8 months!

Miss Elizabeth is now 8 months!!  This is such a fun and sweet age.... AND it's starting to get challenging as we face the new world of mobility.  Diaper changes are HARD.  There is no more just setting them done for a second because they aren't going anywhere.  All those little toys of Carson's are now potentially deadly because anything and everything in reach goes directly in the mouth.  Everything's been going in the mouth for a while, but now she can get just about anything in the room with a little army crawling and pulling up.

In terms of milestones or new skills, she's still army crawling, but she can certainly get where she needs to go.  She's also started pulling up.  She tries a lot and is starting to succeed more often, especially when she's got good stuff to grip on.  Her crib and the music table are the most common.  She definitely has it down in her crib!  And yes, we have lowered her mattress!

Food-wise, she's regularly been eating baby food at lunch and dinner. I'm trying to do breakfast too, but it doesn't happen often at home.  My fault.  It's crazy in the AM.  She usually will just eat 1-2 containers at dinner and 1 at lunch.  She enjoys it but certainly doesn't put down nearly as much as Carson did.  He was also a lot bigger.  She's only about 18 pounds.  He was 20-21 lbs. at 6 months! She is long though.  She has been pretty true to size with her clothes.  She's in mostly 6-9 month stuff and even still some 3-6 months, as long as it isn't a one piece.   We also just let her try Mum Mums and she seems to like them and being in charge of her own eating.

 

Elizabeth is still sleeping great most of the time.  She's woken up a few nights lately because she's not felt great, but most days she'll sleep from 7:30/8 to 7/7:30.  School naps aren't great.  She'll usually take 2-3, but most of the time they are only 30-45 minutes.  Any time she sleeps more than an hour, they are quick to point out that she took a "great nap."  When we're at home on the weekends, she usually sleeps at least 1.5 hours, often 2+.  When I picked her up from school on Thursday, she slept 3 hours at home!

She's had a little bit of a rough time lately.  She had a sinus infection, then developed thrush from the antibiotics, then a yeast rash from the thrush/antibiotics, then the flu and an ear infection, and continued to fight the yeast rash because of the antibiotics.  Thursday the school called because they thought she had chicken pox.  Yes, chicken pox.  Kids RARELY get that anymore because they are vaccinated against it.  Anyways, thank goodness it wasn't chicken pox.  I suspected she had gotten a bunch of mosquito bites the night before because we were all outside and she was just in a diaper (it was HOT).  I told them that when I dropped her off in the AM, but they thought they were spreading.  Again, the doctor said that she was fine.  I think they thought I was a little crazy, but again, I had to get the okay from a doctor before she could go back to school.  Better safe than sorry!

She still enjoys nursing, especially at night.  It really does calm her down.  She does NOT like taking medicine, so we've had to do the meds in her bottle to get it down without torturing her.  She LOVES to spit medicine or food she doesn't want right back at you.

She is just SO happy and will give just about anyone a smile.  She definitely has her time where she wants her momma, but she's usually happy to hang out and be held by anyone.  She loves to be outside and also just likes to be anywhere that she can observe stuff happening.  Her big brother is definitely her favorite entertainment.  He can always make her laugh, way more than anyone else can.  They LOVE bath time together!  She just splashes and laughs and laughs!!  I love it (even though they make a HUGE mess)!  Speaking of bath time... I know she'll kill me when she's a teenager, but she seems to have a thing for pooping in the tub.  There are often "evacuations" mid-bath!  YUCK.

She's said "ma ma" and "da da" but that's it. Last night she acted like she was trying to repeat "doggie"... she wasn't quite there, but it did seem like she was trying.  She sometimes acts like she's intentionally waving, but I'm not going to give her credit for that quite yet.  :-)

Elizabeth just continues to be such a joy and sweeter by the day!!  We love you!!!

Yep, that's my kid!

