My 12 Months Post

Well, I have been dreading this day. The birthday has come and gone, and I still couldn't bring myself to do this post. My last monthly baby post. I can't put it off any longer...my girl is 12 months old!

She is an amazingly beautiful, spunky, energetic little girl with a big personality. She is outgoing and social, and I love her to pieces.

At 12 months...

- You babble and talk like crazy. You don't say any true words yet, but you are constantly having a conversation. You screech like an owl when you are excited and you scream like a stinker when your food is gone! You are truly starting to communicate in your own way. I really think you are starting to understand many of things I say to you too.

- You are still a little peanut. You are average height at 29 inches. It puts you in the 47th percentile for height. You weigh 19.5 pounds which shocked the crap out of me because I would have bet money you were over 20 pounds. You are in the 22nd percentile for weight. I love keeping track of your stats. It is the one thing that reminds me of when you were first born and we were so concerned with your weight.

- You wear 12-18 month clothing, and you wear 12 month clothing from Carter's. Your clothes are still baggy on you, but you are slowly but surely going to fill them out. The onesie from this post is a 6 month onesie which just makes me laugh that it still fits you. I love leggings because finding jeans to fit you poses a significant problem. You have shoes! You wear a size 4.5!

- You wear a size 3 diaper, and I am still a Pampers fan all the way.

- You have just cut your 6th tooth this week! You had two come in at once, and you were sluggish and cranky all week. Hang in there sweet girl because we still have a long way to go!

-We have been done with bottles for a while now, and you eat mostly finger food! You are obsessed with grilled cheese, and I am scouring blogs and things for new healthy, kid friendly recipes. Feeding time is not our favorite time around here. Please don't be a picky eater, please don't be a picky eater, please don't be a picky eater. You can drink from a straw and you love drinking from a real cup while we hold it.

-You can walk with mommy or daddy holding your hand and you can walk pushing your car and toys, but you aren't walking alone yet. You really aren't showing any interest in standing alone either.

- You are too cute for words.

Happy 12 months Baby Girl! You are a big girl now!

10 Months!

Another one bites the dust. My baby girl is another month older and another month closer to her big first birthday. We are now in double digits people. Seriously, how did this happen?

Happy 10 Months to my sweet Kailyn. This little lady has quite the personality. She amazes me everyday with her development. She changes and learns every single day we spend together. I mean look at this child. She is getting to be such a big girl!

At 10 months,

* you wear size 3 diapers and 6-12 month clothes. I am buying you 12-18 for fall, and I hope they fit. I love the fall clothes out now, and I am getting the fall itch. I can't wait to put you in jeans, leggings, and sweet sweaters and snuggly clothes.

* you are in summer mode like mommy! You sleep from 8pm to 7 or 7:30 am! I love sleeping in, and 7:30 feels like sleeping in to me. You take two good naps during the day too.

* you cruise the furniture and stand up holding on all day. Standing looking out the sliding glass door, standing playing with your mirror, standing sticking your hand in the toilet, standing trying to climb the Ottoman to reach a cellphone/ipad/remote. There is nothing you wont stand against. You climb like a little monkey. You have no fear.

* you are sleeping in a crib that is completely lowered. As mentioned above, you climb like crazy. This was a necessity in our household.

* you are one fierce crawler. You zoom so fast around this house. It is now time to lock the cabinets and put the baby gate on the stairs. You open and close, open and close, open and close the cabinets and doors all day long. On your first meeting with the stairs, you climbed to the 4th one! Yikes. You little stinker, you.

* you still only have those sweet two bottom teeth. I would bet money that one of those top ones will be cutting through in the next day or so. You have not been your usual sweet, easy, pleasant self (and that is putting it lightly).

* you are really starting to eat "real" food! Tonight, you had a few small tortellini from a soup I made. You have tried grilled cheese, quesadillas, chicken, homemade meatballs, crackers, cereal bars, veggies, and tons of fruit! You love cherries and watermelon. I am so interested to know...what are you feeding your 10 month olds? How often to they eat baby food vs. "real" food. Do you still puree your food or are you giving small pieces?

* you are too cute for words with your cheesy smile, wispy hair, and dimple.

Happy 10 months sweetie! 2 more months until your BIG day! I am planning something small but special for you!

Nine

July 15th marks the 9 month mark for my baby girl! Happy 9 months Baby Kailyn! 9 months ago you rocked our world! Your entrance into our lives was such a whirlwind, and I think back to that day and think how truly lucky and blessed I am to be your momma. I cherish everyday with you and I love you to pieces.

At 9 months, I am noticing big changes in you and how you navigate your world. You...

* weigh 16.11 pounds and you are 27 and a half inches. This is why your 6-12 month still seem to fit nicely (except the pajamas that button all the way up - we are in 12-18 months). Today, I actually just bought you a few of your first fall clothes in 12-18 and I sure hope they fit come fall because they are too cute for words.

