12 months

OK, it's that time.  How in the world am I writing your 12 month post?  It's been a year of many things... happiness, frustration, joy, anxiety, love, fear, appreciation, exhaustion, but I couldn't be more glad to experience all these things because of you, Adelaide.  I remember saying early on that your first month or so was a whirlwind of emotion.  I can say that your first year has been that as well as a whirlwind of time.  What happened to my little baby?  When I think about how you've changed in just one quick year it blows my mind.  Gone are the days of our endless cuddling because you didn't have any other choice.  Hello to the days ahead when you actually come to us to cuddle and while doing so, melting our hearts.  I sniff you a little more, squeeze you a little tighter, and love you a little deeper with each cuddle because you're my baby girl... and I know it won't last forever.  It hit me while making dinner the night before your birthday that when I put you down you will be a "baby" and when I get you out of the crib the next morning you will be a "toddler"... that's crazy talk.  Now I know that you don't magically change overnight but it's symbolic in it's own way.  There are many things I wish I could tell you right now but my brain can't get them all out and all you would do is smile at me anyway, only leaving me with more things that I'm unable to get out.  So, know this, that we love you with all we have and that will never, ever change.  You are the answer to so many prayers that your Daddy and I prayed and we see you nothing less than a blessing directly from God.

Alright, I felt like that had to be said so years from now you will know what you mean to us after knowing you for only one year.

On now to what you've been up to in your 12th month.  We had a fun month and took the time to soak in the last few weeks of your "babyness". 

Your teeth are still hiding as of now.  Surely they are coming soon, right?

Eating hasn't changed much, you still aren't fond of food.  Bread, Cheerios, and yogurt bites are pretty much the only things you will pick up and eat yourself.  We are working on getting you more excited about eating.

You understand a few more words that we say to you.  We can tell you to get your baby, dolly, ball, book, among others and you will grab them. 

When Daddy comes home you get super excited.  Lily and I do too, but you started clapping, smiling big, and squealing.  It's super sweet and I think it makes your Daddy's day.

It took you about 2 weeks to fully embrace walking and since then you have been non-stop.  You quickly figured out how to get up while sitting instead of crawling over to something to pull yourself up.  It was kinda crazy to watch you take off.  Even though we knew you were so close for quite some time we were still in a little bit of shock.  You were a busy girl this month, literally.

Your birthday party was a blast.  I will post on it separately but let's just say that Old MacDonald had quite the farm that day!

Your 12 month appointment to the doctor was the 27th.  You got your finger pricked and several shots.  Daddy held your hands again while I kissed/rubbed your head and told you that it was going to be okay.  You quit crying when I picked you up and that made me feel better.  Your stats showed what I was halfway expecting but afraid of.  Your eating has affected your growth curve and you're not growing like they want you to.  You were 16 lbs. 9 oz. (1%), 27 in. (4%), and head circumference was 16.5 in. (1%).  Yikes!  To say that I'm worried is an understatement.  We will try over the next month to get you eating better by offering 5-6 smaller meals a day which should be fun since you don't like the couple of meals you eat now.  We will try juice/whole milk and other calorie rich foods to help as well.  In 1 month we will go back and if you're not eating better they will probably send you to a feeding specialist.  Please, oh please, love eating soon!  Until then we will keep trying and praying hard for you to overcome this.  God is good always.

Cute pose

My 3 loves... one of which is playing with a paci.  Keyword being "playing".  You're something else.

Cute smile while playing with Daddy.  Nevermind that mean ole bruise above your lip.

You love to pull your books off the shelves... over and over and over.

One cool girl, and probably tired too.

Daddy gets you ready for bed each night.  You pick up the vitamin drops bottle and box every single night to play with them.  Creature of habit and I love it.

You took a liking to stuffed animals this month.  This dog is one of your favorites!

You enjoyed your first storytime at the library.  We went to the one for walkers up to 3 years so you were one of the youngest there.  I sat in a chair and at first you wouldn't leave from your standing spot between my legs.  After a while you ventured out and walked around a little, always looking back at me to be sure I was still there.  I think you enjoyed it and I look forward to taking you back.

