14 months

MA is just getting too big. Height/weight will need to wait until next month when she goes to the Dr. She is still in 18 month clothes. She is now walking, well running really!

She talks SO much. MA knows the sounds of many animals, such as duck, cow, monkey, tiger, cat, dog, rooster. She also knows car sounds and the meaning of many words. We are still working on understanding 'no,' haha. She understands, but isn't too happy!

She was a bumble bee for Halloween and looooved it. She refused to take off her costume! We didn't go trick or treating, though, because MA was sick with a cold & fever. She loved all the kids, though. And, we made sugar cookies!

We go back to the Dr. 12/13 for a 15 month check up. Then, to a specialty hospital to look at her finger on 12/19. I pray they just want to monitor it, or do physical therapy. Surgery scares the crap out of me.

Funny first: poop in the tub. 'What's that?' as MA picks her poop up in the tub!! Eww!!

1 Year!!

So, I have lots of catching up to do. Life just got in our way. Once MA started rolling and moving, we were having way too much fun playing to sit down and write everything. But, we hit the huge milestone of 1 year, and I wanted to jot some things down so that I remember them.

So, let's work backwards...
At our last Dr's appointment on 9/13/12, MA was 21 lbs. 7 oz. and 28 1/4". She was in the 74th percentile in weight and 24th in height. We were told that we needed to do a referral to Shriner's Hospital in Springfield, MA in order to get her finger looked at and decifer if it is truly a trigger finger. Her Dr's appointment before that was in June, where she was 20 lbs 1 oz and 27."
Since then, she has taken a total of 11 steps in a row. Not yet walking independently, but definitely getting there. She needs some security, like she will walk the entire length of our home if she is holding your one hand. We are up to 6 teeth: 4 on top and 2 on bottom. She got her first tooth on 4/15 at 7 months old. She took her first steps on 9/3/12, where she did 3 steps in a row.

My last blog left off at 4 months. Since then - MA breezed through rice cereal and solid foods. She loves her food. Carrots gave her a tough time at first. She loved them but her belly did not. At about 6 months, we introduced finger foods, such as the little puffs that she can eat, and teething biscuits. So far *fingers crossed* no allergies. She did have a reaction to something in the Gerber yogurts that do not need to be refrigerated, so we are careful with that kind of stuff.

Of course MA's first "word" was "dada," which she said while we were on a vacation to Delaware to visit her grandparents in March before I went back to work, just shy of 6 months. Since then, she just does not shut up. Today, we are up to several actual words, such as "I did it," "what's that," "baby," "daddy," "dad," "dog," and unfortunately "shit." It definitely sounds like she makes sentences. Like, today it sounded like "did you see that?" and "are you kidding?" I think she is just repeating sounds that she hears but it is just so cute. She also knows "three" if you say, "one, two..." then she will yell "three." Sounds more like "eee."

She is also singing a lot - any sort of music comes on and she tries to sing along and bounces her booty along to the music! Her bedtime lullaby is "Hush Little Baby."

MA went to her first beach at 9 1/2 months old. She got around by crab walking on the sand because she didn't like the feel of it on her knees. She loved the water, though, and has been a waterbug ever since.  She went into her first pool at 11 months and cried when we had to get out!

MA started crawling at 8 1/2 months and pulling herself up soon after. She sat up by herself at 6 months old.

February: 5 Months

March: 6 Months

April: 7 Months

May: 8 Months

June: 9 Months

July: 10 Months

August: 11 Months

September: 1 Year! Taken at MA's birthday party.

4 Months!

(This was written on 1/13/2012.)

This past month flew by and MA has changed so much. We went to the doctor yesterday and she is 14 lbs. 8 oz. and 24 3/4 inches! The doctor said she is slightly above average in height and slightly below average in weight. She is almost sitting up by herself and can sit up no problem with just a little support. Still no luck on the rolling front, but we are getting there!

She does so well in her exersaucer and does not need any help sitting. She even got the hang of jumping in it! She now completely reaches for objects and grabs them. She is also very much teething: drooling constantly, chewing on everything, etc.
Another milestone is that we started rice cereal today with MA. She loved it! It was a little messy but I think she is really going to love her food. We've heard some good giggles at this point, also.

