17 months

Oh, hello.

I'm sad that I just can't seem to blog much these days.  Even doing these monthly posts seems a stretch, but I love them, and they serve as such a great reminder that I hate to completely give up.  Yet.

Life has been really busy.  Really good, just full.

Here's the surprising news...

2.10.2016

That's right, baby #3 is making an appearance at the end of June (via C-Section again).  The day Malaikah turned 17 months I had my big anatomy scan ultra sound -- a special trip to Portland for that -- and baby looks great.  Growing exactly as he/she should, has all legs and limbs and so on.  The one thing we discussed is that there's a small 'spot' on the heart which the doctor was not concerned about, but she said that it COULD (if I use Dr. Google) indicate Downs Syndrome.  Since all other features of the baby look normal she wasn't concerned - about Downs or about the health of the heart.  So I won't be, either.  I'm feeling grateful that I have had relatively no sickness - just exhaustion - and an easy pregnancy so far.

This Wednesday marks 20 weeks and I have taken exactly zero baby bump photos.  #thirdchild  :)

Now on to our Malaikah girl.  Oh, we love her....but she keeps us on our toes!  She has a STRONG personality.  For a little while if I told her 'no' to something she would throw herself on the floor and flail around sobbing.  Drama much?  That seems to be mostly behind us now, thankfully, but I won't be surprised if it shows up again at 4 or 14.

she couldn't really move.  but at least she looks cute.

She still has no words.  Just recently she started shaking her head 'no' so at least we have that as a form of communication.  If I offer her something she can -- emphatically -- tell me no.  

Earlier this month she had a 24-hour ish stomach bug and it really seems to have taken a lot out of her. It seemed she was on a food-strike for a week or more, even though the sickness had long since vacated her system.  I'm thankful that her appetite is returning, but wish I could convince her to eat veggies more.  Even when I sneak them into things she's on to me and spits them out!  She has no problem with fruits and anything carbohydrate.  So, she won't starve.  Oh, and she still nurses a little bit - once before bed and once when she wakes most days.

Continues to LOVE to read -- she has a big pile of books in her crib, and I will often find her reading after nap.  Or find her plopped in the bean bag chair reading.  She's always bringing us books to read.

 after nap

The only thing she likes more than reading is music and dancing.  Kyalo has a CD player in his room, and she will run to his room and stand and screech at it until I come and turn it on.  Then she'll happily dance and clap the whole way through.  This is my chance to get things done!

Malaikah loves to throw things.  She will throw all her diapers down the stairs -- thankfully Kyalo thinks it is fun to try to catch them at the bottom.  Or a ball around the house. Or food out of her high chair. 

A new development right now -- and one that I hope is very short lived -- is that she screeches, often for unknown reasons.  We have had a few long days where I've just not been able to figure out what she needed/wanted/if something was wrong.  Getting good sleep is definitely essential to the screeching being less.  I do hope that she has learned to say a few simple words by the time the baby comes (she will be just under 22 months!) to help us all know what's going on in that head of hers.

 this doll was a Christmas gift. I love watching her pick it up and cradle it, etc.  It is very sweet. Until she tosses it on the ground haphazardly.  

drawing with big bro.  She'll be an artist just like him! (and Papa)

a rare walk in the woods 

it was a few days late, but here she is smiling for 17 months 

And lastly, a little picture of Kyalo.  We were down in MA at the end of January, and so of course Kyalo and I headed to the local YMCA for their open gym time.  Usually he spends and hour or more running the trampoline track into the foam pit.  This trip he tried a bunch of new things, including the rope swing.  He loved it!  I tried to get him to do the balance beams, but they're pretty high, and after hopping on he said, "I'll do that when I'm five."  Good thing we're just a couple of months away!

16 months

Happy New Year.

Malaikah-girl is now 16 months and really coming into herself.  It is so fun to see her personality come out -- stronger and stronger every day.  She's going to keep us on our toes!  She seems to me to be fearless and adventurous, and definitely will stick up for herself.

She's just recently started saying "Mama" and while I'm not totally sure she really knows what she's saying, I'm claiming it.

She continues to love to read, only now she'll bring me a book, and sort of reverse into my lap to have me read to her.  Her attention for books is growing, too, so that exciting.  And, she still enjoys chewing on them.  No book is safe!

