind up in the air like she is trying to get her knees underneath her. That doesn't happen all the time, but there are times when I think, "Oh my gosh! Don't start crawling yet! You're still my newborn!"