Balloon Obsession

I am going to let the photos in this blog speak for themselves. Let's just say this kid is OVER THE TOP when it comes to balloons. We still have one kicking around the house from a halloween party on October 18th...Also, in an unintentional blog effect, you can see the progress of Delaney's teeth as they are coming in. She now has four on top and two on the bottom.

This is where all the trouble started, with Blinkie the Clown at the Wachusett KidsFest and her "duckie in a pond" creation. Although I think in this picture the Duckie has already bit the dust.

The discovery of the magical Halloween balloon. If you look closely, you can see she is plotting how she can steal Andrew's, too.

So tired, but still not letting go. Look closely for the string.

Okay, this is getting a little weird...

Finally!! A new balloon, and a happy baby while Grammy and I had lunch. I officially love Red Robin.

And of course, we grabbed two more ballons on the way out. The first one was covered in Mac and Cheese since there was no letting go of it while she ate.

It's a naked balloon party at Grammy's cottage!!! I am not sure if Brady wants the balloon or a piece of that little tush!

How much can really happen in 6 weeks?

Yes, it has been WAY too long since my last blog, but really, how much can really happen in six weeks? Well, when you are raising a toddler, six weeks may as well be 6 months. I have no good excuse for not having any recent entries, but life as we know it has been turned upside down!

For starters, Walker Baby #2 is on the way!! Due May 8th, which also happens to be Auntie Kristen and Nana's birthday. Our first ultrasound was on Friday, but it is still to early to predict if Delaney will have a little brother or sister. Although it wasn't exactly the timing we had planned for, as Don Mauchan pointed out, "It is never unexpected as long as you know what is causing it." Very true.

We also got to celebrate Delaney's first (official, since she was sleeping through it last year) Halloween. We went trick-or-treating with Jack and Chad, and Delaney loved it. The only part she didn't get was the leaving. She would stand on the stoop staring at the nice person who had just filled her basket. When we would try and encourage her to leave, she would get so upset!


Then, we drove over to Grammy's house to surprise her. Jack and Chad gave Delaney her first Halloween bucket, and in it were little crayons. Without realizing it, on the way to Grammy's, Delaney got into the crayons and tried to eat them.


As Delaney is becoming more mobile, she is walking pretty much all the time now, she and Brady are now on eye level. They are becoming fast friends, and Delaney is absolutely in love with him. He is the first thing she looks for when she wakes up in the morning and when we come home for the day. She will call out "Hi Brady!" when she sees him, and demands to be wherever he is. She is obsessed with dogs in general (hence the Halloween costume).


I am trying so hard to remember all the little things that Delaney is learning every day. She has just started using a fork when she eats (although she expects applause every bite!), she loves trying to use my brush or put on my shoes, and her favorite new word is BABY!! She loves all the babies at daycare, and is so gentle with them. Whether we are reading a book or watching TV, she will spot a baby and absolutely light up. Let's hope this is still the case when we have one at home!

The magical four-letter word

Finally, the word I have been waiting for...Mama! And I actually had a witness for the first time so that no one can tell me I imagined it. I was picking D up from daycare on Friday, and she was thirsty (her own fault since the stubborn little girl still refuses to drink her milk!). I gave the cup to her teacher and asked her for some water. Delaney clearly didn't feel like waiting, and the impatience motivated her just enough to yell out "mama." Unfortunately, just about every time she has said it since has been when she is demanding something, so I guess I should be careful what I wish for.

Another exciting first on Saturday were her first steps. Luckily, Linwood and Grammy were both there to see them, too, so now we don't have to worry that her first steps will take place at daycare where we'll all miss them. She is obviously her grandmother's granddaughter since she walked betwen items that were out at a yard sale. She knew exactly what she had done, too, and seemed very pleased with herself. And of course, the video camera that I absolutely "had to have" was nowhere in sight. That is life as we know it.

Celebration

I can't believe it has taken me over a week to publish this entry, but I feel like it took me that long to recover! We celebrated Delaney's Christening and her first birthday with a big party on the 7th. It was Linwood and my first time hosting a party at the house, so that was pretty stressful. Luckily, Grammy came over early to entertain Delaney so we could finish all the preparation!

The Dedication ceremony was absolutely beautiful. Reverend Merritt invited all of our guests to stand in a circle around us during the blessing. Her words were inspiring and a timely reminder to Linwood and me about the importance of family and the responsibility we have to raise this child. The promises that we, along with godparents, made to Delaney were perfect and touching. Delaney even behaved herself throughout the entire time! She provided a little comic relief when she snapped her flower in half, since she always insists on having something in each hand.




You'll have to ask someone else who came to the party how it went, since most of it is a blur to me. I have a whole new appreciation for party hosts! Luckily, we had a beautiful day and most people enjoyed staying outside. We were especially thankful, though, that we invested in a new tv, since there were plenty of people posted in front of it to watch the Patriots season opener. Even though Brady went down in the first 7 minutes and is out for the season, the Pats scored a win under backup Matt Cassel. And of course, Delaney got to debut her new Patriots outfit!




