kaelyn: 18 months

_MG_0662Height: 32.5 inches (75%)
Weight:
18 pounds 13 ounces (0.5%)
Head Circumference:
18 inches (27%)
Clothing size:
All 18-month things and some 24-month jammies. I did realize that the pair of jeans she’s been wearing for a while now is 9-12 month size, and they still fit her perfectly (her diaper does help hold them up, though). Size 4 shoes.
Eyecolor: Blue.
Teeth: Ten.
Eating: She has a new favorite food… PANCAKES! She will shovel them down like it’s her job (and really, it pretty much is). She also LOVES Chinese food, Greek yogurt, muffins, salad, and homemade chicken nuggets._MG_0688

She’s still nursing three times a day, but we did give her her first cup of whole milk a few days ago. She seems to think it’s okay and doesn’t make a face when she sips it… but I do have a feeling that most of that half-gallon of milk is going to go to waste.

We did see her regular doctor this month, and she is happy with her growth. She gained a pound and grew 2.5 inches! Tall and tiny. We’re still being really diligent about making sure she’s eating enough and not just throwing it all on the floor…
New words:
I feel like we haven’t heard any new words this month… but she has now customized our names to “Mum-mum” and “Daaah-eeee!, always said very enthusiastically. She also told me that a duck says quack this morning!
Favorite things:
Blue Kitty and Piggy (her stuffed animals), her baby doll, playing kitchen, driving toy cars, reading books, and laughing at me in the morning when she’s nursing.
Dislikes:
Diaper changes, getting her face wiped, being told no, sharing, and the car seat.
Sleep:
She’ll nap for about 3 hours in the afternoon, usually starting around 1:30 pm. She sleeps from about 8:30 pm until 7 or 7:30 am. I’ve long forgotten what it was like to wake up with her in the middle of the night, several times a night, for most of her first year… Uninterrupted sleep is a blessing!

She still falls asleep on me when she nurses, probably about 90% of the time. Kaya stopped doing it at an earlier age than this, so I still love it.
Nicknames:
Baba, Baba Grace, and Kaya calls her “Kaden”. Haha.
Milestones, etc.:
-Because I’m writing this a week and a half late, she already had her first day in nursery at church! She has been a bit more attached to me lately, so I was worried about how she’d do when I’d just completely leave her. Well… she stayed for the whole two hours, and only cried a little (apparently mostly when clean-up time happened and all the toys were put away). I can’t believe she’s old enough for this already, but I’m so proud of her for being so independent.

-Random, but she is obsessed with putting things in the hamper. Don’t leave any article of clothing hanging out, because she will clean up behind you. I even found her boots in there yesterday.

-She is really getting great at pretend play: eating, giving her baby a bath in the sink, and tucking her in with a pillow and a blanket._MG_0689

-She is SUCH a little helper now! She likes to help me put the wet clothes into the dryer, unload the dishwasher, take things out of grocery bags and hand them to me, and she even tries to push her own high chair to the table at mealtime.

-She makes jokes/does silly things to make us laugh. She’ll hide behind the wall and pop out over and over to get us to giggle, or hide under a blanket and wait until we say “where’s Baba?”

-She’s at that age where she’s becoming hard to photograph… why look at the camera and smile when there are a million other more interesting things to be doing? I totally bribed her with Smarties (candy) for her monthly photo in the chair, because otherwise, this is what I get…_MG_0676

-She’s really good at identifying parts of her body (nose, eyes, ears, mouth, hair).

-She can get her boots on and off on her own, and has successfully removed her diaper herself before, too. She’s tried to get out of her jammies but always seems to end up with her arm stuck in the neck opening!

-She loves to bring us things that belong to us, and always says “thankssss” as she hands it to us. I don’t know if she’s instructing us to be polite and thank her, or what… haha.

-She definitely has her own opinion about things, and makes this awful squawking noise when she doesn’t like something. We have started very short time-outs in her room for these mini tantrums.

-Anytime I put makeup on, she stands next to me and begs for something to hold/play with from my bag. Turns out, she’s pretty good at losing chapstick… so I saved her an old tube of mascara to put in her purse. She’s happy as can be.

-She can go up the stairs on the playground on her own. She’s definitely interested in climbing, but hasn’t done anything extreme yet (Kaya was climbing out of the crib at this age… I almost can’t believe that)!_MG_0428

Dear Kaelyn,

You are so sweet. So very tender-hearted. I love the way you take care of your stuffed animals and baby doll. You are so gentle and loving, like the perfect little mommy. I hope that you’ll be a big sister one day, because I just know how perfectly kind and loving you would be toward a little baby brother or sister.

