Getting easier... uh oh.

She's finally able to sleep during the last four days :)

Friday night, Emily slept without interruptions from 9pm to 5am and then cuddled up with me in my room till after 6am. Saturday night, she woke up once so she slept 9pm to 6:15am, minus about 20 minutes. Then, last night, she slept 8:55pm to 4:30am, then back to sleep until 7:15am.

I even got to take a nap yesterday morning! And a bubble bath two nights ago!

Basically, things are getting better than how it's been since she started teething. Also, I've been able to finally get in a good routine of cleaning, cooking, and finances. Now that everything is better, I bet she'll change it up. :)

 

Emily the Mischevious

This week has given me a run for my money!

I've already posted about the last couple of days and Emily's very speedy achievements. Last night, she said "Dada." :)

So, due to her progress, I realized last night that I needed to lower her crib. I'm not afraid to admit that I've been a procrastinating momma and this is actually the first time I've lowered her crib. That would definitely get me a ticket from the Mommy Police. But I lowered it last night and I realized how much more active my life is about to get with Emily's ability to be mobile.

First of all, I had to take basically everything off and out of the crib to get to the... shelf? I don't know what that thing is called... to lower the crib. During the time it took me to do this, Emily crawled into the wall twice, tried to unplug her night light, and crawled into the side of the ottomon of the rocking chair. Once I calmed her down all of those times, I was able to lower the crib. While I undid all the screws and reattached the "shelf" (until I can remember the word), she decided to explore her changing table. The bottom shelf of it has her blankets and the lesser used or bulk items. She decided to taste baby powder, throw all the blankets off, and try to get to the diapers on the middle shelf.

Once I got the mattress back in, I just let her roll around in the crib while I got the toys attached again and watched to make sure it was low enough. She could sit and kneel in the crib but she didn't try to stand. Since she couldn't quite get to the top rail (she couldn't get a grip on the side rails to bring herself high enough, I decided this is good. I called my friend Christina to ask her advice and she said that (from what I told her) it should be fine for now. Then, I got a call back from my mom that said she shouldn't even be able to reach the top rail and I should lower it another level.

Since Emily was getting anxious, I decided to look it up later and leave it for now. Especially since she was now trying to fit her chubby little arms through the side of the crib :) Guess I better secure those bumpers!

 

Rough night VS Good month

I had a rough night. Instead of telling you all about my rough night, I would like to focus on the victories that I've had this month instead.

- I started working out again. Yesterday. I bought a dance workout video and I did my first real workout since Emily was born. I know it took a while to get to it but I did it and that's the important part. I really enjoyed it so I know I'll do it again.

- Emily's firsts this month: First tooth, first time getting to a sitting position from laying down, first time pulling herself up to a standing position from sitting, first time turning herself onto her belly while sleeping and not waking up, first time sleeping 8 hours since her tooth started coming in, and first time crawling! She has been very busy this month.

- I made oatmeal cookies yesterday. And they are wonderful.

- We added $400 to savings finally because Eric got his bonus at work :)

- I bought a new purse yesterday.

- I had my first morning off (to myself) in six weeks. Last week.

- I started a new Bible study that I'm trying to stick to daily.

- I got a visit from a friend I haven't seen in over a year.

Overall, even though last night was rough and sleepless, my month has been pretty nice. So I'm going to make sure I don't sweat the small stuff.
 

A Day Of Firsts

Today, I realized how my little girl is growing up. Which I naturally never saw coming since she turned 8 months old yesterday.

She had 3 firsts today - she crawled, pulled herself up and kept herself there, and turned onto her belly while staying asleep.

I know this is weird but I'm the most excited about the last one. She has been waking herself up at night for the last month due to teething and, now that the tooth is in, she's been having a tough time going back to her regular sleep. I always sleep her on her side overnight because she won't sleep flat on her back and I normally put her on her belly for shorter naps (yes, she's a belly sleeper and she prefers it!). When she's been getting up, I've been rocking her back to sleep and letting her sleep on her belly.

