So these last few weeks, I've been home with Diya, and I've been struck by what a different experience it is than while I was on my maternity leave. Maternity leave was tough for me. I felt like I couldn't leave the house, didn't have anyone to talk to, and that I was held hostage by this little baby that ate and slept pretty much whenever she felt like it. Gregg would come home and I'd be ready to tear my hair out. There were days when I couldn't even pee without her screaming the whole time. Slowly it got better, of course, but still I felt pretty isolated, even though I knew that I'd miss the time once I went back to work.
And then lately, we've been so plagued with medical issues, it seems, that I've almost forgotten what an amazing kid I have. Well, not forgotten, but you know what I man. And you guys, OMG, I have this awesome awesome kid. It's crazy to see her developing a personality. At least I think it's a personality. Maybe all babies are like this at first. But she's super easy going and cheerful. She's smiling and happy more often than not, even despite all the medical issues going on. Sometimes she'll fuss over something that's annoying but then come to terms with it all on her own. Her daily antibiotics, for example, were a pain to get in her initially. But within a couple of weeks, she decided that that's how life was now and just decided to accept it. Now she smiles when we give it to her and opens her mouth. Diaper changes were also a pain after the cast because she'd scream the whole time. Within a couple of days, she was over it. And what's cool is that she doesn't just tolerate, she's started smiling and playing around.
Plus, I think she might be a bit of a goof ball like her dad. When she laughs, it's loud and long and adorable. The other day, I was wiping her mouth with a burp cloth and she started doing this Native American war cry. You know the one I mean, right, from the cartoons? Where they start patting against their mouth with the palms of their hands and making a little cry? Well, our kid does it now and thinks it's hilarious. Yesterday, she was sitting on me fell onto my chest a bit and planted a little spit ball there. She thought that was also hilarious and couldn't stop laughing. She giggles sometimes when I'm trying to put her to sleep. She laughs at the dogs and tries to grab them when they're close by. Her new favorite game now is to do screaming contests with me. We'll square off and see who can be louder.
Since the cast, she can't really sit up or anything, so she mostly sits on her booster seat the kitchen table and bangs the crap out of it with her toys. She drops things and waits for me to pick them up. She'll hang out while I cook or wash dishes, perfectly content to play on her own. Until I look over at her and she'll start screaming or smiling. Back when I was on maternity leave, I was lucky if she entertained herself for a few minutes, now it seems she could go on for a good while so long as she has something to play with or look at. It doesn't have to be much, a coaster, an empty soda can, a plastic cup, pretty much anything we can find around our house. Who knew we didn't even need to invest in all these toys.
She's been mostly sleeping through the night since month 1 (though with various interruptions for teething and other milestones). She didn't eat solids much at first, but now gobbles down with no problems. She's not picky, will eat whatever we feed her. Although she didn't always, she naps fairly well now too during the day. She babbles like crazy, saying a new sound almost every day now, it seems. In so many ways, I feel that we've lucked out with her (knock on wood) because I know a lot of parents who haven't had it so easy. It's not always fun and games, of course. When she wants to be difficult, she definitely knows how to push our buttons. And lately, she's taken to screaming when things don't go her way. When food is taking to long to come to her (i.e. more than 30 seconds), when we take something away she wants to play with, she'll definitely let us know.
I just can't wait to watch her keep growing and see the little girl she becomes.
And then lately, we've been so plagued with medical issues, it seems, that I've almost forgotten what an amazing kid I have. Well, not forgotten, but you know what I man. And you guys, OMG, I have this awesome awesome kid. It's crazy to see her developing a personality. At least I think it's a personality. Maybe all babies are like this at first. But she's super easy going and cheerful. She's smiling and happy more often than not, even despite all the medical issues going on. Sometimes she'll fuss over something that's annoying but then come to terms with it all on her own. Her daily antibiotics, for example, were a pain to get in her initially. But within a couple of weeks, she decided that that's how life was now and just decided to accept it. Now she smiles when we give it to her and opens her mouth. Diaper changes were also a pain after the cast because she'd scream the whole time. Within a couple of days, she was over it. And what's cool is that she doesn't just tolerate, she's started smiling and playing around.
Plus, I think she might be a bit of a goof ball like her dad. When she laughs, it's loud and long and adorable. The other day, I was wiping her mouth with a burp cloth and she started doing this Native American war cry. You know the one I mean, right, from the cartoons? Where they start patting against their mouth with the palms of their hands and making a little cry? Well, our kid does it now and thinks it's hilarious. Yesterday, she was sitting on me fell onto my chest a bit and planted a little spit ball there. She thought that was also hilarious and couldn't stop laughing. She giggles sometimes when I'm trying to put her to sleep. She laughs at the dogs and tries to grab them when they're close by. Her new favorite game now is to do screaming contests with me. We'll square off and see who can be louder.
Since the cast, she can't really sit up or anything, so she mostly sits on her booster seat the kitchen table and bangs the crap out of it with her toys. She drops things and waits for me to pick them up. She'll hang out while I cook or wash dishes, perfectly content to play on her own. Until I look over at her and she'll start screaming or smiling. Back when I was on maternity leave, I was lucky if she entertained herself for a few minutes, now it seems she could go on for a good while so long as she has something to play with or look at. It doesn't have to be much, a coaster, an empty soda can, a plastic cup, pretty much anything we can find around our house. Who knew we didn't even need to invest in all these toys.
She's been mostly sleeping through the night since month 1 (though with various interruptions for teething and other milestones). She didn't eat solids much at first, but now gobbles down with no problems. She's not picky, will eat whatever we feed her. Although she didn't always, she naps fairly well now too during the day. She babbles like crazy, saying a new sound almost every day now, it seems. In so many ways, I feel that we've lucked out with her (knock on wood) because I know a lot of parents who haven't had it so easy. It's not always fun and games, of course. When she wants to be difficult, she definitely knows how to push our buttons. And lately, she's taken to screaming when things don't go her way. When food is taking to long to come to her (i.e. more than 30 seconds), when we take something away she wants to play with, she'll definitely let us know.
I just can't wait to watch her keep growing and see the little girl she becomes.
I can even tell from her pictures that she is growing her. She has so many different facial expressions now. I'm glad you are getting a chance to experience it now that all of her hospital visits are fewer and farther between!
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