Maggie turns THREE!

I haven't always been the best at sharing these monthly photos on the blog, but I have remembered to take one every single month. And Sissy, this month you are THREE YEARS OLD!

At three years old you:

• are weighing in at 26.2lbs and 35.5 inches tall
• are wearing 2T pants, 3T shirts and a size 7/8 shoe
• are sleeping in a twin bed, with no rails/sides, in your room and sleeping straight through the night without waking. (which you've been doing for awhile now)
• love to color, draw, cut and paint. 
• are becoming obsessed with Lalaloopsies and My Little Pony, as well as Batgirl, Wonderwoman and Catwoman 
• love the color pink, your favorite food is salad and you have to pick out your own shoes or an epic tantrum will follow. 

Happy Birthday Sissy! We spent the day at the boardwalk and went to dinner, then came home to eat cupcakes. You will have your party when we are in Kansas in two weeks!

Milestone memories

Sissy you are now 2.5 years old, I can barely believe it!

You are:

• very much coming out of your shell, developing more and more character and somewhat of a wild one! 
• loving Minnie Mouse, anything girly like princesses and dolls, My Little Pony, candy and playing with your brothers. 
• Your speech is improving though baby talk still gets you far, especially with your oldest brother. You have started to sing more and more.
• completely potty trained, staying dry at night and have started to pick out your own outfits. 
• now sleeping in a twin bed, and you sleep the entire night through all by yourself.

The morning of your half birthday, we left for PARIS so it's sometimes hard to believe all the places you have been at your young age.

I never got your 29 month picture posted, but I did take one...

28 Months old....

Sissy, you sure are getting big! Not much has changed since last month, you do seem taller and you're definitely talking more and I feel like everyday I think ''She is getting SO big.'' ♥

Right now you:

• weigh 23lbs and you are 35 inches tall. You were 33.5 at your 2 year check up. Half a pound and an inch and a half in height is just four months
• usually pick out your own clothes...I try to reason with you but some days you just need to wear purple boots with a pink and black dress, I guess.
• you are talking more and more and singing. You {attempt} to sing everything. ABC's, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Bringing home a baby bumblebee and then "We are Young" by Fun. (hey, I can't listen to kids' music all the time).
• are able to sit still for much longer. I can french braid your hair into two braids and you don't squirm all over anymore. 
• love to watch and help me cook/bake. You are my little helper!

Sissy at 2 years and 3 months you are...

• talking more and more. Saying things like ''Connor is mean'' or ''Stop it!" to your brothers, telling me ''Night Night Mommy, Love you" at bedtime or screaming ''NANNY" when you hear me on the computer talking to Nanaw.
• becoming more independent. We hear a lot of ''Me do!" or "I yelp{help}". You can put your undies, pants, and boots on all by yourself, as well as take them off. You can zip and unzip your jacket and when getting buckled into your carseat, you buckle the top all by yourself as well.
• eating better. You've recently decided that you like ranch dip so carrot sticks and celery are sure eats for you. You love milk, cheese, yogurt. You can dispense water into your own cup using our Culligan water tank and you love to eat noodles using training chopsticks. Favorite foods right now are: Lucky Charms, pretzels, baby carrots, clementines, chocolate milk and breakfast food.
• you are now jumping, with both feet actually leaving the ground. This amuses you immensely and you often jump wherever you are going in the house. 
• haven't grown much in the last three months, you still weigh in at 22.5lbs. Your 2T clothes fit better though, so I'm guessing you have grown in height!
• are slowly phasing out of your afternoon nap. Only about every other day do you actually sleep but you'll lay in bed for about an hour each afternoon either looking at books or playing your Leapster. 

26 months...

Well Sissy you are now 26 months.  While I never really thought about when I would stop doing these monthly updates, it seems crazy that I've now done 26 of them! I think once you hit 3 I will stop. I feel like right now (and up until now) you are learning and doing so much, so quickly and it's going to be nice to look back and remember when you started to do certain things. You change in looks a little bit each month and I think it's neat to see those changes little changes add up to the years...

