Aria Grace: Eight Months

Goodness the time just keeps flying by!  Eight months old and still as cute and sweet as can be! 

Weight:  You've crossed the 19 pound mark, and are close to 20 if I would have to guess. Thighs and cheeks to die for.

Standing up in your crib.  Time to lower the mattress!

Sleep- Does anyone want to guess how my mission to get you to sleep through the night went?  Ding, Ding!  A miserable fail is right!  I just can't get past the point of getting even less sleep waiting for you to cry it out than I do if I just get up and feed you.  And it's way more awful trying to ignore your cries.  I do need to move the rocker into your room (it is still in our closet from when you slept next to our bed.)  I've gotten in the habit of feeding you laying down in the guest bed in your room, and I think sometimes you just want to cuddle.  We'll see if it makes any difference.  Can you tell I'm not holding my breath?  But in all honesty, I can't complain.  I know it could be much, much worse!

Eating-Most of the time, you love to eat.  Unless you are tired, then a lot of shrieking is involved.  Puff snacks are your favorite and you are really good at picking them up and feeding yourself!  You have done really well with most new foods.  You've made the biggest fuss about a potato/pea/green blend I made.  Sounds delicious, right??  Can't say I blame you, but we'll try it again later.  You are still nursing well, but get distracted so easily.  Most of the time we have to find a quiet corner, because otherwise you want to check on what Lyle is doing every ten seconds.  I have slowly been introducing a bit of dairy back into my diet (i.e. cheese a few times....oh that piece of pizza was amazing!) and you seem to be doing well.  We will hope you are over your sensitivity!

Likes-Mama especially, but anyone smiling at you will do.  Your little voice is so cute and when you are playing you get to talking with lots of ooohs and ohs!  You also have become a little insistent if you want someone's attention and give a little shriek so we look at you.  Lyle's toys, small pieces of dirt on the floor, crumpling paper,  picking grass, and dancing to music.  You also love to flip over while getting your diaper changed.  It is impossible to keep you distracted, and so I have mastered the art of diapering you on your knees.

Milestones-  You officially get into EVERYTHING!  Nothing is safe.  Your favorites are eating cords, pushing buttons on our TV receiver, and ejecting DVD's while we are watching them.  You love Lyle's toys, especially his trucks, legos, and the doors on his big barn.  You also are learning to climb and stand up on things.  At Grammy's house you love to climb over the bottom shelf of the coffee table, and at home you are pulling up on toy baskets and bouncy seats.   

Fun Firsts-Your top front teeth have poke through!  They didn't seem to give you quite as much trouble as the bottom ones.  A couple restless nights and a little drool.  We headed down to our small county fair this week, and so far you are a little unimpressed.  It probably has something to do with the fact that the heat index is 106 degrees. Ooof.  We've gone swimming a couple of times and you are a big fan!  You just hang out in your float or in our arms and splash around.

This is not a fun first, but you were exposed to pertussis (whooping cough) this last week, but have made it through unscathed after a round of antibiotics.  We are keeping the prayers going for the next couple of weeks that you don't get sick!

Sharing toys at camp.  It's a little hard to see, but your hair is growing in the back!

Lyle Update: Still the best of friends.  It makes my heart so happy. 

What a fun summer it's been!  Looking forward to a little cooler weather, so we can be outside and enjoy it! We love you miss Aria Bauer Grace (as Lyle introduces you to everyone)!

Aria Grace: Seven Months

 

We have checked another month off of our calendars, and you definitely think you are big stuff!  We have hit some big milestones this month and you are quite proud of your accomplishments!

No measurements this month, but you still are the sweetest chunk around!  Your chubby thighs are to die for!  Any new clothes we buy are 12 month size.  Most of your 9 month clothes still fit (except for one-piece pajamas, which are high-waters by a couple inches!!).

Sleep- Mission "Sleep Through the Night" officially started this week.  Your patterns were getting worse instead of better, so now you don't get to eat every time you make a peep.  We have cut down to only one feeding a night, so that's an improvement!!  At home you nap great, usually 2-3 times a day.  At daycare you were having trouble settling down if you could see or hear anybody...I guess you wanted to get up and play instead of sleep.  Once they moved your crib you seemed to do better.  

Eating- We started solids this month, and although it took you a bit of time to warm up, now you love it!  We are doing a combination of baby-led weaning and regular baby food/cereal.  So far we've been able to just feed you whatever fruit or vegetable we are having, but soon I will probably puree a bunch of food to send with you to daycare.  I have a Baby Brezza and love that it will steam and puree all in one.  All I have to do is chop the food and come back when it is finished!

