December updates

Sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas you lost interest in walking and resorted back to crawling wherever you went. Daddy and I think it was because you fell one day and hit your face on the corner of the center table in the family room. You were trying to walk carrying a cushion that was twice as big as you and tripped. We think you were mostly scared, because the fall was not that bad…you were not even bruised. So, we just continued to encourage you by holding your hand and walking around the house with you! And then Christmas day came—and all of a sudden you felt brave enough to try the walking again all on your own…you have not stopped since.

This year we spent Christmas at home instead of traveling to be with family. It was a little different, but really good and relaxing. Both Kateli and I were sick around the holidays so we opted to not travel at all. Daddy and I exchanged gift Christmas Eve so that Christmas morning was all about watching you open your packages!! It was so much fun to see you tear the wrapping paper off of each gift and to explore what was inside all of them. The ones that most excited you this year was a baby doll that grandma Sue sent you, and the little tricycle that Daddy and I gave you. It was so impressive to watch you learn how to climb on and off of the little tricycle—you had it mastered before New Years!

New Years we had a fun family reunion in our home. Uncle Dave, Aunt Monica and the cousins came to visit, as well as abuela and abuelo! We had a house full and it was so much fun. There were children running all over the place, and laughter was to be heard at all times! We really just hung around the house, but did get out a couple of times. We went out to eat at Pei Wei’s, we went to the park one afternoon, and we went to watch Charlotte’s Web with the kids (you didn’t go, Kateli, because you are still too little to sit through a long movie). Everyone stayed through New Year’s Eve, but New Year’s day was a sad day to say goodbye to all of our guests. Uncle Dave and family left early in the morning and abuelo y abuela followed shortly thereafter. The house felt so different after everyone had gone, we were sad to be alone again! Hopefully we can have another fun get together sometime soon!

My First Birthday Party (In Houston and at home)

Your first birthday party—ahead of time! Grandma and Tia Marta threw a birthday party for you in Houston. You enjoyed it far more than I ever imagined. You loved eating cake, and you were so careful not to get it on your clothes—which totally amazed me. You loved watching and playing with all the other little kids that were there, and you were so in tune with opening your gifts. You actually pulled paper and gifts out of bags and were interested in the gift more than the boxes—which I was not expecting at all. The only thing is that you are not too big a fan of the piñatas, but that is okay—we’ll warm you up to them and I think once you start enjoying them you’ll wonder why you didn’t like them sooner.



Two weeks later we celebrated your birthday again at home. We threw yet another birthday party and abuela and abuelo were able to be with you. We also had you dedicated at church that weekend. We invited lots of friends with little kids so that they could all come enjoy the celebration! The fun part about your birthday this year is that we got our first snow of the winter, and boy was a snow storm!! On your actual birth day daddy took you out to play in the snow for the first time!! That was fun to watch--you weren't quite sure what to think about it at first, but you got comfortable after a little while.

First baby steps! (Nov 23)

You started walking today!!! You’ve been cruising furniture and walking while holding my hand or daddy’s hand for a few weeks now, but today you did it all on your own. It was so exciting since we were in Houston and everyone got to partake in this milestone. The funnest part is that Tia Marta caught it all on video. You had taken up to 3 steps at home, but we had not been able to have the camera on hand when it happened. While in Houston, you were playing with daddy and tia Marta was videotaping—you took 7 steps towards daddy and have continued to practice your walking everyday since then. This is all going so so fast—in 7 days you will be 1 already!!

