7 Months and Counting

Adrianna is seven months old today. In some ways I feel that we have passed the half way mark...but then that's only the first year! I am enjoying this stage so much more than the first six months. She is more interactive, fun and in some ways much easier. Sometimes I wonder if that is simply me becoming more used to my new role as a mom. It certainly was a tough transition as times, but I am enjoying it and finding fulfillment with it more and more.

I have enjoyed preparing her food and look forward to introducing each new item every few days. She has finally found a formula that she is happy with...soy from concentrate. Thanks Jacquie for that tip! What a relief...for a while I thought we might never find something that would work for her. I am giving her one bottle in the late afternoon and one at bedtime, a mix of formula and breast milk. Slowly she will transition to all bottles and all formula. I can't believe how long I have nursed her...it was certainly a challenge for the most part, but I am glad I did it. My goal is to have her completely weaned by mid June, for the summer.

This past month she has woken up quite a bit at night crying...not sure what that is all about! I miss those nights where I could count on a full night sleep...praying those come back soon. As for chatting it up, rather than animal dying and underwater sounds now she has become quite the blabber. It is so cute to hear, especially when she is in her own little world chatting with who knows who.

Adrianna has learned to sit by herself, but is still a bit wobbly. Soon I know she will master that skill. She loves to stand up when we hold her hands. When we are driving, she is often trying to get out of her sit, pushing herself forward. She hasn't realized that it's a loosing battle as she is buckled in. It's quite funny to watch.

We measured her head this week when she got her shots and we found out that her head is in the 97 percentile...wow! She certainly has the dutch baby head! No wonder I had to retire some shirts simply for the fact they won't go over her head.

We celebrated Harvie's dad's 86th birthday this month. We went to "de Dutch" restaurant for some good panakuken. Adrianna sat for the first time in the restaurant's high chair, ate her lunch, socialize a bit and even took a nap. It was a great outing indeed!

We spent Easter with my extended family at the Warkentim's house. It was a wonderful meal of chicken and salmon. I wish I had taken pictures of her in her beautiful Easter dress...before she threw up all over it. Good times! Maybe we will put it on this weekend and take another picture, minus the jacket and with the shoe decision made.

A while back we moved Adrianna's little bathtub to the big bathtub in the upstairs bathroom...so she can splash all she wants and not get the whole kitchen wet. We have to be careful with the washcloths these days...if we don't watch it she will grab it and suck the water out of it. Yuck!

Reading books has become very interactive...as we read she grabs the book making it difficult to turn the pages. I just love reading to her.

We've taken her to the park in those warm days this past month and placed her in the swing for the first time. I have a feeling going to the park will become routine for us in the coming months.

Harvie has been quite busy with his work this month and it will become even busier next month. It is certainly a blessing that Harvie has a lot of work these days, even if that means later evenings at the office. When I watch Harvie and Adrianna, my heart simply melts. She is daddy's little princess.

Soon Harvie will experience a little more bonding time with Adrianna on Saturdays. I am starting my masters on May 2nd. The one year program is through SFU and on most Saturdays, which is perfect for our schedule. Between my mom and Harvie, Adrianna will be in excellent hands and I can focus on my studies, at least on Saturdays. I am taking a one-year leave of absence from my job at MEI for the coming school year. My return work date will be the end of August 2010, when Adrianna will be almost two years old. Everything fell into place rather quickly...got accepted into the program, it was on Saturdays, and the work leave was granted. All the domino pieces fell down in the right places....I can certainly see God's hand in all of it. I will be a student and a mom for the next year, but I will certainly miss being a teacher. The masters will have a field work component which I am hoping to complete at MEI in friend's classes, so I will continue to have a taste of teaching. I am looking forward to what's in store...a little nervous, a little anxious, a little joyous. It's back to school time, at least for me!

Our 6 Month Not So Little Girl

Our precious Adrianna is now half a year old. Sometimes we watch her sleep in her crib and marvel at the miracle that she is. It's amazing to think that we are a family. She has enriched our lives and expanded our love. How can you love someone this much? Yes, she is our gift and we treasure her in so many ways.

This past month, Adrianna has enjoyed the jolly jumper...what a great investment that was! She is delighted and full of smiles everytime we place her in it. Although she has not yet rolled over entirely, she is able to sit a bit. I think she has realized that if she rolls over that would place her on her tummy, a position she strongly dislikes.

As for food, she especially likes the yellow sweet potatoes; however, water is something she is yet to like. She just closes her lips really tight when water comes around. Funny little girl.

No, actually she is not so little...she is in the 90th percintile for length, measuring 27.5 inches and weighing 17 pounds and 2 ounces. This is quite something, since she has been so difficult to nurse the first five months. I have yet to find a formula that she is willing to take. She knows what she likes, how she likes and when she wants it, so scheduling Adri has been and continues to be quite a challenge. No week is like the other around the Buitelaar household. Just when we think we have her all figured out, she decides to change it around. It sure has taught be to be more flexible these days, a lesson that has been hard to learn.