Likes-   Jumping.  You LOVE to jump.  I swear you can get a foot off the ground in your Johnny Jumper, and will be content in there forever.  You like to be outside and scoot to the edge of the blanket so you can feel the grass.  Often you are in the ERGO or hiking backpack if we go on walks, and you seem to like it pretty well. 

Milestones-  You started sitting by yourself this month and then a couple weeks later you were back on your tummy on the move!  Right now you are doing an inchworm crawl.  You get up on your hands and knees, then slide down and pull yourself forward, then back up on your knees.  Gone are the days of setting you down and thinking you will be there when I get back!  You love this new sense of freedom and use it to get right in the middle of Lyle's toys.  

Fun Firsts- You experienced your first harvest and combine rides this month.  We rode in the combine with Dad and you were mesmerized.  You were very content to sit on my lap and watch out the big windows.  We went on your first trip to Kansas City as well. 

 

Lyle Update:  I love watching you become friends.  You love to play with Lyle's toys, and although he will take them away sometimes, it's usually not in a mean way.  You love to be chased by him and he still gets the best giggles out of you.

Happy seven month birthday baby girl!  All the love.

21 Months

Your Dad will hate me saying this, but you are now 21 months.  Don't worry, I never say that when people ask how old you are.  It's hard to believe that in a few short months, you will be two! I am loving the age you are right now.  Learning to be independent and picking up everything like a little sponge.

Says:  Your vocabulary keeps growing!  I feel like you communicate really well, although sometimes I still have to interpret for other people.  You repeat new words after we say them, and then add them to your vocabulary.  You are able to name most of our family members, especially after spending Christmas together.  I was impressed when we told you Gigi and Gdad were coming to see you, and you asked if Mike was coming too!  You recognize things and call them by name.  Your Dad has been making sure you can identify all of the superheros. :)

Stats: I'm really not sure what you are measuring in at.  You are in 2T tops and jammies.  Some 18mo pants still fit you (mostly because you are on the short end-sorry!), but mostly you wear 2T for those as well.  We just bought you size 7 shoes...the old ones would not velcro across your feet anymore.

Sports Center or the Bachelor...which will win??

Loves: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse - you can name all the characters, and have started responding to the questions they ask in the show.  You get upset when they choose the wrong mouse-ka-tool!  Lately you get your stuffed Mickey, and sit him next to you on your little couch.  You still love the farm, going to feed the goats (doats!), and sitting in the combine.  Another favorite is to play games on the iPad.  "DumpTruck" and "Firetruck" are at the top of the list.  Whenever I am cooking in the kitchen, you are insistent on bringing over a chair, climbing up, and helping me finish whatever I am making.

Hates:  There is not much you do not like.  Vegetables don't always rank the highest, depending on your mood.

Sleeps: Right now you take a nap after lunch, then are ready for bed at about eight o'clock.  We read a couple books.  You usually ask for "Ho-Ho" (The Night Before Christmas) and "G Dog" (Go, Dog, Go!), finishing out with Dumbo or Sheep in a Jeep.  We never get through the whole book of any of them.  You just skip to your favorite parts!  After reading books, saying our prayer, and giving kisses, you go to bed really easy, and sleep till I wake you up about seven.  I try to squeeze a few more minutes out of you on Saturday mornings by bringing you into our bed.  Most of the time you are awake and goofy, so it doesn't last very long!  Last weekend you started jumping your bum back and forth, and after you licked me on my face, we got up! Hah!

Eats: When I ask you what you want to eat, most of the time you say, "sauce!"  which took me awhile, but means applesauce!  I was thinking you were crazy and wanted spaghetti all the time! :)  Your other favorites are cheese, macaroni, chili, spaghetti, fruit, yogurt, and M&M's.  We made french bread pizza's the other night, and you probably ate half the can of both mushrooms and black olives.  You definitely got that from your Dad and not me!

Does: Everyday I am impressed by something else you have learned.  You like to count, and if we ask you how many of something you want, you will hold up one hand and say "FIVE!"  You potty-trained really well, and have been consistent for the last few months.  You still wear a diaper at nap-time and bed-time, but the last few weeks you have been dry waking up from your naps.  You have been in a regular daycare for the last two months.  The first few weeks were rough with tears at drop-off and before pick-up time.  Thank goodness your Dad took you, I'm not sure I could have handled it.  We learned that a couple of M&M's made the transition smoother! :)  Now you are loving it.

What an awesome few months it has been.  We love your goofy personality and that you love to laugh.  You bring joy to everyone around you!

Eighteen Months

Our boy is one and a half!  How can that be?  I just finished your one-year photo book and it crazy to see the differences from a year ago! 