August updates

You are certainly a talker!! You keep yourself entertained for minutes playing with toys and grunting at them or babbling at them. You say “da dada dadada” it’s your favorite thing to babble right now. You know your dada that’s for sure. But you call me “dada” most of the time too, which is pretty funny…I know I know, dada is easier to say than “mama”. I have heard you say “ma” a couple of times, but it just doesn’t roll of your tongue as easily. You have started to try and stand up in the middle of the room, without pulling up on anything, which is pretty impressive to watch. You let go when you are pulled up on something and remain standing for a couple of seconds. We are sure that you will be walking in no time. You’ve also gone through some major separation anxieties this month (week), and you want mommy all the time. Makes me feel so special!! At the same time though it is hard to leave you with anyone when I go to the gym, or to church or to bible studies, because I know that you will cry for me—makes me sad to see that, but I know that it’s a phase you will grow out of. Even when we are at home, and it’s just you and me, you get so ansy when you don’t see me in the same room as you. You go searching after me, and have even ended up in the laundry room, thinking “where is my mom, she normally heads in the kitchen direction” I know I’m mean, but I’ve only done this a couple of times—I will step away from the room where you are in playing, and watch from around the corner to see when you realize that I’m gone. It’s amazing to see, you stop what you are doing all of a sudden, and look around—you look like your little wheels are turning trying to figure out where I went—and then a few seconds later you leave what you were doing and head out crawling to find me. And you are so smart. Sometimes I crawl on the floor with you and we play the “ring around the chest” game, where I crawl around the chest and say “bye bye” to you, you normally follow about ¾’s of the way around and then realize, “now wait a minute, if I just go the other way, I’ll run into mom”—and sure enough you do. You turn around and run into me and you give out this great giggle saying “ha ha, I found you mom!!”

Those pearly whites are finally coming in! (Aug 28th)

You are getting your first tooth!! I am so excited. Yesterday you were fussy, which is not like you especially when you have napped, so I wondered what the problem was. I didn’t think you could be sick again since you just got over a viral infection, but I guess all is possible. Anyway, this morning after we left the gym I realized that you are cutting your first tooth. When I picked you up from the nursery after the workout, one of the ladies had you because you were crying. She said that you had not been happy for a while and I wondered what could be wrong. You normally enjoy being among other kiddos for at least an hour before getting ansy for me to pick you up. I always give you a toy to distract you a bit, while I strap you into your seat, and this time something was different. As you were gnawing on the little green frog teether, I noticed little tiny whitish/red slits on your bottom gum—immediately I understood why you have been fussy lately. My poor baby is feeling the discomfort that comes along with cutting teeth!! You are two days shy of 9 months and are already getting those first pearly whites. I called your daddy and you auntie to share the wonderful news!

A little ill during 9month checkup (Aug 21)

Well we went to see the doctor this morning because you had been running a fever all of yesterday and into today. Nurse got us in, and the doctor was also able to do you 9 month well child checkup—no shots necessary for this checkup. Turns out that you have a viral sore throat, which the doctor said is a common seasonal illness they are seeing right now. You should be over it in a few days. There is no medication, since antibiotics do not work against viral infections. As far as the 9 month check up, you are now weighing 16lbs 10oz, and measuring 27”. Doctor said you are doing great, you are in the 25% for weight, height, and head measurement, which means you are perfectly proportioned! Our next appointment is not until you turn 1!

We are going to Mexico! *(Aug 16)*

It’s official, we are going to Mexico on vacation at the end of next month. Your passport came in the mail this afternoon!! You and I are ready to go…daddy?? Well, we are still waiting on his passport renewal. I wish they would have sent back the second picture that we mailed in for the passport, because it was such a cute one! You did wonderful when we took you to kinko’s to get your passport pics made. I love you!

"more" mommy, "more" (Aug 14)

You have learned to ask for more!! J Well, okay…I’m not sure if you are really intentionally asking for “more” or if you are just clapping your hands together! Either way, it’s a milestone, and I’m so very proud of you. I’ve been teaching you the sign for “more” every time we sit down to eat since about 6 months, if not earlier, and you are starting to respond. You are not quite yet 9 months…you are such a smart little baby girl!

I can put food in my mouth! (July 27)

You have learned how to feed yourself the little star shaped snacks that I put on your tray while I feed you. Up until now all you did with those was look at them, switch them back and forth between hands, and eventually drop them all on the floor. I’m so proud of you, your tiny little hands and fingers look so cute when you grab a hold of a star and pull it to your mouth, start sucking on your fingers and the star, and then finally release the snack. Once you got it in your mouth you gnawed it and gave me a huge smile!

A Little Immersion (July 19)

You got immersed today at swim lessons and you didn’t complain!! I have to admit that I was a little bit nervous about it. I thought you may not like it and you might cry, but I was totally wrong. Daddy came to the lesson this morning to video during your class. Because it was the first time for the babies to be immersed in water, the instructor did them. As I handed you over to her, I thought “my baby, under water?” She took you, said “one, two, ready go” and put you under for a count of three. You came up, big eyed, with water running down your face and as she handed you back to me you gave me this huge grin that said “it wasn’t too bad mom!” I love watching you experience new things.

Abuelita's visit in July!

