A New Perspective

My profession involves working with kids every day.  I have lots and lots of cousins, and in my personal life I have been around many kids.  So, I feel pretty confident being around little ones.  However, once I had Alivia I realized that there are things that I will NEVER EVER do out of respect for other parents, and I feel guilty for having done any of them.  What is it about babies that makes people either lose their minds, think that anything goes, or that they have the right to interfere with a parent's decision?  So, here are some things that I vow to (or not) do with other little ones:

1. PLEASE wash your hands before touching a baby.   (Yes, adults and children)
2. Ask the parent before giving their child any type of food.  There could be allergies, intolerances, and it's just plain rude to assume it's ok.
3. Don't take someone's baby to another room, building, or anywhere without asking the parents.  It's just not your place.
4. Don't give a child toys to play with unless checking to see if it's okay with the parents.  Who knows what germs may be lurking in the crevices, or if the child is developmentally ready for that yet.
5. Respect a parent's decision without trying to change their mind or suggest something else (a hundred times).
6. Offer suggestions when they are welcomed. 
7. STOP asking if a baby is "sleeping through the night."  It's NORMAL for babies to wake up several times a night, and it's normal for them to want to be comforted. 
8. Refer to yourself and the baby by your real names or what the baby will call you.  For example, I know Alivia is your great, great-granddaughter.  You don't have to ask me how your great, great-granddaughter is.  Just use her real name.  That's why we gave it to her. 
9. Touch someone else's child only if you know the family and you know it's ok.  Hands off of a stranger's kids.  It's hard to believe that this happens as often as it does.
10. Don't encourage kids to achieve milestones when the parents aren't around, just so you can say you saw it first. 
11. If you do experience a milestone with someone's child for the first time, keep it to yourself and act surprised when you hear that it happened.
12. Allow parents to introduce their little bundle of joy to new people, if possible. 
13. Give kids praise for unconventional things so they know that there are real expectations in life (I like how you hung up your coat and put your shoes away right when you walked in the door.) 
14. Let NO mean NO.  Never try to change the parent's mind in front of the child. 
15. NEVER, EVER, EVER pressure someone to have more kids, a baby of the other gender, etc. 
16. Don't assume that the rules, procedures, traditions, and religious beliefs that you have are the same that the parents will encourage.  Also, don't force rules, procedures, traditions, and religious beliefs unless you know that they are welcomed by the parents.
17. Follow the golden rule of parenthood:  If it would be 9or would've been) annoying to you as a parent, it will probably annoy someone else.
18. Don't take a child out of their parents hands unless it's welcomed.
19. Accept that some information, activities, and family happenings will remain private.
20. If in doubt, just ask.  It goes a long, long way!

9 Month Wrap Up

Thanksgiving is over, and Christmas is almost here.  We are having so much fun shopping and getting ready for the big day.  We've seen huge changes in Alivia, especially developmentally.  She's definitely got a little personality all her own!

At 9 Months, Alivia:
- Pulls herself up and stands very sturdily against furniture, toys, peoples' legs, and other objects
- Plays Peek-a Boo
- Loves to scream playfully (along with when she's not so happy)
- Goes into an alligator roll when getting her diaper changed
- Decorated Christmas tree
- Loves to pull tinsel off the tree and put it in her mouth
- Crawls around the entire house
- Discovered the fun of crawling up stairs
- Gets mad when bath time is over
- Eating items other than purees: puffs, cottage cheese, shredded cheese, and yogurt
- Holds her own bottle



Happy Holidays

We're so lucky to be celebrating our first holiday season as a family of three.  Happy holidays, everyone!

Trying to learn about Santa in this video- almost there...

 

 

Decorating the Tree

 

 

 

An Attempt at Staged Photos...

 

 

 

Getting the most out of the most ridiculously expensive stockings (but we love them)...

8 Month Wrap Up

Alivia is already two thirds of a year old.  Where does the time go?  It's getting cold outside, and we are ready for some fall fun.  Here's what was new the past month.

Alivia:
- dressed up for her first Halloween (as an 80s workout gal)
- participating in pumpkin carving
- pulls herself up to standing position
- wakes up often at night
- started eating solid food other than fruits and vegetables
- responds to her name being called
- takes a bath in the regular-sized tub
- crawls around from room to room
- loves to watch the fire in the fireplace
- went out to dinner with her friend, Charley
- started using a sippy cup (and mostly just making a mess)
- rarely leaves her socks on

 

 

 

 

 

7 Month Wrap Up

Month 7 brings on Fall, Football, and Fun.  I love this time of year, and Alivia is making that more and more true.  She is so fun and animated and is getting quite the personality.  Here are some of the things that happened this month:

Alivia:
- Started crawling
- Said "Da-Da"
- Tried new solids: peas, carrots, pears
- Stated teething (no teeth just yet, though)
- Is making progress with sleep training...slowly
- Is obsessed with her Daddy
- Loves to ride in the jogging stroller
- Reaches for people she knows
- Loves to knock things over
- Would rather play with household items (egg carton, butter tub, etc) than her toys
- Likes to turn pages of books and not just chew on them
- Can bear enough weight on her legs to stand while holding onto something
- Rocks leg warmers whenever possible
- Will sit in front of the mirror and play with her reflection
- Makes diaper changing very difficult
- Responds to certain songs with smiles and laughs
- Laughs a lot and pretty loudly