Weaning, like for real

So, I've been decreasing breastfeeding/pumping slowly since, oh, about October. We've been experimenting with different kinds of milk because of her crazy dry patchy skin. We've true cow milk (which also gives her a runny nose), soy milk (which she doesn't love unless there is a ton of sugar added), unsweetened almond milk (which she doesn't love either), unsweetened vanilla almond milk (which is better, and now rice milk (which is yummy and had more calories than almond milk). Lots of info that's prob not terribly interesting. 

I stopped pumping this week. It has been so nice, because pumping. I have still sent bottles of frozen breast milk with Eden, but I think today was the last of my stash. She also didn't really love nursing at night the past couple of nights and this morning, prob because I'm producing less, so it's prob not as satisfying to keep trying to nurse. so, I think it's really ending. I am definitely thinking of how much easier things will be, but at the same time, I'm sad. The way she gets happy when it's time to nurse is just the most adorable thing. I love being close to her, feeling her heavy little body on my belly, and her clammy little hand on my chest and face. It's heavenly. I hope that we can continue doing morning and night for a while, but I know realistically, well prob be done before a couple of weeks. 

Our little baby really is not a little baby any more. Little baby boo boo bop, I love you. 

We asked her to clean up

So, I guess Eden has been learning a new trick at daycare--cleaning up! She loves to join in when we start to throw toys back into their boxes. And the other day, we even asked her to go and pick up a car from across the room and put it in a box, and she followed directions! Twice! While clapping with joy! I love her so much. 

December (14th month happenings)

The month of December was a big one for Eden, but it was also a particularly busy one for me, so I never did blog these details. But, better late than never, right? :) 

Eden

* on Thursday Dec 17 fully switched over from crawling to walking, after taking her first steps just 3 weeks prior during Thanksgiving. 

* got a purse for Christmas from Nana, and after just one demonstration, can pack her purse and hang on the crook of her arm like it is the most natural thing! 

* also got pink sneakers, a stroller, and night time bear, which she just adores. 

* might actually really love shoes (like even more than toys). And might currently be her only word. She picks them up and brings them to any willing grown up to help put them on her feet by saying "shoos." 

* often brings toys to me with a look that says, "please help me make this toy work," which I take as a sign of advanced intelligence. :) 

* exactly one time, looked at me, pointed to her sippy, and said, "oo yoo," which is "milk" in Korean. Yay!

* went on her first road trip and did great. Atlanta to Orando to SC to MD back to Atlanta in just one week. She was a pleasure! 

* sometimes runs to me just to giggle and give me a big bear hug. It's, by far, the best part of my life right now.

* still wakes up early in the morning to cry at 6 or so every day. Meh. Today, though, the kids randomly both slept until 8! Woah. Incidentally, they also happened to sleep in separate rooms. Hum. 

more!

Big Brother is staying up at Nana's, and Daddy's been working late, so it's been a lot of downtime with just me and Eden. my heart regularly feels wrecked with such an intense love for this little girl. i'm soaking it in. sharing hugs, kisses, and giggles. oh, i love that girl.

yesterday, we watched a little bit of Baby Signing Time, and you know what? she learned her first sign: more. basically, you tap your fingertips together over and over. she does it almost every time i ask her to, and she occasionally stops what she's doing just to practice, i think. she did it for her food and for applesauce tonight. her little hands signing "more" is just too perfect.

tonight, i got her ready for bed, and after a short while of nursing (oh the closeness was so wonderful), she stopped, turned, and slid off my lap. she looked at my face and signed "all done." she made her way to her crib, held on to the bars, lifted her foot up like she was trying to climb in, and then she looked at me, and lifted her foot up again and halfway fussed.

definitely communicating clearly. she's pretty much amazing.

one year

it's going by too fast. my little edie, you're growing up too fast.

we got all kinds of shots this last week, and she had a really hard time this time. her weight is not plummeting anymore, so that's good.

• Height 29 inches (45 percentile)
• Weight 21 pounds 4 ounces (53 percentile)
• Head circumference 18 inches (69 percentile)

i've been weaning since a couple of weeks before her 1st birthday. we're down to two nursing sessions (morning and night-ish), and two pumping/nursing sessions during the day. the day pumps only total 6 ounces, and the rest we're making up with whole milk. when we first started, she got really bad flare ups of dry, leather patches on her back and ankles. it's progressively getting better, so she's either getting used to milk, Lactaid is helping, or the Maum Goods Remedy Body Butter is really working. :) maybe all three.

she's really cruising well, sometimes with just one hand or just the wall to stabilize her.

she offers me food from her meal with such intentionality.

she got her 7th and 8th tooth last week. it might explain the early morning wakenings. who knows.

she hugs her little baby doll when she goes to bed.

she gets so happy when she sees me, daddy, or moses. especially moses. :)

she dances.

she kissed my lips for the first time today. oh, i love her. so much, i love her. she is a delight!

Eden might be the smartest baby, like ever

here are some ways our sweet daughter should be part of the gifted and talented program for 11 month old babies:

• when i'm dressing her, and she is holding a toy, she will get one arm in the shirt, shift her toy to that hand, and then get her other arm in the shirt. every time she does, it it makes me realize how much of an intentional planner she might be. 
• she is now able to get up two steps and stand at the bathroom sink. she likes to sit on the step stool too, like it's no big deal. 
• moses told me she was playing with shoes, and from the kitchen, i told her, "no Edie, shoes are not toys," and the next thing i knew, she had crawled into the dining room, and was playing with her toy kitchen! 
• if you start to fill the tub for a bath, and set her down to stand at it, and pull her pants down, she will lift each foot one at a time to step out of her pants. it's really the absolute cutest thing in the world. 

just when i think i couldn't possibly love her more, i do. 

The light in my world

Eden is such a sweet little baby. And so smart! I've been teaching her to slide off the couch feet first when she wants to get down. She's catching on quickly, and when she does it, her beautiful little face just lights up.

She's been crying at 5:30 in the morning on and off for about a month or so (which is killing me softly, honestly), so I recently did a little stint of going back to doing dream feeds. Her nursing been quick and straightforward. And when she's done, she just sleeps soundly in my arms. 

It's just lovely. Her warm, soft, lavender-scented little body, heavy with sleep on me. I hear her breathing that is so distinctly Eden. I feel her sweet footie pajamas with pink bunnies on them and comb my fingers through her wispy hairTime stands still. 

I wish I could just package up the moment and hold it softly against my cheek forever. I wish I could even record it, but that wouldn't be able to do it justice. 

She is my little Eden 😍