One Year!

Sweet girl, you are a whole year old!  My little baby is now a toddler and I just can't believe it.  You are growing and changing so quickly it's hard to keep up!  

• This was a busy month!  You said your first word...wait for it..."dada."  Yeah.  You say it 24/7, even when I say, "Say Mama!"  You're sooooo funny little girl.

 

•  You are growing the cutest little baby curls on the back of your head and I just adore them.  Your daddy says you need a haircut but I totally disagree!

•  You celebrated your first Christmas and loved all of the attention!  You got some great walking toys and constantly want to be up walking around.  You even took your first steps when we got home from holiday traveling!  You haven't done it since though.  I think you're a little scared.  But your confidence will come soon sweet girl!

•  You got your first fever this month and it was super sad.  You were whiny and lost your appetite but you still slept well.  Fortunately, it didn't last long.

•  After what seemed like forever, you finally figured out how to use your sippy cup by yourself.  Your daddy and I think you've always known but were just too lazy to hold it up yourself.  But now you're a pro.  You get lots of practice with milk and smoothies (your new favorite!). 

•  You've moved on to eating exclusively finger foods.  It's been a bit of a struggle but I think we're getting the hang of what you will and will not eat these days.  You can be quite the picky eater, little one.  But that's to be expected.  You have parents who eat practically zero veggies.

•  This month we've dropped some nursing sessions and are down to just one...the evening.  It's been a bittersweet transition for Mommy but you don't seem to even notice.  I'm not quite sure when we'll give it up all together but I'm just going with the flow at the moment.

•  I've been trying to teach you to wave and we practice in the mirror.  So now, you can do it but you only do it to yourself in the mirror!  Mommy screwed that one up big time.

•  I did teach you something, though.  How to shake!  Whenever you're holding your rattle or keys I say, "shake, shake, shake" and you do it!  Score one for Mommy!

•  We've started incorporating brushing your teeth into our routine at night.  You let me do it at first and I think it tickles you because you always laugh.  Then you get a try at it and do such a good job!

•  Books are your very favorite toy these days!  You love to read to yourself and babble in the car.  It's pretty much the cutest thing ever.  And you love to turn the pages when I'm reading to you.

Natalie, this has been the best year of my life.  You have made my life complete and I love you with my whole heart.  Being a mom has been the greatest blessing and I am so thankful God has blessed me with you, my sweet daughter.  

Love you to the moon and back little girl,

Mama

11 month post...almost a month late. Almost!!

Well, since you turn one year old on Sunday, Mama figured she'd better hurry up and get your 11 month post done.  Sorry for the delay sweet girl.  It's much more fun to play with you than to write about it.  But I'll try to be better!

Some highlights from this month:

• You have 6 teeth that have given you practically zero problems.  So thankful for that little one!

• Mama's still squeezing you into size 3 diapers even though you are definitely in a size 4.  I need to finish the package!

• Started cruising on the couch...you are super fast!  But you like to chew on the end tables and have left teeth marks on them.  Not cool little one.  Not cool.

• Super into reading books...okay really just looking at them and chewing on them...but you love them nonetheless

• Stood on your own for approximately 5 seconds!

• We've dropped an afternoon nursing session leaving us with just 3 total a day

• You had your first babysitter who even put you to bed and said you were great!  We love her.

• You've discovered door stoppers and are obsessed with them.  I was okay with this until you took off the top and put it in your mouth.  No way sweet girl.  Gone.

• Your daddy and I joke about your "path of destruction" you leave wherever you go.  He can always tell where you were when he gets home from work.  You're into everything you can get your hands on and put every miniscule thing on the floor into your mouth.  How you spot those specks of lint even the vacuum leaves I have no idea.

• You spent Thanksgiving in Indy with your family and finally met Mook the dog.  Boy you loved him!  You laughed and laughed when he licked you and it was the cutest thing. 

• Near the end of the month you saw Santa and were so nonchalant about the whole experience.  You just looked at him like, "What's up!?" and then continued to chew on Sophie.  Love it!

Clearly you're a fan of chewing.....

