Amy's Little Girl

2008-09-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

It has been soo long since my last post, impossible for me to fill in all of the gaps. Dahlia is now 2.5 years old. It occurred to me today that she will soon be three and it totally floored me. I've been really noticing her growing and changing, but in so many ways in my mind, she is still my baby. When I hold her and her legs dangle over mine, I think, "my gosh, wasn't she just barely the length of my lap?" It's funny how change occurs so.

Dahlia has been waking up/stirring shortly after going to sleep, almost still asleep but crying. Usually, Brad heads in to sooth her, but tonight I did and she cried for me for awhile even though I was rght next to her, rubbing her belly and stroking her cheek. She finally settled into playing with a lock of my hair and drifted back off into a deep sleep. It left me wondering what is going on with her? The only thing I could come up with is that this emoting may be the result of the need to discharge intense emotional experiences throughout the day...many occur, especially between her and Elias, but also between the two of us, too. Like, because I do still hold such a baby view of her, she gets frustrated with me because am often trying to do things for her without her approval, like breaking her muffin in half (mostly because I know she will invariably drop it) rather than letting her eat it as she wishes. We often have conflicts because she is hard to motivate. Anyway, I guess I have to start taking time to move away more and allow her to hold her own reigns around certain things.

Since Elias returned to school, Dahlia has started to blossom in directing her own play. For a long time, it seemed impossible to pin down her own interests, but now that she is out from under that which she adores, she has suddenly taken a striking interest in pretend play. It is fun to do...Elias was not into pretending very much, but Dahlia really goes for it! Elias is into make-believe, taking a found object and describing it as something else, like a mars rover from a series of things linked together, like a light socket with chain, a karabeener and a beaded chain. Dahlia pretend feeds her babies and makes a variety of pretend teas and pretend talks on the phone. Her pretend seems more around the act of doing something while Elias is about a more concrete object and what it can do. Maybe. I'll have to noodle on this a bit more, but I think that's right. At any rate, I am excited to see Dahlia become a little more of herself without Elias, not that she doesn't hold her own with him. She does.

2008-02-13T22:35:00.001-08:00

Dahlia counted to 10 today, all on her own! Hooray, Dahlia!

2007-11-22T22:10:00.001-08:00

Several weeks ago, I went a little crazy with the bubbles. I don't know why? There were simply too many bubbles in the tub, so, I did what any good mother would do...I dressed Dahlia in a sort of a turn of the century bubble wig, later to morph into a bubble goatee and mustache. She got a great kick out of it. I think she mostly enjoyed all of the smiles and giggles from others...really got her into the silly, bubble crazed mood.

Anyhoo, alas, today is another day and Dahlia has not had a bath now for one week because last Thursday she broke her leg. Of all the memorable childhood moments I thought I'd write about, a broken leg at 18 months was not one. In fact, the incident leading to her broken limb was so uneventful and lacking of any dramatic effect that I think I was in shock for the whole of her stay in the ER. She literally stepped funny on my foot, never fell or tumbled or anything, just stepped and all of the sudden was obviously in immense pain that would not falter. I took her straight away to the ER and there, in an x-ray, amplified about 10 times it's real size, a tiny hairline spiral fracture could be seen in her left tibia.

Dahlia had a tough first few days, in part because we weren't allowed to let her bear any weight on it, but also, as we were to discover later, it turned out her splint was digging into her heel, causing another injury. Poor baby. She fortunately seems to be doing so much better now that she has a permanent cast (a big full-leg PURPLE jobby), but ewwwww, was I fired up. She'll have to get a new cast on Monday so that they can check this heel injury. Elias is vying for a glow-in-the-dark replacement cast. We shall see.

She had been kinda dragging herself around on her belly or scooting on her bottom for the past few days. But today, she started walking on her little casted leg! I've been calling her "Peggy" or "Peg-leg" or "Hob-along."

Dahlia's latest trick besides snapping limbs has been developing feelings for a lovely. His name is Zach and he was actually a dolly given to Elias just after Dahlia was born. Elias is far too scientific to take a lovely, but he caught Dahlia's eye at just the right time for Dahlia. Sure, she's had dollies in the past, but this dolly, she calls him, "Zachy" and clutches him tightly under her arm. She has to put him to sleep and she has to sing to him. She puts hats and coats on and off of him and plays games with him like Up/Down where she lifts him up above her head and says "up" and then brings him down beneath her knees and says "down." She gives him lots of love and hugs and kisses. She also insists that Zachy be given milk (momma milk), one sip for her, one for Zachy. I feel pretty silly about it. It's hard not to laugh. I try to egg her on to give Zachy her own milk and she usually put his little head up to her belly button. Yesterday, she was feeding Zachy from her knees, which seemed very silly to me. She seems to embrace the silly factor quite freely.

