Ten Months

Sophia,
You are ten months old today (December 28, 2012).

A guess on your weight is about 17 pounds.

You are wearing the last of your size two diapers and wearing size three to bed. We could continue in size two for a little longer but you are such a wiggler and very active so you need a little more room!

You are wearing a wide range of clothing from 6 months up through 12 months. I am so thankful for generous friends who have gifted us hand-me-downs and generous grandparents who spoil us!

You have three teeth and are working on a fourth.

You love to eat! We stopped formally introducing foods this month and just let you eat. I am paranoid so I do pay attention to what new things you eat. You eat mostly organic and gluten free. I have a hard time buying you snacks that are not gluten free since I can't eat them. I am amazed at the amount of food you put into your body! Most of your meals are finger foods now but you do like to be fed when you are tired or overly hungry and can't get it in your mouth fast enough!

You are a great napper at home (still getting two in) but you only snooze at Ms. Lorenas. Either way, you still sleep great at night.

You are so active! You sprint when you are crawling and run when you are cruising. You are so close to walking! You have taken a few almost steps, but I am torn about whether I want you walking just yet. You are very hard to keep up with as it is.

I love that you have really started to 'get things' this month. You are so curious about everything around you! You continue to wave hi, but now wave bye as well. You wave goodbye to me in the morning at Lorena's and get serious, but we have yet to see tears. You babble mama and sometimes dada but they don't have meaning yet. Soon. You love to be chased and will turn around to make sure someone is coming after you when you take off. You have started to hand books to me so that I can read them for you. Sometimes you let me read the whole thing, other times just a page. You know that when I close your blinds and turn on the white noise machine that it is nap or bedtime.

We have been doing a few signs but you have not picked up on them. We only do them at home - they are not reinforced at Lorena's. You understand them, but have your own version of responding to them. You try to do 'all done' when you are finished eating. When I ask you if you want milk you respond by sitting and flapping your arms like a birdie. You do the same thing when you are excited. It is quite cute.

 You are already very independent and know what you want!

You are such a joy to have in our lives. You make every day so much fun!

Nine Months

Sophia,
You are nine months old today (November 28, 2012).

You are still a little peanut and weigh 16 lbs 15 oz (10th%)

You are wearing size two diapers.

You are wearing some six month, some nine month, and some twelve month clothing.

You love to eat and want to snack on anything other people are eating. You still love your milk and take a bottle or nurse every three to four hours. This month you tried apricots, chicken, parsnips, watermelon, beets, blueberries, turkey, celery root, egg, orange, turnips, buckwheat and blackbeans. You are eating more finger foods but get frustrated with getting it to your mouth fast enough. Food still makes me a little paranoid because of little ones I know with food allergies.

You have two bottom teeth and are drooling like crazy. You are a slow teether but it shouldn't be long before your top ones arrive.

You are an amazing sleeper! You take after your mommy in that you go to bed early and after your daddy in that you like to sleep in. We are very blessed!

You are cruising and very active. It won't be long until you are walking!

You said your first word this month - hi. It was something that you were babbling and we encouraged it. You usually wave when you say it. You have really enjoyed peek-a-boo this month. You also like "so big" but you don't put your hands up by yourself. You LOVE to chase and be chased. I love the squeal that you let out when you are crawling away from us at top speed.

The dogs are liking you a bit less now that you are more mobile. We are working on it. I thought that they would be your biggest fan during mealtimes, but most food ends up in your mouth so you are not sharing much with them.

You are such a happy baby (don't let the pictures fool you!) and we are thrilled you are ours!

Eight Months

Sophia,
You are eight months old today (October 28, 2012).

A guess on your weight is about 16 pounds.

You are wearing size two diapers.

You are wearing 6-9 and 6-12 month clothing.

You are eating three meals a day and still loving your milk. You still take a bottle or nurse every three to four hours. This month you tried mango, yogurt, quinoa, broccoli, zucchini, pumpkin, spinach, avocado, and ginger (in with apples). We are still making most of your food at home.

You are still sleeping through the night but you are not always napping well during the day. Some days you just catnap for a few minutes. You fall asleep by 7 every night and usually have to get woken up to go to Ms. Lorena's.

We still do not have a formal routine. You love to be outside so I am thankful for this warmer fall weather.

You started cruising just a few steps and are trying to stand on your own. You are into EVERYTHING!

We love watching you grow and change!

Seven Months

Sophia,
You are seven months old today (September 28, 2012).

I am not sure how much you weigh since we do not have a doctor's appointment this month. But I think you are about 15 pounds.

