Eighteen Months

Sugarcube, 

Today marks your eighteenth month of life and wowza, you're just so full of energy and sweet spunk these days! Each week you grow a little bit more in personality and skill, to where I often feel an extra breath is needed to keep up with how fast you're changing! 

You love being in the outdoors, exploring things like bugs, sticks, grass, trees and birds to name a few. Your favorite time of the day is when Daddy comes home and we load you into the stroller or your red wagon, taking the puppy's for their daily walk. You also love that we eat our fill of wild blackberries on these walks! Like most babies, you enjoy playing chase, tormenting the animals who are very good natured about it, dancing to all types of music, watching your favorite baby shows and walking (or running) through the house trying every phrase, voice range or giggle you can muster. It's very entertaining! One of my favorite things you do, is searching the house for flies and squashing them. I love it! We go around the house, in a sing song voice, saying "heeeeeeeere fly'ie-fly'ie-fly. We want to KILLLLLL YOU!" Once we find one, you'll yell out KILL IT (gee it) and then we do. Maybe a bit morbid but eh ;) It keeps you entertained and it's actually productive! Unlike all the messes you like to make, just as mommy finishes cleaning them up...

You talk sooooo much now baby girl. I couldn't even begin to count how many words you know. Some of your favorites are: drink (ink), kitty cat (kee ca), dada, mama, lights (ights), owl, cheese (eese), outside (ah si), hot, hi, bye bye, apple and cookie (kee). You also know phrases and commands like where is, what's that, say____, time for, wipe your ____ and lets go. You love to make animal sounds too. Some of your best ones are a snake hissing, elephant trumpeting, coyote howling, a kitty cat meowing, horse neighing, dog barking and dove cooing. And that's only just a few! As you can tell, mama is very proud of how well you talk and how intelligent you are! 

You have so many facial expressions too. You're a true ham! You've keyed into the fact that you can make mommy and daddy laugh, so you love to get our reactions on the daily. Sometimes that can be bad thing, ha! We certainly shouldn't find your little baby fluffs so adorable, but we do! And you noticed. So now you constantly go around trying to make yourself toot, and immediately look at us with the cutest, most innocent grin when you succeed. THAT is really hard not to laugh at!!! Oh my. What are we going to do with you baby girl...We just love you so much! 

You've certainly made friends with daddy again, since his return, which makes me sooooo happy. It took some time but we've really noticed the past 2 weeks a shift in who you think is the coolest. And it definitely isn't momma! I don't mind one bit. I love watching daddy get "most" of your sweet hugs and slobbery kisses where he missed out on so many during the deployment. You love sitting on daddy's lap while watching him kill space ships on the computer, getting so excited when one crashes and burns, haha! You both also enjoy making shadows on the wall with a flash light, wrestling on the floor and of course, playing chase! Playtime with daddy is just the best...Currently, some of your favorite toys are dinosaurs, little cars and trucks, your stuffed dog that rattles, the dogs leads because they chase you around the house thinking we're going for a walk, your musical piano and your peek-a-boo barn book on mommy's iPhone. You climb everything to chairs, beds, the kitchen table, toilets, couches and the coffee table. This makes me so nervous! I know one day I won't be able to catch you when you fall,  but keeping you off items is just impossible... 

Sleepy sleepy time (bedtime) is probably the sweetest moment of our day; a time mommy really looks forward to and not just because it means I'll have time to sit down... I've worked hard to establish a routine you can count on, knowing what's coming, so going to bed is NOT a battle of fit ands tears. We go upstairs with your blankie (nigh nigh) in hand, a bottle of warm milk, turn on your soft lullabies, the overhead fan, sit in the softest glider ever and just cuddle! You usually drink your milk, then we spend a few minutes, you cradled in my arms, where we explore each others faces and mommy does silly things like making bug eyes ( you die laughing) and trying to catch the baby's tongue. I love it! It really ends my day right where I leave your room smiling and feeling all warm, fuzzy and connected to my baby. Never stop being so fun and sweet Sugarcube. It's one of the best things about you! I hope this routine of our's lasts for sometime...   

Oh my, you are just so fun! Looking at this photo makes me smile so hard. You love to eat dirt baby girl, but apparently not today :) However, things you do love to eat are hummus, green peas, green peppers, chicken nuggets, mac'n'cheese, anything labeled a fruit including tomatoes, spaghetti, quinoa, cheese, anything bread like, eggs, pancakes, mini homemade pizzas, graham crackers, otter-pops and raisins. We try and explore new food combinations 1-2 times a week, which keeps mommy motivated to cook yummy dinners. This, daddy also loves and thinks is for him, but it's really for you baby girl ;) It's important to me that we keep you growing, eating healthy and expanding your love of good food choices... But shhhhhh...don't tell Daddy... it'll be our little secret!    