* still wear size 3 diapers. My preferences is still the Swaddlers Sensitive. We tried the cruisers, but they don't seem as soft and comfy. I haven't had any problems so why change it up!

* love yogurt! You are trying a ton of new foods especially finger foods. You love pieces of bananas and blueberries (I peel the skin off for you). You won't feed those to yourself because you don't like the texture. You have tried pieces of avocado, peas, carrots, cheerios, and Gerber puffs. Today, you had your first sweet potato french fry at Bobby's Burger Palace. I figured if you are going to have a french fry, your first one should be from Bobby Flay!

She LOVED it! 

* crawl and move constantly. You can crawl and just sit up on your own so wonderfully. You are really starting to gain balance and strength. You try to climb on EVERYTHING! You are ridiculously obsessed with the remote controls.

* are getting more adventurous with your crawling. You crawl in every room and space of our house. You are willing to go out of the room and out of sight. You are a brave, little girl.

* have graduated from your infant tub! I sit you up in the regular tub with some little non-slip pads (that aren't working out too well - so I need a bath mat) and you love it. You don't mind getting your face and head soaked at all! In fact, it doesn't faze you as you continually try to crawl away in the tub to pull the drain stop out, touch the shiny faucet, and anything else you can do to give me a heart attack that you are going to slip and get hurt (hence, the need for a nice big bath mat).

* are starting to babble constantly! I am finally hearing ba-ba-ba-ba! You talk to your best friend Lexi all day long. Your high pitched screeching is funny too!

* are one cutie pie!

It was rough getting these pictures! 

Until she could snuggle! 

Kailyn, you are just amazing. Look at that smile.

Now that you are 9 months old, I am starting to stress about your first birthday party! It is going to be here before you know it! I better get to planning and deciding. Esty, here I come!

Happy 8 Months

Mid-month has arrived yet again. Every time, I sit down to write this post I am never sure how to start. It seems so cliche to tell you how amazed I am that my newborn is gone, to tell you how fast those 8 months have flown by, and to tell you how sad I am at how my little sweetie is gaining on THE big one...shhhh....don't say it....don't think it... shhhhhh...yes, the first birthday.

But, it is all true. Happy 8 months Baby Kailyn! For an 8 month old, you sure pack a big punch. This is by far my favorite age yet. You are so happy, and you smile and laugh all the time. You are like an unstoppable machine. You crawl around checking everything out, and no one better get in your way! You can throw a tantrum, crocodile tears and all, with the best of them! You interact with your mommy and daddy, and when you flash those two little square pearly whites at us, you can pretty much get your way.

At 8 months, you...

* weigh 16.3 pounds! You just had a sick appointment and I had the nurse help me weigh you in the office. You gained less than 1 pound in over a month. Is that normal? That doesn't seem like a lot, but you are eating like a champ so I guess I shouldn't worry.

* you wear 6-12 month clothing. It is too funny because you have this extra long torso, short legs, and skinny body. I am worried that it is going to be challenging to find clothes that fit you. Either the pant legs are too long, the clothes are too baggy, or they won't button under your tush. For pajamas, you wear size 12 month (Carters)  or  size 12-18 if I could find any pajamas that I actually like. Oh, and shoes...forget it. What a joke! Maybe we can broach this subject again in a month.

*Size 3 diapers are your thing. They did come with our favorite sleep sheep diaper. I don't think Swaddlers Sensitive come in size 4 so I don't know what we will do!

* This week, you started eating your first finger foods! You have had watermelon and banana pieces and Gerber puffs. The pincher grasp you use is the cutest thing I have seen. It is like an automated chop stick opening and closing. You put the food right in your mouth and you are so proud of yourself!

* You have your first diaper rash, and I think that top left tooth is the culprit. Your poor little sore bottom. This is new, uncharted territory for us so any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. I can't believe you have two teeth, and you are so close to cutting your third!

* will not sit still for a picture! You crawl away quicker than I can click the shutter. Most of pics end up blurry because you are moving so fast! I did manage to get a few pics tonight, but it was a rainy night and the lighting was not great. Your cuteness makes up for it.

* crawl ALL the time. You are so quick! You crawl to your toys, pick them up, and bang them and throw them, and then you continue on your path of destruction. You are learning how to push yourself up into a sitting position from crawling. You can almost do it. When I sit you down, you can sit up by yourself, but you aren't interested in staying there too long because you are constantly on the move. You can pull yourself up to a stand, and you getting stronger and less wobbly every day.

Baby Kailyn, this month marks one of the most anticipated months of my life. I get to be home with you all day everyday. School is ending, and I get to spend your 8 month loving you up and I couldn't be happier. Happy 8 months sweet girl!

