New Year with our little bug!

Hi All!

It's a new year and been two months since my last posting....ahhhh how time escapes me when I'm with the wee one all day. It's been a beautiful two months with tons of growth and lots of learning with our little bug, she is amazing. Let's see where to begin to recap? Well, we had an eventful November with a trip to Fallbrook, CA to see Nana, Opa, Mimi, Great-Great Auntie Sally, Great Aunt Linda, and all the rest of the gang. It was a tremendous visit with a family picture, and of course, lots of eating was involved with Nana's delicious turkey dinner. Liliana had the time of her life, everyone wanted to hold her, feed her, giving her tons of attention, leaving us free to spend some much needed time together. Since Fallbrook is approximately 8 hours away from the bay area the initial trek down to Fallbrook was made at night when the little bug was asleep, but on the way home the bug family took an alternative route and stayed in the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo. It was a trippy little hotel with theme rooms, Lilibug did not know what to think, although she mainly slept during her stay at the hotel. This alternative route proved to be a nice detour.

When the bug family arrived home the little bug took about a week to readjust, where she did not sleep, she took very short naps and slept for only a few hours during the night. I think she was missing all the family in So-Cal. After a week I thought I could not deal with the little amount of sleep that I was receiving the little bug readjusted to home life and started sleeping during her normal times and for longer periods of time. I was a very thankful mom when she finally started sleeping again, at which time, she then caught a cold.

The holiday season fast approached with visits from Opa, and a trip to Willitis, CA (two and half hours north of the Bay Area in Mendocino County) where the family had a nice getaway in a rural cabin. We also took the Skunk Train (old fashion train) to visit Santa Claus. After spending two days in Willitis we then headed back to the city, upon our arrival back to the Bay Area Opa was planning a traditional German meal for Christmas. The meal turned out delicious, even if it was mainly composed of meat and more meat.

The little bug loved her day and her first Christmas, she ate her raspberry cake and soaked up the love around her. It was truly amazing to see our little one turn one......I was so proud of her, and us....."we all survivied the first year". Christmas day and her birthday on one day......absouletely special.

New Years eve was also a lovely time with Opa again in the kitchen cooking up yummy German food for a few friends. It was pretty low key, but the little bug seemed to enjoy herself, she loves company coming over and she shows off her toys. All the bug family went to bed before the midnight struck but it had been such an eventful year sleep won out.

With the new year I decided to throw a little party to celebrate the little bug's birthday inviting most of our friends who did not have children (more of an adult cocktail party) with the plan to have a baby playdate party sometime in the future. The adult birthday party went smoothly with Liliana really enjoying herself. At one time during the party she crawled into her reclined chair (booster seat/high chair) that was sitting on the floor and sat back with her feet dangling over the edge kicking back taking in the room and the party. She was totally comfortable and seemed to enjoy all the attention. An hour before the party ended a friend brought over her son who is close to Liliana's age. The two babies had such fun playing with the baby instruments that Liliana receives as gifts.

Now we are here in January, Liliana has begun to use the sign language sign for milk, she is now communicating to me her needs for sleep, milk, wanting to leave playdates and the park when she is tired....it's so amazing. I'm totally thrilled with her ability to get across what her needs are, she is developing fast into a little girl. She now weights 19 pounds and 1 ounce, eats well, has four teeth (with two more on the way), almost walking (she took her first steps on Jan 3 at the party in front of crowd of peeps cheering her on). She is a sweet thing, we are so in love with her as we watch her grow.

Plans for the future included a visit from Auntie Gwendolyn (my oldest childhood friend) at the end of the month, a visit to the beach, more playdates, walks, and visits to parks. I'm also beginning to look for work, I want to return to work part-time to gain more hours towards licensure in mental health field. My fingers are crossed that I will find something that is aligned with right livelihood while not being away from my little bug to many hours in the week (something 20 -25 hours would be great). The year is off to a great start!