18 months...what?!?

Cate Elisabeth, I cannot believe you are 18 months old. It seems like just yesterday we were celebrating your first birthday, and that was six months ago, half a year ago, and in another six months, you will be two! What?!?!  Really, it seems like just yesterday I had you and we were in the hospital. How time does fly when you're having fun!
At 18 months you:
~are 27lbs 3oz - 80%, and 33 inches 85%. (we've moved out of the 90%!!) You had a great pedi visit last week. Dr. T. said, once again, you are a "great grower," and VERY healthy! 
~are doing SO much now, it's getting hard to actually sit and think of everything you are doing, so hopefully I hit all the highlights.
~are a typical busy toddler, that likes to do your own thing, on your own schedule=) 
~say "dada" "mama" "please" "yes" "bye bye" "ba (Bernie)" "no no no"
~ say the following animal noises: goat, horse, cow, monkey, snake, bird, lion/bear/tiger (just open mouth=)
~are very close to saying MANY other things!
~love your books, when you look at the baby books with pictures of food in them you out your face to the book and smack your lips like you are eating it.
~follow pretty much any and all commands. You know what SO many things are and can understand pretty much everything.
~like to feed Bernie and watch him eat
~started being very affectionate, giving hugs, love, kisses, hugs with pats, etc. You love on your babies, and you are finally getting ok with mama lovin' on other babies.
~love being outside.
~still sign for "more" and "eat" when you want to
~have gotten a lot more teeth! All four canines are coming in right now, and you also got one more on the bottom.
~are a fantastic (healthy) eater STILL! The things you don't like are supposedly kids' staples like mac and cheese, chicken nugget, pizza, hot dogs, etc., and let's hope it stays that way!
~are moving from 18 month clothes to 24m, size 4 diapers, size 5 shoes
~sleep from 7:30pm-7am, are down to one nap anywhere from 2-3 hours, have been doing that for about a month now.
~are becoming such a big girl. It's exciting, but sad at the same time. I still cuddle you as much as I can, whenever I can and love on you SO much, call you my baby, because you always will be=).  Your daddy and I just love every second, every day, every minute we have with you, every tantrum, every cry, every whine, every smile, every giggle, every hug, every kiss just brings us smiles. Every day brings us so much fun, laughter, and yes, frustration, but this whole season of life with you has been so much more than your daddy and I have ever imagined! 

15 (1/2) months!

I can't believe I have a 15 month old toddler running around our little casa! Most of the time I am too busy chasing after her to think about it, and other times, it's such bliss to think and see that we have this beautiful little girl, our beautiful little girl, toddling around EVERYWHERE! She is doing SO many things now, I know this list is long, and I'm sure some things are left off, but here is what we could think of...
Cate Elisabeth, at 15 months you:
~are 25lbs 1oz - 80%, and 33 1/2 inches - off the charts. You had a great pedi visit last week. Dr. T. said, once again, you are a "great grower," and VERY healthy! You even passed the finger prick test and tested negative for anemia! YAY!!!
~are running around everywhere, there's no stopping you, pictures are near impossible.
~play play play all day.
~still love Mickey, Sesame Street, and Super Why
~say "dada" - sounds like "dada," "mama" - sounds like "vava," working on those "M's" but for now, I am "Va Va!,"  "please" - which sounds like a grunting sound, I don't even know where to begin spelling it, but you make the same sound every time we ask you to say "please," (I may post a video of it) and you are starting to really focus and maybe try to say more words when we ask you!
~know other family members Gigi, Pops, Auntie Ash, Jojo, and Grandpa very well now, and will point to them when we ask where is...?
~love to sing ABC's, Itsy Bitsy Spider, 1,2 buckle my shoes, and really just singing in general. When we ask you to sing, you will say "yayayayaya," so precious.
~love to look at and "read"books
~follow pretty much any and all commands, for example one day I asked you to "go get mama's water bottle," which was across the room on the floor, you stopped what you were doing and went and got it, and brought it to me! So amazing to see everything you understand!
~started throwing balls and other things, thank you Pops for teaching her that!=)
~like to feed Bernie and watch him eat
~love dogs in general, you point and wave and just stare at them
~have gotten really good at blowing kisses and waving hi and bye bye
~love being outside.
~can shake your head no for when you don't want something, point to what you do, and still sign "more", "eat" and we are working on "thank you," but it's so similar to blowing kisses, not sure if we will get that one...
~can identify body parts(touch when we ask), your nose, head, toes and as of yesterday, your ears!
~have four front teeth, two front bottom, four one year molars, and the back ones are on their way in, hello Humphrey's!
~are a fantastic (healthy) eater. The things you don't like are supposedly kids' staples like mac and cheese, chicken nugget, pizza, hot dogs, etc., and let's hope it stays that way!
~are in 18 (maybe some 24, depending on brand) month clothes, size 4 diapers, size 5 shoes
~sleep from 7:30pm-7am, still take two naps still, one-one hr in morning and one 1-2 hr in afternoon
~are the most fun EVER! I can only imagine the fun yet to come! You bring us SO much joy everyday and have everyone who loves you wrapped around your little finger. Every "stage" (as I have referred to them before) keeps getting better and better, and this toddler stage is something else. We can't wait for you to just start babbling and talking our ears off. We know it won't be long! We love you SO much!