2007-07-16T23:27:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th of July!

2007-07-16T23:08:00.000-07:00

Here's Dahlia a few weeks ago surveying the angle of a slide at a nearby park. Would she go down? I don't think she did. Todau, Dahlia went head first over the little playstructure in our yard. She leaned over the side as far as she could until plop! Over the edge, head first! Ouch...

There's Elias in the background. They are two peas in a pod. Elias follows her (more like, chases and tortures her) and she tags along behind him like a puppy, copying his actions and trying to repeat his words. It's very cute.

Dahlia is really starting to verbalize, she has been trying to say many, many things, like bubbles, water (wabee), eat, etc.

Dahlia has been having some separation anxiety lately, yet so have I! Brad and I went out for a date yesterday, and toward the end of our dessert, I spotted a little girl just around the same age as Dahlia and boy oh boy, I really wanted to get home!

2007-05-24T16:11:00.001-07:00

Do you see a theme in these pictures? It's love to the Dahlia'th degree!!!

2007-05-24T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dahlia likes to eat sand. She'll lick her little fingers, get them nice and wet and stick them straight into the sandbox. What comes out is pure, unadulterated sand covering fully her tiny little fingers. Then straight into the mouth to sample her delicious score. Yum. She does the same with dirt. With rocks and bark, she's a bit more selective (and devious). She'll pick up a rock or a bark chip and reach out her hand innocently, as if to say, "Look, mom, look at this wonderful treasure of the natural world I have discovered." She'll hold it, and turn around, continuing to look around for other delights when all of the sudden, and seemingly from out of nowhere, there is a noticeable bulge on one side of her cheek. I approach cautiously, because I don't want her to choke. She sees me coming and bolts in the other direction with the most devilish grin on her face. Then, she makes me dig, DIG in there while she wiggles and squirms for her dear freedom. Alas, the rock or bark is extracted. Always much bigger than I had imagined. She's a real stinky booger like that. That's just who she is.

2007-05-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

Dahlia is officially one! She proved to be alot like her mommy and brother (and dad, too, for that matter), a natural fan of the chocolate! Look at that girl go!

On Dahlia's birthday, we had a fun party! All of her friends (well, most of them) came to enjoy the "buggy" themed extravaganza! We had ants on a log, butterflies, and weird fig and apple bugs, which looked really strange and I'm surprised everyone had eaten them at all! All of the kids got bug kits complete with bugs, a bug catcher, and tweezers, just in case the bugs were too gross to pick up. The day was nice and everyone played outside with bubbles and sidewalk chalk and in the sand box. Dahlia had a bunch of balloons, and two special balloons: a butterfly and a ladybug. It was really a wonderful party and just great fun. Elias was found, at one point before the candles had been blown out, hovering over the cake, picking off chunks of chocolate for himself! :-) I just can't believe she's already one. The year went by so quickly, it has been a blur...

2007-04-25T21:43:00.000-07:00

I'm embarrassed by how long it has been since I've posted about the little miss. Since my last post, she's started walking, has a pretty full and ever expanding repertoire of words/signs, and has even peed on the potty! She's been on a plane and travelled across the country, and pretty much is a gal on the move! We've been having fun exploring the world together. She's enjoyed making lots of new friends and being dangerous, tis the season I suppose.

I love this picture of Dahlia. She is sitting what I like to believe is my old rocker from when I was a baby, although my mom insists that it was Matt's. I'm sure everything was Matt's as I was the second, but regardless, I remember it as my own, and Dahlia sitting in it with her baby feels very special to me. My mom was wanting to donate it to goodwill, but I insisted on disassembling it and stuffing it in my suitcase to take home. I hope it lasts until my kids have their own little squirts. I'm sentimental in that way.

Below, Dahlia is playing one of her favorite games with Grandma Margaret (peekaboo around the corner). She is a real charmer. She started really walking just before we travelled to Ohio for cousin Shaun's birthday. Dahlia got lots of practice trucking around the airport as we waited for our flights. She was an angel, slept alot of the air trips, both there and back and was very charming and friendly with all
of our neighbors. It was just her and I and it was fun to have such uninterrupted one on one time with each other. She really enjoyed Nana and Shaun quite a bit, too. Although she wasn't saying Nana while we were in Ohio, shortly after our return and while looking at a picture of her, Dahlia pointed to the picture and did say "Nana." She has also been saying "night night" and basically calls all birds, dogs, ducks and cats "dog dog."

Toward the end of our trip in Ohio, Shaun and Dahlia were really getting along just like brother and sister, complete with Dahlia stealing away his toys with a very stealth, inconspicuous nature of the little sister and Shaun running after her trying to rescue his stolen and prized possessing before being broken my little, careless and clumsy hands. Overall, I think a wonderful time was had by all.

