12 - 3 = Too close to the first birthday!

Slacker mommy alert! I have been pretty good about getting Jaelynn's monthly post up quickly until this month! Oops, only a week late :) What a fun month this has been with little miss starting to crawl and becoming very efficient! She is still as sweet as can be!

~15 lbs 10 oz (4%)

~27 1/4 inches (50%)

~Size 2 diapers

~Still primarily in 3-6 month clothes but can also do some 6 or 9 month depending on the brand. I have finally pulled out some of her 6-12 month gymbo outfits because I couldn't wait for her to wear them! They are big but still CUTE!

~Still a good sleeper!

~Crawling everywhere!

~Pulling up to stand every now and then but mostly content on her knees.

~Crawls up a step (haven't tried the stairs yet because mommy is not so eager for her to go up them!)

~Pretty much refuses purees and will only eat finger foods. I think she still likes some of the purees but doesn't want us to feed her. She wants to do it all by herself.

~There isn't really any finger food she won't eat as of now.

~LOVES water out of her sippy cup

~Goes crazy in the bath with kicking, splashing, crawling, laying on her back or stomach.

~Plays "So Big" and peek a boo

~Loves her puppy and big sister!

~Mimics blowing raspberries and smacking your lips together

~Signs "more" more consistently each day.

~Says "aa du" when you ask if she is "all done"

~Says mama and dada but doesn't completely associate it with us although she definitely knows to cry "mama mama mama" when she is hungry/tired meaning "I want to nurse and nap"!

~Has waved "hi" a couple of times but not consistently doesn't wave "byebye" but will babble byebyebye when you try and get her to wave.

~Gets into everything she is not supposed to of course! (Dog food, "Wii"motes, mommy's purse, sister's puzzles, crayons, chalk, etc)

~VERY impatient! When she wants something she wants it NOW and will let you know if you are not fast enough with it!

~Still no teeth (which does not bother mommy at all especially since she is still nursing)

~In her big girl carseat and seems to love it!

Our happy 9 month old little Red Raider!

How can you be in the 4th percentile for weight with pudgy thighs?

LOVE THEM!

Knawing on her crib!

"Mommy, enough already get me out of here!"

Loves to play!

On the move!

Pretty much what I see all day...her backside crawling away from me! :)

So what's next?? Well after having her nine month visit my suspicions were confirmed! Time to get rid of the paci! I thought I had remembered the Dr saying something at Kaley's 9 month appointment about if she had a paci to get rid of it now but since she didn't have one (only her thumb) it didn't really stick with me until before we went to this appointment. Jaelynn is only allowed to have her paci at nap time and bed time and the paci is not allowed out of her crib (or playpen if she is at Em's) but she definitely is attached to it when she is sleeping. I guess part of me thought maybe the Dr was just going to say to get rid of it during the day but no...his words were "Burn it!" Well this week she has been suffering from a sinus infection and disrupting her sleep by getting rid of the paci was not something I thought we should tackle when she was sick! So, probably next week sometime we will start with no paci! Any suggestions? Should we do nap or bed time first or all at once? I am sure it will be rough and there will be lots of crying but I will let you know how it goes!

We have also started to semi-tackle the thumb sucking on big sister which I am sure will be much more difficult! Suggestions/advice for that are more than welcomed as well!

I have shared this piece of advice with some of my first time mommy friends but for those of you I haven't shared it with...After seeing Kaley's attachment to her lovie/thumb I realized that if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't let the lovie outside of the bed because she only really sucks her thumb when she has the lovie so I wish I wouldn't have let her have it around the house. Which is why Jaelynn has only been allowed to have her paci in her bed. She doesn't need it any other time so why give it to her? I didn't want her to be any more attached to it then she "needed" to be. So that is my advice from one mommy to the next...It is one of those "if only I had known then what I know now" things.

