I am amazed everyday by Peanut and what she can do. When we first met her she was bearing little to no weight on her legs and wasn't really a fan of being held for too long. She also didn't really grab things with her hands.
Now at just a few weeks home and a couple days past 6 months old she has been an overachiever. She is starting to bear more and more weight on her legs everyday. She loves to snuggle and be held. And she is starting to bat at the toys on the play mat and grab on to some of them. She even tried to put a toy in her mouth yesterday. YEAH!!! And boy can that girl be chatty. She loves to babble, grunt, laugh, squeal and she just figured out how to make a clicking noise with her tongue.
She loves the pugs. She and Sebastian are good buddies. He is so sweet and gives her kisses and she reaches out to pet him and even has pulled on his fur and he didn't care at all. Badger will give her a kiss, smell her and then if she tries to touch him, he runs away. Badger is just shy sometimes, we are working on it.
We had out initial meeting with the Birth to 3 program and that went great. Based on the assessment, they are going to send a teacher and a physical therapist out to really evaluate Peanut. We don't know yet if she will qualify for any assistance but want to have her evaluated anyway. When the woman was here on Friday I had to answer no to a bunch of questions but if she came today I could answer sometimes. Peanut is amazing and I know she will be fine. If nothing else, I am getting tons of great info on exercises to do with Peanut to strengthen her development.
More pictures to come soon!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Leave in conditioner/hair care tips
I got a few requests for what I was using for a leave in conditioner. I went to this website:
http://motowngirl.com
and made the leave in spritz. I took 6 oz of water, 2 oz of Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner, and an ounce of olive oil and put it all in a spray bottle and shook well. It works great to tame the frizziness in Peanut's hair and was super easy to make and really quite cheap.
It does separate so I need to shake well before each use. The best part is that it isn't at all greasy and doesn't have an overwhelming strong scent.
I was going to just buy something at the store but when I walked down the aisle that had African American hair products I was slightly overwhelmed and slightly disgusted. Overwhelmed as I had no idea what to do with some of the cremes and oils and such and then disgusted because a lot as in a majority of the products on the shelf were for relaxing and straightening hair. They even had a kids version of a mild relaxer. I was shocked.
I LOVE Peanut's curly hair and want to maintain it to the best of my ability. If she chooses at some point to want to straighten it we will talk but while I am doing her hair there will be no straightening and definitely no relaxing.
http://motowngirl.com
and made the leave in spritz. I took 6 oz of water, 2 oz of Herbal Essences Hello Hydration conditioner, and an ounce of olive oil and put it all in a spray bottle and shook well. It works great to tame the frizziness in Peanut's hair and was super easy to make and really quite cheap.
It does separate so I need to shake well before each use. The best part is that it isn't at all greasy and doesn't have an overwhelming strong scent.
I was going to just buy something at the store but when I walked down the aisle that had African American hair products I was slightly overwhelmed and slightly disgusted. Overwhelmed as I had no idea what to do with some of the cremes and oils and such and then disgusted because a lot as in a majority of the products on the shelf were for relaxing and straightening hair. They even had a kids version of a mild relaxer. I was shocked.
I LOVE Peanut's curly hair and want to maintain it to the best of my ability. If she chooses at some point to want to straighten it we will talk but while I am doing her hair there will be no straightening and definitely no relaxing.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Peanut pictures!!
How could you not fall in love with that smile?? Isn't she sweet? She is hopefully getting over her ear infection on this new medication. She is sleeping through the night 10-12 hours and then has the morning nap thing down. She will go down between 8:30/9am for a nap and then wake up between 10:30/11am for food. Afternoon naps are a work in progress but she will usually take a short one sometime after 1pm and then is in bed by 8pm after a bath of course.
I made up some leave in conditioner for her hair and that works fabulously. I haven't tackled a hairstyle beyond putting a headband in but I will soon. She has so much hair and it is a little intimidating.
We have also filed our court paperwork and are awaiting word on when our hearing will be so things are moving in the right direction.
As I write this Peanut is alternating between sucking her finger and thumb and squealing/laughing in delight while playing in her swing. So very in love with this little girl.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
CONGRATS!!!
I couldn't be happier for these people. We started this process around the same time and they have waited so long and been through so much. Her blog was/is a lifeline for me. I have learned a ton from her and have no doubts that champagne corks are popping around the world. CONGRATS you two. You deserve it and we couldn't be happier for you.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Birthday, paperwork and Birth to 3
Today is my birthday. I am officially 33 years young and finally realizing my dreams of motherhood. I couldn't ask for a greater gift than my beautiful daughter.
I started the morning meeting with our social worker as we have more paperwork to do. We have to readopt Peanut in Wisconsin so our social worker dropped that off today. After a follow up phone call with her, I have it all filled out and just have to take it to the county court house. We are hoping to get a court date in the next 4-8 weeks. Once we are done with that we can apply for a certificate of citizenship and social security number for Peanut. And we can start the paper chase for her little brother. We would like to be back on the wait list sometime this fall since the wait for referral has gotten a lot longer we want to get a jump on it. Maybe by the time Peanut is 3 we will have her little brother home too.
