Monday, June 30, 2008

9 Month Review

Like the last month, this just flew by! It is hard to believe she will be 1 year in a few months. I am trying not to think about it. =) This is such a wonderful age. It is definitely the most fun so far I think Jim and I have had with her. She's sleeping better (when she is not sick) and she's definitely more portable. Libby is also getting a lot better about being around a large group of people. The trick is to have 1 person nearby that she knows really well.

This last month had cases of illness like usual but did not seem as bad. We did have a time where we had to use an inhaler on her because her little pipes wouldn't clear. So far we have only had to do this once but because of all of her issues with having constant colds, skin rashes (thanks to me! =(), and wheezing (from never being healthy since we took her to daycare) the Doctor told us she is at risk for all kinds of allergies and it would be best not to give her any kind of seafood or nuts (i.e., peanuts) until she was 3 years old. In my gut I know she won't have a peanut allergy but I am not going to risk it. It's sad she won't get to try peanut butter for awhile but the idea of getting away from the stinky formula and giving her real milk just makes me smile. I know Jim won't be sad to see it go either!

Like I said, sleeping is going better too when she's healthy. We had a dozen or so times where she has slept through the night. Most of the nights where she doesn't sleep through the nights, she either has a bottle very quickly and goes right to sleep or just wakes up because she is too congested. It is getting a lot better though and she seems like she just wants to sleep versus getting up throughout the night. If she does get up, it is usually between 2 and 3am and we make it as quick of a process as possible!

Feedings are going really well too. She has her favorites and ones she very much distastes. Not dislike really - loathes. She won't eat meat. We have tried everything from drowning it in applesauce (her favorite) to me cooking up actual ground turkey breast, blending into almost a powder form and putting it into the applesauce. Nothing seems to be working. I'm running out of ideas. My Mom tells me I was the same way. Even now, meat is not my favorite. I'm a steak and potato girl but hold the steak. =) Other foods we try seem to be going really well. Her tastes are odd - she loves things mixed together. One of her favorites that is always a hit is this disgusting Gerber Garden Vegetable tub that smells like least favorite veggie imaginable pureed into one giant nasty green mess. But, if we mix that with banana, boy howdy that is awesome stuff to her! Actually, she has been known to just eat the Garden Vegetable stuff by itself on occasion which is virtually unheard of in this house. Oh, and just a warning, every time you eat near our cutie she will stare you down. She thinks she should have whatever you are eating too. It helps that I can give her Graham Crackers and/or her sippy cup (which is always with us) but it still makes you feel like a horrible human being for eating in front of this child that wants what you have.

Laughing seems to be constant in the household. Her laugh is definitely developing and she'll laugh at everything and anything. Jim/Daddy is the best at it. I can get her to laugh if I dance around her a bit. Jim can get her to laugh anywhere/anyhow. The best way to get her to laugh is to use puppets. We've subscribed to the TV Channel "BabyFirst TV" through Dish. It was adorable at first and honestly rarely repeats programs but there is only so long you can listen to those happy, chirpy songs. Jim suggested on Friday to let her watch the Muppets so that we can watch something too. Now, it isn't as education as "BabyFirst TV" but she loved it. We had already bought her one puppet from a store in the loop called City Sprouts but we decided we need to go get more. We did and she loves them. Jim's very good at playing the various roles and I can already see into the future where we do various shows with the puppets for her around the coffee table.

Libby also loves to be on the floor. She'll constantly want to play by herself. Her latest addiction seems to be ripping a part the puzzle mats we have put down so she doesn't bonk her head. Some of her other favorite toys are the basketball goal, Sesame Street Pop thingy (sorry don't know what it is called), this empty bottle I filled with rice), oh and tags. She loves to chew on anything that has a tag on it!


I forgot to mention the newest thing with Libby. She has added 3 new top teeth. All at once. That wasn't a pleasant experience for anyone involved. They all came in within days of one another and the Tylenol came out. It always seems to do the trick. But she won't be missing her front teeth for Christmas it seems!

I think that's it for now so here are the milestones.

