P.S.

I'm beginning to think that Leah's new talent will interfere with her napping. I just checked on her since she's been fussing (I put her down for a nap not long ago) off and on, and, just as I had suspected, she had wriggled free of her blanket and was on her belly. If only she'd remember that when that happens, she can roll right back over to her back... and go to sleep. Maybe THAT's what Scott should teach her...

Yet Another One...

During the evening, Scott helps Leah with her tummy time (translation: He forces her to endure it.). As she's grown stronger, she's fussed less, which means the amount of time on her stomach has increased. Since she learned to roll from her tummy to her back last month, Scott has been using the time together to encourage her to roll from her back to her front. This involves him propping her on her side, and then verbally coaching her to roll the rest of the way.

Well, wouldn't you know it, Leah finally internalized her dad's coaching, and managed to turn all the way over (back to belly) on her own yesterday.

Since Leah woke up while I was cleaning the dishes, Scott headed upstairs to retrieve her. Soon thereafter I heard, "Heather! Come here!" so I bounded up the stairs, pretty sure of what I would find.

Sure enough, there was Leah completely free of her blanket and lying on her belly in baby push-up position. "That's how I found her," Scott relayed. Even if I hadn't been looking at him, I would have heard the smile and pride in his voice.

Too bad neither one of us witnessed this milestone in action, but at least we know she can do it (plus I've seen her do it twice today). Hmmm, what will Scott teach her next? How to crawl?

Father's Day

Leah's Elvis impersonation.

Leah and Scott on Father's Day. Hope she's prepared for plenty of embarrassing moments courtesy of dear ole dad.

Contentment

is what I experienced last night. Not like I haven't been feeling content lately, it's just that last night I felt overwhelmed by it.

As I was cleaning up the dinner dishes, Scott was playing with Leah in the family room. Leah was laughing and talking away with her dad, and Scott was fully participating in the conversation (well, as much as you can with an infant). Watching them, I couldn't help but acknowledge how blessed I am to have a husband who adores his daughter and who takes such an active role in her life. Plus, Scott's willing to work long hours (and overtime) so that I can stay home to care for Leah. We have a roof over our heads, and food in the pantry. And we have an amazing support network of friends and family.

Life is good.

Talk Much?

Ever since Leah's birth, I feel as if my communication skills (verbal ones) have diminished. For one, I often find myself muddling words and phrases in effort to relate a story or an incident. It's as if my thoughts and my tongue can't quite get it together to share what I want to say. Sometimes I just can't articulate what I really mean, and other times, I can't think of basic words (though a friend who just retired also has this problem, so maybe it's not limited to new moms).

The other problem is that I find myself at a loss for words... literally. I'm not necessarily the most talkative person, but I can certainly hold my own in a conversation. Lately, I've found that I have NOTHING to say, even to my closest friends and family. I mean, I want to just sit and chat endlessly, but I can't think of anything to talk about. Now that I'm not work, it's as if I don't have much fodder for discussion. Granted, I can talk about Leah, but there's only so much that can be said about a baby, ya know? Plus, I'd rather not limit myself to mom talk.

So please don't take it personally if our conversations have fallen flat recently; I'll get my words back (how's that for a sentence that needs revising?!) ... at least, I think I will...

A Rare Moment...

All of the cousins (from my side of the family) were together at Nama's today. What a great photo opp it was! Aren't they adorable?

Busy, Busy, Busy

When I decided to be a stay-at-home mom, I really thought that I'd be bored out of my mind. After all, there were times during summer vacation when I (almost) wished I was back at work simply so I'd have something to do. Plus, I figured that there were only so many books to read or photos to scrapbook. Boy, was I wrong.

I honestly think I'm busier NOW than I ever was before, which can probably be attributed to many of my friends also staying at home. Getting together isn't exactly an easy feat, either. Often we have to schedule time together, sometimes weeks in advance since ALL of us are busy. (I'm sure I could fit a bit more in if I would schedule full days, but I often limit us to one get together a day, and at least one day "off" a week, if only for my sanity... and downtime.)

And it's not just our schedules, but our little ones', too. Yesterday, a friend invited me to lunch with her and another friend visiting from SC. I wanted to go, but Leah's schedule wouldn't allow it. She went down for her nap just as they were heading out for lunch. Though I know Leah can fall asleep in her carseat if we're out, she sleeps better if we're home, so I try not to disrupt that.