Abuelita left to go home this morning and we are going to miss her. She came to visit and to spend time with you this weekend. We had a great time! Grandma loves to shop so we went to the mall twice during her stay, and Kateli you did great. Mommy was so proud of you; you were patient and a good sport. Mommy and daddy got some time to spend together alone, while grandma watched you in the evenings. We got to go out to the Melting Pot for a nice 2^nd year anniversary dinner on Saturday night. Sunday night we went to small group and you stayed with grandma. Yesterday grandma went with us to swim lessons and watched how much fun you have and how much you enjoy the water. She liked watching you smile and giggle in the water!

Drinking from a straw (July 16th)

You have learned how to drink from a straw! I haven’t wanted to use the sippy cup too much because I don’t want you to become dependent on it. So we have worked on drinking from a regular cup and today I thought we should try drinking from a straw. You do fine drinking from a cup, but it’s so much cuter to watch you purse your lips around the straw and sip the water. The first time that I put a straw in your mouth, you weren’t too sure about it and gnawed on it as if it were a chewing toy. After a few seconds you shut your lips around the straw, but I don’t think you sucked up the first time. Finally, I felt the cold water come up on the straw and saw your eyes light up when you got some in your mouth. And so you learned!

First day of swim class (July 10th)

Today you started your swimming lessons and it was so much fun. I loved watching you and seeing the excitement in your face from being in the water. You are a great little swimmer, it seems to come natural and you love the water. You spent most of the time in the pool splashing water on mommy’s face and onto the other babies in the class.

Fourth of July weekend

Aunt Marta and uncle Misael have been here this weekend visiting. They arrived, by surprise on Saturday morning. Aunt Marta called mommy in the morning, about 6:30am, and said “The sun rises different in your neck of the woods” Mommy about jumped out of bed!! Aunt Marta and Uncle Misael were 3 hours away from the house when they called. It was a wonderful surprise. Saturday we hung around the house, to try to give Marta and Misael some time to relax after driving all night. We also had a visit from another friend and her family; who are in from Argentina. Sunday we went to the zoo! While it was really hot out, we had a lot of fun! We got to see the polar bear, the lion, the flamingos, the fish, the monkeys, elephants, giraffes, and the sea lions. And for the first time today you seemed to enjoy eating sweet potatoes. In the evening we went with Aunt Marta and Uncle Misael to Emily’s house for our small group potluck. We had a fun social and were asked to bring a dish, something red, white or blue. So, I made a tres leches cake and decorated it like the flag of the US.

No more army crawling for you (june 29th)

You are 1 day shy of 7 months and you’ve begun crawling on all fours!! You’ve been scooting on the floor to wherever you want, but you have been doing the army crawl until today. You had some friends over today, Adreana and Benjamin! Benjamin is just 3 months older than you and getting around everywhere. I think you picked up the crawling by seeing it. You took about 3 “steps” this afternoon, and I tried really hard to get it on video!

Pulling up! (June 28th)

Wow!! You are growing way too fast. I put you down for a nap this afternoon, and you cried for about 3 mins before it all got silent. I went in to check and make sure you had fallen asleep….NOPE, instead I found you standing up holding on to the rails of the crib!! WHOA! We need to go down some more with the mattress. Slow down my little one!

We got our first Pool (june 24)

You got a pool today!! Daddy and mommy went to target and bought you your very first pool. It’s an 8’x30” above ground pool. Daddy says it’s a start! Who knows, maybe someday we can graduate to a bigger one, or even an inground pool. We’ll have to see. Now you and mommy can practice swimming in our own backyard. You start swim lessons in a couple of weeks and we are so excited because you seem to love the water. Your little feet start kicking like a pro as soon as you hit the water!

Sitting Pretty all by yourself! (June 21)

You sat up all on your own today for the very first time!! It has been a while since I started putting you down to play in a sitting position and you have mastered staying sitting for long periods at a time, but you had not sat up by yourself. I came into your room this morning to get you after your first nap, and I came to find you sitting up in the crib. You sat up, and you sat on mr bunny’s head! J I was so excited!! I picked you up, gave you the usual big hug and kiss after your naps, and said “you sat up all by yourself today! I’m so proud of you”

Up on all 4s!! (June 7)

You are so close to crawling!! It is so exciting, nerve racking and scary all at the same time!! Actually, last Thursday was the first time that I’ve seen you get up on all fours!! We were at Rachel’s house for small group, and shortly after we arrived I put down your quilt and put your toys on the ground so you could play. I put you on your tummy and then next thing I knew you were up on your hands and knees—it was only for a few seconds, but it was fun to see. You had not done that again, until today!!