I went in to check on her before bed (like always) and she had turned from side to belly without waking. I know that seems small but to me, she's soothing herself like I would at night and that's huge to me.

I may not get to sleep through the night tonight but I am glad my little girl is achieving so much and that's the most important thing.

Decisions, decisions....

Has it really been two weeks since I last blogged? Whoa.

I've been feeling the pressure from everyone (even Eric) to return to youth ministry since the day Emily was born and I've made a decision. I guess it's less of a decision and more of an answer to a question that I needed to ask myself. I've been delaying going back for a while and for some reason, the decision to go back didn't really feel right in my spirit. I posed a question to myself and in prayer: What is best for my family and myself?

I realize now that I haven't really ever answered that question in regards to going back. I didn' feel like I was ready and I didn't really know why. At first, I thought it was guilt about Emily but it's really not. I (finally) was praying about it the last few days and I came to a realization:

I need to grow.

I've been in that youth group as a student or a leader for the last 7 years. I haven't been to an adult Wednesday night service ever. Also, with Emily, I can't make the kind of time commitment to these students like I did before. I'm not saying I never will be able to, but my two priorities need to come first - my relationship with God and my family.

I am not going back to youth ministry right now. Until God directs me differently, my Wednesday nights will be either spent with my daughter at home or at an adult Wednesday night service. I want to be an example of a godly woman for my daughter, not the hypocrites she will forever see in the media. I know it will be good for me to go on Wednesday nights to adult services and if I can't, I have a Bible study I just began pursuing. Also, it will be good for Emily to spend time with the other babies for an hour during service.

If I am pleasing God and taking care of my family, that's all I need right now.

On Call

I think the phrase "on call" accurately describes being a parent. I've realized this much more lately.

Emily had a fever, off and on, for two days last week. For two nights, she barely slept. One of the nights, I think there was a 4-hour span that I just kept getting her back to sleep, putting her in her crib, going back to my room, and laying in my bed while I waited for her to get up again. I only know I slept because I had a dream. The second night, I caved and just brought her in our room. She finished the night with only an hour in her crib, the rest on or next to me.

Today, I think she has a cold. She is asleep now and the humidifier is in her room because she's been coughing a little this afternoon. On the upside, I haven't needed the nose sucker thing because it runs every time she sneezes.

Wait, I got off track.

Babies don't care if you think its break time. They can't help it - they are helpless in many ways (even if they are independant in others).

I was reflecting a bit on my relationship with God today and have been thinking about him as I text out this blog. He has plenty on His plate already, I bet. But whenever I need Him, he comes. I need to realize that even though I'm also independant in many ways, I still need Him.

I'm glad to be on-call with Emily and I think I understand an inkling of why God probably is too: When she's sick or lonely or just needs me, she holds me so tight like she will never let go. And even when she does, I know she will end up needing me again. Isn't that the best overtime you can think of?

Emily, I promise to always be on-call. Whether you are 3 or 63.

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My 100th Post (with some BIG news)

I was going to have another title but, when I logged in to start a post, I was informed that I have written 99 posts. Boy, do I have a way to celebrate! And I couldn't be happier to write this entry.
Emily said her first word. :)

Before I begin, I've been encouraging her a lot with this word all week. Tonight, I was buckling her in her carseat after leaving Wal-Mart and she has been making noises a lot. Then, she slowly says, "Mmmmmmmm-mom." My eyes popped out. My jaw dropped. Hers did too. (She copies me a lot, something I will need to always keep in mind.)

I immediately called Eric and my parents. On our drive to see Eric at work, she said it again!! I thought to myself, Now I know it wasn't just a fluke. We visited Eric and she wouldn't say a word. As we got back to the neighborhood, she sat in her carseat and said, "Momma, momma, momma."

I have never had a warmer heart than tonight.