Watch Emma Grow - Month Twelve

Hi all.....sorry this is SO late. The month of July has just been absolutely crazy! That doesn't mean that I shouldn't round out Emma's first year with the last update. Can I just say that I cannot believe what an amazing year this has been. It is bittersweet to watch my baby turn into a toddler, but she becomes more and more fun with each passing day. Her beautiful smile, her laugh, her tiny voice....I fall more in love everyday!

She's become very inquisitive and loves looking into cabinets and pulling things out of them. Particularly the linen and tupperware cabinets. Those are the most fun. She also loves to pull the books and toys off her bookcase and spread them all over her room. Anything that has items in it, she has to pull the items out completely. It's pretty funny, but she leaves a mess in her wake! Lol.

She got really good at standing, so much so that she took her first official steps the day of her birthday party. Daddy and I were so excited, and now she barely crawls. We walk EVERYWHERE. She wants to do everything herself and gets upset when you try to do it for her. A very strong willed and independent child.

She loved helping with all the planning for her birthday and wanted to play with the firecrackers every chance she could. She tries to wave and loves giving open mouthed kisses, and I love getting them! Drooly drooly. We have a total of 10 teeth....man those molar are a buggar! I feel so bad when I know she's teething because I know she's uncomfortable. She's a snuggle bunny when she doesn't feel well and that's the only time. Other than that she is super busy busy. Always doing something.

She's a great eater and loves trying new things. We learned a few months back that we cannot put any type of fruit in front of her if we actually want her to eat her food. She will demolish the fruit and leave everything else. She still likes her veggies, but bring on the berries and the melons and she's all about it. She also loves melted cheeses (quesadillas, grilled cheese, mac n cheese, pizza) and pasta. She must be my daughter! She's not a big meat eater though. I try to get her to take a couple of bites before I let her move onto other things.

Sleep has been better, unless she's teething. Most nights we get a big chunk from 10pm to 3-4am. Then it's up and down for the remainder of the night. What will I do with myself when I sleep a full 8 hour chunk?! Be over-tired probably. My body is used to the broken sleep now! Hehe.

She's our whole world and I couldn't imagine my life without her! My precious girl who fills my heart with such joy. I love my lil birdie!

12 Month Well Check Stats
Weight: 18 lbs 15 oz (30%)
Height: 29.5" (62%)
Head: 18.5" (93%)

9 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 17 lbs 3 ozs (30%)
Height: 27" (24%)
Head: 17.5" (60%)


Milestones to date:
Bringing her home: July 2nd (1 day old)
First Bath: July 4th (3 days old)
First Holiday: Independence Day (3 days old)
Held Up Head: July 11th (1 week old)
Lost Belly Button: (8 days old) First Walk (2 weeks old)
First Smile: July 27th (3 weeks old)
First Trip: Lake Tahoe/Carson City (5 weeks old)
Found her hands: (6 weeks old)
First Swim: (6 Weeks old)
Laughed Out Loud: Sept 25th (12 Weeks Old)
Rolled Over: October 28th (3 Months Old)
Found Her Feet: November 2nd (4 Months Old)
First Teeth: December 3rd (5 Months Old)
Crawled: (Army: January 16th - 6 mo; Normal: March 17th - 8 mo)
Sat on her own: January 7th (6 Months Old)
Ate Solid Foods: January 7th (6 Months Old)
First Vacation: Florida March 9th (8 Months Old)
Stood on her own: March 8th (8 Months Old)
First Steps: June 28 (11 Months Old)

And for the monthly photo dump!

Daddy, where's the credit cards?

Makeshift highchair

First Birthday banner!

Happy Father's Day Daddy!

Walks with the family!

Our big 1 year old!

Watch Emma Grow - Month Eleven

Back to my old tricks of getting posts out late, but two in one week! Praise the lord! Yea I know.....this whole blogging thing has taken a back seat to the mommy/working thing so my time is limited. We have been having such fun with lil miss though it's worth it. I have so many posts I want to write, yet the time passes by. Have any momma's found those extra hours yet?

