All I had to do was ask...

With Grandpa and Grandma at the park.

Amelia in the adorable bubble suit made by cousin Anna.
Check out her pointing skills.

Not happy about trying on her bikini handed down from
cousins Sofia and Kate. Check out her belly button.

Well, it's been another fun-filled week on Beechwood Ave. We had some more visitors from the North. First Uncle Tom came down to attend a conference downtown and we got to spend lots of time showing him around Nashville and enjoying the local fare. Neely's BBQ and chicken livers and biscuits at the Loveless Cafe were among his favorites. Next Grandma and Grandpa Lotoszinski came on a spur of the moment decision just so they could get their Amelia fix. They were able to spend a long weekend and got to see first hand all of Amelia's new tricks. She sure did love them up with lots of hugs and kisses.

Grandma and Grandpa also found out the hard way about the diaper gymnastics that go on around here. It took the two of them together to change Amelia's diaper...and it's not because they don't know how to do it.
Lately, as soon as you lay her down to do the diaper duty, she kicks it into the layout with the full pike and twisting double flip to the left... and she does this at the speed of lightning. Once she's in position she's in all out escape mode looking for the nearest exit, which is Trouble if she's on the changing table. One has to be mentally prepared and physically ready to counteract these lightning fast moves with an object of distraction. It can't be any old toy or book, it must be an item of extreme interest...for example, a colorful hanging tag on a new piece of clothing or maybe the plastic container from a new pair of shoe inserts. Never-the-less, these items distract only for a few brief minutes and then she's on the move again...
This morning, upon waking, I put her in our bed to feed her. When this happens she is wide awake but this gives the mommy a few much needed extra minutes to wake up. Her diaper was nice and big this morning as it usually is when arises. I had put off the inevitable as long as I could. So, while she sat sitting up in the bed between us, sucking her suckie and quietly playing with her clean diaper, I softly asked her...
"Do you want me to put that clean diaper on you now?"
She paused and looked at the diaper for a moment, and handed it right to me.
Astonished, I continued "Okay, you have to lay down then."
I was dumbfounded as I watched her do exactly as I said, she laid down on her back and waited patiently for me begin. She sat perfectly still and let me change her diaper.
Apparently, all I had to do was ask.

9 months and a half...

The look of innocence.

Totally mobile and into everything.

A bit nervous at the doctor's office.

Amelia is a very healthy 9 1/2 month old! She went for her 9 month check up last Friday. She weighs 20 lbs exactly which puts her into the 75% for weight. Now that she's mobile, she's burning the calories like crazy! She is 28 1/4 inches long, the 75th percentile for height and her head is 43 cm around...continuing with the 95th percentile for head circumference! Does that mean she's extra smart? :)
She got a few shots and nurse Carrie pricked her toe to check for anemia. She cried like crazy!! Her blood is perfect and she is a very healthy baby! She cried a few times during the check up with the doc and afterward, when we saw Dr. Frank in the hallway, she pulled out the big lip (which she only reserves for the really sad stuff) and wailed at just the sight of him. Uh oh.

Just a few new things Amelia is up to...she points at everything, she retrieves what you ask her to go get (sometimes I'm amazed at what she understands). She roars like a lion. She makes the "aahhh" noise when she's finished drinking a cold swig of water. She's feeding herself (sort of) with a spoon and she's mastered the sippy cup. And the most big girl stuff of them all, she picks up an item that she has been told previously not to put in her mouth, she'll look at it, start to move it closer to taste, stop herself and shake her head...like she's reminding herself, nope I'm not supposed to eat this. It kills me every time. She's a big girl.

Mother's Day Happiness...

Well, yesterday was my first official Mother's Day and a glorious one it was at that...and it was all because of Amelia! It was because of her that I got to sleep in yesterday morning and it was because of her that I was taken out for breakfast and got to take a nap in the afternoon and I didn't have to do any dishes (and didn't feel guilty about it either) and I got to open presents and I got lots and lots of hugs and kisses and I felt like a queen all day...all because she was born. I enjoy Mother's Day and I'm already looking forward to next year...
I have to say that I truly spent time reflecting on what it means to be Amelia's mother...how important it is and and how much I love it...Until she came, I have never been needed by another as much as I am needed by her, what an amazing feeling.

