Day 194 : Noise at Home

Sadie –

You were very quiet and reserved and well-mannered while your mom and I ate dinner at a restaurant tonight. You were so quite that we assumed you were just overly tired. We put you in the car and were sure you were about to fall asleep.

When we got home, I put you in your bouncy chair for just a moment so I could put some things away and you suddenly came alive. You talked and squealed and carried on with Mom and I for 15 minutes.

We aren’t sure if you are just comfortable at home or if you like to start talking before bed to fool us into letting you stay up for awhile! OR do you just really like that bouncy chair?

- Dad

Day 193 : Chin Up

Sadie –

You have entered the stage of “discovery.” If you can touch it, you want to. And if you touch it, you usually try to put it in your mouth. This of course, means Mom and I have to have an even more keen and careful eye when you are around.

Tonight I was holding you and you were thoughtfully examining my face. Suddenly you reached out and grabbed a fistful of my chin. I looked at you surprised (and actually in a little bit of pain!) and you giggled! You are pretty impressed by your newfound ability to manipulate objects.

It is fun to watch you discover things like this about yourself (even if it literally hurts me sometimes!)

- Dad

Day 192 : Hand and Mouth

Sades –

We went over to your Grandma’s house tonight for your Uncle Steve’s birthday party. As the final touches were being put on the meal, you and I sat in the kitchen and I fed you your supper. You were hungry and quiet, consuming each bite rather quickly. You were not acting overly anxious or fussy, though.

As I was spooning up a bite for you, I got caught up in a conversation with your Aunt Amy. I had lifted the spoon out of the bowl and started towards your mouth when I got distracted. My hand paused in the air as I turned my head to talk to your Aunt.

All of the sudden I felt a strong pull on my spooning hand. I turned to see that you had silently lost your patience and taken matters into your own hands – literally. There you sat with both hands grabbed across the ladle of the spoon trying to pull it towards your mouth.

Everyone in the room that witnessed this doubled-over in laughter.
Way to go get-em, girl! Sorry I am so slow sometimes!!

- Dad

Day 191 : Snugglefest 08

Sadie -

Mom heard you waking up before I did this morning, so she sneaked into your room, got you out of your crib, and brought you into our room to wake me up.

I was still sleepy so I grabbed you, laid you tummy-down in a crawling position on my chest, and pulled the covers up over us to your shoulders. I didn't think this would last long. Usually you are not much on snuggling. Much to my surprise, you almost immediately rested your head on my shoulder and quit moving. You didn't go to sleep or close your eyes; you just laid quitely and cuddled for close to 10 minutes. Mom crawled in next to us, and we started our week as one big "snuggle bug."

I don't think my week could get much better than that!

- Dad

Day 190 : DayTripper II

Sadie –

Today you, your mom, and I took another road trip. You know how I always tell you about the many people you haven’t met yet who love you so much? One of those families that care about you is the Tolberts. They are old friends of mom and dad who used to live in Arkansas, but now live in the middle of Illinois. They are on there way back home from a trip today and had to pass through a town not too far away from where we live. So we packed up, drove a few hours, and had lunch with these old (to us)/new (to you) friends.

You always seem interested by new people. You spent a lot of time staring wide-eyed at the Tolberts. Jake (the dad Tolbert) even challenged you to a staring contest! (You won!)

You warmed up to your new friends pretty quickly. By the end of lunch you were snuggling on Jake, walking around the restaurant and parking lot with Jen (the mom Tolbert), and letting Jonah (the kid Tolbert) grab your leg and say silly things like “tickle, tickle!”

Not only did you get to meet these cool new people – you also got to see your “Uncle” Lafe and “Aunt” Jen from Owensboro again. As always, you had quite a few smiles for “Aunt” Jen!

You are a good traveler – and you are quite good at impressing new people!

- Dad

Day 189 : Shot in the Leg

Sadie Bug –

Today you had your six month check-up with the doctor. Mom and Dee Dee (Grandma E) picked you up early from school and took you to the special office where we went earlier this week when you were feeling sick. The doctor said you weigh almost 19 pounds now and stretch to 28 inches! You are a healthy girl.

They also gave you shots in the legs again to help you not get sick in the future. Mom said you handled the pain pretty well –especially considering that the doctor told her that the shots you got feel akin to adult Tetanus shots (which mom had a few years ago and said they hurt her really bad even then!) Your Grandma told me when I arrived home this afternoon that she left the band-aids over your shots so I could feel bad for you! It worked. I know those shots were for your own good, but I still hate that you had to be in pain.