Milestones:

...should be able to:
  • work to get a toy that's out of reach - Check!
  • look for dropped object- Check!
... will probably be able to:
  • pull up to standing position from sitting- Not yet!
  • creep or crawl- Check!
  • get into a sitting position from stomach- Not yet!
  • object if you try to take away a toy- Check!
  • stand holding on to someone or something- Check!
  • pick up tiny object with any part of thumb or finger- Check!
  • say "mama" or "dada" indiscriminately- Check!
  • play peekaboo- Check!
... may possibly be able to:
  • play patty-cake (clap hands) or wave bye-bye- Not yet!
  • walk holding on to furniture (cruise)- Not yet! Working on it though.
... may even be able to:
  • "play ball" (roll ball back to you)- I think she has done this but now we're going to have to try it. =) I think it may have been on accident
  • drink from a cup independently- Check! She LOVES her sippy cup.
  • pick up a tiny object neatly with tips of thumb and forefinger- Check!
  • stand alone momentarily- Check! But only for about 2 or 3 seconds maximum
  • say "dada" and "mama" discriminately- Check!
  • say one word other than "mama" or "dada"- I think she said "cat" on Saturday but hasn't said it since. So I am going to say no until she does it again.
  • respond to one-step command with gestures ("give that to me," said with hand out).-
And as usual, here is a picture. It is of her standing after a little bit of fun with me. =) You can see how tall she is!


Sunday, June 29, 2008

Libby and Puppets

Libby enjoyed the last puppets we got for her from City Sprouts so much we just had to get her more. Here is another video of her playing with them.

Friday, June 27, 2008

Bouncing

Libby has decided that crawling is too lame - she wants to bounce!

T-R-O-U-B-L-E!

So a co-worker showed Libby how fun it is to stand and now she loves to do it. Can you say trouble?

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

9 Months!


6.24.08 Happy Libby
Originally uploaded by Holly Mroczkowski.
Tomorrow Libby will be 9 months old. I think this picture shows off how much of a cutie pie she is. Too cute!!

Monday, June 16, 2008

Thursday Nights in the summer

This will deviate some from my usual posts about Libby, but I was looking at my hometown paper online and found a video I just had to share. Some of you that read this post, don't know that I am very much a band nerd (and proud of it!). I found a wonderful video that depicts my Thursday nights in the summer playing in the Jackson City Band. My sister, brother and I all played in this band every summer. I thought it was wonderful they posted it. I still know a lot of people that play in it and really miss it...except for when it got really hot =). Enjoy the music (and some bad notes =) )

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Libby loves puppets!

We went to 'City Sprouts' in the Loop today and as I was looking for shoes for Libby, Jim was entertaining her with puppets. We tried to get her to like other ones, but this scary dinosaur was the one she liked best.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Libby's First Swimming Pool

I got Libby's first swimming pool today. It's ready to go! We are going to see about possibly using it this weekend. I can't wait! Expect pictures. =)

Monday, June 9, 2008

Videos

If you have time to spare and want to see some home videos from our household, please see the 2007 and 2008 Videos along the sidebar. We'll be posting these each time we take videos. =)

Sunday, June 8, 2008

Libby's first shoes


Libby's first shoes
Originally uploaded by Holly Mroczkowski.
We bought Libby her first pair of shoes last week. They are water shoes so she can play in them at daycare when they have their "water days". Aren't they adorable?!

Friday, June 6, 2008

Sippy Cup


Jim and I really want Libby to use a sippy cup and start drinking more water. We've gone through several different kinds. I've been looking for a specific kind but have not had any luck. I wanted to find a cup that was similar to a bottle but just couldn't. Yesterday I picked Libby up from daycare and noticed another little girl's Sippy Cup. It was exactly what I had been looking for - a flexible, soft silicone top similar to a bottle. It is a brand called Nuby. I had never heard of it...but am very proud to say Libby loves it. She will drink from it - not very well but I still count it. It is far better than when she used the other cups. The best news is they are cheap ($5 for 2 of them). I highly recommend these!

Sickness Strikes Again!

