10 Months

10 Months! WHAT?!? Time is such a tricky thing.  Baby girl continues to grow and learn and we just love this piece of our family.

At 10 Months Isla:

-Has had a little cold and is pretty serious today.
-Still wakes up around 7 for a bottle, but then happily goes right back down for another hour or more.  Daddy gives her this bottle 99 percent of the time and I think it is a really sweet time for them.
-Is constantly trying to get everyone's attention.  She just started waving while she smiles and waves non stop at the grocery store and church.
-She still sleeps swaddled.
-Takes two naps a day (about 1.5 hours each) and drinks four bottles.
-Got her first two teeth!  The bottom two came up pretty much together.
-Doesn't crawl yet.  I think she is really frustrated that she is stuck just sitting somewhere.  She has been a little less happy and content lately and I think it is because she is wanting to move.

We love you pretty girl!

9 Months Old

At Nine Months Old Isla:

-Still sleeps from about 8:00 until 6:30 or 7:00.  She'll have a bottle and always go back to sleep until about 8:30.  We tried having her cry it out, but after five days she was still waking up that early and wouldn't go back to sleep.  So we just give her the bottle and she goes back to sleep.  Marcus is usually the one who is up and he almost always feeds her that bottle.

-Still sleeps swaddled.  

-Has no teeth. She has the best, biggest gummy smile.

-Doesn't seem close to crawling.  She will roll here and there to get around, but for the most part sits and plays and isn't very mobile.

-Kicks her legs, gets a huge grin on her face, and squeals if you talk or play with her.

-Hates lying down on her back.  She lifts her legs and head almost like she is doing a crunch.

-Is doing so well with eating now.  She eats most baby food we give her, especially loving squash, sweet potato, and a zucchini/quionia mixture.  She doesn't eat carrots unless they are mixed with something and doesn't know if she loves bananas.  She loves avocados and will eat most other real food we are eating.

-Always points her toes, keeps her legs straight, and kicks.  She looks like a little ballerina or mermaid.

Our little Isla girl is one happy camper.

8 Months Old

Time continues to fly by.  I wish it could stop and we could freeze our baby girl just the way she is.  She is absolutely pleasant and so wonderful. We are enjoying every single second with her.

At 8 Months Old Isla:

-Typically goes to sleep at 8:00 and sleeps until about 6:30 or 7.  She'll drink a bottle and goes back to sleep until around 8:00.

-Drinks 5 bottles a day.

-Generally takes two naps, around 10:30 and 2.

Still sleeps swaddled from her arms down! It works - keeps her warm and happy so we continue to do it.  When I swaddle her up she knows bedtime is coming.

-She is starting to do better at eating baby food but still doesn't eat a ton.

-If she notices she is wearing a bow she pulls it off and eats it.  Which means anything big or thick doesn't last even a second anymore.

-She gives the best cuddles.  She bends her neck and rests her little head on your chest.  Sometimes she does this when someone is giving her attention-like she is being shy.

-She loves any attention anyone will give her.  She smiles back and makes such good eye contact.

-She giggles and giggles, especially when Asher makes silly faces at her.  He really is sweet to her and always tries to cheer her up if she is tired or sad.

-She doesn't fall asleep well in the car.  She only falls asleep if she is super exhausted, but then 99 percent of the time she wakes up the second we turn off the car.

-She rolls back and forth but doesn't use rolling to get somewhere or some thing.

-She is usally happy and content, and loves to sit with a basket of toys by her and slowly pulls them out one by one.  She loves a new toy.

-She has super sensitive skin and we are still trying to figure out what causes eczema flare ups.  So far it seems like dogs and milk.  But if she is wearing a onesie or something where her skin isn't covered, she'll often have flare ups.

-She loves splashing and playing in the tub, but sadly she usually starts itching and clawing at her skin so I have to get her out quickly to get her covered back up.

-She gets constipated so prune juice is her best friend. Luckily she loves it.

We love you Isla girl!

7 Months

Isla Boo--

At Seven Months Old Isla:

-Goes to bed around 8:15.  She is a little inconsistent with when she wakes up, but somewhere between 5:30-7:30.  She usually goes back to sleep until about 8:30 or 9 after she drinks a bottle.

-She does not like baby food.  She will take a bite, shake her head and make a disgusted face, and not eat anymore.  We have pretty much stopped giving it to her altogether.

-She loves being outside and going for walks.

-She loves playing with a box of tissues, pulling them out and then of course trying to get them all in her mouth before I can stop her.

-She has been a little more needy/fussy this month.  Teeth???

-She has gotten so cuddly lately and we are all obsessed with the way she'll lay her head on your chest and cuddle.

