Perfect People

If you haven't heard this song by Natalie Grant I highly recommend clicking on the play button - it's called Perfect People and I think it's a song that reflects a lot of people's lives these days.

So many times we try and hide behind a mask of perfection - life is perfect, everyone is happy snappy all the time...no one is perfect and nor should we try and live as though we are.

And that, my friends, is the biggest challenge I believe we face as humans everyday - to lift our masks, to show our imperfections. I don't often struggle to show God who I really am or tell Him where I feel like I'm going wrong, etc...it's with other people that I try and be perfect. I hate that I do that and lately I've really been trying to be truthful, honest, and real all the time.

It's a hard thing to be...but the next time someone asks you a question - tell the truth. When someone asks how you are, do you always just say good or fine. I challenge you to tell them how you REALLY are doing (I mean, given that the time and person is appropriate. You probably shouldn't unload your life struggles to the Starbucks barista in the drive-thru). Why are we so scared to be who we are?

Why is it not to okay to say you're sad, mad, or frustrated?

And that is why this song has impacted my life lately. It's okay to not be perfect. And don't forget it. That person around the corner who has it all? They don't. I need that reminder a lot. Don't you?

kortney elise xoxo

On Sleep and Bottles

It's been a while since I gave an update on some important things around our house. It seems the milestones are hard to keep track of these days, because Alexys keeps on hitting them.

She's such an exuberant girl already and her personality sure shines through on a daily basis. I think that is still the biggest shock to me as a new mom – how much a baby is truly born with a personality. I always wondered about the nature vs. nurture phenomenon. It's no question in my mind now – a baby is born with a personality and it is the nurturing that it receives that will guide the baby as she grows. For example, Alexys is stubborn. Very, very stubborn. This can be either a good quality to possess or a negative one…depending on how she is raised. Stubbornness nurtured in a positive environment, I believe, will lead to a girl with strong leadership qualities, who won't back down for what she believes in. Still, I'm shocked even now how much personality a little one can have.

Our sleeping is going better, but still nowhere near perfect. She now, on most nights, goes to bed in her own bed from being awake. Sometimes it's a struggle more than others, but that is to be expected. We generally put her down in her bed and she'll cry for about 10 minutes or so. I can tell by her cry if she's going to go down or not. If it's not the "right" kind of cry, I just go and get her and we have some more cuddle time. That's key, I think, in our whole process. She needs lots of loving and cuddling beforehand or it is a no go. She goes down between 7:30 and 9 every night. She is not doing any long stretches at night anymore, unfortunately, so that will be our next step. She generally wakes up after 3 hours, and then every 2 after that. The most frustrating part is that she has almost weaned herself of night feedings, technically. When she's waking up, it's not to nurse or for her soother, it's for her mommy. She's one cuddly kid. We've tried just letting her settle and no luck so far. I'm going to come up with something new, but for now I just bring her into my bed. She usually nurses once during the night at some point, and generally sleeps until around 8:30. An early day is 6am and a sleep-in day is 9. So we've improved things, but they're not perfect…yet. I have hope for this little girl – she's just a cuddle bug.

What else? Well, my girl is a bottle girl, now! After many, many months of trying, Alexys drinks a bottle now – the original ones I bought for her before she born even – with normal (not vanilla flavoured) formula. Not completely all the time – neither of us wants that. But I will tell you that I was relieved to catch a break and be able to attend skating seminars both last weekend and the one before. It provided some much needed "me" time and left me renewed, refreshed and much better off. I was starting to lose my sanity, I think, not being able to leave Alexys for more than 2 hours or so…and not without worrying like mad. Our day to day is now much easier on this mama. She nurses in the morning and all night, as often as she pleases. After breakfast is over, she has bottles until dinnertime. Sometimes she wants to nurse and sometimes she doesn't. If she wants to and we're at home, that's fine. Other times she doesn't want to nurse and prefers that bottle. That's fine too. We have a long nursing session before bed usually followed by a bottle.

I was definitely filled with guilt when I started on the formula, but I see how much easier it is on both of us, now. It's working much better and we both like it this way. I'm glad I'll be able to wean Alexys slowly from nursing and am glad that I can still nurse at this point in her life to provide immunities and snuggles. All valuable things. Our goal is still one year of nursing together, but it's mostly up to Alexys at this point!