Your last well check up, done at 16 months, you weighed 22 lbs (putting you in the 28th percentile) and stood 32 inches tall ( putting you in the 70th percentile.) You are right on track for development skills and even ahead on some things, like eating with a spoon, drinking from a cup and all the words and phrases you say. Over the last 2 months, you've really perfected spoon eating and drinking from a cup, although you still take a sippy mostly and do a lot of finger food still. You've had seven teeth explode through in less than a month, where you now have 12 teeth! I felt so sorry for you baby girl, although you handled it like a champ, giving mommy yet another reason to brag on her baby :)  Right now we're working on identifying colors, shapes and body parts, counting to three and sorting. You love to learn and are so focused on the task at hand. Very much like both your parents!  

Daddy and I've been doing a lot of "future" talk... Touching on things like, who you'll be when you grow up. What things will you remember and like about us as parents. And what things will you throw out when you have children of your own. Its conversations like these that really make me appreciate you're still just our small, little baby, writing about your eighteenth month instead of your eighteenth YEAR! I really want to freeze frame this time with you, especially now... This age is such a fun period, as you develop your love of laughter, having fun and exploring the world around you. Never forget that Daddy and I love you deeply Sugarcube; more than we knew a heart could love! Thank you for being ours and thank you for being you; a fun, loving, sweet, impish, determined, intelligent, cuddly, absolutely beautiful baby! 

Happy 11 Months!

SugarCube, 

you're 11 months old today! And I have two thoughts rolling around in my head--- "How did this even happen!" You're going to be an entire year old, thirty-two days from now. WHAT??!! I can't even begin to comprehend this, as I think back on the day we brought you home. The other thought I have is,  "you're looking so much like a little girl now and not so much like a baby-baby..." This makes me sad in some ways. But in other ways, I'm excited! It's such a privilege to see you grow, turning into this little person, all your own... 

I know you'll be reading this someday when your grown, and be thinking the same thing as I am right now, "you have the sweetest smile!" It certainly melts your Grammy and Grampy and there's no question about your Mum ;) Morning time is the best right now. You and I share a room so every morning when you wake, I get to see your beaming face peeking over the crib at me. No matter how tired I am, it always melts my heart and I can't help but pick you up! 

You continue to be such an inquisitive, focused baby. When something catches your attention, it's really hard to pull your thoughts away from it. Kinda like, taking pictures today, lol!

You still have the bluest of blue eyes and your hair continues to lighten into this beautiful strawberry blonde. You haven't been to a doctor since leaving Washington, so we're not really sure of your growth.You were due for a checkup today, but the military base here in Arizona do things a bit differently. They make appointments 3 months apart instead of 2. So if I had to guess, I'd say you've grown another 2 inches going from 28.4" inches to 30.4" and you've definitely gained weight too. In previous months, you consistently gained 2 lbs between visits, so we'll just say your somewhere between 18-19 lbs now. Still a little bean but healthy and happy :)

This month you acquired both of your front teeth! And I cannot believe I actually snapped a shot where I caught you showing all four!! Daddy will be so happy. He's been wanting to see this! When he left in November, you only had the one small tooth in your bottom gums, and barely at that! So to have four is fantastic! We just definitely have to watch sticking fingers in your mouth now ;)   

You continue perfecting your squats and standing unassisted (you do this for minutes at a time) but the biggest milestone of the month was your FIRST STEP! You did this on 01.06.12 at 10 months, 3 weeks. Here's a few photos taken during the excitement. Not the best pictures and you can't see the step, but for the sake of picture documentation ;) We did get it on video though, so daddy could see! 

You were so proud as we all clapped and cheered and made such a big deal. IT WAS A BIG DEAL! You took 3 steps in total that day, but not all at once. However you haven't offered to take anymore since. You're so strong and are definitely ready to take off SugarCube, but I understand you still need time to build a bit more confidence :) No rush. I'm definitely enjoying the dependency of hand held walking and the fact that you still need me, ha! 

