HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Ok - a few days late. You can blame it all on Hadley. :-)

You're TWO! Oh my gosh. I love it. You are so funny, and silly, and naughty, and smart and all those amazing things 2 years old's possess.

We had your birthday party this weekend. The weather was gorgeous and we spent the entire day outside. Ellary (ok - Todd) let us borrow their jumpy castle so for the entire afternoon you, Hads, Ellary, Keira, Paige and BODHI jumped and jumped and jumped. It was so fun.

So Bodhi. Me thinks you love him. For real. You say his name in such a way that you almost blush, and you constantly try to get him to hug or kiss you. This - from the girl who has all the little 2 year old boys at school chasing her - is chasing the 16 month old boy. Good choice though. He's so adorable.

Nana and Papa arrive tomorrow. I don't think Papa is going to know what to do with you! He hasn't seen you since last summer. To say you've changed is at the very least an understatement. It will be a great visit and I know you're going to love every minute of it.

I can't wait for what this next year brings you. Every day you and Hadley become better friends. Every day your communication grows exponentially. Every day I love you more.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Eighteen Months

You have sleep issues.

There, I said it.

Just when we got through the multiple times a night cry-fests you go and a) stop napping on the weekends (ARGH!!!) and b) created the new daily wake-up time of 5:15 a.m.

You're killin' me kid.

But you're cute. And we love you madly. And we're holding onto the logical thought that this is just a phase. And you'll once again fall into a normal sleep pattern. Whatever that is.

I am going to go take a nap under my desk now.


iloveyoumadly.
mama

PS - you're officially talking now. You've got about 15 words. I think your whole world is going to change in the next 6 months!

Sixteen Months (or Separation Anxiety part deux)

Things have improved around here a bit since my last entry. THANK GAWD!!!! You are still not quite back to normal, but the shrill shrieking and fear of being in your crib seems to have subsided. You still require a lot more rocking in the chair and being lulled to sleep than you did before, but I will take it any day over what we went through the last 2 weeks. Besides - I know that sooner than not, you won't want to have these cuddly moments with me anymore. Does it a physically hurt me a little bit to be deprived of 45 minutes of sleep here and there throughout the night? Yes. But I love you so much it mostly just makes me feel good that I can comfort you when you need it.

So the weekend with Grandma and Andpa actually went really well! Though one night you did require Grandma to sleep on your floor (or so she says. I love her dearly but she is a bit random). But it was GREAT bonding time for the two of you. As we expected, you transferred your attachment issues from me to her while we were away. I think she loved every ounce of your neediness. :-)

While they were here you had great fun with their puppy Val. She was so patient with you as you hugged and loved and sat on her. You love puppies so much! You squeal with joy whenever you see one - small and yippy, big and fluffy - you don't care. It's precious.

So here you are 16 months old and I am completely blown away by how much you have grown this summer in terms of development. The way you interact with us, with your sister (OH how you love her!), with your friends at school...it's wonderful! And your understand of what we say to you has grown incredibly as well. I love watchin every minute of it.

You aren't a baby anymore.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

FIFTEEN MONTHS

Well hello my naughty little nugget. :-) Ok - maybe not naughty. But ....well, mischievous. You are so damn cute - it's what saves you sometimes, I swear. Before I get too far into this entry, let me once again tell you how much I love you. Like "my heart explodes with pure joy" kind of love. I feel it's necessary to mention that because this might sound like I am venting to you about your naughtiness. I'm not - but I think it's worth mentioning in detail so we can recount some of these stories at your wedding. Kidding. Not really.

Issue #1: you bite. At home we see this coming because one of us is almost always playing with you when it happens. And if it is just you and Hadley, even she sees it coming now. This just means that rarely do we need to do more than stop you before it happens. But it's a different story at school. Apparently you've become a bit of an Alpha Female (mama-pride kicks in here) and inflict your powers upon any unsuspecting toddler that gets in your way/sits in the Elmo chair/generally breathes in your direction without permission. I exaggerate - but you get the idea. You haven't broken the skin on anyone yet, so we haven't had to sign any papers or anything. But everyday when we go to pick you up (this is generally Daddy's role)there's the dreaded fear that we'll have to chat with Brittany about your biting. Sigh.

Issue #2: Getting in trouble makes you laugh. And run away. Laughing. Discipline does not work for you. Yet. We'll find a way. This is in stark contrast to your sister who cries if you look at her cross-eyed. it's not like you get in trouble a lot - let's get real - you're 1. You can't get into that much trouble. But you sure think it's funny when we're not happy with you!


