Five Months!

Karmann - Five Months Today!

Today is Karmann's five month birthday! Though five months doesn't have the usual mile stones, nor a doctors appointment to mark the growth charts, Karmann has changed so much! I've mentioned many things over the days on the blog, but it seems like she does something amazing everyday. We are still working on eating cereal, sleeping through the night, and getting on the "work" schedule, not to mention tummy time! However, her personality is so sweet and silly, I can only foresee her as a little social ladybug (okay-I know it's a social "butterfly", but we like to call her our little ladybug :)) She's finally getting a little more hair, and her legs are totally chubby! She loves her thumb and her two middle fingers, which are usually in her mouth when she's not chattering away. She's totally at the baby stage where all you want to do is squeeze her all the time because she is just too cute! She's growing into size 6 month outfits, especially the ones with feet, as she is really long. As I mentioned before, she still doesn't like tummy time, though she loves to stand up and is pretty strong when we hold her up. She is almost sitting up by herself and when she flops over, she definitely prefers to be on her side. She lifts her legs up, and drops them to the side, which rolls the rest of her body over too! Brilliant! When she rolls all the way over, she freaks out, but at least she does it! She makes me smile all the time and I miss her so much during the day! It is really hard being away from her a full day!! I could go on and on and on...but will continue on another day! 

5 days down

A first day quickly turned into a first week - and we are both still just fine. Karmann wooed everyone over at the daycare and they all love her. They said how calm and quiet she is all the time and that she is such a happy girl! Let's just pray she stays that way!! I do think it was probably harder for me than her, though I held up better than I thought I would all week. I think the two weeks before taking her were worse, just because I couldn't stop worrying about it. I am having to be a little more regimented and disciplined with myself so that I have everything ready for the morning, the night before. I have realized that it is pretty much impossible to get everything done and be in bed before 11 pm. Getting things ready includes stuff for me too - like what I'm going to wear to work, sterilizing the breast pump, etc. This is just in case she's either up early and doesn't go back to sleep, or if she decides to sleep in and not wake up till 7:45 to eat! But, I am gently waking her if she sleeps in just so she'll start to get on a schedule. I actually managed to get into work between 8:15 and 8:30 all week - pretty good for me- with or with out a baby!!

Beside that, at home Karmann has been really rolling a lot more, and has even rolled over in her sleep, which wakes her up in a tizzy, of course, but at least she's progressing! She also loves to grab her toes now! She's even caught on to pulling her socks off to get to them! Its pretty cute. Her fingers are still her favorite thing to suck on, though if you hand her a wash cloth or blanket, she'll suck on that too. We are still trying to get her to eat rice cereal, but she really doesn't like it too much. We'll keep trying, as I think it really does help her sleep through the night - even the little bit she's been getting. She does like the "bumbo" chair we got her, so she's starting to get stronger and sitting up better. She can't get upright by herself, but once she's up, she loves it! We'll keep working on that too. Another thing she is catching on to is books! She is grabbing the pages and kind of turning them when I read to her. I'm impressed with this action! Though, I think maybe she's like me and would rather look at the pictures and drawings than actually care what to read n the pages! One more silly thing and then I'll stop - when she nurses or sucks her thumb, she scratches her head with the other hand - just like she's thinking about something and wondering what to do - it is really quite entertaining to watch. I wonder, does she really have an itch and know already where to scratch it or does she just like to feel her head and her hair? Hmmm...which ever it is, it is so cute. Anyway, it seems like she is getting smarter by the day! Just three days and she'll have her 5-month birthday - already! Wow. As Audra mentioned, you don't change much in that time, but the kids do! It is a hard concept to grasp until you experience it! 

We both survived!

Today was a day of firsts, and both Karmann and I survived just fine! Karmann spent her first full day at daycare, and I spent my first full day back at work. I handled it better than I had thought, since I had to drop my mom off at the airport first, which was hard enough, and then drop my little girl off at day care all in the same morning! Luckily Kris came to the daycare with me to give extra support! He also stopped by at lunch today to see how she was doing - and she was fine! I am so lucky to have him help make sure she is okay!! She was a happy little girl when I met both of them at home tonight and was doing just fine! Let's just hope she's still that way by Friday! I joke that today she probably thought "hey this place is pretty cool!" and by Friday she'll be wondering why the heck is Mommy dropping me off here again?!? Let's hope that she handles it okay! 