I love how you need a kiss from mommy anytime you get the tiniest booboo, or even just tumble onto the floor. That kiss makes everything instantly better, and your crying stops. You are still a mama’s girl for sure._MG_0700I can’t believe we are already more than halfway through your second year. It’ll be summer and your 2nd birthday party before we know it! I love you, Kaelyn.

Love, Mommy

kaelyn: 17 months

_MG_0135Clothing size: 18-month-size everything. I am tempted to try on some of her 24-month cold-weather shirts, though. Size 4 sneakers, but I’ve been tying Kaya’s old size 5 dress shoes tight enough to stay on her feet for church.
Eyecolor: Blue.
Teeth: TEN! This was a big month for getting teeth.
Eating: She is still a total mess when she eats anything (mealtime requires us to strip her down to her diaper), but she can eat an entire Greek yogurt by herself. She loves olives, pasta, cheese, and crackers (but not animal crackers…). She is a little snack monster!_MG_0166

She’s still nursing three times per day with no signs of stopping. I’m thrilled that we’ve made it this long, but there are moments when I contemplate weaning, or at least dropping one feeding. We’ll see.
New words: I don’t know if she’s said anything entirely new… but she has definitely become more articulate with the words she does know. Instead of “mama” or “dada”, she actually says “mommy” and “daddy”. Her little voice melts my heart every time she cries out for me._MG_0143Favorite things: Her plush “Blue Kitty”, her Piggy, pretending to cook in the kitchen/eat play food, and using any kind of cup that has a real straw on it (she monopolizes the water cup any time we go out to eat). She loves going outside and playing on the playground (if we walk past a play area without stopping, she gets upset)! She also loves wearing her boots and playing dress up/wearing necklaces.

She “reads” all the time and is very gentle on books, even ones with paper pages (i.e. instead of board books)._MG_0137Dislikes: Diaper changes, getting her face wiped, sharing, and the car seat.
Sleep: She goes down around 8 pm and gets up around 6 or 6:30 am typically. She really has a tough time making it through the morning without that power nap, but these days, it seems like she’ll only take one if we’re driving in the car. Otherwise, she sometimes passes out in her highchair at lunch. Naptime is around 1:30 or 2 pm for about 3 hours.Nicknames: Baba, Baba Grace, Lovebug.
Milestones, etc.: -She can point to her nose, ears, eyes, mouth, belly button, and toes when asked!

-She’s started more “pretend play” and will put things in her toy microwave, give Blue Kitty a pretend drink or put a diaper on him. Haha!

-She is so good at following instructions and being a little helper now! She loves to put garbage in the trash, clothes (clean or dirty, haha) into the hamper, and even unloads the dishwasher!

-She loves to color and is surprisingly good at holding a writing instrument._MG_0127

-Climbing… she’s mastered it. She loves to climb up on the ottoman and then “jump” up and down before we catch her. She also climbed into a dining room chair at my parents’ house on Thanksgiving.

-She also (usually) insists on climbing down from wherever she is on her own… even if that means tumbling a little.

-She’s started laughing at us when we tell her “no”. I’m not really sure what to do about that…

-She’s getting good at kicking around a ball, almost like she’s playing soccer!

-She can (somewhat) put her boots on by herself. Sometimes they are on the wrong feet, or not quite on her foot all the way, but she really tries hard.

-She does silly things to make us laugh… like initiate peekaboo or say something hilarious over and over again. 🙂

A video posted by Tara (@tarairwin) on

Dear Kaelyn,

You give kisses and hugs all day long, and I hope you always will. You are SO affectionate. I love those lip-smacking noises you make when you want a smooch, and how you wrap your arms around my leg and bury your face into me when you give hugs. You are just the sweetest little blue-eyed girl I know.

Lately, you LOVE to look at pictures of Jesus. We watched this video clip for family home evening one night, and when it zoomed in on Christ’s face, you squealed and pointed with delight. You also love to take His picture off of my nightstand and look at it. I’m grateful to witness how tender and loving you are in these instances. You remind me almost daily that Heaven is not far away, and you are still so fresh from that perfect place.

I love you baby girl. Thank you for all the laughs and sweet moments we share.

Love, Mommy

kaelyn: 16 months

_MG_9799Clothing size: 18-month-size everything (although some onesies are still a bit large as far as length). Size 4 sneakers, but she does fit in size 3 dress shoes. Tiny feet!
Eyecolor: Blue? There are still days where I’m not sure, and then there are times when they are undeniably blue. I’ve had some people tell me they look green… but personally, I have never ever seen green in her eyes at all.
Teeth: SIX! Her two top one-year molars came in this month. They are still working their way through her gums, but she’s been a champ through it and hasn’t even seemed cranky._MG_9802Eating: She has started eating a lot more this month. Daddy even thinks her legs are starting to chunk up a little! She loves grilled cheese, salad (with Italian dressing), yogurt, cooked carrots, shredded chicken, grapes, olives and cheese crackers. I let her try muffins and fruit snacks this month, and both are a big hit.