One. Year. Old?!

Not quite sure how this is possible, but at one year you:
~ weigh an estimated 24 lbs
~ feed yourself everything with your hands, there still isn't much you don't like
~have gone from taking 6 steps last month, to taking 11 at a time, to 15, to 20+! You are toddling/walking all over the place.
~say bye bye (ba ba). Dada ( da da), call the birds, (caaaa caaaa caaaa), all on demand
~show us how big you are when we ask, "how big is Cate?"
~signed more for the first time on 7/21. Daddy and I kind of gave up on the signs, but today you did it for Pops for the first time...and you did it enough times where I could actually get it on video!;)
~understand snack/eat/breakfast/lunch, When I ask you if it's "snack time, breakfast, or lunch time?" or "Do you want a snack/eat?" You stop whatever you are doing look at me, and reach for me to pick you up to your high chair, eating is a serious deal around here!
~like to "knock-knock." When you are by a door or window, we say "knock-knock" and you make a fist with your hand and knock on it! SO cute!
~can stack up to 5 blocks, then you LOVE to knock them down!
~give the sweetest kisses! Mommy or daddy ask you for a "kiss kiss" like Elmo says, and you lean in for kisses!
~still love people in general, especially kids, babies and your friends!
~ are still very independent, and if we take something away from you, say a cell phone, or something else you are not really suppose to have, you let us know that you don't really like that
~ have your two top teeth now, the lateral incisor on the left, and the one on the right is working too
~ are still mimicking different sounds that we make, and today you even did one off of your favorite show, Super Why. You said Ba ba after Wyatt did. I couldn't believe it!
~ love watching "Super Why," "Cat in the Hat," "Sesame Street" or "Mickey Mouse"
~ have an eating schedule like this: three meals, two snack and nurse at night before bed (which will probably end this week!). You drink milk in a sippy at breakfast lunch and dinner.
~ are still in 18-24 month clothes, size 4 diapers, size 3 shoes
~ still sleeping thru the night, 7pm (or so) until 6:30am, napping twice a day, 1 hr in the morning and 1-2 in the afternoon
~ are an absolute "doll" as most people say=) You are such a happy, content baby. You have blessed us beyond what we could have ever imagined. Our world completely revolves around you and we wouldn't have it any other way. You fill our lives with joy and brighten us with happiness and Mommy and Daddy are SO excited to see what this next year brings!=)

11 months!

