You--32 Weeks, 6 Days

It's been a huge week for you--things are happening fast now.
I knew they'd pick up.
Just like that, life is stealing my baby.  Sigh.

--You're mimicking big-time right now.  If we blow raspberries at you, you'll do it back almost immediately.
If we make a loud, annoying, one syllable sound, you'll beam and then open your cute little mouth and make a sound back. 
Frankly, it's the cutest thing to happen in 2009, 10 and the beginning of 11 all rolled into one.

--You're responding to your name.

--MAN, are you on the move.  Early this week you were commando crawling, dragging yourself around elbow-first and it seemed like such an effort.  Then you moved to all fours and now seem to prefer that method of transportation better. 
Totally new is this crawl-to-bridge move that you do where you start crawling, stop, and then pick yourself up off the ground so that only your hands and feet are touching and you're in the shape of a bridge.
It's wild, girl!
SLOW DOWN because that makes me think of you starting to pull up on stuff and begin walking and I'm just not ready for that.

--You are no longer sleeping with me at night.  I can't do it, Luxe.  You sleep so much better in your crib next to me and if I let you snuggle in my bed, you wake me every two hours.  I miss you so much already and hate that that period is gone for us but I really think it is. 

--Due to this move, the weaning process has started.  Several times this week I've woken up soaked with milk from you sleeping through feedings.  My body had become accustomed to your night wakings and so made enough milk for that but when you sleep so well at night (it's hit or miss right now, really), I'm a mess.
It won't take long for me to adjust but we're definitely starting the slow, drawn-out process of weaning.  This will take months (I usually nurse for about 16 months or so which would put us half way there) but the feedings will become less and less as you sleep longer and begin solid food.

How did we get here so fast???

--Speaking of food, you're liking it!  We started with just some sweet bananas and then this weekend we got a little crazy.  Being baby number five, we're very loosey goosey with food stuffs with you.  Meaning, last night you had a mix of blueberry, apple, and banana for dinner (because we had pizza and smoothies and that was all I could give you from my plate) and then you just ended up having bites of smoothie, full of fruit, which you LOVED (and hopefully you aren't allergic to anything because there's like 75 fruits in our smoothies) and tonight was even worse.  (Better!) 
Steamed broccoli (you no likey), bits of the soft inside of a red potato (which you loved--and I chunked it super small and set it in front of you and you fed yourself!), and then (oh, this is bad) some, uh, pasta in red sauce, flavored with fresh basil and...cayenne pepper. 
I didn't know that when I gave it to you and you were like an instantenous red pasta-y crack addict and wouldn't stop lunging for my plate and begging me with your eyes so you had quite a bit.
You're sleeping peacefully now but I'm terrified that you might wake with heartburn!
Suffice it to say that solid foods are here to stay and I'm so glad we waited as long as we did because you're truly ready and already starting to self-feed.  YAY!

--There was a nice warm snap recently where you were able to get out and take walks in your stroller.  You love being outside which is good because your siblings LIVE outside in the spring, summer, and fall and that's where you'll be 99% of the time. 

--I can't wait to take you to the beach.  I simply can not wait.  I am excited to stuff you into a bathing suit and slap on the CUTEST little sun hat (that I picked up recently online.)  It's got your favorite, favorite flower stamped right on the side!  (That's a joke because you're starting to hate those headbands with the big flowers attached.  And I've already told you that I don't care!  You can hate it all you want, you look adorable in it!  Humor me, please!!!)

--I see two bottom teeth starting to glow from under your gums.  Yowzas, sister, those are going to hurt.  Your mouth is going to suck for a little while so this is your heads-up.  I'll do my best to cuddle and nurse you lots but it's going to get worse before it gets better.
But I promise that once you're done, I'll get you an ice cream cone.
You have no idea what this is (though you should because you made me eat AT LEAST ten pounds worth of that crap during your gestation.  (!!!!) but it's tasty, Luxie--you'll love it!
If you bite my boob though, all bets are O-F-F!

