Going for a Walk

Ok, my last blog may have been a bit premature. I wrote it this morning when it was cold and the forecast on my computer said it would be no warmer than 39 degrees today. But this afternoon it was actually nice enough outside to take Andrina for a walk in her stroller. Which I did. I also showed her the side of our house where I am going to put up a toddler playground set for her once the nice weather is happening on a consistent basis. I've heard all about the impending snow coming and when Andrina and I came inside, Lou Dobbs was on talking about the snowstorm that is supposed to hit Chicago by Saturday and how global weather was colder this winter than it was last century. Oh how I want spring to come!

Nasty Weather Go Away!

Last week Thursday, we all got a wonderful taste of spring. The temperature was in the 50s, the sky was clear and blue and the air was calm. It was a beautiful day. And it happened to be the day my sister April and I had arranged to take the cousins to the playground together. They loved it. We loved it. I loved seeing the happy smiles on my baby's face and hearing her laughter as she was pushed in the swing. Oh how I want to be able to give that to Andrina again. How I want to enjoy her outdoor smiles and fun and feel the spring weather for myself too. Every day I have been eagerly checking the weather, hoping for a bright spot. We had one day since then where the weather was almost as nice so Andrina got to go for a walk in her stroller. But it was not nice enough to enjoy the swings. And the forecast through Easter is telling tales of temperatures in the 30s and snow. I have felt trapped in this house all winter due to the nasty weather. I am losing my patience waiting for my favorite season, spring. The promise of spring is what gets me though the winter after Christmas has passed. How I want to take my baby for walks every day. I want to push her on the swing at the park. I want to show her tulips and daffodils growing out of the ground. I want her to sit in the grass and explore her outdoor universe. I want to be able to smell the lilacs blooming with her. I want to enjoy the white and pink flowers budding on our trees with my baby. I want to show her our neighbor's horses and I'm sure their new foals. I want to breathe in the wonderful scent that spring brings and feel the warm air on my skin. Where everything is fresh and pure and life continues to renew itself. Is that asking for too much?

Andrina's First St. Patricks's Day

Here's Andrina in the most green outfit I have for her (and it's a little small too but hey...) for her first St. Patty's Day. Notice the cute white and green bow in her hair too?

Baby's Hungry Again!

Finally! I knew it would pass-Andrina is back to drinking more milk again! Not as much as in January and February but more than the past few weeks. Yesterday she had 17 ounces of milk from her bottles and 3 big meals of solids! Today she had 18 oz total from her bottles, plus what I add to her cereal brings us to 22 ounces for the day! And 2 big meals of solids (it was supposed to be 3 but we spent a lot of time getting Easter portraits taken today, so the last meal had to include her meat too and the cereal from the second). So over all Andrina had 22 ounces of milk, 2 servings of oatmeal with milk and bananas, two servings of fruit, one serving of vegetables, and one serving of baby food turkey tetrazzini which had grains and vegetables in it too. Oh, and of course, her baby multi-vitamin/iron supplement. I give that with her first serving of fruit for the day just in case she does not eat well on any given day. Mommy and Daddy are so happy you're eating better again!

Bad Auntie, Good Auntie

First, let me say that I "stole" this picture off of April's blog. It is from April's camera from our play date with the babes on Andrina's 8 month birthday two days ago. I didn't get any of Anne and Andrina facing the camera (bad Auntie). However, I did get about 3 to 5 minutes of video of our babies enjoying the swing together. Which I will burn a copy onto DVD for April too, preferably after Easter because I plan to bring the video camera to Easter dinner to get footage there too (good Auntie).

I have to say again that we had wonderful time! And Anne is starting to get over her shyness around me (does me bringing her presents almost every time I see her help???) We are going to HAVE to do this with the babes more often Auntie April!

Anne and Andrina

Can you tell who's the older cousin?

8 Months Old!

Happy 8 Month Old Birthday Andrina!

We enjoyed the day by going to the park with your cousin Anne and your Auntie April. For the records, your 8 month old stats are 16 pounds 11 ounces (29th percentile) and 26 and one-half inches long (46th percentile). Here's a whole bunch of pictures:

You are trying so hard to crawl...

and you keep getting up on your toes, but I have not gotten a picture of this. I'm just not fast enough with the camera...

Standing with some help

Ok, now can people tell that you're my daughter instead of everyone saying all the time how much you look like your daddy?

Andrina enjoying the nice early spring day...

in the swing

So happy and beautiful enjoying the swing!

A trip down the slide with some help from Anne and Auntie April

We had such a fun time today! We're going to be enjoying even more days outside as the weather gets nicer and nicer! Mommy loved taking you to the park and we're going to do that even more as you get bigger and bigger!

Decisions

Yesterday I read in a baby magazine that after a baby is 4 months old, you're supposed to take the bumper pad out of their crib because some babies have suffocated themselves with them. And of course I read this after I put Andrina to sleep for the night. And way after she turned 4 months old. So first thing this morning, after feeding her, I took her bumper pad out of her crib. Tom said he wasn't sure, that she may get her arm or leg stuck between the bars. Well, we decided to leave the bumper pad out of the crib anyways, since getting her arm or leg stuck between the bars is preferable to the other possibility. Well, this evening, she was having a hard time taking her nap and I was on my computer, right next to Andrina's room so I could hear her talking to herself and generally not going to sleep 45 minutes after I put her down. All of a sudden, she starts screaming. I ran in her room and sure enough, her little left ankle was stuck between the bars of the crib! ARRGH! My poor baby! She was crying so hard she had tears under her eyes. And she usually does not cry like that. Actually, she does not cry much at all. Andrina needed to be comforted after that. And I feel awful like I made the wrong decision to take her bumper pad out of her crib. So what is the right thing to do?