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

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

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?

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.

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.

Dahlia smiled today. :-)

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.

These pictures are the latest of our little chub.

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.

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

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!

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!

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!

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. :-)

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!

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.

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.

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.