First, an update on my Uncle David:

He is making progress, which is a very good thing. He made it through day 7 without major brain spasms. Day 7 is the day that patients are most at risk for those.

He is becoming more responsive and is moving his arms more and opening his eyes more. They are hoping to get him off the breathing machine soon.

There is still a long road ahead. Thank you for praying.

My parents drove to see him this weekend. My dad has a very bad headache. My mom thinks it is from the stress of seeing his brother in this condition. Please pray the headache goes away soon.

*****

Little Bug is all over the place! The past month or so she’s been so whiny and I knew she was whining out of pure frustration because her mind was ready to get up on those hands and knees and explore the world by crawling but her body just wasn’t quite there yet.

Well, over the past week or so, there is no stopping her! She has gained tremendous speed and must be watched like a hawk as she goes on her adventures.

It is time to baby-proof the house. There will be certain “no-no’s” because I need to start teaching her self-control and that there are limits in life but certain things have got to go for my sanity and her safety!

Little Bug is one funny girl! This morning she was getting into everything in our bedroom so her daddy picked her up and held her. Her little eyes were going back and forth and I could tell she was on the look out to see where she could go next once Daddy let her go again. She chose the little water bowl for Pup that sits on the floor in our bedroom. :) Fortunately, Daddy was a step ahead of her and got to the bowl before she did.

I’ve noticed toys are a bore to her right now (especially at our house) because she’s seen these toys for a while now and she’d rather go around the house exploring things around her.

I love her natural curiosity of the world around her. I can give her any (safe) household object and she will explore it like it is the greatest thing on the face of the planet.

I love this age. All along I have savored every stage (even the not so pleasant ones) but this stage is just so precious. I cannot believe in less than 4 months we will be celebrating Little Bug’s first birthday.

I have said before that the first three months are “Survival Mode” for any new parent but I’ve learned as Little Bug has gone beyond that 3 month mark that the first year is probably “Survival Mode” – especially to a first time parent!

The reason I say this is because things are always changing with baby during the first year. You finally figure out a good eating/napping schedule only for it to change shortly after! Nothing stays the same for long with an infant because the first year is such a huge year for growth and development. When I think of my helpless newborn only 8 shorts months ago and now see my crawling all over the place 8-month-old it is astounding the amount of growing and developing Little Bug (and any baby for that matter) has done in less than a year!

Granted, the first three months are a very different level of survival mode than 4-12 months! So if you are there now, things will get better, especially if baby gets on a routine.

Well I started this post because I wanted to make a record of what Little Bug liked alot (so I can remember) and so I can share with everyone (whether a new parent or waiting) the baby gear that was most beneficial to us in this first year.

So I guess that will be my next post.

- Elaine