Don't you hate it when bloggers don't update their blogs?! :)

Is it really June? Really?!?! JUNE?!?! I think I get another Worst Blogger Ever award.

Remember last post when I talked about how Dan and I were both back at work and adjusting to our new schedule? Well, we quickly realized that--while Nedy adores her grandparents and is so relaxed and happy spending time with them--Nedy was starting to have what I refer to as "caretaker confusion". She just seemed as though she was preparing mentally for another big shift. I know she's young, and I know I read a lot into things sometimes, but Dan and I both got the sense that she needed to stay home a while longer to be secure in our permanence as her Mama and Baba. So we made a big decision. Dan extended his leave from work in order to stay home with Nedy until we're comfortable that she's comfortable. This was (obviously) a huge decision financially and otherwise, but once we pulled the trigger on it, it felt sooooo right. She spent 9 months in utero only to spend 15 months elsewhere before being handed over to complete strangers 3 months ago... That is a TON of change in a short life and we owe her time to just chill and get to know us. As they say, attachment is a process, not an event, and we want to do the best we can to give her the security she deserves. So, today started our second week of Dan home and we're already seeing some great progress in terms of affection. We also started co-sleeping nights last week. It's fun to have kiddo in bed and look at her little sleeping self at night. And then there's the way she wakes up in the morning, looks at one of us and says, "hi!" in her adorable little voice before climbing all over us and announcing "Down. Walk." She sleeps so peacefully most of the night, so we're not even suffering punches to the kidneys or anything. Knock on wood that that continues. There is so much research on the benefits of co-sleeping in terms of bonding. She continues her naps in her crib so she maintains the ability to sleep by herself, but at night it's a big ol' family bed. :)

Food is getting a tad better (again, knock on wood) and she's certainly growing, as our growth chart shows 2 inches of height gain since March! She's walking (or shall I say jogging?) like a pro, busy as can be, and so interested in the outdoors. She loves touching plants and rocks, playing in sand and water, and walking as fast as her little feet can take her. (She's a careful daredevil--she seems to know her limits, but man, she makes my heart race with her experiments in movement!) She is totally into doing dishes (something tells me that will pass by the time she is actually able to do the dishes...) and has recently started requesting the reading of "boohs" (books--said complete with her sign for book so we're sure to understand) several times a day.

She's mimicking more and more words. Her recent favorite is "lawnmower"--which comes out more like "wowmowo"--and is always accompanied by a big smile. She seriously seems to love saying that word. Cracks me up. Another favorite is chicken--"chitzen." Oh, and her latest is scratching her arms (which don't appear to be itchy by the looks of them) and saying, "itzy". And she can say her own name--"Neny"--as she pats her chest. Too cute.

Anyway, on to the pictures. Enjoy!