It's been a busy month for the Cumiskeys. We've finally sold our condo and have been busy busy busy trying to find our new home. Ayla has also become a MUCH busier and curious little girl. It seems like she has grown about a foot in a week. She's not walking yet. (thank god!!) but she is getting into EVERYTHING! She is talking (babbling) more than ever! Pointing at everything. Eating big girl foods. Sitting up in a big girl stroller. The list goes on and on!! It's hard to believe that she is 2 months away from being a year old.

Pearly Whites

I though I would post a quicky... Ayla's two front teeth have made their official debut! (Don't mind her messy face)..
They aren't in all the way but they sure are throwing things outta wack. Poor girl is back to waking throughout the night. Last night it took mama over 45 minutes to get her back to bed. (that is a first since she was a newborn). I also forgot to mention in the last entry that our little miss loves to use her new fake laugh! She is such a little, sleepy, teethy peanut. ... I already miss my little Fang.

Busy Busy Baby

Our little girl is growing up way too fast. She is a fortified crawling professional. She's a fortified "explore every nook and cranny of this condo" pro and is quickly making her way to the top of the pro. "i'm going to cry when you put me to bed" list. She's getting far too smart for this mommy!!! This condo is seeming smaller and smaller by the day. Our pending sale counldn't have happend at a better time. Of course I won't breathe until it all goes through. Ayla and Mommy are going a little stir crazy in the condo. Some days it would be so nice to just putter around in a backyard garden and have Ayla puttering with me. (Or in a playpen!?!). We're back to sleeping through the night...even with the emergence of yet ANOTHER two teeth?!?!?!?! We've moved past our baby being a little vampire and I already miss my little fang. She's sprouting both middle teeth and those suckers haven't been so easy for her. We've had lots of cuddles and crys in the last week. Unfortunatley Ayla is still on her bottle strike, which makes it hard for mommy to leave her and enjoy some evenings out. I figure it could be due to those new middle chompers?? I just hope she decides to end the strike sooner than later.

Also have some new firsts to report; Cheerios! (new favorite!!), first swing ride, first time swimming (no pics - waaahh). Lots of new pics to come on the flickr link! Keep your eyes peeled.

What it Means to be a Father.

I had my first big test at being a parent all by my lonesome on Saturday night. I spoke of the apprehension of seeing Dania going out our door and it just being me, Ayla and the dog we call Spit. I won't lie I was really nervous. It was a first for me and although I have a sense of what I'm doing, doing it all by yourself when no ones around can be a little overwhelming.
Dania left sometime around 5:00pm. Spit needed to go for a walk so Ayla and I kissed Mom on the cheek told her to have a great time and headed out just the three of us.
Ayla was tired so she decided to have a late nap in her chair on wheels. We were out and about for half an hour before heading inside for the big night.
She decided to sleep for about an hour. Any parent will know a late nap means a little night on most occasions. I must have checked in on her ten times. Around the 10th time the little angel opened her eyes and said "where's mommy..?". No she didn't she can't talk. I picked her up and enjoyed my after nap cuddle time which only lasts five minutes but oh it's the best 5 minutes in the world.
It was getting late so I new she'd be hungry so she had some oatmeal. Her new thing at nights. You want to fill that belly up for sleepy time. Dinner time was great no squirming or fits of rage. Just a happy little girl with here Papa.
Meal time was over so I thought we'd play for a little bit. Playtime is really just crawling around on the floor and putting things in her mouth.
Play time came drawing to a close I saw some tired eyes peering up at me so it was time for bath time.
Bath time was amazing she had so much fun in there. Splashing around playing with the shampoo bottle and letting out high pitched screams. I dried her off and changed her into her bedtime outfit.
I knew the big test of the evening was coming and that was bedtime. With no bottle no boob I decided on a little more oatmeal. Ayla ate it up I guess she was still hungry or new in the back of her mind what Daddy was up to and she thought she'd help the cause. I started the bedtime proceedings at around ten to eight. It lasted until about 8:45. She was tired and we walked around the condo for awhile. While walking around she did everything in her power to not fall asleep on my shoulder. She'd but her head there but seconds later would wake up as if she just missed something.
When I finally put her down I did so with a huge smile on my face. I was proud of myself I was proud of the daughter I'm raising.
Saturday night is one of the best evenings of my life. I learnt in that small amount of time what it really means to be a parent. Your child depends on you and you have to be there every step of the way. I like girls nights because it means it's Dad and daughter night to.

Creeping

Ayla has moved quickly past crawling and has moved onwards and upwards to "creeping" (so they call it??!)
Pulling herself up onto anyting and everything she can stand up on :)) There's not alot of room to move around in this but she certainly has managed to find plenty of things to get into!! It's amazing how much she changes from day to day!!!

Daddy's Big Day

Well tomorrow night Dania has finally decided to take an evening to herself and go out with the girls for some much deserved time away from the nest. When Dania first told me she was going out I had a huge sense of panic. I didn't know what to think. Dania is always around, always looking after Ayla as no other mother can. Panic turned into dumb questions like "what should I feed her for dinner", "how long do you guys play for". Only questions a father would ask.
My biggest concern for tomorrow night is bedtime. Bedtime is not my speciality. I don't have a big roll during bedtime and with Dania not being here to do what she does Daddy's a little worried. To add to my worry is the fact that Ayla no longer wants anything to do with the bottle. We can't even put the bottle near her face. She squirms, she screams, she has a fit. Of course I don't have the ability to breast-feed so with out Dania here it could be an interesting night for Hurley and I.
With all the panic and apprehension of Saturday night just being the two of us. I'm also really excited. Dania does not go out nearly enough. I don't get the chance as Dania does to just spend time alone with Ayla. It's going to be a fun evening of walks, eating books, and giggles. I hope Ayla is looking forward to it as much as Dad is.

Big bad Growth Spurt

I'm realizing that my dear nights of sleep which I used to know are for now a thing of the past. Ayla is Smack dab in the middle of her 9 month growth spurt. Some refer to it as the "9 month Sleep Regression". Regression indeed. Our little angel who once went down and 7 and slept through till the early morning is now up 3 times a night. It's just like having a newborn in the house!! We atttempted Fomula last night - but she was having no part of it. She only wanted to dine at the mammary diner. Mind you it could have been because it was SOY formula. It actually smelt worse than dog food. Poor thing. They say that she has too much learning buzzing around in her brain and it makes it hard to sleep. I certainly hope this passes quickly!!!! I love to see our daughter grow, but.... Who needs sleep anyhow!?!?!?