March Update

I can’t believe Kayli has only been with us for 1 month; we feel like she has always been with us. 

We are amazed at how quickly she is learning everything.  After she had been home 2 weeks, she was responding to her name, learned how to drink out of a sippy cup and thanks to our friends Kelly and Maddie, Kayli learned how to make the “ahhhhh” sound while I am tapping her mouth, so it sounds like an Indian war sound. 

By 3 weeks she could climb up AND down the stairs, dance (by stepping up and down) to her puppy that plays "ABC’s," "If You're Happy and You Know It," and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."  She also did “So Big” most of the time. 

By 4 weeks home (age 10.5 months) Kayli could clap and almost pet the kitty (she gets so excited to be near Chloe that she grabs her fur and doesn’t let go.)

I have been trying to teach her sign language (from a video), but she hasn’t responded yet.  When I do the signs (since I have learned quite a few), she smiles really big like she understands, but that is it.  Jeff doesn’t think I should spend the time with sign language; he thinks just teaching her to talk is more worth my time. 

She has slept through the night for the last week!  She also has developed a regular daytime schedule.  She goes to bed between 8:00pm and 9:00pm.  Then she wakes up between 7:00am and 8:00am.  She will eat a bottle right away and then eat breakfast within 1 hour of waking.  Breakfast usually consists of a piece of buttered toast and some fruit.  I cut everything up really small, and she feeds herself.  I gave up on baby food in about 2 weeks because she was taking everything I put into her mouth out again, would look at it and usually put it back into her mouth.  Then Kayli has another bottle around 11:00am and goes down for a 45 minute nap.  Once she wakes up it is time to eat again, lunch time.  That usually consists of rice, noodles or some of whatever I am having, fruit again and her water cup.  She is a REALLY good eater, not real picky (which is new for us.)  Then we play, go up and down the stairs, read some books, and take a walk.  Kayli takes a 2nd nap around 3:00pm, and it lasts about 1.5hrs.  Once she is up, we usually have to take the boys to Karate or some sporting event ,and she likes car rides.  If she is at all tired, she will fall asleep within 5 minutes of our trip.  She eats dinner when we eat, usually around 5:30pm.  We take a bath most nights and she loves to do that.  We sing the Rubber Ducky song a lot!  Then a bottle and down for bed again. 

Our first couple of week’s home Kayli was waking up 1 or 2 times a night, and that was really hard on me.  Daddy helped on the weekends, but I sure wasn’t used to waking up so often.  So I started feeding her more during the day and that helped a lot.  Kayli was also sick with the flu for 5 days and then a cold for 1 week, so I am sure that didn’t help with figuring out a routine. 

We also took our first long car ride.  The boys had spring break (3/24/08-3/28/08) so I decided to drive to Milwaukee to visit the Domes (like I used to do with my Mom during spring break) and introduce Kayli to Jared, my brother.  We left around 9:30am, and she stayed awake for about 1 hour and then slept the 2nd.  We picked up Jared, took him to Noodles for lunch, and then visited the Domes.   On the way home, Kayli slept the entire 2 hours so the boys could watch a movie.

Talking about the boys, they have been SO helpful!  I really am going to be an advocate for having more space between your kids because it is so much easier.  I am not sure I would recommend 8 years (it just happened that way for us:)) but more than 2 years for sure!  Both boys make an effort to say “Hi”, kiss her and play with her daily.  They have both informed me that the only thing they won’t do it change her diaper, and I am OK with that. 

Many of you emailed me during our trip.  I have to let you know that I didn’t have my password along and was not able to retrieve the messages correctly once I was home.  So if you asked me to email you I couldn’t if I didn’t have your email address before.  You may contact me at kblom1@new.rr.com, which is my personal email address if you would like. 

Thank you again for everyone’s support and well wishes.  Our initial experience (and wait) was really hard but Kayli has been so easy, it is easy to forget the tough stuff.  But when it comes down to it, what is most important is that we have a healthy, happy child, and we do. 

Kimberly, Jeff, Evan, Trenton and Kayli Blom

 

Evan's 1st Communion

Easter Morning

Our Happy Girl

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