I am not ready for her to WALK!

Yeah, so I'm scared to death of my little baby starting to walk. Most parents look forward to the first steps, such a big milestone. Why couldn't it be a little later, when she was a little bigger? So, she is getting close. She can stand up on her own and balance pretty well now. She has taken a couple of steps between me and my husband already. So, it's coming, and I'm not ready for it.

I have never been so scared of her development any other time and always looked forward to what was coming next. But Noella, I am not ready for you to walk yet.

Let me explain:

Noella has no fear. She loves to be thrown in the air. She attempts to launch herself out of your lap, if she sees something she wants on the floor. She will try and fall off of the couch, chair, bed.... When she takes that first step, there is going to be no stopping her. She is going to try and run..... into the TV, the door, stairs..... I can not image the injuries and turmoil that will follow her first steps. SO this is what I am afraid of.

Or maybe its more. Maybe I don't want my baby to grow up and there is something about walking that makes her not a baby anymore. Maybe it is the fear of all of the other milestones that are to come, after this transition into toddler hood, that is coming way ahead of schedule. Maybe that is my real anguish.

Or maybe walking is the step towards a life that I can not protect all the time. Maybe it is my baby leaving my grasp and me having to step back and let her fall, or be OK with her falling. Maybe walking is the symbol of a child that is not always going to need or want me to be around. And I am not OK with that.

SO, whatever the real reason, probably a combination of all of the above, I am not ready yet and at the same time scared I might miss it. What is she takes her first steps at childcare or before I get home from work? I don't want to miss this momentous event even though I am not ready for it to happen yet.

9 Months TODAY!

So, Noella turns 9 months today. Still can't believe how fast she has grown.

What she can do:
1. roll over
2. sit up
3. crawl

4. pull herself up on furniture and cruise
5. eat with her fingers
6. eat anything she finds on the floor (great pincher grasp)
7. bring a spoon to her mouth

8. get food in her ears, hair, eye, nose, diaper..... whenever she is eating
9. make everyone melt that meets her (she smiles at everyone)
10. grab the center of attention when she comes into a room
11. NEW: stand up on her own (getting very scared now)
12. open her dresser drawers and pull out all of her clothes
13. close her fingers in her dresser drawers (baby-proofing supplies purchased, installation soon to come)
14. locate where the remote control, cell phone, or anything else she is not suppose to have immediately after entering a room
15. Scream Daddy all the time
16. Use sign language to communicate (so far: "more" and "finished")
17. clap
18. pull the dog and cat's fur out (the dog doesn't seem to care, the cat, not a fan)
19. Wine
20. "sing" to the music in the car
21. ride in the buggyat the grocery store
22. eat at a restaurant without crying, screaming, or being annoying (she loves going out so she can meet all the people walking by)

Make me smile no matter how I feel.

Break my heart when she cries or is in pain.

My Baby is using Sign Language!

My Baby Can Sign!

I have been trying to teach my daughter some simple sign language to help her communicate with us. We have been working on "more" and "finished" when she is eating for probably about 2 to 3 months now. She finally got it! She is pretty good about signing more, although sometimes it looks like clapping. And just last night signed finished for the first time. This morning I was asking my husband if she was finished and cleaned up after breakfast and she signed "finished" just from hearing me say it.

It is awesome and, let me tell you, it is worth it. Meal time is so much more pleasant with less screaming and crying for more food and starting to be less throwing food on the floor when she is done. I highly recommend teaching sign language to all babies.

I just ordered a DVD and book to help us teach her more signs. I am hoping for: food, drink, hungry, sleepy, help, and cold. We will see how it goes. I will keep you posted.

It is amazing that even though she can't say too many words she can understand what we are saying to her. This is giving her a way to respond and communicate with us. I Love It!

South Beach Diet, Here I Come

SO, I am starting the South Beach Diet. I am officially in day two, so far so good. Meaning I haven't wanted to bang my head against the wall and eat everything in sight.....yet.

The urgency came after my fitness evaluation at the gym I have been going to 6 days a week for three months. I gained 13 pounds in the last three weeks. I have been somewhat out of commission due to bursitis in my foot. Yeah, I can't win. The ever evolving post pardon after effects continue to emerge. SO 13 pounds, I am back to probably what I weighted when I was 6 months pregnant, joy. So, back to South Beach. I am pretty optimistic. I did South Beach for the year before I got pregnant. I lost 30 pounds and was back to where my body should be, bought new clothes and celebrating, then found out I was pregnant.

I figure getting back on the healthy food train, for real, and exercising 6 times a week, once my foot is operational again, should put me back on track pretty quickly. I can only hope. Then I will get to really see what this new body has in store for me.

So send me good thoughts and luck, I am looking to lose 53 pounds.