- Dad

Day 188 : Gettin' "Get Well" Goods

Sades –

Remember how yucky you felt on Sunday and Monday? Now momma feels like that! She called me at work this afternoon to ask me to pick you up from school because she was feeling so bad.

I happily obliged your mom’s request and on the way home from school decided that you and I need to go get some “get well” supplies for your mom. Usually you eat right after school, but I knew that you would be able to wait a few minutes if it meant helping Mom feel better.

I pushed you in your big girl stroller around Kroger as we collected medicine and food and PowerAde. You didn’t make an unhappy sound. We hurried and returned home with bags of groceries, and I quickly fed you!

Thanks for being flexible and understanding. I appreciate it! (And I know Mom does, too.)

- Dad

Day 187 : (Br)ead or Alive!

Sadie –

Your mom and I were snacking on some pita bread at dinner and mom got an idea.

“I wonder if Sades would like this?”

She tore off a tiny little piece and put it in your mouth. As with most new foods you try, you didn’t have much of a reaction. You seemed thoughtful and analytical, but you didn’t seem to like or dislike the new substance.

New foods from our plates might start entering your diet more often. Mom is going to talk to the doctor at your appointment on Friday to see if she can start feeding you more table food.

Here comes another milestone! You have got to quit growing up so fast!

- Dad

Day 186 : It's a Bird, It's a...

Sadie –

So we’ve discovered a new game of sorts…

You were getting a little restless while I was feeding you dinner tonight. You still needed to eat more, but you were starting to get a little bored and distracted. So in an effort to keep you attention, I turned to a classic technique that likely started with the caveman: airplane/spoon.

Every time you needed to take a bite, I would make a funny noise (that was supposed to sound a little like a jet or a helicopter) and wave your spoon around in the air. Then I’d plunge the spoon towards your mouth, stop just short of your lips, and wait for you to open up. You thought this whole thing was pretty funny!

The only problem: after ten or twelve bites my face started to hurt from making all of the jet engine noises!

- Dad

Day 185 : Good Medicine

Sadie –

Mom noticed last night that you were sick. She took your temperature and it was a little over 100 degrees. That, of course, means that you did not go to school today. Instead you spent the first half of the day with me, going to see the doctor – he revealed that you have a common virus that causes sore throat and fever – and the second half of the day relaxing at home with mommy.

You have been pretty lethargic today due to your sickness, but you mustered enough energy this morning before mom left for work to laugh very hard at her dancing skills! I turned on an old Dire Straits song and when mom started goofily shaking around, you got caught in a fit of laughter.

They do say that laughter is good medicine…

- Dad

Day 184 : Kid Napped

Sadie –

Our trip yesterday really wore us all out! We all got up at the usual time for breakfast today, but within less than two hours, we all had to take naps again. We went to lunch at your grandma’s house, but you were still tired, so you took another long nap while the rest of us ate spaghetti. Everyone knew you needed to sleep, but all were disappointed that they didn’t get to see you awake! Your grandma and cousin Jasmine had even pulled out some old toys for you to play with and cleaned them up for your visit today.

It is all right, though! There is always next time!

Just don’t forget how loved and anticipated you are!

- Dad

Day 183 : Daytripper

Sadie –

You, your mom and I made a daytrip to Owensboro, Kentucky to see your “Uncle” Lafe and “Aunt” Jen today. They got married last month and then moved from Arkansas (where we lived before you were born) to Owensboro. Yesterday, their family threw them a small party to celebrate their marriage.

You met “Uncle” Lafe’s dad, who immediately took a liking to you. Minutes after meeting you, he asked your mom and I if it would be all right for him to carry you around the party with him for awhile. He slightly resembles one of the members of ZZ Top (mostly because he has a big white beard.) You have never seen a beard like this before and you thought it was pretty neat. You let him carry you around and give you kisses, but in return you took a few fistfuls of his beard. He said that was a fair trade!

Other highlights of the party today? Well, remember how I said that you recently realized you can make REALLY loud noises with your voice? You decided to illustrate this newly acquired skill at the busiest moments during the party, while the room was full of people we had never met. It was fine, though. Most thought it was cute, and several stopped by our table on their way out of the party to comment on how well-behaved you’d been!

Mom also bought you a new rattle for the trip and you really liked playing with it and chewing on it. You accidentally hit yourself in the face with it at one point and it didn’t even bother you!

We love hanging out with you and showing you off!

- Dad

Day 182 : Noise Maker

Sadie –

You know how I have said that you never seem to gradually develop – you just wake up one day with some new skill or habit?