Cate Elisabeth, the past few months it's been near impossible to get one of these "monthly shots." So, we take what we get, and most of the time, they turn out better if I (rather than daddy and I) just quickly dress you, plop you in the chair, snap a pic, and in this month's case...let you hold one of your bath rubber duckies, that is squirting out water...=)
At 11 months you:
~ weigh an estimated 24 lbs
~ feed yourself everything with your hands, there still isn't much you don't like
~ have taken your first itty bitty baby steps, as of yesterday you took 6, you can prop yourself up off the floor into a standing position, and are walking with your walkers, including the laundry basket, like a pro.
~ still are saying ba, da da, ad da, and ma, and you know who your ma ma and da da are.
~ you have become VERY gigglie, especially at strangers when you try to get their attention
~ have gone from your fist wave/point/hi/bye bye, to an actual point and wave
~ are becoming very independent, and if we take something away from you, say a cell phone, or something else you are not really suppose to have, you let us know that you don't really like that
~ cut your two top teeth, and I think the ones on each side of those are on their way
~ are starting to mimic different sounds that we make
~ LOVE swimming in the pool and at the beach=)
~ love watching "Super Why," definitely your fave over "Cat in the Hat" "Sesame Street" or "Mickey Mouse" if you are fussy, tired, teething, etc. this show will stop you in your tracks and you will just sit there and watch it, like you did "Wheel of Fortune" when you were a baby. It's seriously magic, and this show grants 30 minutes of silence and calmness if you (of mama=) need it.
~ same eating schedule, 3 meals, one snack and nurse twice a day, and have milk in a sippy the rest of the times, however, with those top two teeth coming in, we are going to work on dropping one more nursing this week...
~ are still in 18-24 month clothes, size 4 diapers, size 3 shoes
~ still sleeping thru the night, (even with teething, and going on vacation!!!!) 7pm until 7am, napping twice a day, 1 hr in the morning and 1-2 in the afternoon
~ are an absolute delight! We have SO much fun with you every day, you make us crack up at your facial expressions, noises, sounds, and I told Daddy last night, I can't wait until you really start talking, and we really see and hear your real personality=) We aren't quite sure where you get your bubbly, outgoing personality, I guess mostly from me, we know it's not daddy, but it sure is cute!

10 Months!

Cate Elisabeth, I simply cannot believe you are 10 months old, and in two short months, we will be celebrating your birthday. SO exciting!!!
At 10 months you:
~are still about the same weight as last month, 22.5 lbs, but we think you have gotten a little taller!
~are still crawling and cruising up a storm! You are FAST and can definitely get to where you want to go. You cruise along the furniture, pull up on anything you can, your most favorite is pulling up on the window sill and looking outside. You are also taking assisted steps!
~can stand alone for about 15 seconds, and with your balance improving, these seconds get longer every day
~clap when we say "yayyyy" or ask you to clap
~are giggling, and it's SO cute! We will say "haha" and you say it back
~LOVE singing itsy bitsy spider, POP goes the weasel, and patty cake
~have a new trick where you put your small toys, balls, blocks, etc. up on the couches end tables and window sills, pretty cool if I must say so myself!
~are saying "ma, da, ga, ba," a few other noises, and move your mouth up and down, open and close like you are trying to say things. You say dada, and the other day when I came down the stairs, you saw me and said "ma!" Melted my heart. You definitely know who we are and are constantly babbling, so it's just a matter of time before we hear those words all the time.
~still love your shows, The Cat in the Hat, Mickey Mouse, Sesame Street and Super Why.
~bounce like crazy in your bouncer
~love to be flipped over and play "upside down baby," we may have a gymnast on our hands!
~love to explore everything
~are transitioning to eating more and more real people food! You have been feeding yourself blueberry pancakes, cheese, guacamole, yogurt bites, small bites of bread, beans, pasta. It's SO fun!
~are in 18-24 month clothes, size 4 diapers, and size 3 shoes!!
~eat 3 food meals, 1 food snack, and nurse 4-5 times a day, we are working on weaning, so about 2 of these nursings are actually in a sippy cup
~are taking 1 hour morning nap, 2 hour afternoon nap, and sleeping 12 hours straight again!!! YAY! Mama is SO happy! Bedtime is still around 7, and you wake up between 7-7:30!
~are SO SO SO much fun. Daddy and I just enjoy you SO much! We love watching you develop into your own little person. You amaze us with your skills, what you can and think you can do! You seem to have no fear, keep us busy with excitement and we wouldn't trade it for anything! We love you SO. VERY. MUCH!

