Skill development

Belle is so talented (as far as six months old go). She can sit up on her own. She reaches for everything and can pick up items as small as credit cards (smart girl). She can pass objects from one hand to another (though she still most often primarily uses her left hand). And she can even go from lying on her belly to lifting herself so she is on all fours, as if she is preparing to crawl (though she's a long way from that, I hope). And she is on her way to babbling: I have heard syllable mixed into her cooing (she'll go from her usual 'ah oo' to 'bababa'). She'll be talking before we know it,

Throwing

Belle has started throwing things.  In her stroller yesterday, she took her pacifier out to play with it and then tossed it out of the stroller.  This turned out to be a big bummer for her, as she'd also soiled the back-up pacifier, which left her pacifier-free for the rest of our walk.  This morning on the changing table, she was playing with a burp clothe which she took and tossed.  This is more than dropping; this is throwing.  Maybe she'll play for the Mets one day.

Hair 'up do' baby-style

Belle's hair has grown so much that it is sometimes in her face. To make sure she can see and her beautiful eyes are unobstructed, I put a clip in her hair (one that was approved by her pediatrician yesterday as not being a choking hazard). She looks darling:)
Though a bit out-of-sorts from her vaccines, she is a sweetheart and was patient with me while I figured out how to put her hair up.

At the doctor

Belle had her six-month check-up today. We learned that she is healthy and happy! She weighed in at 15lbs 5oz, which puts her in the 35%. She's 26.75 inches long, which is the 80%. Still long and lean (and super smiley). We learned how to introduce Belle to food, so we're starting solids soon. I have a feeling Belle will prove to be a great eater. Belle is hitting the developmental milestones as she should: reaching out, following a voice as the voice moves, recognizing her parents, social smiling (she is a great smiler!).

I still can't believe Belle is already six-months old. Anyway, it was great to learn that Belle is still on track and healthy!

Belle goes to the Met

Uncle Mitch walked with Belle to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Taking a walk with Uncle Mitch

Belle is confused: this guy looks like my daddy, but he's not Daddy....

A Busy Monday Morning

Long before I woke up, Belle and Seren had withdrawn to the living room. Belle has a new habit of waking up around 445, which neither Seren nor I appreciate. This morning, I woke up around 745 (I'm working from home today) and took Belle off Seren's hands so Seren could go back to sleep. Belle and I played until 845, when she started to look a little tired. I brought her to the crib to lie down, careful because Seren was asleep in bed. Belle fussed and cried and wasn't going to sleep. Seren told me to change her diaper. Done, and I put her down again. Still no sleep. So I took Belle and let her play in her new exersaucer. When she started getting tired of that, I put her on the couch to sit and play with some toys. She happily played for a few minutes and then leaned over and landed on her side. And then she leaned more and ended up on her tummy. And then she fell asleep. Like this...




What did we learn? That when the mood hits her, Belle can sleep anywhere, just like her father. As these two pictures from San Francisco (August 2005) can attest.

Showing Mommy who is the boss

As Craig posted, I enjoyed a wonderful weekend with three friends from Avon High School. They traveled from Philly, Avon and Boston to stay at an Upper West Side hotel so we could spend time together. Belle joined us for most of the girl time, but Craig was on Belle duty when we ladies indulged in spa pedicures and manicures in the afternoon. With nails done and feeling relaxed, the girls returned to their hotel to rest so I went home to see our visiting family, feed Belle, and get ready for dinner.

Dinner at Citrus was fantastic. We four old friends had a ball catching up, reminiscing, laughing (it felt so good to laugh) and just being together. After dinner, we walked around a bit and found ourselves at a fun bar to continue the conversation. At midnight, I realized that the last time I was awake at midnight, I had been asleep for two hours prior. And so I bid adieu to my friends and returned home to kiss Craig and Belle and pump.

I finally crawled into bed after 1am exhausted but happy. Belle woke up to eat at 4am and then to play at 5:45am. Holding Belle just after 6am, she pooped. Through her pajamas. Onto my t-shirt.


(The lavender shirt on the left is mine, the pink and green outfit is Belle's, and the mustard-colored blobs are poop.)

After I cleaned her up and fed her, she pooped again. So, after sleeping only a few hours, I cleaned two poopy diapers and scrubbed the poop out of two articles of clothing, all before 7:30am.

Belle is happy enough to let me enjoy some time away from her, but she is sure to remind me immediately upon my return that she is my boss.