Her hands continue to be her favourite source of enjoyment. We are hoping that soon she'll dicover her feet...just for something different. She is beginning to play more with her toys these days which has been neat to watch. It's amazing how long we can sit and just watch her as she explores the world around her.

We are looking forward to the next 6 months and the many changes and new things Adrianna will learn. I am amazed at how much I am learning from her as well. As she changes, I change. As she learns, I learn. It has been a life-changing adventure this far, one that has brought our little family closer. We embrace the changes, and adapt the best we can. Adrianna certainly has become quite the princess in our house, but with that smile, how can we resist?

5 Months

Happy 5months Adri! This past month can be summarized with one word: COLD. No, not the cold outside of the house, but the nasty colds going around this season. Adrianna is finally getting better after two different colds lasting over two weeks (still great to experience some happy smiling moments throughout it all). Harvie and I have also spent much of last month with colds so we're looking forward to saying goodbye to winter (...or hello to a warm sunny beach destination?)

Adri has changed in so many ways already and from what I hear the next few months will bring even more changes. One of the biggest change is that she is so much happier these days. She is able to lay on the floor happily for what to us seems like a really long time, much easier than having to hold her upright to stop the crying! Her sleep patterns have become predictable for the most part and she manages to take charge of her own feeding schedule, why would she want to be on mom's schedule anyways? She has become more playful and interactive. She especially enjoys putting soft things in her mouth, sticking out her tongue, kicking her legs and attempting to roll, and making new noises over and over again.

She has had her first meals of rice cereal...most of it landing outside her mouth, of course! The new high chair in the kitchen will really come in handy as solids become more a part of the daily schedule. Can't wait to see Adri's first reactions to bananas, avocado, sweet potatoes......what will her favourite be?

My parents have been so incredibly supportive. Adrianna has successfully spent four Friday nights at oma and opa's house, a welcomed tradition for mom & dad! Harvie and I have enjoyed escaping on Friday nights, knowing that we can sleep well at night since our little gir is in great hands. We're building up our social life....slowly. The first free Friday night we went straight home to catch up on sleep. The next 2 times we managed to have dinner out with a couple friends. Soon enough we'll be up for dinner and a movie, but for now catching up on sleep is helping us keep our sanity! Adri has even spent Saturday mornings watching cartoons with Opa and cuddling with Oma, whenever she decides to. Yes, our little Adri is strong-willed but no doubt has captured the hearts of her oma and opa. I feel so blessed to have them so close. My heart simply melts when I watch them with her.

A New Year Begins

What did 2008 bring us? The biggest change in our lives to date...our sweet little Adri! It was last year early in January that I found out I was pregnant. We were completely excited and enjoyed the months leading up to her arrival. There were some concerns at first, but once we heard her heartbeat at 8 weeks we were relieved and began looking forward and preparing to this next stage in our lives. Being pregnant was much better than I had thought it would be. Yes there was some morning sickness and discomforts but all in all it was pretty good (minus the two lasts weeks were I was just ready to explode!). The birth, well, after four days of contractions and more pain management medication that I can remember, Adri entered this world. The first month is really a fog and I think we are finally coming out it. It's really amazing how something so small can make such a drastic change. The change...has been challenging at times, but we wouldn't trade her for anything.

Since our last post, Christmas came and went. Adrianna loved the Christmas lights on the tree this year and I am sure that by next year we'll have to be carefull with her fascination of the ornanments. She was certainly spoiled this Christmas by family members receiving the biggest and noisiest gifts you can imagine. Check out the reaction she gave when we opened her present from Uncle Jeff named "The Singing Annoying Thing"...the name and reaction say it all!

She also received an adorable outfit from Uncle Marlen and Autie Sue. We took the first chance we had to dress her up and have a photo session with her and luckly she cooperated!

We usually spend Christmas eve with my family. We have a tradition to end the evening watching a movie, usually one that someone got as a gift. This year we watched "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" one of my dad's favourite movies. We have hosted the Buitelaar Christmas ever since we got married. It has now evolved to a full turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It's always a hit! We also may have started a new tradition...to end the evening playing a game of scrabble. Harvie and I will need to practice all year (which we already have started) to try to be a match to Marlen and Sue...the game is on!

Our little Adri is now 4 months old. She weighs basically 15 pounds, almost double her birth weight. We know she has grown in length since many of her 3 month outfits no longer fit which is kind of sad because she was given so many cute outfits by family and friends. She continues to sleep well at night. Christel, a friend of ours, lent us a exersaucer and we eargerly tried it on January 1st. Did she like it? Well check out first reaction...

