Boy oh boy

This morning Sofia and I helped celebrate my friend's son Lucas' first birthday. As I watched her play on the floor with her new friends I realized that it figures, she'd make fast friends with two boys. It's just the way things worked out. She has met lots of other babies, both boys and girls, at playgroup but because us moms get along, she's been spending most of her time with the boys. Sofia is the youngest of the group, and the only one of them not yet crawling and/or walking. She kinda of just sits there with a pile of toys surrounding her watching the boys chase each other (and I'm sure, planning her future advances).

Sofia and her two boy friends out for a walk

This does not really worry me. For one, she's 8.5 months old. She doesn't care who she's hanging out with. Second, she will have plenty of time to make more friends of both genders. For now, it's cute to watch them play together and to think that in a few years they will all be going to school together. I actually think it's great that she could have friends to grow up with like that. Maybe she'll date one or each of them at some point, or maybe they will just be platonic friends, but the kind of friends who do everything together and tell each other everything. Or maybe when they get older they won't be close friends at all. Whatever. All I do know is that those boys better treat her good!

The mommy-baby connection

The last few days have been exhausting. On Friday night I got sick. I won't get into details because I really don't want to relive that night, but I was sick right through until last night when finally my headache began to recede and my appetite came back. I slept pretty good last night (between feeding and comforting my teething baby) and this morning woke up fresh and ready to go shopping! (Retail therapy always helps me feel better, especially when it involves nearly $200 in gift cards at clothing stores.)

Breastfeeding has meant that I've been sick more often in the last year than I have in my entire life. It's no fun, but me being sick is better than Sofia being sick. Even so, it sucks, and I'm a huge baby myself when I'm sick. I'm just thankful that it happened on the weekend when Michael was around to look after Sofia and force me to drink lots of fluids.

Lately I've been mentally preparing myself for the day when I stop breastfeeding. Whenever I get sick, I keep nursing, knowing that it could prevent Sofia from getting sick too. Of course that's not the only perk to breastfeeding. Ever since I got pregnant, when someone asked if I planned to nurse, I said "Of course, why not? As long as I am able to, I will". I was lucky enough to have very little trouble in that department and it's become more natural to me the longer I've been doing it. Sometimes I complain about having to be the one to get up in the middle of the night to feed the baby, or awkwardly try to feed her with people all around (I have no shame about nursing in public, but I also don't wanna be flashing my boobs to the world. There is a discreet way to do it, it's just complicated sometimes), or having to pump to get a full night's sleep while Sofia stays at nana and poppy's. Then there are those moments, in her room at bedtime, with nature lullabies playing softly in the background, when she's cuddled up next to me reaching up and playing with my hair while she nurses. Those are the moments I will miss.

I planned to breastfeed as long as I could, and so far I haven't found a good enough reason to have to stop. I will probably do it until she's a year old, but that date is closing in and I'm wondering if the "sign" to stop that I'm expecting will not come and I'll have to actually make the decision myself. At this point, I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it, because I know not everyone can do that.

On that note, it's getting late and I'm probably going to have to get up soon to feed the baby. Goodnight world.

New year, new ... everything

It may be a cliche, but when people say their babies grow way too fast, they aren't kidding.

Over the last few weeks, Sofia has grown so much, both physically and developmentally. Between December 23rd and January 1st she started rolling from her back to her belly (finally!), and therefore started rolling around the room, then learned how to push herself backwards on her belly, got her two bottom front teeth, started copying everyone, and started clapping her hands for real. I've been blown away! Where did my little baby go?

Even though I'm sad that she's growing so fast, I am having more and more fun every day. Yes, I am exhausted because she no longer just sits in her rocking chair or lays in her pillow on the floor. And she is hilarious! She fake coughs and blows raspberries and sticks her toes in her mouth.

I have so much to look forward to this year! I am excited about a new mom and baby class we are taking, starting next week, and about her friends' upcoming birthday parties, her own birthday in April which means a visit from my mom. I'm looking forward to this summer, when we will be able to go to the park and for lots of walks again, and swimming and camping. I think 2011 is going to be a great year :)

One thing I am doing is appreciating every day and every special moment. Yes, there are days I am tired and days that are just plain tough, but there are way more days that are just plain awesome. And for that, I am just plain happy.