Seven Month Update

Dear Hazel,
It's been quite the month for you, and again... it must be said: 7 months? WHAT?

Yea... you're seven months old now and your little personality continues to emerge and delight us every day. We've already picked up on a few things that you apparently have inherited from your Daddy and I. You know... besides ear infections. (Of which you had another one of this month... awesome.)

For one, you are CONSTANTLY moving your feet. You, my dear, have a case of the Jimmy-Leg. You got this from your Daddy... he who has been threatened (on occasion) of foot amputation if he doesn't stop moving those feet while we're lying in bed and I'm trying to sleep. In fact, as I type this, I just looked over at your Daddy while he's reading a book (written by Karl Rove and no, you don't get to read that conservative propaganda when you're old enough. but don't worry, I've got some nice liberal reads for you when you start reading. namely: The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder. you'll love it.) and he was moving his foot in much the same manner as you do when you're sitting up. The ladies at day care love it as apparently, you're pretty much constantly in motion with those things.

You've pretty much mastered sitting up in the last month... with the exception of a few falls that we managed to catch on camera.

And you're starting to actually choose toys, rather than just play with those sitting in front of you. You love, love, LOVE rattles and have gotten so excited while shaking your rattle that you've hit yourself in the head with it.

Hard.

On more than one occasion.

And then you laugh and laugh and laugh.

You've started to suck your thumb more and more this month. I attribute that to the fact that I've stopped nursing you and it's a way to self-soothe? Of course, I'm a complete rookie with all things baby, so I could just be up in the night.

So, yea... the nursing. We had our last session on Seis de Mayo. It was such a sad thing for me. It wasn't anything you did, sweetie. It was actually a culmination of events that made me decide that it was time to stop. I'd been on medication to help with milk production for about four months. And even with that, the most I could pump in a day was maybe 10 oz and we always had to supplement you afterwards. I had done some "research" online and found that there are serious side effects of this particular medication if taken for extended periods of time. To top it all off, you coughed in my mouth earlier this month and got me sick... AGAIN... and the doc said that the medication he was giving me would mean that I couldn't nurse safely and I would have to pump and dump. So, I decided to go off the medication and then pump to see how it went.

But first, you and I had one last nursing session together. It was so special, Hazey. While you nursed, we just rocked and I thought of all those nights I would get up to feed you and when we finally figured out how to nurse in those first few days of your life. I loved nursing you. It was such a special bond we shared and now that we don't have that, I feel like a piece of me is damaged. It's hard to explain. You don't seem to be too put out by it... you haven't rooted around or anything on me, but it's just hard knowing that we won't have those quiet moments of bonding again.

The next day when I pumped, I got exactly two ounces. So that pretty much made up my mind. I really feel that my body was telling me it was done four months ago... but we stretched it out to six months. I really would have loved to been able to nurse you for a year, but I'm glad we made it to six months.

This month you really became a big, BIG fan of being thrown in the air by Daddy and me. But, honestly... you're getting so freaking big that I don't throw you in the air as much because I'm worried that my lack of upper body and hand strength will come to bite me in the butt and I'll drop you.

Yea... you're getting pretty big, baby girl. You've actually grown out of your 9 month old pj's and we recently had to get some 9-18 month old pj's that don't have the feet so your legs can get as long as they want and they will still fit... mostly.

You're still a champion sleeper and routinely throw down 12-12.5 overnighters. Which is AWESOME.

For some reason this last week you resisted taking your morning nap at day care so you ended up going to bed pretty early each night as you were exhausted. I'm really hoping that one of these days an actual routine will develop where I can count on you sleeping for certain lengths of time... but I guess for now I can't complain about your sleep since you're such a rock star at night.

Currently, your favorite position is one where you're on all fours with your butt in the air. You'll sleep like that all night and there's nothing I can do to prevent you from sleeping like that. And really, why would I?

You've also become so easy to put down at night that I don't really get to rock you down or snuggle with you anymore. Most of the time, you know it's time for bed and are ready to go to bed... and you just want your crib and seriously, Mommy... I don't have the patience for this. Just put me down and walk away, ok?