I put you on the floor to play with your toys, as I do everyday when I need to get things done and so that you get your tummy time. I turned my back for a minute or two because I was going to put together your pak and play in the family room so I could lay you in there for a nap. When I turned around to look at you, you were up on all fours!! I dropped what I was doing, grabbed the video camera and hoped that you would do it again so that I could get it on tape for daddy to see when he got home from work tonight! Sure enough, you did again and again and again!! It was SO much fun to watch you. I ran around the house looking for my camera and the camera bag because I also wanted to get pictures of you, and I called daddy to share the exciting news.

Daddy and I need to get serious about picking out new carpet for the house, because you are going to start crawling any day now!

6 Month Checkup (end May)

You are 6 months old and you got your first taste of solids today!! Where has the time gone?? It is so hard to believe that you are no longer the 6lbs baby that we brought home from the hospital on Dec 14! I remember the day you were born, like it was yesterday and yet, it’s NOT. You were so tiny when you were born—you weighed 5 lbs 5ozs and measured 18 inches. I remember the first time I gazed into your beautiful little eyes—it was the night you were born. Daddy and the nurse put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me over to the NICU so that I could see you how beautiful you are up close. I was in awe and overwhelmed by the joy of really seeing you, and touching you tiny little fingers and toes! When I spoke to you, it was as if you recognized my voice because you opened your eyes and look at me. Daddy said that was the first time he had seen you open your eyes, and it brought tears to my eyes—not because I was sad, but because I was so happy! That was six months ago!! Today, I look at you and I can’t believe how much you have changed. You are my beautiful baby girl, with more energy, bigger smiles, the cutest giggle and the most impressive curiosity. We went for your six month check up this morning, and the doctor said that were doing great. You have almost tripled your birth weight at 15lbs, and are now measuring more than a third of my height—24.5inches!! It was so hard to see you get your immunizations this time—you cried inconsolably for about 10mins after the nurse poked your little legs—it was the most pitiful cry, and I wished that I could kiss it all away—so I tried. After the doctor’s appointment we went and had lunch with daddy, and you did well throughout the outing. When we got home, I gave you some Tylenol to prevent you from getting sick after the shots, but it didn’t work as well as the last two times you were poked on your legs. You didn’t feel real well and you slept most of the afternoon. When you woke up the first time, you were fussy and your little head felt warm—you quickly fell asleep and slept off the temperature. When you woke up the second time you were back to being my happy little baby girl—you woke up smiling and ready to play.

Swimming is my thing! (May 28th)

Today you swam in a pool for the very first time!!! Lois, our neighbor from down the street invited us to her neighborhood Memorial Day Pool party this year, and we couldn’t turn down the oppty to take you to the pool for the first time! It was so much fun to get you ready for your swim. Your bathing suit is the cutest!! It is a one-piece, hot pink suit with little ladybugs on the front—and it came in a set with a matching robe, for after your swim!! Daddy and I were so excited to see you all dressed up and took pictures and video. When we got there, your eyes lit up and you were all smiles with everyone and anyone that looked your way!! You are such a happy baby, and so social. I got you lathered up in sunscreen—we wanted to make sure that you pretty little baby skin would not get burned—and then daddy took you into the water. You were so happy to be in the pool. You kicked like a pro!! Daddy only had you in the water for a few minutes, but you enjoyed it so much! After your swim, mommy and daddy had burgers and hotdogs, before you zonked out!! The swim wore you out and you fell asleep so peacefully.

A blissful night of rest! (May 24)

Today you slept through the night--a total of about 12 hours!! Daddy and I have been putting you to bed at 7pm for about 2months now and it's working out great. You are getting plenty of sleep through the night, and we have some adult time with your daddy! Until tonight though you had been waking up at about 2:30am to nurse every night, and then slept through to 7am. Last night we put you down at 7pm, and you slept through until 6:45am!!! I was up at 2:30, at 3:45, and at 5:00 wondering if you were okay!! Finally at 5:00 am I got up and went to check on you. You were fine and sleeping on your tummy--you looked so peaceful!