It seems like just yesterday I had this little girl...
I can still remember the fear of what was to come and the joy of such a gift!
Today I still fill the same way. Just a few weeks ago she couldn't crawl and now she is rolling and crawling down the hallway and finding things to get into! It's crazy! She is so much fun and even though some days I just want to have a break, I do everything possible to still be everything for her.
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| Five Chirpy Birds It's a really cute counting backward book and I love that she pushes the button so it will "chirp" |
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| She has figured out that she can flip over and climb out of chairs. Constantly on the go! |
Here's her 9 month update:
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| I love playing boxes when my mom or dad get them in the mail! Soon I hope to turn one into a car and motor around the house! |
- I weigh 16 lb 7 oz (20%) and I'm 27.75 inches long (50%)
- The doctor isn't worried that I didn't gain much weight in these last 3 months and he said "by the looks of those thighs" I'm pretty healthy!
- I'm still eating almost anything and I don't really make funny faces at anything. My mom tries to get me to eat little pieces of food with my hands but I think it feels weird on my fingers and I just like to eat cheerios with my hands! I still have 3 solid food meals a day and now I eat a snack in the afternoon sometimes with my big kid friends at school.
- I still drink my formula in a bottle, but I'm using the sippy cup at my meals with water in it. I really wish my mom would hold my my cup for me but she says it's important for me to try and do it myself as a big girl!
- I still take a 2 hour nap in the morning and the afternoon (and my mommy is so thankful)
- It took me a while to figure out how to move my hands and my feet to be able to crawl but I finally figured it out...I'm a supper crawler now!
- I really like it when my mom and dad hold my hands and help me walk.
- I still can't stand up on my own, but I'm starting to reach to pull up on things.
- I can now sit up from laying down...last month I would sit but I couldn't sit back up if I fell.
- I keep hearing my mom say "I can't believe she can just go and get up and move so much!" I'm a big girl!!!
- I know what the "FaceTime ring tone" sounds like and I love to talk to my Grandtama and Peetapaw in Arkansas on FaceTime!
- My favorite toy is this thing that throws balls out of the top of it that my mom got from Mrs. Jennifer's garage sale, the nurse of Dr. Gaitonde, who saved my life by delivering me so quickly!
- I giggle now when my mom and dad tickle me or blow on my belly!
- I know what "no, no" means and I turn around to look at my parents to see why they are saying that to me.
We are so blessed to have an amazing daughter and so thankful for all the tips and tricks people have shared with us along the way. I don't want to forget these for the next kid, so I'm documenting them here! Some of the things that really seem to be working in our house are:
- Put her to bed in her crib before she falls asleep and if you rock her, don't let her fall asleep in your arms. If she falls asleep in your arms, gently wake her up just a tad and lay her in her bed. If you don't she will be startled by the different surrounding when she wakes up. I have to admit, I personally truly believe in this one. Since Evelyn was in the NICU for 3 weeks and I only saw her 2-3 times a day for about an hour and the nurses had other babies to tend to. She was cared for but she was also put in her bed after feedings and would fall asleep on her own. The day she came home I continued what they had done and we have never had a problem. Tonight is a prime example. We put her in her crib awake and we never heard a peep out of her. Sometimes she cries for a couple of minutes, but that is only about once a week. The only time I let her fall asleep in my arms is if she is sick or if I've been away and I've really missed her!
- Once she turns 6 months of age routine is really important. Every night I get her from school, we play until 6:00, she has dinner, she has a bath, and then we skype or facetime with her grandparents in Arkansas (at least 2-3 evenings a week), we read a book, she drinks her bottle and she goes to bed. The lights in our house are not bright after bath time. She does not take her bottle in the living room, it's always in her bedroom with a low light and Scott or I sit in the rocking chair. I really think this makes a difference.
- Communicate with your spouse. I don't think I'll forget this one lol...but dad's don't always know what mom's need. What help they need with the baby or what help they need around the house. So, it's important to communicate. Let your spouse know what you are struggling with and or need help with. Also, make time to love your spouse still. It's really easy to get caught up in "the baby days" and only focus on your child. Try to have a date night at least 2 times a month baby free! See if you can trade off with another couple that has kids to save on baby sitters. We trade one night a month with My brother and sister in law. One night we keep their boys and one night they keep Evelyn every month. It's a great trade off!!!!
- Don't waist your money on all "girls" stuff or "boys" stuff. Buy gender neutral. I love all my pink stuff, don't get me wrong! However, everything does not need to be pink. After Evelyn was born and all of the costs of things that are needed kept adding up I decided gender neutral was the best way to go. After all, do you need to have barbie sippy cups or will the purple and lime green one work for a boy or a girl? When the next lovely little Hatfield comes along I hope and pray that we only need clothes, because, wow all the trinkets and gadgets and random little things sure do add up!
- Dr. Karp's 5 S's are a life saver...and you can't spoil a baby before 4 months of age...just love them and enjoy every minute of holding them!
I can't really think of much more, but I do know that I'm LOVING Evelyn right now. She is so much fun and makes me smile. I can't wait to update you next month on how much has changed.