As I think you can see from these pictures, she is a happy baby, fairly easy going and easy to take places.  She is developing this little cackle of a laugh, which is mostly used when I am trying to get clothes on her and she runs away.  I'm not sure where she even figured this out, but she's mastering the art of hiding from me right when I need her.

Winter has finally shown up here in Maine, and the days are colder and we've gotten some snow. I don't really like the cold, so I stay inside.  But Dexter and I had a meeting a couple of weeks ago, so dropped the kids off at a friend's house.  She ventured outside with them.  Malaikah didn't seem to mind.

Malaikah has always loved music, and would bob to it when it came on.  Lately she's really started breaking out.  This video -- which is long, I'm sorry -- just really cracks me up.  Especially at the end when she tries to jump.  She's almost got it!  Maybe in the next month or two.

Since she doesn't talk yet, I think she gets easily frustrated and has entered into a screeching phase.  I don't really know what else to call it, so I just refer to it as a big screech.  It is. . . unpleasant. . .and happens all the time.  When Kyalo takes a toy from her, when she's hungry, just. . .whenever.  Looking forward to this stage ending.  Soon, I hope.

I've mentioned before that she likes to eat.  She really has an adult size appetite.  I give her dry cereal in the morning while I'm getting things ready, then two scrambled eggs, some fruit, water, etc.  When I told her doctor last month that she eats two eggs every day she was surprised.  With the exception of raw vegetables, I can really feed her just about anything.  Especially if it is a carb-bread, pasta, cookies, popcorn, whatever.  She'll happily take it off your hands.

Malaikah is delightful. I really love watching her explore the world around her, her books, her toys, other children.  I can't wait to see where she goes in life!

15 months

Here I am, finally getting around to the 15 month update, just in time for 16 months next week.  Life is busy, I guess.  But it is good.

Malaikah is a delight.  As she gets older, her personality is beginning to come out -- strong willed and independent for sure -- and she is just so fun to be with.  I really love watching her move from thing to thing throughout the day.  She was given a rocking musical lamb for her birthday in September and she LOVES it.  In the last month or so she has really figured it out: climbing on, rocking, and playing the music.  She spends a lot of each day there.  She seems brave, rocking furiously, standing up on the back, etc.  She continues to love books, her various toys, climbing stairs, and Kyalo.  In the last couple of months she has really loved brushing teeth, and if she sees one of us brushing ours, will run to the bathroom pointing to the shelf where the toothbrushes are.  I can often convince her to do things if I promise she can brush her teeth. (Not above bribery).  A new development this month is that she throws things all the time.  Especially from the top of the stairs.  I'm hoping that by summer we can train her to be Kyalo's personal pitcher.

We had a doctor's appointment earlier this month, the first since her 12 month.  She's doing well. Her doctor was very pleased.  She's growing, healthy, walking, etc.  With the exception of having zero words, is right on track.  I'm guessing she's going to be like Kyalo - one day just break out in full paragraphs. Even though she has no words, it is evident that she completely understands us.  We can ask her 'where is your water?' and off she'll trot to find it. Or, we'll ask her to bring us something, and she will.  So fun!

28 1/2 inches tall (roughly third percentile.  She'll be small but mighty!)

21 pounds 12 ounces - don't know the percentage, but she did gain a pound and a half in 3 months!  

A week before the doctor's appointment, Dexter noticed that two upper molars were coming in.  At the appointment, I noticed the two bottom molars were coming it.  It was such a surprise - she had no behavior change, no extra drooling, etc.  I guess she's tough!  She has about 12 or so teeth now which is still surprising to me.

Malaikah is a champion sleeper - bedtime is about 6:30 every night, and that's a dream.  I'm going to do my best to keep it at that until she leaves for college.  She might wake once to nurse (we're down to just before bed, and maybe once in the night) but then will sleep until 6:30 or 7.  12 hours?  Yes, I'll take it.  She seems to be giving up the morning nap, so we're still in that tricky transition time of figuring out the best time for one nap.  But she will usually sleep 1 1/2 -2 hours which is also pretty great.  

2015 was a great year for both Malaikah and Kyalo (I can't believe how much he seems to have grown up this year!) and can only hope and pray that 2016 is just as good, or better.

