Baby Check: 7 Months

Baby Check: 7 Months

Posted 2 weeks late.  Surprised?  Probably not.

Somebody wouldn't straighten their knees for this photoshoot...

Bonjour!  Oh my…this 7^th month of life for sweet Effy has been very busy.  She changed a whole lot during April.

Eating habits: Last update, Effy had started eating solid foods.  So far she’s eaten cereal, peas, carrots, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, pears, & peaches.  I think next up will be a pureed Chalupa!  Only the best for my baby.

Waiting patiently for lunch...

Effy LOVES to eat.  I mean, she typically always eats everything we offer her.  Right now, her eating schedule is:

Breakfast: Nursed before work

Lunch: Rice cereal, fruit, and a bottle (until May 24^th…when I’m a stay at home mom!)

Dinner: Fruits/Veggies

Bedtime snack: Boobs

Another super fun change during the last month: Effy sits on her own!  It’s just the sweetest thing ever to see her looking like a little person.  Also, it allows her to be more purposeful with her actions, like reaching for certain toys and picking up and putting in her own pacifier.  Also, this means she can sit up and we can play with her while we lie on the floor, which is selfishly comfortable.  She’s not yet crawling, but is super close!  She hasn’t yet figured out how to get to a sitting position from laying down, but she sure gets an ab workout trying to do so.

Sitting up + mirrors = happy happy time

Sleep training

Oye vey.  So, whatever your opinion is on sleep training is perfectly cool.  We decided Effy (and therefore, us) would sleep better with some Ferberizing…yeah, I said it.  Guess what?  After about 4 nights, it worked!  We used to get up a couple times a night to rock her or her put her pacifier in, but now she sleeps SO much better.  Sometimes she’ll get upset but really, she goes to bed between 7-8pm and wakes up around 5:30am when I’m getting her fed and ready to leave while we go to work.  Usually sometime during the night she’ll wake up and fuss for a very minimal amount of time (less than a minute) and then go back to sleep.  There are definitely still nights where she gets upset and cries for a while in the middle of the night, but those are not the norm anymore, which is a welcome change.  We always put her in her crib awake and she falls asleep by talking to herself.  She doesn’t cry or wail herself to sleep, which is great because boy that sure is tough to hear.

Talking

Effy is making a variety of noises including dadada, bababa, mamama, rarara, and my personal favorite – blahblahblah.  She did blahblah very consistently for a couple of weeks, but she’s sort of stopped now.  Sad day!  Anywho, she likes to talk and scream.  Here is a sweet video of her talking to a bear at my parent’s house.  To the untrained ear, it’s hard to tell what she’s saying.  Translated she is saying, “I love my mommy.  She should eat more Sonic.  Also, she should buy more tote bags.”

Babyfying the living room

Since we moved into our house, we had a pretty bland area rug in the living with a coffee table on it that we love that matches the rest of our furniture.  However this set up, as well as wood floors, did not leave any play area for Effy downstairs.  I started researching area rugs and wanted one that was pretty much a piece of carpet.  Everywhere we looked they weren’t quite the right size, texture, color, or price!  We ended up going to a carpet store close to our house and bought a remnant and they finished the edges like a rug.  We love it!  I also just ordered this lovely ottoman/storage unit/coffee table that has casters to replace our coffee table for a while.  It won’t ship until June because it’s being upholstered but we will wait patiently!

Other exciting events in Effy’s life this month:

-       Scott’s best friend from high school, Joey, and his wife, Marigold, were in town for the first time since Effy was born so we were excited for them to come play at our house. Effy thought Joey was pretty swell.  We also got to go over to Joey’s parents’ house on Easter afternoon and there were eggs waiting there with Effy’s name on them!

"Hey Joey...I like you."

-       Speaking of Easter, it was Effy’s first Easter!  The Easter bunny brought her the cute wooden rattle shown below.  She spent the day celebrating at Scott’s dad and step-mom’s house (aka, Poppy & J-Ma) and hanging out with Scott’s wonderful family.

-       Effy was a happy girl when she met my friend Elaine.  Baby E (which is actually my nickname for Elaine, my pledge daughter from our sorority) is moving to California soon to continue her teaching career and it was so wonderful to catch up with her.  Effy was well-behaved during our coffee time.  She totally pooped before I even got to the coffeeshop and just happily squished around in it until we got home.  There was definitely no good way for me to change her out and about.  Good thing neither Effy nor Elaine seemed offended by it.