After our meeting, I called the Birth to 3 program to set up an assessment for Peanut. We are a little concerned about how little weight she bears on her legs but she is getting better every day. We figured it doesn't hurt to call and see what they have to say or even offer in terms of one time or continual support. She may not qualify for additional resources but we won't know unless we have her evaluated. I am waiting for them to call me back to set up the appointment. It is great that they will come out to our house even.
You may wonder how so much has been done today, well PEANUT IS NAPPING!!! I can hardly believe it. She was up at 8am took half a bottle and was asleep again a little after 9am and has stayed asleep on her back in her crib. Could this be a sign of a regular nap time??? I sure hope so. Her naps are so all over the place right now. She is teething which isn't helping but maybe just maybe this is progress.
I started the morning meeting with our social worker as we have more paperwork to do. We have to readopt Peanut in Wisconsin so our social worker dropped that off today. After a follow up phone call with her, I have it all filled out and just have to take it to the county court house. We are hoping to get a court date in the next 4-8 weeks. Once we are done with that we can apply for a certificate of citizenship and social security number for Peanut. And we can start the paper chase for her little brother. We would like to be back on the wait list sometime this fall since the wait for referral has gotten a lot longer we want to get a jump on it. Maybe by the time Peanut is 3 we will have her little brother home too.
After our meeting, I called the Birth to 3 program to set up an assessment for Peanut. We are a little concerned about how little weight she bears on her legs but she is getting better every day. We figured it doesn't hurt to call and see what they have to say or even offer in terms of one time or continual support. She may not qualify for additional resources but we won't know unless we have her evaluated. I am waiting for them to call me back to set up the appointment. It is great that they will come out to our house even.
You may wonder how so much has been done today, well PEANUT IS NAPPING!!! I can hardly believe it. She was up at 8am took half a bottle and was asleep again a little after 9am and has stayed asleep on her back in her crib. Could this be a sign of a regular nap time??? I sure hope so. Her naps are so all over the place right now. She is teething which isn't helping but maybe just maybe this is progress.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Hush little baby...
Well, I think I spoke too soon in my previous post. Peanut is still perfect she just doesn't like to nap. First it was a day with no afternoon nap and total meltdown in the evening and then it was no morning nap, a quick snooze on the floor and a nap at 6pm. So we are working on it.
I complained to my husband that she didn't want to nap and this morning he goes and lays her down in her crib for her morning nap and within a minute she is asleep. Now how that differs from what I did yesterday, I have no idea.
We are still having some food issues. I swear if I let her she would eat us out of house and home. She loves to eat. We were trying to stay on the every 3 hour schedule that she was used to but some days she just doesn't make it 3 hours.
She is bearing more and more weight on her legs and can that girl laugh. It is the best sound ever. And the smiles, I just can't get enough of them. You go to get her in the morning and you are greeted with the biggest grin. It melts my heart and never gets old.
She is still sleeping through the night 8-9 plus hours a night. I find that I wake a few times to go check on her just to make sure. Can't help it...
We are definitely starting to settle into our new routine. It is amazing to me how much you can accomplish before 8am. And if she starts taking naps regularly again, watch out world here I come.
We took some family pictures this weekend at church and she was okay for awhile and then was just done. Why? She wanted to sleep of course....We wore traditional Ethiopian garments in the pictures too. We did get some cute pictures and even pictures with just Dave and I. These were the first professional pictures of just the two of us since we got married almost 10 years ago. And we have an awesome family photo of the three of us. Wow, I can't believe we are a family of 3 (5 if you count the pugs). I think someone better pinch me just to make sure I am not dreaming.
I complained to my husband that she didn't want to nap and this morning he goes and lays her down in her crib for her morning nap and within a minute she is asleep. Now how that differs from what I did yesterday, I have no idea.
We are still having some food issues. I swear if I let her she would eat us out of house and home. She loves to eat. We were trying to stay on the every 3 hour schedule that she was used to but some days she just doesn't make it 3 hours.
She is bearing more and more weight on her legs and can that girl laugh. It is the best sound ever. And the smiles, I just can't get enough of them. You go to get her in the morning and you are greeted with the biggest grin. It melts my heart and never gets old.
She is still sleeping through the night 8-9 plus hours a night. I find that I wake a few times to go check on her just to make sure. Can't help it...
We are definitely starting to settle into our new routine. It is amazing to me how much you can accomplish before 8am. And if she starts taking naps regularly again, watch out world here I come.
We took some family pictures this weekend at church and she was okay for awhile and then was just done. Why? She wanted to sleep of course....We wore traditional Ethiopian garments in the pictures too. We did get some cute pictures and even pictures with just Dave and I. These were the first professional pictures of just the two of us since we got married almost 10 years ago. And we have an awesome family photo of the three of us. Wow, I can't believe we are a family of 3 (5 if you count the pugs). I think someone better pinch me just to make sure I am not dreaming.
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