We’re nursing 3 times a day now (morning, before nap, and before bed), but I feel like my milk supply has definitely dropped a lot these past couple of weeks, so I’m not sure how much she is consistently getting. I had this same feeling when Kaya was this age, and she self-weaned at 16.5 months. I attributed low supply/self-weaning to being pregnant last time, but maybe I just stop producing a lot around this age regardless._MG_9611

New words: I continue to be amazed whenever she says a new word… and she’s started using at least one new word every week now. She says: hi, bye, please, cheese, thanks (sounds like “ssss”), hop, and she can roar like a dinosaur and bark like a puppy. She also loves to scream “mama mama ma” or “dada dada dada” when one of us makes her do something she doesn’t want to (i.e. get her diaper changed)… so if I’m changing her, she screams for Daddy. If he’s changing her, she screams for Mommy. Hilarious.

Favorite things: Piggy (her stuffed guinea pig), stuffed animals, the toy shopping cart and baby doll stroller, and the cozy coupe car. She is a girl on the move! I still give her baths in the kitchen sink, and she loves to hold a cup under the faucet and fill it up. She also loves to steal Daddy’s water bottle from his backpack the moment he gets home. Books are still a favorite, too._MG_9524Dislikes: Getting her face wiped and laying down for diaper changes.
Sleep: 
She goes down around 8 pm and gets up around 6 or 6:30 am typically. Falling back to sleep and taking a power nap in the morning is becoming rare. Naptime is around 1:30 or 2 pm for about 3 hours.
Nicknames:
Baba, Baba Grace.
Milestones, etc.:
-Walking, completely unassisted, anywhere and everywhere!

-She tries so hard to carry heavy objects (like a water bottle or a small pumpkin) while walking now.

-She’s started to “pretend” play now. We caught her tucking stuffed Daniel Tiger in for bed a couple of nights ago!

-She’s started climbing… just a bit here and there. I found her standing on the back of Kaya’s tricycle last week, and she’s also determined to go up the stairs at the playground on her own.

-She gestures to ask me for help/an object she wants, etc.

-She follows directions so well now! Her new favorite trick is putting things in the trash.

-She appropriately nods “yes” or “no” when you ask her a question about what she wants.

-Mini temper-tantrums have started. She lets out this awful “squawking’ sound anytime she doesn’t like something (usually it involves Kaya getting too close to whatever she’s playing with). Bleh.

Dear Kaelyn,

Little girl, you light up our world. Now that you are walking around and saying a few words, we’re really starting to see your personality come out. I just love that cheeky grin you flash me when you know you’re being silly._MG_9834

You are so much more independent than your big sister was at this age. I keep getting asked when you’ll start going to nursery at church… 2 more months! Seeing your outgoing personality has me wondering if you’ll even look back when we drop you off for the first time. I’m excited for you to do all the fun “big girl” things coming your way, but I’m definitely going to miss having you always next to me. You are my little sidekick._MG_9613

Love, Mommy

kaelyn: 15 months

_MG_9374Height: 30 inches (36%)
Weight:
17 pounds 10 ounces (0.55%)
Head Circumference:
17.75 inches (27%)
Clothing size:
 Although her 12-month onesies were still fitting well, I switched all her clothes out for 18-month size stuff, mostly because it isn’t summer anymore and we needed some warmer items.
Eyecolor: Blue.
Teeth: Just the four still!_MG_9367Eating: She’s still nursing 3-4 times per day, and she has been eating as much as she wants at mealtime. She really loves any kind of shredded chicken (tacos or Hawaiian haystacks), any flavor of Greek yogurt (besides coconut), grapes, and olives. She also liked trying pumpkin bread!

However, we saw a different doctor than we almost always do (at the same practice) for her 15-month appointment, and she did show some concern about Kaelyn’s weight (even though her height went up). She suggested really trying to put some weight on her between now and her next appointment at 18 months, or they want to start doing some tests to be sure there isn’t a thyroid problem/growth-related issues.

Of course, as her mom, I have been a little worried about all of that and am trying hard to get her to eat more solids (she just doesn’t put a whole lot of food down). She will eat if I keep spooning it in her mouth, but it makes her so sad, so I’m not enthused about it either. Make her eat to prove to this doctor that she can grow, or let her continue to eat as she wants? I’ve always been more of a “hands off” kind of mom so this decision has been harder to navigate.
New words:
 New things she’s said this month include Baba (her nickname), Mama, hello, and she now growls like a baby dinosaur when we ask her to/Kaya is pretending to be a dinosaur too.
Favorite things:
Her stuffed Piggy, pushing the toy shopping cart or baby stroller around, riding in the cozy coupe car or even just sitting in it, and pushing any toy car around. She can entertain herself by reading a book for an extensive length of time, too.

