8 months and what i've learned so far

Can't believe it! Elaina is 8 months old today. 2/3 of a year. T-Minus 4 months until her birthday party! Eeek!

The past month has been eventful. Elaina got her "new accessory" (helmet) shortly after turning 7 months.

She's adjusted to it so well and I hope it's a peek at how easily she'll adapt to things as a toddler, kid, pre-teen, teen, and adult. We've gotten use to the helmet too. Let's just say Nana, Mommy and Daddy all three have had a few good injuries from that thing. She is a "cuddler" when she gets sleepy, so she'll throw her head into you wanting to snuggle, but the helmet will about break your jaw. Ow. I speak from an experience or 12.



Let's see...what else has she done. Well, she's became a good screamer, loves almost all baby food she's tried, pulls up on the ottoman and her crib non-stop, says "Yummmmm!" and straightens her arms out when she gets really excited, loves the song 'This Old Man', shakes her head and smiles when you say 'No' (i forsee a problem with this in the future), still has ZERO teeth, and loves water. She'd chug water from her sippy cup all day if we'd let her.

According to our scales she's 22lbs (staying up there in the 95th %tile) and I haven't measured her length yet. I'll post that and her 8 month pics soon.



So...what have I learned in the past 8 months. This should be fun.

*Formula feeding =/= bad mommy. Before having Elaina I was damned and determined to breastfeed her for a year. Then she latched on and my toes curled. We did it for about 5 weeks. I hated it, she wasn't eating well, and I developed mastitis. Ow. Good-bye boob, hello bottle. I don't regret it. I plan on trying with our next kid too, but I think I have more realistic expectations now. Will I breastfeed for a year, probably not, but I will breastfeed him or her for as long as I can.

*Just because they're the "fancy diapers" doesn't mean they hold the poop.


The hospital sent us home with Pampers, which we liked. Friends and family had bought us Pampers, Huggies, and Luvs for our shower. Let's just say about a dozen blow-outs later, we do NOT buy Huggies. Actually we're 99% Luvs, all the time. I've tried Target's Up & Up brand, and I did like them. However, if I have a coupon for Luvs I can usually get them cheaper than the store brand.


*Sleeping through the night is not a skill...it's luck.
I was prepared for Elaina to not STTN for at least 4-6 months. I prayed she'd STTN earlier, but also knew I shouldn't press my luck. Well, thank God for answering prayers because by 6 weeks old Elaina was STTN 5 out of 7 nights. By 2 months old, it was 7 nights a week. I've had so many people ask 'How did you do that?!' and honestly, I have no clue. From day one I've never said "Elaina eats at 8, naps at 10, wakes at 11:30, eats at noon..." Actually, we've just went off of her cues, and she's basically set her own schedule. She wakes up between 6 & 7, eats, plays, naps (for about 90 mins) within a few hours of waking up, eats, plays, takes another nap around 4ish, and by 7:30 she's in bed.


*Do what YOU think is right. I had certain people telling me at 3 months old that Elaina was "starving" and needed real food. Mind you, she was in the 95th %tile for her weight. Did I listen? No. As soon as she started eating food, people were telling me to cut back on her formula and feed her more food. Did I listen to that? No way. That's nuts. Nor have I listened to "Give her some juice." (Actually to their dismay, I don't plan on giving her juice for quite some time. I'd rather her eat the real fruit.) "Give her a bite of this *insert crazy food here*" "Let her sleep with you." or any of the other unwelcomed suggestions. I do what I feel is right. Kevin and I make choices for her based on our thoughts. Sure, sometimes other peoples suggestions are helpful, but sometimes they're not. Sometimes they're just plain stupid. So take them with a grain (or cup) of salt, and do what you feel is best. Remembe, YOU are the parent. No one else.

*No mommy is perfect. Simple as that. Try as we may, none of us are perfect. However, I've stopped trying to reach that perfection and just enjoy every moment with Elaina. The way she smiles at me when I walk in the room tells me that she thinks I'm perfect and that's what matters to me :)

much better.

My last post described just how horrible Elaina's first night sleeping in the helmet was. Well, thank God, it has gotten MUCH better. Actually, she's doing great. She sleeps in it just as good as she was sleeping without it, we can take it off/put it on without any tears shed, and she doesn't pay any attention to it when it's on. Woohoo! We went back for her 1st week check-up and got a great report. The specialist was very happy with the way it fits her. I did have to go back Thursday though for them to make a minor adjustment to it, because it was starting to rub a spot on the back left corner of her head. Very minor and it's fitting great again! :)

Here are some pics I snapped of the princess in her new crown

and one without

*sigh* i love those blue eyes.

that was horrible :(

Last night was Elaina's first night sleeping in the helmet...and a smooth night it was not. We ended up staying at my parents house last night, so I don't know if her not being in her bed had something to do with it, but she was awake probably a dozen times between 8 and 6:45. Needless to say, I'm exhausted. I finally broke down around 1:00 and my mom took Elaina in her den to rock her...I bawled my eyes out asking my mom if I'm doing the right thing. She told me of course I am, but I can't help but second guess.

When we got home Kevin was nice enough to take over 'Elaina duty' and let me nap for around an hour. It helped but I could easily snooze for a while longer. Mommy duties call though.

Please pray tonight is easier for her and for us. I know it's just going to take some time for her to get use to...but a simple prayer would be nice.

now to lift my spirits

I've decided on a theme for Elaina's 1st birthday party. (Yes, already.)

Birds + Bugs + Butterflies + Flowers...but for short we'll call it a Garden Party :) All things girly. Flowers, beautiful butterflies, dragonflies, birds and cute (not scary!) bugs. I'm excited.

My idea/inspiration board...

Eek! I love it :)

3 years.

My grandma was the best person I've ever known and will ever know. She was my rock. She was my role model. She was my angel. As a kid, I'd gladly pass up nights at a friends house for nights at Grandma's. No one can make chicken n' dumplins like she did. Her skin was like silk. Summers were spent at her house playing outside or inside watching Days of Our Lives and The Price is Right.

Grandma was a very religious and faithful person...through her good times and her bad. She never doubted God and never turned her back on him. Not easy to do when you battle cancer for 6 years. Six long years. I'll never forget the day they told us she had cancer. Ovarian. Less than a year to live. She proved them wrong. She even went into remission twice. The last time though, the cancer came back stronger than ever. They tried to do surgery but Grandma's body was just too weak. So we waited. They told us it would be within 24 hours. She proved them wrong again. 4 days later...my angel on Earth got her wings. I know that sounds corny, but she really was my angel.

God, I miss her so much. I'd give anything to have her back. I would've given anything to have had her at our wedding...to have her there when we announced the pregnancy...to have her at the hospital to see Elaina the day she was born.

I believe in angels. I know she's seen Elaina...and when Elaina just looks off at nothing and smiles, I know she's seeing her angel...my angel. I've tried to "tell" Elaina about her great-grandma, but I break down everytime. I hope that one day I can explain to her how wonderful of a woman she was. Seeing my mom with Elaina now makes me so happy because I want Elaina to have that relationship with her that I had with my grandma.

My goal in life isn't to make a million, live in a mansion, or have a fancy car...my goal in life is to be to my children and grandchildren what Grandma was to hers. Those aren't big shoes to fill...those are HUGE shoes. Nothing makes me happier than to hear my dad (her son) tell me how much I'm like her. That's the best compliment anyone could ever give me.