I think those are the main things I wanted to touch on. A nice long update to keep you. Other things we'll just touch on in point form:

• Alexys is getting baptized on Sunday. You're more than welcome to join us if you so wish – just email me to get the info.
  
• Alexys not only drinks from a bottle, but can hold her own bottle (and even is as I type this!).
  
• She can sit up on her own from lying down on back or tummy.
  
• She is nearly crawling…definitely getting around, but I wouldn't call it creeping. She's just moving.
  
• She can pull to standing and is frustrated that she can't walk.
  
• She has a full pincher grasp and feeds herself often now.
  
• She went from being a baby to a toddler in less than a week, I feel like.
  

I'm sure there's more. But that's all you get.
kortney elise xoxo

Overhaul

I hadn't finished Alexys' room until today. She's more than 8 months old. Oops. I'm still not done perse, but I made a big jump today. I'll just let you see instead of explaining!!!

This is what the bedroom looked like BEFORE Alexys came (way back when we moved in!). Not so hot...all that green made me feel sick!!!

This is the curtain topper I just put up today. I am a genius because it did not involve a curtain rod. It is simply clipped to the curtain header. It took me a long time to figure that out, but I'm so glad I did.

These are the frames that are going to contain artwork that Alexys' Uncle Nick is designing for her. Maybe he'll feel pressured now that I announced it to the world (haha, yeah right!).

I hate how the letters are hanging and I'm going to redo them, but for now it'll do. I spent SO long painting those letters, ever so perfectly, I figured they need to hang ASAP.

There are two more wall projects to be done in her room and then it'll be "complete". I'll take more pictures of those projects (hopefully) tomorrow. They weren't quite finished yet.

I also redid my pantry (again) today. It looks beautiful after utilizing my new Tupperware. Definitely more space and more organized. I took before and after pictures just for you (seriously, my husband told me I'm a dork):

Before

After

If you really care, you could click to get a better idea of the new organization standard.

I also cleaned my microwave (ewww, ick...remind me to do that more often), took out my recycling...there's more, but I hear a crying baby.

kortney elise xoxo

New Favourite

This is my new favourite website.

I am so going to find cheap baskets and glue material on them so my closet can match. I always talk about how much I'd love my closet to have matching baskets. Why did I never think of this? It seems so obvious.

Cannot wait for a dollar store trip and the material store. I've been meaning to go to the material store for a loooong time to finish Alexys' room. I'm a bad mom. She's 8 months old and has an incomplete, undecorated room. Maybe that's why she hates it so much.

kortney elise xoxo

PS: I was all set to write a post on Alexys' great sleeping patterns the past 3 weeks or so...well, at least the part where she goes to bed between 8 and 9 every night, awake, in her own bed, with little crying (if any). Except then she learned to sit up in her crib. So now that's all gone down the tube for now. Although she is presently on her tummy in her crib and she doesn't seem to have the energy to roll over and sit up. Phew. Maybe it's a temporary solution!!!! Look for a sleep post, regardless, in the next few days!!!

A New Adventure

I've decided upon a new adventure…it's something that's been in my head for a long time – something I've always wanted to do. So in turn, I took the plunge and just did it. And I'm glad I did.

I'm going to be a skating judge.

Why? What? I thought you were a coach, you're thinking. Correct. I was a coach. I haven't coached actively with a club for a few years and at this point in my life, it is too much commitment without enough pay. Coaching skating is something that requires a lot of dedication (if you want to do a good job) and something you need to pour your heart into. Those are both things, at least right now, that I just can't do. I hate getting up early in the morning to coach and I hate driving at 3pm. I hate not being in control of my business (ie: able to expand it) because if there's no ice, you can't just go rent some somewhere else. I have a daughter I'd rather spend time with and a stay-at-home job I need to focus on. All these things lead me to believe that me and coaching are just not a good mix at this time in my life. I really thought about going back this year and making it work with Alexys, but in the end, I'd still have to work somewhere else on top of coaching in order to make the financial things work out.