I love you so much sweet girl and it has been my joy to watch you grow these last 11 months.  I look forward to so many more celebrations of your achievements.  I cannot wait to see the little person you become.  

Love, Mama

10 Months!

Sweet girl, how in the world are you 10 months old?  I mean, in two months you will be a whole year!  I cannot believe you have been with us longer than you were in my belly.  You have changed our lives drastically for sure but have brought so much love into our world.  Your daddy and I are thankful for you every single day.

 

You spent a lot of this month fighting a runny nose.  It seemed as soon as we got it under control...back it came.  Although you've come to really hate Boogie Wipes, you really do handle the congestion like a champ.  We had a few rough nights but who can really blame you when you can't catch a breath?  Plus, more snuggles for me!

We took our very first lunch date together at Panera!  I'm not sure why we haven't done this before but we were out and about and I was hungry so I decided it was time.  It made me so happy to be out with you and think about how many more lunches we'll share as you get older.  Me and my daughter.  Insert heart swell. 

You made up a new game where you hold your little hands on your forehead and pretend I can't see you.  It's our own version of peek-a-boo.  I act like I can't find you anywhere and when you finally bring your hands down I say, "There she is!" and you get so excited.  We do this in your high chair all the time.  Speaking of your high chair, you're a good little eater but you're easily distracted.  With this game as well as trying to get the shadows on your tray from the spoon or your hands.  But you're eating three great meals a day including veggies, fruit, chicken, cheese, eggs, yogurt, and yummy muffins.  You're perhaps also tasted McDonald's french fries.  And a nugget.

You've learned how to get from sitting to crawling!  It took a little coaxing by your Grandad but once you figured out how to do it you wasted no time mastering it.  Now you're completely mobile.  I can't trust you anywhere!  And the hardwood doesn't even contain your crazy anymore as you are no longer staying on just the carpet.  Floor food is becoming an issue.  Do I really have to sweep every day?  Because that is jut not going to happen.

Your favorite place to be in the world is upside-down.  A smile is plastered on your face whenever you do it.  And once we start, you don't want to stop.  You fling yourself backwards and we really have to watch because it's pretty dangerous the way you fall backwards. 

A couple big events this month...your very first Halloween!  You were a ballerina and had several opportunities to wear your costume your Grandmer made you.  We went trick-or-treating with your besties and you did a good job of getting some candy for Mommy and Daddy.  We've also transitioned from using a bottle to a sippy cup.  You still haven't quite mastered tipping your head back to get at the milk, but you're drinking much better out of this than out of the bottle.  We replaced an afternoon nursing session with the sippy for a while but Mommy quickly realized her milk stash was going to run out so you're back on the boob for now.  But the sippy's there when we need it.

Although you can't yet pull up on things, when I stand you up on the furniture you are walking all over the place.  You get a lot of practice with your Leap Frog table as it moves on the carpet.  I'm so impressed at how well you are able to maneuver around the room.  I just know you'll be taking steps soon.  You're so brave!

You've pretty much given up going back to sleep after your morning nursing session which has actually turned into a good thing.  Your usual 30-45 minute morning nap is now a fairly consistent hour and a half.  Mommy thanks you!

You took one trip this month to Indiana for a wedding.  It was a quick trip...good thing because you were not such a fan of the hotel sleeping.  I'm sure our neighbors were not thrilled.  Weird how daddy's can sleep through it though, huh?

You had two friends come over this month to play whilst Mommy watched all of you.  Lucky for your Daddy, this bought him at least another year before a sibling will even be talked about.  You're enough work for now sweet cheeks.

I love you sweet girl.  I love your sweet little feet even though they smell like feet.  I love the fact that you are so happy in the mornings.  I love your happy kicky dance you do when you see me.  I love the smile you get on your face when Daddy comes home.  I love when I tell you no and you smile and do it anyways.  I just love you.  Love you to the moon and back my love.  

9 Months!

My sweet, growing girl.  Somehow you have been with us 9 whole months.  I can't believe you are that old, but at the same time it feels like you've always been here.  It's difficult for me to remember a time without your toothy grin.  It's like you were a part of me even before you were born.

