Alabama Tracks

Among other things, Ruthie has now figured out her tongue and learned how to spit.  She started pulling up on me today and makes it up to her knees.  It won’t be long.   She also pee’d on the floor tonight as she headed to the bathtub for some tubbie time.  I’m sure it was just a matter of time before that one happened.

Our latest afternoon bag of laughs is for me to get on my hands and knees and chase her around the house.  She looks back over her shoulder and just belly laughs.  It is so darn cute.  She loves the kitty toys more than her own some days and speaking of kitties.  Lily was chased three times.  When she was cornered, Lily finally figured out that if she jumped high enough, she’d be free from the torment.  She was never caught though today.

I think we are past our big growth spurt.  There for a few days I couldn’t feed her enough.  Every hour we were nursing, three times at night, plus food in the afternoon and evening.  Naps were non-existent there for a while as well.  As of yesterday, we are now back to our hour to hour and a half morning nap and an hour in the afternoon.  I would like her to sleep longer in the afternoon but it never happens.

Saturday we bought a new van.  It is a 2007 Kia Sedona in Silver with grey interior.  Joel was going to take pictures of it and blog about it.  I’ll try to get him to do it yet.  For now though, grocery shopping was so much easier today.  I don’t have to contort my body trying to get her in and out, the groceries stayed put, and the auto locks on the doors were fabulous!  This van will be a life saver when baby #2 comes.

So there is the latest in our household.  I’m sure there will be more in the coming days.

If being pregnant wasn’t enough, add to that the energy needed to chase after a soon to be 8 month old who is going EVERYWHERE and FAST! Now add nursing, and getting up a couple times a night to feed said 8 month old. I told mom the other day that I didn’t remember being this tired when I was pregnant with Ruthie. Now that I think about it, I wasn’t. I wasn’t nursing at that time. That in and of itself, is an energy drain on ones body. Now maybe I’ll be able to keep my weight in check with this pregnancy with the help of the extra calories needed not only to grow this new baby, but also to feed Ruthie.

I’ve been so frustrated with our nighttime routines here lately and I’ve been trying to change them. We have managed to get her to go to sleep on her own with a little bit of reminding that it is time for sleep. The long screamfest that used to take place when dad would put her down are no longer here. So once we had that one accomplished, we started with trying to get her to sleep through the night or at least not needing mommy. We decided that Daddy would take the last wake time, which is usually around 4:30ish.

The first two nights worked great. The third and fourth, not so good. We both weren’t getting any sleep and we were dragonbutts the next morning. So after some research, I decided to try dream feeding. Dream feeding is slightly waking the child right before you go to bed so they can nurse without being really awake. You then put them back in bed and go sleep yourself. It worked! she only woke up at 3:30 which was fabulous. I had a 5 hour stretch of sleep. It has been so long since I’ve had those constistently. I’m trying not to get my hopes up, but we’ll see how it goes tonight.

Ruthie is crawling so fast now and is so inquisitive. I’ve pulled catfood out of her mouth already. We continue to struggle with cords and the only rooms she hasn’t explored in the house remain the dining room, the back bath, the laundry room, and most of the back bedroom. She chases the kitties who usually don’t have any use for her except keeping me in one spot long enough for me to pet them.  When they do give her a chance, she not only grabs a fist full of hair, but she laughs and giggles at how their tails rub up against her legs or feet.  There are days when discipling the cat and chasing after ruthie, I’m up non stop.  It wears me out.

She is such a delight and you can see the lightbulbs turn on each day.  She is beginning to learn “no” and has yet to learn mommy or a “real” daddy.  With that, I’m off to get her away from the computer desk.

This was after taking a “bath” in the pool at Momga’s

The swing was put up right above the existing swing.  Everytime she went back, her feet would hit the other swing.

Ruthie and Papa played one morning on the sofa.

It seems to be my daily sentiment since Sunday.  Upon returning home from Florida, Joel and I found out that we were pregnant again.  This surely is a shock to both of us, not because we dont’ know what causes it, but because we weren’t planning on becoming so, so soon.  December was our plan.  I guess July was God’s plan.  So April 12 is my expected due date.  I go to the doctor for the first time at the end of the month to have it confirmed and have all the routine stuff done.

Throughout the next 8 months, there will be a van, crib, car seat, and I’m sure a bunch more to purchase.  I’m glad I’m home full time now as my energy level this week alone has plummeted.  I’m early to bed and I long to take a nap during the time that Ruthie sleeps.

So now that the news is out there…

We had a great time in Florida with Momga and Papa.  Ruthie had a swim in the pool and a little bit of time in the swing there.  She shopped and ate at restaurants perfectly.  We had one day that she didn’t sleep very well but thankfully it was just a one day deal.  I did get my birthday present early - it’s a “new” used Baby Lock serger.  Joel and Mom and Dad went half on it.  The previous owner got fed up with it upon bending a piece and thus sold it back to the dealer.  It was hardley ever used so after a quick fix, it is now mine.  I’m excited to finally have it.  My sewing will be made easier now.

Peanut is still combat crawling though the coordination is coming.  This week we are in the shreaking mode.  There are still no noticable words - dada hasn’t been heard again - but I’m hoping shreaking will go by the wayside soon and Mommy and Daddy will be heard.  She chased the cats the other day and made it to the kitchen and front hallway.  Everyday a new lightbulb turns on.  Chewing of cords is still an issue though I think she is learning  “no” here and there.

Well. There is the update.  Maybe I’ll have pictures ready later today.  If so, I’ll post them.  It may be tomorrow.  Who knows.