-       My life-long and very very dear friend Haley moved to KC from working quite successfully in DC.  I’m pretty much obsessed with her.  You can watch her nightly on our ABC station as a reporter.  I look forward to being a stay-at-home mama for so many reasons, but a big one is so I have more time to spend around Haley and my other wonderful friends!

Effy, we LOVE how happy you are.  You bring us so much happiness and overwhelming pride.  We love making you laugh and smile.  We love when you fall asleep on us.  We love spending so much time with you.  You are the best baby.  We love you.

Baby Check: 6 Months

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago, but just never put in the pictures and posted it.  Oops.  My bad. Also, re-reading it, I was clearly not feeling witty.  Eh, oh well.  Maybe her 7 month post will be on time.

Baby Check: 6 Months

Weight: 14lbs, 8oz – 25^th percentile

Length: 25.5” – 50^th percentile

My sweet little lady is half a year old.  SLOW DOWN, life!  Holy crap, I just realized that I only get to repeat her life 35 more times, then she’s off to college.  Umm…I may or may not be tearing up right now.

Many big changes happened this month, but Effy’s biggest change has been her diet – we’ve added solid foods!  During her 6 month, she had rice cereal, peas, carrots, & apples.  My sweet mama bought us this baby food maker and I’ve been itching to use it for a long time and I finally got to!  I’ve been making her food for the past 6 months, now I just make some more in a different way.

My favorite solid foods moment so far was the day that Effy kept imitating me chewing.  I’ve watched this 12 second video clip countless times.

As we anticipated it would, solid foods has really changed Effy’s poop situation.  Luckily (right Mom?), Effy times 80% of her poops to happen at Grandmama & Grandpa’s house while Scott and I at work!  My dad got the pleasure of changing a diaper after Effy hadn’t pooped for 4 days.  Mom said she came home to a very poop filled diaper, some poop on the bathroom floor, some poop in the sink, and a perfectly clean and happy baby girl.  Good job, Grandpa!

Lately we’ve been walking to the grocery store at least once a week, which is really nice.  We still drive when we do big shopping (like for milk and heavier things), but I felt so productive the first time Effy and I walked down together, bought some veggies, walked home, and made some delicious, homemade baby food.  I can’t wait to do things like that even more when I’m a stay-at-home mama!  Effy is now recognized at the grocery by a couple of the employees because she squeals and kicks her legs the entire time we’re shopping.

Another big development during Effy’s 6th month is that she is consistently rolling over.  She’s done it quite a few times before, but now, when we lay her down on her stomach, she immediately rolls to her belly in 1 - 2 seconds.  She also used to get tired of being on her belly, but now she doesn’t seem too at all.

Other exciting events in Effy’s life this month:

-       Spring break: A small taste of our future life as daughter & stay-at-home mom.  Eek!  SO excited!

-       St. Patrick’s Day: I wanted to be super cute and take Effy to the St. Patty’s Day parade, but it was a little chilly.  I LOVE parades (it’s the band nerd in me) and my dancers were going to be marching with the marching band in the St. Patty’s Day parade, but the last time I went to the parade, I was reminded why I don’t really drink.  Lots of drunk people are annoying.  Lots of drunk people with no boundaries around my 6 month old?  HA.  I think we’ll save Effy’s first parade for the American Royal parade or something this fall.

-       Tim Fleenor took 6 month pictures of Effy and he was just amazing with her.  Tim found a way to capture itty bitty moments with Effy that as a parent, we love.  We are personally not much for posed baby pictures, and Tim’s style fits right along with what we like.  He came to our house and just took pictures around our house.  He also took pictures when she was 2 weeks old and will take pictures again when she’s a year…which is sooner rather than later – crazy!

One of our favorites.

-       Effy got her passport!  Scott’s work always comes with the chance of work abroad, and we just wanted to be ready (once school is out) for Effy and I to come along for the ride.  Getting Effy’s picture taken was quite an event.  The requirements for a baby passport picture are pretty intense: no smiling, you can’t show the hands of anyone else, you shouldn’t use obvious things to prop them up…pretty much they want your baby to look like they hate life but know how to levitate.

