the good and the bad

Let's start with the positives.

Mark has been doing well at work. He's learning lots of things that he didn't learn at CNA school. He got braces this week, which he's been asking for.

Makayla had her 1 year check up. She is doing very well in fine motor and speech; she says "dada" very well. She is about the 25th percentile for height. She had no major reactions to her vaccines. She is doing her bootie scoot more and more to get around the room. She discovered the tupperware cupboard tonight and enjoyed looking through it.

The struggles.

Mark didn't realize how much the braces will hurt. Mark also realized that pushing it too much and staying up too long after working all night really doesn't feel well.

Makayla is below the 5th percentile on weight. We are working on beefing up her caloric intake. She doesn't say mama, but will look right at me and say dada. Apparently dada works for both of us.

Her pediatrician and I are a little nervous about how she doesn't even want to bear weight much, if at all. We are going to get her some physical therapy help with this, and also get her checked by a neurologist just to make sure everything is ok. I'm hoping that it's more of a "I don't want to" thing, rather than a "I can't do it" thing.

accomplishments

I just have to toot my own horn . . . My baby will be turning 1 on April 12. I was able to breastfeed her throughout her first year. I am proud to say that I pumped breast milk every day that I worked for the 10.5 months that I worked of her first year. Yeah! I am very glad to be done, that's for sure, but I'm also very pleased. It's not like I was able to support her exclusively throughout, as my supply dropped off in the last three months. But I still stuck with it :)

Mark starts his first shift at work tonight "on the floor" actually working with patients. He's both excited and nervous. He had some orientation and computer training this week.

Makayla is doing great with eating, talking, fine motor skills, but she still has no interest in pulling herself to stand or crawling. She is getting a little better at scooting across the floor on her butt, though (see video). It takes her a while, and there may be some whining and fussing to go along with it, but she's moving a little. Such a happy little thing. When I say "Say Mama" she very clearly says "dada". nice.