Knocked Up & Unemployed: December 2011

There are 2 words that accurately describe this past month: fun and exhausting. Fun because you're at such a fun age! Your personality is really sweet and cute (most of the time) and I'm constantly laughing at your quirks and idiosyncrasies. For instance, when I'm laying on the ground to be close to you, you walk up and fart in my face. It's also been exhausting, because as Amy's mom, Glenda put it, I'm on constant suicide watch! You're completely fearless and still don't have a clue that leaping off of furniture can result in broken bones, a cracked skull and the start of a relationship with a social worker.

This past month has been less of a challenge than last month in getting used to all of the changes you're going through. Maybe it's getting a little easier or maybe I'm being a little less dramatic. (It's probably NOT the latter...) Either way, I'm still sticking to the 2 words that describe this past month!

I'm really starting to panic about planning your first birthday party (dohl, in Korean). OMG. I only have 2 months left!!!! OMG. That means I need to get your invitations out in a few weeks! Okay, focus...this post is your 10 month post...not a nervous breakdown post...

Here are some of the things you've been up to this past month:

--You LOVE to point your fingers. You point at everything and everyone! It's so cute to see your chubby little finger point us in the direction you want to go or at your reflection in the mirror. (At what age does pointing become rude??)

--You took your first step a week ago!! Daddy and I were so excited!! You were standing on your own in the family room, lifted your left leg and took a step forward! So, you didn't actually walk, but the first step is still a big step!

--We celebrated your first Thanksgiving Day! Holidays are definitely much more fun with you around! We went to Nam and Pop's for lunch and then had family and friends over for dinner at our house. Halmoni and Hadabochi came down to celebrate with all of us as well! There was/is so much to be thankful for...with you being at the top of my list!

--You are still a good eater. On Thanksgiving Day, you ate turkey, bulgogi, green beans, sweet potato, cranberry jelly...pretty much anything I put on your plate, you ate! But I can tell that you're starting to get a little pickier! I'm sure it's just a phase and I don't try to sweat it or fight with you. I'm pretty picky myself... :/

--You love to give "kiss kiss poh pohs". ("Poh poh" means "kiss" in Korean.) You'll give people kisses and even your books and toys! It's seriously the cutest thing ever. You also give snuggles. We cue snuggles by saying, "Awwwww" and then you go in for a snuggle. Again, the cutest thing ever! You're so sweet!

--When you're tired, you like to play with my hair. If you're overly exhausted, playing turns into pulling which then turns into scalping. But I think it's sweet when you like to play with my hair.

--Last month you started saying bye-bye ("ba ba") and now you wave bye-bye while saying "ba-ba."

--Your favorite thing to say is (still) dada.

--You already know to put your play phone by your ear. You pick up your little purple play phone, put it by your ear and cock your head as to say, "Hello?" How you learned this, I have no clue! I guess you learned by just watching us talk on the phone. It's just fascinating to me how quickly you learn and how quickly you absorb everything going on around you. Plus, I think you're just a little genius! :)

--At your 9 month appointment, you weighed 19 pounds, which is the 50th percentile, you were 27 inches long, which is the 20th percentile and you were in the 80th percentile for head size. So, you're petite with a big brain! :) My lower back still thinks you weigh more than 19 pounds...

--At that same appointment, I was discussing (complaining) your sleep habits with your doctor. You heard 3 words: "Cry It Out" and you quickly changed your habits...like, that very same night. For a few weeks, you were waking up several times a night and just cried and wanted us to come and pick you up or put the binky in your mouth. The night of your 9 month appointment, after listening to me complain to your doctor about your awful sleep habits, you decided to sleep 12 solid hours and only woke up once...and even that one time, you fell back asleep on your own! I. Was. Baffled. Ever since then, you've been sleeping like a champ. You take a bottle at 7:30, fall asleep, and maybe wake up once and cry. If you stand up in your crib, I pick you up and calm you back to sleep. You might wake up a couple of times during the night and cry a pitiful little cry, but you always fall right back asleep. I'm pretty sure you only cry for about 2 minutes. Thank goodness, because letting you cry it out goes against every single fiber of my being. I hope this phase lasts a long time! You've been sleeping in until 7:15 most morning! Which means I get to sleep in a little bit, too! Woo hoo!!

--You still take 2 naps, one in the morning that only lasts for 45 minutes and then one in the afternoon that lasts 2 hours.

--Your favorite book is "Violet's House." We just read it over and over and over and over (you get the point??) again. You love books.

--You love bath time so much! You love sticking your face under the spout. I think it's so weird that you like the water all over your face! I thought most babies hated getting their faces wet? Or maybe I'm thinking about cats...

--You're in a size 4 diaper during the day and a size 5 diaper at night.

--You love to clap your hands when I say, "Yay!" It's so cute! And no matter what you're doing, if I say, "Yay!!!" you'll stop what you're doing and start clapping. You get the cutest little grin on your face and clap your little heart out! :)

--You can stand on your own for a long time. You can even stand alone and clap your hands! It's time to walk, baby girl!

--You are the messiest eater ever. EVER. You tend to use your hair as a napkin and your ear as a place to store food for the winter. Gross.

--Your favorite thing to eat is cheese. You could eat blocks and blocks of cheese if your colon would allow it.

--I spent my first night away from you last weekend. It was really difficult, but I knew you were in good hands...your Daddy's! When I got home, I was worried that you didn't miss me, but as soon as I walked in the door, you smiled really big and then laid your head on my shoulder. Then you would look at me and smile, then lay your head back on my shoulder. I think you did that 3 or 4 times...I knew then that you DID miss me! :)

Thank you for giving me so much to be thankful for this past month. You have brought a level of joy to my life I never knew could enter my heart. No matter how exhausted I am, I always get so excited to get you out of your crib after your naps. I love to see the smile on your face when I enter your room. I pick you up and you always lay your head on my shoulder and snuggle with me for a few minutes. I just love the sweet little moments like that and I hope I never forget them. I'm looking SO forward to our first Christmas as a family of three. Even though you're not old enough to understand the meaning of Christmas, I know you'll still feel all the excitement and love throughout the whole season. I love you more and more each day.

Love,

Mommy