Baby girl…we LOVE you.  We love your soft cheeks.  We love rubbing your back.  We love making you smile.  We love that you love us.

I can already anticipate her 7 month post will be full of lots of changes.  She has learned some fun things in these last couple weeks.  Stay tuned for a 7 month update soon!

Ch-ch-changes!

Ahoy mateys!  Exciting changes ahead!

Starting in just a few short weeks, I’m making a career change to…stay-at-home mama!  I am SO thrilled to start this new chapter in my life.  I’ve been excited for many things in my life, but this may take the cake. 

I have mixed feelings about leaving my wonderful students and amazing school.  I absolutely LOVE my job and truly feel like I’m making a difference for my students…not to mention they make me laugh a lot.  However, I’m a perfectionist and feel like it’s hard for me to give 100% to everything (which irritates me).  Who do I really want to give 100% to?  My family!  My principal asked if I was interested in part-time work but what she quickly said afterward was, “I know you Michelle and I know that a part-time job for you would quickly turn into a full-time job,” and boy is she right.  It’s hard for me to not do things jumping totally in with both feet, if you don’t mind a metaphor.  Anywho, I was nervous to give her my notice because I respect and enjoy her so much but she seems so genuinely excited for me and even said, “At home is where you need to be. It’s the most important job.” 

WOOOOOOO!!  I can’t wait for the end of May.  Mama + Effy = happy times

Spring break was a small taste of what life as a stay-at-home mom might be like.  In fact, I documented one of my days hanging out with Effy over spring break and it’s being shared in the Day in the Life series on The Domestic Wannabe’s blog.  Check out a day in my life with Effy!

11 things

Roaming around the blogosphere is a simple challenge reminiscent of the surveys I used to get in my Hotmail inbox circa 1999 – B.F. (before Facebook).  The Domestic Wannabe, Ashley, tagged me in this game far too long ago and I’m just now filling it out.  Slacker much?

Here are the rules:
1.  Post the rules.
2.  Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.
3.  Answer the questions set for you in the original post.
4.  Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5.  Go to their blog/twitter/facebook and tell them that you've tagged them.

11 Random Things About Me

1.  I’ve never cleaned the windows in my house.  I’ve lived here for 4 ½ years.  Don’t judge.

2. Ranch dressing makes everything taste better.  I use it on probably 75% of my meals.

3. Church camp is absolutely one of my most favorite places in the world.  In late elementary and middle school, I went here and then in high school, here.  I’ve gone back a couple of times to be a counselor at White Memorial and it was absolutely wonderful.  Some day, I’m sure I’ll do it again.

4. I sit cross-legged anywhere I can.  I strategically wear shoes to restaurants that come off and on easily so I can sit cross-legged in booths.  The only place I never sit that way is while driving, don’t you worry.

5. My husband and I follow the superstition of making a wish on a fallen eyelash.  We’ve made countless wishes.  Now when Effy loses an eyelash, one of us makes a wish for her.  So far, I believe all of mine have come true.  We take this superstition very seriously.

6. I have a piano and a guitar, both of which I cannot play very well.  Hopes and dreams people. Hopes…and…dreams.  Oh, I have 2 flutes.  I can play them both, but not at the same time.  New goal.

7. I wanted to be many things growing up including a meteorologist, a cast member in Up with People, and a puppeteer.  I was in a puppet group at church (the Puppeteens…yes, I proudly get credit for the name) and we actually participated in puppet competitions.  Holla!

8. I’m obsessed with my parents…like…want to hang out with them all the time obsessed.  They are definitely some of my best friends and I feel so lucky to be close to them both.

9. When I was in middle school, I broke both of my wrists at the same time.  I had a red cast and a blue cast, neither of which could get wet, so my mom had to bathe me with ziplock bags on my arm.  She also wiped my butt and picked my wedges.  This helps explain #8.

10. One of my favorite things about being a mom is picking Effy up.  I love to pick her up from her crib, from her swing, from the changing table, out of her car seat…everywhere.  I just love picking her up.

11. I don’t wear make-up, not because it wouldn’t help, but because I’m lazy and don’t really know how. I think if you grew up with a mom who primped, you probably started to do it as well.  My mom and I both battle our curly hair, which takes up far too much time to worry about make-up.