This is also really random, but she LOVES this wedding photo I have sitting on my nightstand, and asks to hold it just about every morning when she wakes up. Sweet girl._MG_9160Dislikes: Getting her face wiped and laying down for diaper changes.
Sleep: 
She goes down around 7:30 pm and gets up around 6 or 6:30 am typically. Sometimes she’ll fall back to sleep in the morning or still take her little power nap around 10:30 am. It seems like she’s been able to start going without that extra nap lately, though. Official naptime is around 1:30 and she’ll typically sleep for about 3 hours.
Nicknames:
Baba, Baba Grace.
Milestones, etc.:
-She is WALKING! She is trying so hard and is able to take a few steps on her own with no support from anyone or anything. She also stands up all on her own (no grabbing onto anything or pulling up) from a sitting position.

-She loves to push the doll stroller around and can go from one end of the house to the other, and even pivots to turn around without falling down!_MG_9329-She loves to show us where her belly button is when we ask… 🙂_MG_9386-She can actually feed herself pretty well with a spoon! She doesn’t make a mess until she is tired of eating and gets bored.

-She’s made up her own sign for “more” (and it’s always the same)- she holds her hand out, makes a fist, releases it, and then does it again. So cute.

-She is SO sensitive to any kind of “negative” speaking (i.e. “no”, “don’t do that”, etc.) and will bust into tears so easily. Poor sweet baby. I feel especially bad for her when Kaya overreacts to something and makes her so upset.

-She loves “pretending” to wash her own hair, brush her hair, eat food, etc.

-She is always trying to get herself dressed! Anytime she sees something fall out of the (clean) laundry basket, she tries to put it on, whether it’s her shirt, Kaya’s pants, or even… Kaya’s underwear. Hahaha._MG_9163Dear Kaelyn,

Oh sweet girl, you are still so mild-mannered, calm, and easy-going. You love everyone and make so many people happy just by being around them.

Whenever Daddy gets you out of your crib in the morning, he carries you, holds your hand, and whisks you to whatever room I’m in to immediately say hello. You are always beaming with delight when our eyes meet for the first time that day.

I can’t get over how beautiful you are, especially when you’re smiling. I don’t really think you look like anyone in the family in particular, but you sure are cute as a button._MG_9324I love you Kaelyn Grace. Keep smiling.

Love, Mommy

kaelyn: 14 months

_MG_9146Clothing size: Still wearing 9-12 month onesies and pants. Dresses and jammies are 12-18 months now.
Eyecolor: Pale blue.
Teeth: 4! Two top and two bottom. I keep thinking that she’s teething, but nothing else has popped up yet.
Eating: She’s nursing about 4 times a day now, and her consumption of solid foods really seems to have gone up this month! She loves yogurt (Greek or regular), grapes, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, any kind of shredded chicken, graham crackers, and any kind of cheddar cracker (i.e. goldfish).

We also let her try pizza a few days ago at this community pool party… and she was ripping pieces off with her teeth and actually eating it! My baby is so grown up!

She’s starting to get bored with Cheerios for breakfast, but that’s the easiest thing I can give her while we’re all getting ready in the morning.

She also likes to taste-test sidewalk chalk…

Words: Her favorite words are hey, hi, this, and that! She loves to go up to the guinea pig cage and say “heeeeey” so excitedly to them.
Favorite things: “Piggy” (her plush guinea pig), reading books, the toy cookie set, pretending she’s talking on the phone, drawing on the magnetic board, peekaboo, and little toy cars. She loves watching the real guinea pigs, and Kaya still gets the biggest laughs out of her.
Dislikes: 
Getting her face wiped and laying down for diaper changes.
Sleep:
She sleeps from about 8 pm until 6 or 7 am, and for the most part, sleeps through the night! She’s had a few extra wake-ups lately from traveling, but other than that, she’s been very predictable in this category lately. She takes a 3 hour nap (as long as big sister doesn’t wake her up), starting around 1 pm. She still likes her little 30-minute “power nap” in the morning if she can get it. We’ve had a few days lately where it just hasn’t happened, and usually, she starts falling asleep in her high chair at lunch!
Nicknames: 
Baba, Baba Grace, Baba Gracie. Although we call her by her nicknames 90% of the time, she somehow does still know her real name!
Milestones, etc.:
-She’s still not walking independently, but she’s pulling up on things and cruising along them whenever she can! Standing opens up a whole new world of activities- like playing the piano!_MG_9138-She’s started climbing. For example, she can get into the cozy coupe car all on her own. She also likes to sit in Kaya’s baby stroller (until I catch her and take her out)!

-She tries to put shoes on all by herself! One time, I got my running shoes on, and she grabbed Kaya’s flipflops and attempted to wear them so she could come with me.

