Nine months - times 10!

Myla is nine months old today - and ten times her birth weight. Quite an accomplishment. We went and saw the doctor for her nine month check up and while the shots weren't a great way to say congratulations, everything else was good. She officially weighed in at 14 pounds 3/4 ounce, and was 24 1/4" long. She's also twice as long as she was when she was born! So, when Myla was born, she weighed 22 ounces. Today, she weighed 224 ounces. Most nine month babies at their check-ups are only twice their birth weight. Needless to say, the doctor is keeping her on the multi-vitamin because she is just growing so fast. He also said that we could call to have the oxygen picked up and out of the house! Yes! She hasn't shown any signs of needing it, or missing it.The doctor was very impressed with her and kept saying she was doing really good. We knew that though.

This was kind of a bittersweet week around the house. John will be interviewing with the manager of a second and bigger store today and will probably become the LP manager of two stores. It shows a tremendous amount of confidence from his boss to offer him such a position. And he's a little overwhelmed at the prospect of it, but I think once her figures out schedules and such, he'll really enjoy it. On the other hand, I was informed on Monday that I will be laid off in six weeks. My boss was really generous in giving me the six weeks and it gives me a chance to have a paycheck and insurance while looking for a new job. I've had my resume out there for a couple of months, but no real bites yet. Hopefully something will happen soon. However, we still feel nothing but grateful that we have a healthy, happy, beautiful little girl that makes us smile all the time. The rest - well, nothing really compares to that does it?

How hot is it?

Remember when you were a baby and you could run around in your diaper because, hey! You're a baby! Well, today was 100 degrees - or darn near close - and when you don't have air conditioning, you got to stay cool somehow. Any Myla chose to go around in her diaper for most of the day. Except, she has a really nasty diaper rash and the doctor told us to let it get some air, so really the diaper just sat under her while she played. Rough life huh? The heat didn't seem to phase her much though, she still had a good time.

Doctor's appointment is on Thursday and we expect Myla to weigh in somewhere between 15-16 pounds and measure about 25 inches. She's come a long way baby! She's so close to sitting up and love to do so. When her little bum gets better, she'll get to play more in the jumper and work on that standing thing.

Tomorrow is supposed to be even hotter. That's it - with Aunt Aimee going to France, we're going to take advantage of her pool!

A little something else.

For my parents and friends to whom I've complained about this deck project I took on several months ago, here is the first picture. Yes, it's still unfinished. But I've actually enjoyed doing it and trying to build it right and learning tricks and things. So, we can't wait to use it in the fall. ;o)

Myla update: Myla has a doctor's appointment soon for her 9th month check up and she'll get a couple shots. No fun but necessary. She is such a great joy with her little personality and easy going temperment. I think she kinda likes us too...
It's official. We are flying out to North Carolina in September to see our friends that moved out there and we cannot wait! It will be interesting flying with a baby but I bet Myla will do fine. It's going to be so much fun! So, Jeff, Kathleen and kids, get ready 'cause here we come! ;o)

Freedom!!!

Unlike a nine fingered person with that phantom feeling, Myla will not miss the canulas, other than for the fun of pulling them down into her mouth. Yes, Myla passed her last non-oxygen sleep study! We are so very proud of her! The doctor said that she improved so much in the last couple of months that it seems reasonable to stop the use of oxygen but monitor her for a little while. It may sound funny but she looks different without those prongs in her nose and the tubing across her face being held on by adhesive grips. I'm sure it will take us a few times to remember that we don't have to grab the old cart with the oxygen tank on it.

Now it will be easier to take her places without the tin man following and having to worry about were the tubing is at our feet, or caught on something else, like the dog. Haley-dog doesn't like it either. If Myla could eat ice cream we would celebrate with Dairy Queen Blizzards. Mmmm....frosty....

