29 weeks old

Well, this week it dawned on me... our little girl is A LOT of fun!!  (Maybe it didn't just dawn on me, but I do appreciate how fun she has become!)  We've kind of laid low this week... except for Wednesday, the 4th of July.  Anna was struggling with (I think) teething that day... and she wasn't nearly the happy, easy-going baby that I know, and love.  But, we're working on it...she's starting to get back in the swing of things.

As you will see in the pictures below... Anna is starting to look super big, and super old... it may be the pictures and her little facial expressions, but this week, she just looks like she's a cute little kid... and isn't as much a baby... goodness!  Where has time gone?!

She really is such a ham!!  I soooo
want to know what she's thinking!!

She looks so big!

Still being silly.

What mom?!  Another picture?

Auntie Katie came to visit...
She decided to give feeding Anna a try...

You're going to give me, what?  More food?

Getting closer

And it's in, with a smile nonetheless!!
Great job, Auntie Katie!!

 

 

Give me the keys!!  Give me, give me!!

Auntie Katie left these at our house... I tried to figure out
if I should eat them, or wear them.

Kisses for Katie!

Avocados!!

Pretty girl!

She loves to play with, see, and CHEW on the remote.
Friday she actually taped "The Price Is Right."

 

 

Here's the stats of our little princess....

She is now fully in size 3 diapers.  I found a rogue size 2 today... man did it look small!  haha...  So, we're growing like a weed.  We are still dabbling in 3-6 month clothes, but maybe this week, I'll try to get out the 6-9 month clothes.  She has a whole bunch that are soooo cute, but oh, so, summery!  So we've got to enjoy them while we can.  I did not get her weighed, but I'd have to say close to 16 and a half pounds... we'll see on Thursday, I'm sure.

Last week was glorious as far as naps went.  However, this week was a little bit more of a struggle.  I am not sure if she is actually full fledged teething or not.. but, she has seemed to be in a funk.

She had one very horrible night's sleep (Tuesday), and was a cranky pants on and off on Wednesday, and very difficult to get to sleep at night... (Thanks Auntie Jill for being in for the long haul!!) but, since then, she's done ok.  It's almost like she has taken a couple steps backwards.  The last week or two she did really well at night putting herself to sleep... the last few nights, we have not been as fortunate.  Either way, she's been getting up about once a night.  She did sleep through the night once this week.  Sleep... it's a work in progress.  Oh well... I guess it is what it is. 

Anna is still not a fan of food... solid food that is.  We've been doing better with the rice cereal.  She didn't like watermelon when I gave it to her... but she apparently sucked on a bit of watermelon that Auntie Katie had.  I have a sweet potato, so I'm probably going to cook that up, and see if she likes that or not.

Anna also is a sitting up master!  She can sit up for long, long stretches at time without falling over.  So that's good.  It also makes for a little bit more fun play time!

Anyway, that's about it!

See ya next week!

28 weeks

I'm 28 weeks old!!

Enjoying some time outside, even though it was super hot.

Practicing our sitting up on our own. She did well.

This is how we started....

Moving...

"I'm gonna get them mom!"

"What?  I can't get my feet?  What are they there for?"

"haha!  I got them!"

She has finally figured out exactly how the jumper works!  She can jump in it for a long time!!

While trying to get her to "like" her carrots, I decided on a new approach... set it on her tray, and let her feed herself.
This is how it turned out.... she did get some in her mouth, but mostly played... and that's ok too.

Some DID get in her mouth, I promise.

Now, Jeremy made an interesting observation... he said she's cleaner feeding
herself, than she is when WE feed her.  Interesting.... and TRUE.  Hmmmm

Someone wanted to Skype their Auntie... Her daddy should be proud. She already
likes the computer, and is taking it over!  hahaha

Her Nana gave her some "rice rusks"... so I decided to see if she wanted one... she didn't hate it, and yet
didn't love it either!

Well, we are 28 weeks old.  Each day she gets more and more fun, and I find myself laughing more and more.  I love her silly personality.  I know that "class clowns" tend to be the "baby of the family,"  but, Anna definitely has the potential.  She is SUCH A HAM!!  We love her so much!!