 I really feel like what a child looks like at three is pretty much what they're going to look like their whole life, so I have decided for now, to keep going. So at 26 months you are:

• COMPLETELY POTTY TRAINED! WooHoo!! You were hands down the easiest kid to train as I didn't train you. You've had a potty a the house for months, which you occasional sat on. At daycare, once you turn 2 they start taking you to the potty before your diaper change. You saw your 3 year old friend use the potty and wanted to be a 'Big Girl' like D....so you did. You started holding it all night, peeing on the potty first thing when you woke up and then using it all day, staying dry. During naps, overnight, while out in public...you stay dry. You will tell me, Daddy, the daycare teachers ''I go pee pee in potty" and you can hold it for awhile until we get to the nearest one. This started the Tuesday the Sunday the 25th and I'll calling it today, "You are potty trained'' when you pooped in the real potty for the first time. It's crazy to think I don't need to buy diapers anymore. You never went through a whole package of pull ups (though I will probably use out the pack and keep one on you at night just in case). 
•  infatuated with babies. Dolls, real babies, babies in catalogs, pictures of babies. You love them.
• weighing 22.5lbs, wearing mostly 2T stuff (pants I have to roll the waist or take in the seam), and size 6 shoes.
• love wearing dresses and bows. Sit mostly still while I do your hair (usually in pig tails).
• are talking more often and clearer than you were even a month ago. You're turning in to quite the little parrot!
• still happily sleeping in your crib. All of your brothers were in toddler beds or a twin bed by this age but you love your crib. You have never once tried to climb out. You wake in the morning and yell ''Mommy? I uppy!" and we get you out.

And that's what you're up to at 26 months!

24 months later...

Happy 2nd Birthday Sissy!!

I know every single month I say " I can't believe you're..." but I really mean it this time. When did my tiny baby turn into a little girl? You are growing up so quickly! I know part of it is life is hectic, we're living in a foreign country and I have 3 other kids to take care of as well, but it seems like your age just kinda creeped up on me. Personally I think you are the *cutest* two year old little girl that I have ever seen, but I love being able to look back and compare to last year and see just how much you grew...

Well, to be fair you didn't grow too much. You are older, wiser, more capable of doing things, more independent, taller and much more personable...but not much bigger. 

Last year, you wore a size 4 shoe...now you're in a size 6.

Last year, you wore a size 4 diaper...not you're in a 3.

Last year, you weighed 18lbs 5oz and were 29.25 inches in length...now you are 22.5 lbs and 33.5 inches in length.

You are at an age where your primary focus is just having fun. You know how to run/walk/climb/dance/hop and now you just want to spend all day doing that! You love to listen to music and dance. Doesn't matter if we're in the car or at home, you love to shake your little body all around and do so with a huge smile on your face. You're a daredevil and a spitfire and you don't seem to be afraid of anything. 

You still don't talk much. I'm not sure if you can't or if you simply don't need to. One day I really worry about it (the lack of understandable speech) and the next day you're yelling ''MOM! Where are you?" while wandering the house looking. I really think that with 3 brothers and 2 parents who are used to raising small kids, you just really don't need to say much....we simply do it/get it before you say a word. 

It is very obvious that you are a little girl who has three big brothers. While you love taking care of your "babies", feeding them and laying them down for naps, etc...you also love to play with Batman. You love legos and cars as much as you love your toy kitchen and dolls. You don't have a tea set or a doll house yet, so I can't say how much you like ''girl toys'' as you've never really tried. You're content with Lightning McQueen and a baby stroller.

Today we celebrated with dinner and cupcakes and you opened two presents. Your party will be on the 14th and I'll update again afterward.

We love you so much Sissy, I can't even imagine what life would be like without you. Happy Birthday my Maggie Moo :)

My computer is fixed and, Sissy is 23 months old!!

My computer parts arrived just in time for Sissy's monthly photos. This month Sissy is now 23 months old! At 23 months you.....