-She definitely has little temper tantrums when she doesn’t like something, but I have to say, on the whole, she is a very mild-mannered little girl. Her tantrums involve her squawking and throwing her body backward… and that’s pretty much it.

-She’s always loved her daddy, but this month, she’s really taken a lot more interest in him and will even ask him to hold her. I’m glad they’re spending a little more time together!

-We switched her over to the convertible car seat this month and she seems to like it a lot more than her infant seat. We brought it inside to clean it up (it was Kaya’s before) and adjust the straps, and she sat in it any chance she got._MG_9039-She’s started to (sometimes) fold her arms at prayer time. What is cuter than chubby little baby arms folded together? (answer: maybe nothing)

Dear Kaelyn,

Baby girl, I love everything about you. You climb into my lap to snuggle, you kiss and hug freely, and you make everyone smile. You love being close to your mama and I couldn’t be happier about that.IMG_20150805_180546You are so inquisitive these days and are always asking me “this?” (what’s this?) so that I’ll name objects for you. Your most-frequently spoken word is “hiiiiiiiii!” without a doubt. You say it any chance you get and I love hearing that little baby voice of yours.

Keep on smiling little princess. We love you more than you know.

Love, Mommy

kaelyn: 13 months

_MG_8872_2Clothing size: Still wearing 9-12 month things, but we’ve tried some 18-month jammies and dresses and they aren’t too big to wear.
Eyecolor: Pale blue.
Teeth: 4! Two top and two bottom!
Eating: We’ve started offering her solids three times each day now, and she’s getting so good at feeding herself finger foods! She loves pasta, pulled pork, honey-nut cheerios, Greek yogurt and grapes. She’s not a fan of pureed peas or coconut-flavored yogurt, but those are the only two things she’s tried that she hasn’t liked. If she sees you eating a pretzel, she’ll beg for one and pout. She also really loves cheddar goldfish (although we’re cheap and buy the off-brand “whales”)._MG_8430I’m still nursing her on demand, which is about 4-5 times per day now. I could probably cut her down to 3-4 times if I really wanted to, but since she is still not consuming a high quantity of solids, I like knowing she has nursing to fall back on.
Words: I know she’s old enough, but I can’t believe my baby is already using words. She has just a few: Dada, Hi, No, and This (she’ll point to something and say “this? this?” in her little baby voice to get me to tell her what the object is)! I’ve heard her babbling B and M sounds, so maybe soon she’ll say “Baba” and “Mama”. 🙂
Favorite things: Her stuffed guinea pig (“Piggy”), her Little People farm and the toy piano. She loves dancing and will even put her hands up in the air before wiggling around like crazy (she isn’t picky about music either, she’ll dance for anything Kaya “plays” on the piano, too)! If there’s ever a book within her reach, she’ll sit and look at it for quite a while. She would also ride in the cozy coupe all day long if we let her. _MG_8563Of course, she loves her big sister and gives Daddy the biggest grin when he gets home every day.
Dislikes: Getting her face wiped, getting dressed, and getting buckled into the car seat.
Sleep: She goes to bed around 8 pm and has started sleeping through the night this past week! She will sleep until around 6:15 or so, nurse, and then either stay awake or go back to bed for another hour or so. She still takes 2.5-3 hour naps in the pack ‘n play in the afternoons, and a 30-minute power nap in the morning (either nursing, in the stroller, or in the car, depending on where we are).

She also has to have her Piggy whenever she lays down. If we forget to give her to her, she searches for her frantically and pouts. Does it get any cuter than this?

_MG_8537Nicknames: Baba, Baba Grace.
Milestones, etc.: -Still not walking, but she is a FAST crawler now! I’ll see her in one place, look away for a moment, and she’s gone.

-She’s started pulling herself up on things more often now… but most of the time she only pulls up to her knees. If she pulls all the way up, she doesn’t remember how to get back down, so she just cries._MG_8865

-She now gives hugs! She’ll go up to Kaya and wrap her arms around her and just stay there, grinning from ear to ear. SO adorable.

-Daddy think she’s a lot more ticklish as of lately (he even gets her to laugh when he uses his feet)!_MG_8486-She figured out how to draw! She just picked up Kaya’s little drawing board one day and started using the pen. Crazy!

-She’s got a good arm and can throw a ball relatively well.

-This mischievous little girl has made it her mission to get into everything under my bathroom sink when I’m getting ready in the morning. I think I’ve picked Q-tips up from the floor every day since she discovered she could dump them out!

Dear Kaelyn,

You are becoming more fun every day! I love to see you discovering your world and expressing yourself more now that you are so mobile. You love to crawl away from me, look back, and laugh- that’s your way of telling me to chase you! You are so much fun little girl.