But as we shake our heads and (secretly) laugh, we are also overcome with your capacity to love. Honestly B - you are the. most. affectionate. child I have ever known. Just thinking about how you hug me makes me tear up and get all gooey inside.

You are my Baby Bear.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Fourteen Months

You turned 14 months on Monday! And it was a BIG BIG day. You moved into the Tod 1 room at school. I had to check Hadley's blog to make sure - and I confirmed - that this is a whole month and a half earlier than when she moved over. I bring this up because it hasn't been the easiest transition. But then again, no transitions for you are. You are so sensitive and so loving - just like your sister - but you also tend to form very strong bonds with people you trust. In this case, you formed a wonderful bond with your infant teacher, Diana. So strong in fact that everyone - including Andrea, the Director - was curious as to how you would react to moving over to the Tod 1 room. Andrea thought moving you over "cold turkey" - meaning no 1/2 day visits or anything - was the best route, given your issue with transitions. Daddy and I agreed. But MAN! You are not loving it right now. You quickly formed a bond with Brittany - but that means that anytime someone other than that is in the room, your go ballistic. We'll make it through this - I know we will. A few weeks from now this will all be a distant memory, but in the meantime you're breaking my heart...

On a positive note, you seem to be adjusting to all the other parts of this transition pretty well....sitting at the table for meals and snacks like a big girl, playing outside, circle time....and really, you're even surviving the one nap a day thing! Although so far none of your naps have lasted longer than 1 hour, which makes for an ornery little B Bear at night. :-) On Monday, your first day in the room, at around 10:30 a.m. you found a soft pillow on the floor and fell asleep! According to Brittany this was adorable (it sounds adorable!!) - and lasted about 15 minutes. But other than that, you've taken a nap with the rest of your class on your little bedroll. Hopefully, as you adjust to all of this, your naps will increase in length.

I love you so much baby. It breaks my heart every time we go through one of these "transitions" with you because you just don't like them. But I know we will make it through this, and you will come out the other side my shining star like you always do.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

13 Months

What a big month this has been for you! You are walking. It's official. You still fall down a lot, and you mostly look like a drunken midget with your teetering, but there's no denying that walking is your favorite mode of transportation (aside from being carried in our arms.....). :-) I think that means you'll be heading to the Tod 1 room soon! I have never been one of those moms who doesn't want their kids moving to the next room - I say "Bring it on!" It means you'll continue to expand your horizons and learn how to play and learn with the older kids. I think some moms get nervous because it is such a big change from being pampered and coddled in the nursery to having rules, organized play and eating at the table. But both you and Hads always seem to embrace new opportunities. It is exciting!

One thing we need to work on in the coming weeks is your acceptance of milk from a sippy. You have no issues drinking water in a cup - but you still demand your milk in a bottle. We're working on it - eventually you won't have a choice!

The other transition you seem to have difficulty with is babysitters/separation anxiety. Even though your only babysitters (aside from Ba who isn't babysitting much right now due to her school schedule) are teachers from school (Linnea and Katie) - and people you trust - you are not fond of being left alone at home with them. Especially when it comes to bedtime. Apparently you have given both girls a run for their money at bedtime - something you never do for us. You are such a happy girl 99% of the time - something even strangers comment on about you - but MAN! when you get upset, there's no stopping you until you just wear yourself out. I think the only way to get over this is to continue to expose you to other people putting you down. Oh darn. I guess that means daddy and I need to go out more often.... :-)

I am anxious to see what the next few weeks bring for you. As the weather SLOWLY turns to Spring (I actually think with this ridiculously cold and wet weather we're having that we may just skip Spring and go straight to 98') I look fondly toward the days where we all just play outside and you and your sister chase each other around the yard. What fun you two are starting to have together! There isn't a luckier mom in all the world.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!

I cannot believe my baby girl is 1 today! I am so conflicted....thrilled that you continue to grow and develop and amaze me every day. And sad that I won't have any more babies to snuggle and hold. I guess that is the definition of a mama. Maybe you'll find it in your heart to lavish me with hugs and kisses from time to time.... :-)

You are going to walk any minute now. In fact, it could be happening at school as we speak! You are so ready. You find so much joy in being able to quickly stand up and then stand on your own for a few seconds! It is so cute. Your whole world is going to change. Or maybe that's my world..... :-) The freedom we both will find in your ability to walk will be amazing! For you, it will open up so many doors! You'll be able to do pretty much everything your sister can do, and for me it will mean I don't have to carry you around or hold onto you when we're outside watching Hadley ride her bike. You'll be able to run around behind her! (Or in front of her as the case may be!)