Questions from Ashley

1.  When and why did you start blogging? According to my blogger site, I started Cubbies & Nooks in June of 2008.  Really I had no purpose having a  blog…I didn’t (and still don’t) update it frequently enough.  I got more serious about it when I got knocked up last year.

2.  What does your perfect Saturday look like? This dream Saturday would be in the fall because it’s obviously the best season. I would sleep in and wake up to a happy baby ready to play.  Scott, Effy, & I would go out to brunch where I could eat whatever I wanted and it would all be calorie free.  My parents would come up in the early afternoon and we’d go shopping and go for a walk, perhaps play in the park.  We’d take a sleeping baby and the five of us would go have dinner somewhere like Avenues Bistro or M&S Grill.

3.  What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? A sandwich from Mr. Goodcents – specifically the cheese mix on wheat with cheddar and provolone.  Lettuce, pepper, oil, extra vinegar, extra mayo.  Diet soda.

4.  If you won the lottery, what would you do first (besides paying off any debts)? Take our family on a trip to Europe.

5.  What is your biggest pet peeve? Hmm…I guess I don’t like it when people say, “I could care less.”  The phrase is “I couldn’t care less.”  Beyonce’s lack of knowledge to this fact almost made me not like Single Ladies…but then I couldn’t stop dancing to it, so I just ignored that lyric.

6.  What is your favorite childhood memory?  Oh my gosh.  SO many.  I had such a great childhood.  One memory that really sticks out is from high school.  I can’t remember why, but I was very upset.  Though it was about 10 o’clock at night, my Dad did his best to fix the problem by saying, “Have you ever wondered if pumpkins sank or floated?”  We then smeared black make up under our eyes and went down to the Shunganunga Creek (no…seriously…that’s its name), and threw a pumpkin off the foot bridge.  It floated.  Again, I don’t remember what my problem was or why I was so upset, but Dad knew how to fix it.

7.  What is your dream job? Stay at home mama!

8.  What is your guilty pleasure? Donuts.  Cream filled…not the fluffy cream, but the pudding cream.  Bonjour!

9.  What do you hope your life looks like 5 years from now? More babies, more traveling, more organized, better cook.

10.  If you got to go on a weekend getaway with 3 other bloggers, who would you invite? Beth Anne from Heir to Blair (I have a total crush on her), Naomi from Rockstar Diaries, and Jen from IHeart Organizing.

11.  Post your favorite photo you've taken from the last month. 

Sweet hands...oh, I just love her.

Here are 11 new questions and I’m hoping the following people will play along and answer ‘em.  If you don’t, I’m totes not offended. Molly, Allison, Kim, Lilli, Jen, Kelli – love you all!

1. If you could only eat one type of cereal for the rest of your life, what would you choose and why?

2. What is your favorite room in your house/apartment and why?

3. Quick!  Your home is on fire!  What 3 things do you grab?

4. What is some of the best advice you’ve ever received?

5. Who do you think would play you in a movie?

6. What is the last book you read and would you recommend it to a friend?

7. What is something you wish you were really good at?

8. If you could receive a $500 gift card to any clothing store, where would you choose?

9. What is a non-profit you are passionate about and what is their cause?

10. If you don’t mind, please share an embarrassing moment in your life…only because I love you and those stories are awesome.

11. Share one of your proudest moments.

Baby Check: 5 Months

Baby Check: 5 Months

So, Effy turned 5 months almost 2 weeks ago (oops)…so I’m going to rewind back two weeks in my mind for this update.  That’ll be hard considering she’s changed so much within these most recent two weeks – she’s finally enrolled in an ACT prep class, she perfected a soufflé recipe, and she got her braces off!  But I need to slow down and back up to 2 weeks ago when she was 5 months old and just a little baby…

This post will probably be shorter than normal.

I’m on spring break and want to play with my baby. Ya dig?