So, in four days, that little stink, who thinks she can traverse stairs both up and down (and can't), will turn one year old. We are gearing up for a big party, with nice weather, to take place outside. Balloons and bugs, that's the plan. First birthday's are weird because they really don't get it. That's okay, though. Should be a fun time for the kids. And, as a special treat, Dahlia gets to spend her first birthday with Grandpa Ed and Grandma Lynn! I just can't believe that she is one. It does seem like yesterday that she was just born and I don't want her baby-ness to end!

2007-04-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing about Dahlia, she's a real walker. She started walking a little two weeks ago. Last week, she really started moving. And this week, my little squirt is a walker. She walks down the hall, she walks in the yard, she walks up and down the sidewalk pushing her little cart. She's super cute, sometimes I can hardly stand from squeezing the be-jesuses right out of her!

She's playing with Grandpa Ron's watch in this picture. Always has been a real favorite with the little munchkins (with Elias up to mischief in the background).

Dahlia is really starting to try to talk and sign. She knows where her tongue and her ears are and she is fascinated by my nose. She likes to cuddle up to me and gives me kisses when I am very lucky... I can't believe in less than a month, we'll be celebrating her one year birthday!

2007-03-19T22:24:00.000-07:00

Dahlia took several of her first steps today! Walking to her daddy, her biggest fan! So much has been happening with her these days, and I've had no time to document her amzing feats. I'll do the best I can to remember all that little miss incredible has figured out.

1. She can clap her hands. I think she started this maybe two weeks ago. She's so proud of herself.

2. When asked where her tongue is, Dahlia can stick her tongue out. She likes trying to stick her fingers into my eyeballs and pulling my hair, too. She's pretty rough.

3. Dahlia can make the first sounds for dog, cat, and Elias and she can pretty much say her own name (Brad disagrees).

4. Dahlia can free stand. I think she could before, but now she can stand and play with a toy, and bend down and stand back up.

5. Dahlia's love of musical instruments has spread to the harp, which she is drawn to like nobody's business. She has become one of those music class kids who has to be peeled off all of the things that she shouldn't get into, including the harp and at times, other children. Dahlia's very fond of hair as a pull-up/hoisting device. Ouch! I caught her just this evening holding Elias's hair with the grip of a vice while Elias lay utterly defensely to her almost-11-month old fingers.

6. Dahlia love love loves to play outside and eat rocks, grass and dirt. She has to be monitored very closely. One minute, she's very innocently playing with the tricycle handle bar tassle, and the next, her mouth is full of dirt. Last week was such nice week, we played at the sandbox and of coursem Dahlia was eating sand, old leaves, and who knows what else. She's sneaky, too. She turns her back to you just when you think she being all sweet and innocently playing out of doors, you catch a glimpse of her profile, a lovely sand ring all around her mouth with sand in her eyes and trapped in the snot dripping down her face. What a sight!

I'm sure there's much more.

2007-03-02T00:29:00.000-08:00

10 down, 2 to go.

2007-02-24T14:10:00.000-08:00

This month has been such a blur of so many different things. I hardly even know where the time has gone let alone where to begin.

Well, both of Dahlia's last remaining two of four teeth on the bottom are through as of this week, giving her a total of eight! So far, it's been a pretty painless process for everyone. We still have the pointy ones and then the molars, so I'm not counting my chickens before they hatch.

Dahlia climbed the stairs yesterday, from the bottom all the way up! Boy was she pleased with herself. She had her brother egging her on from a few steps ahead of her all along the way, and was a little sidetracked by some blue tape on one of the upper stairs left behind to protect a rough spot on the stair. All in all, she was a real pro. Now, I'll have to monitor that area very carefully!

Dahlia has the most infectious laugh and jovial disposition. She likes to play hide and seek and loves to flash her grin and captivate whatever audience is seduced by her smile. Dahlia does the head slant and grin these days. Sometimes she rests her head on whoever is holding her and smiles at passersby. Other times, she will be cruising the table and will rest her head down and smile to capture my attention. She's doing a couple of signs, too. All done and milk and so big. She can also wave bye bye. She makes some funny fake laughing sounds and sqeauls of joy that are just too funny.

Dahlia has been pretty flirty with the boys lately. Last weekend, she and Oscar had a big makeout session, as Dahlia is a pretty good kisser and enjoys leaning in, open-mouthed, to the right kind of guy. At music class this week, she and a little boy named Redding were really loving all over each other, giving hugs and kissing and patting each other. Sure, it's cute now, but look out!

