So we made it to the one year mark of documenting and I pretty much fell asleep at the wheel. There is no good excuse. I will just launch into it and do what I can --- one problem is that Berit is so fast the camera cannot capture her. Seriously. I solved that problem with a fancy upgrade for Pete for Christmas, but it may take a year or two for him to be able to operate the Nikon.
Another problem is the camera cord so tonight's update is limited to crackberry-quality phone pictures -- and I'm catching up, so just review and hold your comments.
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| This was Bear's bear costume for Halloween. I had to sew her into it... |
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| She seemed to realize the gravity of the situation |
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| But forgave me after we stopped at Beth's for candy |
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| The blue eyes -- first time she drank out of a straw -- at Noodles & Co. with Grandma Debbie |
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| My daughter -- already loving the simple luxuries of life...waking up at the Hilton |
So, as an illustration of the fact that Berit still comes to the office, although Lingo hasn't been there since she arrived...
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| The culprit! |
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| Rain boots from Grandma Val -- a big hit. There are cowboy boots from Auntie Anna too -- what more could a girl want? |
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| Enjoying an unseasonably warm November in some godawful suburb |
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| Berit didn't mind their expansive parks -- or the cold sand between her toes. |
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| It was warm, just windy... |
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| First (uncertain) encounter with Santa |
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| Her favorite tee from Great Aunt Diane and Great Uncle Bill. They are great! |
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| Preparing for Thanksgiving dinner preparations -- no, I didn't cook the baby |
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| All bundled up to take the dogs for a romp in the ballpark |
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| This was an amazing sight: three giant Germans and one short girl running wild with tennis balls at dusk |
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| Trying out her little chair from Grandma Debbie |
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| Waking up with Lingo -- her best buddy |
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| A Bear-sized chair --- her latest favorite activity: climbing! |
AND these are old, old -- from the summer actually, but I couldn't resist. All summer long if I was mowing the lawn or bringing out the garbage or unloading the car, I'd set Berit down in the yard and tell Lingo and her to "stay". I was shocked at how well this worked, although I realize those days are long gone.
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| Watching the kid |
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| Reading the paper in the porch |
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| She just devours the news! |
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| One more aviator hat |
What does Berit do? What doesn't she do? Today, I was cuddling her and sniffing her neck and she sat right up and said "Stop!" with her hand out in my face. It was hilarious and heartbreaking. She walks, dances, runs, climbs, pushes cars, sits in boxes, shakes her head no, sleds.
Words --- although it may be that only the parents interpret her properly --- papa, momma? (maybe!), dog, pig, bird, no, gosh, stop, stay, water?
She eats just about anything. No juice yet, mostly organic fruit and vegetable, all organic dairy (and I scold her when she dumps that spendy milk all over the couch to play in). She still loves pizza most. Toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, waffles, pancakes, grilled cheese, quesadillas, black beans, cheese, popcorn, cheerios...so much, I forget.
She hasn't gotten any teeth since July. She also has not gained an ounce since July. But I think she's grown half a foot.
She goes to bed in her crib in her own room, and sometimes stays there all night. When Pete is working, and if I have to work and am lazy, then she comes to our bed in the early morning hours. The bed was just restored to its raised position though -- so we will be sleeping on the floor of Berit's room when co-sleeping is desired, making it quite a bit less desirable.
I finally stopped the pumping mania the last week in November. It was harder to slow it down than I expected, many days of making it until 4 pm and then having to break down and pump. This is partly because she doesn't feed much in the morning anymore. I am ready to move on but have let weaning be Berit-led thus far. It is the last tool I have when I need sleep and want her to settle down. Pete sleep trained her one night in early December, lasted for four days, then he returned to work. He has threatened to send me away for a six-day so he can "finish the job" --- it is probably just a matter of time! Despite the prolonged breastfeeding, she happily takes cold cow's milk and guzzles it like a sailor.
That's it for now -- more photos WILL follow in the next few days if I can work out the camera cord issue. I promise, promise.