Lets get down to why your here. To hear about miss Emma's 11th month of life in this crazy world. So much happened in May that its kind of a blur. Emma was baptized in the Catholic faith at the beginning of the month, she helped celebrate her Auntie's graduation from Vet school, we went to the zoo, we celebrated Mother's Day and had a ton of craft projects and naps and snuggles along the way. Her baptism was so beautiful and was a great day, I will have to do another post just on that. We also went to the local strawberry festival and took our first trip to the beach.

She's become quite the social butterfly. Loves to chatter up a storm and dance with her toys. I think it's the cutest thing when she babbles on. She's getting really good at standing up on things and holding her balance and she's really quick to walk along furniture. Blitz speed on the crawling also. One second shes one place and I blink and she's in a whole other location. Still not yet walking but it's coming up really soon!

Speaking of the social butterfly...we have deemed her first word to be dog. It doesn't quite sound completely correct, but we know she saying dog, mostly because she sees and points to the dog. It's so cute to see how excited she gets to see familiar people, especially mommy and daddy. I makes my heart swell to know how much she loves us. She also loves to give open mouth kisses. A slobbery wet kiss is all good when it comes from your loving baby!

She cut another two teeth so we now have a total of 8 out of the 20 baby teeth we will get. At her 9 month appointment, her pediatrician said she was cutting molars and she's been pretty irritated with those bad boys. I wonder when they will make an appearance.

She loves to sort. Toys, blocks, anything. Sort sort sort. Playing with the pots, pans, tupperware etc. is the most fun thing ever! I think we need to get her a child set of pots and pans so I don't have to constantly be washing my dishes! Lol

9 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 17 lbs 3 ozs (30%)
Height: 27" (24%)
Head: 17.5" (60%)

6 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 14 lbs 7 ozs (20%)
Height: 25.5" (38%)
Head: 17.25" (84%)
Updated weight: 15lbs (24%)

Eat: Emma has loved everything we have put in front of her for the most part. She especially loves pasta and fruit. Any and all fruit. Veggie's are good too, but FRUIT! Same eating schedule as last month...she breastfeeds in the morning, then eats solids and either the breast or a bottle before her nap, has lunch and breast/bottle, then another a snack and the breast/bottle after her second nap, dinner with us before her bath. Then she nurses to sleep and through the night. If she seems hungry she gets either a snack or the breast/bottle whenever she wants. I try to get her to eat as often as possible because of how active she is becoming.

Sleep: On and off. Most nights we get a stretch from 10-11pm til around 3am which means mom gets a good chunk of sleep also!

Diapers: Size three's.

Milestones to date:
Bringing her home: July 2nd (1 day old)
First Bath: July 4th (3 days old)
First Holiday: Independence Day (3 days old)
Held Up Head: July 11th (1 week old)
Lost Belly Button: (8 days old) First Walk (2 weeks old)
First Smile: July 27th (3 weeks old)
First Trip: Lake Tahoe/Carson City (5 weeks old)
Found her hands: (6 weeks old)
First Swim: (6 Weeks old)
Laughed Out Loud: Sept 25th (12 Weeks Old)
Rolled Over: October 28th (3 Months Old)
Found Her Feet: November 2nd (4 Months Old)
First Teeth: December 3rd (5 Months Old)
Crawled: (Army: January 16th - 6 mo; Normal: March 17th - 8 mo)
Sat on her own: January 7th (6 Months Old)
Ate Solid Foods: January 7th (6 Months Old)
First Vacation: Florida March 9th (8 Months Old)
Stood on her own: March 8th (8 Months Old)

And for the monthly photo dump!

Being Baptized

With Auntie/Godmommy!

Strawberry Festival Stuffed Strawberry

Family Time at the beach!

Baby toes in the sand for the first time

Balloons are fun with cousins!

Toys galore and were going to play with a makeup bag.

First birthday photo shoot (for the invitations)

Water bottles are so FUN!

As are tupperware!

Psh...standing is easy mom!

Yummy Quesadilla!

I love those blue peepers!

Fun time at the LA Zoo!

Watch Emma Grow - Month Ten

Hi ho there! I made it just in the first half of the month! Go me! Life this month wasn't too hectic, but I say that and look back and realize just how much we actually did! We celebrated her first Easter, but other than that it has been life as usual.

