Mobile Munchie

    
Ever since Christiana has been mobile (she's been mobile since August) she has been all over the place.  Since she has been mobile we have had to really "Munchieproof" the apartment (not just a pillow here and there)!  At 10 months she is over 2 feet (at her 9 month well checkup she was 27 inches). 

     At 6 months we would put pillows to block to certain areas of the living room especially since she was just learning how to really crawl.  Those pillows only worked so much; she was using them as a step stool or used them to help her balance & grab.  From birth she really paid attention to her environment and I knew that once she was able to get around on her own we were in big trouble.  Lucky for us she wasn't that tall to reach everything.

6 months -

6 months - using the pillow
to help her reach the
items

6 months - using the pillow to try to get
 onto the couch

   At 8 months she was tall enough to pull herself up to the table and her arms were long enough to grab thing at the edge of the table.  We would still use the pillows to block the hazardous places, but she was (and still is) smart enough to move them or try to maneuver her way around them.  We would even use her swing and activity gym as a way to keep her blocked in, but she would crawl around or underneath them.

8 months

no more pillow

     Now at 10 months Christiana has been cruising the table, couch, or whatever she can to get around and really explore her surroundings (this has been for the past 1.5 months).   I believe that within the next month or so she will be walking (yaaaay for Munchie, uh oh for mommy & daddy).  Her arms are long enough to reach the center of the living room table and if she cannot reach it from one area of the table, she cruises to the other side to try and grab it.  One of her favorite places is by the TV (this has been since she's been mobile); she likes to take the DVDs off the rack.  She even has the nerve to get mad when we move her away from her favorite place. :O) 

9 months

     I know this is supposed to happen, but sometimes I thinks it's happening sooo fast!  I see what people mean when they say cherish every moment with your child because before we know it she will be heading off to college.

Luke 18:16     

But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.

Fantastic Firsts: Christiana's first holidays

Mother's day - 2011

Easter 2011

Pumpkin patch 2011

Halloween 2011

Christiana's christmas outfits

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above...
~ James 1:17 From KJV

     Yesterday was my sweethearts first Christmas! She looked absolutely adorable...I sound like one of those moms that think they have the cutest baby! Anyhow she had 3 outfits (possibly 4 if you include her Christmas pjs)

     Her first outfit was for her Santa picture & was supposed to be worn during our annual Christmas breakfast (which was postponed since momma was in the hospital). She looked totally fabulous!

Munchie was NOT feeling Santa

     Her second outfit was worn on Christmas eve. Her Gammy bought her and her cousin matching dresses. Don't they look just darling?!

     Her third outfit was her "My first Christmas" shirt with ruffle butt bloomers. I thought she looked utterly cute in this outfit too!  Man I sound like one of those moms that think their child looks cute in everything!  Oh well, she DOES look cute in everything. ;OP

I just love ruffles on the butt!

     If you want to include her pjs as her fourth Christmas outfit, then let's include it. This outfit you would call the "the night before Christmas & let's open my presents & veg all day" outfit. This is another Gammy purchase. :0) Munchie & Tutti had matching pjs. I love this kind of stuff!

     I truly wish my momma was home to see her little grand daughter in her Christmas outfits. Luckily I took tons of pictures to share with her when she comes home or at least when she's alert.

I'm still missing my momma!

 

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.

Psalm 28:7-8

Christmas 2010

     Man do I miss my momma! Yesterday makes week 3 that my momma has been in the hospital and yesterday was Christmas. :0( Three weeks of not being able to communicate with her has been a little rough; there have been times when I felt like calling her and realized that i couldn't call. Last Saturday when me and my sister went to visit her she was soooo alert and playing with us (in her own way of course since she still isn't able to talk since she has the ventilator tube going into her mouth), it gave us some comfort. Now this past week it's been totally different. She's all drugged up and hasn't been as alert like she was last Saturday. :0(

     When she was first admitted to the hospital I asked the Lord for strength and he has answered my prayer request wholeheartedly! Thank you Jesus for being by my,actually my families side during this rough time. What would we do without you? We would be a total basket case. I'm sitting here listening to "it ain't over (until God says it's over)" by the gospel singer Maurette Brown-Clark...great song for my family or for anyone going through a difficult time.

