Communicating

Caitlyn is really learning to communicate with us more and more! Both with sign language and with her words! I knew that they taught them sign language at the daycare...I just didn't believe that she would pick up on it and use it. So it was to my great surprise when we were out to dinner with Jared's family she showed me what she knew. She was doing her normal waving her hands and arms up and down which was her way of telling me more. Jared's sister Shanna looked at Caitlyn and said "more" and did the sign. And Caitlyn did it back! I couldn't believe it! Shanna worked in a daycare for about 6 months and they taught sign language there. I was amazed! So I've been trying to really use the signs that she's learned and focus on making sure she's doing them correctly. So far (that I know of) she can do eat, more, water, please, thank you, fruit, & milk. They are learning sorry now in her room at daycare.

She is starting to say more words as well. A lot of times she just says the first part of the word, not the whole word. But she's getting so much better! Now when I pick her up at daycare she runs to her coat saying coat over and over again! When we get home and I'm taking her out of her car seat she starts chanting dada and Zues because she knows we are home and that they are going to be there to greet her. I love how much she is learning and to watch her process what she sees and hears.

Don't Take My Oranges!

I was telling a coworker this morning about this story and she said I needed to write it down...it reminded me to post a blog!

I dropped Caitlyn off at daycare this morning. I always get her there during breakfast time as she doesn't cry when I leave if she's eating! She was sitting in between J (little boy) and Z (little girl). She had just been given her bowl of cereal and her cup of oranges. Next thing you know Caitlyn is screaming and J is throwing a handful of oranges which landed in front of Z. J had taken Caitlyn's oranges, all of them from her cup. Caitlyn freaked out. Oranges are her favorite! You should have seen her face. Poor thing! Miss Nicole got her another cup of oranges and set them on the other side next to Z. Caitlyn grabbed them all out of her cup and shoved them in her mouth. She wasn't letting anyone else get those from her!

Toddlerhood is really keeping Jared and I are our toes!

From Baby to Toddler

9/14/2008 Caitlyn weighed 8lbs 11oz and was 19 1/2 in long.


9/14/2009 Caitlyn weighed 22lbs 2oz and was 22 in long.

Caitlyn has accomplished so much during her first year. She's now walking on her own. She talks on her toy cell phone. She feeds her baby doll a bottle. She says dada, bye-bye, baba and Zeus (we're still waiting on mama). She dances when music is playing. She laughs and her whole face lights up when she's excited. She loves the dog. She gives great kisses and hugs! We can read her moods, when she's tired, hungry, happy, sad or frustrated. She puts herself to sleep for her naps and bedtime. She lets me wipe her nose with no fuss when it's running. She loves pushing her shopping cart around and has learned to carry her purse like a big girl (this makes mama proud)! She knows the meaning of the word no and she's already starting to push the limits to see how far she can go. There are so many things that she does every day that just amaze me. I look forward to each and every day to see what new things she's going to discover!

Happy Birthday Punky!

One year ago today a beautiful miracle entered our lives. One we thought may never happen.

Caitlyn mommy and daddy love you so much. You are truly a blessing that entered our lives. You keep us on our toes with your funny (and sometimes not so funny) antics. You make our hearts grow with each of your kisses and hugs. You make our miserable days disappear with those beautiful smiles that just light up your eyes! Your laugh is musical to listen to. You have taught us so much in this past year and we look forward to watching you grow and learn during this next year. Happy Birthday to our sweet baby girl!

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Changes...

So much has been happening and so much more to come in the next couple of weeks! I have notes of different blog titles I wanted to write...but not enough time to put the thoughts down on paper. So another looonnnngggg post with many updates!

Infant Room 2: Caitlyn moved into infant room 2 the same week she got hand foot and mouth. Her transition went pretty smoothly. They have toys more age appropriate in this room. She was getting bored with the little babies. She was ready for this move! The biggest upset when moving was her naps. She was pretty much refusing to nap. I didn't understand. The girl can sleep....what was up? Too much happening. She didn't want to miss anything. Totally understand that! Otherwise she's loving being in the new room. She loves her teachers in the new room. All is well!!!

Stranger Danger: A few weeks ago she started being afraid of almost everyone. Even people that she sees 3 or 4 times a week. It was weird. I really thought we were going to pass that stage. The first time it happened we were out to brunch with my family. Aunt Beth was holding her and she tried to pass her off to my uncle. I wasn't watching this happen but Aunt Beth says that mid way through the pass off her face changed. Next thing I know she's screaming and crying uncontrollably. I'm standing right in front of her, talking to her. But she won't open her eyes to see me. She won't stop crying. I had to take her to calm her down. She's getting better already. The phase isn't lasting long - hopefully we pass it and it never comes back!

Sickness: This last week she got a cold and a bacterial infection in both her eyes. Monday I had to stay home with her. The nurse called in eye drops. (thank you for not making us come in...you saved us $120)! Aunt Beth came over to help administer the eye drops since Jared was at work. I wasn't thinking it was going to be a horrible experience. But she was feeling bad enough that she let me pry her eye open and put drops in both eyes. Monday night also went well. Tuesday morning...she was feeling better and was not having drops put into her eyes. I couldn't even pry them open. So I put the drops in the corners of her closed eyes and waited for her to open them hoping some would blink in. Today is the last day of eye drops. Her eyes look so much better!

