Dada

Lydia's new favorite word lately is of course "dada". She says it constantly -- especially when she's playing. I captured this short video during bath time when she first started saying it to send to Kyle. I think he plays this video for everyone now. He's so excited she can say his name... even if she doesn't realize it!

(This video looks a little skinny b/c it was taken on my phone)

Melts my heart! Love her!! Now we are working on Mama!! Also just noticed she's a bit of a toy hoarder...haha

As she grows... month 9

Almost caught up on my monthly posts for our little girl. It seems like she's doing something new almost every day and her little personality emerges a little more. I had a realisation at our doctors appointment this month, that we're getting close to the 1 year mark! ahh.... As I was making our next well visit appointment, I realized she would be ONE! I'm not ready for my baby to reach that milestone yet,  but am so thankful for her health and the progress she has made in her life so far. She's such a fighter and is quickly catching up to her peers.


9 month (around 29 weeks adjusted) stats:

• 15 lbs 1 oz
• 25 3/4in.

Interests/Activities:

• This month she really figured out how to put together the rolling from tummy to back and then back to tummy. At first she would just roll in a complete circle and then one day she just started rolling across the floor to reach her desired toy. It's quite funny to see her roll from place to place.
• She hasn't quite figured out how to crawl, but has been "crawling" backwards, turning in 180 degree circles and rolling to get what she wants. Daddy can't wait for her to start crawling, but Mama is a little unsure about that!!
• We added Puffs and Num nums into the food selection this month, but she didn't really enjoy the puffs at first. Silly Mommy bought the healthy "green" ones and quickly figured out she was gagging because of the flavor - not the texture. "Orange" has been much better for this little ones palate!
• This month she started blowing raspberries and make all sorts of mouth noises. She loves "talking" and babbling to her toys as she plays.
• While she enjoys playing with us, she does a great job of playing independently on the floor or in her exersaucer; which has been great for Mommy to be able to accomplish some things around the house.
• We've been "working" on naps a lot this month. She is now able to go down without much fuss, but still don't know if she'll sleep 30 mins, 45 or the rare 1.5 hrs. Haven't quite figured out how to make it at least an hour each time, but hoping as she gets a little older, she'll go for longer stretches at a time.
• Right before Thanksgiving we went to see Santa and the Pink Pig with our cousins Ellie and Blake. That was a fun filled day that deserves its own post with Santa picture... so more on that later. But she does great when we are out in public and think she just loves to observe everything around her... again Miss Nosey!! I don't mind though because she seems content and allows me to have a relatively low stress outing.

Our big 9 month girlie:

 Little Wiggle worm make it hard to take any good shots this month, but got a cute profile

 Hello Mr. Bear

 mmm.... SHOES!

And here's a quick shot of our roller trying to escape the den! She didn't know what to make of the hardwood at first.

As she grows... month 8

So, I knew I was behind on my monthly stats for Lydia, but was about to write a post for month 9, when I realized I never did one for month 8! Ekk...


8 month (23 weeks adjusted) stats:

• 14 lbs 4 oz
• Around 24 in. (based on my measuring skills... so not that accurate)

Interests/Activities:

• Continues to try new baby foods and textures
• Anything green makes her look at me with a face of such disgust
• I also realized she likes things REALLY puree'd -- no chunks yet
• She really started noticing Sadie at this point and would get a big grin on her face whenever she would come in the room. Though I think she keeps expecting Sadie to turn and flash her a big smile in return, but she does get covered in doggie kisses if Sadie comes close enough. And I do mean covered... I could just give up baths all together and let Sadie handle the task!
• The beginning of month 8 was when Lydia finally figured how to roll from back to tummy, but wasn't too interested in going tummy to back... I guess since she already mastered that a while back, she didn't feel the need to repeat. :)
• She also hit the big sitting up milestone this month without toppling over. She had been able to "sit" for a while now, but would soon topple over, but she finally figured out how to keep her balance and sit up for longer periods of time.
• She is such a happy baby and really loves to smile and flirt with everyone she meets. Love her easy going disposition and that smile gets us everytime!
• Visiting the pumpkin patch wasn't your favorite activity this month, but we had a blast with your cousins and wearing our pumpkin attire.
• We also enjoyed your first Halloween by showing you off in your flower costume to a few neighbors.

Here are a few of the shots from her 8th month shots with the bear.