Still waiting to see her do some rolling!! Here are some snapshots from the past month:

MA, 1-5-2012

MA, 1-2-2012

MA, 12-29-2011

MA, 12-24-2011

MA, 12-22-2011

MA, 12-22-2011

13 Weeks - 3 months!

MA turned 3 months old this Monday! She graduated from a newborn to an infant and she is truly showing it this week! Santa came early and brought her an Exersaucer. She's a little wobbly, but does awesome otherwise. She JUST reaches the bottom, so it will probably just get better in the next couple of weeks.

She also seems to be going through a growth spurt this week and upped her intake to 6 oz. bottles.  We are now weaned from the boob and strictly on formula. If I wasn't going back to work it may be different; though, I'm not sure how I'd feel about nursing a teething infant, either!

Another milestone is that we heard MA's first laugh Tuesday night! I am so glad that both MJ and my Mom were also here to hear it! MA is just the most awesome baby and continues to amaze me each day.

I may move to updating this monthly, as MA gets older... Until then, here she is!

MA, 13 Weeks

12 Weeks

MA has been working hard at grabbing for things this week. We started reading the "touch and feel" books and she was touching the fabric inside of them and laughing. She also fell in love with this stupid little worm that hangs above her swing. She is very excited now that she can hold him, so he pretty much goes with her! She seems to be getting much better control of her hands, which is good, because making her wear mittens in the nighttime is getting old!

She is also sitting up so much better in her Bumbo seat. She doesn't need anything around her to help her in it and really seems pretty steady in it. I wouldn't leave her in it and walk away by any means, but she doesn't need constant hands-on to enjoy it.

She also discovered that there are things (fish) on her mat that she does tummy time on so she tries to get them. I really think she has just blossomed this past week and is doing so much more. Maybe it's because she decided that she is a big girl and doesn't need naps anymore! We are lucky if we get a total of 2 hours a day in naps, and they are usually broken up into 30 minute cat naps. But, she is sleeping great at night, so I won't complain - as long as she doesn't get cranky!

We are enjoying the Christmas movies that have been on tv, since she has found a love for that! She also likes yelling at us and finding her voice. She "talks" up a storm! I can't believe she is going to be 3 months old soon! She's transformed from a newborn to a real, interactive baby! It's so funny. I am hoping she starts laughing soon - I can't wait for that!

MA, 11 Weeks Old

11 Weeks

Yesterday MJ weighed himself and then weighed MA with him and came up with 13 lbs 6 oz! Our little girl is getting so big. She is reaching for things more and sometimes actually gets them now. She smiles so hard and is so close to those giggles, but we haven't heard them yet.

She is still doing awesome in the crib at night. She usually goes in it between 8-9pm and will wake up once throughout the night, then be up for the day around 7am. I really can't complain about that! We are still working on the naps during the day though. She will get pretty cranky after being up for more than 2 hours, but has started fighting her sleep. She sleeps great if we are in the car, or if we are in a restaurant in her car seat... but struggles napping at home. We've tried the swing, the bouncer chair and the crib. The most luck we've had is with the swing but it's usually 20-30 minute cat naps. I truly don't mind her being up during the day, but when she gets cranky - she gets cranky!

We decorated for Christmas this week and MA really loved watching all the decorations go up. I can't wait until she is able to help decorate the tree. She loves just looking at the lights of the tree and listening to our singing Santas.

MA, 11 Weeks

10 Weeks (last week's post)

MA has been exploring more of her environment each day. It seems, though, that she is now fighting her sleep because she wants to see everything in the world. And that makes a pretty cranky baby by the end of the day!

This week she discovered her feet and has begun reaching towards them. It is amazing to watch her as she discovers new objects around her. She loves anything that plays music or has flashing lights and oh my goodness does she love her TV.

She has been doing awesome in the crib, still, and I am so glad. At least I know that if she is cranky throughout the day, that she will at least sleep the majority of the night in her crib. MA is an awesome baby and I am so lucky to have her.

She is starting to reach for things and by the end of the week was holding items that were put in her hand. Everyday is a new day to grow for her!

MA, 10 Weeks