We decided to splurge a little on the cake for the big day, and luckily it was a much bigger hit than the first. Delaney dove in with both hands and loved it! All in all, the day was a success, and I couldn't feel luckier to have such a special little girl.

The Big 0-1

This is the blog that I should be dedicating to Delaney's first birthday, but since I am still in denial that it has actually happened, this presents a challenge. As much as I am loving her more and more everyday, seeing my little baby grow and change so much is an emotional rollercoaster. That being said, I wouldn't change being able to see her smile and reach for me, or listen to her big belly laugh when she cracks herself up. Nor would I take back all the little things she is learning every day.

We had a nice day on the first, which was appropriately Labor Day (insert "what were doing this time last year" joke here). We went to the Marlborough Parade with Grammy, Joe T, Auntie Kristen, Uncle Chris, Jack and Chad. D really seemed to like it, and didn't even cry when the guns went off (Daddy was very proud).

We topped off the day with a small party at Grammy's house, where Delaney loved her keys from Joe, her wagon from Grammy, and her bath toys from Jack and Chad.


Ironically, the big moment of the day....the cake was not a big hit. I definitely don't know WHERE she would get that from. Certainly not me. You would think we were torturing her after she took her first bite! Hopefully the yellow cake will be more her style at her big party this weekend!

Davis Farmland

Finally, I had a day off and was able to enjoy an outing with some great moms from the Mamas and Munchkins. We had a beautiful, fall-like day, and the babies really enjoyed themselves. Delaney was more interested in the kids than the animals, but considering that she is manhandled by a 60 lb dog on a daily basis, this is understandable. As Mary said, they should call this place Davis Goat-land, but nevertheless the goats were pretty cute and very friendly. Delaney got to practice her "woof-woof" sound that we have been teaching her in response to "What does a doggie say," and spent the entire day barking at the goats. Gotta love it. I think she also roped in her first admirer...one of many I am sure!

Is she always that happy?

This is the question I am constantly asked when out in public with Delaney. And the answer is always, "Yes!" This baby is genuinely just so happy from the minute I am greeted by a big smile from her crib in the morning until the last little cuddle we share together before bedtime. Delaney has smiles for anyone and everyone who asks for one, and actually sits and waits with a smile on her face for someone who isn't even looking at her to pay her some attention.

She has developed all her own little signs of affection, too. The best continues to be her big, open mouth kisses that she usually aims at my nose. She loves kissing her stuffed animals, too. Unfortunately, she also enjoys giving those kisses to Brady, who sometime mangages to give her one back...but they say dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans, right?

My favorite time of day is at bedtime while I am nursing her, and she will twirl my hair around her fingers. This is when I feel the closest to her. She truly enjoys everyone around her, especially other children. I feel so blessed to be her mom.

There have been a few firsts over the past week. On Sunday, August 17th, D stood on her own for the first time, and she took one step on Tuesday night. She has also started walking just holding onto one hand. The pictures below are from her first time "feeding" herself with her spoon, where she developed a signature move that involved putting the spoon in the jar, throwing it over her head, then sticking the spoon in her mouth (notice the baby food above her head on the high chair).

Busy Times...

Although I am not sure this entry is necessarily blog-worthy, the fact is that keeping up with our now-mobile super crawler has really taken up all of our time recently. Door latches, corner protectors, knob locks...this is life as we know it these days. I was convinced Delaney would walk before she crawled since she didn't show too much interest in crawling and was obsessed with pulling herself up on everything, but I was wrong! Her new favorite thing to do is chase after Brady while cracking herself up the entire time. Even though recently she has had a bit of a cold and a stomach bug, she hasn't slowed down a bit. In a more bittersweet development, she is even becoming less interested in nursing. Sitting still long enough to get a full feeding is just too boring for this girl on the move. It is definitely ironic that while I have been counting down the days until this phase was over, I am feeling very sad that this special time for D and me is passing. Especially as we are beginning to plan her 1st birthday, it reminds me that we truly must appreciate every stage of her life rather than wishing to move on to the next.

Girl's Best Friend

Get Out the Baby Gates!

Well, the day has finally arrived. Who would have guessed that we have been doing it all wrong? Wouldn't you think that in order to tempt a baby to crawl you would put down a baby toy that she wanted? Of course not! All you need is a dirty, slightly chewed dog bone, and she is off! Poor Brady doesn't know what he is in for...