Nine Months!

Oh sweet baby girl, how are you now nine months?!?!
At nine months you:
~are est. 23 lbs and 28 inches, last we measured (pedi appt next week for official stats)
~are crawling and cruising everywhere
~are pulling to stand on anything you can, letting go for a few seconds, and within the past week, you have taught yourself to bend those knees and have gentle landings on your toosh, verses just letting go and falling;)
~keep mama VERY busy (and tired) keeping up with you. You are ALL over the place, and you don't miss a thing!
~love to look under mama's rugs and find the rug stoppers
~think its funny to rip off your bibs, we don't even try to put them on anymore
~started "walking" while pushing an empty diaper box, so mama bought you a walker, and we are working on that
~have a new found interest in many, if not all of your toys. You are very interested in their functions, bang and turn all the buttons, etc. One of them will keep you interested only for a little bit and then you are on to the next thing.
~you definitely understand object permanence and LOVE playing peek-a-boo! You look for us when we hide and pop out behind a wall or the couch, and we get lots of grins and giggles=)
~love playing "upside down baby", mama or daddy turn you upside down and you just give the biggest smiles
~started doing "acrobatics" as we call them, after playing upside. We turn you upside down, then you put your hands down on the ground, bring your head out and up and we flip you over! You love it and once we start, you just want to do it over and over again!
~still love to go outside and swing
~started watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Sesame Street, and Cat in the Hat. Many times when the shows ask you questions, you answer on cue!!! That's my girl!!!
~are still saying ma, da, ah da, etc. We are working on mama and dada. Hopefully we will hear those sweet sounds soon!
~started imitating us, so we are working waving Hi, Bye bye, and other things.
~have mastered the "pinch and grasp" and are feeding yourself yogurt melts! SO cute!
~are a clapper! You clap for yourself when you successfully feed yourself, when mama and daddy say "yay Cate," and clap for you, other random times, and you clap for Bernie when he walks by;)
~finally drank a 4oz serving of mommy's milk out of your sippy yesterday!! PROGRESS!
~have had a bit of a change up in your sleeping patterns, most likely due to teething, growth spurt, and being so active, but after a couple of months on and off, we are getting back on track! Thank goodness=) Your bedtime is still the same, 7pm, waking a time or two during the night, and napping 3 times a day.
~are still following the same eating schedule, and nursing 5 times a day
~are in 18 month clothes, size 4 diapers

We love you SO much sweet girl! This past month has been busy, tiring, and yet Oh SO much FUN!! Some days mama is SO tired and worn out from keeping up with you, but I see your sweet face and smile, hug and squeeze you so tight, kiss your sweet cheeks, and am so thankful and blessed to have you! LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!
Your 9 month pedi appointment is this next Thursday, and we can't wait to see what your stats are and what Dr. T. has to say about you=) My guess is, "Good job Mom! We've got a healthy baby here!=)" Pedi appointment update coming soon!

Eight Months!

Cate Elisabeth, how are you eight months old already?!?! It seems like you were just six months old, not sure where seven went, and now at eight! The days and weeks and months are flying by and you are keeping Mama super busy, and Daddy and I LOVE every moment of it!

At eight months you:

~weigh 22 lbs!! Such a chunk-o-cuteness as I say, and SO glad you are healthy and happy=) I never would have thought I would have an 8 month old that's 1/5 of my body weight, hmmmm

~have your first two bottom teeth!

~are now a professional crawler!!! You can get to where you want to go, at any pace you want to go. You crawl to mama with a vengeance when you are ready to eat=) Yikes is right with those chompers.. makes mama a little nervous, you haven't bit me yet...
~are pulling up to stand on furniture, mommy, etc. and yesterday, you pulled yourself up to my shoulder as I was sitting on the floor, and let go, and balanced yourself in a standing position for like 1/2 a second!! I couldn't believe it!