I Like The Way You Move

Jaelynn started crawling this evening! She has been army crawling and rolling and other types of getting around but tonight she did her first official crawl on hands and knees! She is 8 months and six days old-about a month younger then Kaley was when she started to crawl. She isn't fast by any means and still a little uncoordinated but I have a feeling in another week or so we will be chasing her around! This will make for some fun and crazy times when Em and I are watching the kiddos! The video is actually the second or third time she crawled. I think it is pretty good considering she just started crawling about a minute and a half before I took the video...but, I am the mom! :)

GR8!

Better L8 then never, right?

Two thirds of a year have already gone by since God blessed our family with Jaelynn Lee. She is such an alert, active, good-natured, wide-eyed, cheerful, curious, sweet, silly, energetic, joyful, loveable, happy girl and fills our lives with more joy and love than we could have ever believed possible! The other day I was thinking back to when Kaley was an infant and even when I was pregnant with Jaelynn and everyone kept telling us to get ready to have a little terror on our hands with our second because our first child had been so good and you didn't get that lucky twice! All I do is laugh about it now because God has given us 2 flexible, easy going, content, and happy babies! Now I am sure because our "babies" have been so "easy" we are due for some very trying toddler, adolescent or teenage years but we will take them as they come and treasure our sweet girls with each new stage!

~I have no idea how much she weighs or how tall/long she is but maybe I will do my own measurements some time this week.

~Size 2 diapers

~Still primarily in 3-6 month clothes but can also do some 6 month. Shoes still don't fit very well she can wear 0-6 month PediPeds but other than that her feet are too fat for newborn shoes and too little for anything bigger.

~Sleeps 11-14 hours at night and takes 2 naps anywhere from 1.5-3 hours each.

~Gets up on hands and knees and rocks, brings knees forward but still not too sure what to do with her arms.

~Gets into the bear crawl position

~Very squirmy during diaper changes and getting dressed

~Rolls and scoots on her belly EVERYWHERE! Sees something she wants and gets to where it is very quickly!

~Eats primarily all finger foods but every now and then wants purees.

~Drinking water from sippy cup

~Loves to bounce in her exersaucer or jumperoo

~Enjoys pool time in her turtle float

~Loves taking a bath like a big girl with her big sister (she has been in the big bath tub with sister since she grew out of the infant one but loves it now that she can sit up like sister)

~Fake coughs when she hears someone else cough

~Very ticklish (just like her mommy)

~Wraps her arms around you and buries her head in your neck when she wakes up from her nap.

~Cries when you walk out of the room (which mommy secretly loves)

~Babbling like crazy and is very loud (yet another trait inherited from mommy)

~Loves her puppy and is constantly tugging on her ears, lips, tail anything she can get her hands on

~Loves to play peek-a-boo, pat-a-cake, happy and you know it

~Shakes her head back and forth when she is all done eating

7th Heaven!

***I have no idea why the spacing is like this but I don't have the patience to figure out how to fix it.

Let's just get down to business...my baby is 7 months old today!!!!

~15 lbs (guesstimate)

~No length/height measurement

~size 2 diapers

~Yes she can still fit in some 0-3 month capris, leggings, and dresses but she pretty much wears all 3-6 month in everything but osh kosh and that she is in 6 month!

~no longer swaddled for naps!!!

~goes to bed at 7:30ish and wakes up just before 7am to eat but then goes back to sleep until around 9

~loves her alone time in her crib, the exersaucer or playing on the floor

~sits independently

~babbling constantly

~moving all around the floor in some form (inching, pushing, spinning, rolling)

~happy happy happy

~loves to be outside

~starting to refuse purees and only wants finger foods!!!

~finger foods she has had so far-puffs, yogurt melts, gerber crunchies, biter biscuits, pears, apples, bananas, carrots, potatoes

~started using a beginner sippy cup but she mostly just chews on the spout

~has the most expressive face that just cracks mommy and daddy up
~LOVES her sister and puppy

I know there is so much more but John isn't here to help me make the list and I had to post these 7 month pictures so I will post more about what she is doing later but for now enjoy these photos courtesy of Gramps! I bought the shirt and added the ribbon and bow to it and made the bow on her headband!!! Go mommy!