--You can shake your head "no" but I don't really think it means no to you.  I think you like the way it feels on the new hair that's growing in to your baldy spot in the back but your siblings love it!  They just crack up whenever you do it.  It's also another thing you'll mimic--if we do it, you'll smile and then do it too.  CUTE!

--Speaking of hair, yours is a beautiful mix of blonde, brown and red.  When I take pictures, the red tones really light up under the camera's flash and it's so pretty to see.  Your eyebrows are strawberry blondish and so are your gorgey little eyelashes.  You look like a doll to me--so perfectly lovely with just the right about of plump, and those big blue eyes.  They're something else--just like your sister's!  (Well, and Chas and Creux's, too.  Those blue eyes run deep in this family.  Sigh.  Daddy trumps my greens every time.  (Except once!  Nahnahnahnahbooboo!))

--Also with the hair?  You have very little length on top but these long...wispy sideburns (?) on the sides.  Like I could pigtail the hair down by your ears.  It's strange.  It's adorable, don't get me wrong, but it's...strange.  You and hair have kind of had a checkered past together--hopefully that gets better. 
If not, I'm sure Creux would be happy to take you into some back corner and lop it off with a pair of scissors that he's snuck from my bin THAT HE'S NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE IN.

These changes are all so neat to see and it's such a blessing that you are getting so big and strong!
I do miss my little newborny angel but then you smile at me and I miss her less.
Because as sweet as that newborn was, you're pretty darn fantastic right now too and I don't want to waste a second with you.

I love you so much.
My big girl!

Love,
Mama

You--31 Weeks, 6 Days

You slept alone last night--the very first time in your life that you haven't slept next to me.
And you slept all through the night.

For the past several months (two?  three?  they're all blending together in a horrific sleep deprived way.) you've been up about every three hours or so over the course of the night. 
Frankly, it's been killing me.
My only saving grace has been that we've been very light on our obligatory schedules so I've been able to sleep longer in the mornings than I will be able to as soon as spring arrives and our regular, insanely crazy, schedules resume.

You slept better as a newborn which is sort of like a slap in the face for me.
I remember those six to seven hour stretches--I don't think I ever really felt all that tired in the first several months with you because I was so well rested.

Ah, but you've been making up for lost time!
Your usual pattern of late is a 1:00am feeding when I go to bed...then again at 4:00ish, again at 6:30ish, again at 9:00 when we wake and get up for the day.

It has SUCKED, Luxe!

But last night, I came home late from a date.
You were awake and waiting on me.
At 11:30, I nursed you.
And in an unprecedented move, I placed you back into your crib.
And in an unprecedented reaction, you actually went back to sleep.

You slept on through the night until 9:00am this morning.
I did not.

I woke at 5:30 to make sure you were still breathing.
I did this two more times before 9:00am.
Irrational, I know.
But still.
It's kind of unsettling when you just hunker down for 2,000 hours unexpectedly!

By 7:00, I was uncomfortable due to needing to feed you and by 8:45, I was willing you awake.
You made one little peep and I leaped from my bed.
Surely I was glad to see you after so many hours apart but also, I needed you BAD.
My body isn't so used to going 2,000 hours between feedings and let me tell you, it no likey.

--You are crawling!
Officially and FAST!
Eveything that was previously out-of-range for you no longer is.
All the cracks and dusty crevices of the house are now fair game.
That makes me a little nervous because the faster you are, the more of a hazard you are to yourself.
A baby gate installation at the top of basement stairs is now first on my weekend's Grit List.

--If we say, "bababababababa!" then you'll watch and smile and suddenly your jaw will start making the movement needed to form that word too and you'll do it two or three times silently and then you'll blare out, "bababababababa!" and we'll all cheer and you beam fabulously.
Proud of yourself and tickled too.

--You're giving kisses!  You started this with Daddy this morning, where he makes the kissy sound with his lips and then you'll lean in and get ridiculously fresh with him.
I elbowed him out of the way for my own turn and I got the same sweet tongue lapping at my lips.