I had to play the song a couple of times to help me remember who is in charge.


Read the lyrics:

    It Ain't Over (Until God Says It's Over) by Maurette Brown-Clark [Christian Single Release Promo 2008]


Verse I
I know the odds look stacked against you
And it seems there's no way out
I know the issue seems unchangeable
And that there's no reason to shout
But the impossible is God's chance
To work a miracle, a miracle
So just know

Chorus
It ain't over until God says it's over
It ain't over until God says it's done
It ain't over until God says it's over
Keep fighting until your victory is won

Verse II
He never said it would be easy (not going to be easy but your a winner)
But you're a winner in the end
(Jesus defeated)Jesus defeated all your enemies
(way before the fight began) Way before the fight began
But the impossible is God's chance
To work a miracle, a miracle
So just know

Chorus

Bridge
When people say you can't, remember
(He can, He can)
When you don't know what you're gonna do,
Please remember
(He has the master plan)
He will free you from your sin
And give you peace within
So hold your head up high
You're gonna win
(You're gonna win)

Chorus

Vamp
Keep fighting, keep praying, keep fasting
It ain't over, no
Keep pressing, progressing, keep moving
It ain't over, no
Keep reading, interceding, keep believing
It ain't over, no
Keep trusting, keep trying, keep travailing
It ain't over, no
Keep living, keep giving, keep going
It ain't over, no (8x)
Keep fighting until your victory is won

Christiana's food adventures: red beans & rice

Man technology is toooo cool; I don't have to wait until I get home to write about my baby Christiana I can do it from my phone! Heeeey!

Anyhoo my dear hubby is sooo ready for Christiana to be off of mommy milk, so much that he is always ready to give her something to eat; I think he is ready for her to be daddy's girl already & maybe he thinks weaning her will be the key. In time hunny, in time. I too am into introducing Christiana to new foods just as long as they don't cause food allergies, and plus mommy milk is giving her everything she needs right now.

Let me get back to the title of the post. This past Saturday we decided to go to a Creole restuarant "uncle darrows", yummy food by the way. Of course while we are eating Christiana is interested in our food, since she isn't able to eat fish I cannot offer her any of my food. Weeeell Rickey has a side order of red beans & rice, we all know she loves pinto beans so he offers her his yummy side dish. She loved it! Heeeey!

So here is a list of Christiana approved foods:
1. Mommy milk
2. Munchie crunchies
3. Saltine crackers
4. Apples
5. Pinto beans - whole or re fried
6. Cheerios
7. Red beans & rice...the new food!

My little dancing machine!!

     We are a musically inclined family.  I love to sing and dance (I may not be good at those things but I enjoy doing those things) and daddy Teems likes to rap so inevitably Christiana would grow to love music.  Whenever and wherever music is playing my baby girl rocks out!!!  I mean headbanging rocking out!  Check out the video.  It's the cutest thing (I guess all parents say everything their baby does is cute). Man I love her soooo much!! Oh the adorable little guy is my nephew who also looooves music and dancing.   

Christiana's food adventures: Pinto Beans & Chicken bones

     If you know me, then you know I loooove Mexican food!  I love Mexican food so much I already have the menu for Christiana's 2nd birthday party (that way she can enjoy the food as much as I will).  :O)

     Anyhoo since my mother has been in the hospital every now and then I have to drive through somewhere.  Some days I feel like burgers and some days when I want a "healthier" option I drive through El Pollo Loco.  Even though Christiana's diet consists of mommy milk and munchie crunchies, lately she has been curious about what we have been eating.  Weeeell on one of my "healthier" fast food days I ordered a 2 piece combo with pinto beans and rice.  Yummy!  That day I decided to let Christiana try my beans since she was all into my plate.  Guess what?  She like it!!  How do I do know this?  Every time I offered her another bean she opened her mouth for more instead of the tight mouth she gives us when she doesn't like something. 