Happy New Year!

14 months

Last week Malaikah turned 14 months.  She is a full time walker now and I love watching her plod around the house, arms raised up for balance.  She has short little legs and a big round belly so it is really quite comical.  Another tooth popped in, and I'm happy to report that it didn't seem to bother her too much.  Still no words, just a lot of grunting and pointing.  She does understand me, though, so I know she's learning things.  It can be hard not having her speak, but I actually don't mind it too much.

There's our smile-y girl on the 14 month day.  She actually sat still enough for me to grab a quick photo.  A miracle!

Here's what we've been up to:

A trip to a nearby park and bike path last month allowed us to get outside and enjoy a beautiful fall day. Malaikah was able to swing for the first time in a long time and LOVED it.  After I took her out of it she walked back to it and sat under it.  Living in hope. That yellow vest was Kyalo's (and a hand-me-down from a friend) and one of my favorite things he wore.  Do you remember THIS?  That is still probably one of my all-time favorite days.  Kyalo and a stick!  He still loves them.  Anyway, it is fun to see her in something that he wore.

This year we kind of got into Halloween.  It helps to have costumes to borrow, or handed down.  And fun for Kyalo and Dexter to carve a Storm Trooper pumpkin.  Kyalo picked it out (he's totally obsessed with Star Wars right now since so many of his friends are) and was quite pleased with how it all turned out.

The day before Halloween someone asked Kyalo what he was going to be.  He told her, 'a Tyrannosaurus  Rex with really sharp teeth.'  I haven't the slightest idea where he came up with that, and had no plans on how to make it happen. Until that moment I didn't think he would even do a costume!  Thankfully a friend had a costume of her son's that she lent and Kyalo was thrilled.

loved it so much that he even wore it for breakfast the next day

 Oscar the Owl (they share a birthday!) and Malaikah at a little town Halloween event.

Storm Trooper ready to go

 all finished!

checking out his handiwork

I loved seeing Malaikah in that butterfly costume.  Wonder what we'll do next year!

Malaikah loves to read, and will often look at books a long time pointing at pictures. Lately she's started bringing me books to read and will sit in my lap kicking her legs and grinning. The other day I said, "let's go to your room and read X book" when we went into her room she grabbed that book.  I just re-read Kyalo's 14 month post and that's what he did around 14 months.  Fun!

books are always strewn about the house

She still loves to eat, but I'm seeing that she really favors carbs: bread, crackers, potato, pasta, cereal. Give her a vegetable and it ends up on the floor.  We're working on that.  She knows where the crackers are kept and is not shy about letting it be known when she wants one.

I've started a little mom's group for some friends from church.  We all have little babies so we have a lot to talk about.  Here they all are at a recent Story Time at Library.  Please note, Malaikah who is the biggest is the one sitting in the Bumbo.  She loves it!

Zadie, Malaikah, Greyson, Weston

pals

And she still absolutely adores Kyalo.  He makes her laugh like no other.  We're in a trickier phase right now because she's mobile and can get to his toys/things and destroy them so it isn't always smooth sailing.  Sharing is hard work!  But when they play well together it is the sweetest thing.  He loves nothing more than to make her laugh.

He's recently learned how to hop, I guess, and does it all the time now.  I love watching her, at the end, trying to do it too.  In time sweet girl, in time.

She still nurses a couple of times a day.  It is strange that it isn't around the clock like it was with Kyalo, but I don't mind.  I'm glad for the times she still does, and I love when she snuggles in with me after...otherwise, she's too busy exploring to bother snuggling.  

I can't wait to see what the next month brings.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

13 months

This month went by so quickly that on the 10th it wasn't until I was in bed, and the day was done, that it even occurred to me that Malaikah was now the grand age of 13 months.

It has been a good, busy month.  The weather has been spectacular so we've been getting out a lot. Kyalo's in school three days a week, and we're getting into a good routine of life.

Malaikah continues to be an easy, and easy-going baby.  She eats like a champ, sleeps well -- although lately the morning nap is hit or miss -- loves music and dancing, loves to brush her teeth, and is constantly on the move, climbing, crawling, and now even walking all over the place.

She is so much on the move that these 13 month pics were pretty hard to get.