Dahlia has been quite taken by books over this past months. She will flip through the pages of her box of books for quite a long time. She will also eat the books and seems to have some sort of inborn sensor for any paper product that might be lying around within her reach. I've dug quite a few bit of paper from that girls mouth! She kind of has this love of everything, though. She seems to have a very strong natural independent curiosity about her.

She is, of course, saying momma and dadda quite regualrly and with correct assignment. She really lights up when her dad comes in the door after a long day at work, which is a nice way to be greeted for daddy, too.

Dahlia has been eating like crazy! More than Elias ever has. She seems to be interested in a wide variety of flavors, too. I have been holding back giving her all of what we eat, trying to follow the rules but it is hard to stay creative with the offerings. Anyway, she is defintely growing and changing into a little girl. Almost 10 months now!

2007-02-10T22:30:00.001-08:00

Dahlia is always lurking over her brother's shoulder. He used to embrace her involvement in activities with him, even encourage it, but as of late, one gets the feeling that Elias believes Dahlia is ruining everything. I'm sure Brad and I don't help this situation much, as he witnesses us constantly extracting Dahlia from places she shouldn't be...the wood stove, the stairs, eating paper, etc. She's just plain naughty (tee hee) and we tell her so (as sweetly as we can cuz' she's so cute). I'm afraid Dahlia may always be looming largely (and loudly, as she has begun to protest some of Elias's antics that used to go over quite easily, like hand-holding, and ear tugging) behind her brother, as he's pretty neat and she's pretty curious. It's a win/win, lose/lose kinda set-up.

On a more historical front, we went to the zoo today, and though Dahlia has been to the zoo before, this was her first true zoo-scapade, and she loved it! She loved being let out of the cozy confines of mommy's sling to stand up next to the turtles and the fish. When the big sturgeon swam passed, she reached out to grab it through the glass, and she watched the waterfall by the ducks, who all looked as though one leg had been amputated (but it hadn't, whew! What an awful thought, that not only were zoo animals tortured by being imprisoned in some artificial, obviously sub par existence, but also mutilated? Brad and I really struggled to see the other leg on the number of ducks in the exhibit, because they all were paddling with just one webbed foot. Upon further inspection, the other leg, tucked away without leaving even the slightest bump of a trace, did come out for a little paddle...what a relief!). She liked the turtles and also liked the birds outside, standing proudly next to the little fence until she started to chew on the exhibit description plaque and had to be extracted. What a sight to see! Such a lovely little mind absorbing (and enjoying) the whole world!

It won't be long before my post begins with news about Dahlia's first steps. She dangerously close, standing up unassisted regularly and cruising about everything and anything. Pushing chairs about the house, lapping the coffee table, etc.

2007-01-30T23:53:00.000-08:00

2007-01-27T02:00:00.000-08:00

Dahlia's fourth top tooth has emerged!

2007-01-23T12:02:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday, while playing out in the snow, I flipped Dahlia upside and took a sneak peek into her mouth. I saw two more teeth making there way through her top gums, right center and next to that one. I also could see some action on the one left of center side, totally four teeth on top.

On Saturday, the right most two broke through. We are still waiting for the one on the left of center side.

Dahlia went to her first birthday party on Sunday for baby Harry who is really no longer such a baby. She and Harry were the only two little guys there and it was fun to watch them get a good game of ball going. Harry gave Dahlia quite the look when she tried to snatch the ball away from him, like, "Back off, I've got a big brother and I know how to fend for myself." Dahlia was completely unaffected, because little does Harry understand that Dahlia too has this same situation and skill.

In a crowd of jumping and crazed toddlers, Dahlia does seem alarmingly at home. But she does has sharp instincts. She can sense an impending attack and scurry away as fast as she can, crying out as she flees from the scene. An example is in the bathtub. Elias is relentless in the tub, pouring water over her arms, at first, very innocently, and then, in a nonchalant manner, announces that he will now be pouring water over Dahlia's head. She does not like this, so much that she really no longer will sit in the bath with Elias and now is reluctant to have a bath at all. I tested this theory last night by having a bath with her. She was fine and loved splashing in the water. I guess it is a big ole bath tub couple with the fear of being engulfed in water by her brother's hands. I'll jump in with her for awhile until she feels better.

Dahlia's becoming a real kid, eating lots of food and having opinions about everything. I think Elias is going to be surprised in the upcoming months, as will we all.

2007-01-07T02:07:00.000-08:00

Here is Dahlia crusing at the kitchen table. She's quite an explorer and remarkably steady and stable. Dahlia has sprung tooth # 3! (as of Thursday) We went to play in the snow today and toward the end, we put Dahlia down in the snow. She seemed to really enjoy herself, all bundled like a bug rolling around in white!