This is your new (adorable) face and I just love that it was caught on camera. This is the "look" you get when you don't like something (usually a new food) or something isn't going your way, which translates into being told "No. That isn't for little hands." It's hard not to laugh when your just so cute, with the scrunched nose, snorting air in and out as quick as you can. Complete frustration! You typically match this with quick swishing of your feet too, for more effect, which throws me into silent hysterics!!! Here, I'm telling you to put the rock down because one, it's dirty. But two, you grind your teeth on everything. That alone has me coming unglued, but mommy doesn't want you chipping those perfect new baby teeth! 

Currently, you're in 9 month onesies and tops, with 12+ month pants for the length. Size 4-5 diapers depending on the brand (although we might need to go up a size soon) and size 3 shoes. I've noticed you seem to stay within the course of one size behind in your tops and one size ahead in your bottoms each month. I hope this continues because it makes shopping ahead of season really predictable and easy!

You have so many new behaviors, it's hard to record them all! Your speaking a bucket load of new syllables, your newest ones being naa naa, and you also added 2 new words "hotdog" and "diggity"  although you haven't offered to say them again since. Your probably wondering where in the world, did she pick that up and all I have to say is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. If you've ever watched this show, you know the exact song, which she has us singing over and over ;)    

I'm also noticing the need to tighten up on sweeping the floors and being more aware of what's in my daughters hands. already this week, she's given me two major scares, praying to GOD she didn't swallow the missing piece of whatever she handed me. One of them being a little running light the size of a penny that hooks on my zipper. I got it for Christmas but hadn't taken it off the cardboard backing yet. She handed me the backing, but with no zipper light! Grammy found it under the bed later that day, much to my relief, PHEW! We made jokes afterwards, that I'd know the moment it came through the other end, because "that" particular diaper would be glowing, haha!

You're just full of little antics too. My favorite is the "chase me" game. You know your not allowed in Grampy's office, too much to choke on and not a safe place for babies, but every day I find myself chasing after you down the hall; your crawl, worthy of Nascar speeds, lol!

You've also learned the difference between mommy's homemade baby food and your Gerber yogurt cups. I've had to learn to pull the yogurt out last, otherwise you refuse to try even one bite of your other foods, even though you love these foods! You push anything and everything around on the floor too, the latest being the jumbo Pampers Diaper box because it makes screeching noises as you corner around the kitchen island ;)  

This next month is going to be awesome as you learn to walk and explore baby girl! I cannot wait to see all of the things I'll be writing about as well as showing off your 1st. birthday bash! Daddy and I love you so much puddin'face... Continue to grow, learn and be healthy. Never lose that sweet smile and always remember you mean the world to us!

9 Months (2 Months Late)

Mommy is so behind on your monthly updates SugarCube! So in a desperate attempt to catch up, I'll be doing a blogging marathon throughout the night because I literally lose sleep over this! Here is the first installment of 3 ;) 11.12.2012 was your 9 month birthday.  This month was such an explosive time for milestones that I just couldn't allow it to go missing from your baby book. That's why mommy's trying so hard to keep up with these ;)  

In actuality, I wrote this very post ALLLLLLLLL the way back in November. I didn't post it because 11.12.2012 was the day we hugged and said goodbye to daddy for nine months. We were kinda a wreck that day. I also wanted to wait until we were clear of OSPEC (army rules telling us how to keep daddy safe) so mommy could add this in your monthly update; daddy leaving was kinda a big deal to us this month! But I think 2 months later is a little extreme--- 
~ Here We Go~
This month, BY FAR, has been your biggest for milestones.  I'm STILL reeling from all the new things you're doing! However, I want to give you a BIG HUG for doing all you have, before daddy left! It was a great feeling to experience a lot of your firsts with him, so thank you sweetie! 
One of our biggest moments of the month, was getting to hear you say your first word(s) MAMA and DADA (baba) in the same day! We love you equally, so it's only natural you share this joy with us equally, heehee! You had just woken from an afternoon nap when mommy went to change your diaper. I hadn't even gotten you placed on the changing table when I heard "Mama, maaaaaama, mum, mum, mum, mama" I was blown away! Nothing could have prepared me for how warm and emotional that moment would feel! It wasn't long after that, when you copied me saying "dada."I have literally, been working on this since the first week you were brought home! It was mommy's dream that you say it before daddy deployed and you did! Right now, it's coming out more like "baba" but I hear the workings of a "d" in there more, now that your practicing it:)   

Next up is your first tooth! Mama failed to get pictures :(   Daddy noticed it while Mommy was running your evening bath. You two were playing together, you biting on daddy's fingers as usual. But this time, it gave daddy a shock because there was something sharp in those little baby gums! I was certain your first tooth would be that molar you've been nursing, but instead, there it was, a cute little white nub popping through your bottom frontal gums! We've been waiting for that SugarCube! This definitely explains why you've been so fussy during your afternoon naps and waking more at night:) Kind of like, right now. It's 9:30 p.m and I hear you upstairs saying "baba, baba, baaaaaaba." So cute! But you really do need to go back to sleep sweetheart!   