She has also increased her enjoyment of spending time in the bumbo, but tummy time only lasts a couple of minutes and then the discontenment begins...but we keep on trying!

I have a love for children's book and if you have ever seen my collection you would know that already. So, it's only fitting that I read to Adri every day, and it already seems like she has a favourite called "I Know a Rhino". I have tried to read "We're Going on A Bear Hunt" on many occasions, but I think she is still a little scared since I read "with too much emotion" according to Harvie. He brought home a bath book for Adri after one of his trips and it has become a bath ritual to read it to her...also with some emotion!

Like mother, like child...she loves to spend time in her bed. Sometimes I am not sure how long she has been awake since she often wakes up and just lays in her crib. That makes trying to plan for her next nap a little more of a guessing game. Also, perhaps she will follow the tradition of coffee and chocolate for breakfast once she is old enough...nothing is better than starting the day with a chocolate or two!

Her feedings continue to be an immense challenge but thanks to the calmness and persistance of my mom she has now successfully taken the bottle every day since Saturday for one or two feedings a day. It was nice to hear from our doctor that it is very uncommon for a baby to have this many issues with feedings. This was incredible affirming to me since it finally put an end my feelings of inadequacy. There has been so many feedings were she would be screaming, I would be crying holding her close to me and Harvie would be by my side saying everything will be ok. The comfort I had is that I knew at those moments God was right there surrounding his loving arms holding me tight in the assurance of that he gives you the strength and calmness to deal with whatever comes your way. I could hear him whisper "I am your God, trust in me, rest in me...this too shall pass"

The doctor also said it is great that she began taking the bottle and that I could start thinking of introducing rice cereal already. It's has been so hard to know what is best for Adri and for me. So after a couple months of long cries, prayer and support and encouragement from Harvie and my mom the decision has been made. We are transitioning to the bottle this coming month. I will continue to pump as long as my milk supply is there and we will probably need to introduce formula in the coming weeks. Who knows, she may like formula and the bottle more since she has been so unhappy breastfeeding. Happier baby...happier mom...happier husband!

What will 2009 bring us? A growing child, messy feedings, stinkier diapers, a child proof house, sleepless nights with the appearance of teeth, a first family trip, and leaning evermore on God's strength as we try to parent Adri the best way we know how. Thank you for family and friends who have been an incredible source of support these last months...God has blessed us through you in so many ways...from time, meals, clothes, baby stuff, words of encouragement and affirmation. Know that we are thankful and that we acknowledge how much you have given us. May God bless you this new year and may you be a blessing to people around you!

Round and round...and round...and round...we go

A little fun at the company Christmas family party!

Not a Newborn Anymore...

With the passing of another month...comes a new blog update! It's hard to believe our little Adri is already 3 months old. So much has changed since those first days. She has been sleeping like an angel through the night, a true blessing from God! Her nap schedule is slowly becoming more predictable, making the days a little easier to manage. The smiles have turned to small giggles, especially in the mornings at wake up time. The wake up time has become the most precious time of day. Many mornings we walk into her room to find her already awake to our surprise. Then comes the next twenty minutes of cheer joy in her eyes as we unwrap her and she begins to kick and smile as we watch her enjoy life. It is the best part of the day with our litttle Adri. She has also began to "talk" to us, protesting this or that or chatting it up. Sometimes she even sings along to "Jesus Loves Me" as mom puts her to sleep. She is such a gift in our lives, and we thank God for our precious daughter. All the challenges and struggles of parenthood (and there have been many along the way) melt away when we look into her piercing blue eyes and her beautiful little smile and realize that she belongs to our family! As Harvie is the photographer of our family, basically all the good pictures have Adri and me (I will try improving my photography skills). Enjoy some of the pictures of the last month in the Buitelaar household...

Dressing up our little princess always comes along with a photo session...until Adri begins to cry trying to tell us enough is enough!

Her favourite bath activity is kicking a rubber ducky around. What a change from the screaming baths we had during the first month!

As for rolling over, we better keep a close eye on that as she has already turned sideways many times.She enjoyed a couple of play dates with her friend Abigail...even though they already had some trouble sharing the toys on the play gym :)

Adrianna was "bapticated" :) at our church on November 30th. Many thanks to all the family and friends that came out to celebrate it with us.

Harvie's work had a Christmas party for families at the Burnaby Village this past Saturday. Adrianna had quite the eventful day. On the way to the party she threw up in her lovely dress, she sat on Santa's lap and got a gift, had a snooze while we toured the village, had two carossel rides, and a screaming fit all the way home (too much excitement for one day!).

A Merry Christmas to All! May God bless you this season with joy and peace through his Son, Jesus Christ. May you feel His presence this Christmas in your hearts and homes.