My Review of Sun Smarties Infant Beach Cabana Tent

Originally submitted at One Step Ahead

Sun Smarties Infant Beach Cabana Tent

Great for shade and play

By Delaney's mom from MA on 7/9/2008

5out of 5

Pros: Fun, Durable, Lightweight
Best Uses: Infants, Toddlers

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

We use this tent at the beach, in the yard, and sometimes in the house! My 10-month-old loves having her own little place to play. This tent is better for us than other sunshades because the bottom prevents her from being able to eat the sand, rocks, etc. and it can be zipped all the way shut for bug protection.

My Review of Baby Spring Float with Canopy

Originally submitted at One Step Ahead

Baby Spring Float with Canopy

Perfect for little ones new to the water

By Delaney's mom from MA on 7/9/2008

5out of 5

Pros: Fun, Durable, Lightweight

Best Uses: Infants, Toddlers

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

We brought this to the ocean for my 10-month-olds first time to the beach. She loved it. It was very comfortable and allowed her to float or walk in the more shallow areas. The sunshade adds extra peace of mind for sun protection.

Vacation?

Swimming in Webb Lake
Chilling on Uncle Lee's boat
D and mommy
Swimming with Daddy
Playing in my tent

Camping....I just don't get it. Many people swear by it as a way of "getting away from it all," but it just seems like a lot of work to me. At any rate, it is a good thing Delaney takes after her Daddy on this one, because she had a blast. Whether it was in her backpack carrier, her tent, on the beach or on Uncle Lee's boat, she was happy from start to finish. At the beginning of the week we spent a few days at Grammy's cottage and Delaney swam in the ocean for the first time. She is getting so independent, too. She is taking supported steps and I am sure she will be walking in no time. My new nickname for her is "snatcher" because she will grab anything and everything in arms reach, unless of course, it is a toy that she is allowed to have.

# 1 Fan

When I decided to start this blog, I promised myself I wasn't going to waste time trying to go back and capture the 9 months of our lives that have passed in the blink of an eye since Delaney was born. However, I would be remiss to not spend some time reflecting on the year in sports that has ushered in Delaney's first year with us. Often times I find myself wondering what her "gift" will be, and I worry that I won't recognize it in time to help her make the most of it. Will it be singing, dancing, helping others? If I really had to make an educated guess, I would have to suspect it will be something athletic. I mean, this is the kid that was born during the Clay Buckholtz no-hitter! The great grandaughter of 2 college baseball pitchers, and the grandchild of a high-school 2 sport star athlete. As Linwood loves to say, he is going to ducktape a glove to her right hand and hopes that she takes after her mom and grandfather to become a lefty. She has witnessed (okay, slept through, but that doesn't really matter, does it?) a Red Sox World Series win, the Celtics' first championship in 22 years, one of the most exciting (and heartbreaking) seasons in BC football history, and some other big game the Patriots played, but I have really blocked out the details of that one. And of course, she had the fashion to support each team, although since I teased Linwood mercilessly last season for watching the deadbeat Celtics, I couldn't in good conscience put her in a Celtics get-up this year. Who would have guessed? You can be certain we will be jumping on the bandwagon and getting her some Celtics duds for next season.

What I can remember...

Okay, since I have been a slacker, I will do my best to collect the current stats from the brain that is currently racked witha severe case of "Momnesia."

At 9 months, Delaney Lin is weighing in at 19lbs 10oz. Her favorite foods are tofu (see the evidence in the photos!), blueberries and "Mama's Milk." She feeds herself two hands at a time with full handfuls. Half goes in her mouth, and half ends up on the floor as a bonus to Brady. Her only real word right now is Dada, although she thinks she can say Doggie and Brady (which sound suspiciously like Dada). As much as we encourage her to say Mama, it is usually met with a resounding....DADA!!! She also FINALLY got her first tooth last week, and took it like a champ.

Delaney is sitting and trying to crawl, but mostly ends up taking a swan dive to her belly that is followed by lots of yelling. She loves standing and will take supported steps. She will even give a little head bob and wiggle that I think is her version of dancing. My favorite part of the day is the morning, when I get a big fat smile as I enter her bedroom. We spend some quiet time nursing, then as soon as we finish, Delaney starts calling "Dada" in a really soft voice as we enter our bedroom to wake up Linwood. Again, I am not sure if she is calling Linwood or Brady (who is also in the bedroom), but I'll give this one to Linwood. Then we all snuggle in bed together before I leave them to watch Arthur. Linwood loves singing the theme song, "What a Wonderful Kind of Day," it is really adorable.

And off we go!!

Well, it is official. I am officially one of "them." A member of the technological world of the bloggers. I would love to say I am doing this because I am one of those hyper-organized moms that is all about being thorough and detailed. Fact is, I am a failure. A failure, that is, at keeping a baby book. I am finally coming to terms with the fact that the only way Delaney is going to have a chance at knowing when she ate solids for the first time, took that first precious step, or uttered that golden word, "MAMA", is if I keep track of it on my computer. So, here it is, and I hope she doesn't end up on the therapist's couch for it someday.