You're Eleven Months Old!

Baby Girl,

First, I am way late posting.  So the chance that I forget something, makes me sad.  This was a huge month.  You have had your first Thanksgiving (separate post), you have been very sick, we have moved, plus all the minor things that just happen!

At the beginning of the month we packed up and moved back across town.  We love our new house.  You love to crawl from the den through the kitchen and through the dining room, back to the den.  You have so much room to play in the den with us and your toys are in the den with us.  Your room is two different shades of pink (eek!!), but will hopefully be getting painted soon.  MiMi came over and made your shelves look precious.  You have built-ins around your window.  I feel like these will come out when you get older, but right now they are great for holding your toys.  Your room is absolutely precious!!

We have a "new" chair with an ottoman that you love to walk around and get in between.  You get very mad when you can't get through them because of Mommy or Daddy's legs.  In our old house we didn't really have any end tables because we didn't really have room, but at the new house we do.  You love to pull ANYTHING off of them.  We have found coke cans in your hand with coke running out of them, you pull off coasters, and move picture frames.  We have to be very careful what we leave out now.

You are so funny about being left alone.  You do not like to be in the room by yourself.  If I go down the hall to my room, I very quickly will hear you coming down the hallway yelling, "MaMa."  You love to get in ALL the cabinets and drawers.  Your favorites are the medicine drawer (I am sure I am getting Mom of the Year award for this) while I am taking a shower or getting dressed, and the kitchen drawer under the oven where the cookie sheets and round pans are.  You pull all these out and beat on them at least 3 times a day.

We started giving you big people food this month.  You eat cheerios, green beans, sweet potatoes, chicken noodle soup, carrots, macaroni and cheese, pinto beans, spaghetti, dumplings, biscuits and baby cookies.  You do not like to eat meat, which may be a problem.  Funny enough, one of your favorite things I pureed was sweet peas.  This was the first thing I tried to give you and you would have NOTHING to do with them.  You like to pick up your food and do it yourself, which typically means a huge mess.  You are definitely getting more baths these days.

You got your first round of RSV.  You have run a fever, had a runny nose, and coughed.   Unfortunately the doctor told us there isn't anything he can give you.  We can only treat the symptoms, which is just a fever right now.  Sadly enough, you got RSV the weekend before Thanksgiving and your birthday.  Not the way I wanted you to spend your holiday and birthday.

You still love to take a bath.  When we go to run your bath water we only have to tell you it is bath time and you start crawling towards the bathroom.  We let you stay in for a while to play before we actually give you a bath.  

When we bought the new house, the old owners left us a wonderful swing set in the backyard.  While you are too young to play in it just yet, they were so sweet to leave behind a baby seat for you.  One day after school when it was warmer, DaDa took you outside to swing.  You can tell by your expressions that you love to swing!  We can't wait until it gets warmer so we can really enjoy it!

This is your beautiful school picture.  It didn't get taken this month, but we got them back this month.  I was so impressed with the picture….not your typical school pic.

Several fun times with friends this month.  The first picture shows you and MH at Toys R Us one day after school.  Miss Christen and I decided to go do a little Christmas shopping.  MH was so excited about the cars that she wanted to sit in each one.  You just wanted down to be a big girl like MH so we let you drive.  Sadly I know this will truly come too fast!  The second pictures shows you at your friend Landon's First Birthday.  His daddy put you in a dump truck and pushed you around.  Your legs crossed is so typical for you.  We can sit you anywhere and your legs or feet are always crossed.

You love to walk with things you can push.  You are getting better and better.  So MiMi bought you a shopping cart to play with at their house!

This month was PawPaw's birthday, so everyone came to our house to play for a little while and then we went out to eat.  This was right after we found out you had RSV so you were a little temperamental.  You love to play with Grant and Gracie.

Let me tell you a few things about you this month….

