Over Half a Year Already!

It has been a while since I have written about what Sophie has been up to lately.  It may be in part that both Ryan and I are suffering from sleep deprivation.  Our little angel has not really improved on her sleeping habits since the entry where I mentioned that she didn't like to sleep at all.  Over the past two months, there always seems to be something that is keeping her from learning how to have a good night's sleep.  After our camping trips, those 4 weekends in a row, I thought it was best to stick around home for the month of August in hopes of developing a stable and predictable routine which would lead to better sleeping.  This is what "they" told me to do ("they" being the 101 books that I have read on parenting and half of them being specifically on sleep).  So we did.  First week home, Sophie got her first cold.  This of course doesn't help anyone sleep well.  After she got over her cold, she went through her six month growth spurt, where she was feeding every two hours all night long; just like when we brought her home from the hospital!  "They" say this should only last a few days, but it lasted a couple weeks with Sophie.  We couldn't seem to get her on solids fast enough, in hopes of keeping her asleep longer.  Last week, there were a couple nights where we thought things were really starting to improve and as quickly as they came, it fell apart.  She now has another cold and is so stuffed up that the other night I had to sleep sitting up, holding her, supported by pillows all around us.  I never would have thought I could sleep that way, but I did.   We also continue teething but with no teeth to show for it.  She sometimes wakes up in the night screaming.  She is not hungry, nor does she want cuddles, the only thing that calms her down is orajel on her bottom gums.  Poor girl, it really shouldn't be this bad.  So she sleeps from 8 pm to 6:30 or 7 am with 3 or more wake ups a night and has 3 naps a day (still ranging from 40 minutes to an hour and 20 minutes depending on the day).  As far as Ryan and I go, it is funny how you just learn to function on no sleep, but we do continue to be hopeful that eventually she will get it.  I have followed all the advice "they" have to offer on no-cry sleep training and I'm just waiting for it to pay off.

Despite the fact that she is depriving us of sleep, we really are enjoying Sophie as she continues to learn and grow.  It's amazing how one smile first thing in the morning can make you completely forget the frustrations of the night before.  We are finding this stage a lot of fun since she has become so social and is quickly learning the different uses of all her limbs.  She has been sitting up unassisted for weeks now.  When she wasn't sick, I could put her down on her playmat and she could entertain herself for a while.  That was great for both of us.  Whenever possible, she likes us to walk her around.  She has figured out the concept of putting one foot in front of the other; she just lacks the balance to get anywhere on her own.  Her most favorite thing is when her dad walks her around the house chasing Baron.  Poor Baron!  Ryan is teaching her to torment him at an early age.  She still hates being on her belly so crawling doesn't seem to be an option for her yet.  We are trying though.  I don't think it will be long before she figures out some way to get herself around.

Feeding Sophie solids has been a slow process.  The first month was painful; she didn't seem anymore interested in eating solids from one week to the next.  But we persisted, continued to make food, only for it to often end up in the garbage or in Baron's dish.  Now things are much better and we even have a few options as to what to feed her at meal times.  She doesn't like rice cereal (can you blame her?) and only now seems to be interested in purees, only the vegetable ones though.  She mostly likes finger foods, avacado being at the top of her list and bananas second.  Also she really likes plain yogurt.  For some reason, Sophie has not really taken to fruits, other than banana chunks.  "They" told me to feed her vegetables first, for fear that once she tasted something sweet, she may never want to eat her veggies.  But so far this hasn't happened; she doesn't seem to have her mother's sweet tooth at all.

During the week, Sophie and I try to stay busy by visiting with other moms and babies.  We try and see Lori and Nixon, and Tannis and Gabby once a week, as well Candice and Caiden, from Baby and Me class.  We either end up at someone's house, chatting and letting the kids play and share germs, or we meet up at a park for a walk.  There have been weeks where Sophie and I have had to skip outings due to colds or mere exhaustion from a rough night.  However, we do try hard to get out of the house or have visitors as much as we can.

That pretty much sums up what Sophie and I have been up to these last two months.  Hopefully my next entry will be about her becoming mobile or teeth!  I have also added a few more pictures to our August album.

Summer is coming to an end

August is almost over and although we haven't gone camping lately, we have still been very busy.