4th of July

Our fourth of July weekend began with a concert in the park - a little swing music by the Hot Tomatoes. Then, Grandma and Grandpa Washburn came out for a little fun and some Myla-time. Johnny and the uncles and Grandpa went golfing - for five hours! - and Myla spent the time handing out smiles to Grandma. Our little firecracker didn't have the energy to stay up for fireworks though; she was exhausted from watching her cousin run back and forth across the room. Then, on Sunday, she got to meet some aunts and uncles on the Witulski side, most who hadn't yet seen her. All in all, we had a nice weekend together.

Myla continues to amaze even me. We've moved on to barley and while she doesn't like it very much, she'll eat it if you get it in her mouth. She had an overnight oxygen test last week and we should get the results tomorrow when her doctor is in. She's such a social butterfly and people watcher, sometimes its hard to keep her engaged in eating she's whipping her head around so much. She loves to move and see new things - I think that one of these days we might have to take a trip to the zoo or something. You know, exercise her mind... There's so much to see through a baby's eyes!

Got our first invitation to the hospital preemie reunion in September. I can't believe that she's almost nine months and how much she's changed. I can't wait to take her and show her off and give big hugs to all our friends from our time there. But really, I can't wait to see their faces when they see how wonderful she is doing.

8 Months and rollin'!

What a difference a month makes in a baby's life! Myla has learned to roll almost all the way over onto her tummy, if only that shoulder would move under her easier..... She enjoys standing, with mom and dad's help, and has developed a habit of spitting when she's annoyed. Myla went swimming twice this month at her Auntie's pool and loves to try and grab the bubbles, but don't even think about making her do the back stroke, she doesn't like it at all. She is getting so good at grabbing things with either or both hands and especially likes bending the little arc above her play mat when pulling a toy down to her.

Myla has discovered two kinds of baby cereal, rice and oatmeal. She Loves oatmeal! Sometimes it doesn't come fast enough and we still have to bottle feed her but that's okay. She gets a lot of it on her face too 'cause there's so much to see that she turns her head while the spoon is in her mouth, she does that with the bottle too. But this weekend will be so cool and exhausting for our little Punkin, her Grammy and G-Daddy are coming out to see her, give her love and toys ;o). Maybe we'll be able to hang out on our deck in the backyard if I can ever get it finished by then. We'll see.

Myla's mommy and daddy are feeling old this weekend after working in the yard and cleaning the bedroom all day Saturday. Daddy was so tired he went to bed at 7pm and didn't wake up until 8am! What a slacker.....says mommy. ;o) Hopefully Myla will have another and last oxygen test this week. She can sit by herself most of the time, she just gets a little wobbly and leans to one side or the other but she's getting there. What a cutie pie, she loves to people watch and her hearing is great, she turns her head towards all the sounds. Tummy time is becoming more fun and she usually lasts longer too, just grabbing at things, using her legs but her newest thing is a type of Johnny-Jump-Up. It's not quite the same as the old version but it helps her use her legs and has a little tray to put toys on. I think she's catching on to it. There's so much to say about my little miracle but we'll save some content for the next posting.

Rockin' the cereal baby!

See, I knew it would only be a matter of time and she would be all over that cereal thing! Myla is lovin' it! It takes her a minute to remember what she's doing when we first start, but after that, its more, more, more! Sometimes, we can't get it in there fast enough. So, now that we know she likes it and knows how to eat it, we'll start doing it twice a day and maybe mix it up with some barley or something. Or, I don't know, what else do you feed a baby just starting out?

We had the day time oxygen test last week and she did famously - as expected. In fact, her numbers were 95-96 when she was awake and eating, but her tummy hurt and she didn't fall asleep. The respiratory therapist said that because her numbers were great, we could take her off of it when she was awake. Now, don't get your hopes up, because I called the doctor to ask some questions - like what if she falls asleep on the couch with her dad - and he did not say that. He did say that we might not wait until the beginning of July for the next overnight test because her numbers were so good. So, we might do that this week. I'm supposed to call him tomorrow.

We hope to go swimming again on Tuesday - see, Tuesdays are cannula changing day. We can't go swimming with the oxygen because it would get her grips wet and they would fall off and she doesn't like them as it is. So, now that we know her numbers are so good when she's awake, we're going to hit the pool and soak up some sun. And who knows, maybe this time she'll really like it.