I'm also 99 percent sure this is my last year of skating synchro for a long while…unless I like, win the lottery, or come into a great deal of money. I can only skate this year because I have fundraising money from the year before. I don't have the time to fundraise anymore (at least not enough to pay for a season) and quite frankly, I'd rather have nice things for Alexys and save for a bigger house, then adding another mortgage payment to my life for skating.

So where does that leave me after this year? Rinkless, that's where.

And I can't do that.

So over the weekend I took the first step in becoming a skating judge. Some things you should know about skating judges:

• Judges are not paid. It is a volunteer position – yes, even Olympic level judges. However, you are paid for all expenses, including gas and food.
  
• Judges cannot wear jeans or LuLu's. The must wear dress pants. And parkas maybe. I might need to invest in a parka ;) I am thankful for my Ugz. Those are considered dressy (?!!!) and kept my feet SO warm.
  
• This is the first season in figure skating history that you must be a SKATER to become a judge. I'm not kidding. Anyone could have done it prior to now. Guess all my last place 2^nd to last places over the years make sense. I just wasn't appealing to the old, gay men who knew nothing about skating. Maybe I should be relieved ;)
  
• They are not all old, gay men. Just mostly they used to be. Now they tend to be female. And young. And I don't know about their sexuality.
  
• This will probably only make sense if you're a skater, but this was the last clinic ever to be done with the 6.0 system – the rest are all CPC. It should be interesting in the future, as there is not a set date in which STARSkate and young categories will be switched. So basically you'll be trained in CPC and then judge using 6.0. Logical. NOT.
  
• The total amount of time it took for me to become an official judge was less than 8 hours. Total.
  

That's right. I'm a judge. Well, I just have to mail my papers in and then I am official. All I had to do was sit in a seminar and learn a couple obvious things (like a good jump has a stretched landing and a flying spin doesn't count if it doesn't have a proper fly) for 4 hours and then go and trial judge. I judged four events – one being Senior Men (just for fun) and 3 Prelim events. I got all my placements within 3 spots of being "correct" (that's the requirement).

Our head lady sent me an email by the time I got home going on and on about how great of a judge I'd be and I'm one of 2 from my group to judge at the next competition if I'd like and have already been recommended for a "promotion" and the chance to do the next level clinic. Sweet.

Anyways. That's my adventure. It'll be perfect for next year. This year I'll mostly just do a bit here and there. Just enough to dip my feet in, in preparation for the following year.

kortney elise xoxo

Sleep Update

http://moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie/2005/12/quick_and_dirty.html

I *really* like that article.
I promise a sleep update coming soon...a good one. Not a frustrated mama one.

Also, an adventure update.

kortney elise xoxo

Wordless...Friday?

Okay, so I don't know where the week went...but I meant to do this on Wednesday for another edition of Wordless Wednesday. Seeing as though today is Friday, here's the bathtime of (nearly) wordless Friday. Oh, and look for a post next week about the new adventures I've decided to get into this weekend...it's more the future but something I look forward to :)

kortney elise xoxo

Thanks for listening...

Alexys LOVES her ExerSaucer and spends many hours there!!!

Thanks for listening to my rant the other night. I really appreciated the comments and encouragement.

I am happy to report that last night was much improved. Alexys was in her bed ALL night and up just twice between 9 and 8:30. Phew. It did take work and didn't just happen. She did cry a little bit. But not longer than 25 minutes going to sleep and no more than 3 minutes during the night.

That I can handle.

I'm so glad that Alexys is a cheerful, playful, happy-go-lucky little girl during the day. It makes nighttime not as hard once I wake up in the morning.

kortney elise xoxo

PS: Tomorrow I am watching Courtenay's kids (Owen 1, Taelyn 3) and Alexys all day long. That's what friends are for right? Ha - I may rip out all my hair by the end of the day, resolve never to do daycare, and have a better understanding why pregnancy is 9 months and not 4 (ie: it would always be impossible to have Owen and Alexys in the same house at the same from the same mama). Phew.

Frustrated Mama

It's okay to be a frustrated Mama once in a while right?