Rolling and Other happenings

I've been sort of slacking off with blogging. I'm sure you all miss me terribly! HA! Lydia is taking her morning nap, I should be showering, but instead I'm catching up on all my blogs and decided to give a little update of my own.

We've had a little technical difficulties lately since "someone" MAY have accidentally spilled water on the laptop. Geesh! Who would do that!!?? At first, I thought everything was okay. Then I noticed that the computer would start to type on its own. It's favorite key of choice you ask? Well, it happens to be the \\\\\\\\

It doesn't happen all the time. Sometimes it behaves wonderfully and then sometimes it takes you 30 min to sign into Google because its so darn fast and can type \\\\\\ faster than you can hit the backspace. And then sometimes just when you think you might win, the keyboard won't work at all.

I think its a conspiracy. Though as I tattle tale on my computer now, it's behaving.

All that to say... it makes it hard to enter my email address, let alone write a full sentence. But I'm going to roll with it while its cooperating!

In other news... Lydia has started to put her rolling skills together. She rolled clear across the room while I was ironing (I know, right? That's a rarity in our house). I set her back in place and she took off again.

She ha\s also started to scoot backwards. I'v\e \b\een tol\d this is a \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \pr\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \e\\\\\\\\\\\\cur\ser\\\\ \\\\\\\\\\\t\o\ c\\\r\awling\. (Th\is is wh\at happ\ens when th\e computer takes over... just leaving\ it in so you can see wha\t I'm dealing with\ over h\ere!!) Guess my streak of no \\\\ is over. Any advice on getting my keyboard to behave??

Ok... back to Lydia. I feel like my baby girl is growing up WAY too fast. She already wiggles in my arms like she wants to get down and go, but she doesn't realize she can't really move yet. I'm going to be a little sad the day I put her down and she doesn't stay in one place... and I have a feeling its coming soon. Sniff!

Since I never had an official Halloween post, I'll leave you with a picture of my sweetness dressed up as a flower. Better late than never, right?

Second Mommy

In case you weren't aware, Lydia actually has two mommies. Myself and our beloved Sadie. Sadie is quick on her feet, always atuned to the slightly whine or whimper from our girl. She's the first one up the stairs and offers reinforcement during tummy time via kisses.

Well you may ask... who is this Sadie? She is our doggie.

Our doggie, who when we adopted her nearly 3 years ago was so scared, she'd hide behind the couch, never barked and wouldn't even lay in her bed... poor little thing.

Motherhood has changed Sadie as well. While she slowly became more comfortable with us, laying on the couch (when I'm not looking), begging for treats, etc... She has come out of her shell even more to keep watch over Lydia.

She now barks when the doorbell rings or if family walks in without her knowing it. She even comes to check on us in the middle of the night if I'm in Lydia's room.

During the day, she can frequently be found napping besides Lydia's crib or sprinting up the stairs at the slightest sound from the baby monitor. She's mommy's little helper and I'm pretty sure she considers herself Lydia's mommy too.

Here is Sadie waking up from her nap when I came to check on Lydia

Outdoorsy? Not so much...

So I've decided my child offically doesn't like the outdoors.... or maybe she just doesn't love fall as much as her mama does. We've gone to a few fall festivals/pumpkin farms since the weather has gotten cooler and our little Miss hasn't totally been in love.

While her cousins enjoy horses, more horses, petting bunnies....





Or picking out the perfect pumpkin...

 

Our little lady wasn't quite as excited. Inner baby dialog below...





Why am I on the ground?



What is this giant ball and why does mom insist I sit by it?





Still not happy



We grown ups had fun watching the kids play and of course took a few hundred photos to remember the day. Here are a few of my favs:

Again with the pouty face... haha

I'm pretty impressed we got 2 out of the 3 looking in the same direction and smiling

Onnie and Papa with their grandbabies

My little pumpkin

Videos

Before we became parents, I talked Kyle into getting a video camera to capture those moments where a still shot just wouldn't cut it. Kyle wasn't convinced I'd really use it and while I admit I'm not so good at remembering to use it all the time, I have captured a few cute milestones so far.

The bad part is they haven't really been viewed by anyone, so in a effort to show off our princess' milestones so proud grandparents can see her in action, below are a few recent videos of our girl.

Warning: Everyone might not love these videos as much as the grandmas, pas and great-grands, so I won't be offended if you don't watch them in full :)

Rolling Over

Hitting the highchair toy

(This was one of the first times in the highchair and she barely reached the tray)

Giggles with Mommy

(Don't be jealous of my videography skills in this one)

Sitting Up