7 months

I didn't really post much about being 6 months old.  Cordelia continues to be adorable and amaze us all.    Cordelia can now roll from back to tummy with ease and even does tummy to back now, though she does it less often.  Once on her tum, she can push up and also scoot around, rotating.  and also edging backwards.  We are trying to clean and also begin to think about how to baby proof!

After Thanksgiving we moved C into her nursery to sleep in her crib.  She moves around too much and was too big for her bassinet.  It was a little sad for me.  The first night, she slept the whole time.... first time in ages.  But even with the good start it has been tough goings.  She hates to be put down and wakes on the decent into the crib.  Lots of crying, failed attempts and wakings all the time.  She just cannot put herself to sleep.  Like, ever.  I have been reading up on the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child book and basically Cordelia must be pretty sleep deprived.

I did have a plugged duct one Friday, first time in over a month.  I had been getting optimistic, but I think it was around when she slept later than usual and I didn't let her eat enough before going to work, to empty both sides. BAM! Back up!  Now I know to be extra, extra careful about that.  Also, this was the first time I unplugged the duct entirely on my own.  I felt the pop of release! that I've heard described on the internet.  Ahhhh.  Lots of pumping and baths helped a lot too.

It is holiday time.  C went to my work party, a holiday concert, and had a playdate with my coworker's 1 year old.  Then it was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with her cousins!  Oh yes, and all the cousins had their picture taken together for the grandparents.  It turned out amazingly cute.  But we did have to postpone the photo shoot by a day because we had C in bed with us one morning, after several night wakings.  LBC kept trying to sit on her head, because C had taken her spot between the pillows.  Unfortunately, when trying to move LBC for the umpteenth time, her claw brushed against Cordelia's face, right above her eye.  It was an accident, but I just couldn't let pictures of her be taken when I would always look at them and think about her getting scratched!!  So we were able to wait a few days and it was much, much better by the time of the shoot.

Now we have amazing photos to remember Cordelia at her most precious 6 months old!!  We had a tough time deciding what she should wear, but in the end, I think it is the perfect outfit, suiting her personality so well.

Today was Cordelia's doctor's appointment at last.  A bit late, I know.  She measures up at 16 lb 6.4 oz (40%ile); 2'3.75" (88%ile); and her head-circumference is 43.2 cm (57%ile).  I was surprised a bit.  Last time she was in the 50th for weight... it seems like she is pretty light!  Also, she has gone from the 97th to the 88th in height.  All normal ranges, I guess, but less dramatic than they had been!  But it makes sense, I do feel like she hasn't been growing like a weed as much.  Many of her pants are still short on her, but she can still wear footie pajamas no problem.

At the Dr's, we were by the injection clinic, and an old Asian man came out and saw Cordelia giving a happy baby smile (this after her 4 shots!!).  He told Cordelia not to take money from strangers, then emptied out all the money from his coin purse for her.  77 cents.  He gave it to us and said God Bless You, Happy Holidays.  He said it was for her piggy bank.  It was so sweet.  The lady sitting across started crying, she was so moved.  I wonder about his health, I hope he is ok.

We are working on doing a bit of sleep training to help with her sleeping in her crib.  We are just trying it out, I'll write more to see how it goes.  I don't believe in cry it out, but I do think that at 7 months old, we can ask a bit more of her.  She should be able to have more opportunities to put herself down... if we always go to her, instantly, every time, she will be deprived of the chance to learn how to do it herself.  Last night, she was well fed and put to bed early after a busy Xmas (with poor naps).  It was 9:30 when she woke up crying.  I decided to see what would happen if we just let her be.  She cried until 11.  There were a few seconds where she would get quiet, but then she would be on the go again.  Crying and crying.  Some people's babies cry themselves out in 15 minutes.  Maybe 20 or 30 minutes.  Not mine!!!!!!!!!  I went in and picked her up and after 2 attempts we were able to get her down to stay... she slept all night. YAY!  We have a lot of work to do.  Also at the Dr's we got a handout that says that any nap less than 1 hour is NOT restorative sleep.  Lots and Lots of work to do!!!!!  Hopefully things will start to improve!

