My Dear Little Ones

My Dear Albina,

Happy 9 months!

I can’t believe how big you are getting! At your 9-month appointment you are 20 pounds, putting you into the 85 percentile for weight! You’re also in the 80^th percentile for height and head! You’ve outgrown most of your 9-month clothes (mostly in height) and are in 12-month clothes already.

You’re a great eater. You love feeding yourself puffs, pasta, crackers, and you especially love homemade graham crackers.  You are also eating some purees. You love carrots, green beans, and peaches. You also love guacamole. We’ve been practicing with a sippy cup and also a straw cup, but you’re not completely thrilled with either yet so we’ll keep trying.

You’re babbling/talking all the time. You say “mama,” “dada,” “yaya,” and lots of other nonsense noises, but “mama” was one of your first big sounds! You also like to scream and shriek when you’re happy and when you’re sad. You don’t cry much when you’re sad, you mostly shriek! You still don’t give full belly laughs very often, but when you do laugh, it is usually involves your brother.

You finally popped a tooth! You have 1 tooth, and I can see several just under the surface, and you’re gnawing on everything.

You’re still not crawling all over the place. You can crawl a little, but you mostly army crawl/scoot/roll. You do pull yourself up on things into a standing position though! I am convinced you’re just going to start walking, and skip crawling altogether.

This month, it has been getting warm enough to spend time out doors playing with water. We even set up the pool. You love splashing with your brother, but aren’t always happy when he pours water on your head.

Well little love, it has been our best month yet, and I am so looking forward to more adventures with you; watching you grow up everyday!

Much Love,

Mommy

My Dear Albina,

Happy 8 Months!

Time feels like it is in fast forward. I feel like every month goes faster and faster. Every day I can’t believe how big you are getting. You’re just over 20 pounds, which I never seemed to notice until recently holding a 7 pound newborn.

This last month we celebrated Valentines Day with a party with all out favorite friends. We also celebrated by painting cards with Oliver for Daddy.

In the last month we’ve been trying more and more foods. Some days you will only want purees and other days all you want are finger foods. You still don’t have any teeth so we’ve been sticking to steamed pieces of carrots, slices of avocados, small pieces of banana, pieces of bread, Mum Mums, and puffs. You love pureed carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, peas, and squash.

You recently started sleeping on your belly more often than not. I love peaking in at your little butt sticking up in the air.

You’re sitting up all the time now, and love spending time in the jumparoo and exersaucer. You also are scooting and army crawling (though mostly backwards) all over the place. Right now you’re more into Oliver’s cars and blocks than your own, and usually find a way to get ahold of one to chew on.

We still do a lot of your baths in the sink, but you have also started to take baths with your brother. You love watching him splash and play, and don’t even seem to mind (most of the time) when he pours water over your head. Speaking of your brother, you love him so much – he makes you laugh harder than anyone can. You both play together so well; Oliver loves putting hats on you, bringing you toys, and even giving you your paci when you’re feeling sad. Watching you two together makes my heart melt.

I can’t wait to see what is in store this next month!

Much Love,

Mommy

My Dear Albina,

Happy 6 & 7 Months.

You are currently loving sucking/chewing on your hands and feet.

After spending the holidays (and New Year) in Denver, and two weeks later traveling to Bainbridge Island, Washington for a week, we have had a whirlwind two months. I think we’re finally settling back into our day to day life back home!

Exploring one of the beaches on Bainbridge Island.

In the past two months we got to meet all the little cousins who came into the world this summer (there were half a dozen of them), a handful of older cousins, and even some new friends. I can’t believe that it has been over half a year since I got to meet you, sweet girl. I feel like you’ve been apart of our family forever.

You love being worn in our Tula carrier.

At your 6 month appointment, you were a little over 16 pounds, you’re in the 50th percentile for weight, the 90th for height and head! You’re not a Michelin Baby, but you definitely have some baby chub. I love your sweet little legs and belly; I just want to squeeze them.

Practicing Sitting. You’re still more of a “tripod” than a sitter.

You’re still not fully sitting on your own for more than a moment. You can sit with minimal assistance  but you’re such a squirmer! You’re so interested in everything going on around you. You’ve also begun to roll, scoot (forwards and backwards) around on the floor. At this rate, I feel like you’ll be crawling before you’re fully sitting.

You’ve got a pretty good schedule down with a small morning nap, a long 2-3 hour afternoon nap (thankfully during the same time your brother naps - so Momma gets some alone time during the day!) and then another small nap about an hour before bed. I like to call your small naps, “Disco Naps.”

Since we waited the full 6 months to start solids, you still haven’t tried much. So far, you love your cereal, avocado, and puffs. You’ve not been a fan of beets, pumpkin, and bananas, but that’s okay - we’ll keep trying. You aren’t as interested in purees so I’ve been trying to give you smaller, squished chunks of food, which you’ve been pretty receptive to since you still don’t have any teeth.

You’re really into your exersaucer; you bounce and play for small periods of time, entertaining yourself.

Sometimes when we bring it outside, Oliver plays with you, too.

You love being outside, and on days when the weather is warmer, I try to spend as much time as we can out doors. You are also really interested in your brother’s toys. I will put a few of your toys on the floor by you, and inevitably you get ahold of one of Oliver’s. I forsee this being an even bigger problem in the coming months as you get more and more mobile!

Well little girl, I think this has been our best month yet. I am so happy to share my days with you. I would be even more happy to share long periods of sleep during the night with you, but I guess that his something we’ll just have to work on ;)

Much Love,

Momma

5 Things I Have Learned in the Last 6 Months.

Now that Albina is almost 6 months old, I am really beginning to feel like I’ve got this parenting of two little ones under control (most days). Not that things aren’t changing constantly - because they are - but that I can finally just be okay with making mistakes and just trying to do the right thing in the future.