Talking to another friend yesterday, she mentioned hearing that we women should be able to just call up a friend on a given day to get together. As much as I'd like to be able to do that, in this area, that just doesn't seem to work.

So... if you'd like to get together, please email/ call me... and we'll see if we can work something out for July.

Confession

Yes, I have a confession to make: I joined Facebook. I really don't know what came over me yesterday morning. Well, so part of it was curiosity... most of it was, actually. Anyway, I went to the home page, just wondering if I could actually look at a few pages before signing up myself. No luck. I couldn't actually view a page until I registered. (I guess that makes sense, especially for security purposes.) So, despite my misgivings (see an earlier post), I gave in.

I'm still not sure what I think of it, especially the whole "status" posting. Do people really want to know that I'm walking out to get the mail, or that I just changed an especially messy diaper? I mean, how much info is TOO much? And if that's (posting status updates) the whole point of Facebook, then I definitely don't understand the phenomenon. (I haven't really played around with the site yet, so maybe my thoughts will change with time.)

I do like the idea of posting pics there and of course, viewing them. (My relatives have been touting this benefit for a while in an effort to get me to join.)

So, we'll see how this goes. At least I have the option of un-joining (is that a word?) if this isn't my thing.

The Latest...

The official 3-month photo. Not even ten minutes earlier she had been all smiles. How come she won't smile for the camera?

Lovin' on her dolly.

Connor tried enticing Leah into the pool (despite the cold water), but he was unsuccessful. She was not going to be fooled!

Though she didn't mind wearing her cute little bathing suit, she did mind the cold water. As soon as her feet touched the water, she'd fuss. Oh well. Guess we'll have to gradually ease her into the pool.

Okay, so there's a story behind this photo. Notice her positioning. Well, when Scott first placed her on the mat that night, she was not in this position. No, her head and feet were reversed (feet right, head left). In the course of chillin' on her mat, she managed to shift her position 180 degrees, all by kicking her legs. She didn't fuss while doing this; she just persistently kicked her legs, pausing here and there to suck her thumb and contemplate her next move.
Last night, she not only repeated this feat, she bested it. She did a full 360 and then another 180! She's a strong little bugger. In the midst of all her turns, we thought she might actually roll from her back to her stomach, but she's not quite there yet (but there were moments!).

Almost Three Months

No, that's not a sweat stain on the front of her shirt; it's drool.

Leah loves her little dolly that some of my students gave her.

"Why is this dog staring at me? "

Laughing at her Daddy while chillin' in her Bumbo.

Since I have a few moments now (though who knows how long.... Leah could wake up any minute), I thought I'd update her progress now that she's almost three months old.

She's such a happy little baby who loves being with people. She can play on her own (she loves her playmat), but she prefers me or Scott (or anyone else who wants to talk with her). Despite having a ready smile that lights up her face, I can't catch it on camera. (She must share her dad's feelings about being in photos. Every time I try to snap one of her smiling or laughing, she turns serious. The little bugger!)

Last Saturday she started laughing, and it warmed my heart. Apparently she loves it when we blow raspberries at her or make silly faces.

Hmmmm..., thanks to all her tummy time, she can hold her head up and look around while sitting (she can't sit up on her own yet). And thanks to all her "squats", she can actually "stand" (when supported).

Who Could Resist?

Working on her biceps so that she'll be "strong like bull".

Worn out from working out.

"What you lookin' at, Willis?"

Leah will be three months old on Wednesday. My goodness. I can't believe it! Since she's moving out of the newborn phase, she's becoming more aware of her world (or so I've read). This also means that she can consciously begin manipulating it (well, her parents), especially when it comes to napping.

I've read that we should begin a sleep routine so that it's basically established by the time she's four months (and quite capable of falling asleep on her own). So far, so good. We watch for her sleep signs (yawning or zoning), and then take her up to her room. If I'm the one putting her down, I'll read her a couple stories before swaddling and rocking her to sleep. So, she basically knows what to expect.

I'm also beginning to suspect that she's becoming aware of what's going on (regarding bedtime). See, she seems to know that I love when she smiles at me. Apparently she also thinks she can use that to her advantage. Last night, after swaddling her for bed, the little bugger just kept giving me the prettiest, biggest grin. I couldn't look at her because then I'd smile (or even laugh) back! And of course, that would simply encourage her more, thus discouraging sleep. She kept on for several minutes; it was if she were saying, "Ahhhh, Mom. Can't I stay up just a little longer? Puh-lease?" NOW I see why parenting can be difficult. :)