2007-01-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

Dahlia is so joyful! I have no idea where she gets it from. She is always laughing and smiling, from the moment she wakes up until she goes to bed at night. She seems to find excitement in any old thing, from her pumpkin that she has been playing with since she started moving her hands and fingers to a magazine, she treats all equally, as if it were the most exciting, fascinating thing she's ever seen. I love to watch her move around and explore the world. It's a contagious kind of joy that makes one want to squeeze her until she pops! I must be careful to resist this natural inclination.

I believe Dahlia made her first sign yesterday, for milk, squeezing and releasing each of her little hands, open and close, and crawling up into my lap, tugging at my shirt. These changes are just miraculous to see in your own little self-extensions. Even though they mark the beginning of the end of babyhood, they also signal the beginnings of another exciting phase, as we have certainly experienced with Elias. I must try to really appreciate this time, as this will be my last hooray in baby land.

Monster Baby Squashes Toddler

2006-12-30T15:27:00.001-08:00

CIMG1378
Originally uploaded by amykwelias.

Carrot face

2006-12-30T15:19:00.001-08:00

CIMG1308, originally uploaded by amykwelias.

2006-12-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

Dahlia moves all about the house these days. She's been doing this special slide-crawl combo. It gets her around pretty quickly. One knee crawls, the other walks and slides the knee along. She clims onto everything with little success at diverting attention. She gets quite a temper when she realizes that you are trying to thwart her goals. She's a hazard to her own health!

Dahlia does some very cute things. She likes to play with my hair while she nurses. Sometimes she pulls it. Ouch! She likes to pull my glasses off. When I'm holding her, she likes to push her little finger into my side. Dahlia does not like to have her nose wiped. She does not like to get dressed or have her diaper changed, ever! She's cute and all, but can be very grumpy!

Dahlia really did not like Santa. His big fuzzy beard was just too weird for her, but she did like opening presents. Among her favorites were a new xylophone, a baby from nana, and, of course, anything Elias is playing with that he is not ready to share with Dahlia.

Dahlia likes quite a bit to play with her big brother's new basketball! She squeals with excitement and actually is a pretty good catch!

2006-11-30T14:24:00.000-08:00

Dahlia had her first "Dahlia only" playdate today with a new friend, Astrid. The two are about a week apart in age and seemed to really hit it off smashingly! Dahlia broke the ice with an eye poke and Astrid started conversation with a few loud-pitched squeals! Fun was had by all, so much so that Dahlia passed out near the end of the rendevous while reading Fuzzy Bee and Friends. :-) We're going to make a thing of it and meet again next Thursday.

2006-11-28T15:10:00.000-08:00

I just can't keep up with all this little one is doing! Today, she actually stood during Elias's music class for about 5 seconds completely free-standing! I as well as other onlookers were shocked!

So, she's crawling, no problem, and about a day after she started that, she started pulling herself up on anything. She has also been spotted heading for the up-stairs. NOT GOOD

Yesterday, I could have sworn Dahlia made the "more" sign when I was feeding her some cheerios. All day long today, she is putting her little hands together like that whenever I talk to her. And, I think she understands the "milk" sign and when I ask her if she would like some milk, she climbs up into my lap and grabs at my shirt.

On Thanksgiving, Dahlia was saying lots of "momma's" Sometimes, it sounds like she is saying her name, too. I don't know. Seems a little early for talking.

2006-11-13T19:57:00.000-08:00

I was feeding Dahlia this evening. It was the third night of rice cereal. She didn't like it last night and after the second bite tonight, she was literally howling at me about it! So, I went back to the bananas. She liked them a few nights earlier, and what do you know? She liked it! So, lesson learned here, it's not too early for Dahlia to have food preferences. She is so funny at expressing herself, yelling at me like a banshee until I get it.

2006-11-09T23:04:00.000-08:00

2006-11-09T22:42:00.000-08:00

Dahlia has two cute little teeth now. Her second tooth popped out just five days after the first. She's crawling like a champ these days. AND, today, she showed me that she can sit up from crawling position. WOW!

On Monday, Dahlia started eating some cream-o-wheat and bananas. She definitely seemed interested, but kept her cool. She insisted on holding the spoon and putting it into her mouth.

Her main concerns to date are trying to avoid getting squished by her big bro.

2006-10-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

Baby Dahlia is growing up! Today, while tooling around on the futon before bed, I believe she took what qualified as her first crawls! She was really so proud of herself!

Dahlia is very sweet. We seem to make a pretty good match. I don't know how, but I really seem to know what gets her going. She likes to play peek-a-boo and LOVES it when I pretend to eat her, as any human being does.

2006-10-21T00:43:00.000-07:00

Dahlia is a mellow baby. After going to sleep, she will often stir a little and fall back to sleep. I listen to wait for a distress call before I intervene, or if she is definitely awake. Tonight, she stirred for a bit, no crying, then, I hear her messing with the monitor. She's been moving around in circles pretty good these days. I go upstairs, open the door, and there is my little angel, holding the monitor in both hands on her belly, the monitor night light lighting up her cute little face. Too cute!