Yea... that kinda stinks right about now. But I'm heartened by the fact that you don't totally find me useless because whenever you're playing and I walk away from you, you cry. A fake, attention-getting cry, but a cry nonetheless. So I guess that means you still like me? I hope so.

You love to blow bubbles and you love to be outside. And right now, you're all about my necklace and you love to look at it and put it in your mouth. Because it's shiny and is something you could easily choke on. Of course you want to play with it!!


You're a voracious eater these days and are eating only every four hours. Which is really nice and makes life a lot more flexible for us to know exactly when you're going to want to eat each day. You're eating rice cereal and baby food and you love sweet potatoes and bananas. Daddy fed you pears the other day, too, and apparently you're a BIG fan as you ate the entire jar... after eating rice cereal. I'm sure that the ladies at day care that afternoon appreciated your Daddy that day. I'm just sayin'... the diapers are really something special these days. I mean, really... the diapers deserve a story of their own. And, yes.... I'm sure that one of these days, they will.

These days, you're entertained by laying on my legs, sucking on my knees and making noises while I bounce you up and down. It's the new go-to whenever you get bored or a little fussy.



This weekend, you were a little fussy and Daddy and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. Honestly, it's hard to know when you're not feeling well cuz you're just so easy and don't really give us that many hints that you don't feel 100%. After you woke up from a nap with Daddy, I noticed that you were hot... really hot. As in 102 degrees hot. Oh looky! YOU'RE FIRST FEVER! Fantastics. So, we took you to the doc to make sure you didn't have an infection... because it's been what? A week since you got off antibiotics?? Lovely. So, now you're on Tylenol that we have to give you every four hours, so it will be interesting to see how tonight goes.

I really hope you start feeling better tomorrow. Cuz if Hazey isn't 100%, ain't nobody 100%.



Love,
Mama

Mother's Day 2010

Dear Hazel,
Sunday was my very first Mother's Day... and unfortunately, your Daddy was up all night Saturday night throwing up. So, it was basically just you and me all day. Which is what Mother's Day is all about, right? I got to spend time with the person who made me a Mother!!!


You are finally starting to feel better from your latest bout of day-care-assisted-illness. This one included conjunctivitis, an ear infection, and a cough that just won't quit. Nothing that a round of antibiotics that make your poop turn bright red... like a tomato that drank fruit punch and ate a Christmas tree ornament... won't cure.

I, on the other hand, have not been as lucky. And my little illness that I got after you coughed in my mouth (we need to work on your manners, that way), just won't go away. It doesn't help that my doctor is very, VERY conservative and even though I explained to him that we've got company coming this week and I've got a half-marathon that I'm supposed to run... he wasn't convinced that I should be on anything other than a nasal lavage. A few days later and a phone call with a hoarse voice because my throat is so sore that I've been waking up crying in the middle of the night convinced him to put me on a mild antibiotic. Not that it's working. Bugger!

So, even though we had Sunday to ourselves... I started to wear down pretty early in the day. But, before that, you and I ate breakfast... and hooray!! you've stopped spitting out your rice cereal!!... and then played for a while before we ran to the store to get Daddy some Gatorade and Saltines. Later in the afternoon, you and I headed to Lowe's to pick up a bird bath and some hanging plants for the backyard.

Ah, yes... the backyard. We finally have one. Your Daddy spent all day Friday working on the yard to make it liveable. See, we haven't had a backyard in about 7 years. Ever since we got the dog, she basically destroyed the backyard... either by digging up random chunks of grass, or by pooping EVERYWHERE, or by gnawing on the sprinkler heads. And she actually ate all four chairs that were part of our very first patio furniture set and we decided that hey... why bother replacing them? She'll just eat the new ones. So, until we were able to find a loving home for Bailey, we decided to just let her have the backyard and we'd just stay in the house.

But now? Now we get to have a backyard and I can't tell you how nice that has been. Until we realized that... yea, we have no where to sit! So, Saturday, your Daddy went and bought us a brand new table and chairs so that we can spend some quality time out there. He also cleared out my old crummy garden and removed this rotting stump that has plagued me for YEARS. It's like I have this blank canvas to paint on, and I've finally got some ideas of what I want the backyard living area to look like.