• weigh 20.5 lbs, wears a size 18mos clothing, a size 6 shoe and a size 3 in diapers. You seem to get taller and taller each day. Right now you are 33 inches tall. At a year old, you were 29inches...you grew 4 inches in 11 months but only gained 2 pounds. No wonder you went from a size 4 diaper, back to a size 3...you lost what little bit of chubby you had! And shopping for you is difficult...Waist wise you can fit into 9 and 12 month stuff, but lengthwise you need 18mos if not 24 months. Hence why you wear a LOT of skirts, leggings and dresses; jeans are hard to fit. 
• enjoy the freedom of walking at the store now. You rarely sit in the cart, you'd rather hold on to the side and walk with me. Most of the time you do great!
• finally, after 23 loooooong months, you quit breastfeeding! I was surprised at how easily you were able to stop; you saw a friend nurse her newborn baby and said ''boobies for babies?" and I said ''Yep, boobie milk is for babies. Big girls drink milk in a cup" and ever since then, you've given it up!
• are learning your colors. So far you can say and identify: yellow, blue, pink, purple and green. 
• love to dress yourself. You can pull on/take off diaper covers, underwear and pants by yourself. You can take dresses off but not on.
• love to draw. You can draw straight lines as well as circles and when asked to draw one, you do so correctly.
• clear your own plate after dinner. You'll even throw your napkin in the trash, dump the food in the specific bin (we have to seperate ''humid'' waste) and put your plate in the sink. 

You really are turning into such a big girl and no longer our little baby, it's a mixed blessing!

Sissy is 22 months old!

Sissy this is the first time I have forgotten to take your monthly pictures on the fourth; we were in Germany and I completely forgot until we returned home and I realized it was the fifth already. Time is flying by! At 22 months you....

• are finally weaning. You're down to nursing just one time, about every other day! I think once your brothers start school and our routine changes, you'll be done all together. 
• use your silverware correctly and without being reminded (most of the time). 
• know all of your body parts; including tricky ones like ankle and elbow.
• love to play pretend. In your playhouse, with your kitchen or with your dolls you will bring me a 'ringing' phone, you will make your brothers eat the cookies you 'baked'. You will meow like a cat and crawl around or run real fast like a car. 
• are moving up to size 6 shoes. Still in 18-24mos clothes and size 3 or 4 diaper though.
• can say 'ciao' 'arrivederci' 'gelato'
• still aren't a big talker but you're getting better! You can say ''where's *insert name here*" you say ''i love you'' ''night-night'' ''want that'' ''what they doing?" and foods such as ''apple, banana, juice, milk, cheese". we're working on saying ''please and thank you'' clearer. you can say objects like ''car, bug, shoe''. 
• are bossy, and demanding and spoiled rotten but you're also very lovable, gentle and kind. 

21 Months old!

Sissy, I am late posting this but I didn't forget that on July 4th, you turned 21 months old. There are two reasons I find this hard to believe:

1- I can't believe that time has gone by so quickly!

2- You still fit into the outfit you wore last year on the 4th of July. I didn't buy the same outfit in two sizes...it's a 12 month Osh Kosh outfit that still fits!

It's just so surreal how much you have grown and changed in one year. I mean, look at all that hair! At 21 months you:

-are showing your girly side more an more. You *have* to have a bow in at all times. You use those baby links as bracelets. You love to watch "Tangled". You have four or five dolls that you load up in your stroller and push around the house, stopping every 5 feet to give hugs and kisses.

-weigh 21lbs and still wear 12-18 month clothing. Shoe size 5, and they actually fit now. 

-have so many teeth! All four molars and all your front teeth with the exception of one incisor.

-still breastfeed first thing in the morning and before bed {we finally cut out the naptime feeding}

-can talk, but won't. You'd much rather point and plead, then whine, scream and hit, when you could just simply say ''drink please''. And your brothers will say ''Mom, Sissy wants a drink''. And I remind them that mommy knows what Sissy wants, but that Sissy needs to use her words. The problem is we all know what you want so you don't need to talk. We're trying to slowly change this!

-know all your body parts! 

-are going through a picky phase with your food. Cheese, yogurt, chicken, bread, cereal, pasta, any fruit, tomato, corn, and any junk food you will definitely eat. Meat and veggies...not so much. I'm trying not to push it, hoping its just a phase. 

-will no longer use a sippy cup, anywhere. You've been using ''real'' cups at home for awhile but I could pack a sippy if we went somewhere...now your refuse to drink it. 

-love to brush your teeth and wash your hands all by yourself. I always double check when you're done, but you do an awesome job!

Sissy you are a little spitfire, definitely your own unique person and I can't imagine life without you in it!

