11 Months..Say What?!

Dear little miss Stella,

     This has been such an amazing month. I feel like our Momma- Daughter relationship has grown so much. You make me laugh every single day. I really cannot believe my little baby is going to be one next month. You've made this past year one of the best years ever. I tell you all the time but you are beautiful, smart, so loving, curious and you are definitely a girl who knows what she wants!  I am enjoying my time with you more than you will ever know. And no matter how big you grow, you will always be my sweet baby girl.

Love you to the moon and back,

Momma

xoxo

Weight: Not totally sure. We will find out in one month. If I had to guess, I would say somewhere around the 20 lb marker!

Height: 

Appetite: Your appetite is very much the same as last month but I would say has gotten better. We have changed our milk schedule a tad so you are taking in more whole foods. We still eat all three at the kitchen table. Many of the times, we have the same foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Lately your favorite foods have been pickles, yes pickles, nectarines, yogurt, pasta and still avocado! Your milk intake is some where between 12-16 ounces a day and you love love love water! You still are not much of a juice fan, much do enjoy sipping on my lemonade :) Water is drank throughout the day and especially with meals. We are still working on the milk in the sippy cup but it is definitely not as easy as I was hoping! When I said game on last month I should have meant it more! What a challenge this is. And how can I forget?!  You are drinking cows milk, no more formula! 

Clothing Size: You are in both 6-12 and12-18 month clothing. Some items are bigger on you than others. All of your pajamas are 12 months! Lastly, your shoes are still 3-6 months and are still wearing size 4 diapers!! Momma is getting excited for fall clothing! I always loved a baby in cute hats and puffer vest!

Milestones: I feel like so much has changed and you have learned so much. You are buzzing around incredibly fast in your walker, you are taking a few steps on your own to either daddy or I, you say momma, dada, nananana, and when you're tired you whine what sounds like night night. When you want something or see something you yell 'ABA' or 'Ah' as you point at it. You can identify so many things such as your toy lion, Momma's hair, your belly, Mickey and Minnie in your deck of cards, your Blankey,  your cup, your piggies and Ellie. I'm sure there are more that I am forgetting. You don't and probably will never crawl. But if you want something bad enough you will do something that looks like the army crawl, you scooch on your belly.  You can finally drink out of a straw!

Thoughts: Stella... I love you so so much. 

Our routine: Thank goodness that waking up at 6 AM crap only happens once in a while now. However, you are like clockwork. I swear there is an alarm clock in your room that goes off at 6:45 each morning. After you wake up I bring you down into our bed where we watch a cartoon and you enjoy your first morning milk bottle and sometimes a small cup of Cheerios and I enjoy my morning cup of Joe. Around 7:15 or so we make our way into the living room and play for a bit. We eat breakfast together anywhere between 7:30and 8 o'clock. After our breakfast we brush our teeth together and head out for a nice morning walk. Of course we skip the walk on rainy days.  Not long after our walk do you go down for her morning nap. You usually go down anywhere around 9:30 and sleep for an hour and a half. This is when we head out if we are going out for the day sometimes for lunch, or after lunch. We both eat lunch around noon. I love our lunch dates! You take your second and last nap in the afternoon anywhere between 2 and 3 and sleep for another hour and a half.  We have dinner at 6 and bath time follows. After your bath we have some special playtime with Daddy and off to bed at 7:30. Our bedtime routine has been great lately. We relax in your glider and you drink your milk cap for the night and off to bed when you are done. In between your naps and meals we play, play, play! 

Your favorites: Lately your favorites have been being chased around the house in your walker, going out for walks, anything Mickey or Minnie, tubby time, rolling around without a diaper, your Blankey, reading books, especially turning the pages in the books and walking while holding onto someone's hand.

Momma’s Favorites: Some of my favorites lately have been the cool mornings for our walks of course, anything pumpkin, our ice cream and lunch dates, all of the new fall scents out, planning your birthday party, having conversations with you while we are driving and being able to be home with you each and every day. 

Happy 11 months baby girl....
xoxo

9 Months

Happy 9 Months baby girl...

Dear Stella,

       You. You made me a Momma. You make me be the best me that I can be each and everyday. Watching you grow and learn lately is a miracle right in front of my eyes. It is amazing how you pick things up and your curiosity is just incredible. You are such a funny girl, with your latest noises, babbles and silly faces. You can be the most 'lovey dovey' gal I know. When you lean in to Daddy or I to give us a kiss without us asking, you just melt. our. hearts. You get in these kissy moods where all you want to do is keep giving kisses. Keep em' coming! You are beautiful in every way and words cannot express, write or say just how much you mean to Daddy and I. 

Love you to the moon and back.