We also bought you a tree. You're very own tree!

It's a Spring Snow Crab Apple and it smells AMAZING. And Spring Snow is perfect, because this Spring? There's been a LOT of snow. Enough so that Mommy has almost lost her mind when she opens the blinds and sees it snowing when all she wants... all she NEEDS... is the sun.

Anyhoo, the plan was to plant it on Mother's Day... but your Daddy just wasn't feeling well, so we'll have to plant it sometime this week before all of our company arrives. That's the plan, anyway.

You and Daddy also got me the cutest little necklace for Mother's Day... it must be your influence because your Daddy has only ever given me one piece of jewlery, and I wear that one every day. It's a necklace with two little birds sitting on a branch. It's perfect. And I plan on wearing it every day as well. Unless you ever manage to grab it like you've been trying to ever since I put it on. Because it's bright. And shiny! And you MUST HAVE IT!! IN. YOUR. MOUTH.

My first official Mother's Day wasn't really what I expected... but I guess that's what being a Mother is all about. Changes of plans and dealing with them, right? I'm so glad you're feeling better and can't wait until your Daddy and I can catch up with you on the health train!

I'm very lucky to have the little family I have. I couldn't have picked a better husband or better baby. My life is full in a way I never thought possible and I thank you both for that. I know that I'm still in the learning curve of Mommyhood and I know that I'm going to continue to make mistakes and (hopefully) learn from them. I guess I'll ask you now, when your 6-months-old and can't understand the deal your agreeing to, to forgive me in advance for all of the many missteps I'll likely be making in the next 18 years or so.

And to your Father, he who worked his butt off Friday and Saturday but was sidelined on Sunday: Your efforts and love that directed those efforts were not lost on me. It's not just about the "day". And I love you for that.

Love,
Mama

Ironman St. George and The Bird

Dear Hazel,
Last week, you had your 6-month checkup. You, we are happy to report, are growing like a FREAKING WEED. You're 19 lbs., 13 oz. and almost 28 inches long. Which puts you at the 100th percentile in both areas. Which means that you are finally on the charts. And Mommy and Daddy can only take this to mean that you're slowing down. Because 100th percentile means that you are taller than 100 percent of other babies at this age. We weren't sure what to make of your 4-month checkup... which had you in the 104th percentile. Statisically... how is that even possible??


You came down with a cough last week... which really makes us happy. I mean... you've been off antibiotics for what? 2 weeks now? We had 2 solid weeks of health before you got sick again? Nice. I'm just saying that what everyone is telling us had BETTER be true... that after two years of age, you'll have super immunity and won't get sick nearly as often. Because this averaging of one cold a month? GETTING OLD. I always feel so bad for you, Birdzo. Do you even know what it's like to feel well anymore? I mean, you're still just as happy as ever... but wow, does having a cold mess with your sleeping habits. And honestly, I don't know what we would do without that suction machine because the amount of snot you're producing is unheard of. There's got to be a use for that much snot, Hazey. Maybe World Peace?

Yea... your Mommy and Daddy are bummed about your cold. And we thought that maybe we're the ones that caused it. Perhaps by smothering you with kisses all the time? And furburting your belly? But, I walked into day care the other day and every. single. kid. in there had the same cough as you. GREAT.

Add to all of this, the fact that you got your 6-month shots and it made for one unhappy Bird last week (well, as unhappy as you are possible of being). Nothing that a little Tylenol couldn't help... but still. It pretty much blew.

Anyway, despite your little cold, we left the High Altitude Training Center this weekend to take a trip down south with Aunt Kaylene and Uncle Ryan to see some friends participate in Ironman St. George. As usual, you charmed the pants off of everyone you met. You were such a rock star on the way down to St. George... slept most of the way. Which may explain why you didn't go to sleep until 9:30 that night. Well, that and the fact that your Honorary Big Brother, Gavin, was still awake... and somehow you sensed that you were missing out on some excitement. So after 40 minutes of trying (and failing) to get you to go to bed, I brought you out and you enjoyed hanging out with us until you finally ran out of steam.


The next morning, you woke up at 5 a.m. with one of the worst coughing fits I've ever heard. And then it was game on... and you weren't going down without a fight. So, after feeding you, I brought you to bed with me and you snoozed for a few hours... which was heavenly.