This month, you've also mastered pulling up and standing on your own. Last night I even saw you "one hand" the couch contemplating letting go! You bailed on that thought though, after the leg wobbles sent you to the carpet :) I can also see the workings of your first "handholding" steps! If you could talk, I know you'd tell me your thoughts and that's DEFINITELY what you're thinking about doing next; holding onto something while walking! You've recently found the stairs (oh joy!) Daddy fostered that curiosity over the weekend and taught you how to climb all the way to the top, 14 stairs baby girl!!! You're such a strong baby and growing so fast...

Which reminds me of your latest measurements! We had your 8 month check-up at 8.5 months. Mommy forgot to schedule that on time. So your weight was 16.4 lbs putting you in the 14th percentile (you've been there for a while) and you continue to grow at 28.4 inches tall, 74th percentile! Long and skinny :) You had your 2nd Hep B and HIB shots as well. We're working on catching up with your vaccines because mommy just doesn't like all those shots being given to you at once...     You continue to love solid foods and have tried so many! I've created a monster though. I still make your baby food, so now you refuse to eat the store bought stuff when I need you too. Which I kinda need you too start liking it soon. I'm not sure what we're going to do on the road trip to Arizona if you still refuse it. So far you still love avocado, sweet potatoes and any fruits I feed you. You've added a few new ones to the favorites though, which is fun because I thought you would never broaden your palette. You have tried black beans, corn, pumpkin (with a dash of sugar) chickpeas, chicken and beef and given it your stamp of approval! You still refuse anything green, mostly peas and green beans. 

You're even more vocal this month with likes and dislikes; letting us know with small crying fits when we interfere with something you're after. It's pretty short lived though. Mostly you get upset when you're not allowed to play with electrical wires, the dogs bowls with or without kibble, the gas fireplace when it's turned on, and the kitty litter box, ewwww! 

You absolutely L.O.V.E your morning shows, the Micky Mouse Clubhouse, Little Enstines and Octonaughts! You're fascinated by the bright colors and catchy songs. You actually start bouncing up and down when Micky Mouse starts singing the "hot dog, hot dog, hot diggity dog" song which makes me smile and sing along! I'm not one of those parents who allows you to watch t.v all day long, but I don't see any harm in giving you a few shows to enjoy and learn from. We only watch educational shows by the way and will continue that way for sometime! 

Your latest form of interaction is trying the copy cat card. I like to cluck my tongue at you and recently you've been repeating it! You even pay attention to how many clucks and how fast, then try to copy it. It's awesome!!! You really are so smart SugarCube. This next month is going to go by so fast. I'm excited to see what your next update will bring! Maybe walking, although I can totally wait for that! You've done so much already :) Just keep growing, being healthy and happy and the rest will come. We love you Alyssa and look forward to all the many more smiles and blessed days we have with you...   Love Mama & Daddy             

7 Months

Oh my goodness, where to start! This has been, by far,  your busiest month yet SugarCube! 

You're closer to eight months at this point and just full of lil' personality... Some of this new personality is fun but other parts... Well, Mama's going to need to keep an eye on:) 

You've hit some major mile stones this month SugarCube. Like CRAWLING, sitting unassisted as well as picking up and placing small snacks in your mouth! I can't get over how quickly you developed these new skills. One minute your struggling to sit up on your own and the next, your crawling! You figured the crawling thing out last night, right before bed. You'd been having trouble with moving your hands after your knees but the new amber bead bracelet mommy had on your wrist solved that. You'd zone in on your "bling" trying to grab it by moving your hand. After only a few tries, you figured out that moving your hand eliminated the face plants you'd come to know well. Such a smart girl!! Daddy was at work during this but don't worry, mommy took a video of it and sent it to him. He was so proud and cannot wait to see you in action himself!