-She loves new toys or something she hasn't seen before.

-She has the sweetest little giggle.  She laughs and laughs at Asher and loves watching him play with his toys or friends.

-Has pretty bad eczema that we are always trying to get cleared up.  Just when we think it is gone it comes back.  It is on her neck, tummy, arms, legs, and behind her knees.  Poor little girl is always scratching herself and scratches until she bleeds.

-She always smiles if you are talking to her, playing with her, or taking pictures of her.  People just love talking with her and always comment on what a happy baby she is.

-She drools like crazy and soaks through all of her shirts.

-She just started sitting up in the front seat of the grocery cart and loves shopping now.  She looks around and smiles at everyone around her.

-She really only naps in her crib (or a pack n play).  If she is super exhausted she will fall asleep in her carseat but only if we are driving for longer than a few minutes.  She doesn't always stay asleep once we stop, and that has been hard with church, running errands, having a busy schedule, etc.

We love you little sweetie pie!

Six Months

Sweet Isla baby is six months old.  I can't believe it has been half a year!  We love you so much little girl.

At six months Isla:

-Sleeps about 10 hours at night, eats and goes back down for about two more.  

-Takes three naps a day

-Eats 5 times a day

-Laughs and laughs at Asher.  If he pretends to be laughing at her, she will laugh back and they laugh and laugh together.

-Has gotten over croup, RSV and double ear infections.  She was one sick baby but handled it so well.  She was miserable but only up crying one night (although that was a very long night, poor girl).

-Can grab her binky and put it in and pull it out herself.  Lots of times she just likes to chew on the wrong side of it.

-We were transitioning her to drinking formula, and she was getting fussier and fussier.  Her eczema also got super bad and we realized it was probably the milk formula that was causing both.  We switched her to soy formula and she seems to be doing better.

-She loves playing in her exesaucer and grabbing at her toys. She loves a little stuffed deer and also loves Asher's teddy bear.

-Has tried rice cereal, oatmeal, and avocado.  She ate up the first two and spit out the avocado.

-Is constantly itching at her skin.  Poor girl must really be itchy.  She especially scratches at her tummy and thighs and behind her ears.  

-Is so happy and smiley, especially if you are talking to her and giving her attention.

-She does get tired and fussy if we are out somewhere when it is nap time.  Not bad, just not as happy.  She sure likes her sleep.  She will sleep in her carseat if we are driving but doesn't always stay asleep in it.

-Loves being outside and going for walks in the stroller.

Six Month Stats:

Weight: 14 pounds 14 ounces (30 percentile)

Height: 26.5 inches (80 percentile)

Head Circumference: 16.2 inches (20 percentile)

Happy half birthday little girl!

3 1/2

It hit me the other day that Asher is 3 1/2 now.  He just keeps growing up!  Here is a little update on this sweet boy of mine.

(February 4th)

Little man, I really feel like you have grown up in the last six months. You try so hard to please us and I always worry that I'm a little too hard on you. You are sensitive and so smart, and such a good little boy.

First, your baby sister was born. You were so full of love and never showed any signs of jealousy. I was worried you would struggle with sharing my attention, but you always loved your sister and wanted to take the best care of her. You get her diapers, pajamas, toys and binkies. I love the high little voice you use to talk to her. I love when you lay down next to her and rub her head. You love to kiss her forehead. You go climb into her crib (after you get my permission) and lay there with her after her naps.  You are so sweet and so affectionate to her. You embraced the roll of big brother without even skipping a beat.

About a month ago we made you stop sucking your thumb. We had tried a few ways before, but nothing worked. This time, we used a very strong, horrible tasting polish that cannot be sucked off. We decided to get rid of your blankets at the same time since you usually sucked your thumb when you held onto your blanket. You were awesome, but this was such a huge challenge for you. As your mom, I hated making you go through this. I remember the second night of no blankets and thumbs, and you were lying in bed crying. This wasn't a whining cry, but such a sad, sad cry. You couldn't fall asleep and were just so sad. I'll never forget the way you said to me as you cried, 'but mom, I just can't do it! It's too hard.' I cried myself and felt just heartbroken for you. After a very long and hard week, dad wanted to stop and let you have your thumb back. It was just so hard to see how hard it was for you to sleep, stay asleep, etc. It was a huge adjustment and affected most parts of our day. I am happy to say you did it though! No more thumb sucking and you are doing awesome. I knew you could do it. You are so strong and I have so much confidence in you.

You are now attached to your teddy bear, 'doc' and sleep with him in your arms every night.  We sing Zippity Doo Dah every single night together as we put you to bed.  You still always ask if it can be dad's turn to put you to bed.