*You weigh 21 pounds.
* You wear a size 3 diaper.
* You wear size 12 month clothes.
* You have started waving bye-bye.
* You love to put things up to your ear and pretend you are talking on the phone.  You will put up actual phones as well as remotes.
* You do not sleep in your bed.
* You are a cuddle buddy and want Mommy's hand on you throughout the night.
* You still love Mickey Mouse, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, and Sophia the First.
* You love green beans and chicken noodle soup.
* Towards the end of the month you stopped taking any baby food (I don't blame you).
* We put you on whole milk thinking we would transition you, but once you had whole milk you didn't want formula any more.
* Mommy and Daddy love to watch you play.
* You say MaMa, DaDa, Uh (for uh-oh).
* You like for us to clap for you for EVERYTHING you do.
* When we ask you if you want to do a headstand you will tuck your head in our chest.  When we put you down you look around the room to make sure everyone there is clapping for you and you will quickly duck your head again for another headstand.

I can't believe this month is the last month I will be able to say, "She is __________ months old."  Next  month I will be telling everyone you are 1.  Where has the time gone?  Daddy and I often look at pictures and wonder where that little baby has gone.  You are absolutely precious.  You are always happy, so much that everywhere we go people comment how happy you are.  You laugh and giggle to the point that Mommy and Daddy laugh at you.  It is so funny to me that you have only been with us for 11 months but I truly can't remember life without you.  You have changed our lives for the better Baby Girl.

Love,
Mommy

Halloween

Baby Girl,

It is your first Halloween.  I had found the cutest pink poodle outfit on Pinterest and was able to link to its site online.  Mimi agreed to pay for it and you were the cutest pink poodle out there!

The Sunday before Halloween we went to PaPaw and Nanny's church's Fall Festival.  First, we had a costume parade.  You, Gracie and Mommy walked out together.  Mommy and Gracie held your hands and you walked out there, so proud of yourself.  Then we had dinner together in the fellowship hall, and finally it was time to trick-or-treat.  It was really nice because all of the Sunday School classes had treats in their rooms.  It was 3 floors of candy!!  We went around to all the rooms and of course everyone wanted to know where your costume came from and just "oohed" and "ahhed" over you!  You were so good and had such a good time.

In the middle of Halloween fun, we decided it would be a great time to move.  So on Halloween day, Mommy and Daddy had to close on our new house.  You went to MiMi's for a little while and she got you ready to go trick-or-treating.  Once we were finished we picked you up and were off to Miss Christen's and Mary Hyatt's.  Ya'll were the cutest kids EVER!  Once we got to their house we decided to get in the car and ride around their block.  Unfortunately it was raining....boo!!  Mary Hyatt and Miss Christen had already been out for a a little bit and were soaked so we decided to protect you as much as possible.  Daddy drove us a couple streets over and we trick-or-treated at the houses we knew.  We then headed over to Mary Hyatt's Lovie's to trick-or-treat on their street.  You girls were so good and had such a good time.  While you didn't get much candy, you did get some Halloween goodies.  Mommy and Daddy got you books, puffs, place mats for restaurants, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.  MiMi and Ry got you some Mickey Mouse Books and Nanny and PaPaw got you two outfits, puffs, baby food, and two books.  You racked up on Halloween!!

Love,
Mommy

You're Ten Months Old!

Baby Girl,

You are double digits!!  This time last year I was just starting to be able to come off bed rest some.   I was on modified bed rest at this point, still hoping you were going to last several more weeks.  Wow, what a year!!  It seems like that was just yesterday.

You are more and more fun each time I write one of these posts.  I don't know where to begin....

I told you last month you were FINALLY a crawler!  You are into everything now.  One day I left you in the den while I was folding clothes in the laundry room and Daddy was in the shower.  I could easily see you and get to you, but you were content with Mickey Mouse and playing with your toys, so I would just look up every little bit to check on you.  I did this several times and you were just playing, having a big ole time.  Then one time I looked up and you were GONE!  While I know how silly it was for me to be so worried all the sudden (all the doors were locked so you couldn't get out of the house) it was that small moment of fear when I didn't know where you had gone.  So I am going through the house calling your name and can't find you anywhere.  I decided to walk back to the bathroom to see if Daddy was out of the shower and got you and sure enough (Daddy was still in the shower) but there you were in the bathroom with him.  You had crawled all the way back there in literally the minute that I didn't look up.  You were so proud of yourself!  It amazes me how quickly you can get away from me now.