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As far as Effy’s social calendar goes, the month of February was less eventful for her because it was my craziest month at work, as I anticipated it would be.  February did, however, bring the following things for Ms. Effy…

End of basketball season: I love coaching the dance team at school, but I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t relieved the busy season is over.  No more evening games away from the baby and no more after school practices!  Effy spends most of her days at my mama’s house…mom drives an hour to my work and meets me there in the morning, drives an hour to her house and hangs out with Effy all day and sends Scott and I lots of pictures and videos.  When I get out of work at 3pm, I go to my car and parked next to me is my mama with that sweet baby in the backseat, ready to go back to our house!  My mom is AWESOME.  I don’t know what else to say.  Effy and I are so lucky. Here’s a picture from my mom’s house.  Effy is starting to grab at lots of things and apparently when Mom was getting her ready to eat, Effy took the liberty of grabbing the Tupperware with all the bottle pieces in it. What a helper!

Musical practice: Effy came to a handful of musical practices at school.  My dear friend Sarah is the theater teacher and musical director at school and I helped choreograph the last two years (which is how my love affair with Sarah began).  Anywho, Effy spent lots of time in utero around the marching band with dance team stuff goin’ on, so I think to hear our band director on the drum set at musical practice, she felt at home.  My favorite practice was the one where I held Effy as she sat on the front of the stage and watched the students practice up close.  She squealed/screamed a few times.  I think she liked it.  The musical performances were right around Effy’s 5 month birthday, which means our present to her was the end of those after-school practices as well.  You’re welcome, baby girl.

Single parent: I spent a week in February as a single parent…kind of.  Scott was out of town for work for a week, so baby girl and I slept at my parents a couple of nights and my sweet mama had a slumber party at our house too!  Scott kept saying that he hoped Effy would remember him while he was gone.  My oh my, she was one happy lady when daddy walked in to get her out of the crib after he returned.  Normally she’s very smiley in the mornings when you come into her nursery, but for the first time I can remember, she laughed as soon as she saw Scott walk into her room. She was SO happy.  

Lady parts appointment: In November, I went in for my post-partum appointment with my OB-GYN, and she seemed genuinely disappointed that I didn’t bring Effy with me.  I guess I assumed it was a bad idea to bring a baby, but she acted surprised/sad that I hadn’t brought her (which is just one of 3892 reasons I love my doctor).  She knew that I was going to be due for my annual lady parts appointment in a couple of months, so she called the receptionist and told her to schedule me on a Saturday so it would be easier for me to come in and bring the baby with me.  She is too sweet!  Anywho, Effy did in fact come with me to my appointment and slept the whole time.  Phew!  Can you imagine trying to entertain a baby while somebody is all up in your business?  And by business…I mean vagina.

Oh, and I was talking to my doctor and told her how I kiss Effy on the mouth all the time, which I never thought I would do.  She said she was the exact same way until one time her 18 month old opened his mouth and they French kissed.  I love my doctor.  If you live in the KC area and need a recommendation, check out Dr. Nguyen at KC Women’s Clinic.  Love her!

Ted Talk: A few months ago, our dear friends Ted & Corinne moved home from Chicago.  They brought with them a new social tradition called Ted Talks.  Basically, you pick a topic on which you are well-educated and passionate and present on it (PowerPoint, posterboard, etc.) to your friends.  In February, Scott, Effy, & I hosted and the topic was breastfeeding.  It went so well!  Seriously, the men asked more questions than the ladies and people seemed genuinely interested.  It was so wonderful.  Oh, also, I made a custom bullet in the shape of a boob to put in our PowerPoint.  It’s subtle because I’m a classy lady.  Here’s one of our slides:

Effy sat through the presentation as well!  

She tried to present but she got stage fright and pooped her pants.

Though Effy’s social calendar slowed down this month, she was very busy on her own.  She spent her time doing many fun things such as….

Eating her toes

Snuggling with Daddy

Sucking her thumb

Going on walks (AH-mazing weather, ‘round these parts)

Playing in her jumper

We love you baby girl…and SO soon you’re going to be half a year old!  We’re so proud of you and you fulfill our lives even more than we knew was possible.

Baby Check: 4 Months

Baby Check: 4 Months

Weight: 12lbs, 11oz (40^th percentile)

Height: 23 ⅔ inches (40^th percentile)

Effy is officially 1/3 of a year old!  Seeing as I use almost anything as an excuse to eat, I can’t believe I haven’t thrown her a little mini party where she sits in her swing and watches me eat a chalupa.