I love that I never get tired of it, being her mother.
I love going to get her out of bed in the morning with her sleepy face as she waits standing up in the corner of her crib that's closest to the door, just waiting...
I love that she smiles and giggles every single time I walk into the room.
I love her toes and her soft little hands.
I love when she tickles my arm and plays with my hair when I rock her to sleep.
I love that when she's really really tired, she only wants the mother.
I love the noise she makes when she leans in to give me a slobbery kiss.
I love remembering what she was like last month, a few months ago, when she was born...
and I love wondering what she'll be like when she's 2, 5, 13...
I love it every time she does something new.
I love wondering what she's thinking about.
I love how she sleeps on her tummy with her knees tucked in and her butt in the air.
I love her curiosity and her intensity and her independence.
I love her beautiful skin.
I love the short little story of her life...
I love that God chose me to be her mother.

Happy Mother's Day.

Girls' Night...

No picture tonight. Just a little note about a great evening with Amelia. She's been a little fussy these past few days and just not herself. I think she's cutting her top two teeth (she's got both bottom front teeth now, super cute). It's been a tad stressful around here with her fussiness and also, she doesn't let me get too far from her. "They" say separation anxiety really sets in around 8-10 months. I'd have to agree.
So, tonight Ford headed off to graduation ceremonies at Nashville State leaving Amelia and I on our own. After giving her a nice long bath...she loves her baths now...and getting her snuggly in her pink, cotton, footie pajamas, I decided we'd go for an evening walk/stroller ride to the coffee shop before bed. It was a warm spring evening and it seemed everyone was outside, running, walking a dog, pushing a stroller, bike riding, or playing in the yard as we walked by. And to my relief, Amelia was happy as a clam, humming to herself, sucking her suckie, enjoying every minute with absolutely no fussing. Once we got to the coffee shop, I ordered a decaf and a muffin (my dinner) and found us a table. I pulled her stroller up next to me at the table and opened up her container of Cheerios. She was so happy with her suckie at this point she wasn't that interested in them but ultimately decided she'd have a few...hilarious when she picks one up to put in her mouth only to catch interference from the suckie...so all on her own, she takes out the pacifier with one hand and pops in the Cheerio with the other and then decides I might like to enjoy her suckie while she snacks. She offers it up to me with eager eyes. I graciously accept by pretending to take a taste, much to her great amusement, and she busts into a huge grin with a giggle and then goes back for another Cheerio. She continues this sharing of her suckie with me for the duration of our visit at the coffee shop. When we are both finished with our treats, we pack up and head out for an equally enjoyable walk home. Amelia, content in her pink footie pajamas and her green suckie, humming to herself and watching the world go by. Definitely my most favorite girls' night thus far.

Life Goes On...

Well, the past few weeks have been quite interesting! Everyone in our household has been sick starting with the cat, who by the way has recovered! We were quite concerned that he might not pull through but by the fourth day and after several visits to the vet for fluids and meds, he started to come around. We still don't know what he had but we're thankful he's back to his old Mister self, which includes the loud incessant meowing that those of you who have been to visit understand so well. I never thought I'd be happy to hear that again. It's funny, but not really, how when the baby comes, the pet automatically gets bumped down to second place after being first for so long. I have to admit, when I thought he was a goner I had some serious guilt about not giving him more attention the past year and a half. He became the dirty, loud, outdoor cat carrying germs around during my pregnancy and continually waking up the new baby with his unbelievable loudness. Funny how I never thought of him quite that way before. Poor guy, he can't help it...though he is dirty most of the time and loud almost all of the time, he is nothing but pure joy to Amelia. It's great fun to watch her light up when she sees him. I think we have a kitty lover on our hands; I already envision her ordering kitten posters from her Weekly Readers and asking for kitty calendars for her bedroom... Soon he'll be her kitty and he'll get more lovey attention than he's ever known and probably ever wanted. In the mean time, we'll step it up a notch... long live Mister the cat.

Moving on, Ford got sick with his usual end of the semester cold/cough. He was down for a few days and was feeling a little better by the time I got it, he really took good care of us. It hit the mama pretty hard (although it was no man cold :) ) and then Amelia started sniffling and sneezing a bit. So sad with her snotty little nose. Thankfully this was her first little bout with the sniffles and it only lasted 2 days! She made it almost 9 months without being sick and I don't think we can even call that being sick, in fact I can hear most of you snickering and mumbling to yourselves..."you just wait..."
Thankfully, we are all almost back to normal, whatever that means, and with a bit of a new perspective...and life goes on.