 

Eating bugles the right way!

There has not been a lot of change in the size department lately.  You weigh about 24 1/2 lbs. (50th percentile) and are about 31 1/2 inches (35 th percentile). Here's to hoping you still gain some of your Dad's height!  I think this is the first time in your life you have ever fit into age-appropriate clothes.  It seems so strange!

Your loves this past month or so have turned from basketball (and getting really good at catching a football) to the farm.  You love everything about the farm.  Every time we are in the car you ask "bomb bom-bine??" (Meaning where's the combine?) And you don't just ask it once. This question is on repeat. Sometimes we drive out of the way to make you happy. :) You also ask for the tractor and Papa (who takes you for rides in the combine and tractor). You still love to be outside.

 

You are getting the hang of coloring and putting puzzles together. You LOVE stickers (stick-sticks) and this is our secret weapon to keep you sitting still in church or at a restaurant.

You have learned all kinds of new words and are pretty good at communicating. You are so sweet when you say "hi" "bye" "night night" or "love you" in your cute high pitched voice.  You definitely still make friends everywhere! Most of the time you like to pray at supper (unless you decide to be shy) and then you throw your hands up in the air at then end and say "amen!" 

You  are such a good helper! You are good at picking up your toys, and like to help refill Charlie's food and water bowl. You especially like to give Charlie treats but we have to put a limit on that! You love to help Mama cook and we try to let you help as much as possible.

 

Helping Grammy sew

 

You are a very ornery boy! You love to tease and know what makes Mom and Dad laugh (which usually makes it hard to keep a straight face if you are in trouble.) I ask you for a kiss before bed, and you giggle and try to get out of my reach...but always give up in the end :) You have the best laugh...you go crazy when we tickle you! 

 

 

Although sometimes you wear us out, we are so grateful for the joy you bring into our lives.  We are excited to see what you learn and discover in the next few months, and are excited to celebrate holidays where you understand at least a little bit of what is going on!  We love you!

15 Month Letter

Lyle, Today you are 15 months old!  And since your buzz cut on Sunday you look so much more like a big-boy and so much less like a baby!

 

You have your check up on Friday, but I think you are weighing in about 24 pounds.  That puts you about at the 65%.  Much more normal than when you were in the 98% as a newborn. :) You seem to have leveled off a bit lately, but that might be due to all the running that you do! 

You are boy through and through.  You love to play outside, often standing at the door asking to go out.  Being outside is the one thing that will keep you occupied the longest; discovering sticks, rocks, grass, and chasing a ball around.  The sand box is usually a pretty big hit, and you are growing to like swimming a little more each time we go. 
 

You have a basketball goal in the house, and love to play "ba-ball."  You especially like Daddy or I to play with you, and will bring us the ball so we can shoot.  Annie taught you a game when you were leaning to walk, where you would "run, run, run, run....stop!"  Now we hear you running around the house saying "nun, nun, nun, nun...!"  You have learned to climb into chairs and on the couch, which then leads to reminding you to sit not stand!

 

Even though you are a tough boy, you are also still very lovey.  You give great hugs, snuggles, and kisses.  When we ask you to say "bye" or "night-night" you will blow everyone kisses. 

 

You like to look at books on your own, but I think we have made it through an entire book in one sitting, maybe once.  I'm hoping you will grow into a love for books, but we will see! 

You are learning all kinds of words.  Some I'm sure that only Daddy and I have learned to interpret, and others are pretty clear.  When all else fails you go back to sign language or point at what you want and say "this!"  Your newest words are:  hot, hat, fish, shoes, anma (your form of grandma/grammy-it sounds a lot like "mama" but different somehow), ketchup, light, ice, and ruff-ruff.  Last night during your bath, I was singing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" and after I finished you sang me your own song.  It was so cute!
 

Your favorite food is about any kind of fruit.  Whether I give it to you first or in the middle of your meal, you will stop eating the rest of your food until all the fruit is gone.  I think you ate 5 or 6 pieces of watermelon at Eli's party the other night.  Your other new favorite discovery is dipping.  Ketchup especially.  You will suck all the ketchup off a French fry, then dip it back for more!  You drink a couple glasses of milk a day, and other than that it is mostly water.  You get soo excited when we get ice and/or cold water from the fridge door!

We are working on potty training right now.  You caught on really quick, and love to wear your "big-boys!"  We have a few accidents occasionally, but other than naps and night time, you are good to go!

 

I love the age that you are right now (although I have loved every age).  I love to watch you discover new things, words, and accomplishments.  And I am so glad you so willingly give out your love. 

 

We love you Lyle Holden!