This was the VERY last photo of the shoot! She was definitely DONE!

4,380 - 182.5 - 26 - 6 - 1/2

4,380 hours, 182.5 days, 26 weeks, 6 months, 1/2 a year....however you want to say it Jaelynn is halfway to her first birthday! This little one has been such a blessing to our family and brings us so much joy every day. She is so loved!

~14 lbs 2.5 oz (10-25%)

~25 inches (25%)

~ just used the last 1-2 diaper and now in size 2 with A LOT of room to grow

~wore a 0-3 month outfit the other day (still!) but is primarily in 3 month (carter's) and 3-6 month (gymbo, gap, old navy, etc)

~sleeping is still random...most of the time she is down around 8 and wakes up to eat between 6 and 7 (and then goes back down until anywhere from 8:30-10?!? but every now and then she still randomly wakes up in the middle of the night

~wakes up happy (90% of the time) and "talks" in her crib for a while (10+ minutes) before we go get her

~can sit independently for longer periods of time (5 minutes today!) but still falls over quite a bit

~babbling more and more each day (dadada, ada ada, nanana, yayaya, gagaga)

~plays independently with toys for up to 10 minutes

~cries when mommy or daddy walk away

~FINALLY rolling from back to tummy!!! I say finally because she rolled from tummy to back at 2 months and I have been waiting for this

~she still loves to blow raspberries but her latest thing is to do it while she is nursing....it definitely makes mommy laugh everytime!

~inching/pushing/moving/maneuvering her way forward to get toys by pushing her face into the ground bringing her knees up under her and shoving herself forward (I am trying to get video!)

~moves herself all over the floor when she is playing-I will lay her down one way and come back to find her across the room facing the complete opposite way !?!

~some days she is a great eater...other days not so much
~holds her own bottle when she wants to but prefers for you to hold it
~very happy girl, smiles and giggles a lot especially at mommy, daddy and sister

~sucks on both thumbs and a pacifier...sometimes but doesn't need any of them on a regular basis

~chews/chomps on everything (the pediatrician asked if she was teething but I don't think she is - Kaley was the same way and didn't cut her first tooth until 9 months)

~has found her headbands/bows and pulls them off (sometimes but mommy knows she really loves them!)

5...5 dollar...

5 months?!? No, no, no my baby can not be one month shy of half a year. It just isn't possible. I had a hard time coming to terms with Kaley getting older and this time around it is both easier and harder at the same time. It is easier because I look forward to each and every new stage and know how much fun comes with each new stage. But...it is harder because I often catch myself thinking, "Is this the last time I will have a newborn/1/2/3/4/5 month old? Will I go through this again or do I need to make sure I remember this forever." Not that I don't try to remember every little thing she does (and Kaley did) and how I felt at the time...but as many of you know no matter how much you want to(and think you will) you just simply CAN'T remember everything. I don't know what God has planned for us in terms of our family (or anything else for that matter) but I am constantly reminding myself to treasure each "baby" moment because I may not have another baby. More on this at some other time (maybe). Let's get on with the monthly update.

~a little over 13 lbs (mom's estimate)

~ size 1-2 diapers

~at 5 months old this girl STILL wears 0-3 month clothing in multiple brands as well as some 3-6 month (most of which is still big)

~sleeping patterns have been random ever since she got sick-some nights she wakes up at 3 or 4 in the morning and other nights she sleeps until 7 or 8 in the morning...who knows?!

