Due to the generosity of grandma (mom, to me) I was able to attend a friend's Eve of the Eve party this year. At the party, I was talking to my friend and her sister about, what else, our kids and I mentioned that Olivia is almost 10 months now. "Oh, that is the best time!" said my friend's sister. I happen to concur with that statement. Of course, every day with Olivia is amazing, but now she's showing her personality. She has full blown babble conversations with you, or the inanimate object she's holding. She smiles with her whole face (and it just melts me). She is trying to stand on her own, she's almost eating without problems...almost. Right now she's on nap number two without problems... what could be better?!
Well, I have been off work the past couple of weeks. Most of this has been due to the holidays, but I took some time off to spend with my baby. I am starting to look at her and realize how time is flying by. But, I digress... this personality that I am so excited about comes with its downfalls too. For example, I can't just rock her and stick her in her crib anymore. She's starting to realize that it's pretty nice being held by mommy and she prefers that over the crib. As much as I would love to hold her 24-7 I have to walk away from a crying, sometimes screaming baby. At this same party of which I spake, my friend said that "now you have to treat them how you wan them to be." Oh goodie, the big bad "D" word (discipline)..for me and Olivia. I have only a window of opportunity to hold her before nap/bedtime. Too long past the window and she ain't going down without a fight. Also, she's starting to pull the guilty crying when I walk away from her.."I don't waaant you to goooooo" cry (of course she doesn't utter the words, but we all know what's being said...)
The thing she does that makes me panic the most is not drinking her milk. Lovely how the pediatrician says that "it doesn't matter if she doesn't eat at this age, but she has to have her milk." Olivia has been doing this new thing where she actually screams bloody murder when I try to give her a bottle. Perhaps it's not warm enough...perhaps she has a tummy ache... whatever it is, she is obviously surviving not drinking the recommended 18-24 ounces of milk a day, but she's giving me great stress. Today has been okay, but I haven't been able to relax a whole lot this "staycation" because she's been making it hard for me to do the one thing the doctor says is most important.
I am starting to see a silver lining to all of this discipline stuff, though. I let her cry for a few minutes and she sooths herself to sleep. It's amazing how slowly time moves when your baby is crying and you're waiting for her to just go to sleep. Sometimes if I stick to my guns and just keep trying to feed her a bottle, through the torturous screams, she actually just calms down and starts sucking away. Of course, if there is any disturbance in the force, then we're back to square one... hmph.
I guess you get the good with the bad. For the wonderfully happy, beautiful baby that is mine, all mine, I have to struggle sometimes. Comes with the territory, I know. Good OR bad, I am trying to appreciate this very special time in all of our lives. Once she starts walking, as they say.... it's a WHOLE new ballgame. That's just around the corner
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