Tonight after dinner you suddenly discovered your voice box. Now you have been cooing and murmuring for months. That is not what I am referring to. Tonight you started letting out full-on high-pitched yelps! You were having so much fun goofing around with me as we got ready for bed that you kept reaching into your throat and pushing out these new sounds. It is so funny to watch you do this for the first few times because you seem to have to put so much effort into making noise.

Trust me – you are an Eichenberger. Noise-making will soon be second-nature!

- Dad

Day 181 : Good Girl

Sades –

Mom had to work late tonight so I picked you up from school and we had dinner with our friends Michael and Maren. You didn’t sleep much this afternoon at pre-school, but despite this, you behaved like a gentle (wo)man at dinner. You ate quickly and well, never raised your voice or cried, and played with and smiled at Maren for quite some time.

You were so well-behaved that Michael even pointed out during the meal that he and Maren have noticed they have hardly ever heard you cry.

You make me proud!

- Dad

Day 180 : Give Me a Sign

Sadie –

While feeding you this week I have started trying to teach you the sign language to use tell me when you want more food. You have seemed to find my illustrating of this gesture pretty funny. But after I do it a few times, it starts to entertain you less and annoy you more.

Your current way of telling me you need more food? – Grunting hysterically and hanging your mouth open!

You see why I am teaching you another way to communicate?

- Dad

Day 179 : Eat It!

Sadie –

I’ve heard parents say that their kids “eat them house and home.” I never truly realized what that phrase meant until this week. I don’t know where you are putting all of the food you are consuming! Mom and I concede that you must be going through a growth spurt. You are eating such large amounts at each meal that your school teacher asked that we start sending full bottles of food for your meals instead of pre-made plates!
It is exciting to watch you thrive!

- Dad

Day 178 : Gnashing of Teeth

Sadie –

I got home tonight at the same time as you and your mom. I honked my car horn as I drove in so your mom would know I wanted to carry you into the house. She let me come get you out of your car seat, and as soon as you saw me, your face erupted into a huge grin! I really missed you today!

This evening after dinner we played for awhile. Your teeth have been hurting you quite a bit, so I got you a cold teething ring out of the fridge for you to gnaw on. You were worn out and went to bed early. I am a firm believer that you need your sleep, but I hate it when your bedtime cuts into our playtime!

- Dad

Day 177 : Tweet Tweet

Sadie –

In the past few days you have started something new – I call it “the baby bird.” During dinner time, you used to wait for me to put the spoon on your lips to open up and take a bite. Recently, though, you’ve started letting me know when you are ready for more by dropping your jaw as low as it will go and sometimes grunting a little. It is quite funny to see!

- Dad

Day 176 : Wake Up!

Sadie –

Today I was planning on letting you sleep in until 8 AM. I woke up at 7:45 and got up so I could take a shower before you were awake. I walked by your door to check on you first and thought I saw your eyes! Sure enough! – You were wide-awake just waiting for your mom or me to come let you start your day. This was the second day in a row that you woke up early and just waited for us to come get you. You are so patient and well-behaved!

I was so excited to see you, I didn’t even care that I had to wait to take a shower!

- Dad

Day 175 : Silent Treatment

Sadie –

We ate dinner at Grandma and Grandpa’s house tonight. You had very little to say during the meal. You sat in your pink big-girl chair and barely made a sound. Grandma said I was just like you as a baby. She told me to watch out – one day you just might like talking so much that you will become a radio personality!

Your teachers at school say you often behave this way there as well. While other kids scream or babble, you will sit and watch and make little vocal contribution. Your mom and I think you are an “observer” – you study and watch and one day when you are ready, you do it yourself.

- Dad

Day 174 : Ice, Ice, Baby

Sadie -

You, your mom and I were at a restaurant this evening when I noticed you were distracted by the big, red plastic water glasses your mom and I were using. I pointed this out to your mom and she suggested that I let you try to sip some water since you were so infatuated with the glass.

You were quite excited when I put the glass in your grasp. You let it lean against your lips and promptly began to chew on the plastic. The problem? You weren't ready for the cold water! when it hit your mouth, your face turned into the funniest expression of shock that I've ever seen you scrunch it into. You didn't get upset, though, and you welcomed the cup back to your lips several more times - even though each time ended with your face in disarray!

When we were leaving the restaurant, a lady at a table near us asked about you. She complimented your cuteness and commented on how well you'd been behaving. We told her that your contentedness was pretty standard.

She said, "If all babies acted like her, I'd have one already!"

I think that was a compliment!?!

- Dad

Day 173 : Miss(ed) Popular

Sadie -

You sure are the lady of the evening! Your mom and Grandma both got back from seperate trips tonight and both of them had one concern once returning to town: seeing you!