You wear size two diapers.

You are wearing 3-6 and 6-12 month clothing.

You continue to eat two meals a day in addition to your milk - and you love your milk! This month you tried butternut squash, apples, peas, oats, peaches, carrots, bananas, and green beans. We have been introducing one new food every four days. No matter what we offer you, you eat it (even if you don't care for it).

You are still sleeping through the night but you are not always napping well during the day. Some days you just catnap for a few minutes. You fall asleep by 7 every night and usually have to get woken up to go to Ms. Lorena's.

You continue to be very flexible with your routine and love to be out of the house.

You are crawling everywhere...and fast! We have childproofed most of the house, but you keep finding more areas for us to take care of. You started pulling up on things the same day you started crawling and love to stand. You are still having trouble planting your feet flat so you fall over quite a bit.

You get so excited when the pups come near you. You do this little scream and start crawling very fast. The dogs are not fond of your movement toward them so they have been keeping thier distance. Kona is still the first to greet you when you wake up.

Diaper changes got very challenging this month - you are not a fan of laying on your back to get cleaned up.

I love this stage that you are in. You are such a little daredevil and explorer. I can't wait to see what you are doing next!

We love you and treasure the time we have with you.

Weeks 26, 27, 28, and 29

Well, blogging is hard while I am back at work. I hate that I don't have the time, but what really stinks is that I can't remember all of the little things that have happened over the past few weeks. So much has happened but here is a snippet.

Messy carrot face :)

In the past few weeks Sophie has eaten prunes, butternut squash, apples, peas, oats, peaches, carrots  and bananas. We made everything except the prunes. She ate all of the food but she really did not care for peas on their own. She also sampled formula. We might need to start supplementing soon so I just wanted to see if she would drink formula on its own or if we would need to mix it with my milk. Stress is taking a toll on my milk production.


Sweet little Sophie feet while she is eating.

Sophia had her first fever. It only lasted one night and was partnered with her first cold. She just got over little cough and a runny nose. I have gotten quite good at using that nasal aspirator thing we got from the hospital.

Happy even when she is not feeling great.

She mastered going from her belly and all fours to sitting up on her own. I love that I can plop her down on her bottom now. She also hit a new milestone of CRAWLING (in the formal term of the word - she has been moving all over for awhile). She can't get very far, but she is moving! She loves to stand but she is still having trouble planting her feet flat. She is also getting pretty good and pulling up on everything.

Crawling is not fun in snap-up jammies.

Action shot.

First time attempting to pull up.

 Still no teeth, although I would have sworn that she was teething three months ago. The gums are starting to look a little swollen so maybe soon? I'll believe it when I see it! She has started 'talking' more, but she has not gotten to the point of babbling yet.

Sophie attended her very first game night and lasted until ten before having a meltdown. I was hoping she would fall asleep at Matt and Kristen's but no such luck.We played Partini, which was quite fun and embarassing. I never knew that some people could not hum!

Watching the silliness with Santana.

Just a little cuteness.

We celebrated the first birthday of Ronan and Logan. Their Daddy is a childhood friend of Dave from Pennsylvania and even though they live really close to us in Charlotte, we hardly ever get together. I blame that on me thinking I am shy and Dave working as much as he does. The theme of the party was Thing One and Thing Two - perfect for twins!

Sophie and I on the way to the party.
It was on the water so Sophie had to wear her sailor dress.

Being a working mom is HARD but Sophie and I are getting used to it. We miss Dave - being a chef means he works evenings and is not home with us. Since the summer Dave has been basically living at the restaurant. He was already working longer days to make up for the fact that the head chef is out on medical leave (broken bones in his feet since July 4th). Then that little thing call the Democratic National Convention came to Charlotte so I am not sure that he even knew his name for a week. The head chef is still out from complications but Dave has been able to have two days off every week. He still has paperwork stuff to catch up on at home, but at least we get to see him.

Visiting Dave at work for a post-DNC celebration.

The piggy that got cooked at our house.
Thank goodness the head was roasted at the restaurant.

A few other random moments from the past few weeks:

Love this little chair and ottoman.

Our little peanut. Just over 14 pounds.

Cheering on the EAGLES with daddy.

Little cheerleader.

Although this picture was my idea, I totally blame it on Dave.
Sophie with the zombie babies.

Sophie has gotten way to busy to sit still for a picture.

Attempting finger food - diced pears.
She is able to get it in her hand (or stuck to her hand) but not to her mouth.
She does great with eating the chunks if you feed them to her.