That afternoon, all of us jumped in the car to find a good spectating spot to watch the race. Which ended up being an aid station right next to Starbucks. It was KARMA, baby girl.

(The Nadolski Family at the aid station at mile 15)

You were once again amazing and took a little nappy-poo in the middle of the race and then when you woke up (happy!!) just hung out with us while we waited to see our friends. Even being sick, you just don't seem to let anything bother you too much. You're pretty much my hero.

(Kaylene, Gavin, Ryan, Daddy and Hazel at IMSG)

We went home that afternoon and your Daddy and I took you to the pool for the first time! It was soooo much fun to see you in water. You looked around like... whhhhaaattt? And then you got into it and started slapping at the water. You're such a natural! We can't wait for you to start swimming lessons!!


After that, we gave you a bath and put you to bed around 7. It had been a big day for you and you went down pretty quickly. Then we visited with Aunt Kaylene and Uncle Ryan until late into the night (read: 10:30... cuz your Daddy is NOT a rock star).

And then... 4:30 rolled around and GUESS WHO WAS UP AND READY TO PARTAY? This is perhaps the thing I loathe most about you getting sick. It totally messes with your sleep schedule. After I changed your diaper and attempted to get you back to sleep, I gave up, brought you to the bedroom, fed you and then settled you into the bed between Daddy and me. I'm certainly hoping that this isn't a trend with you. I'm only allowing this to happen because you're sick and I feel awful for you. That and I'm just too tired to deal with a crying, fussy baby... and if I can keep you happy and asleep by just snuggling with you in bed? Consider it done.

That afternoon, we all headed back to the cold of Ogden... a trip that you just have never done well with. You cried and cried and cried, baby girl. You only took two 30 minute naps and the rest of the time you were doing your best to communicate HOW AWFUL IT WAS TO BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW AND CAN SOMEONE PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR EXISTENCE IN THIS CAR SEAT?

I think that the change in elevation bothered your ears somewhat. And I also think that you were running a slight temp. And since Mommy hadn't screwed the Tylenol lid on tightly it had leaked all over the bag and we had nothing to give you for the fever. I also think that you just wanted - NEEDED - to be out of that stupid car seat. So, we pulled over in Payson and decided to spend a half-hour walking around Wal-Mart.

You remember Wal-Mart don't you? The last time you were there you lost your ever loving mind. This time was different, though. Because you were out of your car seat and just looking around at all the pretty colors and massive amount of STUFF. We then decided that to give you an even better chance of not losing it on the rest of the way home, we'd stop in Provo and have dinner. We ate at Olive Garden and you were so excited to get to sit at the table in your very own high chair and you played and played and played... giving the good people at The Olive Garden an earful of delighted shrieks. Yep... you're THAT baby.

We left the restaurant and within minutes, you were sound asleep. We made it home in relative peace and quiet and you stayed asleep while we unloaded the car... and, you know, got the kitchen sink hooked back up. You woke up at about 9 and I fed you and put you down.

And then you woke up at midnight... and I knew we were in for a long night. So I girded my loins, grabbed a blanket and spent the night cuddling with you in the rocking chair. I think I'm finally getting what motherhood is all about. I remember my mom telling me a story about how when I was sick once and the only thing I wanted... the only thing that made me feel better... was being held all night. And I think that's what you need right now. I guess you can call it Mother's Intuition? Anyway, you're so stuffed up right now, Hazey... it's the only way to keep your nose drained. But it was a looonnnggg night. You woke up every two hours and I had to coax you back to sleep each time. That means a LOT of rocking and shushing. Stuff that I haven't done since you were a newborn.

But when you woke up for the day at 7:15... you were all smiles. Which put even a grumpy, tired Mommy in a good mood. Luckily, your Daddy was able to come home and pick you up to take you to day care, which allowed me to go back to bed for a few hours and catch up on some much needed sleep. I'm really hoping that this cold improves quickly because while I cherish getting to snuggle with you all night... I REALLY MISS THOSE 10 HOUR OVERNIGHTERS YOU CAN THROW DOWN.

Love,
Mama