~have started incorporating some of mama's yoga moves into your crawling and floor time, including downward dog=)
~talking and babbling, making all kinds of noises, you are still making your fake cough "ahh" sound, you also say ah ba, ba ba, da, ah da, meh... and the past couple of days you have been saying this very prissy sounding "ah", short and sweet, when you are looking around and exploring and talking to us.
~LOVE exploring things. During "play time" you just roll, crawl, etc. on the floor and keep yourself very occupied.
~are developing more and more of a personality...still a super cute one at that! 

~are OVER your jumper, meaning you don't really want to be in it. You would rather pull up to a standing position on it and play with the toys that way. You know that when Mama sets you in it, it's because I need to leave the room, and you aren't too cool with that=), but I will usually put a cartoon on and you are ok=)
~LOVE playing peek-a-boo with Daddy, Daddy is apparently WAY funnier than mama
~are an absolute wiggle worm, it's nearly impossible to change your diaper, get you dressed, etc. we have to try to keep you occupied with a toy or something... and that doesn't work near long enough!
~still are experiencing a slight bit of separation anxiety, it isn't too bad, just a little whine and whimper if we leave the room, or you can't see us, etc. you definitely look for us!
~still like to smile and talk to people when you are in a shopping cart while out with mama. People usually say you are SO cute, SO precious, and "look at those cheeks!"
~love making the Indian sound when mama puts her fingers to your lips, it's so cute and fun!
~LOVE to swing in your swing out in the back yard
~like to be around other babies/your boyfriends and friends, and other kids, you like to talk "loudly" to them
~love reading books, we read Goodnight Moon to you every night, and sometimes you read it to us=)
~are still working on growing some hair, you have a couple of long sprouts on the top, so cute
~are in 12-18 month clothes, size 3 diapers, but we probably need to move to size 4
~still LOVE watching "the wheel"
~still have the same daily schedule, and sleep routine from about 7pm-5-6am, and take 3 naps a day, yay! You have been having a 3am or so wake up call on and off here lately, think it's just do to being more active, teething, etc. not really sure?!?! You don't wake up fussy, but you really don't go back to sleep until I give in and nurse you. You eat cereal and fruit for breakfast, fruit and veggie at lunch, and veggie and cereal at dinner, and nurse 5-6 times a day.
~are STILL SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO much FUN!! We love you SO much!

Seven months!

Cate Elisabeth, you are SUCH a BIG girl! At seven months you:

~weigh over 20lbs!!! (our scale at home says 20.5!!)
~are now a professional at sitting up, you love playing on the floor with your many toys, but the wipe box is your fave, and you are now quite the roller. Since six months, you have mastered rolling back to tummy, (and tummy to back) and just go crazy when you are on the floor now, back and forth, "flopping" (is what it seems more like) around everywhere. You amaze us at how quickly you can get across the living room! You are very mobile, and though still aren't crawling yet, you are VERY close (pretty much doing everything but that)! YIKES! Time to babyproof...ugh
~sat up by yourself from a rolling position on the floor last night, A FIRST! and you have done it like five times or more already today, so you've mastered that!
~are scooting backwards on the floor
~talking and babbling, making all kinds of noises, one of which is this coughing "aahh" sound. If you do it and someone mocks you, then you do it back and start carrying on a conversation
~give us tons and tons of smiles!
~have quite the personality...a super cute one at that!
~still have cereal in the morning with fruit, then veggies and fruit for lunch and we added more cereal in for dinner with a veggie.
~LOVE your jumper, you will jump in it five minutes straight sometimes!!
~are very ticklish
~are experiencing a slight bit of separation anxiety, it isn't too bad, just a little whine and whimper if we leave the room, or you can't see us, etc.
~like to smile and talk to people when you are in a shopping cart while out with mama. People usually say you are SO cute, SO precious, and "look at those cheeks!"
~like to be around other babies/your boyfriends
~love reading books, we read Goodnight Moon to you every night, and sometimes you read it to us=)
~are still working on the sippy cup, you still can grab the handles of it very well, just need to master the fact that you have to tilt it up to drink out of it.
~are getting more and more hair on your precious little head! It still seems to get fuzzier every day, but compared to some other babies, you still have a long way to go
~are in 9 month clothes, size 3 diapers
~still LOVE watching "the wheel"
~still have the same daily schedule, and sleep routine from about 7pm-5-6am, and take 3 naps a day, yay!
~are SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO much FUN!! SUCH a joy to us, we love you SO much! Mama and Daddy could just kiss those sweet cheeks and squeeze you all day!

