Shhhhhhhhhh...
I've developed this wierd twitch in my left eye. It happens throughout the day, and it is like a little spasm in the muscle around my eye.

I think it's developed because of lack of sleep.

We have some sleep issues at our house. Namely, no one is getting very much. So this holiday break, we've been working on teaching Katie to go to sleep when we lay her down on her bed, without having to be rocked or swayed or walked around.

Thursday night, at 3:00 AM, she did it! She'd just woken up again, and instead of heading out for the rocking chair, I just patted her tummy until she relaxed. She cried just a little. Then she made funny babbling noises, like "awawawawawa". Then she drifted off to sleep.

Eureka! I should have tried this months ago!

Two days later, and every time we've put her down to sleep, she's drifted off on her own in her bed. So far, it only takes her a few minutes. She's still waking up a few times at night, so we still have some work to do. Maybe then we can catch some Zzzzzzz's.

- posted by Laurie @ 8:56 AM |

 
Jingle
The Katie Elf wishes you a very
Merry Christmas.

- posted by Laurie @ 6:18 PM |

 
Tummy Time
Yesterday, Katie scootched backwards on her tummy about a foot. I was so proud, I called her dad at work to report the news.

Katie is 8 months, and she's still not very comfortable on her tummy. I probably should have done more tummy time when she was little. I just read an article that said lack of tummy time can lead to developmental and speach delays. Ack! Get this kid onto her tummy--pronto!

Yes, I'm obsessing about this a bit. I love my lap baby. Everyone says once their baby is moble, things just get really hectic. I know, I know, I should relax and "enjoy the journey." Stop and smell the roses. Take time to pick the daisies. Etc.

So, do you have any tricks for getting your baby to enjoy tummy time? If so, leave your ideas in my "comments" box. (So much for relaxing...)
- posted by Laurie @ 2:22 PM |

 
Downtime
Today I'm missing my family. My parents and my sisters Anna and Erin came to visit over Thanksgiving. Anna brought her adorable boys with her for the visit, too.

It was a great visit. My house was full up to the rafters! Mom and Dad both did most of the Thanksgiving cooking. Anna and Erin entertained the babies. Randy and I were a little shellshocked having two toddlers in our house, and we learned we need to do a lot more toddler-proofing. Ah, but I miss the commotion. All the storytelling and the jokes and the fun. We've got a great clan.

- posted by Laurie @ 2:28 PM |

 
Cabin Fever
Peoria just got hammered with ice and snow. We got about 9 inches of snow, but the ice made the roads tretcherous. With the wind, snow drifted up to 15 inches on our driveway. I like this picture of Randy battling the drift with the snowblower.

(We just got this hand-me-down snowblower from Randy's dad, and it is a good thing, too. Otherwise, all that snow would still be sitting on our driveway.)

Road conditions were so bad in town, I spent four days pent up in the house. Yeasterday was the first day I took Katie "back into the real world." Roads were still pretty messed up. With all the ice and piles of compacted snow, it felt like we were driving a truck on a dirt road in Afganistan.


- posted by Laurie @ 8:39 PM |