I feel like all I do is complain about Alexys. She really is a great baby if we never had to deal with sleep. Today I feel like a failure as a mom and as I write this Alexys is beside me in my bed. Sleeping. I'm going to buy her a big girl bed. I think she hates her crib.

Tonight she fell asleep at 8:30 after only napping in the car in 2 directions (30-40 minutes each). She went to bed without much struggle. In her own bed. She cried for like 5 minutes...not a cry, just a wank. I can deal with that. Great.

Until she woke up at 9:30. Screaming. At the top of her lungs. Great. She has a tummyache. I let her cry for a few minutes, just to see. Doesn't settle. Gets worse. Finally I go in and pick her up. Still crying. Finally soothe her and put her down again. Screams. Give up and put her in her own bed and let her cry anyways. 1 hour. Can't take it anymore. Pick her up and cuddle her in my arms. Falls asleep. Put her down in her crib. Screams. I cry. I sob. It's 10:45. I give in, because what am I gonna do?

We got 2 noise complaints apparently. 3 and we get a fine. We don't make noise often. We're quiet people. I'm not closing my windows. It's too hot.

I pick her up. I give in and snuggle her in my bed. She promptly falls asleep where she is presently out cold. I know, because I'm 2cm away typing on a laptop and she hasn't budged. If I move her to her crib, she'll scream.

She falls asleep on a "real" mattress no problem. Now what? Her crib converts to a big girl bed. Mattress on the floor? Get a mattress pad. What.

I'm sick of this. I just want her to sleep soundly like she does if she's in my bed. I just want the bed to myself. I just want some time to myself.

Not even to myself. Just to do my schoolwork.

I can't get a fine...crying it out is out. Apparently my neighbors didn't have crying children. Apparently they're assholes. Ahem.

Apparently our weekend away this weekend is canceled. Well, re-located. Except I need to find the re-location. Any ideas on something fun and relatively cheap to do with a group of 7 girls? Stress free and local...but not too local? Maybe far enough away we could stay overnight in a hotel.

This is lame. I'm grumpy.

Bored.

Wide awake. Sorry for the rant.
Good night.
kortney elise xoxo

Not Me Monday

Ever just needed to get something off your chest? Something you're too embarrassed to tell anyone you did? Well, this is your chance! You too can share everything you did not do this week and no one will judge. After all, it wasn't YOU who did it. Share your Not Me's in my comments or head over to MckMama's blog to join in the fun at your own blog.

It wasn't me who ate Alexys' dinner the other night – straight out of the jar…simply because she didn't want it. My sweet girl does not prefer to eat big girl food straight off my plate, so I didn't give her my asparagus and chicken, while I ate "Hearty Vegetable Stew." Not me. That's sick.

It wasn't me who let my kid sleep in until 10am today. I did not fight with her last night until MIDNIGHT to go to sleep. We did not miss playclass for the third time this session, because of it. After all, I am a responsible Mom, set my alarm, and got up and showered while Alexys was sleeping, just so we could be on time.

I did not find a formula that works for Alexys the other day based on my friend Kirsten's advice (who I will not link to, since she NEVER blogs…haha.). I did not go and promptly buy 12-24 month formula for my 8 month old…simply because it is vanilla flavoured. Alexys did not gobble up 5 oz on her first tasting. I did not feel a little sad inside, because I can see the end of breastfeeding on the (long-distant) horizon…I thought I was getting sick of breastfeeding. I did not buy the formula simply as a once a day treat for Alexys in the afternoons and for emergencies (ie: if I need to leave her with my Mom or Jordon for more than 3 hours!). In my futile attempt at getting Alexys to sleep longer at night, I did not try and stuff her full of formula last night. Not me – after all, formula is for babysitting purposes only in this house. I will not share on this topic coming soon.

My 8 month old does not smile and giggle at the Big Comfy Couch. That's not creepy.

I'm not writing this here post, while laughing at my daughter, who is pooping. That's also not creepy (but in my defense, it's hilarious). I'm not writing this post instead of doing the dishes that are not overflowing my sink.

I did not just remember that we have a financial guy coming over at 4 today to finish setting up Alexys' education fund…and I'm not concerned about the state of my messy house. Not me.


