Julianne is 8 Months Old!

Dear Julianne-

Gosh it feels like I just finished writing your 7 month post. I always have these great intentions of writing throughout the month and then find myself on the 29th trying to re-cap the whole thing. All I can say is I will attempt to do better next time. Where does all the time go?

As I was thinking on what to include this month it occurred to me that I have pretty much covered all of your likes in life in the last 7 posts. So today I thought I would highlight some of your dislikes. These are quite apparent to us lately as you are excellent at showing your dissatisfaction with anything on the following list. Can we say tantrum? I didn't know an 8 month old could throw tantrums but along with many expectations of motherhood I was completely wrong. So without further a-due, a compilation of things Julianne McClish would rather do without:

1. Putting on clothes.

I have tried to explain that dressing for the day and night is something we are going to do at least twice a day everyday and usually more. This conversation to date has seemed to fall on deaf ears. I know someday you will love to wear clothes and trying them on will be a fun activity. Today is just not that day. Dressing you is a lot like something you would see on Wrestle Mania as I constantly fight against your arched back and quick arms that attempt to push me away. Unfortunately for you, I always win and you end up dressed. You are over it as quickly as you got mad about it but for the few seconds it takes to put on your clothes you are not a happy camper.

2. Avocado


The fact that you seem not to care for avocado troubles and saddens me. Avocado is one of my favorite things in the world and I long for you to share my passion for the fruit. You still eat it if I serve it, that is how it goes in our family, but I just wish you liked it more. I still have hopes that you will come around to it if we can afford to buy them regularly. They are very expensive these days!



3. Pack n Play/Sleeping away from home


This month Mommy and Daddy took you to Colorado to visit Opa and Cita. Since you had been sleeping 12 hours at night consistently at home we were very much looking forward to our long cozy nights in the mountains. That is until we realized your uncanny ability to know when things aren't quite the same. Not unlike our other trips (remember the lake in August?) you reverted to your newborn schedule waking every 2-3 hours forcing Mommy to nurse you as quickly as possible in hopes of not disturbing the rest of the house. Even nursing wouldn't get you back to sleep some of the time and left us pacing around the house trying to keep you quiet, all the while loosing our sanity and REM cycles. Naps did not go well either and none of us got much sleep until we got home. I am really going to start praying that you work out these issues before our holiday travels.

4. Having your face/nose wiped



Now to be fair, I am not aware of a kid that likes having a wet washcloth smeared across their face in hopes to get the food/booger crusties off. That said, I can always count on some yells of distain when this happens. This month you had your first stuffy nose/cold and were not a fan of the snot wiping or sucking for that matter. I never understood before how parents could let their kid's nose just run and run. I thought it was so nasty. I see why now...there is no stopping the flow, and sometimes it is just a battle not worth fighting.

All in all this is not that long of a list. You are such a joy baby girl and we are so blessed to have such a curious, smart, active, healthy, girl. I think you are going to start crawling any minute and I can only imagine how life will change when you become mobile. Mommy and Daddy love you so much and are in total awe of how God made you.

Love,
Mommy

Team McClish

Well I put my money where my mouth is and actually did something about the fact that I miss running. A few weeks ago, with encouragement from Andrew, I signed up for the Dallas White Rock 1/2 Marathon. The race is on December 3rd and getting into 13.1 mile shape has not been easy. Part of that might be the fact that I am pushing a stroller and holding a very energetic dog during my weekday runs. Andrew stays home with Julianne on Saturday mornings for a longer run with just me and Wesson. So far we are up to 4 miles with a 5 mile run this Saturday.

Meet the team:



1. THE BOB: this is the greatest stroller on the planet. We bought it used before Julianne was born because they are also one of the most expensive strollers on the planet. Well worth it though since I don't think I could run with the baby without it.



2. THE CHEERLEADER: She is my companion and selflessly spends 30 minutes in the morning taking in the fresh air and "cheers" me on during the ride. Couldn't do it without her.....



3. THE ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER:
He may me a tan and white canine, but this dog loves to run! If we miss a day I know it because he is asking to go as soon as we get up in the morning. I love and hate this about him, but that is how it should be with any good accountability partner. He pushes me to keep going threatening to take off without us if we can't keep up.


4. HOW WE ROLL:
With leash in my left, and stroller in my right, we are finally ready to set out. I think this somehow tones my arms...not a bad side effect of the pushing.

I have to admit I am slightly intimidated by the race. Even though I have run at least 10 1/2 marathons, I have never trained alone or attempted to prepare this quickly for a race. I think as long as I keep in mind that I just want to finish it and have fun all will go well. I am really enjoying the runs even if it is a pain to get us all out the door.

Nathalie