My Baby Girl is 16 Months Today

This month we celebrated my birthday.  At my old age of 41, I think I am done having babies.  Funny thing is I thought I was done at 30, too.  Children keep you young and active so I am looking forward to having my children around well after I retire and will probably have grandchildren before our youngest leaves home.  For some that would be a depressing thought but for me it makes me happy to know the joy of young ones will be with me for a very long time.

My sister came up from PEI to help celebrate my birthday.  It was so nice to spend time with her.  We also celebrated Jaida`s baptism while she was her.

Jaida is my little princess so I thought she was worthy of three fairygodmothers :) Jeannine is one of Jaida`s godmothers.  I would have loved to have all three godmothers (as well as more family) there for her special day but knew it would too hard.  We had a very special day with our family and friends (and a very eventful baptism ceremony)

Jaida`s baptism - my beautiful family, my very close friend (that I have known since college) and family and a wonderful family we met in China when bringing our daughter home

While my sister was down, we went for a fun road trip to Banff for a night.  I left Jaida home with Jason and enjoyed quality time with my sister.  At first I was thinking we should all go to Banff because I didn`t know if it was too soon to leave Jaida.  With the boys having school, extra expense, finding someone to care for the dogs, and all piling in the car (which Jaida still doesn`t like so much); I opted to take a chance and go for it.

Hot Springs in Banff - forgot my bathing suit and had so many laughs wearing vintage

Jaida did fine when I was away but do wonder if it made her regress a little.  She like me sitting on the floor with her all the time and our first trip to the library on my return she went and hugged two moms.  I felt so bad, since I am trying to follow all the bonding rules (better hit the books again) and it seemed a little awkward with the other moms- they didn`t really know what to do (I must have had a horrified look on my face haha).

Jaida`s sleep is still inconsistent but I am sleeping in my bed every night and most of the time get to sleep throughout the night, although there are still nights that I can be up for two hours.  Nap time also varies, sometimes she falls asleep when giving her a bottle and other days I lie in her room for 45 min until she falls asleep.  With my boys I would let them cry to sleep when necessary.  I like my sleep so the sooner I can have a full night`s sleep the happier Mommy is.  With Jaida, I read the books how important it is not to let them cry and so I followed that (don`t want to make this transition any harder on the little girl than I have to).  So first cry I was in there.  I have realized that most of the time she is not awake but crying in her sleep.  I was actually waking her up, running in and comforting her.  The last few weeks I let her cry for a couple minutes and she most often stops.  I do check on her and if she is sitting up I comfort her.  I know some will not agree with this but we are both sleeping more (so for me it works).  I was reading someones comments on reading all the books but then you have to use instinct and what works for the family.  I have been so concerned how parenting an IA child is so much different, it can be stressful that now I am mostly just loving and parenting her the way that comes natural.

We are all loving Baby Einstein.  It is amazing how it is the one show babies love.  It is 20 minutes a day I can try and complete something.

Jaida mesmerized watching Baby Einstein

Slips off the chair but still watching it

Jaida`s cute things she does this month is if you ask her what a dog says she says woof woof.  But really nothing comes out, she puffs out her cheeks and blows-way too cute
Her first words are `tickle tickle`and then she tickles her tummy.  Isn`t that amazing that is her first word, who else has that as there first word(s)