With that in mind, here are 5 things I have learned so far.

1. They are Individuals. Everyone will say this, but I often find myself comparing Oliver’s milestones to Albina’s. Oliver had 6 teeth at 6 months. Albina still has none. I just need to love and appreciate this short time before Albina is a toddler running around like her brother.

2. Special Toys for Oliver. Most days Oliver doesn’t get jealous when I am breastfeeding Bina, but somedays he needs a distraction (as opposed to climbing onto the kitchen table with silverware screaming at the top of his lungs). We have some “specials” that we only play with while I am feeding Bina. And sometimes when I just need 15 minutes. We have a special puzzle with large pieces, Duplos, Mr. Potato Head Party, Stackers, and sometimes I break out the craft supplies.

Oliver playing with his train table, which we store under his bed. Sometimes he crawls under to play with it instead of pulling it out.

3. Food in Shapes. Oliver has taken to controlling what he eats. Some days he will try anything and eat everything. Other days he won’t eat at all. I have found that if I cut his food into shapes he likes he is more likely to eat it. I especially like vegetable cutters and sandwich cutters. Oliver really loves planes and stars.

4. Babywearing. Babywearing has been the key to my sanity. I worre Oliver a lot as a baby in a Bjorn, then a Boba, and sometimes a Kelty for hiking. With Albina I wore a ring sling, an Ergo, and now a Tula. Being able to cook, walk, and go on with life with my little ones near me has made life so much easier, especially when having to chase after a toddler. Some days I wear Bina, some days Oliver, and even some days both. When at the park it is so easy to chase and play with Oliver while having free arms. At the zoo I wear Albina on the front, wear Oliver’s carrier on my back, then chase Oliver all around the zoo until he’s tired, then wear him on my back to the car. 

Wearing the Tula I got for Christmas.

Being apart of a babywearing group here in Southern California has helped my journey. Not only has babywearing helped me out in a practical sense of juggling two little ones, its helped all of us bond, too.

Tandem wearing through the airport.

I wore Oliver all the way up until a few days before giving birth to Bina!

5. There is Always Tomorrow. There are really good days, and really awful days, most days are somewhere in between. But at the end of the day, when I check in on my sleeping little ones, I feel so fortunate to have them in my life. No matter how bad our day was, how many tantrums or parenting mistakes I made - tomorrow is a fresh start for all of us. Somedays all the housework gets done (and somedays it doesn’t), somedays we go on adventures, somedays we chase, run, draw, scream, fight, and somedays we just snuggle. Somedays one day isn’t enough, and somedays go one forever. But no matter what, tomorrow is a fresh start.

Time feels like I am in fast forward, and I have so much more to learn. I feel so lucky to have such awesome little comrades with me on this journey.

My Dear Albina,

Happy 5 Months!

This month you’re becoming more and more aware of the world around you. From showing growing interest in our dog, your brother, and even real people food when we are eating – I can see the wheels in your head turning. I wonder what you are thinking about!

 

Physically you are not quite able to sit alone, but do just fine propped and in the Bumbo or high chair.  You can roll over onto your belly and sometimes back onto your back. You are reaching and grabbing for things. Currently you love Mr. Octopus and Mr. Duck while you are in your car seat.  You also love a tabbed blanket and a special ball made with lots of holes that you are able to hold all on your own. Of course everything you can get into your hands also goes into your mouth!

We haven’t started any solids yet, but you have gummed an apple slice and baby carrot that I have held for you. I think you mostly liked them because they were cold from the fridge.  I did feed you one tiny piece of avocado, which you mushed around in your mouth. Starting next month we are going to try solids. I look forward to making and watching your try new foods!

You still don’t have any teeth. Your hair that was rubbing off in a line where you rub your head when you sleep, seems to be growing back in; but it still kind of looks like you have a Mohawk with your thicker and longer tuft of hair on the top of your head.

You still have only really giggled a few times, but you babble and “talk” a lot. Especially when you are around other little ones. In the mornings I will hear you babbling in the Moses basket, and when I peek at you over the edge of the bed you always have the biggest smile on your face. Even your eyes smile and you give me the most precious morning coos.

This month we celebrated your first Thanksgiving. Most of the time I wore you while I cooked, and you slept through dinner, but overall I would say that that meant it was a success! 

I love you more and more everyday.

Much Love,

Mommy

My Dear Albina,

Happy 4 Months!

I had to double-check the count on my fingers because I couldn’t believe you are already 4 months old.

This month we got to celebrate Halloween. Unfortunately it was too hot to wear your costume. A few weeks later the temperatures dropped so I dressed you up one day and paraded you around.

We took your first flight to to visit our friends and family in Colorado! You were such a trooper on the plane! Highlights of our trip was meeting your Cousin Cooper who is about 4 weeks older than you. We were only in town for the weekend, and it went so fast. I can’t wait until we can travel to see everyone again.

This month your Godmother, my sister Jo came to visit with a family friend, Caroline. We went to the zoo, decorated the Christmas tree, and went for a drive up in the mountains. 

You’re continue to coo, babble, and “talk.” You still love your swing, and are becoming more interested in the world around you. You’re always watching me, following me with you eyes and even moving your head. I love when I catch you watching your brother. I wonder what you think about him!

You also are able to sit propped up by yourself! Such an awesome little milestone.

With the end of year holidays, I am beginning to look back at the year and I feel so grateful to have shared half of it with you in our family! Well little lovebug, I look forward to another great month with you.

Love Always,

Mommy