Playing with the singing dog.

Big sippy cup and serious face.  You still prefer your smaller one.

Ransom came over to play.  Your stance here cracks me up and makes you look all growny and stuff.

Some sweet Haydyn-loving time after you woke up from a nap.

Cheerios, the breakfast of champions.

Simply adorable.

You're loving the vitamin bottle and I'm loving your crazy post-bath hair!

Good morning birthday girl!

We do occasionally get our picture together.

You're a walking machine.

Your Birthday!!

Enjoying a book... love Sandra Boynton.

And the last monthly installment with Miss Sock Monkey... sniff, sniff.

Happy 12 month old!  We love you, Adelaide.

Marbles

We went to Marbles Kids Museum today to check it out because they had free admission. They had 2 areas that were good for Adelaide to play in. She seemed to enjoy it and was, of course, her normal observant self. Fun times!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy 1st Birthday to our sweet girl. You bring us lots of joy and we love you so much. Can't wait to see what your second year holds.

From this...

 to this...

what a difference a year can make... in us all.

Love it

11 Months

11 whole months, what a big girl you're becoming.  Not a baby for much longer because a little girl is taking shape and boy is it fun to watch.  We have had the absolute pleasure of knowing you for 11 months and it's surreal to think that in a month you will be a year old.  I'll stop short of saying how I can't believe it while at the same time feeling like I don't remember not having you... atleast for this post! 

This month has been a crazy one for our little family.  At the beginning of the month you got an ear infection the day before we were to leave for the beach for 5 days.  You had a high temp of a little over 101 when you woke up that Friday morning.  I gave you Tylenol then and again at noon.  Then at 3:30, I checked your temp before nap and it was down to 100ish.  At 4:30 you woke up and it was 103.4!  It jumped 3 degrees in an hour!  I immediately called the doctor and they had us come in.  Yep, a left ear infection and fluid in your right ear and you didn't even show any signs.  Ammoxicilin it was... and for future reference, you tolerated it better when it was refrigerated.  You still had a fever Saturday morning but we decided that if you were going to be sick then maybe the beach wasn't a bad place to be sick.  Looking back, I don't know if that was the wisest decision but we made it.  You were super clingy, even though there were many family members that wanted to hold you.  You woke up in the middle of the night 3 out of 4 nights and it took 1.5-2 hours to get you back to sleep each night.   Poor little thing.  Wednesday we came home and while we were worried that you wouldn't sleep through the night at home, you proved us wrong and slept in your own crib like a champ all night.  Praise the Lord once again!  The next week Daddy started a 3 week insane time at work.  You and I had some extra quality time together as he was "bringing home the bacon".

Once again (I'm sensing a neverending pattern here), you blew us away by the things you started doing.  I'll try to give some examples but I'm sure I'm forgetting some. 

You push all types of things around.  It all started with the activity table but now you push around books, boxes, cars, etc.  We have seen you crawling on the floor pushing a book or car.  You have even tried to push our ottoman.  Sorry, but we laughed at your determination.

You like to carry around pieces of cloth such as a onesie, washcloth, or the beanie they first put on you at the hospital.

You played with your first balloon and really loved it.  Once the helium leaks out and it sinks you hold on to the string and follows you whenever you go.  It's cute to see you check for it behind you.

We can ask you "Where is your ear?" and you respond by placing your hand on your ear.  And, yes, you would probably do that if we asked you where your mouth is too but we don't care because you get what we are asking you for.

We also ask you "What does a sheep say?" and you will often say Baaa.  Not every time but enough that we know for sure that you understand us.

When we tell you to "blow a kiss" you put your hand to your mouth but don't bring it away yet.  When we ask you to give us a kiss you put your wide open mouth against our cheek.  We love it!

You started sticking your tongue out and blowing so we started doing it back to you.  It's a little game we play and you get so tickled.  We do too, of course.