You aren't doing a good job sleeping in your bed.  You got really sick one week this month.  You were running a high fever and medicine wouldn't keep it away.  We had to take you to the doctor every day on this particular week so they could check your blood levels because your CBC was elevated.  They did some cultures, but one day your fever was gone, your levels were normal and that was the end of that.  We never really found out why you were running a fever, but you were better and that's all that mattered to us!  All this being said, you have been in the bed with Mommy and Daddy because of it.  Honestly I like you being in the bed with us (sometimes for selfish reasons).  You sleep really good in the bed with us and I like having you there to cuddle.  You are definitely a cuddle bug and I love that.

You call DaDa all the time!! One night you would call and call him and wait for him to come around the corner from the kitchen.  He would say, "What, what, what?" and you would just giggle and giggle.  DaDa is your first word and you do associate that with Daddy now.  You have started saying MaMa some at this point.  Even though DaDa was your first word, you are definitely a MaMa's girl!

You are pulling up on everything and getting really good at it!  You don't like to let go of things though because you don't like to fall down and you haven't figured out how to sit down easily yet.  So you will just stand until someone walks by that can either pick you up or sit you down.

You have started playing with a "Shape Sorter."  You have gotten REALLY good at putting the correct shapes in their holes.  It is so fun to watch you pass the circle (your favorite) from hand to hand until you get it just right so that you can put it in the hole.  You can also pick out your ball from anything I put in my hand.  I will put the ball and another item in both hands and ask you which one is the ball and every time you get it right! You are very smart already!!

At the football game with Christen, Ben, Mary Hyatt, and Daddy.

Cheese!!! A cute picture before our trip to Tate Farms.

Here are a few other things about you at 10 months....

*You weigh 20.3 pounds
* You wear 9-12 month clothing
* I thought you were going to be too long to wear footed pjs or long bubbles, but I think I may get proven wrong (even though you are tall for your age, I think?)
* You like to sit and watch Mickey, Sofia the First, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates
* You love Puffs
* You wear a size 3 diapers
* You love to go to school (even though, for the first time this month you cried one day when I left you - it was the worst day I ever had)
* You drink 6 - 8 oz 4 times a day
* You like your blocks, shape sorter, and balls
* You love to play in the bath
* We have taken you to a couple of football games and you LOVE everything about it
* You like to go on stroller rides
* You reach for Mommy and Daddy when you want us
* You throw temper tantrums when you don't get your way
* You love to clap
* You have the best temperament - everyone comments on what a happy baby you are
* You love Puffs and Crispies.

Well, another month has come and gone and I wonder where that little baby is we brought home from the hospital.  Even though it makes me sad to watch you grow up, you are getting more and more fun and I look forward to all the things we will be able to do with you in the future.  God has truly blessed us!

Love,
Mommy

Tate Farms

Baby Girl,

At the beginning of October we took you to Tate Farms.  We went with our good friends Micah and Kristen.  We met them there and were looking forward to all the fun we had in store.  It was a big farm, and while it was fun this year, I am looking forward to taking you the next couple years when you can enjoy all the things they had for you to do!  When we first got there Micah wanted to go see the animals.  They had a small petting zoo.  We got to see rabbits, donkeys, and pigs.  We even got to go into the pens with the animals!!

                             Here we are petting the rabbits.        Baby Girl, Micah, and Mommy with the pigs.

               Baby Girl and Mommy with the donkeys.  Mommy wasn't so sure about petting the donkeys.

 After petting the animals we went to the playground.  It was so cute!! They had used tons of old farming equipment to build the playground.  There were several different sized "jungle gyms" and slides to play on, but of course your favorite was the swings!

Micah even drove you around the tractor.

After the playground we headed to the corn pits.  You didn't really know what to think of this.  You just kind of stared at it and quickly decided you had had enough of it and wanted out.  Micah wasn't overly excited about this either, so this was a pretty quick area for us.