Daddy Daughter Night

Last night, Seren's Avon friends were in town. I encouraged them to party so I got a treat with a Daddy-Daughter night. I invited my mom to come in with my grandparents during the day. That expanded to Jeff, Joanna and Noah coming too, and then Mitch, and then even my Dad stopped by after a long busy tax season Saturday. Everyone had a really enjoyable day playing with the two babies. Usually Noah reaches out to grab his cousin, but yesterday, Belle showed her cousin who's the boss. She poked him.

Seren went out with the ladies around 7pm, leaving with my parents, just after I ran to Blockbuster and got The Kids Are All Right. I put it in around 8 after Belle went to sleep. She didn't nap well during the day, but Seren put her down before she left and she slipped into dreamland with minimal fuss. Seren also topped Belle off before leaving.

Around 930, Belle started crying. I went in, replaced the pacifier and started getting a bottle ready. I wanted Seren to have a worry-free night, so I didn't tell her that Belle was starting to stir. At this time, I took the bottle out of the fridge and put it in the warm water to get to temperature. Belle cried again a few minutes later, so I replaced the pacifier again and waited for the milk to get to temperature. And then she fell asleep, just as the milk was ready.

At 1045, she stirred again. Now I've had milk sitting on the counter at room temperature for an hour, so I figured it's time to feed Belle. I replace the pacifier and she's asleep. At 11, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is over and I want to go to sleep. But Belle will be hungry, I have milk on the counter at room temperature and I don't want to be lax on the feeding. So I start watching the Bourne Ultimatum. It's now 1145, I'm tired, Belle's asleep and the milk is on the counter. I haven't stayed awake past midnight since before Belle was born. And now I'm positively worried. Belle hasn't eaten in almost 5 hours and the milk is ready. Is she ok?

She was. At 1230, she woke up, just after Mom walked in. I don't know if she gave her hungry snort, but it didn't matter. I gave her a bottle on my lap and Seren pumped. It all worked out ok. And I think we got some sleep training in as well.

Now I can't wait for the next Daddy-daughter night.

See you later, play mat

Now that Belle is sitting up, she prefers playing with her toys upright, rather than lying on her back to play. And so the usefulness of the play mat has ended, as she would bump her head on the dangling toys were she to play sitting up in her play mat. I wash it and put it away until Belle becomes a big sister one day. And a new era of play begins.

The February Pics are Up

You are invited to view Craig Cepler's photo album: Belle - February Belle - February Feb 2, 2011 by Craig Cepler View Album Play slideshow Message from Craig Cepler: Belle is now six months old, but this last birthday was a traumatic one. How do you explain to such a cute face that she doesn't really have a half birthday? We tried. She sits up now, rarely thumping. Each week, we see her have more endurance in sitting up. She giggles. She eats everything. She's reaching for what she wants - pacifier in front of her, Dad walking in from work. She loves playing with her cousin Noah and loves singing with everyone. Bath time has become a fun play time. Love, Us If you are having problems viewing this email, copy and paste the following into your browser: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=cepstar&target=ALBUM&id=5580764460103610465&authkey=Gv1sRgCPSdwc3OxYOg4gE&invite=CJqpu7wJ&feat=email To share your photos or receive notification when your friends share photos, get your own free Picasa Web Albums account.

Last baby standing

There were supposed to be six babies and six moms on the walk today. There were meltdowns and extended naps and bad baby mornings. One by one, as babies screamed and moms pulled off the walk to tend to the tears, our walking group thinned until Belle and I were alone. In fact, this duo did about half the walk solo.

Belle sure loves her stroller and enjoys our walks. And it is clearly important to Belle that her mom get in shape.

I hope Belle grows to enjoy exercise as much as she likes letting me exercise now.

Thank goodness for seltzer

When I was pregnant, Craig introduced me this great website called Sh*t My Kids Ruined (Or otherwise made filthy, distasteful, gross or painful.) The Huffington Post noted that the website makes for effective birth control. I'm not ready to submit anything to that website just yet, but we're getting closer.

This morning, Belle was sitting up playing with her ball and her Sophie the Giraffe on the couch. She stopped playing for a moment and looked out at the living room and then I noticed that look on her face: that poop look. I picked her up, but it was too late. She pooped through her diaper and left a tiny reminder of this morning's playtime on our couch. Before I changed her, I used seltzer and a clean, white paper towel on the couch, which I think is good as new (though I'm switching the couch cushions around and not telling anyone which one was the scene of the crime). Then I put the greatest gift my mother gave me to good use: the Clorox Bleach Pen. Belle, her clothes, and the couch are nice and clean.