20 Months Old!

Sissy today we took your TWENTY month photos. It seems impossible that in just four more monthly pictures, you'll be two years old. This is probably by far, my favorite stage. You're still super cuddly and curious but you're also much more independent. You can entertain yourself and love to explore. At 20 months old you...

• are going up and down stairs without holding on to anyone or anything. You can even carry something up and down with you.
• finally have molars! All your 'one year molars' are all the way though the gums. It took awhile but you sure seem to feel better. 
• are still nursing, no shocker there!
• love to color. You even hold your crayon/pen/marker correctly, in your right hand. 
• go to daycare for a couple hours on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. It's a chance for Mommy to run errands and get a break but also a wonderful chance for you to learn to trust and listen to other adults, interact and play with other kids (or 'babies' as you call them) and follow a routine outside of our home. You have learned so much and have a lot of fun. When I drop you off, you wave and say ''Bye Mom! See you yater!" 
• (learned at daycare) how to clear your own plate after meals. I mean you scrape the food into the compost bag and then push your plate into the sink. (Can you teach Pooks this!?).
• love to wash your hands and get baths. 
• can say all of your brothers names, though ''BraBRA!'' is your go-to.
• love the Backyardigan's. You say ''Pablo'' all the time
• weigh almost 21lbs, wear a size 4 diaper (when we put you in disposables), a size 5 shoe and 12-18mos clothing. You would go barefoot all the time if we let you!

Other than a few temper tantrums, you are a very well behaved little girl. You're shy at first but warm up quickly. You are finally sitting in the shopping cart/stroller again so that's been much more pleasant. Overall, you are a gem :)

It's that time again...

Tada!

Sissy you are now even closer to turning two years old! Nineteen months...it almost seems impossible. One year ago today you looked like this:

You have changed so much...you no longer look like a baby but now, a little girl. You are truly acting and looking like a toddler. Granted you haven't grown much...the onesie in your seven month photo...you still fit in that but you are growing. You're healthy and happy. You are talking a little bit more each day. You are running and jumping and a ball of energy.

At NINETEEN months you are...

• tipping the scales at 20.8lbs. You have gotten taller for sure because your jeans are all too shorts on you but I don't remember your measurement (it was in centimeters).
• speaking clearer each day. You love to say ''I don't know", "Peek a boo" and peoples names. I love the way you say "Logan" and "Delilah", the best. You also like to yell ''BOYS" and "Wascal!" 
• now randomly come running up to me, say ''Hi Mom!" then ''Up!" then once I lift you up say ''i-wove-you" and give me a kiss. You've always been affectionate but it's fun to see you initiating it. 
• really getting into playing with toys. You love playing with Mega Blocks, any book, your Leapfrog Explorer and your baby/stroller. You also don't hesitate to crawl around the house pushing a car saying ''vrrroom, vrrrooom" with your brothers. 
• still nap, once a day in the afternoons. You are also sleeping all night in your room, in your crib without waking
• of course, you're still nursing. I don't see you giving up the boob anytime soon. It's only at home and usually only when sleepy.
• have more teeth! You have your four front and bottom teeth, all four molars and two upper canine teeth. 
• now sit at the table with no booster seat, no high chair. You insist on sitting like everyone else. It's a bit messy sometimes but mostly you do extremely well. You use your silverware and napkin, you drink from an open mouth cup and are very proud of yourself for doing so. 
• doing much better with your separation anxiety. I have been taking you to hourly daycare on post for 3-4 hours a week and while you always cry when I leave, you stop crying very quickly. Your teachers say that you behave well and are a great eater. 
• finally fit into a size 5 shoe without it constantly slipping off. Your feet smell horrible though, so we usually let you go barefoot anywhere we can!
• sitting much better for these monthly photos. You say ''cheese'' and let me take quite a few before giving up!

17 Months!

 Today Sissy your are 17 months old! I cannot believe you are almost a year and a half...seems crazy! Especially since you are the baby of the family. You are more and more toddler every day. I will be the first to admit, you are spoiled rotten. I don't know if it's because you are a girl, because you are the youngest or because you are the fourth one but I know, we let you get away with way too much! Most of the time you get along with your brothers, listen to mom and dad and stay out of trouble but every now and then, you get a little wild. You'll slap a sibling just to give him a kiss, you'll throw dry cereal all over the living room then look at me and go ''uh oh!" like you had no idea what you were doing. At 17 months old you...

