Some Biggies!!

Yikes, I gotta get this stuff down before I forget!! We have had some BIG milestones in our house over the last few weeks and we are so excited about it all!! Our little baby girl is growing up in what seems like a blur!!

First big change came a few weeks ago, on January 25th (yes, I am remembering as many dates as I can!) we moved Kaiya from her bassinett in our room to her crib! It was a change that I knew needed to take place, but there was that big piece of me that didn't want her to leave our room and transition to her own (I sound like such a first time mom) and on top of that, it was just so convenient to be able to reach over and stick the bottle in her mouth or give her the binky! But we (well, Chris) finally said it was time, so we tucked her into her crib with grandma's blanket to keep her warm, and Jessika's little stuffed angel bear to hold onto, turned on her little lullaby fish mobile, and headed out the door wondering how on earth our night was going to go. >

That night, to our great delight and surprise, she slept until about 9 the next morning -- one of her longest night sleeps yet! She never woke up, never fussed! We were pretty glued to the monitor all night, but for the most part, I think we both slept a lot better as well! Whew, we made it through a biggie!! We aren't quite ready to give up our snuggle naps with her, though. Nor do I think we should give those precious moments up! A few days later came the next big milestone. Now, if you know Kaiya, you know how big this one was! From the moment we brought her home, she has been a swaddler. We would have to wrap her tight as a mummy in order for her to rest peacefully or fall asleep at all. Every night, the same routine -- arms down by her side, nestled into the pouch of her swaddling blanket, then wrapped round and around. We tried to get her to go to sleep a few times without it, but she just couldn't sleep! I was so worried about this, with visions of a 10 year old Kaiya still swaddled up in her blanket! (Pardon the exaggeration, but trust me, it was starting to get to that point!) Anyway, after a few nights in her crib, we decided we just had to start putting her down without wrapping her up and we'd have to live with it until she got used to falling asleep without it. Once again, she surprised us because the first night we put her down without wrapping her up, she fell asleep with no problems and hasn't looked back since! Whew, another one down! Looks like this is the only swaddling that will be taking place around our house from now on! (By the way, this blanket has literally been a miracle blanket in our house for the last 5 months, thanks to Ashley!) Moving on to our next BIG milestone. Last Friday night, we were over at our friend's house and I was talking about how I wasn't sure what to look for to know if Kaiya was getting her first tooth soon. For about a month and a half, I have positively been sure that her tooth was going to show up any day because she has been drooling PROFUSELY and ravenously tried to get anything she could to rub on her bottom gums. So, while at our friends' house, we checked and checked while she went to town on the outside of a frozen Pedialyte popcicle. We couldn't see anything. Where was that dang tooth?! Then a few days later, on Sunday the 27th of January (yes, still making sure to remember important dates), we were sitting in church and Kaiya was gnawing on Chris' knuckle, when all of the sudden he's like what the? We pulled down her lip, and SURPRISE, there was her first tooth! Now, call me silly, but I actually got choked up! I was so excited, I wanted to go up to the pulpit and announce to the ward that we had a tooth! I refrained, and just glowed in my seat with excitement! It is the cutest little tooth I've ever seen! Then, throughout the whole entire week this week, Kaiya has not been herself at all. She's been fussy, irratable, and has woken up every night this week several times during the night. I knew #2 had to be following close behind. Sure enough, last night, we found that her second tooth popped up right next to #1 to keep it company! So, now she has her first two bottom teeth in all their glory! So, after much (and more and more and more) of this... this is what she has to show for it: (look closely, they're both there!) You may think that would be it, but oh no, there's more! As if she hasn't gone through enough change these past few weeks, on Wednesday (January 30th -- haaa), Kaiya got her first taste of something other than powder formula and water! Upon the suggestion of her pediatrician, who said to start with the stuff that isn't as likely to taste as good (because they won't know the difference anyway), we decided to start her on some pureed veggies -- mmmm! We suited her up, sat her in the chair, and with grandma and grandpa gathered around, we gave her a try of some sweet potatoes! It was so cute! She had no idea what to do with this foreign substace in her mouth, or the weird stick that was shoving that foreign substance into her mouth, but all in all, the experience went quite well. She took a few swallows without much of a reaction (good or bad), slobbered much of it all over her entire face and down her front, and even smiled a bit at all the attention she was getting! I'm sure, as with most things, it was much more entertaining for us than it was for her, but still, a big step indeed! Next, it's on to sweet peas, green beans and carrots! Gosh, doesn't that just sound delightful?! (please excuse grandpa's french in the video!)

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Wow, I can hardly keep up with how quickly this little girl is growing up and changing! I have to admit, that although it is soooo hard to feel like time is flying by before my eyes, I am so in love with all the exciting new steps Kaiya is taking! These milestones are such special little gems that I will keep tucked away in my treasure box as I watch her experience the world and jump into her life with both feet! I will probably always wish for her to slow down, but I LOVE that I get to be here to witness the miracles of her growth and development throughout her life! So far, so GREAT, my little Ya-ya!