Eek.
kortney elise xoxo

Who Doesn't Want a FREE Makeover?

Well, here I am with another give away.

Errr. Participating in another give away.

Check out Once Upon a Blog for details.

Really.
kortney elise xoxo

This is really embarrassing.

But I’m going to share it anyways.

I have bangs. Not the cool kind that I’ve always wished I have. These bangs were not, repeat NOT, on my own terms. They came on their terms and I’m unimpressed.

Remember how excited I was when I got my hair cut? My hair really is straight. Well. Kinda.

My hair NOW goes curly, straight, curly. It’s ridiculous. My “new growth” is curly. This is where my bangs come in. The whispies that post-pregnant people grow in are in full growth-mode. They are curly and too short to straighten. Then my hair is straight. That’s from when I was pregnant I guess – my hair is straight, although I can get a wave to it if I put enough product in it. And then there are the ends – they’re still curly from before I was pregnant. Great. Beautiful. NOT.

I am in a wedding in October and I’d prefer not to have not cool, unintentional fringe bangs for then. Cool bangs? Okay. I’ll try those.

For now, I’m back to wearing my hair the same every day. I can’t straighten my hair right now. It looks ridiculous. Trust me. It looks like I don’t know how to use a flat iron because the whispies sneak out. I can’t wear it down and curly either, because it’s not all curly so it lies straight and then the bottom curls and poofs like a poodle. Sexy. Instead I wear it up in a ponytail and poof the front a little to the side. Lame. Oh well. Next hair cut will be great. I hope.

Here’s a picture of my newfound bangs.

I told you.
LAME.

kortney elise xoxo

Happy BIRTHday To Me!

The only picture I could find (it's a picture of a picture from an album) - sorry for the poor quality - but this is the girls I went to camp with back in 1998!!

Eleven years ago around this time of day (give or take) – something happened that changed my life forever. I'll never forget the moment (even if I didn't fully understand what was happening at the time). Important memories are burned into your memory forever, even if you aren't aware of their importance at the time.

I was 12 years old and went to Camp Qwanoes for the week with my friend, Breanne. She'd been before, but it was my first time. This camp has more hardcore cabins than Camp Luther (where I spent my subsequent summers) and for little city girl Kortney, this was a big shock. These cabins don't have real windows, are made of logs, and cold. I don't remember much from that week, save for the odd detail here and there. I remember that we were friends with everyone in our cabin (like came as a group), except for 2 girls. I remember that my counsellors' names were Kelly and Kristal (I am still on a talking basis with Kristal actually). I don't remember what options we chose or how I spent my free time. I remember playing a wide game and falling down a hill (or something) and having a nasty scab on my knee. I remember that was why I was late for chapel that night – I had to get my knee cleaned by the camp nurse.

I remember getting to chapel that evening, just for the last song before the message. I'm fairly positive that the speaker that week was Wes. I could be wrong, but it doesn't matter. I don't remember what the message was that week – I don't even remember the theme of the summer. What I remember is that when the speaker asked if anyone would like to accept Jesus into their heart, I raised my hand. Kristal came over and prayed with me and I repeated after her. And that was it. I accepted Jesus into my life and became a Christian.

I remember walking up the hill the next day with Angie (she had also fallen earlier that week and scraped up her knee pretty bad) – we were slower than the others. I remember saying to her (don't laugh, I'm being honest…in innocence and true amazement) "Isn't it cool that Jesus doesn't hate fat people?" Honestly. That is what amazed me the most about Jesus. Apparently, I had a little bit of distorted thinking at the time.

However, from that point on, I couldn't get enough of Jesus. I wanted to know everything about being a Christian. What it meant to fall in love with a Saviour. What it meant to love God. I got my first Bible for my 13^th birthday and you should see the love this book has. It's highlighted, written all over, and truly loved. It was a teen study Bible and it was my most treasured possession.

There have been ups and downs in my journey as a Christian. I have come along way from being in awe that Jesus liked fat people (grin)…but I've never looked back. Even when I struggle, even when I have struggled in the past, I know who my Saviour is and that I'll always, always be in love with Him.

kortney elise xoxo

Wordless Wednesday

On Sleep Part II

See here for part I.