As I mentioned, my mom came to visit from CA for Mother's Day weekend. It was really great spending the short 4 days with her and Karmann. We all had a great time laughing and playing and dressing her up of course! We also tested rice cereal out on Karmann. She wasn't impressed, but we will keep trying! It was a great 1st mother's day weekend that I will always remember! Karmann and Kris surprised me with Godiva chocolates and a new watch! I thought to myself...hmm...I think I'm gonna like this Mother's Day gig!! Here are a few photos of the weekend...enjoy!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ViewSlideshow.action?&collidparam=96446290305.153298008705.1242097205413

Maris, Michael, & Matan, and Mom

Today my best friend Marisa and her husband Michael and their son Matan drove from their vacation in Venice FL to meet Karmann. Though it was a short visit of only about 3 hours, it was very special non the less!! Karmann was a little angel, as was Matan, who I think had a fun time hanging out and playing at Karmann's house. From what Marisa said, he hopes that Karmann can come play at his house! I hope so too Matan! Hopefully soon! There was a quick tour of our place, a leisurely lunch at Mills Market, and a drive-by of the lot before we returned back to our place and I had to venture off to work! It was too quick! Maris and Michael took a few good photos, so I look forward to getting copies! Hopefully we will be able to get together again either in Illinois or maybe K.C.! 

I am also getting ready for a visit from my mom, aka GG! She will be flying in tomorrow to visit for Mother's Day weekend. This will also be a quick visit, unfortunately, but it too will be special, non the less!! Luckily, I will be able to take Friday off from work to spend a little more time with her and Karmann. She is going to be so shocked how much little Missy has changed since she was last here! I am looking forward to the funny little memories we make this weekend! 

Taking it all in

I can't call this a countdown, because usually countdowns are going toward something you are excited about. But, there's one week left for Kris and I to share our half-days with Karmann till she is entered into the next phase of her life - daycare. Though the financial implications (minus the day care expense) of returning to a full time paycheck is exciting, I am going to miss sleeping in late, playing with Karmann, and taking my time getting to work everyday, knowing that she'll be with Kris in the afternoon. No, those days are coming to a close. I know deep down that this will be a good thing for her - building her immunity, socializing with other babies, and getting into a routine, but, it has been emotionally stressful for me and there's still a week to go!

Good thing next week we are having a few visitors to keep my mind off of the upcoming stress. I am very excited the my mom will be visiting and celebrating mother's day with me! And, my long time best friend Marisa and her family will be visiting for one morning as well. I know they will help give me the mommy support I need! In the mean time, I will be cleaning our place, which is in desperate need of a good scrub-down, and hopefully my mind will stay clear of these thoughts. 

On another note, I wanted to mention a few of her adorable attributes she has learned lately. I am half way convinced that she may have started teething. She is drooling like crazy, a little fussy - more like cranky - if she isn't asleep, and she's been acting weird when she nurses. She's also been sucking on her bottom lip, which is pretty hilarious when you look at her doing it. She's also getting a little better at the tummy time thing. She can now push her butt up and get herself on her knees -- however, she still hasn't figured out the arms and push-up motion, so she has her face in the blanket when she does it. We will continue to work on that motion! But she loves to sit up, though she can't quite sit up by herself just yet. She also loves to stand and kick her legs a lot. Who knows, maybe she'll be a soccer player and won't need her arms/hands! She has mastered sucking on her fingers and thumb, which also is a sign that she may be teething. Also - BIG milestone - she actually laughed a real laugh/giggle tonight!!! Not just the sucking-in-air-excited "laugh" that she's been doing, but an actual identifiable laugh!! Kris and I both witnessed it and cracked up ourselves (me with tears of joy in my eyes too!) She is such a happy little soul and we are amazed everyday how much we love her!! Still, just trying to take it all in...