Six months!?!?

How is it even possible you are half a year old already sweet girl?
At six months you:
~are 19lbs - 94% and 26 3/4in - 85%
~love sitting up and playing on the floor, sitting on the couch like a big girl, and sitting in a high chair
~are rolling over tummy to back all by your self, and back to tummy (with just a slight bit of assistance)
~talking and babbling, most of the time its "ahhhhhhhh", almost like a monster sound... quite cute!
~eating solid foods!! You have cereal in the morning, then veggies and fruit for lunch and dinner. So far you have tried and loved, sweet potatoes, carrots, sweet peas, green beans, squash, prunes, and applesauce.  You are quite the eater, (like we didn't already know that)!
~reach for us when you want to be picked up! LOVE that!
~ are prepping to crawl! You can lift your self off the floor so high, and look around, and move your self around, just need to get those knees working!
~still put everything in your mouth
~are drinking out of a sippy cup, not a whole lot, but we introduced it, and you take a few sips out of it every now and then. You can grab the handles of it very well, just need to master the fact that you have to tilt it up to drink out of it.
~started holding your own bottle last night!
~are getting more and more hair on your precious little head! It seems to get fuzzier every day!
~like to play peek-a-boo/where's cate?
~do this "thing", when you wake up in the mornings and when you wake up from a good nap, where you just smile and breathe real fast and you are so happy, "haaaa haaa haaa" and daddy and I call this "happy puppy"
~are wearing 6-9 month clothes, size 3 diapers
~LOVE watching wheel of fortune (this will get it's own post soon)
~sleep from about 7pm-5-6am, and take 3 naps a day, yay!
Finally you have a "schedule" that looks something like this:
5-6am - nurse, go back to sleep
8am - wake, eat cereal and fruit, nurse, play
9-9:30am - nap 1-1.5 hours
11am - playtime
12 noon - lunchtime, veggie and fruit, nurse
1pm - nap 1-1.5 hours
3pm - wake, snack time/nurse, playtime
4pm - catnap - 30-45 min
5pm - playtime
6pm - dinner, veggie and fruit, botttle
6:30pm - watch wheel of fortune with daddy
7pm - BBB - bath, bedtime story, bedtime!
~are SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO much FUN!!!

Five Months!!!

At five months you:
~weigh around 17.5 pounds
~LOVE to SING. You have been singing patty cake, twinkle twinkle, but now that it's Christmas time, we started singing Rudolph, Jingle Bells, and Up on the house top. When I start singing and clapping you just start smiling and singing with me!
~love to sit up and play, and are getting really good at sitting unassisted
~have rolled from tummy to back, but would rather just sit up and play
~just went through a MAJOR growth spurt, good thing we started with cereal
~think daddy is SO funny
~have more hair coming in on your pretty little head. You have just a bit more now than what you were born with, and it gets fuzzier every day.
~love to laugh, you really like mommy and daddy to get you laughing repeatedly, it's so sweet
~love to watch wheel of fortune, must be the colors, dings and the sound of the wheel spinning
~love to watch Bernie, you can find him by the sound of him walking thru the room, going in and out his doggie door, or his collar.
~are still cat nappin', you take about 4 - 30 minute naps a day, and sleep at night from 8pm-6 or 7am
~are SO much fun!!!

Four Months!

