Loving My Baby Girl...

I know what you are thinking... first of all, yes, this is a long post. But, it's for my records. And second, I know, three posts in one day is a little much. But, a lot has been going on and I finally have a spare second to catch up.

Olivia is growing up so fast. I know everyone says that, but if you have kids you'll know why. Katy's husband, Dan, once told me that he often thinks about how they change so much every day that tomorrow they may no longer be the same way or do the same things. He said it sometimes makes him sad, but mostly just makes him cherish each moment. Ever since he told me that I've thought so much about the same thing. I love listening to Olivia talk, I love her cute little fat rolls and her fuzzy baby hair that is as dark as Tyler's. I love her two-teeth grins, and I love the way she pinches the backs of my arms when I am feeding her or holding her (even though it hurts like the dickens). Every morning we pause in front of the mirror in my room and I talk to her and try to get her to wave at herself. Sometimes she does it, other times she doesn't, but she smiles and squeals at her reflection just the same. There is also a mirror hanging above her changing table, and since she loves to look in it so much, we always take a look after diaper changes and when she wakes up from a nap. When I get her out of her crib the first thing she looks for is the mirror. I find it so cute and adorable that I can't get enough of it.

I am afraid that one day I will forget what her little voice sounds like. Will I forget how soft her skin is? I don't want to forget the way that she kicks her legs to try and coax the little rubber ducky back into her hands when she is in the bathtub. I already miss her little newborn cry and her fragile little body. I try to pay attention to all these little things, for one day they will be gone.

On a positive note, all I can say is thank goodness for digital cameras and camcorders!

Here are a few updates...
Olivia rolls and scoots EVERYWHERE! I have to keep everything out of reach and keep her far from the stairs. She is trying to crawl, but can't quite get on all fours. She has started bending her legs and using her feet and knees to help push her forward, though. She's so close! She is also sitting up really well now. She is trying so hard to maneuver herself from a sitting position to all fours, but she isn't quite steady enough on her hands.

She has also really improved with her pincer grasper coordination. She picks up everything! She's feeding herself lots of little bits of food. Today I steamed small pieces of carrots and let her pick them up herself... she loved it! Now that she's got some coordination with those fingers she loves to grab at anything tiny. For a while she would only go for the "big" objects on the floor, but now she'll grab any little piece of scrap paper, wrapper, crumb, etc. Today at the pool she kept grabbing the leaves on the ground. I thought I kept them all out of her mouth, but when we got home I was feeding her and noticed she kept making a funny gnawing/gumming motion with her tongue. Since I was nursing her I knew it wasn't food, so I took a good look in her mouth and she had a leaf stuck on the roof of her mouth! And it was almost the diameter of a quarter!! It freaked me out! What if she had choked on it? Scary, huh? I don't know when she got it in her mouth, but let me tell you that the feeling I had when I pulled it out of her mouth made my heart drop to the pit of my stomach. Knowing that I watched her so closely, yet not close enough, UGH... it's a horrible feeling.

Olivia has also become a MOMMY'S GIRL! It's about time, too! Just before we left for Mexico she started holding her arms out to whomever she wanted to hold her. By the time we got back she was starting to show preferences, and now... let me just say that while it's flattering, it's also frustrating! While we were at the pool today Haley offered to watch her while I went down the water slide with Maddie, but I had to run when she wasn't looking. A few nights ago I handed her to Tyler so he could put her to bed and she started screaming. Now that her two top teeth are coming through and she's been in a lot of pain she just wants me to hold her... not Tyler, not anyone. I remember when I was little and felt like my mom made everything better, bad dreams, tummy aches, scrapes and bruises. Even if she couldn't make it go away, just having her hold me or lay in bed with me made me feel so much better. And although it is sometimes frustrating to be the one she wants, I must admit, it makes my heart melt. I love it. I secretly love that when someone wants to hold her she cries and reaches back for me (I imagine that all moms secretly love that). Give her a little while and I'm sure she'll be back to being a Daddy's girl... especially once she is old enough to realize he is the "fun" parent (makes me think of Ellie).

She is so close to saying a few words. If you talk to her and really enunciate the word "hi," she will try to say it back. Her little mouth moves, and she sometimes whispers a little, "aye." She is so close! She will also repeat "da da da da," but despite what Tyler likes to believe, she has no idea what she is actually saying. So, maybe we'll get some words out of her soon.

I really can't believe that my little baby is getting so big. I am so excited for each new milestone, but I hope I never forget to pay attention and live in the moment.