Momma

Weight: 18.0 lbs

Height: 27.5 inches

Appetite: You have still been enjoying 3 meals a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your milk intake has stayed the same at about 28 ounces of milk a day. Your just milk times have stayed the same 11, 3, and 7:30 which is your bedtime bottle. You are still awaking once a night for that middle of the night feed. I don't mind you waking up because without that bottle your milk intake would be a bit shy of what it should be. You have always been a very small frequent eater. We have been trying new foods here and there and I have been at times giving you what Daddy and I have for dinner. Your food favorites haven't changed since last month. If I had to pick one food that would be your favorite, it would by far be avocado. And your favorite dinner combo lately is organic chicken breast, sweet potato, roasted red pepper and roasted zucchini. And anything that is on my plate!  You eat a mix of pureed foods and you also enjoy picking up your own diced up foods and feeding yourself. Your appetite is spot on some days and others it doesn't exist. 

Clothing Size: Besides cardigans and zip ups you are solely in 6-12 month clothing. Some items are bigger on you than others. All of your pajamas are 9 months now. Lastly, your shoes are 3-6 months and you are still wearing size 3 diapers! 

Milestones: Those two pearly whites on the bottom are just adorable. They make your smile beautiful, not that it wasn't before! You love standing up leaning on something by yourself especially your baby Einstein. You looove to give kisses. You are so much more aware and more observant these days. To watch you follow the bubbles that I blow and the birds flying in the sky is so neat. You can sit and play by yourself for quite some time. You are talking so much more. You are starting to move around a little more in your walker- watch out Ellie- she is coming for you! 

Outings: This month we have had quite a few lunch dates with Daddy, Nana and friends, we went to your cousin Kole's first birthday party, Daddy and I took you to round valley for a hike along the water and a picnic...

Thoughts: Stella..Love is blind because I started loving you before I ever saw your face. 

Our routine:  Our routine is very much the same as last month, and the month before. You still awake around 7ish (been 6:00 lately...too early!!). We have breakfast together shortly after you awake. Your first nap is around 8:30 a.m/9ish for about an hour. Your enjoy 4 ounces of milk around 11 a.m and we have lunch sometime between 12:30 and 1:00. You take an afternoon nap around 1:30/2:00. Milk again at 3:00. Your last evening nap is around 5:00, which is usually a short one if you take one at all. We all eat dinner at 6-6:30 p.m. Bath follows dinner and you have your last bottle right before bedtime which has been 8ish lately.  You still awake once during the night to be changed and eat- lately some time between 12:00 and 3:00 a.m. During the day we play, go for walks, play outside on your swing, run errands etc.. 

Nighttime has been a struggle. The nights where Daddy and I would place you in your crib and you wouldn't make a peep and you would drift off to sleep have come to a sudden halt. Some nights (on the good ones) you crank for a bit and eventually fall as sleep. But on most nights you cry and cry when we put you in your crib and want extra snuggles with Daddy or I. Daddy and I often take turns going up to your room to tell you everything is okay and there is no reason to cry. We are hoping this is just a phase...even though it has been what feels like a very loooong phase! 

Your favorites: You have found your hair! I feel like there is forever food in your hair now because you are always playing with it especially eating time. You love to run your fingers down your strands of hair. Some of your other favorites have been your V tech learn to walk,  going on walks, going for yogurt, reading books, wearing less clothes-always a bonus for me, less laundry!, you just love water these days and drinking out of your sippy cup, playing in your pool or tub and with the hose water, watching Momma blow bubbles, and being naked! 

Momma’s Favorites: I just love the age that you are at. We can do things together, go places, and interact on a whole new level. I love love love all the kisses that you give me, especially the ones that I don't even ask for. When you put your hands on my cheeks and pull my face toward yours- my heart skips a beat. I have also been enjoying homemade pureed veggie soups which I can share with you ( made a ginger curry carrot soup yesterday-so yummy), iced caramel macchiatos, I really do enjoy our food shopping trips together-you make them so much more enjoyable

Yes, that is a diaper on top of the sunroof. Too stinky for inside the truck. 

xoxo

8 Months

Dear Sweet Stella,

       The journey of motherhood has been more then what I dreamed it would be. You are truly a great baby and I am loving each and every day with you. You have grown in so many ways, and your sweet little heart loves so big. Your own personality is really starting to shine through and I love it more than words can say. You are smart, you are beautiful, you are humble, and you are playful. You have changed Daddy and I's life in such a way we never thought was possible. You will always be our baby, and our hearts will forever love you. The things we do together are the best parts of my days...I love watching you explore on your own, I love hugging you, I love telling you how much I love you, I love tucking you in knowing I will be here when you wake up, I love reading you stories, I love rocking with you in the glider and singing to you, I love how the song 'Some where over the Rainbow' makes you smile., I love that I can be goofy and silly with you, and I just heart that giggle like no other. You are incredibly special. Daddy and I believe in you and will always be your number one fans. Kisses and Hugs. 

Love you to the moon and back.

