STILL ADJUSTING...

Aubree is doing good. She is, for the most part, very happy go lucky. She wakes up with the biggest smile on her face and just enjoys her day of playing and learning new things. She has a great memory and is learning so fast. She is saying quite a few words now...."shoe", "hi", "bye-bye", "mama", "dada" and "Ninny" (which is what Brenna calls my sister). She seems to be understanding most of what we say. If we tell her she needs her diaper changed she plops right down on the floor and gets ready. If we tell her it's time to eat she runs for the kitchen. If we tell her it's time to get dressed she starts trying to pull her clothes off. She's a smart little one.

She is doing much better at naptime and bedtime....and, yes, we still let her "cry it out" (as we did with our daughter Brenna and she is now a well-adjusted, wonderful 4 year old who knows we love her and that we will always be there for her!). Aubree still, sometimes, cries when we put her down for her nap or bedtime but not nearly as bad or for as long. She seems to be realizing that she is only going to sleep and that we will, of course, be there when she wakes up.

She still, at times, wants Dave to hold her constantly once he gets home from work but that's getting better, too. He holds her for awhile when he gets home and then puts her down and plays with her and Brenna and lets her see that he can still be there for her without him holding her in his arms at all times because after all he CAN'T hold her for 5 hours straight until her bedtime!! I think she is starting to realize that even though he is gone all day he will always come back.

Brenna just adores Aubree! She calls her "Sister"... so cute! Every morning she comes in and asked, "Can I wake up, Sister?" so she climbs in the crib with Aubree and they play for about 15 minutes and then Brenna will call to me, "We're ready to get out!" so I go in and get them dressed and we start our day!

Aubree is very loving. She loves to give (and get) hugs and kisses. And she has the best little laugh!

So, overall, we are all doing good. Of course, we are all still going through an adjustment period but everything seems to be falling into place.

Thanks to everyone for their encouraging comments along the way! However, to the last person who posted without leaving their name (coward)...don't bother posting again if you can't offer comments without attacking us. We are learning as we go and doing the best we can with our new daughter and, for the most part, she seems to be doing great. So, if you would like to offer your comments and advice in a constructive, polite manner then feel free do so. If not, I will delete your comments.

I've posted a few new pictures in the "Our Girls" album at:
www.damicofamily.photosite.com


Shannon and Dave

DAY BY DAY...

Things are going pretty good. During the day things are great. Aubree plays and enjoys herself. However, once Dave gets home from work we start having some problems with her. If Dave tries to shower or go to the bathroom or go outside or whatever Aubree gets hysterical! Once he's home Aubree wants Dave to, continously, hold her and be in her sighe. As I said, during the day we don't have these problems. She gets a little nervous if I walk out of the room but she just follows me and once she realizes I am not leaving her she is fine. She likes me to hold her once in a while but is fine when I put her down. But she really latches on to Dave once he is home and won't let go. We think it may be because he is gone all day and once he is here she may be afraid he is going to leave again?? We don't really know. But we are trying to not have him hold her, constantly, and just letting her see that he is only going into another room and not leaving again.

The other problem time is when she goes down for a nap and down for bed for the night. We hold her and rock her for a minute but then we put her in her crib to go to sleep on her own and she just loses it....gets hysterical and screams bloody murder! She must be afraid that we are leaving her again which I guess we are but only for the night but, of course, she does not realize this yet. But we have only been home for 3 weeks so, hopefully, so I know it will take her time to learn that we aren't going to leave her for good. Poor little baby.

She still eats like crazy! She would never stop eating if she had her way. When she knows food is around she goes into a full rock and starts squealing because she just can't wait to get the food in her mouth. I;m sure this, too, will pass when she starts realizing she will always have food. But for now it is great to have a child who will eat any kind of food! Brenna won't eat a thing....unless it is gum or candy!

I'm not sure how she is attaching. She seems comfortable with Dave and me but she will go to pretty much anyone else, too. Again, I think it's just too early to tell.

So, we are still going through some adjustments but as I said, it's only been 3 weeks so I can't expect too much so soon.

Shannon and Dave