Happy four months my sweet girl!!!
At four months you:
~now weigh 16lbs, 11oz...no WONDER my back is killing me!
~are a NOISE maker. You LOVE to make ANY kind of noise at any time. These noises include, talking, laughing, singing, squealing...very loud, screaming...very loud, and this other noise I call spitting, but it's more like you put your lips together and buzz, and you add this spitting, so like a buzzing spitting?!?! I didn't know a four month could do all of those noises...but you have proved so!
~started really playing with all of your toys on your carseat, activity mat, exersaucer, etc. talking to them, and laughing at them
~love playing patty cake, and singing twinkle twinkle little star.
~still love bath time
~are a very happy baby in general, but a VERY happy morning girl! When you wake up in the morning, you just smile, and smile and smile! SO precious!
~grab onto everything, and then it's STRAIGHT to the mouth
~have discovered your feet, and can almost put them into your mouth!
~are in size 3 diapers now, and 6-9 month clothes
~love anything that plays music and lights up
~are a daddy's girl. When you see him you just give him the biggest smiles!
~are starting to transition to the 2-2 hour naps or so a day, NICE! You still take some cat naps, but at least one 2 hour nap a day!
~are still sleeping about 10 hours at night from about 8ish-6ish, VERY NICE!
~had an excellent report from your 4 month check-up, and are a VERY healthy girl!!
~are just an absolute joy to mommy and daddy! We love you SO much!

Three Months!



Happy three months sweet girl!
At 3 months you:
~are now an estimated, whopping, (per our scale at home) 15.5 LBS!!!
~didn't want to smile, AT ALL, for this 3 month pic, I bet mama and daddy took over 100 shots of you and this was the best one=) This time you were way more interested in looking around in your room, arms were moving, fists in your mouth, funny faces, drool, etc... I know it doesn't really matter, you're still beautiful with whatever facial expression you make=), we just know you have some priceless grins and smiles, and were hoping to capture one!

~are talking up a storm. You love talking, laughing, smiling, and yes, squealing!!!

~love bath time, actually you love any time without your clothes on=) We started giving you a bath every night shortly after 2 months to help establish an evening routine, and it's going well!

~have a new fave of standing up! You love love LOVE it!!! No more sitting or cuddling in mama's lap. Mama can't really hold you like that anymore! You are getting SO big!!! You would much rather face outward, and see what's going on around you. You love to look around and are very curious about new things.

~grab onto just about anything, mommy and daddy's hands, toys, mama's shirt, etc.
~have a new BFF, Miss monkey, a bright colored monkey, that's super soft, and cute. You smile every time you see her, and just talk and talk. We think this may end up being your "security" item. So we'll see. Mommy is going to go buy a couple more just in case=)
~you love sitting in your bumbo, and as of today, your exersaucer! You are still playing with your activity mat, bouncer, and swing. I think the swing is getting a little boring for you, but when you need your alone time, it's good. Now mommy can do at least 5 different activities with you during your awake times throughout the day! YAY!
~are sleeping about 10 hours at night, in your crib!!! You have your last feeding around 8:30-9 at night, go to sleep shortly after, wake around 3ish, feed and go right back to sleep till 7ish.  You then stay awake for about 1.5 hours, then take your first of about five "cat naps" during the day. You usually stay awake for 1-2 hours, then nap for 30, minutes most of the time, an hour is mama's lucky=). We are still following the "eat, activity, sleep" pattern and it's working great!
~are in 6 month clothes, what?!?!
~had you first extended trip to LG, and did very well!
~are STILL growing like crazy, mama's milk is STILL realllllly good