We VBS'd it up this summer and went to both Holy Cross and St. Charles VBS.  Carson had a couple friends from school in his class at each and seemed to have a great time.  BY FAR the best part of the whole thing was the little assembly they did at St. Charles.  Each class got up on stage and sang a cute little Jesus song and then all the kids got up there together and sang.  Carson was front and center.... 

A little past the half way mark (~2 min, after I pan across all the kids), Carson discovered what it meant to be front and center.  If you watch the whole thing from the beginning, don't mind the kid picking his nose on the front row.  Close you eyes when he decides to eat it.  Classic.

4th of July at the Lake

For the 4th of July , we went up to our lovely little trailer at Toledo Bend.  It was hot, but we just hung out in the shade, rode bikes, went swimming and fishing, ate hot dogs, and just enjoyed being in the good old U.S.A.

Sweet little American babies of mine!

Captain Carson!

I don't think I could even count how many times he did this!

The camp ground owners had a big party with washers, a DJ, and lots of food.  Carson was one of two places... playing washers or on the dance floor.

He was actually really good!

She's almost never unhappy when she's outside!

By the way.... a blow up raft makes a great play pen (for now at least).

Sweet baby...

Army Crawler

Any parent knows that when your kids become mobile, it becomes a totally different ball game.

Well, Miss Priss has been pretty wiggly for a while and can roll around all over the floor, but today she became a full-fledged "army crawler."

Sister is DETERMINED.

Look out, World!!  Elizabeth is on the move!!

After I filmed this video, she was all over the place on the living room floor, "crawling" from one thing to another.  Suffice it to say,  Carson has A LOT of toys that are small or could break in her mouth and become small.... dang it.  Let the child-proofing begin!!!

Not only is she on the move this way, she's been trying to pull up on a lot of stuff.... stuff that can easily fall over.  Again, dang it....things are about to get crazy!

We Both Might Have Teared Up a Little

So Elizabeth has said "Ma Ma" a lot.   There is no doubt when she's upset, she cries out for "Ma Ma".  I don't really remember when it first started... probably around 6 months.

BUT, last Sunday I was holding her and Andrew was making silly faces at her and plain as day, she said "Da Da."  It was so deliberate and sweet.  She was so happy and knew exactly that it was her "Da Da" that was making her laugh.  We looked at each other to see if we both caught it, and we did.  I think we both teared up a little.  It was just so precious.

She's said it quite a bit since... melt.my.heart.

6 & 7 Month Updates!

Well since Elizabeth is now 7 months and I never hit "Publish" on her 6-Month post, I thought I'd just lump them both together!

6 Months (May 26, 2014)

Wow! Our sweet little girl is already halfway to one! As I say every month, it's hard to believe she is already that old, but at the same time, I can't imagine life without her.

The six-month mark has come with hitting several big milestones. Right at six months or a couple days past, we noticed her first tooth breaking through.  She has had all of the signs of teething for a couple months, so I knew it would happen at any time. She did not waste any time, and both bottom teeth are already there.   I know that Carson got his first right at six months as well.

She is also on her way to being a sitter. Right at six months she could only go for a couple seconds, but now she is able to sit for a longer period of time.  She's not quite to the point that I would leave her on a hard surface and not be right there or surrounded by pillows.  In her crib or on carpet though are a different story. When she does fall over, it's usually in slow motion.  Every day she's sitting longer.... she's about 6 1/2 months now and sitting pretty good.

She is also much better at eating solids now, but she still is mostly just eating them at dinner time. She seems to like flavored rice and fruits the best. Pears, apples, and bananas are her faves.  She also has done pretty good with sweet potatoes, carrots, and friends. Green beans and peas are a different story.  I started sending them to school last week, but she doesn't eat very much at lunch.  She still likes to nurse, but usually only gets to at night or on the weekends. Sometimes I am able to in the mornings, but only if she's up early.

I need to find her stats, but I remember her being 15-something pounds, which was in the 40-45th percentile, and I can't remember her height, but it was in the 75th percentile.

