Hey! What Is Going On Back There?

Dear Hazelnut, 
What?!  You can get anry?  You can!  The other day we were driving in the van and I hear giggling from the back, then full on laughter.  I turn to see what is going on and can't see anything unusual.  Then again I hear it.  Daddy looks in his rear view mirror to see that our sweet little Hazelita is kicking brother Henry in the head and getting a good laugh out of it.  Why did Henry not mind?  He was passed out asleep.  You were tangling your toes in his hair and then wackin' that right food against his head.  Watch out Henry!  Your lil' sister is workin' up to your speed.  
Love, Mama

Music and Gettin' Your Booty Shakin' On!

Dear Booty Shakers, 
Lately we've been really getting our dance on.  One awesome week we decided to go down to the library and went to first grab a little lunch to find out that People's Park had an African music and dance group playing.  You both were so excited!  We grabbed two hot dogs and a root beer from the hot dog cart and were on our way to a special afternoon.  We sat up front and Hazel sat on the ground in front of me.  One of our occupational therapy goals for you this week, Hazel, was to have you opening your hands and raising them more.  I know the amazing role music has played in my life, I shouldn't have been surprised that it got you doing these two things for almost an hour.  You watched the dancers with a a big smile and intense look and put your arms out just like theirs and moved back and forth, clapping at the end of each song.  Henry wouldn't get up and do his fancy footwork but he did rock around too while eating his hot dog and sharing a root beer.   You told me you have to, "drink your root beer with your mother around it so the spicy (bubbles) don't bite your lips."  

 It was such a great, unexpected time. I wasn't able to capture her happiness dancing.  Henry tried.

Just before we left, Hazel slept through our library visit.

I sat there in the breezy warm sun and thought what a lucky, fortunate woman I am, complete with a boy, a girl and a hardworking, loving husband.  
Love, Mama

Sweetie Pie, Honey Bunch

Dear Hazelita, 
My little socialita.  You love being near people and are so readily loveable.  You are also very sweet and if someone is talking to you or playing with you they are likely to feel the softest buttery tiny fingers rubbing their arm.  I love when we sit close, like right now as I type, your left hand is rubbing my arm and leg intermittently while reaching to your limits to try and take over my keyboard.  You are really working hard on using your hands and pushing up.  We are starting to make some progress here and there.  Our goal this week is to work on pushing up on all fours and lifting a hand while maintaining the position.  Yesterday evening we were all playing out on the lawn and I went to put a ball away and as I walked back you did the best you could and lifted that sweet pudge of a hand and waved at mama.  

 

Yes!  I loved this!  A couple of nights ago Daddy came into the living room and I was holding you.  You waved at Daddy and said, "HI! DADA!" What!  Soon you'll be repeating this regularly.  I adore that you're a little love bug.  I hope you always want to reach out to Mama.  It is such a gift.  Love, Mama.

Spring Blossoms

Having some chocolate ice cream

Dear Hazel, 
You've really been hatching from your shell this spring.  Yesterday you turned 8 months old.  I attribute your burst of accomplishments to your new glasses, you've expanded your world past your immediate body.  The story goes we've been gathering concerns about some of your muscle strength and control and not meeting a pile of milestones.  The day you first put on your glasses you started reaching out, looking around in wonder, and moving more!  We have First Steps currently involved, we had your first meeting yesterday with occupational therapy.  Our goal this week is to work on your leg movements to help you roll from your back to stomach.  With your left side weakness it is difficult for you to torque yourself over.  I'd like to focus all the obstacles you have over come in the last three weeks...
You are reaching out for things!  Even reaching from right to your left side.  You are holding blocks in both hands and banging them.  You are clapping like a crazy woman,in fact you love watching American Idol and clapping for Candace and Kree as well as working more vocal gymnastics to "sing" along with them.  

You respond to your name now.  You steal things from Henry's plate at dinner and how a big interest in eating what we are.  

You are just beginning to make sure you get your tummy off the floor while pushing up with your hands.  You transfer things from your left hand to your right and try to dump over your blocks bowl.  You grab things and wave them around.  

Henry has been making you some things with K'nex and you you loved to explore them from all angles and roll some wheels around.   You enjoy taking paper and crinkling it up.  You stole my grocery list just the other day.  You love being read to and try to flip the pages.  

You are a sweet little socialite, playing your pudge of a hand on peoples arms and gazing into their eyes in an intense study.  Subsequently you pick up social cues with expert precision.  This past Saturday you figured out how to get from your stomach to your back in the proper movements.  This was a big accomplishment!  All this since those little pinky glasses graced your face.  This week you've also figured out how to rip them off of your face every 30 seconds.  We love you so much baby girl.  You've slipped right into our lives as if you've always been here, and I suppose in some ways you have.  You're sweet and chill, we are so grateful for you and still in wonder if Daddy and I are in some shared delusion of your existence.  I mean we thought we would still be waiting for you, instead you were waiting on us to meet WW again and match and plan for you.  We love you baby lady.
Love, Mama