Stats:
Length:  29 1/2 in. (97%)
Weight:  20 lbs. 1 oz. (75%)
Head:  17 3/8 in. (50%)

You've had quite the busy month as always!  Most notably, you've started clapping!  It's pretty much my new favorite thing.  Although you don't do it on command or even when you see other people clap.  We're learning quickly you are a girl who does what she wants when she wants it.  Your Daddy says you get this from me.  Hm. 

 

You've got four big chompers now, two bottom and two top teeth.  You're sporting quite the gap between the top teeth but we've been assured this is in fact a good thing to give your big girl teeth room to come in.  Mama sure does hope so!  Only the last top tooth gave you any trouble and you were really just fussy the day it was coming in.  I'd say so far we've been very lucky in the teething department.

 We put your swing and your infant carrier away this month.  And when I say away I mean they're sitting in front of the basement door in a stand off between your Mommy and Daddy as to who is going to take them downstairs.  Unfortunately, Daddy always wins so I'll be taking them down this week.  But I just cannot believe you are going through baby equipment so quickly!

 You were quite the traveler this month as you spent time in Nashville with Mommy's godparents, Gatlinburg with Daddy's extended family, and Indy for a week.  You rock out in your pack 'n play and just make it so easy on us when it comes to trips.  

You are incredibly sweet and in my unbiased opinion, the happiest baby I have ever seen.  You are always smiling!  I cannot take you anywhere without someone commenting about how darling you are or how good you are acting.  And you know what?  You're that way at home too.  We have our moments, sure.  But you only really get upset when you're sleepy.  And seriously, who can blame you for that?

 We've been working a lot on standing this month and you are taking real steps when we hold your hands.  You can also take a few steps by yourself along the couch when you want to get to something...like the remote!  You're not pulling up yet though and seem perfectly content to scoot on your belly in your weirdo army crawl forever.  You can get in a legit crawling position and rock back and forth, but then you just plop on your belly and scoot to what you want.  You'll get it someday goofball.

 You got your first cold this month, presumably on the flight to Nashville, and we had some rough nights.  You were very congested and woke up when you weren't able to breathe.  It took about two weeks for you to completely recover.  We went through Boogie Wipes like crazy in this house and your humidifier became your bestie for sure. 

Your new favorite toys are the CD's we have in a stand in the family room.  Whenever you're on the ground you go right for them.  You stop when I say, "Natalie!  No!  Those are not for babies!"  And then you smile at me.  And then you go right back to banging them together.  Like I said, you do what you want.

Your hair is growing like crazy!  I can't quite put it up though as you have a ton of hair on top and behind your ears...but none on the sides of your head.  Sometimes you twirl your hair behind your ears and pull on it because I think it's itching you!  I'll have to find some sort of clip that stays in your super fine hair.  I tried one day put you just took it out and ate it.  Per usual.

You've started holding your little arms up when I go to pick you up which I absolutely love.  It's like you're reaching for me.  And when you're excited you do what your Daddy and I like to call the "happy kicky dance" where you flail around in our arms and just smile.  You 'talk' quite a bit but are pretty quiet when you're around new people.  You've been letting other people hold you, though, very well and that makes me very happy. 

I finally got you to start eating three solid meals a day near the end of your 8th month.  You just were not into having lunch for some reason.  But now we're throwing in some finger foods and you're getting it.  The only food you can successfully feed yourself is Puffs, but we're working with fruits, cheeses, and chicken as well.  We've also added yogurt to your diet and some spices for your morning oatmeal. 

A big moment for us both this month...you spent a whole day away from Mommy.  We were apart from about 8 until 4 and you did just perfect!  You napped and ate for your grandparents and probably didn't miss me one bit.  I, on the other hand, called twice to check on you and missed you like crazy!  But it was a big step and one I'm hoping to make more often.  It's good for both of us.

And now for some outtakes, because you know each photo session is getting harder and harder...

I spent practically the whole time saying one of two things:  "Natalie, look at Mommy!"  or  "Natalie!  Get your fingers out of our your mouth!"