The last weekend of July, we headed to Edmonton for Madeleine's baptism.  We had a great weekend visiting with family.  Unfortunately, we did not get a single picture of Madeleine in her baptism dress.  When we got to the church we realized someone had forgotten the memory card in the computer at home; there really is no need to point fingers because I am sure that the person who did this felt really bad about it and learned her lesson.  Click here to see pictures of the family gathering after the baptism.

We had a couple visitors during the month of August, the first being Janae, who came to stay with us for a few days and since she was having such a good time, she decided to stay a few more days.  She pretended to have car troubles but I know it was just an excuse.  During her week here, we took Sophie for her first trip to the Calgary Zoo.  Wow, was she impressed!  She showed as much interest in the camels as she did in her cousins, Ally and Grace.  Actually that isn't true, she found her cousins far more interesting.  Maybe next year she will be truly dazzled by the zoo creatures.  To see pictures of our day at the zoo, click here.

Hunter came home the same week Janae came for a visit.  He had been gone to camp in London, Ontario for a month.  He had a really great time and made friends from around the world.  The kids were encouraged to bring items and clothes from home to trade so he came back with a lot of cool stuff from different countries.  He even traded for a shirt and vest from Norway.  We thought he should wear it for the first day of school but for some reason, he didn't agree with us.

 My parents also came for a visit this month.  During their stay, we spent a day at Bowness Park.  While my dad and Hunter played minigolf and took a paddleboat out on the lake, Sophie, my mom and I put out a blanket, relaxed and enjoyed the weather.  It is always fun to visit with family! 

A Poem for Sophie

Six Months Ago

Six months ago, I was given a gift

Which has caused my life to alter and shift.

A precious little girl who was born out of love

Was truly a blessing from Heaven above.

She is oh so perfect from her head to her toes

With her small gentle hands and adorable nose.

Her smile is amazing and truly divine

Her eyes when she's thinking they sparkle and shine.

Her giggles are priceless and so very dear

That she just can't help but draw everyone near.

And since she seems to be growing so fast

I cherish each moment more than the last.

She can't possibly know the joy that she brings

My beautiful angel who's missing her wings.

Ten Things I Learned About Sick Babies

1 - Taking care of a sick baby is like having a newborn all over again - feeding every one or two hours, rocking her for forty minutes to have her nap for twenty even though she is clearly exhausted, sleepless nights of feeding and rocking (oh and sitting in a steamed bathroom to help her breath).

2 - Housework just isn't an option when there is a sick child to take care of.

3 - A sick baby is much more cuddly than a healthy one.

4 - A classroom of twenty eight year olds suddenly seems way less challenging.

5 - Everyone should be born with the ability to blow her nose.  It's sad and cruel that babies can't.

6 - A cold trumps teething. 

7 - When your husband is sick, you kiss him on the cheek and make him wash his hands a hundred times a day for fear of getting his cold; if your baby is sick, you throw all caution to the wind.  Suddenly getting sick doesn't matter quite as much.

8 - When your husband is sick, a runny nose is gross.  When your baby is sick, it's endearing.  No one can pull off a pink nose and teary eyes like a five month old can.

9 - When your baby is sick, she looks much smaller and more fragile.

10 - A sick baby can look like she has completely lost all will to live.  It may be the saddest face I have ever seen in my entire life.  It looks a little like this:

To see pictures of Sophie's first feed, click here (and no, it wasn't one of the cookies she wanted so).

Camping Trips 3 and 4

Two weekends ago, Ryan and I met my mom and dad out at Red Lodge.  The night before we arrived, there had been tornado warnings in the area.  Mom and Dad had gone a day early so I was a bit worried.  They were fine but they did have quite an adventure with golf ball sized hail smashing against the trailer.  Ryan, Sophie and I arrived Friday and had a very relaxing weekend, despite the fact that Sophie just doesn't sleep as well camping as she does at home.  We played cards in Mom and Dad's trailer Friday night since the weather wasn't great.  Saturday, we went for a walk and Dad told us about the moose he missed while he was out walking the day before.  That evening was nice enough for a fire and then Sunday we packed up and headed home. 

Camping trip #4 was at Mount Kidd.  Every year Ryan's parents, siblings and families get together for a weekend of camping.  Unfortunately, Jordan, Cyd and Gus couldn't make it this year since Jordan just started his residency in Toronto.  We arrived Thursday to meet Warren, Ave, Ally and Grace.  They decided to leave Buttons at home to Baron's disappointment.  I don't think he would have liked anything better than chasing that cute little bunny around the campsite all weekend.  Maybe next year, Baron.  Richard, Karen and Janae arrived the next day.  I have never seen Janae quite as excited to camp as she was this weekend.  After a few years, I guess it has finally rubbed off on her.  The weather was great all weekend, we even spent time in the kiddy pool on Saturday.  Sophie just loves the water.  What she doesn't like, though, is sleeping. 