The biggest change this month has been me going back to work – it most certainly hasn’t been easy, but coming home to my wonderful husband and that sweet baby at the end of every day is the BEST.  Plus, I really do enjoy my job.  This would be a whole new ballgame if I was leaving Effy everyday and going to a job I hate. 

Speaking of my job, my mom brought Effy up to school this week.  We had parent/teacher conferences on Wednesday and they went well into the evening, so I thought it would be a good opportunity for Effy to meet some of my co-workers, and it would also mean I could close my door for a few minutes and nurse her instead of having her get another bottle.  She did pretty well with all of the extra attention and only had one sensory overload breakdown moment. This mama almost had a breakdown, though, when a student that I DON’T KNOW walked up to us, picked Effy up out of my arms, and proceeded to give me advice on how to have her stop crying.  I stood patiently for a couple of minutes, took my baby back, disinfected her hands, and planned a bath for when we got her home.  Oh, by the way, we still only give her a bath twice a week.  Is that bad??  I mean, that’s more frequently than I bathe myself, so surely it’s ok.

Childcare: Effy has the best baby sitter around…my mama!  We feel so blessed that a family member is able to watch Effy while Scott and I are at work.  My mom drives 2+ hours everyday which is a lot of driving but she’s getting through some audiobooks and says that being with the baby everyday is totally worth it.  I don’t know how I could have gone back to work while worrying about Effy in daycare somewhere.  I never worry for her well-being while I’m gone…plus my mom sends Scott and I pictures and videos throughout the day, which is the bright spot of my work day.

Spit City: Effy has been one slobbery little baby this last month.  You would think she’d have a tooth coming in or something, but she’s been a little drool factory for a while.  She soaks through bibs and outfits like it’s nobody’s business.  No sign of teeth yet.  Will I feel that on ye ol’ boob?  I mean, when her tooth comes in, will she clamp down while eating or what?  I bet that will feel GREAT.

Tummy time: She used to survive tummy time for 3-5 minutes before she was OVER it.  But now?  She’ll happily hang out on her belly for 10+ minutes and she holds her neck up well.  She’s even rolled over a few times!  It’s easiest for her to roll from her stomach to her back…and it’s also easier to do when she’s in the buff.  I think her cloth diapers (besides giving her some serious camel toe) make it difficult for her to roll, so we’ve just been putting that naked little baby down on a towel for a while and letting her hang out.

Toothless grins: Definitely the best part of parenting is receiving the sweetest toothless smiles.  And this month?  She’s been laughing!  It’s not super consistent yet, but I’d say every day in the last couple of weeks, we’ve heard at least one laugh.  This is a small laugh on the Effy laugh scale, but a captured laugh none-the-less.  *Note: her head looks alarmingly close to the chandelier.  I assure you I was at a safe distance...though I'm sure at some point, we'll bonk her into a light fixture of some sort...but when that happens, I won't post it on the internet.

Here’s the “What makes Effy smile” list:

·       Waking up in the morning…even if it’s me forcing her awake at 5:45 before work to go to my mom’s house for the day, she is super smiley.

·       When her dad beatboxes

·       After she poops (who doesn’t smile after that?)

·       Certain toys (see below)

·       When people make funny/repetitive noises at her

·       Bouncing her on our bed

Playtime: Effy has started to show preference to certain toys, which I think is just the best thing ever.  Any sign of personality and opinions is just great.  I’m sure when she’s a toddler, I’ll complain about opinions, but right not, it’s pretty darn cute.  Below are some of her favorite toys…

Ok, I’m just going to throw this out there, but LOTS of baby products are freakin’ ugly.  Can’t I just have a plain onesie?  Why must the cheap ones at Target have like…”Monkey Princess” or some crap printed on them?  When I was pregnant and researching baby products, I could never find a playmat I liked, so I just never bought one…until we were at Barnes and Noble and Mom and I spotted this beauty from Skip*Hop.  I fell in love, and now, so is Effy!  She will lie on her playmat and talk for a long time and has now started batting at and grabbing the toys.  Skip*Hop stuff is too freakin’ cute…I wish they made more baby stuff.  I’d totes buy it.