7 Months Already?

7 months is closer to a year than to birth. Holy geez. As I am writing this post, I am thinking how sad I am that my sweet first newborn is long gone...until I started uploading the pictures. This 7 month old girl rocks. She is so much fun to be around. She wants everything (throws tantrums when she doesn't get it), explores, learns, and shows her personality everyday.

Laughing at Lexi!

On your 7 month birthday...

* You weigh between 15 and 16 pounds. I didn't weigh you today, and you are already sound asleep in your crib!

* You are wearing 6-12 month clothing. You wear 9 month pjs under your sleep sack. We are currently in the middle of a shoe debacle. No shoes fit your tiny little feet. I think you are like a size 2 or 3 but your feet are so stinkin' skinny that NO pair of shoes will remain on your feet.

* You are currently wearing one of your last size 2 diapers. Size 3 here we come. I hope size 3 has that cute little lamb picture on them too. We always go to bed wearing a sleep sheep diaper. It is the magic touch.

* You might be the cutest little eater ever. You open your mouth like a little bird. You love almost every fruit. You love your orange vegetables, and I am currently working on widening your appreciation of green veggies. You are really not having it. We were given direct orders to start meats, but we are slacking in that area. *shudder* I have to prepare myself.

* You are FINALLY cutting your first tooth! Yesterday morning, I finally felt the little ridges popping through on your bottom gum! I have been waiting to feel that tooth forever. You had all the signs for so long, and now evidence!

* Your bedtime is 7:30 pm and you are such a good little sleeper, but you are an EARLY riser. Most days you wake up before my alarm goes off. Some days you play in your crib for 20-30 minutes and other times you want your mommy and daddy right away. You take two naps during the day... a morning nap around 10:00 and an afternoon nap around 2 or 2:30.

* You are scooting and moving all over the floor. Every time I turn around, you are somewhere new! Time to make sure you are safe!

* You are getting into everything. You reach for anything that is in line of vision. You especially love my cell phone, ipad, and the remote control. Whatever you get your hands on goes right in your mouth. My little explorer. Here is a perfect example:

* You are testing out that little voice. Your squeals and giggles make everyone smile. When you are tired or unhappy, you don't cry, you moan. This little complain that melts your mommy's heart.

* You have changed my life sweet baby girl. You are so good no matter what we do or where we go.

7 months have gone by since our special meeting in the hospital. I feel so sad about that because everyday that passes I worry that I will lose bits and pieces of that incredible night. I never want the memory to fade. One thing I know for sure, I will never lose the overwhelming feeling of love I felt when they placed you in my arms because it continues to grow stronger every day.

Happy 7 months Kailyn! 

Happy 5 Months!

Are you wondering why this little girl is so happy? It is because she turns 5 months old today! Yup, that's right...Kailyn Rose is 5 months old today! I know, I know I can't believe it either!

At 5 months old, I am noticing so many changes in this little one. It seems like after I have been away from her all week, I spend time with her on the weekend and she is doing something new every day.

This 5 month old cutie...

* has started eating rice cereal. She gets an early morning bottle followed by a breakfast and lunch of rice cereal then a dinner and bedtime bottle. She is really taking a liking to eating. She takes 7 ounces at her bottle feedings, but I am still not sure about after she eats her cereal. This week, she is going to try some oatmeal for the first time.

* wears 3-6 month clothing and size 2 diapers.

* is giving us some trouble sleeping. She is wearing a sleep sack and she is getting used to it. She is binkie obsessed and she wants us to give her back the binkie through the night. We are going to start letting her cry it out. So you will have to check back with us about that one.

* takes two naps a day in her crib or playpen usually between 1-2 hours. She goes to bed around 7:45 and wakes up around 5, eats then sleeps until about 7 or 7:30.

* weighs 12 pounds 14 ounces! At her 4 month visit, she was in the 20th percentile for height and weight, but I think she will catch up. She is doing so well and she is growing like a weed! I can't believe how big she is getting. See for yourself.

* can reach out and grab objects and hold things in her hand. She loves her little monkey blanket and she squeezes it, holds it up to her face, rubs it. She loves reaching out for her feet. She hangs on to her pant legs to keep her legs up in the air. She is turning into a little gymnast.

* can roll over from front to back and she is trying so hard to roll from back to front. Look how hard she is trying!

* LOVES to talk to everyone. Her new thing is squeaking and making a sound like "aaahhhhh." It is so sweet. She can blow raspberries and bubbles with her little lips. The best is when she talks to you in her soft voice and makes a cooing sound. Her little lips go into an "o" shape and she look like a little angel.

* puts everything in her mouth especially her hands! 

This sweet little girl has made us the happiest two people on the planet for 5 months. I am so excited to see what the next 5 months will hold. 

