Six months ago today on a rainy, cold, windy Friday evening we flew into Chicago with our new baby girl. I wonder what Ariana was thinking back then. I wonder where all the time has gone. It seems like we only just saw her picture for the first time. Yet, she is so much a part of us now that sometimes it seems like we've always had her.
We love her more than it is possible to describe and are in awe of how far she has come. She is smart, playful, and has the strongest will of anyone we've ever met. She is a little ball of endless energy and explores everything. She loves the outdoors more than anything and is most certainly already missing her favorite place, the beach.
She loves to eat and will try just about anything we offer her. Her favorites are cheese, peas, yogurt, Cheerios, grapes, chicken, carrots, bananas, mashed potatoes, broccoli (with cheese naturally) and the occasional tiny piece of cake or spoon of ice cream.
Just a couple of months ago her pediatrician was concerned about her language and now she is exploding with new words nearly every day. The cuteness is almost too much. She consistently says: Mama, Dada, duck, dog, twinkle, star, ball, banana, apple, purple, yellow, baby, pretty, good-girl, ya, no, buh-bye, Grama, Pa-pa, go, and up. She definitely makes her needs and wants known (see strong-willed comment above) and points, grunts, and signs "more" when all else fails.
Sleep has been a HUGE
ongoing issue for us from the beginning, but we
seem to have turned the corner in the last two weeks or so. Fingers crossed and holding our breath on that as time will tell.
Seven weeks ago she started daycare when I went back to work and it would not be an exaggeration to say I thought my heart would break in two the first day I left her there. They called us twice the first week to come and get her as she was screaming for hours. She has finally adjusted, and, dare I say, it might even be good for her. Since that first week we have worked out a very nice arrangement. Because Steve works weekends and starts work for Fr!to L@y at some ungodly hour he is able to stay home with her on Monday and Friday afternoons and all day Wednesday. My mom takes her every Thursday and a family friend babysits for her on Monday and Friday mornings. Most weeks that just leaves Tuesday at the daycare center and we have been pleased with them, two colds and Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease not withstanding!
I wish there was more time to update this blog and take pictures, but we just seem to be too busy enjoying life with Ariana.