Your Grandma said she broke the speed limit across town in order to get to our place before you went to sleep for the night. Your mom actually did not check her luggage during her airplane ride so she could get home faster. It was a good thing she did - she walked in the door right as we were putting your pj's on.

Never forget how much people love you!
(And I'll never forget how lucky I have been to have gotten to spend the last week with you while everyone else was in and out of town!)

- Dad

Day 172 : Top of the Deck

Sades -

The weather has been nice enough to eat outside the last few nights. Since you have started sitting up on your own (almost!), I am now able to feed you in your special pink big-girl chair! The last two nights I have taken you and this chair out on the deck and we've eaten dinner out in the evening air. It's been fun and a nice change of pace. We even met one of our neighbors the other night while we were on the deck just because he noticed how cute you are! You are a nice conversation starter!

- Dad

Day 171 : Weather Outside is (not) Frightful...

Sadie -

I think it is weird that you have never known what warm weather is like. Especially since this winter has been cold, snowy, and rainy here in Kentucky, you must think the outdoors is always inhospitable.

Turns out it is not, as you found out tonight! We had one of our first temperate days of the year today, so after dinner, your mom and I took you out to the courtyard near our home and let you play in the grass. I even put my sunglasses on you!

You really seemed to enjoy these new surroundings. We took your socks off and let you kick at the grass! I bet that felt funny for the first time!

This was just the first of many fun days at the park! I can't wait to take you down to the riverfront and let you see all of the pretty water and grass there some time soon!

- Dad

Day 170 : Shop (with) Class

Sadie -

You were my shopping buddy today. We did some grocery-gettin' and you helped - well, you mostly just lounged in your big-girl stroller and grabbed at your feet! But it was a lot of fun to be out together and make an afternoon of it.

Mom and I are amazed at how sudden signs of growth show up in you. We've discussed several times how you don't seem to gradually progress toward some things. You just wake up one day and do it. The coordination to grab your feet showed up like this, and recently you just started being able to sit up straight without much help. We wonder if one day you'll just wake up and say, "Yo, Dad! I'm starving. Let's grub!"

I might laugh or faint if this happens - I am not sure which!

- Dad

Day 169 : Trouble is A Foot

Sadie -

All of the sudden, you've found your feet.

Now this doesn't mean you know how to use them (aka: walking!), but you have definately realized they exist at the bottom of your legs and now you want to do little else but grab at them. Mom says that most likely you will eventually put them in your mouth!! That is funny!
You haven't done that yet, but you have become distracted by this new discovery enough to warrant the occasional scolding at the dinner table when you decide to choose foot over fruit and veggies!

- Dad

Day 168 : Hangin' Out 2gether

Sades -

I took the day off of work today and you and I had a "daddy-daughter hangout" day. We slept late, went to see mom at work, went CD shopping, and even watched a movie.

Mom had fun showing you off around her office. She asked me to make sure to dress you in the polka-dot dress she got you awhile ago and in the hat your friend Lisa in Arkansas made you. For lunch we went to an Indian restaurant where both your mom and I had no idea what we ate. This evening we had much better luck when we just had pizza for dinner!

All in all - today was a GREAT day! I love hanging out with you!

- Dad

Day 167 : Home Again!

Sades -

Mom made it home late tonight, just before you got into bed. You were actually in the tub when she showed up, and though you were quite bleary-eyed, you were excited enough by the sight of her to give her a grin.

She was so worried that she was not going to make it home in time to see you! She called several times throughout the evening to give us status updates on how close she was to arriving.

I will say - It is GREAT to have her home!

- Dad

Day 166 : Missing You

Sadie -

Your Grandma has been missing you so much that she called me at work today and asked if she could stop by your pre-school and see you for awhile this afternoon. She said you acted excited when she arrived and she admitted that she spent most of the short time she was there just snuggling and kissing you.

Speaking of people who miss you - your mom is having a hard time being away from us. She calls to check on you often. I've been taking pictures of you first thing in the morning and last thing before bed and sending them to her cell phone. She keeps asking me to give you kisses for her, so if you are getting sick of the love, don't blame me!!

We really do love you SOOO much!

- Dad

Day 165 : No Kisses!

Sadie –

I am feeling better today, but am sad because your mom had to go on a business trip for a few days. I am also worried that you and her are going to wake up at some point with the flu I just got over. I am praying A LOT for your health!

I will say it was fun to pick you up from school today because you were SO happy to see me. You kept opening your mouth and signaling for me to kiss you, but I couldn’t let myself because I am still trying to protect you from my germs.

How do I explain that to you?!?

- Dad