I spied her first tooth today...bottom left.

2006-10-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

2006-10-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

2006-10-09T14:34:00.000-07:00

On October 3, Dahlia began threatening to crawl. I woke up and looked over to her up on all fours. She's been doing that periodically ever since and is showing no signs of stopping.

She's soon to sprout some chompers, too. My, how the time is flying.

On October 1, Dahlia proved that she could in fact sit alone for a considerable amount of time. She still loses balance from time to time, but overall, can be classified as a sitter.

Let's see, let's see, what else, oh, she is a super squealer, although I'm not suprised! She is just a lover of life and it is beautiful!

2006-09-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

Another genius with the rings

Bath baby...so cute

Just call me spikey!

Another month passed, I'm not very good at keeping up on Dahlia's accomplishments. Shame on me. Let's see, she's rolling like mad and not only just back to belly, but belly to back, although she's not too keen on this roll. She has been pushing her little legs and body up, like she wants to crawl. I think Elias was crawling at five months. It's going so fast with Dahlia. She has started playing more with toys and of course, wanting to put everything in her mouth. She's really an intense player. Also, she's started these silly squeally little noises...I wish I could get it recorded. It's great...really silly, she does it in joy and to express frustration. Her favorite toys, to date, are the school bus, pumpkin head (after all these months), and now the wooden puzzle pieces.

It started raining yesterday. I decided we wstill needed to walk daily. So, instead of carrying Dahlia, Elias has really taken to riding in the backpack. I cover him with a raincoat, and push Dahlia in the stroller. She really likes the stroller. She plays with her toys and scans the radar for friendly faces to flash a cute little smile to through the rainshield.

What makes me smile about Dahlia...alot of things, but how she laughs after a sneeze or a cough.

2006-08-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Dahlia will be four months on the 29th of August. Today, she weighed 15 lbs and was a whopping 27.5 inches long...off the charts! Her new list of mastered tricks includes sucking her thumb, rolling from back to belly and pivoting on her belly in a circle!

2006-08-15T22:45:00.000-07:00

Dahlia's brother officially turned two today. In honor of his special day, Dahlia decided to roll over and scoot across the bed a little ways tonight after her shower.

Dahlia continues to be an avid fan of her toys. She is seen here tossing around one of her favorite mixed media clutch boxes.

Dahlia is also sucking her thumb lately,and I've got to tell you, it's one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Why would people be against the thumb or binky? Today, I set her down to lounge in the play jungle mat and she fell asleep with that little thumb in her mouth. It's nice that she has something nice hooked right to her hand to help her sooth herself. Always there when she needs it!

2006-07-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Dahlia rolled over yesterday...from back to left side to belly.

2006-07-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

dahlia had a real laugh on saturday, 7/15/06.

2006-07-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

Dahlia now plays with her hands and with toys. She also surprised me by rolling from back to side, both sides. How long has she been able to do this? It made me think for a minute what else am I missing?

2006-07-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

Dahlia is in her 10th week of life and it is just flying by. She is so sweet and engaging, alert and observant. She seems to enjoy a good oogle and holds a very persistent, steady gaze of faces in front of her. She smiles very easily with most happy faces. Dahlia likes to coo and does such girly things like raising her shoulders slightly and squinting her eyes with a big smile and squeak. Her eyelashes curl up on the sides just like the eyelashes in children's drawings that distinguish girls from boys. She has a very subtle dimple in her right cheek, just like Brad, and when she isn't being super smiley, her eyes look just like his, too. She spends most of her days tucked inside the sling while I chase Elias around. We enjoy time gazing at each other and chatting during Elias's nap and at bedtime. She's really quite a baby, she also seems like an old soul.

Her baby acne has thankfully cleared up. We are battling with some insidious yeast at present. A few days ago, she donned some stunning purple lips! Purple people eater is what we told others. Brad teased her quite relentlessly which made her coo and smile all the more. Elias thought I painted her lips purple. I feared this might have planted some interesting ideas into his little mind involving his favorite purple marker.

Dahlia likes to do this thing where you hover over her and she reaches up her arms to your face. She likes it when you give her little fists a big kiss, she pulls them away and then swings them back up high for more kisses. She has also started to make friends with some of her toys with particularly smiley faces, she laughs abd coos at them and bats at them with her fists, too.

Yesterday, Dahlia went in her for first glamour shots! She was a natural! She smiled right on cue and looked absolutely adorable in every shot! The photographer couldn't believe she was only 10 weeks. You can see some of her posing skills and arm action in these shots.