• finally weigh 20lbs! I weighed you on our home scale so it's not 100% accurate but good to know that you are growing. {at your 15mos check up, you weren't even on the charts for weight...skinny mini!}
• still in a size 4 diaper, wearing 12-18mos clothes and size 4 shoes
• are talking a little bit more. You're not nearly as talkative as peanut was at this age but you do say Elmo, Mom/Mommy/Mama, hi, bye, ciao, boo-boo milk {when you want to nurse), bubba, Lo-Lo, banana, nanaw, papa, uh-oh, i love you, dink {drink}, want dat!, and nose.
• are learning body parts. you know: eyes, nose, mouth, hair, head, belly, booty, feet, toes and fingers. 
• love to walk backwards. You think it's the funniest thing so you laugh, then your brothers laugh which makes you grin and walk further
• are FINALLY, FINALLY sleeping through the night and in your crib. From 8pm-7:15am without waking!
• love to give hugs and kisses. to me, daddy, your brothers, the dog, stuffed animals...you're very loving!
• are still nursing. First thing in the morning, before nap and before bed are definite. If we're at home and you're board you'll want to nurse more often. 
• still refuse to sit in a shopping cart and/or stroller. I can wear you or you'll walk holding my hand. 
• use both your spoon and fork to feed yourself at all meal times and now want a napkin as well. 
• have very, very curly hair and you like to wear ''pretties'' in it. You did go through a phase of ripping them out but now you bring them to me and want to wear them. 
• in the last few days have been using the potty. You'll drag your little potty out, tug at your diaper so we'll remove it and you'll sit, and sit and sit. Twice this weekend you pee'd on it and earned 2 m&m's.

 Sissy you are a ball of energy and some days I can barely keep up! I am really glad that we are finally settled into our house. You have your own room, your toys and it's a lot nicer to be able to let you have that freedom to run and play (versus the hotel). You are my little toddler now and I can tell you'll be a handful!

13 months...

Sissy I cannot believe that you are over a year old! You're walking, heck you're RUNNING. You truly are a toddler. I love the age you are at now. So full of spunk and curiosity but still wanting mom (or Dad) close as well. You're hair is getting longer (and curlier) and you're personality is shining through as well. It amazes me that at such a young age you are already showing ''girlie'' tendencies. You love picking up your stuffed animals and dolls and giving hugs and kisses. You love Abby Caddaby and shoes. If i say "go give bubba/pooks/peanut a kiss" you grin so big and hurry over to them. At 13 months you...

• are walking, running, dancing stopping and going without falling
• are bending over to pick things up
• are falling asleep without nursing immediately before...aka, having to fall asleep ''on the boob'' (yes, I am to blame for that one as I let you do it because it's easiest and I like to cuddle)
• are a huge imitator. if your brothers start laughing, you do to. if they clap, you clap. if they stick out their tongue you better bet that your tongue is out just as fast.
• love to dance. you have a ''so yummy'' dance that you do in your highchair if you like something we are eating
• now say ''mama, dada, papa, ball, Lo-Lo, bite, want-that".
• you point to things you want, shake your head yes or no, sign more, milk and all done.
• can put your finger to your lips and mimic me saying ''shhh''
• when asked where your head, belly, toes or teeth are you can point to them correctly
• weigh in at 18lbs 5oz and are 29.25 inches in length (6th percentile & 38th percentile)

We had your 12 month check up a day before you turned thirteen months and the doctor was just floored by what you could do and how happy you are, even when sick. You didn't get any of your vaccines because (while mommy thought you had a cold) you had ear infections in both ears, a viral infection and needed an inhaler for wheezing. Geesh, I barely knew you were sick!  You are so tough.

