Month Two - Non-Interference is the Prime Directive

I decided to go ahead and stick with the Star Trek poster lessons for this first year. This month, I've really been practicing the art of non-interference. Alexa is learning, changing and growing every single day. I feel like my goal as her Momma is to watch and listen to determine what she wants to learn next. She really is a great communicator. It sounds silly to say that - but I firmly believe it's true. By watching and talking with her, I can determine most of the time what she wants to look at, listen to and play with. She fusses if I get it wrong and smiles when I get it right. Rather than pushing my agenda on her - I let her take the lead and show me what she wants to do. There is nothing more beautiful than following her lead as she blossoms into a beautiful little girl.

You have probably noticed my non-interference policy every time I have to relearn that she's bored. It's just that I don't want Alexa to BE any particular type of person as she grows - I just want her to be the best possible version of herself. The funny thing about that is that despite our lack of genetic connection, me and this girl have got A LOT in common. I always think I'm just looking for similarities, but no really, we have a lot in common. For example we both:

-Get bored easily

-Have zero patience when waiting for food

-Fight sleep at night and wake groggily in the morning

-Love to dance

-Love being outside and taking walks

-Smile every time we see daddy Picard :)

-Have a knack for communicating our needs

-Enjoy going shopping and having lunch with friends (even though window shopping is all my current budget can accommodate)

I was so completely and totally surprised the day we went to the Nordstrom opening, which was quite hectic and loud, and Alexa was engaged from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. That's seven hours of shopping for a two month old! That's not normal right? She wasn't asleep the entire time either. She spent a lot of time looking around at people.

I really DON'T want her to be a mini version of myself. Sometimes I'm too much for myself. I'm not sure we need two of me in one household. But every time I step back (and with Picard's unbiased opinion) I really do realize that yes, we do have some uncanny similarities. And yes, she is bored. Yes, she is screaming at me only because she's hungry and not any other mystical reason. Yes, she really does like being in public sometimes more than being at home. Yes, she really did soak up being in the grass and seems to miss our walks when we don't take them. And I think, good Gawd, this kid is me. How can she be me? And I keep coming back to the old adage that God gives you the child you are meant to raise, regardless of how that child comes to be part of your family.

Captain's Log Month Two:

-10 lbs 5 oz

-22.5 in long

-50th percentile

-Can sleep through the night (just not consistently)

-Wearing size 0-3 months

-Eating 20-25 oz a day

-Smiles in recognition of me and Picard (without us having to speak to her)

-Turns to us when she hears our voices (especially me)

-Can grasp and play with small toys

-Giggles out loud when something is funny to her

-Can make uh, eh and happy scream sounds

-Appears to have auburn hair and hazel green eyes (both are still changing)

-Can hold her head up when sitting in our lap (but not steadily)

-Can lift her head to 90 degrees when laying on stomach

-Stands (wobbly) when being held on our lap

-Is regrowing hair in the front

-Hair in the back is now past her collar (and she has the cutest natural hair spike on top)

Alexa shows off her battle wounds from getting her first round of shots.

Big smiles! How cute is that!

Showing off her silly side! Can you see the red tint to her hair?