Reactions to New Experiences

Adlee and I were showering together today. She was sitting on the floor of the tub as I showered, then I sat down to give her a bath. We have on of those shower heads on a hose, and I brought it down with me when I sat down. Normally, I rinse Adlee off by pouring a bowl of water on her, so I wasn't sure how she'd react to having water sprayed on her.

I smiled as I sprayed her. She was surprised, maybe even shocked. But, she was not unhappy. She looked at me with her mouth and eyes wide open, then she looked back at the shower head as I sprayed her tummy. Soon, her wide open mouth was smiling as she tried to grab the water. It was a precious, precious moment.

It struck me how important my reaction was to her. If I had let her decide how to feel, she might have been upset by the new experience. Instead, I gave her a clear cue to tell her how to react. I smiled. She smiled.

Then, it struck me that she looked at me to see how she should react. If she hadn't looked at me, she might have been upset by the new experience.

We're supposed to be God's children. Jesus encouraged us to be childlike when he said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Looking to parents for cues is something children do.

What a challenge to look for my Heavenly Father's reaction to the new experiences in my life! I'm sure, because He is a far better parent than I, that He'll be giving a cue to tell me how to react.

Love and Blessings!
Jordon

How to Work Out When You Have a Baby

Step 1: If baby takes long naps, put baby down for a nap. If your baby wakes up the moment she hits the crib sheets, skip this step.

Step 2: Pump. It will make a more comfortable work out for you. Also, if your baby is hungry right after the workout, you'll have something to offer other than your sweaty self.

Step 3: Pick up toys and tell the dogs to leave the room. Repeat during the workout as needed.

Step 4: Find Baby's favorite toy. Set her down near it.

Step 5: GO! You may only have a few minutes of peace. Get through as much as you can.

Tips:

• Find new "toys" she normally doesn't get to touch around the house to keep baby entertained. Make sure they're safe.
• When jumping around, watch for those dogs, toys, and babies. You can jump around them! You can do it!
• Be thankful when Daddy is around to watch baby.
• Be thankful when Daddy is not around to watch you.
• You know you're getting in shape when you stop the video for the baby more often than you stop it for yourself.
• Put baby in front of the TV. You can entertain her while working out. Six-month-olds think Power Jumps are hilarious (and, in my case, she's probably right).
• Turn the volume up so you can hear the trainer over the fussing.
• If possible, GET A BABYSITTER AND GO TO THE GYM.

Dear Adlee, 6 months

Dear Adlee,

You are almost six months old. You’ve changed very much during the past three months. You can move in all sorts of new ways!

At the end of April, you started to roll onto your side from your back. You started doing this to get to me to eat during the night. Yes, Mommy and Daddy let you sleep with us often.

The second week May you started petting Shelby (and Sally). You still love to grab her paws and pat her head. You also started to reach out to Daddy when you wanted him to hold you. That was a big week for you! You started to scoot backwards on your tummy, and you started sucking your thumb. You suck your thumb with your fingers outstretched.

During the last week of May, you started sitting up. You were not even five months old!

Around your five-month birthday, you started getting your knees under you. You would push up on your toes in a push-up/downward-facing-dog position. We also started giving you a sippy-cup. If you were on your back, you were pretty good at holding it.

In the middle of June, you started rocking on your knees. I’m sure you’ll be crawling soon! You also started banging your toys and hands on things.

At the end of June, Mommy and Daddy thought you’d really like to eat supper with us, so we gave you bananas. You weren’t a fan. In fact the second night, you gagged and threw up. The faces you made were so funny!

Daddy calls you “Princess” and “Chunk-a-Chunk.” Mommy calls you “Monkey Girl” because you climb all over me, and I still call you “Sweet Pea” and “Punkin Pie.”

You spend most of your awake time sitting on the floor with a blanket with your toys. Your favorite toy is probably your helicopter. Of course, you put many of your toys (and anything else you can get a hold of) in your mouth. You like to grab and suck on plastic bags and our couch.

You have been growing quickly, and you were about to grow out of your bassinet. So right before your five-month birthday, you started sleeping in your crib. You still spend lots of time in Mommy and Daddy’s bed.

We started a bedtime routine. We read books at around 9 pm. Then, we pray. Then, I feed you one more time, and you fall asleep while eating. It’s a precious time. I look forward to continuing this routine for many years.

You are a sweetheart, and we love seeing your personality! You are determined to learn. You are working really hard at perfecting your grabbing, picking up, and holding skills. And, you are working really hard at crawling. When you are in a new place or holding something new, you concentrate very hard at observing all you can. You love to laugh and have a great sense of humor. You were “talking” less for a while, but you’re starting to do it more again. Mommy and Daddy love to hear your voice!

Love you,

Mommy