I tried very hard to find you a cake with a frog on it. I can't find one. I thought about making you one, and then quickly thought better of that idea. Your party is Saturday - come 4 p.m. you will have some sort of frog-themed cake. I promise. Saturday's attendees include Uncle Brad - your one and only God Parent (at the moment anyway), Aunt Lolly, Uncle Dero, Aunt Mags and Bodhi and of course, your Ba. It should be fun!

I get all teary just thinking about how much I love you. Slow down the growing up a little bit, would ya?

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Eleven Months

My sweet sweet BEAR!! My heart aches a bit as I write this. I no longer have any babies…you’re officially becoming a toddler.

First of all – let me shout something from the rooftops: YOU’RE EATING SOLIDS LIKE A CHAMP!!!!! And I mean all solids: you not only take food from a spoon (VOILA!!) but you eat chicken, beans, peas (sometimes), sausage, bagels, bananas, and your favorite…french fries!! It is such a relief to know you won’t be 4 years old taking only bottles of milk. Ha.

And though you may have been slow to start all your gross motor development you sure are making up time now! You went from doing nothing from your Larson Belly Crawl to “almost cruising” during the 2 weeks your daddy was in China! He was so amazed when he came home – you were a completely different baby girl! Oh – and did I mention you got all 4 of your upper teeth during this time, too? So your entire face changed! You’re adorable.

We’re less than a month away from the big FIRST BIRTHDAY! In fact, I ordered your invitations today. I want to put you in the freezer and cheer you on at the same time.

iloveyoumadly.
mama


BTW - did I mention that you fell down the stairs? Yep - that's right. One night while your daddy was in China the three of us were upstairs getting you ready for bath. I thought you were right behind me in the bathroom, but I turned around and both of you were gone. Hads opened the door to get something out of your room, and apparently you decided to take a trip down the stairs! You rolled ass over tea-kettle almost all the way down, but somehow miraculously stopped yourself in the sitting position on the second-to-last step. I almost threw up, grabbed you and started crying. I am such a delinquent mother. I still haven't told your daddy.....

Ten Months

OHHHHHHHHHHH you are growing up so fast! You - quite possibly the most scrumptious baby on the planet. You discovered your knees. I mean, that you can get up on them to see what marvelous things have been out of your reach all this time. You aren't crawling yet - you still seem to prefer the Larson Baby mode of transportation on your belly. But you're THRILLED with the prospect of being able to reach up and grab the top of the busy zoo and all it's magical delights, and your new found affinity for crawling up and over our laps as we sit with you on the ground, and .... here's the big one.... THE STAIRS!! OH THE JOY!!! You love the stairs. Except you're not quite strong enough to navigate them by yourself. (Really - you're not even close). But oh how you'll try! If we aren't paying attention, you will scoot your way into the dining room and before we know it you are up on your knees with your hands on the first step contemplating your next move. Hadley loves this game! She scrambles up to the top of the stairs and tries to encourage you climb up. And since you worship her every move, you squeel with delight at the prospect of actually reaching her on your own. It's so great!

You're also getting what appears to be multiple top teeth. It's weird though - I can see them, but I can't feel them. I am so anxious to see what kind of smile you'll end up with.

One of the sadder developments of the past month has been that we discovered you are constipated. Or at least you have very.hard.poops. And as your mommy and daddy it is awful to watch. It isn't everyday, but quite often. So we've resorted to giving you a bit of prune juice in your morning bottle. We had to experiment with the amount..... let's just say I've done a lot of laundry over the past month. :-) But I think we've got it down now, and it appears to be working. We've decided to just keep this going for a while since you don't object and seeing you struggle in pain when you are constipated is just heart-breaking. I really hope you grow out of it!

You are such a beautiful little girl. Your huge blue eyes, silky blond hair and china-doll skin melt my heart. Well, that and your unbelievably advanced gift for understanding the power of a hug.