Mommy has a hunch that your next mile stone will be your first word. Your baby-babble is less slobbery "raspberries" these days and more like mutated words. Just yesterday I swear I heard you say "da" as I was changing your diaper! I would be over the moon if that was your first word. Daddy is leaving us soon to go play in a HUGE sandbox (a lot like the one you'll have one day) and it would make him so happy to hear you say "dada" before he leaves. So lets keep working on that one. Okay!

As for your growth. You had your 6 month well visit, closer to your 7th month, and the diagnoses was, you have a big noggin, fat feet and huge pupils! Your feet are so plump that the Dr. couldn't get your vitals there and had to use your wrist instead. Apparently your pupils do not dilate to small pin points either, when bright light is shone into them, however that isn't effecting your sight at all. And for your large melon, well... Dr Walsh was concerned at first and insisted on remeasuring but urns out you just had major cranial growth in 2 months. You tipped the scales at 15 lbs (just a lil' peanut) but measured long at 26"! Everyone we meet in public remarks how tiny you are, which they're really saying your petite. And I guess they are right. You have the smallest features, but then mommy did too when she was a baby. Your lips are so tiny and perfect and your nose is just the sweetest little button on a perfectly soft, angular face. I look at a lot of babies your age and most of them have you beat in the chub department. Equally adorable! But I think it's safe to say, with mommy's petite frame and daddy's height, you were never going to be a chunky delight:)  

Daddy and mommy have decided your a pretty serious baby. Don't get me confused. You love to smile  those gummy grins and giggle when mama plays "tickle bug" but most of the time you have this serious look plastered on your face. A lot like the expression above. I used to worry this meant you weren't a happy baby. That I wasn't smiling or laughing enough to teach you the same. But I've since revoked that thought. I had to think back when I was a kid. I was pretty serious too and still am, to a point. Why I used to work as a waitress but had to quit. Tips were terrible because of it! I'd be so focused on tasks that I would forget to smile and talk. Mommy's boss was always correcting that. Why, even daddy adopted the name "Serious Sam" as a kid because of his focused brow. So you see baby girl. You are a perfect replica of the people who love you the most!  

Some fun growth markers: You're currently in size 3 diapers and size 2 shoes. Most of your shirts and onsies are 6-9 months but your pants are always 9-12 months; you have some serious long legs! Your really in need of your first hair cut but mommy thinks she'll just pull it back until you can sport a cute ponytail. Those are the cutest on little girls. I can't wait! 

You've pretty much taken control of the mother ship, known as solid foods. I make no mistake who is calling the shots. You've never been a huge eater but with 21 ounces of formula a day, being your cut off, you really don't have room to refuse your milk! However, you can and do! Mommy tries to withhold your gooey puree to work your formula in, but your demands for bananas, avocado, carrots, pears, green beans, etc usually win. Just today you got hungry around 5:00 p.m. I could hear your belly growling and it sounded like an empty drum. I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to sneak an extra 6 ounces of milk in but you threw a fit! We're talking, crying, thrashing, wiggling, clamped gums, the whole nine. The minute I gave in and sat you in your Bumbo, you quieted right down and waited patiently as I unthawed your food. It was funny and frustrating, all at the same time! You proceeded to eat 3 cubes of carrots, 2 cubes avocado and 2 cubes applesauce along with a handful of apple cinnamon puffs. Wow. I don't know what to say. I guess you and I are in for a magical dance baby girl. 

Oh joy! 

On the other hand, I really couldn't ask for a sweeter natured baby. You barely cry except when you're hungry and sleepy. You have such a gentle spirit and an even gentler touch to go with it. You love mommy's hair, the doggies fur, the cats tail and daddy's chin scruff. You treat each thing as if it's a fragile potato chip, and you're in fear of breaking it. It's the sweetest thing! Sweetness over load dos; your new game of "wake up mommy." I've been rocking you to sleep a few nights a week and to demonstrate, I close my eyes first. You love to take your lil' baby hand and softly brush it over my eyes, as if to say "wake up mommy!" When I open my eyes, you give me the sweetest smile and we play all over again. I know. Not the best way to get you to sleep;) But it's so fun seeing you create and initiate a game at 7 months! I can't resist...

In short. You are perfect SugarCube. Mommy and Daddy are so in love with you and love watching what each month brings. We couldn't ever imagine knowing a life without you, void of this deep love. We'd do anything to keep you safe and feeling cherished and so far, I think we're doing a good job:) Looking forward to the day when you give hugs and say things like "I love you" but until then, the smiles and soft gleam in your eye is enough:)

MWAH!

Love,

Mama and Dada