Happy 4 Months!

Happy 4 Months Baby Girl! In just 4 short months, you have changed in amazing ways.

1 Month Old Peanut - 3 days before her original due date

4 Month Old Peanut - happy as can be! 

At 4 months old, you ...

*  take 5 oz. at each feeding...sometimes you don't finish it all, but you do your very best! This change in your food intake has really helped you catch up in weight and it has helped us because you sleep through the night!

* go to bed between 8:30 and 9:00 pm! We love our bedtime routine. We STILL get swaddled in the swaddle from hell as Daddy calls it (the miracle blanket), read a book, turn on the music, and go to bed. Your favorite books are On the Night You Were Born and Time for Bed. You really do look at the pictures too. You usually don't wake up until 6:00 am. Peeking over at you in the crib in the morning is as good as it gets. You give me a gummy grin, and I am set for the day. There are a few days here and there when you wake up earlier in the night for a bottle, but those nights are few and far in between.

* are on your last box of size 1 diapers. Mommy bought size 2 diapers so hopefully they work and are not too big! You like Pampers Swaddlers Sensitive.

* weigh almost 12 pounds. When I last weighed you a few days ago, you weighed 11 pounds 9 oz. I am sure at your 4 month check up you will be 12 pounds!

* EXPLORE your little hands all the time! You put them together, you suck them, you lick them. It is getting hard to feed you because your hands are ALWAYS in your mouth. I am now just waiting for you to reach out and grab an object! I am dangling things in your face all the time. Pretty soon you will get so annoyed you will reach out to grab it. You do have a tight grip when you get hold of something .... something like a fist full of mommy's hair.

* wear 3-6 month clothing. You should be in 3-6 month clothes for a while. I hope so at least because all of your 6-12 month clothes are late spring and summer!

* smile, laugh, and giggle all the time. You are one happy baby. You are always happy and you love being held. I actually think you like to be held too much to the dismay of Grams. She is your loving, caring, mommy-rule following babysitter. She feels the effect of the "hold the baby too much" syndrome.   Grams is the most wonderful babysitter a person could ask for. She loves Kay and takes such good care of her. I feel so happy and safe to have the peanut with my mom.

* love to sit upright with the help of mommy or daddy. You love looking around and checking everything out. At 4 months, you just started sitting in your Bumbo chair. Your neck is so strong. your head is still flat on one side and it is worrisome.

* can roll over from your stomach to your back with a tiny bit of assistance.

* are the cutest, stinkin' baby of all time.

I am so very blessed and lucky.

Happy 3 Months!

Happy 3 month old baby girl! This post is bittersweet because I am thrilled that you are 3 months old and developing and growing everyday, but the 3 month mark means one dreadful thing... back to work. I don't even want to get into that just yet so let's celebrate my beautiful baby girl! 

At 3 months...

* You just got over being sick. What a terrible time you had with a cold and a cough. You went to your first sick visit at the doctor's office. You wouldn't eat and you wouldn't take pedialyte. I thought about taking you the the Emergency Room because the 24 hour nurse suggested it. I made a "mommy" decision and we stuck it out through the night, and you felt much better the next day. 

* Being sick, I am not 100% sure of your weight. You lost a little weight being sick. You weighed 10 pounds 3 ounces at your sick visit a few days ago. Hopefully, we will get back on track with eating and gaining now that you feel better.

* You are still wearing 0-3 month clothing. I am hoping you will soon be moving to 3-6 months, and I am sure you will because a few of your pj's and onsies are seeming a little short. One thing is for sure, you don't fill the clothes out yet.

* You are wearing size 1 diapers. You take between 3-4 ounces at a feeding.

* You amaze me everyday. You recognize faces now! Every time I lay you on the changing pad, you stare up at me and smile. You love to smile at your mommy and daddy! Seriously, my heart grows bigger every time I see your smile. 

* You are a happy baby. You love to interact with us now and you love wiggling your arms and legs! You can listen to a toy and follow it with your eyes. You love to be carried around facing the world, and you just look around and take it all in.

* Your range of motion in your neck is MUCH improved...after a lot of work by mommy. You are turning your head both ways now, and your neck is getting stronger and stronger every day. You can hold your head steady when mommy sits you up, and during tummy time, if I set you up, you can hold yourself up for a few seconds. We have come a long way since the two month mark! 

* Before you got sick, you were sleeping 8 hours a night. One night you slept 9 and a half hours, but the past few days you slept in mommy and daddy's room. You were up alot during the night because you were coughing and/or starving. Hopefully, we get right back on our schedule just in time for back to work.

Overall, you are happy and playful. I love seeing the changes in you as I write these posts. You are the sweetest, most lovable little girl. Your fussy time at night has seemed to have subsided, and now you explore your world instead. I can't wait to see how much development another month brings!