We have a crawler - watch out world!

We can hardly believe that Daphne is already in the category of an unsupported sitter and now a crawler! Granted she isn't doing the 'classic crawl' - which is up on all fours. But, what she is doing is referred to as the 'belly crawl'. And as you can see in the video she is eager to get to her destination by any means necessary! She does get up on all fours and rocks back and forth, but hasn't figured out that she can go anywhere by alternating her arms and legs - which we're sure, that is right around the corner. Although, some babies go right from belly crawling to walking. So, who knows.

Daphne - Eight Months Old

Daphne is 8 months old!  

Here are the updates, as we have them:

Weight:
Seven Months: 13lbs, 4ozs.
Eight Months:  14lbs, 6ozs.

Height:

Seven Months: 25 inches (there was no 'official' measurement from a doctor's appointment, so we left it unchanged)
Eight Months: 26 inches, by using the elephant growth chart courtesy of Aunt Amy. (see image below)

Hair Color:

Seven Months: Looks like it might be growing back in; definitely brown
Eight Months:  Brown; and it is coming in thicker and thicker every day

Eye color:

Seven Months: blue, the pediatrician thinks they are here to stay - since she is past the 6 month mark; but I've heard that eye color can change up to 1 year old.
Eight Months:  blue, blue, blue

Here's what Daphne has been up to lately:

Daphne no longer uses/needs her pacifier. Backstory: apparently there are sizes of pacifiers and apparently the baby should be getting the next size up every three months (or so). Well, leave it to us not to notice that Daphne was using the same size (0-3 month) pacifier that she received in hospital at birth right up to a couple of months ago. (gasp! the horror!)

We eventually did buy the next size pacifiers, but she wanted nothing to do with them - except to gum them to death. She refused to take it going down for a nap, she refused it when we used it to try to soothe her while in her different stages of crankiness. No deal, she just spit it out or outright blocked it with her hands. Not sure if she's just one of those kids that doesn't like (or doesn't need) a pacifier but either way we are happy to accept the fact that we don't have to break her of that pacifier habit down the road. We've heard horror stories about it.  :)

VSD and what it means for Daphne

Here is an update that we have been delaying...on purpose. Mostly because it is not a serious concern of ours or Daphne's cardiologist. Yes, she has a cardiologist -- which we're pretty sure that is the first time you're hearing of this as well.

A day or two after Daphne was born she had a Echocardiogram performed by the doctors at Sutter Memorial (in Sacramento) to confirm the pediatrician's suspicions of a heart murmur. She was discharged with no further concern of that pediatrician or cardiologist. We were told to mention it to her pediatrician in NC. Her pediatrician here has been monitoring her heart at every appointment and has given 'it' a name.  VSD.

What is VSD? 

Daphne - Seven Months Old

Daphne is 7 months old!  Yesterday, to be exact.  We're just a day late in posting this.  It seems like we were writing her 6 month post just 2 minutes ago and now here we are, one month later!  A lot of the reason we write these monthly posts is for us to be able to remember what she's doing developmentally and of course so that we can remember how much of her personality is starting to come out.  And let me tell you, it is definitely starting to come out.  

She is definitely a laid back, easy going baby, and for that we are TRULY thankful.  We often get comments from neighbors, friends, or people at church, who say they've never even heard her cry.  Honestly, she doesn't cry that often.  Definitely not saying she never cries, because when she's unhappy she definitely lets us know.  If she's not getting your attention, she'll probably let you know.


Here are the updates, as we have them:


Weight: 
Six Months:  12lbs, 15ozs.  (this weight makes her officially on the charts, in the 4th percentile)
Seven Months: 13lbs, 4ozs. 

Height:  

Six Months:  25 inches  (she's in the 16th percentile -- and, wow, over 2 feet tall already!)

Seven Months:  25 inches (there was no 'official' measurement from a doctor's appointment, so we left it unchanged)

Hair Color:

Six Months: Daphne's hair has definitely thinned, but we're hoping that means when it does come in it will be nice and thick.

Seven Months: Looks like it might be growing back in; definitely brown

Eye color:

Six Months:  blue

Seven Months: blue, the pediatrician thinks they are here to stay - since she is past the 6 month mark; but I've heard that eye color can change up to 1 year old.

Here's what Daphne has been up to lately:

Daphne has been rolling over front to back and then back to front for a little while now, but she has started to branch out by trying to crawl (just the beginning stages). It is pretty hilarious to watch, because (1) she doesn't really have the hang of it, (2) once she is up in the air she doesn't really know what to do with her new found skill, and (3) once she's had enough she immediately rolls over on either side and calls it a day - with a huge smile!  Here are some photos that we were able to capture.

Almost got the hang of it!

Now, what do I do?

Enough of that, weeeee!

We've mentioned before about Daphne learning to 'blowing raspberries' but have been unsuccessful in capturing it on video...until now!  Hopefully you don't get a face full of spit watching this video.  LOL!

Save the Adoption Tax Credit

Both Adam and I (Daphne included) would like to take a moment out of your busy day and ask if you would please contact your Congressmen/women and Senators (BOTH Republican and Democrat) to help us reach legislators across the country to protect and extend the adoption tax credit and encourage the right of every child to grow up safe and loved in a family of their own.

Here is the link to locate your Senator:

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Here is the link to locate your Representative (Congressman/woman):

http://www.house.gov/representatives/

One way that adoption is affordable to many families is through the adoption tax credit. This tax credit provides a refund to families who provide proof of a finalized adoption on their taxes up to the amount of $12,650. Families can then take this refund and pay off any debts that they took out to pay for their adoption fees and costs. This adoption tax credit is our lifeline. But it’s being threatened.

The adoption tax credit is set to expire on December 31, 2012. As it’s set right now, the credit will be lowered to a maximum of only $6,000 in 2013, and will only be available to a few adoptive families {those who adopted special needs or waiting children}. This means adoption will be even harder to attain for many families who might otherwise consider it.

I simply cannot stress enough just how important this tax credit is to parents who adopt. There are thousands of families who could not even consider adoption without the aid of this tax credit. Adoption costs are sky-rocketing, and there is no end in sight. Even the $12,000 doesn’t cover the entire costs of the most affordable adoption, but it certainly helps. Please consider taking the time to contact your representative. And if you already have - THANK YOU!

Here is the website for Save The Adoption Tax Credit    http://adoptiontaxcredit.org/advocate/

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