     I've heard from a few older women that giving a baby a chicken bone is a good teething "ring".  Well that's basically the only "teething" ring she really enjoyed.  :O)  I gave her my chicken bone from El Pollo Loco.  I left some remnants of chicken and removed all the gristle and boy did she go to town on that bone!  Maybe since she has had a little taste of chicken I can give her finely chopped chicken. :O)  We'll see.

   

Missing my momma

10-10-09 momma/daughter talk on my way to meet my hubby to be

     Today marks one week since my momma has been admitted to the hospital.  It has been very hard seeing her there.  Everyday I have been praying for her healing and strength for me and my family.  God has been there every step of the way for us.  How do I know Jesus is with my momma?  He has had His hand on her lungs, kidneys, and heart.  It's a slow healing process but everything has to take time.  Thank you Jesus!  How do I know He is with me?  When I visit my momma in the hospital I am able to handle seeing her not like her usual self instead of breaking down and crying.

     Sometimes it is tough for me.  The other day I wanted to call my momma and talk to her, but I couldn't.  I wanted to stop by her house so she could spend time with Christiana, but I couldn't.  I wanted to send her pictures on her phone of Christiana, but I couldn't.  I really miss my momma, she's still with us but just not like her regular self and I can't wait until she comes home.  :O(

 James 5:13-15

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray . Is any merry? let him sing psalms . 14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

     Today while I was visiting my momma Christiana was with her daddy and he sends me a text saying that she was unhappy.  I ended up cutting my visit short to go pacify my little one.  On the way home I call to see what was going on and he tells me basically that she is wants her mommy (he has me on speaker phone and I hear her in the background - I love hearing her little voice).  Anyhoo when I get home she damn near jumps out of his lap to get to me (I don't think that will ever get old).  Rickey tells me that she was SUPER grumpy and after our phone call she crawled into our bedroom to look for me and comes crawling back crying since I wasn't there. Awww that just broke my little heart.  She really missed her mommy.  I wasn't even gone that long but she wanted to be with me.  It's amazing to me how someone so young could miss a person so much.  I am enjoying every bit of motherhood.

Christiana's Food Adventures: Munchie Crunchies

     Christiana absolutely does not like baby food!!  She puts up the biggest fight when me or her Auntie Shelley (her daycare provider) tries feeding her the pureed food.  I even tried sneaking a spoonful here or there when she is telling me she doesn't like it (really crying) and she pushes it out of her mouth.  Her nana (grandma) bought us a Baby Bullet so we can make Christiana's food and she didn't like that either.  Auntie Shelley (her daycare provider) suggested jarred food, we tried that as well...she didn't like that either.

    
     Weeeeell we found something that Christiana looooves!!!  Lighty salted saltine crackers and Gerber lil' crunchies!  If we let her, she will eat the entire can of the Gerber lil' crunchies.  These are her "scooby snacks", we call them "munchie crunchies". 

I love my mother

From birth the bond between a mother and child is unbreakable; from that moment they fall in love with one another.

"At the time of birth, and for about an hour following birthing, the mother and her newborn baby are swamped in a cocktail of hormones. This time is a crucial time for the mother and baby to bond, to become attached … to fall in love." http://www.health-e-learning.com/resources/articles/34-falling-in-love

Needless to say I have loved my momma for almost 34 years! Today my mother was admitted to the hospital. Just her being there made me break down and cry, but when I found out she had to be on a ventilator I almost dropped!!!  I love my mother to death. Seeing my mother, who is normally a fighter, always on the go, smiling despite her pain, and getting her skate on; totally helpless just hurt my heart to the core.  Seeing someone close to you in the hospital of course isn't a great feeling, but when it's your mother it's 100 times worse!!! 

According to Psalms 90:12 Teach us to number ours days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Life is short and we need to appreciate our loved ones and not take them for granted.  I know my momma will not be here with us forever and I will enjoy our precious moments together.  This scriptures also reminds me that I should be more loving, unselfish, and forgiving. Aren't these all characteristics of our wonderful Jesus? Things that we should all strive to be.

I want my to enjoy her precious moments with her grand daughter Christiana.  So Christiana can love her the way I love her.  In other words having my mother around for many more years would be awesome!