Well it has been 2 weeks since Libby was last sick so it's time for a new illness. This child gets sick so often it's crazy. People keep saying it will help build her immune system later on. Well, she should never get sick again. This time she was throwing up for 7 days in a row. I finally convinced the doctor to see her after the daycare said we weren't allowed to bring her back until we have a written note saying she wasn't contagious. The doctor needed that versus me calling almost every day saying their recommendations aren't working. In any case, when I took her I told them she had been having troubles breathing and has been wheezing a little. Now we have to use an inhaler on her. She gets 2 puffs 3 times a day for 3 days, then 2 times for 2 days and then 1 time for 1 day. We're on day 2 of this process and Libby takes it like a champ. We have to use a mask on her in order to get her to breath the medicine in. She doesn't really scream but looks at you like you are insane. What a trooper! The good news is she hasn't gotten sick since Tuesday. =)

Language

Libby can officially say Momma and Dadda now. Not only can she say them, she says them to us! Nothing is better than for her to look at you and say Momma. =) It's pretty awesome!

Rolling Over!

She's finally done it! Libby can officially roll from her stomach to her back without any problems. =) She wasn't even alarmed when she did it for the first time. Here is the proof!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Libby says "Be Cool"


5.31.08 cool libby
Originally uploaded by Holly Mroczkowski.
Libby loves her Daddy's sunglasses so we took this shot while out and about the other day. Lib says, "Yo yo yo! Be cool!"

8 Month Review

Libby turned 8 months on 5.26! Ahh!! We officially have her on a schedule. It is really nice to know when she is going to eat and roughly when she will take a nap. She still isn't consistently sleeping through the night but we have had a few wonderful nights of her sleeping all the way through.

Here is the recap of everything else =) :

Likes:
  • Peas and Applesauce ---- mixed together! EWW!
  • This yellow/orange monkey thing that Aunt Erin, Uncle Adam, Zoe gave her.
  • Peekabo - especially in Mommy or Daddy's arms
  • This little star thing in her crib - she pulls the chain and it plays "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". I officially hate the song now because it is what wakes me up in the morning.
  • Hugs - she likes to give and receive them!
  • Lady Bug Book - It's this cute book that her cousin Zoe has and we picked up a the Zoo. It is awesome!
  • Furry toy that moves (aka, Max the Cat)
  • Tickling under her arms! So fun!
  • Mommy's Teddy Bear (don't judge me!) - she loves to wrestle the bear and totally wins!
Dislikes:
  • Pureed Meat - EWW! Cannot blame her
  • Eating solid foods when Daddy feeds her...only eats well when Mommy feeds her. Daddy is awesome when it comes to the bottle!
  • Being hot - it is going to be a LONG summer.
  • Puffs - she chokes/gags on them but still wants them. Definitely my daughter. =)
Milestones:
Should be able to:
  • Bear some weight on legs when held upright - check!
  • Feed self a cracker- check! well, puffs =)
  • Rakes with fingers an object and pick it up in fist- check!
  • Turn in the direction of a voice - check!
  • Looked for a dropped object - check!
Will probably be able to:
  • Pass a cube or other object from one hand to the other - check!
  • Stand holding on to someone or something - check! Not very well but she can do it =)
  • Object if you try to take a toy away- check!
  • Work to get a toy that's out of reach- check!
  • Play peekaboo- check! It's one of her favorites!
  • Get into a sitting position from stomach - no =( not yet!
May possibly be able to:
  • Creep or crawl - She can definitely creep. She can back up really well =)
  • Pull up to standing position from sitting - nope!
  • Pick up tiny object with any part of thumb and finger - check!
  • Say "mama" or "dada" indiscriminately - check! Well, Mama but not "Dada"
May even be able to:
  • Play patty-cake (clap hands) or wave bye-bye- nope! I'm working on getting her to clap her hands
  • Walk holding on to furniture- oh no not yet thank goodness. =)
  • Stand alone momentarily- check! It's crazy! She can do it for about 5-10 seconds
  • understand "No" (but not always obey it)- check! (at least I think so - Daddy doesn't know what to say about this =))