photo taken on 6/29/06, 10 1/2 months old
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
6/6/06 - 7/5/06 update in baby book, with a few added details
The first week of the month, Harper had a temperature and a rash, which Dr. Nagatani said was just a virus. I think it was roseola, after consulting my baby books and Erin Largoza. Most of the month, however, Harper maintained a slight temperature and she now has her first molar (on her right side). The left one didn't erupt until a month later, and her temperature subsided. I attempted some baby food again, which she took for a while but Harper really enjoys our food best of all. She likes tiny bits of fresh mozzarella cheese, bites of banana and blueberries, bits of bread, and meat sauce pasta put through the Food Mill. She (surprisingly?) even liked dill pickles, feta cheese, and pesto! She loves to eat carrot wheels or puffs, too (crackers that dissolve easily, specially made for babies). Harper became a sippy cup fiend this month, and she drinks a lot of water between nursings. We now nurse when she wakes, before her 9:30 AM nap, before her 2:30 PM nap, and at bedtime. She also nurses all through the night when she wakes up, which is still very frequent. Although it is exhausting to wake so many times at night, I have to mention that it is also a very sweet part of the baby experience, too. Harper whines a bit and roots around, finds my breast, and latches on, and then she often rubs my belly while nursing. She usually only wants to suck for about 2 minutes and then she pulls off and falls back asleep on my arm.
Harper had a tough month in terms of sleep (or should I say Ethan and I had a tough month?). Even naptimes, it was often difficult to get her to sleep much. It fluctuated between some long naps (1 1/2 hours) to short (30-35 minutes) some days. At night, she woke several nights after a very short while and Dada had to help her fall back asleep and set her back in her crib. When she first wakes, we bring her into bed with us but usually that is after about 2 hours on her own in her crib. Some nights (I assume because of the teething pain), she'd wake in less than an hour this month and Ethan would hold her until she fell asleep and set her back down so that we could maintain a couple of baby-free hours at night. We plan to work on moving Harper to sleep full time in her crib after her first birthday sometime.
We got a new kitten, Sadie, and Harper loves mimicing her meow. She makes a high-pitched "mmm" sound to do so. Harper loves books, and never tires of reading with whomever will oblige. We keep many in the front room on a bottom shelf and she will choose one and bring it to you to read, even the large, heavy ones! She often likes to hear the same book read over and over, but you can tell her to "get a different book" and she will! You can even describe which one you want by cueing her with some of the content and she'll find and bring you the book you ask for. Harper is also very musical. She loves her baby iPod, which plays nursery songs. She has begun bouncing to music and often sings when I do, especially as I sing her to sleep for naps. Harper pulls up more and more and is starting to cruise along furniture. If she's ever out of sight, I can say. "Where's Harper girl? Where's Mama's baby?" and she'll come racing back to me, smiling. Such a good girl! Harper also showed interest in a DVD for the first time (Sesame Street Musical Celebration). She points excitedly at the "dog, dog!" and "duck!" and bounces to the songs.
Ethan and I started a "date night" this month, and have assigned family members rotating Wednesday night duties. We are grateful that Harper is surrounded by so many willing, nay-- excited, clamoring-- babysitters! We think it is a win-win-win situation. E and I get some needed time sans child, the sitter(s) get some fun time alone with the girl who is in her own element here at home, and Harper gets to know her family better and begin to see that the realm of safety and love extends beyond Mama and Dada. It's also good for the separation anxiety (both Harper's and mine).
Harper loves interacting and attention, and she shows affection more and more. She gives loving hugs and kisses more frequently these days. She is a very empathetic girl who cries in concern whenever her cat's meow sounds plaintive or her friend Avery's babbles have a whiny tone. We love her awareness and sensitivity, but also feel protective of her tender heart.
The first week of the month, Harper had a temperature and a rash, which Dr. Nagatani said was just a virus. I think it was roseola, after consulting my baby books and Erin Largoza. Most of the month, however, Harper maintained a slight temperature and she now has her first molar (on her right side). The left one didn't erupt until a month later, and her temperature subsided. I attempted some baby food again, which she took for a while but Harper really enjoys our food best of all. She likes tiny bits of fresh mozzarella cheese, bites of banana and blueberries, bits of bread, and meat sauce pasta put through the Food Mill. She (surprisingly?) even liked dill pickles, feta cheese, and pesto! She loves to eat carrot wheels or puffs, too (crackers that dissolve easily, specially made for babies). Harper became a sippy cup fiend this month, and she drinks a lot of water between nursings. We now nurse when she wakes, before her 9:30 AM nap, before her 2:30 PM nap, and at bedtime. She also nurses all through the night when she wakes up, which is still very frequent. Although it is exhausting to wake so many times at night, I have to mention that it is also a very sweet part of the baby experience, too. Harper whines a bit and roots around, finds my breast, and latches on, and then she often rubs my belly while nursing. She usually only wants to suck for about 2 minutes and then she pulls off and falls back asleep on my arm.