We then stopped for a quick photo session on our way to the hayride.  So cute!!

Finally, we made it to the hayride.  On the hayride we got to pick out our own pumpkins!! It was so much fun.  

Overall it was a super fun day!! It was extremely hot which made us realize we needed to check the weather next year.  There was absolutely no breeze or shade at the farms and we got very hot very quick.  It was such a fun experience and I can't wait to take you again next year when you can really enjoy everything the farm had to offer.

Love,

Mommy

You're 9 Months Old!

Baby Girl,

Another month has gone by and you are growing each and every day.  I feel like I can't keep up with all the changes.  One BIG change this month....you are a crawler!!!!  I know school helped you develop this skill.  You are on the move!!!  It was so funny to watch you at first.  You would drag your left leg with you instead of actually crawling on it.  But that lasted a week and then you became QUICK!!  You are all over the house.  You like to crawl after the cats, even though they run before you can get to them.  You will crawl in the kitchen and we have to watch you really carefully because you will be in the cat food before we know it.  As I sit and type this, you are currently on your way towards the cat food.

You have also started to pull up.  You did this at the very end of nine months.  I don't think it will take you long to walk, although I am not sure I am ready for that.  You love for Mommy and Daddy to hold your hands and quickly say "go get him" and your little legs will just move as fast as they can towards the other person.  You will just giggle and giggle.

You are sooo talkative!! You just babble and babble, especially in the morning.  You still sound like you say mama and dada.  You have started reaching for Mommy and Daddy and that makes us feel really special!  Now when people reach for you, you will actually turn your body and hold onto my shoulder.  Even though you will always go to anyone (even if I have to hand you to them), it still makes me feel very special.

You hardly ever cry, except when we tell you no.  You would think we were killing you when we take something away from you or tell you no.  Your little feelings get so hurt!  You like to get things on your changing station, the remote, and wires around the TV.

You love to get down in the floor and play! You love your blocks.  You will bang them together for several minutes and just get so proud of yourself.  Daddy and Mommy sit in the floor with you and roll or throw a soft ball or block and you will just giggle and giggle when it is time to "throw" it back.  You will hold on it until we take it from you and just laugh at us!

        

                           Playing the floor with Mommy.      You love your make-up vanity

                                        Silly girl in Daddy's hat!        First Alabama game....Roll Tide!!

 Hand-stand time!! You will duck your head in our chest and wait on us to help you do a hand-stand.

                                                                Sweet girl crawling!

                                    

 Nanny and PaPaw bought you a wagon this month!    You will hold on and walk short distances.

We got to keep Mary Hyatt one day while they moved home!!!  This was early in the morning on our walk.  Both of you had your Piggy!!  Such sweet friends!

We needed a nap......

Later that day Mommy and Daddy decided to let you girls paint.  Priceless pieces of work!!! Ya'll had a lot of fun, but it required a bath afterwards....

What a MESS!!!!!

Here are a few other things about you...

*You weigh 19 pounds and 6 oz.
* You are 29 3/4 inches long.
* You drink two 8 oz bottles and 1 6 oz bottle each day.
* You like to drink juice.
* You eat yogurt for breakfast and several different types of mixed meat and veggies for dinner.  You are a very good eater, even though you are starting to get a little picky about certain things.)
* You eat Puffs, which you really like.
* You have 2 teeth.
* You wear 9 - 12 month clothing.
* You wear a size three diaper.
* Your hair is really starting to grow.
* For the first time, I think, people have started to say they can see some of Mommy in you.
* You love paci and piggy, especially at nap time.
* You are so loving and happy.
* You still love bath time.
* You love to play Patty Cake and The Wheels on the Bus and This Little Light of Mine.
* You don't like to ride in the backseat of the car by yourself.
* You love to get into the magazines at MiMi and Ry's on Fridays.  They say you are reading the library.

You are such a blessing Olivia Ann.  I don't remember what life was like without you and don't want to.  Your smile brightens my day and it is what I look forward to at 3 o'clock Monday-Friday.  You are growing up too fast, but I can tell you are going to be an AMAZING little girl.

Love,
Mommy