Overall you are in great health. The doctor was amazed at how much you are still nursing (at least 4 times during the day for 5-10min and twice at night). She thinks it's great and said we should continue on for as long as we feel comfortable/want too. Honestly I don't you'd let me stop even if I tried and I don't mind. I like the cuddle breaks :) There is a little bit of concern regarding your weight. You are a petite little thing and while there is nothing wrong with that, she wants to keep an eye on you because at 10 months you weighed 18lbs9oz...so in two months rather than gaining you lost a little weight. She said it could be do to how active you are now, the fact that you are sick or you may just be a skinny little kid but regardless since you lost weight but keep growing taller, we need to try to 'fatten' you up a bit.

While I am to continue breastfeeding, she does think if I could get you to drink whole milk at meal times, it would help tremendously. I have tried before. You take a sip, take another sip, let it all run out your mouth and then throw the cup. She suggested that I sweeten it a bit with Ovaltine or syrup...the benefits of the milk outweigh the sugar. So we did that and guess what? You'll drink a little! Now granted, I fill your 8oz sippy cup with Organic Whole Milk & a bit of hersheys (no, I'm not a whole food snob...you wouldn't drink regular milk at all, even with syrup!) at breakfast and give it too you just at meals {refrigerating it between, obviously} and by dinner time you've drank almost the entire 8oz. It's not much, but it's a start.

Honestly, I almost didn't continue these monthly pics and check in's but for now, I think I'll keep doing it. I'm amazed at how much longer your hair is getting in each one :)

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY SISSY!

Today Sissy is a whole year old! It seems like just yesterday that I was wondering if these contractions were ''real''or not. I knew I would absolutely love her, but I couldn't have imagined just how much I would love simply having a daughter. It is so much more than just pink clothes and hair bows. She was definitely the missing puzzle piece to our family. Happy Birthday Sissy, We love you SO much!

Here is a look at how far you have come.

On this day last year, just a few hours old... {to bad I didn't take the bear to the hospital!}

  And then, monthly....

At 12 months old you...

   -are now walking! Well, toddling to be more precise. You take steps all on your own but so far the most is 10 with an average of about 5-6 steps before stopping and just crawling. Can't blame you, you are a super fast crawler! You can stop, bend over to pick up something, then go back to walking though!
   -are still in that size 4 diaper, and wearing size 6-12 shirts/dresses, 12 month pants and 18mos leggings. You must have big feet though, you need a size 4!
    -shake your head yes and no, correctly.
    -are finally growing some hair! You usually have a small ponytail on top your head, but you are better tolerating hai rbows...at least for short lengths of time.
    -are signing ''all done'', have made up your own sign for drink, and give kisses and hugs without prompting.
    -are a little copy cat. If your brothers yell, you yell. If I stick out my tongue, you stick out your tongue.
    -love to look at books. Upside down or backward, doesn't matter, you love flipping pages. You recognize your favorites (which at this time seems to be Elmo/Sesame St).
    -are becoming more picky about what you eat. You do try everything and eat a variety but you have preferences now. You LOVE tiny little champagne grapes (black corinth is the technical name), strawberries, mango (still!), bananas, corn, green beans and bread. Of course being the fourth kid you also love the little bites of ice cream, chips, and m&m's that we've sneaked you ;)

Today we took you out to dinner at Red Robin. You loved the clapping, singing and ice cream! Your big party with family and friends is in 11 days and I can't wait. I love you baby girl, Happy Birthday!

11 Months...the countdown begins...

 In just 30 days, Sissy you will be one year old! That is crazy that you are already so big! It was almost impossible to even take your ''monthly pic'' this morning because you are just so "go-go-go" all of the time. You are a huge happy ball of energy. What are you like at 11 months? So glad you asked...

At ELEVEN months old you:

-have SIX teeth! Four are completely down and pearly white, the other two incisors are through the gums. Since all these teeth have arrived, you are finally sleeping better.

-typically go to bed around 8pm, sleep until 1am, wake up to nurse, go back to bed til 5 or 6am when you nurse again.

-you still wear a size 4 diaper, 6-12mos clothes and 18month leggings/stretchy pants.

-you have recently began ripping out any hairbow/headband that we place in your hair. In order for you to keep it in, you have to be greatly distracted as I clip it, then you forget about it being there at all. 

