Again I am surprised that another month has come and gone! My oh my-Stella is getting to be a little person.
Last month was a little rough with the ear infections and pink eye. It's hard having a sick child and working. But this month has been so much better. At one point (during the sickness) I thought that the fussiness was here to stay--as if that was her new personality and we had not appreciated her laid back, sunny one while it had lasted. BUT the clouds lifted and my laughing, light hearted baby is back:) She still gets fussy around bedtime--most evenings after dinner she just wants to be close to us (wallow on us!) and boy does she get mad if you walk away from her (hold breath throw arms on ground, etc!)
She has learned to clap (before she would just pump her arms up and down in front of her when she was excited) but now does a for real clap. And loves to clap! She also repeatedly will stack her rings on the stacker (and clap each time!) She runs across the room with her push toys. She's standing and climbing on everything. She enjoys looking out the windows and even placing her face/tongue against them! She loves shoes;) She says "mama", "dada" (for some time now), and "bye bye" (while waving). Sometimes it sounds like she says "dog dog" or "Brodie" but not as consistent. She can stand for a second or two by herself and will steadily squat to a sitting position. And we have our top teeth (the left one is showing through--the right one is still working its way out!) She loves board books! She also love the Praise Baby DVD:)
Still wearing size 3 diapers (either Huggies Pure & Natural or Pampers Swaddlers). Squeezing into some 6-12 or 9-12 month things but transitioning to 12 month. 12 month pjs are getting too small too. Not sure on her weight but I would say around 20-21 lbs.
She's loves trying new food! This month she had eggs (yolks only), homemade pancakes (from organic cereal), cut up veggies (corn on the cob, etc). She's starting to turn her nose up at the purees! Still working on cutting out the 4th bottle and giving more milk in sippy cups. Eating 3 "meals" a day plus a snack. Getting 22 oz of formula in bottle--plus up to 4 oz in sippy cup. Girl would have her paci all day everyday if we let her! At daycare they only give it to them at nap time. So we have to make a conscious effort to keep it away from her on the weekends (and after work).
As a working mother I still struggle with giving her enough time and allowing myself some "me" time. I'm still trying to give her the best of everything that I can possibly offer. Believe me this is a daily struggle and sometime stress. Mommyhood is no joke. She still cries when we drop her off at daycare in the morning. It's so hard to leave her but she is easily consoled. (there's a window to the room that I peak into after I leave and by time I get out there she's off playing with someone no longer crying)