Harper had a tough month in terms of sleep (or should I say Ethan and I had a tough month?). Even naptimes, it was often difficult to get her to sleep much. It fluctuated between some long naps (1 1/2 hours) to short (30-35 minutes) some days. At night, she woke several nights after a very short while and Dada had to help her fall back asleep and set her back in her crib. When she first wakes, we bring her into bed with us but usually that is after about 2 hours on her own in her crib. Some nights (I assume because of the teething pain), she'd wake in less than an hour this month and Ethan would hold her until she fell asleep and set her back down so that we could maintain a couple of baby-free hours at night. We plan to work on moving Harper to sleep full time in her crib after her first birthday sometime.
We got a new kitten, Sadie, and Harper loves mimicing her meow. She makes a high-pitched "mmm" sound to do so. Harper loves books, and never tires of reading with whomever will oblige. We keep many in the front room on a bottom shelf and she will choose one and bring it to you to read, even the large, heavy ones! She often likes to hear the same book read over and over, but you can tell her to "get a different book" and she will! You can even describe which one you want by cueing her with some of the content and she'll find and bring you the book you ask for. Harper is also very musical. She loves her baby iPod, which plays nursery songs. She has begun bouncing to music and often sings when I do, especially as I sing her to sleep for naps. Harper pulls up more and more and is starting to cruise along furniture. If she's ever out of sight, I can say. "Where's Harper girl? Where's Mama's baby?" and she'll come racing back to me, smiling. Such a good girl! Harper also showed interest in a DVD for the first time (Sesame Street Musical Celebration). She points excitedly at the "dog, dog!" and "duck!" and bounces to the songs.
Ethan and I started a "date night" this month, and have assigned family members rotating Wednesday night duties. We are grateful that Harper is surrounded by so many willing, nay-- excited, clamoring-- babysitters! We think it is a win-win-win situation. E and I get some needed time sans child, the sitter(s) get some fun time alone with the girl who is in her own element here at home, and Harper gets to know her family better and begin to see that the realm of safety and love extends beyond Mama and Dada. It's also good for the separation anxiety (both Harper's and mine).
Harper loves interacting and attention, and she shows affection more and more. She gives loving hugs and kisses more frequently these days. She is a very empathetic girl who cries in concern whenever her cat's meow sounds plaintive or her friend Avery's babbles have a whiny tone. We love her awareness and sensitivity, but also feel protective of her tender heart.
Monday, June 26, 2006
Molar!
About a week ago I had a dream that I was telling someone that Harper had eight teeth (as she's had for a couple of months now) and as I was saying it, I looked in her mouth and counted sixteen. In the dream, I was like, "Woah! These showed up when I wasn't looking!"
Well, call it mother's intuition or whatever but it turns out, Harper does have a new tooth that poked through when I wasn't looking. Yesterday I was playing with her and held her upside down, and spotted a white spot on her right top gums. Upon closer examination, it was indeed a molar! It's been there for at least a week or two because it is already quite visible (when you go looking for it). I felt around on the other side and I can feel that the corresponding tooth is right below the surface of her gums but it is not poking through yet.
I just went online to check for typical molar tooth eruption in babies: the range is 12-16 months. At 10 1/2, Harper is super early. This explains the low grade fever she's had for a while now, the drool stool, and (hopefully) the night wakings. There's always something we can blame her wakefulness on.
About a week ago I had a dream that I was telling someone that Harper had eight teeth (as she's had for a couple of months now) and as I was saying it, I looked in her mouth and counted sixteen. In the dream, I was like, "Woah! These showed up when I wasn't looking!"
Well, call it mother's intuition or whatever but it turns out, Harper does have a new tooth that poked through when I wasn't looking. Yesterday I was playing with her and held her upside down, and spotted a white spot on her right top gums. Upon closer examination, it was indeed a molar! It's been there for at least a week or two because it is already quite visible (when you go looking for it). I felt around on the other side and I can feel that the corresponding tooth is right below the surface of her gums but it is not poking through yet.