I wish I could simply just say "It worked and she's sleeping through the night, so there." But I can't, because that would be lying. I can add some positive notes, though.

Alexys and I no longer fight about bedtime. The whole process is less than an hour long and it isn't a fight anymore. What did I do differently? Well. I listened to Alexys instead of the books. Mostly.

Alexys does not like to fall asleep by herself. It is not that she cannot – she can and has a couple times – but she does not like to. It takes a long time. I don't like to fall asleep by myself, so why should she? She can fall asleep without her soother, too, but again – she does not like to, so I'm not going to force her. It is not like she's running the house, the girl's just got preferences. So what do we do?

• I used to try and put her on a set nap schedule – nap at this time and this time for this amount of time. Didn't work. Now? She naps 1 long nap a day (usually 3 hours or so) if we're at home and wherever or however when we're out and about.
  
• I used to try and put her to bed at 8pm or 9pm by the latest, because I thought that was a good time for her to go to bed, and besides she showed signs of tiredness. Now we wait. Until like 10pm. Or 10:30pm. It sucks for us and one day this will need to change, but for now it is the best thing for her. She sleeps so much better if she goes to bed at 10.
  
• When it's bedtime we do the bath and book and PJs thing and then I bring her into my bed. I tell it is cuddle time, we cuddle, she nurses, and when she's done we cuddle a bit and she falls asleep. Before she falls asleep I tell her that I'll put her into her own bed when she falls asleep. And I do. Generally she stays in her own bed until about 4am now from when she falls asleep.
  
• When she wakes up, I don't fight with her. I wait a minute and make sure she is really awake, go in and get her. I bring her into my bed and repeat the above – I tell her we can cuddle and she can nurse and after she falls asleep I am putting her in her own bed. Most nights she goes into her own bed. Some nights (last night for example) she cries when I put her back in her bed, so she comes back into bed with me.
  
• She sleeps until somewhere between 8 and 9:30 after that point. Sometimes she wakes up when Daddy goes to work and she needs an extra nursing session, but not always.
  
• I cut down her solids amount during the morning and afternoon – she eats less solids and nurses more. For dinner, she eats a lot more and snacks while Jordon and I eat our dinner. I find that having more nursing sessions (like 4 or 5) during the day is helping cut back on the sessions at night, and I also think "stuffing" her full at night is helping (not stuffing, but more food later on then earlier).
  

Once I stopped listening to books and just listening to what Alexys wanted things became easy as pie. No, she's not sleeping through my entire night, but she's doing at least a 5 hour stretch every night. Bedtime is not a fight (usually) and naptimes are happening much easier. They happen the same way bedtime when we're at home and however she wants when she's out. As a result, she will sleep wherever, whenever, and we don't have to worry about her getting too cranky if we're out late. She's social and loveable at all hours! I suppose that is the blessing in disguise with Alexys – because her sleep is sporadic and crazy at the best of times, we can do whatever, go whenever, and it's fine. There is no schedule to disrupt and nothing to worry about at home.

However, all of that being said, every time I read about another person who uses cry it out and it works (there are many I know, it seems), I instantly get jealous and feel like a failure. Every time someone says just let her cry, I want to. I really do. But how can I push something that fails? I simply cannot be consistent with something that won't work even the first time. If you recall, my 2 times trying CIO failed – Alexys cried for 2 hours the first night, then 3 hours the second night. She never did fall asleep, and never did "peak." I can't work with something that just does not work. But I can be jealous right? Just a little?

I really have accepted that I have a cuddly bear that needs some extra attention for bedtimes. I really have accepted that every kid is different and what works for Alexys may not work for future children.

I appreciate all the encouragement from other mom's out there who have been in similar boats – especially those whose second or third children are different than the first. It helps me feel encouraged that I'm not doing something wrong, but instead doing something right by addressing what my kid needs from me. I hope our sleep struggles help someone out there, somewhere!

kortney elise xoxo

Lazy Blogger

Okay, I'll admit it. This is the longest I haven't posted in a long time. I miss my blog when I don't actively blog and often find myself thinking about blog posts in strange places – the shower, at 3am whilst feeding my daughter, and setting up weddings for my friend Kelsey. Of course, I never have anywhere to write down my post ideas when I think of topics in strange places and when I sit down to write a post I draw a blank. Isn't that always the way?