You started sunbeams in January and you absolutely love it. I love hearing all about it after church. You love your teachers and I'm pretty sure they love you. Your favorite song is I am a child of God and a child's prayer.

You have two fish-"fortress", a black goldfish and "sucker", a tiny sucker fish. You feed them every day and seem to really love them.

Your favorite thing to do is art projects. You love coloring, stickers, painting, and just creating. You color the entire page before going on to the next page, and you fill a coloring book in order.

You take about a 1-2 hour quiet time almost every day. You go in your room and (mostly) quietly play. Sometimes you play legos, color, read books, do stickers, play with your stuffed animals, or anything else to entertain yourself. You talk to yourself and I can hear you in there playing games and using your imagination. You often line your crayons up in order (smallest to biggest or by color) and sometimes you clean everything up and then yell out to me that everything is clean so quiet time can be over. :)

You still love riding your bike snd scooter and running races outside. But usually you pick your scooter. You will scooter all the way to the park and back with dad which is about three miles. You seriously cruise on that thing.

You love books and going to the library is probably your favorite place to go right now. You would have me read to you all day long if I would. You love the llama llama books, frog and toad, amelia bedelia, and the little engine that could. But there is really not a book that you don't like.  You would sit and listen to me read you books for hours and hours, and some days we do.  I love how you read the story out loud to yourself after I have read it to you a few times. 

You call dad either dad, daddy, and sometimes even Marcus.  You call me mom or mama.  It is so cute when you say mama.  You call Isla baby boo, sister, and of course Isla.

While you are usually calm and love reading and coloring, you are still very much a boy and love fighting and playing rough.  You turn sticks, golf clubs, and just about anything into swords and for some reason you are usually running away from a bear or trying to get the bear.  One of your favorite things is to play "whack a doodle" - a game you made up where you use my big foam roller to hit and fight dad.  Then you give it to him and tell him to get you with it.  You stand still and let him get you with it (he's gentle, of course!)  

You are very social and make friends pretty much everywhere we go. Strangers talk to you at the store or anywhere.  You are fiercely loyal to your friends.  You love them so much and especially look forward to seeing your friends you do joy school with.

You love with all of your heart.  You love our family - you are always wanting to see your granny and grandpa, grandma and grandpa, all of your aunts and uncles and especially your cousins.  Now that you are not the youngest cousin on both sides, you carefully watch the babies and you are starting to love them so much too.  You love your mom, dad and Isla.  Each night you ask dad if tomorrow is a 'work day.'  You love the weekends when dad gets to stay home with you and want dad to play with you each day before he goes to work.  

Your biggest challenge is that you are so sensitive and learning to control your emotions. If you are having a hard day, so many things can make you cry. Just today you ate something you didn't like and burst into tears over it. Sometimes you keep crying and tell us that you just can't stop. You have big blue eyes and cry beautiful crocodile tears.

I am trying so hard to be patient with your sweet little emotions.  Sometimes when I get upset or frustrated I will apologize to you and you always tell me it's ok and apologize too.  We are really working on this together and you are teaching me so much everyday.  

I love you to the moon and back little buddy.

5 Months

(February 11th)

At Five Months Isla:

-Has recently dropped one of her feedings and eats 5 times a day.  Usually around 5 in the morning, then back to sleep and then 4 times during the day.

-Takes three naps a day.

-Has the most sensitive skin.  Sometimes it is rough and patchy and it must itch because the second we take her clothes off she starts scratching her tummy and legs.  

-Loves grabbing her feet.

-Constantly rolls from her back to her tummy, but then she is stuck on her tummy.  She still doesn't know how to roll that direction.

-Seems to be chunking up.  She still is so long, but her thighs are really starting to get big!

-Her size 2 diapers are starting to get too tight (mostly because of her length, not weight...) and we just need to use up a few more before we can move her up to size 3.

-Loves her toys and her exersaucer.  She loves her chewy baby banana toothbrush thing.

-Gives the best, juiciest kisses! She just opens her mouth wide and presses it onto our cheeks.

-Is so happy and smiley and will pretty much smile at anyone if they talk to her.

Isla and Asher have the sweetest relationship right now.  He is so willing to help her with just about anything and loves to hold her, hug her, and kiss her.  He does not want any of her kisses though because he says they are too slobbery.  He begs to let Isla sleep in his bed with him, and when I told him that she would fall out he said that he would keep her from falling out.  He wants to protect her already and I can see that she senses that from him as well.  She lights up when she sees him and giggles and giggles at his crazy antics.   

You are just the best, baby boo.