Merry Christmas?

well, Santa is out at the mall...specifically Tyson's II. He seemed a lot more enthusiastic to meet older children but we got our first pictures of little Bee. Isn't she sweet? She didn't cry or anything...I think it was from the shock of the big belly...or the big white beard. She didn't cry at all. Though I feel like if we left her for a little bit longer on his lap she would have tugged on his beard.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Bee is just short of being 8 months old. I don't know where all the time went! She is officially crawling as of this week. She can also get to a sitting position on her own. She loves her baby food but she prefers anything that John and I are eating. The other day I made her some chicken, rice and carrots! She loved it a lot. Today, I cook my first turkey ever on my own. I am also doing Ina's stuffing recipe, corn souffle, and John will make a mac & cheese.

It's the first time we've all been home and together in two years. I'm so happy to have Thanksgiving and there is so much to be thankful for: our jobs, our marriage, our healthy baby, healthy family and friends.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Our Deepest Fear

So, I just saw the movie Akeelah and the Bee, a very inspirational movie talking about overcoming great obstacles to achieve greatness. In anycase, the quote below was featured in the movie and I can only hope to teach little Bee to be great!

Our Deepest Fear
by Marianne Williamson
from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Tutu

So, I absolutely couldn't resist getting this tutu. It fits her waist now so, I guess I'll only get sitting pictures of her. It's just so cute. She doesn't know what to make of it!

She is teething again! So, now she has the two bottom teeth and the top right and the one to the right of that. I hope that her other front tooth will come in.

Baby's first toothbrush

I saw this baby's first toothbrush toothbrush at buybuybaby today and wanted to try it out. It looks interesting and looks like it might work. I gave it to Bee and she took to it right away. She chewed on both sides of apparatus and wouldn't let it go even to eat dinner. I think that the soft bristles are nice for her 2.5 teeth and it seems to sooth her gums too.

I give it 3 out of 4 bees. Only 3 because I think it's WAY overpriced for what it is. To give you perspective, you can get a whole 10-pack of Oral-B adult toothbrushes from Costco for $7.99.

Breakdown:
ergonomically great for baby
Cost--$6.99
durability---yet to see
dishwasher safe---yes


Description:
Good oral hygiene begins at birth! Pediatric dentists recommend cleaning your baby's gums - even before the first tooth appears - with a soft infant toothbrush and water. Properly cleaning teeth and gums with dentist-designed Angel Brush helps remove sugars and bacteria that can lead to future decay. And kids love it! Available in Clear, Pink and Blue. iParenting media award winner *Note: To sterilize, you may boil the Baby's 1st Toothbrush or use a dishwasher.

Features:
Cleans teeth & massages tender gums
Pediatric dentist/Pediatrician recommended
Chewing Type Toothbrush - Also known as Angel Brush
Ages 4 months and up
Pain Free, Easy & Fun

Referberizing...

So, after the initial torture of having to ferberize in the first place, we have to do it again! Yes again. You have got to be kidding me. There is nothing more torturous than having to listen to your own child cry out for you. Bee does a little paddling motion, flapping around in her crib and looking at you, begging to be held in your arms. Dr. Ferber says to reassure, give a pat and then let the crying continue. So, Bee got her first tooth and we have to go through this whole agony again! I didn't think I was going to get wrinkles until I was 40 but listening to your baby scream for 45 minutes straight will get me there sooner.

On another note, I baked my first beets in the oven tonight! They look lovely and very very ruby red. I can't wait to put them in the blender for Bee's dinner. She really loves the Earth's Best corn and butternut squash . She eats that like a little champ! I just found out this morning that she does not bananas. She purses her little lips shut and doesn't open her mouth again until I put something else there. It's amazing her little personality!

It seems like she just wants to walk and not crawl. Even from a sitting position she tries to push up on her hands and then she jack knifes into a upside-down "V" position. Today, I took her hands in mine and she "walked" across the rug in the living room. I hope she doesn't walk for a while. It's so crazy fast how much she has already grown!

I'm still trying to balance out everything in my mind---work, housecleaning, cooking, making baby food, thinking about Christmas... I wonder how I did it before. I have no idea!

Sunday Afternoon Weddings...

So, it was another busy hectic weekend of wedding fun. My friend Rinrin got married and we celebrated her well! The wedding was held outside at Woodend Park in Chevy Chase. Though it was chilly outside, the day was beautiful.

On another note, I don't know if it's allergies or what that is making me feel so tired but I am really rundown. Bee just finished with her third tooth (top right) and she feels a lot better. I hope that she can get through the night tonight because she's been getting up and fussing because of her tooth.

She also got her first flu shot on Friday as well as her Prevnar shot. She will go back for a booster in December. She is really "talking" up a storm though no mama sounds yet. She sounds like she's having a conversation but in an alien language. She sounds like that T.V. character Glomer from the 80's.

Time to get ready for another week of trying to balance work, baby and life.

OBAMA MAMA...

So, John took us to the polls bright and early at 5:30 a.m. I never changed my voter registration so I still had to vote in Rosslyn at the Wilson School next to Greenberry's. John couldn't believe the line!!! He wanted to leave but I convinced him to stay. Bee slept in the car while I waited in line for 1.5 hours. Finally I got in to vote only to find out that I was an "inactive voter!" Oh NO!!!! So, they looked me up and I had to fill out a form, then I voted! It was an exciting day to be a part of history. There's no looking back now. Just looking forward to CHANGE!!! On another note, Bee is loving the baby mummums! These are lovely rice crackers that are very crunchy and tasty for the bambino. I checked out the milk powder and it looks like it comes from New Zealand. They sell it at Whole Foods but when you do find it, buy it because it does not stay on the shelves very long!