Sweet Little Patient

She loves to swing!

Sweet Water Baby!

Ready to Swim at the Lake!

She loves bath time with Carson!

He makes her laugh more than anyone else!

Snuggling on Wannie's lap

How we Slip-N-Slide at our house...  

She loves playing with her big bro! 

7 Months (June 26, 2014)


Our sweet baby girl turned seven months this past week! The time just keeps on flying!


She is as sweet and precious as can be!  She still has a head full of "wild woman" hair and two little bottom teeth. Her hair is curly when wet but pretty straight when it's dry. She has a little rat tail when it's wet. I can definitely make a little ponytail on top of her head have even made pigtails!  Her eyes are still that dark gray so who knows what they will end up being.

She loves to smile and talk. I'm pretty sure she has said "Ma Ma."  When she is upset, which is not very often, she cries out "mama mama"... Or at least that is what it sounds like! 

She is now sitting up like a champ and has been for the last couple weeks. She definitely enjoys the new view!  She even pulled up in her crib the other night, which totally caught me off guard!  She will roll around the floor and can get her knees up underneath her, so I have a feeling she will crawl before Carson did. He took his sweet time and didn't crawl until nine months.  We put her on her tummy and put something out in front of her and sister definitely was going for it!  She is one determined little girl!

She still likes to nurse but only gets to in the morning and at night...I'm pumping at work.  We started solids at about 5 1/2 months, but she doesn't chow down like Carson did.  She will eat several tablespoons of cereal at dinner or a container of fruit or veggies. So far, she likes all the fruits and orange vegetables but hates green vegetables.  I don't blame her! Baby food green beans are pretty terrible!!  The Target brand has fruit & veggie mixes that she really likes, for example, the pear/butternut squash or pear/peas.  We never really have time in the morning to have a "meal" other than a bottle, but they have been trying to feed her solids before her lunchtime bottle.  Most days she'll only eat about 1/2 a container.

She is still sleeping all night and usually goes to bed between seven and eight and wakes up anywhere from 5 to 8.  She is teething right now and has a lot of congestion, so unfortunately it has been on the earlier side of that timeline.  For quite a while she was on a ~7:30pm - 6:30/7:00am pattern, but again, teething and congestion screwed that up a little.  She doesn't  nap great at school, but usually does at home. At school she usually takes 2 to 3 naps, but rarely are any of them over an hour. Most of the time they are only about 30 minutes.  At home her naps are usually at least 1.5-2 hours, sometimes more.

She seems to enjoy school, as much as a baby can. I know that the teachers certainly love her.  One of them described her as "squishy" versus "solid" (i.e. lovable and huggable) and someone is always loving on her.

She absolutely ADORES Carson, and he can always make her laugh.  She loves watching him or playing with him.  Bath time is the BEST now that they can take one together.  He'll entertain her while sitting on the floor or in her crib.  He also plays at the Exersaucer with her.

She is definitely a wiggle worm and diaper changes are now a challenge because she's always trying to roll around and reach for anything in sight.  NOTHING is safe... she is constantly grabbing at everything!  She is very good with her hands and loves to play with toys and pass them back and forth between hands.  Those hands always end up in her mouth too.  She is still a big time thumb sucker when she's tired or hungry.

We love you, Elizabeth Jane!!!  You have been and continue to be a dream baby!!!  Such a sweetheart!!

Cutest little rat tail!

Piggies!

Hand-in-mouth = Selfie fail 

Your mouth is a-okay though! 

Sister was NOT happy about now being able to get that cup, but she was going for it.  She kept doing this pose like she was skydiving.  She was able to push herself up and get it eventually.

His mini-me! 

A few fun videos over the last couple months!

Hanging out with my BFF Greta's little boy Walt when we were in Dallas.  They are a little over a month a part.  So precious!!

Hanging out with Meme

Green bean fail!

Bath time giggles!