 

-you can now wave, clap your hands, play peek-a-boo (see pic above), give kisses and just started to blow kisses.
-you are talking more! you say: hi, bye, mama, dada, whoa, and uh-oh
-you are still pretty shy/bashful to people you don't know. now if they are giving you food, you seem to like them just a tiny bit more.
-you are still cruising furniture but show no signs of walking on your own just yet. you go hands free for a bit but then reach back for the wall, furniture, person, etc.
-rarely sit in your highchair, we typically have you eat in your booster seat up at the table with us.

 You are most certainly, you. With your own unique personality, likes/dislikes and temper. You seem to have grown up WAY too fast, but we're loving every minute of having you in our lives. We love you sissy!

10 months old, already?!

Sissy, I can barely believe it! Today you are into double-digits in your monthly age. 10 whole months! At this stage, right now you:

-have 2 teeth, with THREE upper teeth on their way (I can see the whites)
-wear a size 4 diaper, 12 month onesies and dresses and 6-12 month shoes
-have started cruising furniture and walls. It's the oddest thing to see you crawl over to the wall, push yourself up to standing and then walk along the wall.
-have dropped your morning nap; you take one maybe twice a week
-say ''mama, dada, hi, papa and nana". Other than "hi" you don't seem to direct them or use them correctly...yet :)
-put every.single.thing in your mouth. tiny pieces of paper? a hair? dog food? yep, yep and yep. 
- have long enough hair to wear teeny-tiny bows without any headbands. lately I've been pulling it back because otherwise, the front is long enough that it almost touches your eyebrows while the back hasn't seemed to grow at all.

-when asked to say "Cheese!" you do a big 'ol goofy smile.
-eat dry cereal (usually fruity Cheerios) and yogurt melts for breakfast, everyday. If we don't give you that, you throw what we do give you onto the floor.
-are still actively nursing and show no signs of stopping. During the day you nurse when you wake up, after breakfast, after lunch/before nap,after nap and again before dinner, at bedtime and twice during the night. Yeah, it's a bit excessive for a 10 month old but it works for us. While nursing my endometriosis is controlled so it's win-win.
-have a really bad temper. I mean if you want something and someone gets in your way, you will...express your displeasure. Usually with shrill screaming and fake crying and you started balling your fists during your tantrums.

 

I have to say that this age, is my most favorite ''baby age''. You are a ball of curiosity, daring enough to try anything and amazed at your discoveries. You love doing something and hearing us say ''uh-oh". You are going through a stranger anxiety phase and only want mommy. You snuggle into my shoulder and give anyone else a tiny little coy look. I just love you so much Sissy and I'm thrilled to watch your grow!

4th of July means...

Today Sissy is 9 months old! (Oh yeah...and it's Independence Day but more on that later). Nine months. It hardly seems possible. In just 3 months Sissy will be a whole year old! So here she is in all her NINE month glory:

What? Like your baby doesn't like to hang upside down whenever possible? Oh...it's just my baby that does? Who would have thunk it? But tis true...Sissy loves to be upside down. At any given time when you are holding her, she may throw her entire body backward and let out a squeal as she looks at her upside down world. In fact, getting a ''good'' nine month pic was almost impossible:

 

When you take a mobile, teething, active, determined baby and  try to make her sit next to a stuffed bear and a sign...well it doesn't always go smoothly. But nonetheless, at the nine months old Sissy:

-is able to pull herself up using an object, stand, then sit back down again
-has one tooth!
-weighs in at 17lbs 7oz and is 27.5 inches in length (25th% for weight, 48th% for height)
-is still wearing size 9-12mos clothes, size 4 diapers and no shoes
-has hair that is finally growing! She doesn't tolerate the crocheted headbands very well but doesn't mind hairbows
-eats anything and everything except babyfood. Favorites are diced watermelon, mango, carrots, grilled chicken and mac & cheese. She eats everything though!
-loves playing with her brothers. She follows them all over the house, pushes their little cars, pulls herself up and plays with the toy kitchen, chews on books and generally pesters them :)
- goes absolutely crazy when placed in a Johnny-Jump Up!

- loves bathtime.
- is still nursing all.the.time. Wakes 2-3 times during the night to nurse but doesn't even fully wake up to do so. She's growing & teething and I'm handling it okay so for now, we'll carry on. (Plus she's our last baby so it's bittersweet and tolerable)
-loves to Skype with Nanaw and Papa!