This week we have made great strides with sleep, particular naptime sleep.  I purposefully didn't make too many plans this week... so we could kind of get back on track.  Each day, Anna has take a morning nap, and a longer afternoon nap.  The morning nap was usually about 10:30/11-12/12:30, and the afternoon nap was about 3/3:30- 5/5:30.  Then she has had her last meal around 9, and then in bed after that... usually about 9:15-9:45.  A couple times this week she has gotten up about 1:30/2:30, but I sent Jer in there to settle her, and then she'd sleep til at least 5:30 or later... then I'd feed her and go back to bed.  We'd wake about 9.  So, that seemed to be a good enough routine. Now if she wakes up a little earlier or goes down a little earlier, it seems that everything else shifted too.

This week we finished up our size 2 diapers, and moved Anna into size 3 diapers.  We had a bunch of size 3 from before she was born, so I decided to see if she fit... she did, therefore we went with it.  She is in the tail end of 3-6 month clothes, and sometimes the beginnings of 6-9 month clothes.  This week she weighed in at 15 pounds 15.5 oz.

As far as the food front is going... Anna would still prefer we NOT give her food.  I have never seen so much drama in my life (and I worked with Jr. High girls for the last 4 years!).  She doesn't mind it so much going in, although, would prefer that not happen too, but when the food seems like it's going to "go down the hatch" that's when the gagging starts!  haha... so dramatic!  I did decide on Thursday to put a plop of carrots on her tray and see what happened.  She definitely didn't gag (as much) then, and did get a few in her mouth.  Yesterday (Friday) I gave her a rice rusk to feed herself... and she only gagged once (when it went to the back of her mouth), but eventually finished most of it.  As a whole, she still prefers to nurse, than eat.  I'm not going to force it.  She'll eat when she's ready (as long as she's ready before she's 1... haha!)

Well, that seems to be about it.  Thanks for checking in on us this week!!

27 weeks old!!

 As you can read, Anna is now 27 weeks old.  And each week is becoming more and more fun!  We did have a few rough nights (namely Tuesday night/Wednesday morning), but I feel like we're on the up and up.  We've been working this week on teaching our little princess to put herself back to sleep if she wakes up in the middle of the night.  Thank you to my wonderful husband, who-per the doctor's advice- has taken the night shift (since she associates me with nursing, and doesn't associate it with Jer...).  So, we'll see if next week we are talking a different story.

 Anna is getting big enough to sit up in high chairs... so I thought I'd give a shopping cart a try.  She did ok, but definitely did lean a little bit one way or the other.  But, she did pretty well, and she liked it too!  (Next time I will have the cart cover handy!)

 She is also starting to grow a little bit more hair!!  Which is GREAT fun for me in the bath tub!  The last time I attempted a baby mohawk, you had to have something white behind it to see the little tuft.  Now, even though there is the white bath tub behind it, it is still very obvious to see. And her expression is pretty cute too!

 We are still working through a book entitled "The Big Book of Children's Classics"... We're in a bunch of stories that don't have pictures... or many pictures at least... so I read a page, or two, and then Anna is usually looking all around, or sliming something.

 Last week when we were on vacation, we took our little umbrella stroller.  I think Auntie Katie was worried we weren't using the "baby Cadillac" anymore.  This picture proves otherwise.  Thank you Auntie Katie (and Uncle Todders) for the wonderful stroller.  It makes strolling a lot easier!

 Again, her silly little expressions during story time!!  Gotta love it!!(She's such a ham!)

 Anna is also making good use of her jumping center! She can make the music go, she can roll the "rolly thing", she can jump!  It's so fun to watch her explore the different parts to it.

 Some of the pictures I took just to get the "good" one.  Pardon the blurry hand.  She just moves too much!  (That is why I've started putting words on the picture using a computer program.  It's easier than trying to get her not to move and NOT eat the paper!)

 Yep, still likes her hand/thumb!  (but most of the time it is her hand!)

 Sometimes she claps too! However, I think it's slightly coincidental.  When she gets really excited, she "flaps" her arms.  I think sometimes the hands meet, and the flap becomes a clap.  Either way, we'll take it!

I just love her little inquisitive expression.  She has definitely come to realize that if I have my phone out and it's pointed at her I will either be taking a video or picture.  Nine times out of ten if she is doing something really cute and I go to take video of her, she will stop talking, smiling, jabbering, or doing whatever it is I am trying to capture, and just stare at my phone.  Gotta love her!

In other news, Anna had her 6 month well-baby check-up.  She is now in the 40th percentile for height and weight.  She weighed in officially at 15 pounds 12 ounces.