It's a good idea to keep seltzer in the house. And Shout or Stain Stick. And bleach. And then it's a good idea to go shopping for nicer furniture when the kids go off to college.

"What a good baby!"

My mom power walk ends in the middle of Central Park for toning exercises and stretching. During the workout on Wednesday, one by one, each bay had a meltdown causing the babies' moms to stop exercising to tend to the screaming baby. Each baby, that is, except Belle. Belle was awake in her stroller watching me exercise, watching the people walk by, listening to the other babies scream and cry, smiling away. A few of the moms comments about what a good baby Belle is. I was the only mom who completed our entire circuit of toning exercises and all tne stretches (Belle must really want me to get in shape).

Belle is a good baby. She has her share of meltdown (ask her uncle and grandfather), but she is rarely upset when she is outside and among people. Yup, what a good baby:)

Beds are for sleeping

Snuggling in bed together turned into nap time for Belle. She slept cozily and well for nearly an hour! This picture doesn't really capture how sweet and peaceful she looked snoozing in the middle of our queen-sized bed.

Easily entertained

Belle is happily sitting up (!) on the couch enjoying the back cover of a magazine. The pacifier prevents the paper from going in her mouth and the colors, folds and crinkles keep her fascinated for a while. She is adorably easily entertained.

The sacred Sunday shower

Among the many aspects of daily life I took for granted in my pre-Mom life in the shower. In fact, one of my first requests from the store when Craig went back to work in September was a shampoo/conditioner all-in-one because speed has become top priority when showering with an infant at home. Most mornings, I bring Belle into the bathroom in her bouncy seat and she plays while I shower. If she gets fussy, we play peek-a-boo and I swing to her, but there usually isn't time for her to get bored of her bouncy seat playthings because I now shower in just a few short minutes. Unless Belle's morning timing works out for Craig to take Belle with him to Shabbat morning services, I make sure to take a quick shower Monday through Saturday.

Sundays, however, are different. Most Sunday mornings, Craig is home and eager to play with Belle. That leaves me free to sleep and shower. On Sundays, I can indulge and wash my hair shampoo and then use conditioner. On Sundays, I can let the warm water fall on my head and back without looking through the glass shower door to make sure Belle is OK. On Sundays, I revel in my shower.

This past Sunday, when there was no hot water, I nearly cried. I didn't, but I nearly did. Don't the maintenance workers in the building realize the value of a hot shower on a Sunday morning? I might not even noticed the tempertaure of the water during the other six days when I'm in and out of the shower in about the time it takes Craig to change Belle's diaper.

So, I showered quickly, as if it were a regular Wednesday, and Craig made me tea so I could warm up. And, though it's Tuesday as I write this, I am already looking forward to Sunday for my sacred Sunday shower.

The sweetest alarm clock

On my mom power walk the other day, one of the moms asked me if Belle ever wakes up happy. Her daughter always wakes screaming and crying, she told me. While Belle does often wake from her naps and in the middle of the night with a whimper or a cry, she usually wakes up happy from her best sleeps. In fact, the sound of her cooing and talking to herself (and her beloved pacifier) is often the first sound I hear in the morning.

I used to wake up before 6am to the music from my alarm clock radio. Belle's tiny sweet voice is a much better sound with which to start my day.

An 'old Seren' day

Today felt like my days used to be: packed with back-to-back activities. I was busy around the apartment in the morning. I marinaded the fish for dinner, paid bills, sent emails, did laundry. Then we went to Central Park and joined three other moms and babies for a power walk through the Park that ended with a exercises at the benches near the Band Shell (gluts, quads, and triceps). From the walk, we skipped coffee with the moms and headed straight to Mommy and Me Yoga. I fed and changed Belle, grabbed a bite myself, and had time for a few breathes before our yoga class. Belle's favorite instructor Jhothi Larson, who literally wrote the book on Mommy and Me Yoga, was out, but we enjoyed the class anyway. After class, I chatted with a friend, stopped by the post office, and visited our next-door-neighbor before finally getting home for a snack and a shower. And Belle was a champ throughout, until 3:30pm when she had a mini-meltdown. She is now napping calmly and sweetly. It was a busy, productive, active, wonderful day. I felt a bit like my old self again today. Only better because I enjoyed the day with Belle.

OshKosh B'Gosh

Belle (OK, Seren) is so excited to finally fit into her OshKosh B'Gosh overalls. She enjoys sucking/biting the metal clasps (must feel good teething-wise).