Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Eight Months Old and Counting


Gracie Lu turned 8 months on Sept 22. She is growing incredibly fast. She is currently (at 8 1/2 months) 19 pounds and 14oz... just under the big 20!!! She has fat thighs and her arms are filling out too. Her hair is growing into soft precious curls. It mostly grows on the top while the sides and back are still short. Her skin is constantly dry. I've tried a hundred lotions, it seems, and nothing has really worked. I lotion her up every morning and night and have even used baby oil gel... still she is dry and ashy - (advice anyone?).

Gracie is sitting up perfectly with great control of her head, neck and trunk. She rolls everywhere and every-which-way. She recently started sliding backwards on her belly. Since our first floor is mostly tile/wood she backward slides all around the kitchen and living area. When she runs into a wall, she scoots herself around and slides backwards away from the wall. Very cute!

Gracie also recently started putting her hand out and cupping her fingers in and out, as if she is telling us to come near. Gracie and Libby are a delight to watch together, especially in the morning hours. They make each other smile and laugh. They cuddle and bounce and chatter back and forth. I love it!

Almost 2 weeks ago we decided Gracie was able to sleep through the night without a bottle. It only took about 2-3 interrupted nights for her to get it. She now sleeps through the night from 7PM to about 6-6:30AM. We have some seriously early mornings (at least, for me...I haven't regularly seen 6AM in YEARS! I am a late night person learning that early nights are to become the norm for a while). In the last 6 weeks Gracie has also started eating baby foods such as oatmeal, carrots, sweet potatoes, apple sauce, pears, butternut squash, green beans, peas and bananas.

Gracie has been on several long car rides/trips and a few more flights in her short life. She travels alright but definitely is not as content in a car seat as Libby used to be. Gracie will NOT nap unless she is in her own crib or pack n play. She sometimes falls asleep in the car, but as soon as the car comes to a stop for more than 30 seconds - she is up! She is incredibly alert at ALL times.

While Libby is more an observer of people at first meet, Gracie is just the opposite. When she meets new people she leans towards them and then comes back and tilts her head into my chest as she bats her eye lashes and smiles big at the new person. She is such a flirt in that way. I can't describe at all the brightness and life that comes to her eyes when she smiles. The camera just can't do her justice regarding those eyes and smile.

Gracie had her first moment in the playset swing last week and its her new love. She just sits there and smiles as see breezes back and forth. (side note: today while the girls were swinging I was pulling a few weeds without gloves and proceeded to pull up bullnettle (sp?). Uh... can you say PAIN!!!!!!)

Gracie has literally skipped the 3-6 month sizes and is almost in 12 month clothes. Today a box arrived from my sister. It was full of Libby's old clothes that I had let Becky borrow for her youngest. When I opened it I was reminded of all the sweet pictures and moments of Libby in those clothes and then I realized that Libby wore most of those 12 month clothes AFTER she turned one and she was walking. Gracie is only 8 months and not even crawling yet. I'd say she is done "catching up" and has surpassed the "average" for her age body growth. Amazing transformation!

So... here's what you really want to see:

PHOTOS!!!!!!:


I love this pic bc what the girls are wearing reflects them individually very well! Gracie's outfit says, "little miss tea party" and Libby's says "big sister's are the coolest" - which she totally is with that baseball cap.









the cutest gummy grin ever!

not the best pic of Libby, but pic is so true to their sisterhood. Libby loves on Gracie all day long and is usually the only one who can make Gracie laugh.


Gracie's first time out on the swing!

Paci party!

Libby decided to put her hair clips in Gracie's hair. The entire moment was adorable! And below was the end result!
And Gracie's face is saying, "are you sure this is right?"

This was early one morning and Gracie's little face was puffy bc she was still waking up.




8 comments:

KK said...

She's truly beautiful Cindy! I'm so happy for you all.

Here's a link to some great baby lotion. My cousin sells the stuff and it's worked wonders on all of my little cousins and nephew. Plus, it smells great:

https://www.arbonne.com/products/baby/lotion.asp

Marcia said...

Hi! I've been reading your blog since before you brought Gracie home and have enjoyed following your journey. I'm a foster mom in a southeast Asian country, fostering a little girl who will be adopted internationally. She has struggled with dry skin, especially in the dry months here. At the drugstore, Eucerin lotion was recommended to me, and it has worked well for her. It's a bit expensive, and I don't know the availability of it in the States, but if you can find it, it might be worth a try. Hope you find something that helps!

Kristy said...

Cindy I love these pictures. Your girls are just so beautiful and sooooo happy!!!! Your a good Mommy!!

Cindy a long time ago a friend of mine had such dry skin and her mom ended up using Cornhuskers. I remember it was a cleaqr plastic bottle and it was a replica of an old medicine bottle. I hope that helps a little.

Love and blessings, Kristy

Jenn said...

Ohhhh....too many cute pictures!! There should be a disclaimer up at the top!

Libby's hair has gotten SO long! So pretty!

Hugs,
Jenn

The Oswalds said...

She is just precious! So glad she is doing so well!

Anonymous said...

Cetaphil cream in the tub, not the lotion, worked for us. It's $15-$20, but well worth it!

ephesiansTwo10 said...

Love your music and your blog! I've discovered a product line called Yes To Carrots. It's made in Israel (I do what I can to support Israel)with organic veggies and Dead Sea minerals. Paraben free, petroleum free and great for your skin. I have 2 different friends whose little ones have dermatitis or eczema and I gave them Yes to Carrots body butter to use in place of the steroid cremes. Both ladies loved it and still use it. I have samples if you'd like me to mail it to you. I don't sell it, just a "raving fan" that has the privilege of getting samples tshare with my pals. They sell it at Walgreens and Target, and it's fabulous. As a mom of 2 little girls, I keep all of our beauty products paraben free. It converts to estrogen in your body, and with as many other sources of extra estrogen, I try and protect my girls. Arbonne is good, as is Eucerin, but both contain parabens and I wouldn't use on my little ones or myself. It's not worth risking hormone issues later, whether they be migraines (like I have) or female issues.
Can't wait to read your blog and see how God uses your family. Thanks for your ministry! Hope I wasn't too wordy, and if you'd like some Yes To Carrots, let me know and I'll drop some in the mail :)

ephesiansTwo10 said...

I'd go with Yes To Carrots body butter (available at Walgreens or Target). It's paraben free (parabens are preservatives used in make-up and skin care that convert to estrogen in your body). Since our skin is our biggest organ, what you put on truly does make a difference. I've been using paraben free products for 3 years now and feel SO much better. I suffer from migraines and the extra estrogen was causing chronic migraines, now I only get 2-3 per month. I have 2 daughters, 7 and 5, and all of the products we use from toothpaste to shampoo is paraben/petroleum/quaternium free. If you'd like samples of YTC stuff, I have a few extras I could send. I'm what they consider a "VIC" (very important customer) and they sent me free samples to share with my friends. Arbonne is good, no mineral oil (petroleum) but they use parabens in most of the products I've seen. I have 2 friends who's kids have eczema and I gave them body butter to use instead of the steroid creams. Both had fantastic results and seriously, I haven't tried any Yes To product that I didn't like. Their lip glosses are amazing! Let me know via email or blog comment if you'd like some, I'd be glad to share! Blessings to you, Billy and your sweet girls! Thanks for your ministry and heart for His little ones.