The whining.

Please tell me this is a passing phase.

5 months old!

The amount that Naomi has changed in the last month is just incredible. I know I sound like typical first time parent, but this it is just stunning to watch day in and day out.

Naomi is now 15 1/2 pounds (according to our postal scale), and while I don't exactly how long she is, she must have just gone through a growth spurt. She is just looking really long all of a sudden.

Her feet are still her favorite toys, but a close second are her lips as she purses them, spits from them, and experiments will all sorts of new noises. Girl really likes to talk!

Also, if you haven't noticed, her hair is going super blond. I am still a little shocked at this. I thought for sure she was going to be a raven haired little girl. But, she is looking more like her daddy every day. I might be Maury Povich's first guest on for a MATERNITY test. Not sure where I fit into the equation. Did I really give birth to her? Did we mix her up at the hospital?

Let's see... what else:

• Elmo obsession in full swing. If Elmo comes on while she is eating. She will stop in her tracks and refuse her bottle.
• While she loves Elmo, Naomi has started to fuss and cry as soon as Mr. Noodle comes on. I always hated Mr. Noodle, too.
• Naomi's new favorite place to be is in the corner of the couch (or bassinet, or crib) - anywhere we can prop her up and let her sit on her own for a good while. She feels like a grown-up, I think.
• Naomi is an awesome sleeper, for the most part. We have had some rough nights but overall she is doing really well. I just love that she has gotten so good at self-soothing. She doesn't make a peep when I put her down for naps or for bedtime. She does still want a 4-5:00am bottle... hopefully I can break her of that once we start cereal (in a week or two!).

Naomi is the happiest baby. We are so lucky. She is just so easy! I know our next one is going to be a terror.... isn't that how it works??

As happy as she is, though, Naomi is a stubborn little girl. She does NOT like to be on her belly or roll over. She can do it. She just refuses. She is, however, ahead of the curve on sitting up. She is pretty good and getting more stable every day. I think she'll easily be able to really sit on her own by the end of this month. She can handle about 10 seconds at a time right now without losing balance, but like a good girl she puts her hands out for support.

I am really excited for the next few months. This is a huge milestone period for babies.... eating, sitting, crawling, maybe a first word... we'll keep you posted on progress!

Mother's Day

My first mother's day was lovely and low-key. Perfect. Bagels & lox for breakfast, a quiet morning playing Wii Fit (my gift from Naomi - fun!), then a picnic lunch at Owen Beach here in Tacoma with a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier and Commencement Bay. But who was looking at those silly sights when you have a face like this to look at...

I feel so lucky to be Naomi's mommy... she is such a gift.

4 months, and time keeps flying...

N's first baseball game, April 18, 2009. Go Tacoma Rainiers!

This has been a busy month, and you know it has been since this is the first real post since I was announcing Naomi's 3 month birthday! Yikes... I gotta get on it...Need to carve out more time...on the flip side, it really means that business has picked up for me so it is really hard to complain about that!

Anyway, Little Miss Independent turns 4 months today. She actually had her 4 month appointment a couple weeks ago as we are part of a group of families that goes all at the same time. So, here are the stats - really at 3 1/2 months:

Height: 22 1/2" (10%)
Weight: 12.1 (25%)
Head Circumference: 39.8cm (25%)

OK, so she's kinda short. Don't make fun! We're not the tallest people in the world...

Our little fishy goes to the pool... N's first swim, April 19, 2009.

As far as big developments are concerned, here is what is going on:

Naomi thinks she is all grown up now. How do I know? She insists on holding her bottle herself. We still need to give a little support but she is mostly there. Baby is already doing 6 1/2oz curls! Her daddy is so proud...

On the subject of food, there are some times that she is watching us eat and I think she is literally going to POUNCE on my plate! She tracks food from the plate, onto the fork, and into our mouths. I don't know how we are going to hold her off on solids until she is 6 months old without her getting really pissed!

I was watching Oprah today and could not hear the TV. Why? Because Naomi was talking her head off. Obviously not words, but she babbles like crazy. Constantly. I think we're in trouble. Of course we've all been nurturing it, talking back to her and asking her questions. I know in her mind we are having real conversations... it's pretty adorable actually, especially when she gets her plethora of facial expressions going.

And, last but not least... (DRUM ROLL)...

Yesterday, on the very last day of her 3rd month, Naomi completed her first solo roll-over (tummy to back)! I swear I thought she was never going to accomplish this. I am SO relieved!

Like I said, April's been a busy month. For all of us.

Lamb-a-rama-ding-dong, N's current favorite doll.
An Easter gift from Grandma and cousin Trellany.

Paul Rudd, YOU rock!

Happy Earth Day, everybody!

Ready for her close-up!

For those of you who are on Facebook, you have already seen this latest video. Naomi is becoming so much fun!



PS. For those of you who do not know, PUNIM means cute face in Yiddish. It is a term I grew up with in my Jewish household.

Happy Easter!