You will sit a little longer while we read you books.  I've been waiting for you to do this.  You like to turn the pages while we sit there and I have found you several times just flipping through the pages on your own and "talking" about something.  That's how I know you're growing into a little girl.

If we are eating something while sitting on the couch you will sometimes come over and make a noise indicating you want some of what have.  You and Lily are such a pair!

You have put your nesting blocks into each other... good motor skill.

You make more inflections with your cute little voice, so we know you are "talking" with purpose and not just babbling.  For example, you pick up things, hand them to us, and often say something that sounds like "ish".  It's funny to see you get excited about bringing us a toy or book.

Puffs and Cheerios don't stand a chance with you.  You love them.  I think we have seen a little positive growth overall in the eating department.  You still don't like many textures, fruit and pasta to name a few, but we have seen a little progress with you eating food other than baby food.  You like refried beans... hmm, wonder if that's because I could not get my fill of them when I was pregnant with you.  You've successfully swallowed a few bits of chicken.  You didn't love it but didn't spit it back right back out either.   However, you sometimes do spit it back out like most everything else.  The peas and carrots that came in my fried rice from the Chinese place seemed somewhat acceptable at first but then quickly lost steam.  At breakfast and dinner I have started to nurse you after you eat to make for a little easier time feeding you but you aren't really eating any more than you used to, measurement-wise.  We are taking all this as progress and shall see what the next month holds. 

You still love spotting the smallest piece of something on the floor, table, etc. and picking it up.  Thankfully you normally don't try to put it in your mouth.  Notice I said normally.

Your toes started seeming a little tight in your sleepers so we put you in 9 month sleepers so you'd sleep more comfy.  I guess it's about time even though all of your other clothes are still 6 months.

You seem to really like music and dancing to it.  If something catchy is playing you will often shake your head back and forth while moving your hands.  If you are sitting then you bend forward and bob back and forth again while shaking your head.  You make us laugh!

This isn't my proudest moment but you will put my cell phone up to your ear and say "hey"!  So maybe I talk on the phone a little...

On the way to the beach you figured out how to push buttons on your toys in order for them to light up, move, or make sounds.  It's neat to finally see you playing with those functions on your toys.
You seem to be a little more aware, and not as upset, about time to take a nap or go to bed.  I'm afraid to even type this, but you are going down for naps easier.  It must be said that you whine almost everytime you are put down for a nap.  For the most part, you get over it 5-10 minutes and then take a good nap.  Over the past week or so you have been more okay with me putting you down and walking out.  At nights we have even seen you in there just lying with your eyes open and then rolling over to go to sleep without any crying.  This is such an answer to our prayers.

I feel that you have started to get just a bit more cuddly. There are times when you crawl across the room and pull up on me. I hold you tight and you just put your head on my shoulder. It's moments like that when I can't find words for the feelings I have about being your Mama.

Maybe the biggest news of the month is that you are walking.  We had been noticing that as you were crusing you were only putting your hand down for a split second.  So, on August 25th, we decided to move the ottoman back a little from the couch to see what you would do.  You took a good 5 or 6 steps between them and didn't think twice.  We were blown away and laughing hard at your excitement.  On Sunday the 26th you woke up from your nap and I sat on the floor with you holding on to me like normal.  All of a sudden you walked over to your changing table and started pulling out books.  I was in shock.  I pulled you back and you did it again a few more times.  Daddy came in and saw you do it again as well.  It was great timing because it was on your 11 month Birthday and we were both there to witness it.  As of now you don't choose to walk everywhere you want to go but my oh my times are changing!

Now it's time for some pictures!

Rocker girl... finally getting rid of all your cradle cap.

Petting the pottery dog that used to be my Granny's.  This warmed my heart more than you will ever know.

Looking all big like you're about to jump into the pool with Daddy.  Picture a flying SuperAdelaide position next.

I mean really.  Love squared.

Pink ladies

It was bound to happen eventually, right?  And I love how you stayed still until I could get the camera.

Why thank you for that piece of paper.