Thanksgukkah

This is our first family vacation!  On Tuesday night, we drove to Socal.  We didn't leave until around 8:30, when Cordelia had gone down for the night as part of her regular routine.  I know it was a late start, but it seemed like a decent idea to go while she was normally asleep.  It worked out well in that Cordelia slept the entire drive.  The bad point was hitting horrible traffic when the Grapevine was closed down to one lane, adding over an hour to our journey as we crawled along.

My dad (writer who keeps weird hours) was up to let us in.  He started to be playful with the sleepy Cordelia right away and brought out the cat Chrestomanci to see her.  We put Jason to bed (he was amped up on coke) and I nursed Cordelia so she would go back down for a few hours.  My mom got up just as I had put her down in the pack n play and admired the baby before heading to the school where she works.

Late we all went out and joined her at the school.  I saw her new library and visited my old teachers, who were so excited to see the grand baby.  Cordelia was being her usual charming self and bounce and beamed at everyone, leaving them in awe of her joyfulness and her beauty.

Wednesday night was the first night of Hanukkah.  Yay! Cordelia's first Hanukkah!  I am very glad she got to spend it with her grandparents and aunties and get to be there as my dad lit the menorah and said the blessing.  I've been doing it myself the last few years; this was our first time being together during Hanukkah in quite some time!

Thursday was Thanksgivukkah!  My mom and Rebecca did all the cooking.  We hung out around the house enjoying family time.  At dinner, Cordelia joined us for the meal.  We gave her rice cereal mixed with breast milk for the first time.  This was her first solid food.  She was intrigued by the experience.  Much of the cereal went on her My First Hanukkah bib, as her tongue pushed it back out of her mouth or it dribbled down her cheeks.  But she definitely ate some.  It seemed to go well.  But I was a little concerned that she did not have a decent poop for almost two full days..... She has gone without pooping before, but I had read that rice can cause constipation.  Then on Saturday, her cheeks also looked a little rashy, but that may have been from drool or rubbing against something unfamiliar.  Eventually she did have a nice poop, so I gave her more cereal today (Sunday).  And she pooped promptly after it, even though she'd already pooped today.  So I don't see an immediate connection to the constipation, if it can even be called that.

On Friday, Renie gave me a lovely hair cut that it turned out my mom had paid for as a Hanukkah present.  She was so sweet and said Cordelia was a doll.  We stopped at the $10 or less bookstore and also shopped for some more nursing bras for me.  It was raining off and on and we walked with C through a light drizzle.  She started laughing in surprise.  Later someone pointed out that that was a great reaction... maybe another baby would cry.  But not Cordelia.  She looks at the world and takes delight in everything.

Saturday was baby day.  C had a playdate with my high school friend's baby.  He is 3 weeks younger.  They are similar in size, but he is much heavier......solid torso!!  I really enjoyed getting to talk with a mama of a baby at the same stage as my own.  We then went to LosCon.  My parents loved telling everyone that I went to my first LosCon at 6 months.  We saw a 7 month old and an 8 month old.  Sitting up and crawling are in our future!   For dinner we saw some of my socal friends for dinner.  The waitress loved Cordelia and gushed over her so much.

On Sunday, Cordelia got to meet her great auntie Cassandra, Travis, and her cousins Ashton and Mason (six and three).  We had a yummy brunch and saw their new house.  That night, Rebecca blew bubbles at Cordelia for the first time and she was so excited.

We drove back on Monday and Cordelia ROCKED IT.  She was happy in the car, playing with me or her toys or taking her regular naps.  I was afraid she would sleep the whole time and then be up all night.  But no, she did amazing.  I had to nurse her at In and Out, but that was ok.  She started to fuss lightly when we were a block from home, but that does not count!

Such a nice vacation and so wonderful to share some special moments with my family!