_MG_8426You’re still a super-easygoing kid- you’re more than happy to just sit back and watch whatever everyone else is doing most of the time. I love how observant you are, and I’m sure that when you’re really talking, we’ll get to know just how much you’ve been soaking in all this time._MG_8840

We love you, Baba. Keep those scrunchy-nosed grins coming!

Love, Mommy

kaelyn: 12 months

(written July 1st)_MG_8365Height: 28 inches (14%)
Weight: 16 pounds 13 ounces (1%)
Head circumference: 17.25 inches (14%)
Clothing size: 9-12 month for the most part, but I could have cried when I put her in a 12-18-month onesie and it wasn’t too ridiculously big to wear. Where is my tiny baby?
Teeth: Two down in front and one top middle one barely poking through!
Eating: She’s nursing 5-6 times per day still, and eating a solid-food dinner every night! We’re still doing fruit purees and puffs, as well as Greek yogurt (she can eat a whole serving, which never fails to impress me, since I find Greek yogurt to be kind of heavy on my stomach)! She has also tried cucumbers and a little bit of pasta and seems to really like both!Favorite things: Her little stuffed guinea pig is still at the top of the list! Now that she can crawl around, she takes her piggy with her anywhere she goes. She loves to go upside down, be “tossed” in the air and caught, give slobbery kisses, and dance. Favorite toys are my tupperware containers, Little People animals, and the toy piano she got for her birthday. She also just loves if I fill up a bucket or box with random toys and she can discover each one as she pulls it out._MG_8326Dislikes: Getting dressed, getting in the car seat (at times), and sharing a toy she wants to play with.
Sleep: I thought we were headed toward sleeping through the night last month… and then we went back to waking up once to nurse. I really don’t mind because I tend to wake up a lot at night now anyway.
Nicknames: Baba, Baba Grace, Monkey, Scooter._MG_8108Milestones, etc.: -She is actually crawling, not just scooting! She started this 3 days after her birthday!
-She can pull herself up into a standing position, but has only done it a couple of times.

-She’s definitely understanding and responding to words/requests… such as wave, clap, kiss, etc.

-She helps get herself dressed by actually pushing her arms and head through her shirt now.

-She grabs her toy remote, holds it up to her ear, and consistently says “ehhhh?” before cracking the biggest smile. Makes me laugh every time! She’s also really good at imitating brushing her hair.

-She’s definitely started throwing “mini-tantrums”, where she throws her whole body backwards because she is upset and can’t do whatever it is she wants. It’s nothing too crazy, but she’s definitely forming her own opinions about things!

-This isn’t really a milestone to celebrate, but she is crazy when she nurses now. If she isn’t kicking me, grabbing my face, or pulling my hair, then she’s distracted by something else in the room, which makes nursing impossible. I love that time with her, but I really prefer it to be calm!

Dear Kaelyn,

This has been the fastest year of your mommy’s life… but definitely one of the best. I have loved watching you grow and change. It all happened so subtly that I still sometimes think you’re a tiny baby, until I see you crawling, exploring, and discovering who you are. Then I remember… you’re a big girl now! You show us a little more of your budding personality every day. We love it._MG_8150I love you so much princess. Thanks for picking us as your family.

Love, Mommykaelynmonth12collage12 months of Kaelyn! I cannot believe we started out with a tiny 5.5-pound cutie!kaelyn1yearcollage

kaelyn: 11 months

I’m late on this, and I still can’t even believe this is our last monthly update before she turns ONE. Where on earth has the last year gone?_MG_7846

Height: 28 inches
Weight: 17 pounds 6.4 ounces
Clothing size: 9-12 month things, typically. Still squeezing into some 6-9 month jammies, and wearing 12-18 month shorts from the Children’s Place since they tend to run small.
Eyecolor: Baby blue.
Teeth: Still just two down in front.
Eating: She nurses every 3.5 to 4 hours. She still doesn’t have solids most days, but she’s starting to show more interest in eating. She can down a container of pureed fruit if she’s in the mood, and she likes those little baby “puffs” and sucking on pretzels. Nursing is still our #1 priority, so we’ll probably get more serious about solids after her birthday.

We don’t give her a sippy cup, but she has grabbed Kaya’s and seems to have figured out how to use it. If nothing else, she loves playing with it!
Favorite things: Playing peekaboo, dancing, going upside down, looking at books, catching bubbles, and taking baths. She loves being outside. Favorite toys include the stuffed guinea pig she snuggles with at night, any of the toy kitchen food/utensils, water bottles and sippy cups… and basically anything she isn’t supposed to have (like chewing on shoes… ew)._MG_7802 Dislikes: Clothes going over her head and getting buckled into the car seat sometimes.
Sleep: Bedtime starts at 7 pm, and she usually sleeps until about 6-6:30 am. This month, she did something totally crazy… she slept through the night! She probably sleeps all the way through about 50% of the time now. Otherwise, she wakes up just once, nurses and goes back to sleep. It’s crazy, but I’m still waking up a lot thinking that she should be up.

