Teething, Crawling, Eating & Playing

TEETHING

This week has been crazy for poor little E.  She's been super moody and fussy, as we await the emergence of those two bottom teeth.  She chews on everything, my fingers being her favorite, and wakes up in the middle of the night screaming.  It's so sad to watch her go through this.  We've tried everything - frozen teethers, teething drops, teething tablets, and now we're on to vanilla extract.  Our next door neighbors mentioned that, and it seemed to do the trick last night.  And still we wait...

CRAWLING

E began this week (3 days ago) moving her body on the floor like a windshield wiper while on her belly.  Yesterday was Paul's birthday, and for his birthday, E scooched herself backwards on her belly about 8 inches.  So just in the past few days she's been doing super on her belly, pushing herself up and getting her belly off the floor.  Who knows, by the end of the week, we may have a crawling baby!  Of course, she still cries when you put her down there.  I'm never sure if it's because she's frustrated that she can't move or if her teeth are bothering her.  If only she would talk...

EATING

E is an eating champ (or was, before the teething issues began).  Her favorites these days are pears, avocadoes (specifically, guacamole), apples and garlic mashed potatoes.  Today I bought some Veggie Booty and gave her some (of course, I broke them up even smaller than they come because she hasn't had anything but purees up until now).  She picked them up with a pincer grasp (thumb & first finger -- special ed teacher in me showing), and fed them to herself.  She LOVED them!  That's good, because they are a healthy snack food, made with corn, rice, spinach and kale.  Yep, my daughter eats kale.  I will never let her know what is in Veggie Booty, lest she decide she hates it and never eats it again.

PLAYING

Two great things have happened this summer.  #1 Our pool opened; and #2 we bought a bike trailer.  Now we can have summertime fun with the Belchigator.  We have taken her on one trip in the bike trailer - to the Beaverton Farmer's Market.  We had to take a few breaks, but I'm sure she'll get used to the contraption soon.  We've been swimming in the pool twice since it opened last weekend.  E loves the pool!  We put her in her little innertube floaty, and she kicks herself around!  It's hysterical to watch.  Today when we were in the pool, she began splashing with her hands.  I think that soon we'll be able to synchronize the two, and may have an olympic swimmer on our hands!