I just went online to check for typical molar tooth eruption in babies: the range is 12-16 months. At 10 1/2, Harper is super early. This explains the low grade fever she's had for a while now, the drool stool, and (hopefully) the night wakings. There's always something we can blame her wakefulness on.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
9 - 10 months (5/5/06 - 6/5/06)
What a month! Tons to report... so behind. I'll inevitably forget something, but here's what I just noted in Harper's baby book about the month.
Harper's scoots turned into crawling at the beginning of the month. She'd do a kind of "downward dog" and shuffle on her knees a bit. Her crawl is cute-- she's up on her hands and right knee, but often pushes with her left foot. She can crawl anywhere and pull herself up to stand, even when asked. She likes to stand up as I fill her bath and she is enjoying bath time more now that she has learned the word 'splash'. Harper also went "swimming" for the first time on Mother's Day. She had a great time splashing Mama. Her favorite toy this month (besides books, which remain supreme) is her Leap Frog Learning Table, which makes lots of musical sounds and plays songs. She likes to stand up and lean against it while making lots of fun sounds with it. (Her favorite is the spinner that sings the ABC's and other whole songs.) She never tires of peekaboo, hiding in the curtains, ducking her head below her own arm, or coming out from around the couch. She will often initiate the game, and once I start narrating, she excitedly continues. It is clear Harper really loves interacting and communicating. That is her motivation for almost everything she does! A recent game we worked out was "roll to Harper, give to Mama", which we play with any round object. She 'got it' instantly! It really amazes me how quickly she excels when challenged. One afternoon, while nursing, I used her finger to explain where my chin and forehead are. Since then, she can point them out when asked. ('Don't know if I've already posted it here, but she could already point out my nose, mouth, eyes, ears, and eyebrow.) Because she is such a sponge, I am constantly narrating our actions and it seems she really understands most everything! Harper also started giving kisses this month. She gives open-mouthed kisses to people occasionally, but gives kisses often to her own reflection. Harper still eats mostly breastmilk, but also consumed significant amounts of cottage cheese, bread, and puffs/wheels as supplements. Our family went on a trip to Catalina Island and Harper traveled very well this time. None of the sleep problems that she had traveling when she was 4 1/2 months old. She had a lot of fun with her cousins, who adore her. Harper also has a new smile that showed up this month, closed mouth with lips slightly puckered. I continue to marvel at her range of expression, how subtle she can be, and how perceptive. She is a gentle and sensitive girl, who loves to give hugs and express her love. We feel lucky she is ours!
What a month! Tons to report... so behind. I'll inevitably forget something, but here's what I just noted in Harper's baby book about the month.
Harper's scoots turned into crawling at the beginning of the month. She'd do a kind of "downward dog" and shuffle on her knees a bit. Her crawl is cute-- she's up on her hands and right knee, but often pushes with her left foot. She can crawl anywhere and pull herself up to stand, even when asked. She likes to stand up as I fill her bath and she is enjoying bath time more now that she has learned the word 'splash'. Harper also went "swimming" for the first time on Mother's Day. She had a great time splashing Mama. Her favorite toy this month (besides books, which remain supreme) is her Leap Frog Learning Table, which makes lots of musical sounds and plays songs. She likes to stand up and lean against it while making lots of fun sounds with it. (Her favorite is the spinner that sings the ABC's and other whole songs.) She never tires of peekaboo, hiding in the curtains, ducking her head below her own arm, or coming out from around the couch. She will often initiate the game, and once I start narrating, she excitedly continues. It is clear Harper really loves interacting and communicating. That is her motivation for almost everything she does! A recent game we worked out was "roll to Harper, give to Mama", which we play with any round object. She 'got it' instantly! It really amazes me how quickly she excels when challenged. One afternoon, while nursing, I used her finger to explain where my chin and forehead are. Since then, she can point them out when asked. ('Don't know if I've already posted it here, but she could already point out my nose, mouth, eyes, ears, and eyebrow.) Because she is such a sponge, I am constantly narrating our actions and it seems she really understands most everything! Harper also started giving kisses this month. She gives open-mouthed kisses to people occasionally, but gives kisses often to her own reflection. Harper still eats mostly breastmilk, but also consumed significant amounts of cottage cheese, bread, and puffs/wheels as supplements. Our family went on a trip to Catalina Island and Harper traveled very well this time. None of the sleep problems that she had traveling when she was 4 1/2 months old. She had a lot of fun with her cousins, who adore her. Harper also has a new smile that showed up this month, closed mouth with lips slightly puckered. I continue to marvel at her range of expression, how subtle she can be, and how perceptive. She is a gentle and sensitive girl, who loves to give hugs and express her love. We feel lucky she is ours!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Hugs
Harper is so affectionate these days! It feels wonderful to see that she is already understanding what it means to love and care for someone/ something and how to be kind and show that love. She has been giving hugs for about a month now, often prompted by "Can you give _____ a hug?" but she often does it without any prompting, too. It started with Mama and Dada, then extended into the world of her stuffed animals (Puffin was first), and now she'll even hug the bottle of lotion! It's fun to watch her hug objects because she curls her little arm around it, draws it into her neck and leans her head over it. We always say "Oh... so sweet and nice!", which she waits to hear before pulling back. But it is extra fun to be the recipient of a Harper hug, her little arms reaching across you, her head leaning lovingly against your neck.