You are so cute, I could eat you.

--You pulled your headband off the other day and it stunned me that you are suddenly old enough to do that.  You've been quite captive with that thing, allowing me full access to adorn you like a giant spring bloom but now, you're fighting back.
Too bad, sister--I say the flower stays!

--You're tasting food too!  Really only a banana for now.  I ordered half of Amazon.com the other day for your full dining pleasure.  A chair, a bib, some bowls and spoons, a netted fruit thingy that is impossible to clean and grosses me out totally but allows you to self-feed and explore food a bit.  You're ready for the table and as for food?  We'll see how the next month goes.  I'd like to see a few teeth in there first, not because you need them to eat but because it signals that you're body is likely ready for more than my milk.
And do you know what?
I think I do!
I think your two bottoms are coming!
Yay!  (Oh no!)


I know I say it all the time, Luxie, but you're just the best baby in the whole world.
You make my life so much easier than it could be.
You are my Chill Baby.
Thank you for fulfilling my request--and I'm so glad you ended up being a girl.
Have I said that before?
Well, I am.
I know I would have loved you all the same if you were a little boy but I am so delighted that you are who you are.

Seven months old.
Where has the time gone?

I love you!
Mama

You--29 Weeks, 2 Days

I don't have long.
You're really bucking this whole "bedtime" thing.
Somehow you seem to know the difference between daytime sleeping (where you will happily snooze for upwards of three hours in your crib) and nighttime sleeping (where you absolutely, positively WON'T).
Because you somehow sense the difference, you know I can possibly go up there with you.
For the night.
And this is what you want and you are willing to wait for it.
You'll hang out as long as you can before looking at me with those begging eyes and whimpering (which turns to wailing faster than I'm ever expecting) and then I sigh...shut down my computer and head up to bed.
With you sniffling pitifully in my arms.
But then as soon as we hit the Nest, you get a little excited...and a little desperate.
You know you're SO CLOSE to getting me into that bed with you for a nice, long snuggle and it's almost your undoing.

So yeah, we're still sleeping together :)

You have taken to the crib magnificently during the day but you are still my baby barnacle at night.
Which is just fine by me.

Am hurrying now because I know you're going to come looking for me any minute.
Or Daddy will, anyway.

--Luxie, WHERE ARE YOUR TEETH?  Oh my goodness, I sure hope you aren't one of those babies who eats their birthday cake with a smashing set of gums.  Everyone else snapped up a pearly white around 4-5 months of age.  You are almost SEVEN.
And as toothless as could be!

--You're babbling tons suddenly!  Recognizable sounds these days which are VERY cute.
Everyone loves mimicking you.

--You're up on your hands and knees, lurching now!  Not so much creeping around, you either roll or drawl yourself up on all fours and heave forward.
Hmm.
On second thought, it's probably good that you don't have any teeth.

--I've already started thinking about your first birthday and that makes me a SAD mama.  But I'd like very much to do something special to celebrate and so, it's on my mind.  These things take time.

--Creux drove his battery-operated car through your hair yesterday and got it SO tangled that I thought your scalp was cut.  You sobbed but not as much as I thought you would, considering that Daddy unraveled it bit by bit.  We were going to cut it but then he thought he could get it out without chopping your locks.
You really are going to have to watch out for that one better, my love.
He's gonna getcha!

--Chas calls you "bug" which I find adorably sweet.  And I've noticed that when we speak OF you, we call you Luxe.  And when we speak TO you, it's Luxie. 
And still Luxor.
And Luxie Lu.
And Luxie Laaaaaadeeeee!
Pork chop has faded while "fat little cupcake" has gained popularity.
(That's your dad, by the way. All those others are me.)

You're coming!
I love you so much and can't wait to bury my face in your chunky little neck and hear your sweet baby belly giggle.
I got you on the Flip with that--thanks to Greer--so now I'll have that sound for always.

XO

(Let's go, you fat little cupcake!  Up to bed!  YAY!)