You are one snuggly girl.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Nine Months

WHOAAAA! How are you 9 months old already? As you can see, it's been a while since I've updated this little journal of yours. The last two months have been a bit intense. One day after you turned 8 months old, I had major surgery. I spent pretty much the entire second-half of December on the couch unable to do anything but get up occasionally to go to the bathroom! I am recovering now - back at work and doing really well. But the worst - absolute WORST part about this situation - is that I am unable to pick you up or carry you. I can hold you in my lap if someone else puts you there, but that's about it. It was so emotionally difficult the first few days - I really had no idea how hard it was going to be not to be able to carry you and hug you and overall be your main source of comfort.

But on a really positive side, you and your daddy are now inseparable. Oh my, how you love him so. During my initial recovery, you - of course - came down with a WICKED ear infection. Your 4th ear infection. In 8 months. You were up all night for about a week, and poor daddy had to help all by himself. I couldn't do anything. So you were both up all night for days, rocking in the chair, singing songs and cuddling. Aside from being devastated that you were in so much pain and that I couldn't do anything to help you, it was so heart-warming to see you two bond. I have my 6 week check-up in a week and a half, and I am hoping he'll say I'm all healed and in the clear. But my guess is it's going to be until the middle of February...... in the meantime, your relationship with daddy is growing stronger everyday.

So on the topic of health, yours is still all over the place! Like I mentioned above, you've now had 4 ear infections in your short little life. They've already started mentioning tubes. We'll see. COME ON APRIL!!!!! And right now you're suffering from your first round of constipation, which brought with it a ripe case of diaper rash from your hard little poops. If it's not one end, it's the other I guess.

You are now fully sitting on your own, and even learning how to stand when hanging onto things like your toy piano! It's so exciting to watch. You can go from sitting to your army crawl really quickly, and pretty soon I bet you'll be able to get your belly off the floor and really crawl! Though I don't think it matters much - your army crawl is so fast! It's really funny to watch. Your sister was the same way - so it's either that we have tile floor which makes the army crawl really easy, or it is some genetic thing that made neither of you decide to get up off the floor.

Because of my surgery, you were really fortunate over the past month to see all of your grandmothers! Nana came first, then Grandma and Grammy, Gramps and Uncle C just left today. You loved all of them so much! Gramps thinks you might be one of the funniest babies he's ever met. He's convinced you look at us all like we're fools - especially when you throw that knowing smile. You don't give up the smiles easily. Most of the time, you smirk at all of us trying to get you to smile - as if you're sitting there going, "Seriously, people. You're not funny. Bring your A game."

Man I can't wait to see what you're going to be like in a few years.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Seven Months

Oh my sweet baby girl. This has been a really rough month for you! You have essentially been sick for the entire month. It all started when Nana and Papa were here. You got a cough and a super stuffy nose. That turned into a really bad cough and a really runny nose. Which turned into a fever. Which turned into pneumonia. We are now 3 1/2 weeks into you being sick. I think you're on the mend now. Nothing like a giant dose of gross-tasting antibiotics to kick it to the curb! (by the way - you really HATE the antibiotics. You gag and choke every time we try to give it to you!)

But on the positive side of things, you also managed to reach a few key milestones. You started solid foods (cereal, mainly) - but due to the aforementioned illness, you haven't really progressed much in that area. And you can also sit up by yourself now! Every once in a while you topple over, so we keep pillows around you when we're not sitting next to you, but overall, you are one strong little girl. You love playing on the toy piano - especially because you can sit upright and play it all by yourself now!

Even through all the stuffy noses and late nights not sleeping, you still manage to be one of the cutest, sweetest and most loving little girls in the whole world. Your little toothless grin would drag me out of bed every hour on the hour if you needed me.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Six Months...and a few weeks

I can't believe I forgot to post on your 6 month birthday! You are really starting to become a little person. You can sit up by yourself for a good minute or so before teetering sideways, and you've started pushing your butt up in the air to scoot backwards when you're on your tummy. You can move all over the floor now! You've also started solids - rice cereal, mainly - but we've added a few pureed goodies. Your favorite so far is sweet potatoes. You actually lick you lips and waggle your hands when you see the spoon coming toward you! It's adorable.

We've been suffering through a pretty nasty cold the past week. Hads had it first and then apparently passed it onto you. Baby colds are the worst - you can't tell me you're miserable so all you can do is fuss and cry. Which is terribly unlike you. Your poor nose is so stuffed I can't even use the bulb syringe to get anything out! And the cough - oh man. That just keeps us up all night. I'm so afraid you're going to choke like you did in the hospital the day you were born. It's probably irrational to feel that way, but I can't help. Needless to say, I'm not sleeping so well.