I let her snuggle me, nurse, and doze off for about half hour in the morning (usually around 10 am) if we’re at home, otherwise she gets cranky and doesn’t last until naptime. If we’re on the go, she catnaps in the stroller or the car. Nap is around 1:30 pm and lasts until around 4:30. She still naps in the pack and play in our room.

She also LOVES to sleep with her feet sticking out of the crib. Cracks me up!_MG_7902 Nicknames: Baba, Baba Grace, Koala Bear (because of how she holds on to us when we carry her… like a little baby koala holds on to its mother!), Kaelyn Koala
Milestones, etc.: -We have ourselves a professional “scooter”! Just as I predicted last month, she scoots her little booty across the floor, while sitting up, to get to wherever she wants to go. I LOVE seeing her move and explore, but I very much wish that I could explain to her that actually crawling would make her life sooo much easier! It takes her forever to go from point A to point B this way, but she’s a determined little girl and does it!

-She’s also a pro at rotating around/changing directions.

-She’s still not pulling up or cruising along furniture, but we’ve been practicing standing, and she’s getting so much stronger. She is interested in pulling up, but can only get about halfway toward actually doing it right now. I’m guessing she isn’t far from it, though.

-She’s started “pretending” to do things, like brushing mommy’s hair or feeding you with a spoon, etc.

-She’s certainly a bit clingier now than she used to be. I still wouldn’t classify it as “separation anxiety”, but she definitely prefers to be with her family. I’d even say that right now, she is a mama’s girl. She loves her daddy, but will often reach out for me even when he’s holding her. I’m soaking it up since Kaya has always been a daddy’s girl._MG_7448

– Her hair on top is straight as a stick… but I am starting to see just a few wispy pieces in the back that have some texture… which is exactly how Kaya’s curls started out! So, I’m curious to see if her hair stays straight or becomes curly over time. We’ll see!

Dear Kaelyn,

I love you so much, princess. You bring so much joy to all my days. You are my little buddy, always by my side, watching me, or holding on to me.

I love your sweet, spontaneous kisses and the way you gently rest your hand on my arm or hold my shirt while you’re nursing to sleep. I love how you pretend to act shy when a stranger talks to you, and the way you nuzzle your head against my chest to hide.

Having you has made the days go by even faster, and I can’t wait to celebrate you in just a few weeks. You are our sunshine!

Love, Mommy
kaelynmonth11collage

kaelyn: 10 months

Double-digit months! I can’t believe my baby is so big!_MG_7343

Height: 28 inches
Weight:
16 pounds 12.8 ounces
Clothing size: 6-9 month things fit just fine, but I’m about to bust out all her 9-12 month stuff for summer!
Eyecolor:
Baby blue._MG_7307 Teeth: FINALLY! I’m so excited that she has her two bottom front teeth now! She was a little cranky when they were coming in, but it was nothing unbearable. She’s still as sweet as can be, even when I’m certain her gums were in pain.
Eating: 
She nurses every 3-4 hours now, although I still have the idea stuck in my head that she’s a tiny baby who needs to eat every two hours. Usually, I try to feed her more often than she’d like, and when she refuses, I remember that my baby is growing up for real.

We have still been super slow about solid food. Most days, it’ll be bedtime and I’ll realize that she has had only breastmilk all day. Oops! We’re busy, eating real food is messy, and I’m pretty scatterbrained these days… so those are my excuses. I’ve been trying to give her one Gerber puree at dinnertime when I remember. She loves any of the fruit ones we’ve tried, and thinks sweet potatoes and squash are okay. Veggies are not her favorite!
Favorite things:
Splashing in the bath, dancing, going upside down, and being tickled. She loves dancing to music (especially the “Sherlock” theme song)! She loves any wooden toys (although I’ve been trying to not let her chew on them with her new teeth), and she loves snuggling with her stuffed animals. She really loves her plush Simba the most!_MG_7332 Dislikes: Getting dressed/undressed, and Kaya taking her toys.
Sleep: 
We start getting her ready for bed around 7 pm, and she usually nurses for quite a while until she passes out. She usually wakes up once or twice between then and 6 am. She’s up for the day around 6:30 am, and doesn’t like to take a real nap in the morning, so between 10 and 11 am, I’ll let her take a “nursing nap” on me for about 30 minutes. If we’re in the car or taking a walk, she power naps on the go. Her real nap is around 1:30 pm and lasts until 3:30 or 4 pm. Nicknames: Baba, Baba Grace, Baba Gracie, Snaggletooth (haha).
Milestones, etc.:
-Everyone loves to ask me if she’s crawling yet… and the answer is still no! BUT I will be shocked if she doesn’t crawl here in the next couple weeks. She’s started to realize that she can’t always reach what she wants, and she stretches so far to try to get whatever it is… she wants to MOVE but she’s not quite sure how to do it yet! She can rotate 360 degrees on her bum though, so she might just be scootin’ her booty across the floor soon instead of crawling for real.