      With every weekend of camping, her sleeping just seemed to get worse and worse.  But this weekend took the cake.  Ryan woke up Friday morning to find Sophie and I frazzled from a sleepless night.  I may have been a touch more frazzled than Sophie as I told Ryan in tears that I never wanted to camp again...ever!  I told him that I thought we should pack up the trailer and go home that very day.  Poor Ryan.  I think I burst his beautiful camping bubble.  He immediately took Sophie out of the trailer so that I could get some rest.  After catching a few more hours of sleep I felt better.  Ave also helped me feel better by telling me that she had had similar experiences and feelings when the girls were younger.  She told me that she was sure she said the exact same thing to Warren before.  I helped Ryan reinflate his bubble by saying we would stay and of course, we would camp again.  However, we did agree that camping every weekend with a baby was overly ambitious and that we would try to keep it to every other weekend in the future.  

Our days were great.  It was nice to see the family and everyone was eager to give our arms a break by holding, cuddling, playing and rocking Sophie.  Ryan's mom even got her to nap in her arms once.  What a lucky girl!  It was Ryan's turn to have a tough man contest with Warren this year, as they spent time comparing axes and seeing who could do the most damage to the wood stack.  We headed home Saturday afternoon feeling better, only to come home to the worst night ever.  Sophie woke up every 40 minutes all night long.  I was up until 4 am, then Ryan took the early morning shift.  I thought it was mostly camping, but it also had to do with teething.  I read that some babies can breeze through teething without really noticing and others can have months of unbearable pain, causing restless or sleepless nights.  Unfortunately we got the latter.  The poor girl is barely consolable at night.  After fighting to get her to swallow the medicine (which is often concealed in the back of her throat and then spit out when we are not looking), it can take a while for her to settle down and the only way we can get any sleep is by taking her to bed with us.  Maybe Ryan was right after all, maybe she will be in our room until she is five.  But at least we will be well rested...or somewhat rested anyway.     

To see more pictures of our camping weekends and Sophie in her new favorite toy, click here.

A Tough Week

Sophie has had a difficult week.  It all started last Thursday when she went to get her 4 months vaccines.  Need I explain more.  After going alone last time and staying in the nurse's office for almost an hour (for moral support), I made Ryan come with me this time and share in this traumatizing event.  He had to hold both her and me after it was over.  She was a little tender in the legs and had a bit of a fever for a day or two.  But we still packed up and went camping the next day.  She was mostly pleasant during the camping trip, except for a few sleepless nights.  However, since we have been home, she has been fussy, cranky and just not herself.  I called the health link and figured out that not only was she getting over her shots, she also had a stomach bug.  And to top all that off, she has been teething like crazy this week.  Her mouth is constantly bothering her.  I have tried every natural remedy for teething but they seem to be giving Sophie no comfort.  I have had to resort to the good old fashion Tylenol or/and Advil.  It's been several days and she seems to be getting a bit more used to the pain.  I am starting to see her smile again, thank goodness!  I have been trying my hardest to make her as comfortable as I can but there is, unfotunately, only so much I can do for her.  After that I need to just let her deal with it the best she can.  Being a mom is hard!

Despite her rough week, Sophie is still being very active.  Every time I lay her on her back, a few seconds later, she rolls to her belly.  Where once this only happened by accident, now, she has really got the hang of it.  She is also sitting up by herself.  My little girl is growing up!

To see more pictures of Sophie sitting, click here.

Camping Trip #2

This Canada Day weekend, we headed back to Bow Valley for another camping trip.  This weekend was spent with our good friends, Scott, Lori and Nixon, and Tim, Tannis and Gabrielle.  We headed out Thursday afternoon and came home Sunday.  We had a great time going for walks and lounging in the sun during the day.  In the evening, we sat around the campfire and visited.  Both Nixon and Gabby got a taste of their first roasted marshmellow.  Saturday was so beautiful, we broke out Sophie`s new pool and had a pool party.  I think Sophie enjoyed the pool the most.  What a wonderful weekend!

To see more pictures of our camping trip, click here.