I love seeing her curled up like this - and with her thumb in her mouth.  precious.

So the biggest milestone of this month is that she went from standing independently, to taking a few steps, to actually walking.  Technically the full walking started after turning 13 months, but just by a few days.  

first steps!

a walk in the park

10.14.2015

and life is changed forever

On the 10th we were on the coast doing a small hike.  I'll talk more about that later, but I wanted to share a couple of pictures from that day.

first time having Kyalo hold Malaikah for a picture.  #fail

Camden Hills 10.10.2015

her face!

Aside from trying to enjoy the fall weather we've just been doing life as usual. . . 

 enjoying time in the yard with all the balls

 impromptu drum session

enjoying chili

she climbed up the chair and then onto the arm there. If the chair was a little closer she might have made it to the top of the table!  Help me.

I much prefer her to climb into the chair to look at books.

this musical rocking lamb was a birthday gift from the Kims and Malaikah LOVES it.  She can climb onto it, and will spend a lot of time chatting with it, playing the music and dancing:

girl's got moves!

And another video of her dancing...this time to the YMCA video.

One big change in the last month or so is how little she actually nurses.  It isn't too surprising given how much she loves food, but it is surprising considering I was nursing Kyalo constantly until he was two!  She really just nurses once in the middle of the night, and then first thing when she wakes up.  A good day might have one or two other very quick sessions, but that's pretty rare.  This actually makes me kind of sad.  I hope we can keep this up until she turns two, but I just don't know...

Like Kyalo, though, she doesn't have any words yet. (He didn't have words till about 18 months)  I *think* she says Mama, but it isn't ever very consistent.  She does wave, and blow kisses before bed, and seems to understand everything.  I'm not too worried. . .yet.

All in all, life is good.

twelve months

When I was pregnant with Malaikah, my mom told me how she felt like I had had 'a perfect first year' of life.  My brother was in preschool a couple days each week, and things just went along swimmingly for me.  Of course, I said to her, if I had a perfect first year it was all down hill from there!  With the exception of a 24-hour bug in August (her first fever! :/ ) I would say that Malaikah, too, had a perfect first year.  I hope that her years only improve!

This month saw quite a few developments:  two more teeth peeked through (total of six!), she started climbing stairs, and even a little chair in her room, at 12 months she was standing for 4-5 seconds unassisted - and now she's working VERY hard on walking but just can't quite execute it.   Malaikah continues to eat everything around her - this Quinoa Black Bean Mango Salad was a big hit (!?), corn, watermelon, apples, grapes, whatever.  I love it because it means if we go out/to a friend's house, I'm confident she'll eat something.  It also means I have to have snacks on hand always. When I open the fridge or cabinet door, she'll start scooting around, clapping, and screaming.  Basically, give this girl food allllllll the time.  She's not nursing all that much any more. It felt like Kyalo was nursing 24/7 for two years, so this is a welcome relief, but at the same time, is a little bitter sweet.  I miss the snuggle times with her!  I do hope to continue nursing as long as possible - it is special and helps to keep her healthy.

Other things: L O V E S to brush her teeth, loves reading, has started 'dancing' to music.  Has no discernible words yet. No 'Mama' or 'Dada' or 'Papa'.  Mostly she just points to everything and says something that sounds sort of like 'issh'  She does have a lot of grunting and general gesturing so I can sort of figure out what she's trying to say.

On her birthday I *had* to get a few more pictures - this time in a Kenya T-Shirt.  

future ballerina?

happy - and drool-y

At her 12-month doctor's visit she was weighed and measured and poked and prodded.  Three shots and a finger prick seemed a little excessive, but she handled it reasonably well.  

27 3/4 inches tall {7.75 percentile}

20 lbs 6 oz {60th percentile - let's be honest, we all thought she'd have gained more weight, given the amount she eats!}

People continually comment about how easy going or content she seems.  She is definitely a happy baby.  Kyalo & Papa are her favorite people.  

her happy spot

foraging

I'm not sure where most of the Cheerios end up - her tummy or the floor

At 45 seconds this video is a little long, but I love her determination here.

It has really been a wonderful year.  I love how every day seems to bring new changes and developments.  I really think she'll be walking soon - and then life will really change!  Here's hoping the second year is just as good as the first!