When I was putting her to sleep tonight, I was just in awe of how truly wonderful our family is and how much I am looking forward to all that is to come with us.

2006-06-13T22:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Dahlia did something that was amazing to me. I was holding her at her hands and she was pulling up to me and as I tilted my head from side to side, she followed me with her head. She is really strong to do this. WOW. So, basically, she can move her head side to side as she wants to. Very strong.

Dahlia is a very smiley baby. She continues to be a very screaming baby, too.

2006-06-06T22:27:00.000-07:00

Dahlia smiled today. :-)

2006-06-02T15:04:00.000-07:00

Dahlia is just on the verge of smiling. She has started to coo and be a very sweet and cuddley baby girl in so many ways. She has started to look more human and less space cowboy...you know how new babies have that weird, glazed-over look to their eyes. I'm glad. I am searching for the little person back there. She's gonna bloom soon, I can tell. Brad thinks she'll be very assertive and selfish. That she won't take any junk from anyone. Could be. She's not shy about letting us know fast when she's not happy. And she's loud about it. I worry sometimes that my hearing might be damaged after a particularly lengthy spell of shrieking.

There are several challenges physically that Dahlia may need to overcome in time. The first being that she is tremendously gassy and smelly. I have never experienced such a stench! And such voluminous toots! They wake us up from deep sleep! Pauline would be proud!

She also has an awful case of newborn acne. Elias never had it, and it is alarming. It pretty much covers her chubby little chrrks and is around her neck and hairline. Sometimes it looks quite red and blotchy. Often, just when it seems as though it is going to go away, it's back, full force. There's noting to do about it. I think it bothers me a bit because of my own issues. Nuissance!

Oh, and she has had her first cold already, thanks to Elias. Poor thing, fortunately not that serious.

She's very loveable. I think she's nice and squishy, with skin like velvet.

2006-05-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

These pictures are the latest of our little chub.

2006-05-18T22:55:00.000-07:00

Dahlia is quite amazing at 2 weeks and 5 days. She is very strong. She can already turn her head from side to side on her belly. She lifts it up...so strong, just like her brother. Also, at her 2 week check, she gained almost 2 lbs. Wow! weighing 9 lbs. 10.5 oz. and measuring 23 3/4 inches! What a big girl! She even looks kinda chunky to me, in good way. Things are going very well. She's got some great dimples, too.

2006-05-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

Ain't she pretty!?! Dahlia at one week.

2006-05-08T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dahlia was finally born April 29, 2006 at 9:12 PM. She came without being forced, which is a good thing. Actually, up until the last hour, I had questioned whether I was truly in labor. Might be kinda silly. Anyhow, on that day, I had mild cramps all day. We started the morning goin gto class academy to check out their program for Elias. Then to the library for a spanish celebration. Then home, I took a nice long nap with Elias. Brad had called Duane and Jim to come over. We had been timing the cramps and it seemed as if they were at least getting closer together. Brad was getting nervous. Good thing, because I was not.

Duane and jim came by, and Brad and I went for a big walk. Things progressed a bit. We ordered a pizza and just as it arrived, I decided I wasn't hungry. Jim took ovver timing contractions. They were definitely getting closer together and more intense. Could this be it??? At 6:45pm, I decided that we would go to the hospital after Elias fell asleep. By 7:30PM, I knew we had to go. When we got there, I was 6 cm dilated and the midwive and nurse both commented that it won't be long. And, boy, wasn't it. I think we arrived at the hospital 7:45/8:00PM, and I was pushing you out by 9:00PM. Crazy fast. No complications. You came out yelling and with an instant latch! 8lbs 5oz. Big baby! 20 inches long and with some nice fat rolls!! Yeah!!!!! We love you so!

2006-04-27T18:26:00.000-07:00

WHERE ARE YOU???

Ugh, 6 days late. I have never felt so big, so tired, so ready for my body to be free again to bend and run and to do all of those wonderful things! To feel my fingers and to be able to sleep on my back without suffocating. And, it's very stressful to be late, it brings up a whole new ball of worry and anxious anticpation. Not at all fun. Last night, I started having some contractions and I was sure that I'd wake up later with the "real thing" in play. But instead, I just woke up in the morning, as if nothing had changed. And I guess nothing had, man o man. Tomorrow marks the completion of my 41st week of pregnancy. I have a midwife visit and hopefully, she can stir something up! Otherwise, I think I start having to go in every other day for NSTs and AFIs. NOT FUN! Come on, baby girl! Get your little booty out here!

2006-04-19T07:56:00.000-07:00

2006-04-19T07:21:00.000-07:00

I feel like the little boy in Waiting for Baby. Come out, come out, come out! I'M TIRED OF WAITING! Techinally, you're not even due until Friday. If you could pick up the pace a bit, I'd sure appreciate it! Much Love!