This months big thing was practicing standing. She stands up with the assistance of anything. Then she started to let go. Only for a couple of seconds and then longer and longer. I feel like she is going to walk very soon. She's in major exploratory mode. Crawling into and under everything. Loves to play with shoes (ew! I catch her quickly and redirect) and also loves to crawl over to the case of water and pull them out.

She loves the dogs in her life. I mean, so excited and bangs on the door to get their attention if they are outside. She has started to call out to them, either "buh" and points as Shelby walks by or she says "duh" and I am taking that as dog. When we ask where Shelby is, she looks for her. However she is not fond of the face licking or when Shelby hits her in the face with her tail.....it's ok mommy doesn't like that either. Her favorite times of day are still morning time/play time and bath time with daddy. She HATES getting dressed. Too much to do and see, "ain't nobody got time" to get dressed.

She started the stranger anxiety this month also. People she doesn't know well are a no go. She clings to the hubby or myself in fear. Poor little thing. She also has a mild case when I reintroduce a new toy that has eyes. She gets a little scared, but then realizes that its a toy and grabs it and hugs it. She's so sweet. Her favorite toys are stacking blocks, and books. She loves to look at the books, but not sit and read just yet. and when mommy tries to stack up the blocks she knocks them over before I am done.

She definitely recognizes daddy and myself and gets so excited when we pick her up after work. She throws her arms excitedly up and down and then crawls over to my lap and gives me her version of a hug....face buried into my shoulder. I love it so much! She went to her first friends birthday party, the Large Cat reserve and mommy got her act together and got her birth announcement posted in the paper. I guess it was a big month! Lol

9 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 17 lbs 3 ozs (30%)
Height: 27" (24%)
Head: 17.5" (60%)

6 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 14 lbs 7 ozs (20%)
Height: 25.5" (38%)
Head: 17.25" (84%)
Updated weight: 15lbs (24%)

Eat: Here's her new eating schedule, since our pediatrician gave us the big food go ahead. She can eat everything except nuts and honey. Seriously, this child has loved everything we have put in front of her minus zucchini. She especially loves pasta and cheerios. Anything that she can feed to herself is a plus! Here's her eating schedule....she breastfeeds in the morning, then eats solids and either the breast or a bottle before her nap, has lunch and a bottle, then another a snack and the breast/bottle after her second nap, dinner with us before her bath. Then she nurses to sleep and through the night. If she seems hungry she gets either a snack or the breast/bottle whenever she wants. I try to get her to eat as often as possible because of how active she is becoming.

Sleep: I haven't even tried with the transitioning. As long as we are all sleeping, I don't mind her in our bed or if she wakes. As long as she's happy and healthy that's all that matters to me.

Diapers: Size three's. The Huggies little movers are good for crawling, but I still love my Pampers Little Snugglers.

Milestones to date:
Bringing her home: July 2nd (1 day old)
First Bath: July 4th (3 days old)
First Holiday: Independence Day (3 days old)
Held Up Head: July 11th (1 week old)
Lost Belly Button: (8 days old) First Walk (2 weeks old)
First Smile: July 27th (3 weeks old)
First Trip: Lake Tahoe/Carson City (5 weeks old)
Found her hands: (6 weeks old)
First Swim: (6 Weeks old)
Laughed Out Loud: Sept 25th (12 Weeks Old)
Rolled Over: October 28th (3 Months Old)
Found Her Feet: November 2nd (4 Months Old)
First Teeth: December 3rd (5 Months Old)
Crawled: (Army: January 16th - 6 mo; Normal: March 17th - 8 mo)
Sat on her own: January 7th (6 Months Old)
Ate Solid Foods: January 7th (6 Months Old)
First Vacation: Florida March 9th (8 Months Old)
Stood on her own: March 8th (8 Months Old)

And for the monthly photo dump!

Crinkle Nose!

Messy Moo!

Rocking out to her piano

Pinata's are COOL!

My little "My Little Pony"

Tigers and peacocks at the Cat reserve

Laundry baskets are fun

Ill take the filet please!

Watch Emma Grow - Month Nine

I have been really behind this month. It's been crazy because I have been planning Emma's baptism and just trying to enjoy every free moment I have with her because she is really growing up WAY too fast. This month was huge as far as development goes.