Healthy Eating: I want to teach Caitlyn healthy eating habits. Which in turn should help Jared and I eat healthier as well. I have struggled with my weight since my sophomore year in high school. It is a battle sometimes I feel I will never overcome. I don't want that for Caitlyn. Hopefully she will have Jared's metabolism...but that is not a guarantee. And even with a high metabolism she still should have healthy eating habits and be active so she is healthy over all. I'm learning to include more and more vegetables. And so far she loves them all. Her favorite though at the moment is fresh cucumbers from Grandpa Rich's garden. Yummy! She also really enjoyed Grandma Kendy's zucchini brownies. Next year I want to plant my own garden. We just have to find the right spot in our yard. Last night we grilled a sweet potato for her. She ate a few bites and then started flinging it everywhere. The dog was having a hay day chasing after it all. At least I didn't have to clean it up! If anyone has healthy recipes they'd like to share...please do!

Coming soon...Caitlyn's first birthday. I can't believe it's been a year already. Time is moving way to fast.

Caitlyn's 1st Surgery (And Hopefully Her Last!)

Tuesday August 18th, 2009 Caitlyn had her first surgery. She got tubes in both her ears. This girl had 8 ear infections in less than 6 months. The last double ear infection was while she was on a preventative antibiotic. We met with the ENT on August 11th. Jared was pretty much set on this surgery before we even went in to talk to the ENT. He had tubes as a baby (numerous times) so he was comfortable with that decision. It was not that easy for me. What got to me is that the ENT was sure that the infections were keeping her from walking and from talking and babbling more. That the infections could effect her hearing permanently. Once I made the decision to go forward with the surgery I wanted to schedule it as quickly as possible. I just wanted it to be over with. It wasn't the surgery itself that scared me. It was my little baby girl being under anesthesia. I was so afraid that they'd put her under and she'd have some sort of reaction and she wouldn't wake up. Monday afternoon before her surgery daycare called me - she had a fever of 102.5. I started freaking out. I called the ENT and they assured me that as long as she wasn't congested that they would go through with the surgery. The ENT had a sneaky suspicion that she had another ear infection causing this fever. So I went and picked her up early from daycare that day. Tuesday morning we got to the surgical center at 6:30 in the morning. I was really worried because I couldn't give her her morning bottle. But she didn't fuss once about not getting her bottle. This was because she really wasn't feeling good. She basically just laid in my lap watching cartoons (which she never sits still for normally!). She still had her fever, but her lungs were clear so we were going ahead with the surgery. The ENT came and talked to us after the nurse got all her stats. She said it would only take 10 min and she'd come out to talk to us. She carried Caitlyn back to the surgical room. I was surprised that I didn't cry when she took her from me. I was amazingly calm up to that point. We went out to the waiting room. We both went to the bathroom. We sat for a few more min. I was watching the clock. At 10 minutes I was asking Jared where she was at. He thought I was nuts and assured me she'd be fine. The ENT came out a few min later and said everything went well. She had another double ear infection which she was able to clear out while she was in there. She said the nurse would be out to get us soon to take us back to her. They had warned us ahead of time that she'd be cranky (their word) when she woke up. Nothing could have prepared me for the way she was acting when they took us back to her. She was SCREAMING / CRYING. Uncontrollably. They said she was hungry so we made her a warm bottle. It took awhile for her to realize I was trying to give her something she wanted. She did finally take the bottle. And she was calmer after the bottle, but still fussy and seemed uncomfortable. They said she wasn't in any pain, but I don't know how they could know that if she couldn't tell us. They said she was acting totally "normal" from waking up from the anesthesia. She was disorientated and super fussy. I basically just sat and rocked and cried with her. It was the worst feeling I've felt so far as a mother. After about 15 minutes they asked if we were ready to go home. I thought they were crazy for letting us leave before she had totally calmed down. I was so afraid of going home and her not calming down and what were we going to do??? But once we got into the car (I rode in the backseat with her) she really started calming more. I guess they do know what they're doing! I gave her a few graham crackers on the way home. Once we got home I put her in her sleep sack and she went right to sleep. She slept for 4 HOURS! After 2 hours I called the nurse to make sure I shouldn't be waking her to check on her. The nurse laughed at me and told me to enjoy it. That usually babies slept for 3-4 hours after anesthesia. During that 4 hour nap I got most of our bedroom painted! She woke up happy as can be after that nap. Like nothing had happened that morning and she had forgotten all about it! Putting drops in her ears for the next week was a challenge and I'm glad Jared was always there to help me. I don't think I could have done them alone! She's not quite walking yet...but she's now standing on her own without holding on. I think walking is just around the corner!

Now she's working on 2 more teeth!

Singing In The....Car?

When I have the radio turned up in the car I can sometimes hear Caitlyn singing softly in the background. It is the sweetest sound. But if I turn down the radio to hear her better...she stops. So I've learned to just listen for her and block out the actual music.

Sickness Update: She was feeling much better last week. She still wasn't herself on Monday and I ended up picking her up from daycare early again. But Tuesday morning from the moment she woke up you could tell she was feeling herself! Yesterday she started with a runny nose. Hopefully that ends soon! We have an appt with the pedi tomorrow morning to check her right ear and make sure the infection is gone. Hopefully the pedi doesn't refer us to the ENT...very worried about this!