Can you believe this relaxed smiling toddler sings a nononononono song? She even sings a dopdopdopdop (stop) song.
One Year Checkup
December 10, 2008 at 11:07 pm (Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, cute, doctor, milestones
Eva recently visited her doctor for her one year check up. At previous visits I always brought a laundry list of things to ask, but now that Eva is bigger, and I am more relaxed about being a mom, we didn’t have too much to talk about.
She can say at least six words: doggy, ducky (to all birds), hi, bye, dad, mom. I think she can say “yes” and “okay” as well. I have this feeling that she is actually saying more, but I am unable to recognize the words. She is constantly telling me things, I just don’t know what. She waves goodbye and hello (inconsistently, and sometimes everyone will have left, and then she waves bye bye). She points at objects. She understands a significant amount of what I say. She follows directions. She understands “no.” She even stops doing something when I tell her “no” (most of the time). She walks really well. She still waddles like a duck with her big belly and rear end pushed out. It is adorable.
The stats: Height 29 inches = 43rd percentile (I think she is a little shorter than 29 inches, the nurse took about two seconds to measure her); Weight, 19.6 pounds = 25th percentile (still too small to face the carseat forward); and circumference of head 18 inches = 68th percentile (she finally grew that huge cranium her Dad’s side is known for).
First Thanksgiving
November 29, 2008 at 6:36 pm (Firsts, Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, cute, thanks, Thanksgiving
Eva celebrated her first Thanksgiving! Last year, I was in my ninth month of pregnancy, having trouble waddling around and expecting a baby any day. This year was much more relaxing.
I want to give thanks for my beautiful daughter and for the ability to spend so much time with my little munchkin. I also want to give thanks for all of our family and friends who have been extremely supportive and given so much love to Eva. I want to give thanks for my wonderful husband who is the most amazing father and incredible co-parent. Here’s to many more Thanksgivings with Eva to come!
Nine Months In, Nine Months Out
September 7, 2008 at 7:11 pm (Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, cute, doctor, iron, lead
Eva is officially on the outside for longer than she was on the inside. This nine months has been extremely different from the nine months I carried her! While pregnancy was pretty good for me, these last nine months have been filled with more fun and adventure and tears and learning than I ever dreamed of. My daughter is truly an amazing little being.
We went to the doctor last week and learned that Eva is 17 pounds 8 ounces, 27 and a quarter inches tall, and has a 17 inch diameter head. We also learned she has normal levels of lead in her blood (a relief for me, considering we live in a 120 year old house) and normal iron levels. Unfortunately for all involved, the lab needed to take 2 vials of Eva’s blood to test for iron and lead levels. That is like 1/4 of Eva’s blood! Needless to say, Eva was not pleased.
Make Up Your Mind Mom!
August 20, 2008 at 2:52 pm (Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, bells, cute, mouthing
Eva doesn’t really stick things in her mouth. Well she does, sometimes, but she is definitely not one of those babies whose first step when getting an object is to shove it into their mouth. Part of me is concerned, mouthing objects is an important step in sensory exploration, but part of me is thrilled. I don’t have to worry about Eva finding yucky or dangerous things and sticking them in her mouth. The other day I was complaining to Eva’s Dad about this, and, while I was in the grocery store, lo and behold, he videotaped Eva putting an object (a forbidden object) in her mouth.
What Beautiful Hair!
July 22, 2008 at 11:18 am (Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, cute, hair
This is one of the comments Eva’s appearance elicits most often. I’ve been meaning to write a post about her hair for a long time, I just didn’t have the right picture. Eva has amazing hair. Hair I could only dream of. It is this beautiful, wavy, soft, brown, blond, red combination that is tempting to try to get a hairdresser to recreate. The other day I walked in late to a Mom’s group and everybody just oohed and ahhed. Most babies at Eva’s age are bald or are staring to grow thin, sparse hair. But Eva has always had a full head of hair. And not just any hair, beautiful hair.
6 Months (7 Months) Is Where It’s At
July 6, 2008 at 10:48 am (Loving It, Pronouncements)
Tags: 6 months, 7 months, baby, cute, personality
6 months of age is amazing (7 months too. I’ve been meaning to write this post forever!). Eva’s personality is beginning to show and she is this happy, smiley, loving, little person. She sits and moves a little bit in her immediate area, but I’m not having to chase her down (yet). She is so easygoing. If a toy gets out of her reach she doesn’t get upset, she just finds something else to play with. She loves games and is beginning to make up a few of her own. We are having such a good time!
DAD!
May 25, 2008 at 10:49 pm (Adventures, Loving It, Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, birthday, cute, dad
Today the most important man in Eva’s life turned 30. I know what you are thinking. I am a cougar! Eva adores her Dad like no other and they definitely complete each other. He, of course, thinks she is the most perfect thing on the planet.
For this important birthday, I decided to take Eva’s Dad to the dump. We went to the Albany Bulb, which used to be a dump, then a homeless camp and place for artists to create art using found objects, and now a park. We had a great time and saw a lot of interesting things. We did not make it to the hobo hot tub however.
I must also remember and thank Grammie, who, 30 years ago today, gave birth (which, as previously stated, is really hard!) to an amazing and wonderful man.
Eva’s Dad in his birthday suit and other pictures after the jump…. Read the rest of this entry »
Onescore and Ten
May 2, 2008 at 2:25 pm (Adventures, B.E., Firsts, Pronouncements, Sleep, Turning Into My Mother)
Tags: 30, baby, birth, birthday, cute, milestone
Today Eva’s Mama turns 30. My Mom sometimes says that on my birthday I should be celebrating her. I know she is being facetious (right?), but she is also remembering that wild journey between the first small pains to the first hours of your child’s life on the outside, which can be pretty hard on a mama. Birth is no picnic for the little one either. She has to struggle to get out while being squashed and smooshed by contractions and then be greeted by lights, sounds, people, and numerous other things she didn’t experience on the warm, cozy, safe inside.
Growing up isn’t easy either. These past 5 months (and 30 years) have been fraught with challenges, tears, and pain only to be countered by joy, love, and wonderment. Sometimes you have to deal with the hard stuff before you get to the good stuff. For example, Eva hasn’t been sleeping well. After thinking it could be a million things (teething, 4-5 month sleep regression, crib position, bedtime, etc.) we now believe she has made great developmental strides and is working these out in her sleep. She is working so hard on sitting and rolling over, she is doing them in her sleep, thus waking herself up. Last night we found her on her belly at the corner of her crib (not where we put her). This hard work will all culminate in a bright independent child who is able to move around and get what she wants by herself. And then on to the next milestone.
Turning 30 is strange. I guess I never thought I would be this age. But this is definitely not as big a deal as having a child. And having a child will make my 30’s the best years of my life thus far. 30 is the new 11!
Some things Eva and I had in common at our births: Kaiser Oakland, having to maneuver around that pesky tailbone we eventually broke, challenging ourselves by travelling out facing up rather than down, having supportive, loving and involved Dads at the birth, having supportive and knowledgeable doulas.
So Mom, on this great day, I salute you. And I also salute me.
Eva’s Mama in her birthday suit…
I See You!
May 1, 2008 at 10:59 am (Firsts, Pronouncements)
Tags: baby, cute, Elvis, ultrasound, utero
No. I am not pregnant. This is the very first photo of Eva taken 1 year ago today. You can already see her beauty. During this time last year, Eva’s name was Elvis in Utero. Actually, Eva isn’t too far off from Elvis.
