Loves to you

Our little Myla - scratch that. Our BIG Myla is doing so many new things! For starters, teeth numbers 5 and 6 finally popped through, one on top and one on bottom. Have to keep things even, you know. She's discovered that she can point with those fingers and that when the hands come together, they can clap. She also blows kisses, but she has to be in the mood to do that. She's just changed so much lately - in her appearance and her skills. She really is so big!

You should see the stuff she does at her babysitter/nanny's house! She made a bean bag into a slide, she puts the shapes in her shape-sorter and she nicely puts her cup back on the ledge instead of throwing it on the floor. The other day, I got her to stand on her own two feet for a good amount of time. She wasn't so happy about it, kind of whimpered like she was scared. But she's never liked wobbling. Really, I can't tell you everything she does now because this post would be so long!

Synagis shot #4 is on Wednesday so we will do another official weigh in. They're really good at getting both legs at once so it doesn't hurt twice, but she still doesn't like it. Neither does John. But she still hasn't really gotten sick (knock on wood) and we would like to keep it that way. But before that, I get Monday off to play with her and I can't wait. Zoo? Aquarium? Children's Museum? The possibilities are endless!

Baby joy.

Isn't Myla cute with that animal cracker on her head! I love it! She was obviously very tired at that moment. Monday was her check up and she now weighs 16 lbs 8 1/4 oz, is 27 inches tall and is fabulous. ;o) She's hitting all the milestones that she should. Myla is moving on with so many things lately, like going off of formula, which we're excited about too 'cause it's getting expensive, and eating table food. She is playing with her mom's baby rocking chair that she had as a toddler but it's hard keeping Myla seated in it. Her little personality is showing through more everyday like laying her head on her shoulder while in her high chair and imitating the cat's meow. She is so much fun, I'm glad it's Myla and Daddy time all week long!

(Yes that's a diaper box she's playing in) Last night Kara and I separated all Myla's clothes that she's either too big or too little for and we realized just how blessed we've been that so many people have made sure she was clothed. One thing's for sure, she wouldn't have been so well outfitted if it were just up to us. Tomorrow Myla and I may get out and go to the library or something, keep from getting cabin fever and stuff. If we had more snow we could make a snow penguin with the kit we got for Christmas. Maybe next month. Kara is doing crafty things and I might get some xbox in tonight so off I go. Enjoy.

Playing with food

It was another glorious day here in Denver - 67 degrees says the car. And it was MLK day and somehow or another, I got the day off. Beautiful day, day with my girl, free day at the zoo - was my thought. And EVERYONE else's thought in the city limits of Denver too. When we went, there were people parked on sidewalk there were so many people. So, Aunt Aimee, Myla and I went to a local mall and played on the food. Not quite the sunshine and animals, but Myla seemed to enjoy it. After she was done watching all the other kids run around. It took a few minutes, but she did start moving and exploring things. She sat on an egg, sausage, waffles and a cereal bowl. She wouldn't touch the bacon and shredded wheat cereal though. Maybe she doesn't like brown...

We took an unofficial weight today and figure she's somewhere around 17 1/2 or 18 pounds. Nice jump from last month. She has a synagis shot on Wednesday (for RSV) and her 15 month check up on Monday, so we will have the official number later this week. She and John both escaped the pneumonia which is awesome because that would not be good. It wasn't any fun for me either, but the doctor declared my lungs clear as a bell last week. Yeah!

Myla is making all sorts of cute faces and strange sounds lately. She's discovered that she can climb on things like her rocking chair at G&G Witulski's house and the bouncy chair at her babysitters house. She's a master at hiding toys or pieces of her puzzles in places I would never think to look, and she will eat almost anything you put on her plate. Still won't have anything to do with milk from her cup, but maybe when she can make the switch to cow's milk, she won't even flinch. Life is good around this Washburn house, and a whole lotta fun.

Can't fence me in!

Myla sends love and best wishes this new year to all who enjoy her blog, especially her family and framily. She is a climber these days! In your arms, along the furniture and even using the walls to stand up. As you can see by the picture, she loves exploring new things or familiar things in a new way. We have to enlist the help of baby blockades to keep her in one area and not in the dog's water bowl. Myla gets a kick out of splashing in water.... Because she's moving so much she's burning more calories so we are feeding her more diverse foods that she can gnaw on with her 4 little teeth. That's right. She has two teeth on top poking through now, and more hair than dad, sadly that's not saying much.