Momma

Weight: 

Height: 

Appetite: You have been enjoying 3 meals a day; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Your milk intake has stayed the same at about 28 ounces of milk a day. You are still nursing at 11 a.m., 3:00 p.m, 7:30 p.m and once during the night. The other two feedings you get in a bottle along with your breakfast and dinner. You are still a fruit fanatic (like me). Your breakfast always consists of 3-4 tablespoons of oatmeal mixed with pureed applesauce, pears and/or plums, served with a side of avocado. Avocado is one of your long time favorites. Every morning we split an avocado.  Lunch is always a small serving of small curd cottage cheese, half of an organic prunes pouch and a slice of whole grain bread. We have been squeezing prunes in twice a day- lunch and dinner. We try to help along those bowel movements. The bread is broken up into small pieces. You love picking up your own food and putting it into your mouth! This was such a great milestone for you!  You feed yourself your snacks, like melts, puffs, and shredded cheese. Dinner has gotten easier. We have introduced a few new foods to you. Lately your favorite combo is organic chicken breast pureed with 1 ounce of each- sweet potato, roasted red pepper, and roasted zucchini, (and a squirt of prunes). Your dinner gets heated up each night in a pan with a tablespoon on EVOO. You love to play in your food. When there is about 2 or 3 bites left I let you wiggle your fingers in the food. The look on your face is priceless. I can't complain about your eating at all...you are doing a great job! You also rock at drinking from your sippy cup. (You would drink an endless amount of water if we let you). No help from Daddy and I anymore. You got the tilt down pat! You love tippin your red solo sippy cup! --One day you will understand what I mean!

Clothing Size: Same as last month!! Nothing has changed in the clothing dept! We can still choose from either 3-6 months or 6-12 months. The only 3-6 month clothing that does not fit are the pants! That's because of those yummy thighs! We did bump up a size in diapers! Size 3 diapers baby! They are a wee bit big, but we didn't want to buy a huge box of 2's and not be able to use them all. 

Milestones: I feel like you have grown so much lately. You have two bottom teeth that are clearly visible!! Still no crawling...you have no desire. You still roll right over once put on your belly. Momma is not rushing it- take your time. You will sit and play by yourself on the floor with yours toys, you will reach as far as you can for a toy if you want it, but if you can't reach it you will settle for a toy that is reachable. To you no toy is worth the tumble forward yet. You say both Momma and Dada! We love it so much. When you say either, Daddy and I look at each other and just smile. You clap your hands together, when we say "Yay!". You can pick up your own food pieces and put them into your mouth. You drink out of your sippy cup with no help at all. Going shopping is much more fun in your shopping cart cover. And you graduated into your big girl car seat! 

Outings: This month we have had quite a few lunch dates with Daddy, Nana and friends, you were a participant in your first charity walk-March of Dimes, and we went on many walks into town and Clinton. Lastly, you had your first Memorial Day BBQ and went into a pool for the first time. We took a trip to Peddlers village for lunch and a stroll around the shops. 

Thoughts: Stella..I will let you be little, fill your heart with laughter, help you grow wings, nurture your sense of wonder, inspire you to believe, and love you like there is no tomorrow. 

Our routine:  Our routine is very much the same as last month, and the month before. You still awake around 7ish (been 6:45 lately, and 6:30 on the weekends!). We have breakfast together shortly after you awake. Your first nap is around 8:30 a.m/9ish for about an hour and a half. You nurse around 11 a.m and we have lunch sometime between 12:30 and 1:00. You take an afternoon nap around 1:30/2:00 (this nap, if any is usually the one that you give me a hard time with)  You nurse again at 3:00. Your last evening nap is around 5:00, which is usually a short one (about 45 min). We all eat dinner at 6:30 p.m. Bath follows dinner and you Nurse right before bedtime which is at 7:30 p.m. (lately it's been 8 p.m) You still awake once during the night to be changed and eat- lately some time between 12:00 and 3:00 a.m. During the day we play, go for walks, play outside on your swing, run errands etc.. 

There were a few nights this month that were pretty damn rough. You wanted nothing to do with your crib and would cry and were inconsolable. Daddy and I felt helpless. We would rock you, sing to you, cuddle you...nothing seemed to work. We blamed it on your teething, and being over tired. Makes me so sad to see you like this. 

You had your first fever of 102.6 this month. It only lasted 24 hours and there were no other symptoms. Teething?!

Your favorites: Some of your favorites lately have been bouncing in your Einstein, walks outside in your stroller, your blankey- you love covering your face with it when going to sleep, reading books and eating books, clapping, Mickey Mouse and Ella the Elephant- especially the songs, playing with your food, our frozen yogurt trips, Lazy lamb on the ipad, clapping, knocking over the egg cup towers that Daddy and I build for you, feeding yourself, water and chewing on your toothbrushes. You also love taking apart your wooden puzzles pieces and throwing them.  Daddy and I put them in and you take them out. 

Momma’s Favorites: Lately I have been loving our playtime, I feel like we actually play together, I love your reaction to books, I feel like that is a favorite that we share, my own gingerbread lattes, I enjoy one each morning when we eat breakfast together, dressing you in Summer clothing, your kisses, our frozen yogurt trips, enjoying cooking on the grill, our walks- especially when you talk in your stroller to yourself, your baby bird face, and being you Momma to an 8 month old. 

Pictures throughout the month....