Sleepy breakfast

Two peas in a pod.

Sweet, concentrating face

We went to visit Grandma Ann again.  She loved squeezing on you.

After nap half-smile.

Miss Sock Monkey makes another appearance.

Our happy 11 month old!  We love you so much!

A half down

This handsome guy just ran a half marathon. I cannot say just how proud I am of him (and in more ways than this). Working towards the full...

10 months

Another month flies by... whew, slow down, you're growing so fast.  This month you were developing so quickly and we have lots of examples to show for it. 

You walked by yourself for the first time between Daddy and me on July 11th.  It was about 4 steps but you did it!  You have yet to do it again but I wanted to document that for you.

You became better and faster at walking with support.  I can sit you down in the living room and before I know it you have crawled over to something and pull up to walk where you want to go.  I find you walking against the walls, and you can pretty much get anywhere you want to go by doing that.  I really thought you would be walking on your own by now, but I think you just lack the little bit of courage you need to do it by yourself.  I have a feeling it won't be long though.  Somehow, in between all that walking, you decided to crawl on your knees instead of your belly.  It's so cute to see you crawling when you actually do it.

Your naps are still pretty much the same, 1 hour 20 min. or so in the morning and afternoon.  You still go all night sleeping, and I cannot thank you enough.

No teeth to speak of!

I can tell you've gotten longer over the last month or so but I dont have an update on your growth.  We may have to actually lift up your activity jumper to the next level... you've been at the bottom this whole time.  You're still in the same clothes so no changes there.

Another big development this month was your first word, "uh oh"!  I don't even recall us saying it much, but apparently enough for you to say it when you drop something... by accident and on purpose.  It's precious.

You often will see Lily and say something that sounds like "hey" while waving to her.  We do that multiple times a day so I know what you're trying to say, and it sounds pretty close.

You are still not into solid foods except for Puffs and bread.  I'm guessing it's a texture thing for you because you don't even want to touch other foods, much less grab them and feed yourself.  We are still working through this.  You get cereal for breakfast and alternating pureed veggie or fruit for dinner.  I still don't give you lunch because for now you're content and I decided to not put us both through the added stress.   Because you're still not a great eater, but a fantastic nurser, I continue to nurse you 5 times a day.  I don't mind because I know it will be all over before I blink and I love spending that time with you.

You all of a sudden started clapping one morning when Daddy got you up.  He practices it with you a lot and it was almost like you had been practicing it while you slept that night.  You get so excited and smiley therefore we do too.  Daddy tells you "good job" after you clap and it only makes you clap more!  Now we can tell you to clap and you do it.  It's fun for all of us.

You definitely are understanding more of what we say.  You look when we call your name and if we have to tell you "no" you often will stop whatever you were doing and move onto something else.  Such a smart girl.

And we can't forget that now you are standing in your crib.  You figured it out during your afternoon nap on the 15th.  Daddy lowered your crib before bedtime that night, a milestone if you ask me.  It was fun for you at first but then when you couldn't get down, not so much.  After a few times of us going in there and helping you to sit you figured it out.  Every now and then you will stand up and cry for us to come back in, but you eventually give up and lie down to sleep.  It's always an adventure with you! 

Your month in pictures goes a little like this...

We went with our church friends to Hyco Lake.  You loved floating around under the canopy.

Watching Daddy mow.

Happy Independence Day!!

Look at those kissable cheeks!

All but walking on your own.

Sweet wake up face.

Clean cutie

Play under the table?  Sure why not?!

"Walking" your way into the guest room to explore for the first time!

Helping Daddy lower your crib.

Yes, you fell asleep while standing up in your crib, and we have proof.  Now that was an interesting night!

Cruising and clapping

The cabinets will never the be same, haha!

Helping me do the dishes

Giving Daddy a head hug after dinner one night... precious!  (don't worry, the shoe was brand new)

Playtime with Callie.  You two are something else.

Miss Sock Monkey joins us for another month.  Is it just me or is she shrinking? ;-)

We love our sweet 10 month old!