LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHER

I think I have decided what my New Year’s resolution should be – to worry less! I just can’t seem to help myself, but I find something new to worry about almost every day. This week I have considered visiting the doctor for a number of reasons including;

Is she throwing up too much?
Is she putting on enough weight?
Shouldn’t her skin be getting better by now?
Is she sleeping too much?
Am I feeding her enough?
The list goes on…

One of the things that no one ever tells you about motherhood is most of the time, everything you do is just a wild stab in the dark, and there isn’t always an obvious “right” way of doing things.

Regardless, Kaitlyn seems to be doing well – she has survived her Mother’s neurosis without scar, and is (in my opinion) looking forward to Christmas. We finished our Christmas shopping with Grandma on Wednesday during which time Kaitlyn was dazzled by the Christmas decorations and lights, while nonplussed with another sighting of Santa. Meanwhile I have been busily shopping for her first Christmas present… As she has no idea what-so-ever, Ash and I are buying something for her each and then surprising one another with it on Christmas day. I am definitely purchasing something gorgeous for her to wear, while Ash is buying some sort of contraption from Toys-R-Us.

In terms of milestones this week, Kaitlyn’s favourite thing to do at the moment is putting her fist and fingers as far into her mouth as possible. (Strangely enough she has been caught more than once sucking on two fingers – just like her Mum). Whenever left alone for more than five seconds, she is exploring her little mouth, fingers everywhere, generally resulting in throwing up afterwards. I have now charmingly nicknamed her the vomit machine, not the most attractive description, I grant you, but if the shoe fits... This has coincided with the introduction of the dribble. Although teething is another three months or so off (hopefully), the dribbling has begun and she has mastered it with such speed, I am changing bibs almost hourly. If she is anything like her cousin, Dylan, there will be enough to fill a swimming pool by the time she turns one.

She has also discovered the tv. Whilst it is terrific she is willing to share in my love of America’s Next Top Model, and Miami Ink, I have felt a little guilty for corrupting her young mind. So, this week I have started putting on a Baby Beethoven DVD (apparently, educational). To be honest the DVD drives me mad, however she loves it. Once turned on, she goos and gaas along with the music, and watches the puppets dance across the screen. Every once and a while I think I am one of those “bad mothers” who uses tv as a babysitter – but then I remember, I am getting time to do my housework, or wrap presents, so the guilt soon wears off. Anyway I’m not nearly as bad as Grandma who is trying to convert her to UKTV, in particular Coronation Street.

The other big change recently, is Kaitlyn’s expressions, they are so much more clearer now. If she is happy we get a big gummy smile - Grandma gets one every time she visits, and Dad get’s one as soon as he gets home. When she is not sure about something, she raises one of her eyebrows (so funny), and the upset look, well that’s not too hard to guess. It’s great to watch her little personality develop – she is becoming quite the young lady!