Just an update

Emilia is becoming more and more active... and mischievous. Each day I can see that she is growing, not just physically but also in her inteliigence.

#1.I honestly looked away just for 2 seconds and this is what she did with her snack.

She was licking the bowl when I saw her. I guess she couldn't wait for me to spoon it into her mouth.


#2. Now she wants to take her bath sitting up. She used to love lying down in the tub and kicking her feet in the water but now she likes sitting and playing with the duckies.

#3. She has mastered using a sippy cup. She's been using the sippy cup for a while now. Using a straw cup seems a bit harder, although I haven't tried giving it to her recently. I should teach her to drink from a straw now.

This is her after tasting apple juice for the first time. Obviously she didn't quite like it.


  #4. I made a tutu for her yesterday and today I took some pictures. Here is one of them.

#5. Her birthday is about a month away (May 31) and we decided to host her first birthday party at a restaurant (in a little banquet room). I've started planning things and sent out invitations. I don't think we will have too many guests but my house is too small for 12-15 people any way.

#6. She rarely falls/topples when she's sitting now. I stopped laying the pillows around her when she's sitting. I actually make her sit on top of a cushion as her PT suggested before he discharged her.

Any way, a few days ago, she fell and when she did, she happened to land her head on some 1" cube wooden blocks that were scattered around her. She now has a scratch on her scalp -it's so visible because she's got so little hair. Well...Mommy learned her lesson, and she's now good at tidying up the toys after play.

Sleep regression is back

Since the last time I posted, I've been really tied up with Emilia. She has been very difficult to put down for sleep. Good naps are very rare now and just to make her go to sleep takes a long 30-40 minutes sometimes. She hasn't acted like this since 6 months. It could be due to her teething. I don't see any other teeth breaking out just yet but she's been gnawing at things a lot and of course there is lots of drooling. She becomes a monster when it's her nap time and bedtime. She screams like she has never done before.... it is so loud that I can feel my eardrums vibrate. Also she definitely prefers our bed in the master bedroom over her crib. When she throws crying fits, I sometimes move her to the middle of our Queen size bed with a pillow on each side of her head. She quickly becomes peaceful and falls asleep within minutes. I don't know what the deal is. Does she want a larger bed already? Does she like the scent of mommy on the bedding? I know it's not about co-sleeping because I don't have to lie down next to her to make her sleep. She doesn't even need me there; she just likes our bed. Hopefully this sleep regression too will pass like the last one at 4 months.

Rolling all around the floor

Just as I was doing activities that could help Emilia to crawl {or get ready to crawl), she suddenly showed an interest in rolling from tummy to back, which she had done only a few times before. Past few days she tried many times to roll to her back with only several successes and finally it must have clicked on her, because this morning she has been rolling all around on the floor, back to tummy and tummy to back. She is now able to move to different spots on the playmat, and off the playmat sometimes, to get closer to her toys.

Searching for a Day Care

My mat leave is over at the end of next month but I decided to take a leave until Emilia is one year old corrected. I've got only 5 months left to be with Emilia at home all day long. I know eventually I am going to send her to preschool programs and then school but I feel so reluctant and anxious about leaving Emilia with others. I am convincing myself and my husband that she will probably benefit from interacting with her peers.

Any way suddenly realizing I got only 5 months,  I started contacting some nurseries around my house in panic last week. Thank God I live only 13 minutes away from work because it narrows down my search area and I have found 3 centres.  I have visited one of them (it was so-so) and I will tour another one next Monday. The third said they didn't have an open space for September so I decided to skip the tour.

Our main concern with sending her to a day care is 1) she will now get sick really often and  2) if she turns out to be delayed, she might be left out by kids and teachers. I am willing to even sacrifice my career for Emilia's well-being but honestly making her stay at home with me all day everyday cannot be too good for her.

Only 5 months left to enjoy our lazy days together... I will enjoy and appreciate every day of it.

Finally something has emerged....

Emilia and her second tooth! First I could see a raised bump and a darker line on her lower gum and today when I rub my finger pad on it, I can feel something sharp. But it is too small to be seen with eyes, I think. So far this is the only one that is emerging. I guess the upper ones will be cutting at a later stage. By the way, she's already lost her first tooth (lower incisor) so until she gets permanent teeth, she will be missing a tooth in that spot. :-(