This week we started transitioning her into size 3 diapers.  She is in the tail end of the size 2, and I happened to have a lot of size 3 that I purchased before her birth... so it's time we start making some room in her closet!

I think we're back to sleeping better. (As mentioned before, Jeremy has been a wonderful help in helping teach our little angel to be a better sleeper... with the hopes of potentially sleeping through the night soon- on a regular basis.)  We had a VERY rough few nights.  One night she was up every 45-90 minutes.  That was a pretty miserable night!  We had her check-up that evening, so the doctor gave us some tips that we immediately put into action.  She has done pretty well.  So, here's to hoping!  We also purchased some mesh bumpers for the crib.  They're breathable, and not a suffocation risk (like regular bumpers are), but they will help (1) keep rogue arms and legs from becoming lodged in the rails, and (2) will help us keep pacis from falling on the floor.  It's great when purchases are dual purpose!!

This week we also started her on rice cereal.  She's still not a huge fan of it.  But, we can get some of it in her.  Yesterday, I put a cucumber slice in this mesh food thing... and she gnawed on that for quite a while.  So, she must like cucumbers enough.  Today, however, she was NOT a fan of the carrots I made for her.  We'll keep working on it (since we have a whole bag of them.)  I did try to add a little bit of seasoning to it (not salt, sugar or butter, for those who may be concerned)... and we'll see how that goes over.

Other than that... we're still here, still doing well!  I like to reflect on how blessed we are.  Especially on days that are miserable because she isn't sleeping.  Anna is a cutie pie.  It's so much fun to see her personality develop!  She's such a ham!  I love her facial expressions, and how she now tries to play with us!  It's darling cute.

Anyway, thanks for thinking of us, and checking in on us!!

6 months old

I can hardly believe our sweet Anna girl is 6 months old.  On Saturday, June 16, we celebrated the blessing of being her parents for half a year.  Unfortunately most of our day was spent in the car driving home from vacation... but during the periods of long silence, I enjoyed thanking and praising the Lord for such a sweet gift He gave us with our darling daughter, Anna Kimberly.  We love you!!

 

We took a break while driving, and I snapped this picture.

  

 After we got home, I gave her a bath.  (She still LOVES bath time!)

26 weeks

 On Anna's 26th week birthday, we saw Auntie Katie... and since I didn't take a formal picture getting her entire body, this will just have to do.  :-)  (That's what you get when you travel.)

This week our family spent it on vacation.  Anna did well for the most part, except in the sleep department.  UGH!  That.was.not.good, to say the least.  While we were on vacation, little miss Anna decided that waking up 3-4 times a night (or more) was an appropriate way to spend our nights.  Needless to say, I had to come home from vacation to get some sleep!  We did have a lot of fun though.

For the most part, not a lot has changed with our dear.  She's still in 3-6 month clothes, but can fit in 6-9 month clothes, they're a little bit big (but not too bad).  She is still wearing a size 2 diaper.  However, when this pack runs out, I will try a size 3 diaper just to see if it fits or not (we have some in stock at our house from before she was born). Since we were on vacation, I have no idea how much she weighs either.

 I took this picture one morning when Anna got up and no on else was up.  I fed her on the balcony looking out at the ocean (right above the pool).  For the most part, weather was gorgeous!

 Anna sat like a big girl in a high chair when we went to dinner.  She actually did really well, and was the highlight of our waitress's day.  She looked soooo teeny in the high chair, and yet looked so big to me!

 Aunt Jill... trying to be the "fun" Aunt gave her some water, through a straw I might add.  Anna liked it for the most part... and did fairly well with it.  Although, most of the time, she just let the water dribble out.  I do not have a picture of it on my phone any more, but one evening they kept Anna for us so Jer and I could go out to dinner... I got a picture of her with some cotton candy.  (No, they didn't give her any, but the picture was pretty funny!)

 One evening we went to a pirate themed dinner show.  When Anna was awake, she loved it!  There was so much to see!

 The Monday we were gone was also Auntie Katie and Uncle Todders' s 1st anniversary.  We sent them a video and wished them a happy day.

 We also went to Wonderworks.  It was incredibly busy.  (That may be an understatement even.)  While it was so busy it tended not to be as enjoyable as it might otherwise be if it weren't so busy, we still had a good time.  And, any time I can take a cute picture of my love, is a good day!  And this is a CUTE picture!

 Just a happy baby, full of smiles.