2006-04-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Two weeks and three days. I am really counting down. Today, I went to have more blood work. I waited forever in the waiting room, teeth unbrushed, in my "pajamas," ugh, it could not have taken longer. The phlebotomist asked when you were due and I gave her the countdown and then said that I couldn't wait to have this part over with. She didn't really seem to catch the sarcasm of it and stopped talking to me. I guess it was too early for her, as well. She must have thought I'd be the worst mother ever and should've been far more excited. I am excited, you know that. It'll be good to meet face to face. :-)

2006-03-30T14:30:00.000-08:00

You've given us quite the scare over the past few weeks, first with the itching and now the liver. Ugh, I think we both just want the uncertainties past us. Just come out already and be here and be healthy, you little squirt! 8 centimeters to go and alot of effacing. We just can hardly wait!

You were funny today, such a little squiggler. Our last NST today (let's hope) and you would not sit still for the nurse. Moving all over the place, anywhere but near the monitor. UGH! It took forever, poor Daddy and Elias had to play in the park for nearly 2 hours! I enjoy hearing you and having you play little games with the nurses in the office, but I'm glad that we can not do that anymore, it's hard on all of us!

3 weeks and one day. Come on little girl, get out here!

2006-02-27T14:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it is already February 27! You'll be here before we know it. Anyway, currently, you are doing well, very active and busy, although gentle. You are very sweet, I can tell. But, you are killing my back. I've been in great pain for the past three weeks, mostly likely caused mostly by my inability to sit still, but let's not idscount your role, either. The DO said today that you must be kicking your feet against my sacrum or something. It is getting better, but getting around, especially with your little brother in tow, is still very challenging. I've been thinking about you more and more, wondering what we will name you and how the delivery and adjustment following will go. It's beginning to feel very exciting, scary, and above all real. Much love to you. Be healthy.

2005-12-22T12:21:00.000-08:00

You are such a kicker and a squirmer. I wonder if Elias has any idea that you are in there and that you are the one poking him in the belly from time to time.

2005-12-01T12:47:00.001-08:00

Five months into this and I have not written a thing yet. So, here it goes. With Elias, I really kept track of every moment because I wanted him to know my entire experience with him. I want you to know, too, my little Lola, sweet girl (or whoever you may become).

You are really kicking up a storm these days. Your litte feet and/or hands pushing their way through. I like to feel you move because it reminds me of you and that you are real and growing in there. We all wait anxiously to meet you and we already love you more than is describable.

This pregnancy has been pretty easy, with the excception of being dog tired for the first two months, and then being a bit more nauseous with you than with Elias. At first, the hardest part was letting go of the worry, and I still sometimes struggle with that. How will I manage you and Elias? Will it work? Will I be able to love you both as much as you deserve? And I worried alot about Elias. We are still breastfeeding, but I worried that he would have to stop before he was ready. I also worry about breastfeeding both of you at the same time, if Elias doesn't stop. It generally try not to think too hard about things as I think only getting through the challenges I face will convince me that I will and that we all will endure.

I haven't had any strange cravings so far. Lots of sweet stuff appeals to me. I have eaten alot of pie since you came along and I am just believing that it is you requesting all this sugar and whipped cream and pie. My body is changing, it is quite different than with Elias. I thinking I am thicker around the center, whereas with Elias, I was more of a big ball on the front. I'm hoping not to blimp out entirely this time, but you keep demanding all of the pie!!!

At 11 weeks, we first caught glimpse of you. You did alot of rolling and spinning, and I was just amazed at how much of a little person you already were so quickly! The ultrasound blew me away. Last Monday, we saw you again, saw that you were a little girl, and you had a nicely splayed hand and were laying on your belly. You couldn't be bothered to move too much, and I felt nervous because you looked so big and my uterus looked so small. All in all, despite my worries, you were perfect. Nothing at all suspect to report!! Yeah! It was a little harder to concentrate during this ultrasound because your brother was not going to cooperate with the procedure. He wanted to be on Mommy, front and center, so Daddy and Elias had to be out of the room for most of the ultrasound. The pictures we were given included some profiles and your hands. You are beautiful. I think you have my nose which may or may not be a good thing. I don't think I liked my nose until I was 30! Anyway, you are just perfect and we couldn't be happier to have you on the way.

Your Nana was just do delighted to hear that you were a girl, as was you Grandma Lynn, your Aunt Jocelyn and your Great Grandma Boettiger. Nana, Grandma Lynn, and Jocelyn are all very excited to shower you with girlie things! :-)

In one month, we will be living in a new house all together. This has really added alot of stress to my plate. And to your Daddy's, too. I think it will all work out well, though.