Jordon was away all week for his last week of training for programming – it was a Microsoft course and he was downtown all week. He stayed with my aunt again for 3 nights and then the last 2 took the skytrain from my parents. It worked out. I never intended on staying at my parents all week (just the 2 nights Jord was), but the weather had other plans. I know everyone is blogging about the ridiculous heat wave Vancouver just experienced, but I will too. It was hot. I *hate* being hot. Like it makes me sick just thinking about it. I don't like to be sweaty or warm. My parents have central air, so that is where we spent the entire week. Not going to lie – I was spoiled. I didn't have to cook, clean, or do laundry. I may not get a real vacation this summer, but I think that this will suffice. Perhaps it's even better – less work for me! Thanks Mom!

I should also share about Alexys lately – I truly can't believe that she's over seven and a half months. Someone, somewhere, said the other day to a friend that just had a baby: "Congrats – your days have just gotten longer and your years shorter." I think that's the truest thing I've ever read. Alexys will be 8 months in a couple weeks. EIGHT. I don't think anyone can grasp the concept of just how fast 8 months can go unless you're a mom. I find myself longing for Alexys to be older to do this or that and then turn around and wish that she'd stop growing up so fast. Things she is doing lately:

• Going to bed without much of a fight most nights – there will be an entire post dedicated to this soon. It's started, it's just not ready to publish.
  
• Napping for about 3 hours a day. Usually this is one long nap from about 11 until 2, but sometimes it's split into 2.
  
• Not crawling. Nor is any effort really being made. She's a muffin, this kid – she hates tummy time and as a result doesn't really show interest in moving. She's perfectly content to sit and watch the other children play. She'll even cheer them on when the move, clap, and say yah! I suppose she sort of makes an effort – when she lies on her tummy she does this funny kicking thing. Sometimes she'll move a few feet forward, but I'm pretty sure it's just a failed rolling over attempt.
  
• Talking up a storm – Grandma, Mama, Water, and Bubble. Pretty good for not yet 8 months. She says other words too, but I only count them if she says them more than twice and in "context." When she babbles she puts lots of sounds and noises together. She often repeats her "sentences." This kid will be talking before a year – mark my words. I won't count on crawling before a year. Haha.
  
• Bottle drinking! Just juice and water, but it's a definite progression. She'll drink breast milk now too, but I can't pump enough so we're working on other solutions. I will have to leave her for more than a few hours in a few months, so we have to come up with something. I take suggestions. Otherwise look for upcoming experiment results.
  
• She only wakes up twice a night now usually. This sounds like a lot, but compared to what it was, we're doing great. I find that having her in my bed after she wakes up the first time (she goes in her own bed at first), definitely saves effort at night, and we're both well rested. I think that sleeping, no matter how it is, is so important for both of us at this point, that the method does not matter.
  
• She can shake her head no and use it in appropriate context sometimes – like at bedtime. Often at bedtime.
  
• She sometimes says "Ciao, Ciao" (bye bye). We're working on waving hello.
  
• She prefers big person food to baby food. Sometimes she won't even eat baby food, actually. She shakes her head no and won't open her mouth. Give her what we're eating and she'll eat up a storm. I will have my wish of her eating off the table by ten months. No problem there. She still has not had a reaction to anything and not made a face at anything except formula (to which she gags and barfs).
  
• She is a social butterfly and hates staying at home. She does great if you take her shopping say from 9am until 9pm. She does not get cranky and whine. Give her some snacks and carry her for a while and she's great. She loves to shop with her mom and grandma (just saying!). I complained that she didn't nap consistently or have a consistent bedtime, but really it works with our lifestyle. She'll nap wherever, whenever and sleep wherever too. I suppose it is a blessing in disguise.
  

I think that's a long enough post for now. We're going home to our house tonight – Jord stayed there last night and had everything open. Here's hoping for a cooler night in my own bed!

kortney elise xoxo