We Haven't Forgotten

Despite her daddy-blogger's ability to keep up and write about it, Karissa continues to blossom and sprout and develop into a beautiful baby. She is sitting up on her own. She is very close to crawling. She now sits on her own in a high chair and nibbles on finger foods, and has begun other infant solids.

Her head continues to improve and grow into its proper shape and by her next appointment (she has a check-up and band adjustment every two weeks) they may be able to give us a firm time frame on how much longer she may need to wear it. Her head essentially has its proper form now. But, kind of like wearing a retainer after you get braces off your teeth, it essentially holds the improvements in place to "set". So, she'll be wearing it for at least a few more weeks. Having seen the back of her head, we are officially validated and gratified that we did the right thing. She may not think to thank us later in life, but it was definitely worth it to do this now.
Karissa continues to ramp up her cooing and communicating with her eyes and expressions. She is gaining strenth in her legs, hopping in her Jumperoo and sitting up while in her walker on the kitchen floor (though still a ways from walking even with the aid of rollers).

One thing we have noticed about Karissa's new independence and rolling on the ground is that she is extremely sensitive to bumps into furniture. A slight bump of the head or a swift accidental kick of the firm, hard coffee table will regularly get a quick display of tears. But, it does go fast. We're still at the point where we think she's at her cutest when she cries, so when we know that she's not really hurt we enjoy her little bouts of conversation.

It's easy to feel bad that Karissa's early life hasn't been blogged in micro-detail the way her brother was. It's not because she is any less interesting or that we're any less proud or impressed by her developments. I think we honestly got snared in the trap of being content parents who have been-there, done-that, who can just sit and enjoy the moment instead of being the wide-eyed parents who feel compelled to write an essay about every little detail. Sort of like riding a roller coaster the second time around. It's no less fun as the first time, and in fact a little easier to enjoy the ride.

With Kole being rambunctious and full of life, if not bratty and in need of owning all the attention in the room, free time is not what it once was with just one little baby under the roof. So, the blogging has suffered.
In the end - all is good. Kole's potty training has taken a noticeable lull, and production in the potty is few and far between. He has now specialized in repeating everything he hears. Not just mocking, but repeating, in attempted verbatim, everything he has heard. You don't have to be talking to him. You could be talking on the phone or we could be talking to each other. What he hears - he repeats. It's helped clean up any lingering salty language around here - leaving us to spell more.