New Lis Ana Louise....

So it is officially official. I suck at updating this blog. All blogs, for that matter, since this is the only one I have. I will try to be better about it, I want it to be here for Lis Ana later. And truth is that when I do get to it, it's pretty fun. Feels silly sometimes, but fun. Anyway, loving Lis Ana continues, ofcourse, and she gets more and more beautiful, expressive, intelligent, and fun every day. I am so lucky to be home with her right now and have been for a while. I hope to be able to do that until we get into a good pre-pre-school program. She is talking lots and playing lots and moving LOTS! Yesterday we went to the
pumpkin patch with G'Randy and she didn't stop running around for three hours straight! She is so much fun and is so loved by her friends and family. Grandma Louise visited recently (now being called "Aya") and G'Randy was just here this weekend. We will be visiting Grandma Liv and Grandpa Jim as well as Uncle Sten, Aunt Liz, and Cousin Nina is Tahoe in Tahoe soon too! Lis Ana loves her family and her friends. She loves her best friend David and his mommies Nic and Katie. I have just realized that I am not only bad at updating this blog, but at figuring out how to manipulate the pictures too!

BONK

One thing that I am certain that every new parent knows about is the unfortunate "bonking" that goes along with increased mobility. It is true, it makes sense that they bonk. It makes sense because they are learning how to crawl, walk, move freely - because this is not an inborn trait in humans. Sadly, it still feels awful to see your little sweet angel with a big fat black and blue goose-egg on her head. Worse still, when no one at day care can explain how it happened. Makes you want to keep them in a box and it even makes me understand those silly helmets. All this got me thinking about other animals who are born so much further along in development than human babies are. Colts, cows, cats, dogs - all born with the ability to walk - wobbly at first - but they learn quick - right? Babies are a whole other story - leaving parents very worried as they increase their mobility. I can't tell you how many times I've read online the symptoms of a concussion. Sometimes I even find myself imagining that her pupils are different sizes or that she looks like she might vomit... Judith Warner aptly called it - 'Motherhood in the Age of Anxiety" - once there was a day that babies were placed in their playpens and left except to be fed or changed. Me, personally, I am not so sure it's only about the age....

Here's a hiking picture of the whole family up at Runyon Canyon. (We tried to get the pups in the picture but it was too hard!) Lis Ana loves hiking and riding in her Baby Bjorn, but she is SO about to outgrow it! My back kills me now when I carry her in it - she weighed 21 lbs three weeks ago - and my guess is 23ish right now. The Bjorn says it goes to 25 lbs - but i am questioning that... She doesn't seem quite big enough for the back pack one that we inherited from Uncle Sten, Aunt Liz and Cousin Nina - she gets really upset when we put her in there. We may need to get an in between one that is more like a snugley one like the bjorn that goes on the back... She loves being outdoors though, and prefers to be in a carrier than in the stroller. She is such a snuggle-lover - she sleeps better snuggling with us - is happier close to us - and loves to snuggle and hug. Now that Lis Ana is a little older and little more independent I can update this blog more easily, so maybe I can actually upkeep it! It is so hard being a working mom, no time to do the extra stuff.....

That last picture, by the way, is of Lis and her very adorable best friend David on St Patrick's Day. We like to call him her boyfriend. At any rate, we have lots more where that came from and will make sure to keep the pictures coming! Lis had her first real time in the pool this weekend, I will put the pictures up as soon as possible!

Long time no blog

So it has been, well, several months since I have updated this. And I actually only even told one person that I was doing it, but she called me out on my flake-ness of not updating Lis' blog (a word I still feel slightly strange writing or saying). So, here I am, reviewing my previous posts which all seem like ancient history. Lis is now crawling (did so at 8 months, actually on her 8 month birthday) - and cruising like a crazy baby. She is SUPER mobile and into EVERYTHING. We are pretty convinced that she says "dog" and "duck." She seems eager to walk independently and can already walk holding onto a walker-thingy. She is more and more fun and mature everyday. In some ways, she is less work because she is more independent. However, she is more work because she is seriously into everything. And, like I am finding it true of most babies, really really into electronics, keys, cords, and generally anything that you don't want her to have. She is getting very willful and will very clearly tell you (with screaming) when she is dissatisfied. She is becoming SO LOVING and will hug and even kiss mommy and daddy. She loves the doggies and if she had her way she would pull on their ears and tails all day. She is a wonderful, sweet little being and it is such a joy to watch her grow. Since I have been SO BUSY with her and not written in so long (anyone who has ever had a baby will understand that!)... I will spackle this post with a barrage of pictures from the last five months.

Sleep and Nicknames

Lis Ana is sleeping now. I get to play on the computer again for a bit. I feel a bit like a dorky mom with all this posting of baby pictures, but actually, I can live with that.

For the past two nights she has slept a bit better - getting up two times only - which is such a relief for me since she was getting up as many as 9 times before! I can live with the way its been the past 2 nights for a bit - I just have to get used to it and stop waking up every 2 hours thinking she's going to wake up.

So, the girl has lots of nicknames. Mostly because her parents are silly, ridiculous people... The currently most commonly used by Mom and Dad are "Boobah." Interesting story about that - see, we thought we made it up - then a friend told us about a strange children's character called a Boohbah. Here's the thing - those Boohbah guys are DISTURBING! Although, I MUST admit that I really enjoyed (a little too much) The Boohbah Zone website. Sad, but true...

But, we kept calling her Boobah anyway, because well, we like it. But it is an unfortunate association for anyone who knows about those creepy alien teletubby rip-offs. Then yesterday at work I was talking to someone about my girl and exclaimed "BOOBAH!" and a co-worker heard me and asked with surprise in her voice how I knew that word. I explained that this is what we call our baby girl as a silly term of endearment. She then told me that "Boobah" means "Doll" in Hebrew! I was so happy to find a much lovelier association with the word. Incidently, I also found a swimwear company called Boobah....

We love our Boobah no matter what it means!

More on those weird creature Boohbahs

Blogging Baby

I have finally found some time to try to get this blog thing going for Lis. She is sitting on my lap fairly content, but I can't promise it will last. Oops, she just knocked stuff off the desk. So here is beautiful Lis Ana:

copyright TORPHOTO.com

She is so beautiful - isn't she? We think so. And we are very lucky that her daddy is such a talented photographer! These days she seems to be seriously teething and she tells us that it is very painful. We went to the doctor on Friday and found out that she weighs 15 lbs 14 oz and is 26.5 inches long! She is a very big girl for her age. She is wearing clothes intended for 6 - 9 month olds and even some for 9 - 12.

Today for the first time I noticed her switch a toy from one hand to the other. And her Auntie Nic pointed out that she can not only take a pacifier out of her mouth but replace it back in! She is getting very coordinated. She also seems to get frustrated when she can almost, but not quite, do something - like sit up! She wants to do it SO BAD, but isn't quite there. With the help of a boppy she can sit up though, and she LOVES to watch Seasame Street that way. She's still not loving being on her tummy, but is getting more used to it with practice.

Mommy went back to work on September 25th, but only part time - three days a week. Luckily, we have the best childcare ever (horray for Auntie Nic!) and Daddy has been able to take over for part of the time.

Okay, Lis is done with sitting at the computer, so clearly I'll have to come back to this later.