 She thinks the tether that holds her paci is for her to suck on.  It, regularly, is soaked.

On Thursday evening we went to visit friends in Charlotte, NC.  Auntie Katie and Uncle Todders joined us.  Anna wasn't so sure about Uncle Todders at first (if ever?), and she just stared at him.. gave him the evil eye.  It was cute.... Uncle Todders would tell Anna stories.  We learned about lattitudinal jet lag.  (hmmm....), as well as the tooth fairy.

Our 26th week was a lot of fun.  We spent a lot of time riding around in the lazy river, and playing in the pool!

Thanks for checking in on us!!

25 weeks

Week 25 was a busy one for our little princess.  We started off the week slowly... going for a walk with a friend of mine and her daughter (who is about a year older than Anna).  The weather was beautiful... cooler, but beautiful!

Tuesday, Miss Banana went shopping with her Grandma and Grandpa C... Grandpa C wanted some crocs... and I think Grandma got lost in Carters.  The cutie pie ended up with a whole boat load of CUTE clothes.  I also got my hair chopped off and donated 12 inches to Locks of Love.

Wednesday she also stayed with Grandma and Gradpa C because I had to work (like I normally do).  Thursday, we went out for lunch with Aunt T, and then we picked up daddy and headed south.  We stopped in Wytheville, Virginia.  We got in pretty late, and by the time we put her back to sleep, it was almost 1am.  Yikes!!  BUT she slept through the night... and that is where we are with week 25.

As stats go... there isn't too much different from last week.


She has hit or miss days of sleep.  I prefer her to either sleep through the night, or wake up about 4-5 somewhere in there.  She is still in 3-6 month clothes, however we're getting to the tail end of some of them.  This week she weighed 15 pounds 4.5 ounces.

She eats about every 2-3 hours.  We haven't started solids yet, but we are staring down the barrel of solids.  Monday, June 18 after Jer gets home from work will be our first go at solids... I think she is going to like them!!


She rolls over like crazy, and that has caused some issues in the area of sleep.  She rolls over to her tummy all the time... and she doesn't like to roll back, and she doesn't like to be on her tummy.  Therefore she usually cries because she is on her tummy.

 On Sunday, Daddy won a 2 year lease on a car from the Lake County Captains.  This is the car.  It's beautiful!!

This is Anna staring at her bumble ball in her car seat while driving down to the beach. At some points, it was our saving grace... she loves this thing!!

24 weeks and fabulous!

 We are 24 weeks old!!  

 Why is our 24 week old sign all gnarled?

Well, below is the 1st picture I took... it explains it all.

:-)

The picture below was taken before a captains game.

She is so stinkin cute!  And so photogenic!

We sent this picture to our good friend for her birthday.

I just had to share because her expression is so cute!

Anna has perfected the art of rolling over from her back to her tummy.. however when she gets to her tummy she doesn't really know what to do... so she looks around for a bit and then usually puts her head down and cries until you either pick her up, or until she is rolled over.  She refuses to roll from her tummy to her back (something she has been able to do since right before she turned 3 months old).   Silly girl.  Enjoy the video, but I would turn the volume down...

Well our dear sugar pie is 24 weeks old.  It just seems like time is flying by quickly!  I can't believe it!
This week was a relaxing week.  We didn't do a ton, and yet we did.  (Figure that one out.)  I am just so amazed at this beautiful baby girl that God has entrusted to us.  She is truly a gift.  Even at night when she has awakened maybe once or twice (and sometimes even 3 or 4 times) I try to give thanks to the Lord because Anna is such a precious gift to us, and I know that she won't be little for long... I am trying to cherish every moment.

This week we have done ok with sleep some nights, and other nights... not so good.  I think her teeth are really bothering her.  Some nights I would just put some orajel on her gums and she'd fall right back to sleep.  And if her gums weren't bothering her, then she'd roll over and get an arm or leg stuck between the rails... then she'd wake up with a blood curdling scream.  So we're working on that.  Otherwise, she has slept pretty well.

She is still eating every 2-3 hours, although some days she has gone longer.  She is really good at letting me know when she is done eating. 

Anna is still in 3-6 month clothes.  And depending on the clothes some are big, some are small.  (Welcome to the world of girl's clothing, Anna Banana!)

Anyway that's about it.  Hope all is well with the readership.  Next week we are going to be on vacation... so hopefully I will be able to blog.