Scoots turned into Crawls
Harper's been working on the up-on-all-fours, getting-both-legs-going actions for about a week now, and today she actually got somewhere with this crawl. She still vascilates between her old standby (the scoot) and her new ability, but she's definitely on her way!
Harper is so affectionate these days! It feels wonderful to see that she is already understanding what it means to love and care for someone/ something and how to be kind and show that love. She has been giving hugs for about a month now, often prompted by "Can you give _____ a hug?" but she often does it without any prompting, too. It started with Mama and Dada, then extended into the world of her stuffed animals (Puffin was first), and now she'll even hug the bottle of lotion! It's fun to watch her hug objects because she curls her little arm around it, draws it into her neck and leans her head over it. We always say "Oh... so sweet and nice!", which she waits to hear before pulling back. But it is extra fun to be the recipient of a Harper hug, her little arms reaching across you, her head leaning lovingly against your neck.
Scoots turned into Crawls
Harper's been working on the up-on-all-fours, getting-both-legs-going actions for about a week now, and today she actually got somewhere with this crawl. She still vascilates between her old standby (the scoot) and her new ability, but she's definitely on her way!
Tuesday, May 2, 2006
Fast and Clingy
The girl is getting quick with the scooting around. She generally pulls with her right arm and pushes off with her left leg at the same time and she's covering a lot of ground these days. Her favorite thing is to touch the "breakables" or the "yuckies" of course, like the stereo on the bottom shelf or Dad's flip flops. I have begun to stick those outlet covers on the accessible outlets. It was really funny today while Dada was home for lunch. Harper was scooting along to come join us, and she stopped off at the stereo (her favorite). She sat up from the scoot position (which she has totally mastered by herself now) and the next thing we knew, she had pushed the power button and then the play button, and They Might Be Giants' Here Come the ABC's album started playing. E and I both looked at eachother with bewilderment and laughed at our genius girl. It was probably fluke more than genius, but definitely hilarious (especially if you're familiar with that album and the way it starts)! Along with Harper's mobility comes the separation anxiety typical of this age. She gets somewhere and then thinks I am gone and starts to cry for me. I was so proud of her when she learned how to "Give Mama a hug" on cue, and now she's like leaning in and giving hugs all the time (no cueing necessary). The hugs are sweet, but I do look forward to the time when Harper feels unafraid to discover on her own.
Eating Habits
Harper's decided she's done with the baby food. She positively refuses to eat it anymore and is VERY interested in whatever's on our plates. I've bought a bunch of finger foods for babies because Harper will eat those and they are the melt-in-your-mouth type that she's less likely to gag on. Until she masters the chewing/mashing with her jaw, I am always really careful about what I give her off my plate. The other night we were eating Mexican, and she had some of my beans. All night long the poor girl was tooting. Yesterday, I made cookies in the morning and broke off a piece of warm cookie for her when they were fresh. Later in the day, I was eating another and Harper gestured (shaking arms up and down) and vocalized her desire for a bite. When I didn't immediately oblige, she launched into crying! I couldn't believe it! Crying for a cookie! (Smart cookie!)
"That"
Her fourth word. Said when pointing. Over the last couple weeks she's started to really emphasize the final 't' sound, which is super cute. Sometimes said with a questioning, ascending tone.
Pulling Up
Harper is working on this trick. I have a suspicion it will be the next one because she almost has it. She can pull herself up if she is seated on my knee so that her feet are in front and below her a bit. It's harder for her when her feet aren't below her. She likes to play stand-up-sit-down over and over again on the couch with a little of my help and lots of supervision/ injury prevention. I know the bumps and bruises are inevitable and coming soon, but I want to put them off for as long as possible.
We love watching Harper's personality develop and unfold. She is increasingly understanding and understood.
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