First and foremost, Monday night represented the first night she willingly let me change her poopy diaper. She was so stunned that she was allowing herself to be changed by me (or that I was even attempting it) that she actually laid completely still. I have since changed her diaper a few more times, and she no longer chooses to be so compliant. She thinks it's absolutely hysterical to make a wiggle-worm game out of the ordeal. It doesn't help that Katie and Shari also find it funny when I'm doing the job.
We have been home for two weeks now, and lots of good things have happened. By the second full day of being home, she allowed me to pick her up without requiring the art of distraction. By November 8th, she actually came to me to pick her up. By November 9th, she actually left Shari's arms to come to me. (Of course, she decided she wanted to go right back after 15 seconds). On Monday, she was luke warm to me for some reason. On Tuesday, she was back to liking me during regular business hours. Wednesday was pretty good as well.
We have learned that I represent a roller coaster to her. She loves to be lifted high in the air and swung to and fro (all with OSHA-compliant safety harnesses in place of course). She loves to chase after her siblings while being held by a running daddy or bigger brother. She loves to be spun on the Sit-and-Spin - but only for two or three revolutions at a time. She loves to play in the basement, which is where Daddy always takes her when she is in an unsnappable crying fit. When she has realized she is going downstairs, she has quieted down immediately each time. (Now that I have put this in writing, it will no longer work.)
What else have we found out? Well, she seems to like American food. We had been content to continue giving her a standard formula bottle, but our pediatrician switched us over to Pediasure in a sippy cup immediately. He also encouraged us to delve into real food as much as possible. So far, we've learned that she loves chicken (both in regular and nugget form), beef, vegetables... pizza...
We've also learned that she's pretty protective of her turf. She's relatively fierce. Her angry face rivals my own. When she's mad about something, there is no wondering about it. She is quick to hit, kick, and bite. If someone else tries to move in on Mommy, she is quick to try to wedge herself between them. She can go from laughter to anger and back again in 0.5 seconds (I've clocked her.). She doesn't like time outs. She likes to make messes with green beans. My favorite discovery - which we made relatively early on - is her laugh. Her laugh is every bit as wonderful as the other kids'. I probably tickle her too much just because I enjoy the laugh. (Then the kids try to tickle her right after me and hack her off...)
Shari and I are convinced that she likes her brothers and sister. She is definitely fond of Jake. He is just the right age and size. He is big enough to confidently and securely hoist her around all over the house but small enough that he's not as physically intimidating as his very manly father. She runs hot and cold with the other two, though - mostly because they are overexuberant with their attention towards her. They say they are playing with her, but the casual observer easily surmises that "playing" equals "picking at." If they aren't "tickling" her, they are pushing her from behind as she walks in an effort to make her run. If they aren't pushing her from behind, they are moving in front of her to block her path. If they aren't trying to "play" with her, they are snatching one of their personal toys out of her hand - which goes over ever so well.
Of course, we're not in the clear on everything yet. Sleep time is still a challenge. Shari rocks her to sleep and puts her in her crib around 9:00 each night. She usually lasts two-to-three hours in her crib before she wakes up crying. One of us then gets her and brings her to our bed where she normally has to fall asleep laying on Shari. She is then repositioned on the bed between us. If she wakes up in the night, she makes sure she as close to Shari as possible (and as far from me). We are not at a place in our relationship where I can console her. That privilege is given exclusively to Mommy. When we get to place where my holding her calms her, I will know I have arrived.
Other than that, we have noticed that the girl does not cry. She can fall face-first on a hard toy, and she only whimpers and then quiets down completely. She may rub the affected area, but she doesn't make a peep otherwise. She kind of blankly stares off for awhile. It's strange... kind of like the shrieking at night in the absence of Mommy.
That's it for now.
No comments:
Post a Comment