-She started giving kisses this month… which means she pretty much eats your face! When she first figured it out, she was a kissing machine and wanted to slobber on mommy all the time. She doesn’t do it as often now but it’s still so cute.

-I don’t know how she does it, but she loves pulling individual threads out of the carpet. You’d think it’d be difficult to pull pieces out, but she is a pro and I always have to watch that she isn’t trying to eat them.

-She has her own dance move now… it involves bobbing her head up and down so quickly that her whole body sways with her. It’s definitely hilarious!

Dear Kaelyn,

You are the calm to my storm. I cherish the time I get to sit with you, hold you in my arms, and stare at your sweet face. You always give me the biggest, whole-face-scrunched-up grin._MG_7305Everyone loves you so much, princess. All the Young Women at church take turns holding you (there’s often a waiting list), and you’re so patient and happy all the while. You’re a pretty quiet gal, but when you want to be heard, your voice is shockingly loud!_MG_7291I’m excited to see you start moving around on your own and exploring! Hopefully, you’ll still love to cuddle with mommy once you’re all grown-up and mobile!

Love you, little sweetie!

Love, Mommykaelynmonth10collage

kaelyn: 9 months

_MG_6887Height: 28.75 inches (86%)
Weight:
15 pounds 14 ounces (6%)
Head Circumference: 17 inches (25%)
Clothing size: 6-9 month things are fitting perfectly right now.
Eyecolor:
Blue! I think they match Michael’s pretty well, and her pediatrician said that since they are still so light at this age, they’ll probably stay blue. I’m curious to see if she’s right!
Eating:
Consistently nursing every 3 hours during the day. We also started solids this month! She’s only had three solid meals so far, but she seems to at least give everything a fair chance. I actually bought some Gerber purees, and so far, we’ve tried strawberry yogurt, peaches, and “bananas with apple and pear”. I’d say the last one was her favorite!
Favorite things:
Being held by mommy/being worn in the Ergo, going to the park and swinging or just watching big sister and mommy run around like crazy (we always get big smiles for that), dancing, and bath time. She still loves the exersaucer, any wooden toys, and her Little People giraffe. Any of my plastic/silicone baking utensils will keep her entertained for a long time, too._MG_6934 Dislikes: Kaya yelling or taking her toy, getting dressed, and getting buckled into the car seat.
Sleep: We start bedtime around 7 pm, nurse her to sleep, and put her down around 7:45 most nights. For the majority of the month, she was waking up only once to eat around 2 or 3 am… but lately, she’s been waking up 2-3 times a night… sometimes twice between 11 and 2 am. Crazy!
She is up for the day around 6:30 am most of the time, and refuses a morning nap, but has a hard time lasting until afternoon without being cranky. Sometimes, I’ll let her sleep on me for about 20 minutes sometime around 10 am so that she has a little power nap. Naptime is around 1 pm, and she sleeps for 2.5-3 hours now.
Nicknames:
Baba, Baba Grace (Kaya started that one! Apparently you need to use your middle name along with your nickname), KaeCake, and Monkey._MG_6870 Milestones, etc.: -Waving! She started this just after she turned 8 months!
-Clapping! She loooves to clap when we’re singing 🙂
-Grabbing things with her fingers.
-She’s really good at changing positions now. She can reach far for a toy and still get back into a sitting position, and she can roll around like it’s her job (I guess it kind of is)!
-She hasn’t given me any indication that she’ll crawl soon… but she has mastered scooting on her BACK! Crazy, but true. She arches her back and pushes her head forward and can actually move pretty well that way. She usually does this the most on the changing pad!
-I wouldn’t say she necessarily has separation anxiety, but when she wants mommy, she definitely lets everyone know it. Lately, she grabs onto me so very tightly when I hold her, and I love it. I’m the only person she holds like that.

Dear Kaelyn,

You are just so wonderful, and I say that with all sincerity. You’re easygoing, calm, mostly quiet, and just plain sweet. Sometimes, I really can’t believe you are mine. You are perfect._MG_6906You bring light and joy everywhere you go, and I know you brighten so many peoples’ days, whether it’s at home, church, or even just passing by strangers at the grocery store. I hope you’ll continue to share your light with others throughout your life.Processed with VSCOcam with a6 preset Love you so much, Monkey. I’m so grateful I get to be your mama.kaelynmonth9collage