The biggest thing that we did was we went on our first real vacation and our first flight to visit her Grandma Lady in Florida. It was jam packed and I still need to do a post all on that! She had so much fun and met all her Florida family. It was a great time!

Before we left for Florida she started pulling herself into a standing position. Just out of nowhere, here she is standing! She's so strong that she's been able to stand without assistance, but not confident. Since she figured out how to stand up, she also figured out how to crawl on her hands and knees. Before she was just army crawling on her tummy, but now shes on the move! She will crawl out of her room and look for me if I leave to use the restroom or to get something really quick. We think she will definitely be walking by her first birthday.

Due to all this movement, we had to retire the co-sleeper and put her crib in our room. We tried a couple of nights in her room, but it didn't really fly. So we have her crib in our room and at least try to put her in it for a portion of the night. She still wakes to night nurse so most of the time she still sleeps with us. But I am trying.....I promise.

She cut two more teeth also. Her central incisors. That makes six in four months! Over-achiever? Maybe. She loves to talk and sing. Always babbling along, like any normal girl. I love listening to it, and always answer back and try to have conversations. I have been bad about reading to her, but she's in the stage of wanting to eat the books instead of sitting with me and looking at the photos. I try to point things out when I get an opportunity, before she grabs the book and tries to take a bite. Haha. We sing the alphabet and count things, and I point out the colors of everything. She loves watching her "movies" also. I let her watch one Baby Einstein in her jumper every otherish day. She hears that song and instant smile. She will watch the entire 30 minute episode!

9 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 17 lbs 3 ozs (30%)
Height: 27" (24%)
Head: 17.5" (60%)

6 Month Well Check Stats:
Weight: 14 lbs 7 ozs (20%)
Height: 25.5" (38%)
Head: 17.25" (84%)
Updated weight: 15lbs (24%)

Eat: We are on the same eating schedule, but we keep introducing more foods. We have tried lots of fruits and veggies, a little pasta and rice, some cheese and as always oatmeal is a staple. She breastfeeds in the morning, then eats solids and either the breast or a bottle after her nap, has a snack and the breast/bottle after her second nap, dinner with us before her bath. Then she nurses to sleep and through the night. If she seems hungry she gets either a snack or the breast/bottle whenever she wants. I try to get her to eat as often as possible because of how active she is becoming.

Sleep: Still not sleeping through the night, but I am ok with it. Not every child does as I have read. We bond in those nighttime feeds and I love it. Most nights she co-sleeps with us so she gets that bonding time with us. As I said above we are trying to transition, but I do not want to do the CIO method, so any advice is welcomed.

Diapers: Size three's. The Huggies little movers are good for crawling, but I still love my Pampers Little Snugglers.

Milestones to date:
Bringing her home: July 2nd (1 day old)
First Bath: July 4th (3 days old)
First Holiday: Independence Day (3 days old)
Held Up Head: July 11th (1 week old)
Lost Belly Button: (8 days old) First Walk (2 weeks old)
First Smile: July 27th (3 weeks old)
First Trip: Lake Tahoe/Carson City (5 weeks old)
Found her hands: (6 weeks old)
First Swim: (6 Weeks old)
Laughed Out Loud: Sept 25th (12 Weeks Old)
Rolled Over: October 28th (3 Months Old)
Found Her Feet: November 2nd (4 Months Old)
First Teeth: December 3rd (5 Months Old)
Crawled: (Army: January 16th - 6 mo; Normal: March 17th - 8 mo)
Sat on her own: January 7th (6 Months Old)
Ate Solid Foods: January 7th (6 Months Old)
First Vacation: Florida March 9th (8 Months Old)
Stood on her own: March 8th (8 Months Old)

And for the monthly photo dump!

Loves her exersaucer at grandmas

Big bow, don't care!

Measuring spoons are yummy at G.G.'s

First time in the airport, watching the planes

In the cockpit of our first airplane!

Meeting Grandpa Bobby

And Great Grammy

There's too much commotion to eat mom!

Lunchtime with Daddy

She loved the swing.....I promise!

Boyfriends galore!

Crib in our room, mommy has a hard time getting in and out.

New dress made by grandma's best friend

Family walks