Alayna

Well, we are heading out of the house for the night. The furnace is in the process of being replaced and we won't have heat tonight. Before Kaia or Squirt, Bryn and I would just need one back pack. But now we need a litter box, excess baby stuff in case there is a poop explosion, etc.

Kaia is up to so much lately. She is making her opinions known by using her voice, leaning and reaching. She leaves no doubt in your mind what she likes and what she doesn't. She is drooling so much that her daily outfits always include a bib. If we forget the bib her front is soaking wet in no time flat. She is also starting to chew on various toys. I am not looking forward to the teeth. We will see how long she is an only breastfed baby.

Today she was playing on her tummy and for the first time she kept herself up with one hand and reached with the other to play with a toy. She is also learning so fast. We bought her a gumball machine toy that I used all of the time with kids during my peds rotation. There are many purposes for the toy, but basically she pushes a lever and a ball drops down with a little music and some lights. I showed her how to do it one day and the second day I put her hand on the lever and she pushed it on her own. On the third day (today) she reached out on her own and pushed down on the lever. When Bryn and I have had her in the area where the toy is she will lean to the toy because she wants to play with it.

Yesterday we went to the library for Books and Babies (a weekly program). All but one of us where here in Newport because our spouses are attending War College. Kaia was the youngest, but she definately held her own. Last time we did a group baby activity in San Diego she wasn't too aware or interested in the other babies. Yesterday was a very different story. She couldn't stop looking around at all the other babies there. When the book was read to the kids to start the hour off she was so attentive and didn't take her eyes off the book or the woman reading it. When we ended up on the mat on our tummies she wasn't too interested with the toys around because she was so intrigued by the other babies.

Kaia is also getting ready to sit on her own without support. She will sit on the floor between my legs and have some moments of staying there all on her own. Today she was sitting and leaned forward with one hand on the floor and one on her knee and I wasn't helping her keep her balance at all. We just bought her a bath seat that we will probably be using in less an a month. She loves to lay down and kick in the bath and splash, but if we sit her down when she gets in she is reaching and holding on to everything.

That leads to those hands of hers....they are everywhere. She wants to reach, touch and feel everything in site. We started a couple of weeks ago with some touch and feel books and she loved them. So we got a couple more with a bigger variety of textures. One of my favorites is Feely Bugs. She is grabbing everything. Even if my hair is in a ponytail she manages to pull it out from the top. She has a strong grip!

Time to head for the B&B. Kaia is getting cranky and tired. Send us good heating vibes!