~can sit independently (with mommy nearby to catch her) for very short periods of time (when she wants to)

~chatters/babbles/yells/vocalizes very loudly (she may not look like me but how can you deny that this child is mine)

~showing more interest in Bayla (grabbing her skin and ears anytime she is near)

~reaching and grabbing anything and everything that is near

~loves to blow raspberries and therefore soaks her clothes

~still not rolling from back to tummy but she sure will twist and turn her little body and head as far as she can to see something or someone

~loves to play in her exersaucer and on her play mat

~started cereal and peas but then she got sick and refused to eat any solids...back on cereal, does not like peas (just like her momma) and about to try green beans and sweet potatoes.
~starting to hold the bottle
~getting used to Hayden finding her wherever she is, climbing on top of her and eating her face kissing her! :)

~is no longer the baby of the family (on daddy's side)

~looking forward to meeting everyone on Mommy's side of the family at Easter!
~is so loved by her big sister, mommy and daddy!

*Warning the following video is long and loud!

Don't feel like you have to watch all 4 minutes of her squealing.

That is all it is I just didn't feel like editing it.

Fabulous First Four Months!

It's been a fabulous four months so far! We are really enjoying life as a family of four! Jaelynn is showing her personality a little more each and every day. She is very content most of the time but will definitely let you know if she is wet, hungry, gassy or tired. Four month facts:

~12 lbs 11.5 oz, 30-35%

~24 inches, 40%

~15.5 inch head, 10%

~finishing up the last of size 1 diapers and starting on size 1-2

~as for the clothing...Carter's 3 month, Gymboree, Gap and Old Navy 0-3 and some 3-6 (little big)

~sleeps anywhere from 9-12 hours at night

~starting to prop sit

~loves to chomp on her hands but still can't find her fingers or thumb consistently

~cooing all the time

~starting to giggle (but you definitely have to work at it)

~smiles at her sister more than anyone or anything

~starting to reach and grasp toys

~loves bath time with her big sister

~about to start solid foods

~looking forward to her first Valentine's Day!

Catching up...yet again

I know I have been a terrible blogger (yet again). This new year has just started off busier than ever! I meant to post more about Christmas once we got home but that didn't happen...so here is a VERY brief update! Christmas was awesome! We had such a great time at my parents house visiting with family and friends. We came home to snow/ice on the ground and more snow on the way! Kaley got to play in the snow for the first time and to be honest she wasn't so fond of the cold! Definitely her mamas girl! Since returning from vacation we have been trying to get back in the swing of daily life. Kaley was out of MDO and swim lessons for 2 weeks so it is taking some time to get back into our routine.

Kaley's main gift...a kitchen! She LOVES it!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

(Please ignore the crazy mismatched outfit.)

First bath together

Kaley and a few of her stuffed animals.

GO TECH! Loving her new hat!

Daddy and his daughters!

Jaelynn is now 3 months old! I know I said I would post after her 2 month check up but that didn't happen. Just so you know she was 10 lbs 10.5 oz at 2 months. And she rolled from her tummy to her back for the first time at her 2 month well check! Dr. McCoy's reaction, "Uh-oh she isn't supposed to do that yet...you are going to have your hands full." She is such a joyful addition to our family and we are just falling more and more in love with her each day!

~We don't have an appointment this month so I will have to weigh her on my scale to get some sort of idea of her weight.

~still in size 1 diapers but may be in 1-2s soon

~no longer fits in newborn clothes but still fits in some 0-3 and 3 month.

~sleeps 9-11 hours at night

~rolling from tummy to back both ways

~cooing a ton and starting to giggle

~still trying to find her fingers (so far she is showing a preference for her pointer and middle)

~had a great first Christmas with family and met some new friends

~enjoying spending more time with Hayden (they are starting to "talk" to each other during tummy time TOO CUTE)

~paying more attention to her big sister and smiling at her every time she is close by

~LOVES taking baths in the big bathtub with Kaley

~starting to approximate and reach towards objects

I am sure I am missing some things but that is all for now so enjoy a few photos of my 3 month old!

Loving the rolls on the thighs! Hehe!

Close up!

Waking up from a catnap on the couch.

Waking up from a nap...not so sure that swaddler is working!