Two Months

Happy two month birthday sweet girl!
At two months you:
~are now an estimated, whopping, (per our scale at home, pedi appt is next week) 13 LBS!!!
~are smiling, cooing, talking, squealing, and almost laughing at Daddy and I. When we look at you and start talking you immediately smile and talk right back. Completely PRICELESS moments!
~are a morning girl, just like your mama! You start fussing when you wake up, because you want someone me to come get you, and when you see me...you smile=)I wish everyone could be here to see that!
~had your first bath last night that you actually enjoyed, maybe it was the new tub?!?!
~really enjoy laying on your changing table to get your diaper changed. You just start kicking, cooing, and showing us your beautiful fists.
~enjoy giving fist bumps
~still love your swing, and enjoy activity time on your mat, time in your bouncer, hitting the toys and listening to the music.
~are ok with tummy time, but you have discovered you love being held and holding your head up all on your own, and looking around trying to see and take in everything around you
~have a new fave of laying on mommy's chest and curling up, cuddling and falling asleep, absolutely the best feeling for mommy...ever
~have definite awake periods and nap periods during the day. Most naps are short, but you seem to take one long one during the day, and are starting to sleep 6.5 hour stretches at night, YAY!
~had you first day trip to LG, and did very well!
~are still growing like a weed, mama's milk is realllllly good
~are becoming a true "bundle of joy" more and more every day!

Two nights ago, I got teary eyed. I was sitting on the couch, you were laying on my chest in your new favorite position, and I was reminiscing about your birthday. I was thinking about my pregnancy, then how all of a sudden it was time for you to make your grand entrance. I was thinking about the moment when Dr. Cowan said you were here, waiting for your first cry, hearing your first cry, and the moment when they laid you on my chest and started drying you off. You, this little being (well bigger than I thought you were going to be), that your Daddy and I created, was finally here. I remember, and I'm sure I always will, that I was in total awe of you, thinking you had the cutest little cry, (little did we know, you were just beginning to clear out those pipes=)I remember just looking at you in amazement, and being totally speechless. I remember how little, but yet how strong you were. Then flash forward, looking at you now, how much you have grown and developed, and how my milk is what has nourished your, not so tiny little body anymore, to get this far, just simply amazes me, (as does the anatomy of the female body and its purpose all together ...Tear...) I realized how much you have changed in just the past two weeks, your smiling, cooing, and our "conversations" with you have made it all the more real that you are a little person, our little person, and that we are parents. I think the reality just finally had time to hit and sink in, since we are no longer just trying to keep our heads above water, feeding you, changing you, just trying to keep you happy and satisfied, etc. I mean, I guess those are still our 24/7 responsibilities, but now, we can take a deep breath and relax, (a little bit:) and enjoy these precious moments of all of the "firsts" of your life. You are truly a gift, a blessing from God, just like the verse we put on your wall "every good and perfect gift comes from above..." and we are so glad, He chose us to be your parents.

One month

Cate Elisabeth, How is it you are already one month old?? This past month has gone by sooo fast, and your daddy and I have loved every waking moment of it! Yes, even the occasional screaming ones=)
At one month you:
~are a whopping 10pounds 7oz 80th%, and 21inches 45th%
~are out of newborn diapers, actually we transitioned you to size one between 3-4 weeks.
~LOVE your swing, if the music or noise is going on it and it stops, you throw a little fit, you also like to jam to music, aka Carrie Underwood, with mom in the car, and you like riding in the car
~are sleeping somewhat thru the night, you go to sleep around 11pm, and wake at 3-4 am to feed, then back to sleep till around 7am, we are loving that!
~are starting to make funny cute little noises, aka "talking" to us
~LOVE having your daddy hold you and listen to him talk. The other day I was asking daddy a bunch of questions about golf, and you were just as intrigued as I was!
~are pretty much out of your newborn onesies and into 3 month ones, and quickly filling out your 3 month clothes, You will probably be in them within the next 2 weeks
~still aren't crazy about bath time. You have had 3 real baths so far, and we try to get them done as quickly as possible.
~are starting to give us a sweet smile when mommy and daddy make funny noises and faces at you.
~are looking more and more like mommy as you are filling out. I still see daddy in you to though.
~are all in all a really great baby, we are still asking what did we do to deserve to have such a wonderful pregnancy, labor, delivery, and now a good baby?!?!
~are the absolute best thing that has happened to us! Why in the world did we wait almost 5 years like we "planned" to meet you?!?!

We love you,
Mommy and Daddy