Myla loves to be around the cat and cat doesn't seem to mind because she can outrun the baby. But that's okay, Myla gets a kick out of her anyway. She's such a happy little girl, we couldn't have imagined her personality being so easy going. To sum up, you could say we love our baby TONS!!

Her parents are okay too. Kara is fighting off the pneumonia in her lung very well with antibiotics. Yeah, go figure. Not even Kara thought she was that sick and it's bacterial so Myla is fine. She probably has a stronger immune system than we do anyway. Nothing has changed too much around here other than trying to multi-task more but that's why we got a Roomba (that and it was a hot deal). Just set it in one room and let it work. It's the one vacuum so far that Myla isn't afraid of. I don't know why but she has a hard time when we run the upright, even in mom's arms. She'll grow out of it I'm sure. Either that or she'll be afraid of maids her whole life.....

Thanks for reading. ;o)

5 second rule

Myla and I were just playing (and I do mean just - it was like 20 minutes ago) with her fridge farm. She grabbed a piece off the fridge and took it in both hands to look at it. But wait, what was holding her up? Her little feet! Myla stood there - STOOD there - for about five seconds examining this piece before putting it back on the fridge. Pretty fitting milestone for coming home one year ago today huh?

Only 364 days to go

Merry Christmas! We hope that yours was as merry as ours was. It was so nice to spend the day with the family and wonder at our little Myla and how she can crawl so fast! Myla had a very good Christmas. She was spoiled with hugs and kisses and a few presents came her way too. She got puzzles and books and clothes and stuffed animals and a tunnel to crawl through and a quilt and... so much more!

She visited with family and showed off and had such a great day. And we did too, just watching her and marveling at how far she's come from just a short year ago. She had ham and green beans and pasta for Christmas Eve dinner and prime rib, potatoes and carrots for Christmas. She's just done so well. She loved every minute. She's an eater, that's for sure. She got to play with cousins and aunts and uncles, got to pull up and squat down, and chase Uncle Scott's dog. It was a full day!

We got spoiled a bit too (Phantom tickets! Indoor skydiving! Batteries for the drill so we can FINALLY finish the deck!). But most of all, and I think I speak for her dad her too, we were just so thankful. We were truly blessed with awesome doctors and nurses and a true miracle baby that powered through it all. She definitely had a guardian angel watching over her and we are so overwhelmed by the joy and love that she has brought into our lives. Those commercials say that having a baby changes everything, and while I knew that it would, I had no idea it would be by this much. She made Christmas so much fun and full of child-like wonder for us. I just loved watching her discover all the new toys and figuring out what they could do. This next year is going to fly by too, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Getting in the Spirit

Its amazing how having a little one around during the Christmas season seems to make everything a little more fun. We see things in a whole new way through Myla's eyes - the village, the tree, the presents. Even the wrapping paper. Its all so different for her, new I guess. Sometimes, she crawls under the tree and I don't know how, but she knows which ones are her presents and she'll shake them. I don't think its to try and figure out what it is, but more because she's found something new. I just hope she still likes them when the wrapping paper is off.

Myla is getting more and more table food - she had meatloaf the other night, yummy! - and has figured out how to drink from her sippy cup while holding it herself. She'll drink water from it just fine, but don't try to sneak in some milk, that only comes from bottles. We'll keep working on it. She's taken a couple of steps by herself behind her little stroller while pushing it and has ventured out to walking along walls and cabinets. She'll be upright soon I'm guessing. Until then, she will crawl at supersonic speeds. She discovered underneath the table the other night - like a little fort. That was pretty neat.

I have to tell you the story behind this adorable hat. Last year, Myla got a Christmas dress, preemie size, and if you recall, she still swam in it. Well, the dress came with matching booties and this hat, which this year fits her little head perfectly. The booties do too. Now, I don't know which preemie they measured the hat for, but it is NOT preemie size, its Myla size. And doesn't she make it look good?!