48 Weeks

Welcome to 2011, Annie! We had yet another busy week, and finished off our holiday celebrations. This year seemed to fly by at warp speed, yet it seems like a lifetime ago that I was pregnant. I was just thinking about where I was a year ago... so strange to remember starting out January of last year, in the homestretch of pregnancy, making freezer meals and getting violently angry at anyone who said "any day now!!" or "sooo, are you excited?!?" :)

The tongue is always out now

So, I think I need to be better about repeating my mantras to myself - as I mentioned in this post. My anxiety over Annie's development is starting to creep back up as she approaches her birthday. The questions about walking have started to happen with much more frequency, and I find myself getting super defensive for Annie when I say no - I honestly feel sad for her when I see the slight disappointment in people's faces. Luckily this doesn't happen too frequently, but when it does, I need to just say no and move on while repeating to myself that I trust Annie's process of development. Also, the thing I hate is that I totally know why people ask about walking - because they are just curious. I am too, when I am with a baby around a year - and there really isn't a tactful way of asking, so now I just don't. Although I still want to know :)

New shoes - she wouldn't let go

Just to put it out there, the things I'm mildly concerned about lately are that Annie isn't pointing at things yet, that she doesn't really say any "words" that I can tell at least, and that she has stopped saying the M sound completely (ok, I'm not CONCERNED about that, I'm just sick of hearing "Dada!!!" every time I say "mama" to her :)... the walking thing doesn't bother me - I know she'll figure it out. We just borrowed Mia's push toy thingie so maybe Annie will get some practice in with that - as of now, she stands up, and then when it moves she looks alarmed and sits back down, and then pushes it while sitting and scooting - ha :)

When Annie eats, most of the time she only uses her right hand and grips the tray with her left the entire time

and then needs a bath

I completely stopped pumping this week - it was a ROUGH first few days, that's for sure - I know a slight oversupply is a good problem to have and all that, but I have found that there is VERY little information out there on weaning other than "do it gradually" - which I definitely have been doing, but it is still SO painful each time I drop a feeding! This time was the easiest, because I used cabbage to help with engorgement pain - thanks to the818 for that little tip. Luckily I worked from home one day, because cabbage in the bra at work just isn't something I'm willing to do, for which my coworkers thank me, I'm sure. I think pumping was really making my oversupply way worse too - Annie stayed with my parents on New Years Eve so I had to pump twice, and today I was feeling engorged again. So, I think not pumping at all anymore will hopefully make weaning much much easier. I have to say, I love nursing just morning and night - this is a schedule I could keep up with for awhile. I'm not sure when I'll cut another session - we'll see how this next month goes. I never really hated pumping, but it is NICE to not have to deal with storing milk, washing pump parts, and lugging that stupid heavy pump to work every single day.

One more story that I want to remember - Annie started getting a little cranky this morning at like 10:30 while she was playing upstairs while I was cleaning. We went downstairs and she was ok, and then I put her in her highchair for lunch around 11. We put some peas and cottage cheese on her tray and she promptly flipped out. She's had both of these things before and is fine with them, so it was even more baffling - and I'm talking FLIPPING OUT - choking crying, sobs, the works. She stopped to eat a few cheerios, but even those weren't really calming her down, so finally I just took her out and walked her around while Ben prepared her bottle (it is very odd to give her bottles now - I have to say I kind of like it!). She was still crying until I gave her the bottle and then she gulped down 3oz and was happy as can be, and refused to drink any more than that. Then she just went about playing - and THEN - AND THEN!! Around 12:15, we put her back in her high chair, with the same damn food, and she ate most of it happily. WHAT A PSYCHO. Babies are WEIRD.

During her 2nd try at lunch

Usually Annie's signal that she's done is that she starts just lounging in her chair

To end this long and rambling post, as usual, I will end with our week in photos.

Reunited with Chelsea again!

Annie has a new love for this toy (from Lori at one of my baby showers) - it plays "twinkle twinkle little star" and is one of maybe 2 battery operated toys we have at all - of course the button is like impossible to push, so she hands it to Ben to push for her every time the music stops :)

With Lori and Lady Belle!

Annie is definitely starting to show interest in little babies now - she was loving playing with Abby!

Gathering with my high school friends - including Marianne who was due with her baby boy yesterday!

We had my family's Christmas celebration on New Years Eve - Annie got lots of great presents!

Not too gentle with her new baby doll :)

Annie will learn to love this hat in Mexico :)

The obligatory Maggie and Annie shot

Annie's mode of transportation when carrying something

And her new way of "laughing"/dolphin like screeching with excitement :)

I hosted a baby shower yesterday, with Laura again! I had Ben bring Annie for an hour so Maria could see her.

The kid table at the shower

Annie spent the majority of time playing with this ribbon and water bottle

and finally, today - WHY ISN'T THIS SHOE COMING OFF!!

Literally 8 seconds after the photo above was taken. All smiles! Because she's psycho! But cute :)