Catching up

So much is happening from day to day its hard to catch up. More rolling, more smiles, first Weddings, first ambulance meetings and first dinners out. Too bad I keep forgetting to take photos (oops- sorry).
This is a photo from Piper's first wedding. It was the themed wedding of Amulya and Doug and once again Piper hit her mellow up at the Zen Center. She did wonderfully and even dressed up for the SteamPunk theme. Complete with black and white stripped tights. Yet another nap strike found us at the bar for the reception where Josh held her while I enjoyed a much needed Guinness. Hey, it really does help nursing Mother's like they claim! In more ways than one!

Morning Rituals

There is only so much we can predict on any given day, but it is safe to say these days that once awake- Piper is ready for a nap. After breakfast she's quite content to rest on my shoulder (calmest she'll be all day) and watch her Dad move around the house getting ready to leave for work. She watches Josh a lot. Anytime he's around she tends to keep an eye on him.

Houdini

Piper is a wild child. Sweet as she may be she wiggles and squirms and fidgets constantly. This makes sleeping a challenge as she doesn't have full control of her arms yet so she flails and wakes herself up. She loves a good swaddle. She smiles and looks relieved when she's finally wrapped up and ready for a snooze. But try as we might she always escapes. We have Velcro straightjacket like wraps, zip wraps, tuck and go wraps....she can get out of anything.

Busy and a nap strike

It is less than two weeks to Shumei's 9th Anniversary so meetings, emails, and phone calls fill the time during naps. Mother's day was a big day as we ran from cleaning house and meeting with our realtor to a meeting up at Shumei. Too much for Miss Piper, as she went on a nap strike and we spent the evening trying to convince her that sleep was a good thing. She eventually slept of course, but not without trying every trick we could muster. Its a lesson I already knew - more sleep is better than no sleep. But once again, can't predict what will happen. Last meeting she slept through. This one- no go. These nap strikes seems to be happening more and more. Its as if she knows fun stuff is happening and she doesn't want to miss a thing. Sweet, but not good for any of us as the day wears on.
Here are some shots of our time up at Shumei.


Osamu graciously held Piper as I readied myself for some bouncing in the carrier.


Before that Naoko got some one on one Piper time before the meeting began.

Smiley Baby

Once and awhile we'd get a random smile, but nothing like the past few days.

Piper woke up a few days ago with big grins. If we kiss her cheeks, make funny sounds or smile back at her she is beams. Especially upon waking. Which really softens the blow to her new early morning schedule. I'm not used to 6am at all, but Josh is loving the new early start to the day with a beaming baby.

Second Try

I know. I know.

There are about a million opinions out there for and against the bottle. But we all have to make our own decisions.

We tried again. Because as much as I hate the plastic I realized for us, and our little Piper (who eats when awake every hour or sooner) we needed another option. Both for Josh wanting to bond and me wanting to be able to have an alternative if need be (be it to have a massage (happy Mommy happy baby) or go to work without her). Well this try went smashing. She smiled and teased Josh as she took the bottle with no issue. And then came back to Mom at the next meal as if nothing happened.

But in true form the next time we tried the bottle ...not having it. This is part of the experience though, right? You have your plan but your plan involves another human being, as small as she may be.

Zen Center Lunch and other food related updates

The Zen Center here in Crestone has a large lunch every April at the end of their yearly retreat. Its a wonderful meal with amazing people and its always an honor to be invited. This year we asked if we could bring Piper (I told them she doesn't tend to scream and doesn't eat much).

And she did incredible!

It is quite the crowd, lots of loud and unpredictable noises, but she was mellow and slept in her Dad's arms for most of the afternoon. Later she ate and hung out with Mom in the carrier while greeting her new friends. She doesn't seem overstimulated at the moment, so we'll see as the night progresses how she fairs.

In other news Piper had a check up with our Midwife Alycia and she is now 12lbs. Well, she was 11.14lb and at the rate she's gaining by now she'd be 12lbs. What is considered an average weight gain for a baby her age is 1oz. a day, at this rate Piper's averaging 2oz. a day. For you body conscious out there have no fear and no hang-ups on Piper's behalf, in the baby world this is a very very good and healthy thing. And with her activity level she's doing great. No new rolling over sightings, but she's working on other projects at the moment.