Nana and Papa came out to visit this past weekend. They couldn't believe how much you've grown since this summer! Even with your little cold you were so sweet and loving, and so full of smiles for both of them. You are such an affectionate little bug. You love to hold people's faces in your hands and then gum them to death with your wet little mouth.

Grammy is flying out tomorrow to spend Halloween weekend with us. She's really excited to see her little girls again. You are so lucky to have grandparents that love you so much!!

iloveyoumadly.
mama

PS - the pic is courtesy of your big sis.

Five Months

I can't believe my little baby is 5 months old today!! Wow. It is so cliche, but it really has flown by.

The biggest change in you right now is that you are a ROLY POLY HEDGEHOG!! Holy cow, kiddo. As I mentioned last month, you started rolling over from your back to your tummy in one direction. And then this weekend you discovered you could continue on and go from your tummy to your back. So now we put you on the floor and you roll one direction endlessly until something or someone stops you! And everytime you pop onto your back, you look at us like "WHOA! When did you get there?" It's so funny. It's not so funny in the middle of the night, however, when your little arms and legs get stuck between the slats in the crib and you wake up crying. This has happened every night for the last 3 nights. I am very tired.

Your giggle lights up a room. As Marina says, "Berit has the laugh of a little angel." It is so sweet and innocent. You are especially giggly on the changing table, when I smother your tummy and your neck with kisses, or blow on your face and hair. And your HAIR! I thought your sister had a crazy mane as a kiddo. Nothing compared to you, my dear. Yours is thick and stands straight up no matter what we do! Your hair actually stops people in public. At the grocery store the other day a young woman stopped us to look at you. She had a little girl about your age. She was AMAZED at your hair and called you a cockatoo. Her little girl was bald, so I forgave her. :-)

Thinking about you makes my heart swell!! Right now as I sit at my desk at work (clearly not working) I am tearing up. I walk that line all mothers walk - I can't wait for to reach that next milestone and yet I want to put you in a jar and keep you right where you are.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

I Just Found This...

Births submitted for the week of April 22
Daily Camera staff
Posted: 04/26/2009 12:06:00 AM MDT

Births
Boulder Community Hospital
LARSON - Ginna Larson and Nels Larson, of Boulder, a daughter, Berit Louise Larson, born April 14.

Apparently I forgot I submitted your birth announcement to the paper.....

iloveyoumadly.
mama

THREE MONTHS!

My sweet B-Bear. You turned three months old yesterday. As you will soon learn, I have great intentions to be on time with this blog but rarely ever am. Just ask your sister...

You have had a busy few weeks! I started back to work about 2 weeks ago part-time in the mornings. And since you aren't starting daycare at TinyMinders until next week I needed to recruit a little help. So Nana came out the first week and spent every morning with you, working with the bottle, singing lots of songs. You loved it. You smiled at her so much - especially when she sang to you!

And then Grandma and Andpa came out for their turn last week. Grandma loves to play with little kids and she is so good at it! She spent hours and hours in the morning with you showing you blocks, and teaching you about the alphabet. And Andpa played the guitar (albeit not well - don't tell him I said that!) while you watched. It is so fun as your mama to watch how your each of your grandparents have something fun and different to offer you. Grammy is coming out next week for a few days and she will spoil you rotten with presents - so see? Each one of them is so different, but each one of them loves you so much!

You are starting to really reach some fun developmental markers. Here are a few that have happened in the last two weeks:

-Smiling!! Not just when we smile at you, but when you feel happy. And BOY! Is that frequent. I love it.

-Smoother muscle control. You found your hands recently, and you spend a lot of time trying to control how they move. We have this "Under the Sea" play gym that has toys hanging over your head, and you spend lots of time under there trying to grab the toys. You are getting much better at grabbing them when you want!

-Head control. You are holding your head up on your own a lot more these days. And when we put you on your tummy (which you despise) you can even raise it off the ground for a few minutes. GREAT JOB!

When you are a mommy you will realize how exciting each of these markers is. It's like a constant race to see what you'll do next - and all we can do is provide you the freedom to figure it out. We keep having to remind Hadley not to hand you things when you're trying to reach for them - she wants to help so much! But you've got to learn how to do it on your own. I think that might be one of the toughest parenting lessons out there - and my guess is that it's one we'll have to be reminded of frequently throughout your life.

iloveyoumadly.
mama