One of the first toys we bought when we found out we were pregnant was Sophie.  I had heard how popular this little giraffe was…but when I saw that Sophie was French, I knew my little bun in the oven NEEDED that toy.  Speaking of French…here’s Effy getting to first base Sophie.  My baby’s got game.

Effy and Claire

Just a couple weeks ago, my other mother (one of my mom’s dearest friends) Christine brought Effy a Blabla.  It’s a simple, soft little doll that gets a lot of smiles from Effy.  We have a Blabla named Claire, and Claire and Effy are good pals.  I love that Claire is wearing pea green Mary Janes.  Too. Freakin. Cute.

The best toy of all?  People’s faces and hands.  Making googly faces and weird noises or moving your hands around with spirit fingers really makes this baby happy.  She’s a people person, I do believe.

Baptism: Sweet Effy was baptized this last month.  We love our church and we love our pastors and were so honored to be able to share in this moment with our family and church family as well.  Effy wore her Aunt Kim’s baptism gown and celebrated the way her mama taught her…by going out for Mexican food afterward.

Outings: Unfortunately the end of my maternity leave has meant the end of our daily outings.  Just wait until summer break, people.  Just. Wait.

Future dancer?

My dance team participated in a competition at an area high school this month and made me a proud coach.  My mom, being the awesome lady/mom/grandma she is, agreed to bring Effy up to the competition for awhile so I could hang out with both of them and nurse her but I was able to hand her off to my mama when I needed to act like a dance coach.  If Effy & my mom couldn’t have come, I would have gone from 6am – 9pm on a Saturday without nursing her.  Mama ain’t down with that.  Clearly, based on this picture, she was enthralled and is going to follow her mom’s footsteps and be a dancer someday.  We won’t discuss the point where she had too much of the loud music and proceeded to melt down in my mom’s arms.  Strict high school dance competition rules do not allow for the gymnasium doors to open during performances, so mom had to stand by the door with Effy SCREAMING while on-lookers pointed and said things like, “Poor baby!”  “Oh, they should open the door!”  “Oh my, they need to turn the music down!”  “Oh my gosh, that’s the cutest baby I’ve ever seen!”  Okay, so nobody probably said the last thing…but I’m sure they were all thinking it. Duh.

My dear friend Aly threw her hubby, Nate, a surprise party for his 30^th birthday.  It was 80’s themed, so naturally Effy had a costume.  I’m very sad I don’t have a picture of her in her outfit.  It wasn’t Effy’s finest night.  We decided to forgo a baby sitter and try to take her out after her bedtime.  Umm.  No.  Bad idea.  There were probably 5 or 6 babies at this party, and Effy was the crying one.  Mean mommy and daddy trying to make her socialize past her bedtime.  We went home pretty early that night. Oops.

I have wonderful memories and friends from my years at my dance studio.  3 of those friends I’m still very close with and two of them live close, so I’m able to see them every so often.  We use dance recitals as an excuse to get together but the exciting part this year is that both of these wonderful ladies are pregnant!  I used to get excited for my friends who were expecting, but now that I know how amazing being a mommy is, I was beyond excited to see the girls & hear all about their pregnancies!  Effy didn’t come to the recital, but she did come to meet my friends at a coffee shop (but really, coffee with two pregnant ladies wasn’t so much coffee as it was sandwiches and ice cream).

Scott and I used some Christmas money to buy a much needed new dishwasher…which obviously meant we needed the matching oven.  A new dishwasher was also an excuse to start getting some new dishes.  Ours had just about had it.  We’ve decided to just collect plates and glasses we like at antique stores, flea markets, garage sales, & the like.  That being said, we headed to my favorite antique mall in town and Effy road in the Baby Bjorn very happily for over an hour.  She was very patient with us.

Our new toys!

Okay, the next order of business is a survey I’d lurve for you to take.  I’m hoping to get some blog feedback and such.  Don’t worry, it’s anonymous, so you can tell me you hate me if you want.  You can’t hate my baby though.  That’s not allowed.  Anywho, click here to leave me some feedback.

Happy 4 month birthday to my sweet baby.  Holding your soft face against mine is the best feeling.  Smelling your head, whether it smells like baby shampoo or sour milk, is a delight.  I have missed running around with you everyday now that I’m back at work, but I count down until spring break and summer break everyday.  You are my little buddy and I love love love you.