Letters to Reese- 10 Months

Reese,

You turned 10 months old on Friday, May 18th 2012.  This month has been a huge month for you in terms of growth- you've become a lot more independent as you learned how to CRAWL May 1st! You are FAST! We knew you were going to start full on crawling at any moment because you had been army crawling/scooting, and getting up on your knees and rocking for a while.  You would even crawl a few steps here and there.  You started crawling for Nana when I was out running errands.  With crawling immediately came pulling up on everything and cruising along furniture.  You've started to let go and stand on your own for a few seconds at a time, and each time you do it longer than the last. Once you realize you aren't holding onto anything, you immediately sit down.

After your 9 month appointment we realized that you needed to be transitioned to a convertible car seat as you were just about maxing out the height on your infant seat, so this month we bought you an awesome Britax Boulevard CS car seat. You seem much more comfortable. It is just a little tricky trying to coordinate car rides with your naps.  I've yet to let you fall asleep in the car seat and transport you to your crib.  I'm afraid I'll wake you as you're a very light sleeper.

You've learned out to open and close the garage door with the button, and now insist on doing so each time we leave or return home.  Mommy and Daddy always let you press the button. :-)

You absolutely LOVE the kitties.  No matter what's going on, you'll drop whatever you're doing when you see either Brady or Riley enter the room.  We're teaching you how to do "nice" as you love to rip out their fur after giving wet kisses. 

Your favorite songs are Party Rock Anthem and Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.  You love music and will dance when it comes on. 

You love other babies and kids, and people in general.  You're most happy when we're out and about and you can people watch.  You love Mommy and Me and playing with your friends.  Going for walks in your stroller is getting more difficult as you don't want to be held down for long periods of time.

You love to eat! You eat pretty much everything! We've only found a few things that you are not a fan of-- avacado, watermelon (gasp--- that's all I wanted when I was pregnant with you!), and a packaged ravioli from Gerber (I tasted it, and I wouldn't want to eat it either!).

This month you've had some firsts:

- You've started crawling! (5/1)

- You've started to pull up and cruise on furniture

- You started to let go and stand by yourself for a few seconds at a time. (5/5)

- You got a new car seat and high chair.
- You now wave hello and goodbye.
- You got your third bottom tooth! (Your top two are just about to come through)

Reese's Ten Month Stats: 

Weight:  You don't go back to the doctor until 1 year, but I don't think that you've gained too much weight as you are now mobile.  Most babies stall in growth between 9-12 months and I don't think you are an exception.

Height: I would guess you're just about 30".

Clothing:  9-12 or 6-12 months (BabyGap's sizing). Some jammies we've been putting you in are 12-18 months but very big on you.

Diapers: Size 3- thinking we'll be making the switch to size 4 after your current box of diapers is done.  You haven't had any blow outs, but I think a 4 will be better.

Favorite Toys: You are obsessed with your Fisher Price Learning Home from Nonna and Papa.  It's the cutest thing seeing you play with it- you know how to work all of the buttons, put the balls in the slide, and open/close the door. You also love your walker still because you can push it and walk by yourself.

Favorite Past Time: Going to swim class, being out and about, going for walks, and playing with your toys. You also are a big fan of the outdoors and swings.

Communication: Lots of babbling.

Cries: Only when you're tired or fall (which you've been doing a lot lately).

Bedtime: You now go to sleep between 7:30- 8pm and wake up between 6:45 and 7am.

Some outtakes during this month's photo shoot- you're getting more and more difficult to have sit still!

We had just come from swim lessons, so that's why Mommy looks so crazy!

My First Mother's Day!

This year was my first mother's day having an actual outside baby-- last year I was 7 months pregnant! Todd went above and beyond for me this year, and I had an amazing day! The day started with me being able to sleep in until 8am, then Todd ran to grab iced coffees and a bagel for us to split. Reese went down for her morning nap and Todd gave me a my presents! Typically we usually tell each other what we want for birthdays, Christmas, etc., but today I had no idea what to expect as I never gave him a wish list.

Yesterday kicked off the Mother's Day festivities with a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Reese.

Todd totally surprised me with a new ipod nano and some of my favorite perfume that I had ran out of.  So sweet! My last ipod was about 7 years old and last year the screen shattered so I had no idea what songs were playing.  During the move I had found the ipod in a drawer and it no longer worked.  A new ipod has been WAY over due, so I'm pumped about this!

Todd and Reese gave me the sweetest cards too! 

After Reese's nap we headed into the city and went to Sonsie on Newbury Street to meet my mom, Todd's parents, sister Jamie, and her husband Frank. We exchanged gifts and had delicious brunch!

Our lil family-- Reese looks SO serious!

There's a smile!

Jamie opening her Mommy-to-be gift from us, a "Baby-to-Bee" frame. Jamie is having a baby boy and is due on Labor Day!

Reesey working on getting her puffs out of her new snack catcher cup.

Love giving her kisses!!!

My mom and mother-in-law

After lunch Todd, Reese, and I went to walk around the Prudential and Copley Mall. Reese had come down with a bit of a cold a couple days ago and her top two teeth seem to be about to cut through, so she's been a little extra fussy and not herself.  Thankfully she did nap for a little bit while we shopped.

LOVE this family photo! Frame worthy!

At the waterfall in the Copley Mall

Daddy's girl

Today was perfect--- I wouldn't have it any other way!

40 Weeks In --- 40 Weeks Out

I took this picture on Monday, April 23rd.  Exactly 40 weeks after I delievered Reese.  The picture on the left was the last picture I have pregnant-- I had been in labor all day and was on my way to the hospital.

Letters to Reese- Nine Months!

Reese,

You turned 9 months old on Wednesday, April 18th 2012.  This month you have definitely changed a lot-- you're becoming more of a toddler than a baby.  You need to be busy constantly or you're not happy.  You've decided snuggles are for babies, and that you're not a baby.  ;-) You celebrated your first Easter, and got spoiled from the Easter Bunny.  You were babysat every Saturday in April because Mommy and Daddy were working on the new house.  You did great with Auntie Jamie and Jocelyn. Your hair is still WILD! We keep thinking that as it gets longer that it will lay flat, but that hasn't happened.  It's your trademark look!

This month you've had some firsts:

- You've started army crawling

- You've started to babble "ma ma ma ma" and "da da da" in addition to your "ba ba ba" that you learned last month.

- You learned how to wave hello and goodbye.

- You've learned how to pull yourself up (you did this alone on 4/15), and now cruise all over the furniture.  You constantly want to be standing.
- You eat real people food cut up in tiny pieces.  You are such a good eater and eat everything!
- You've started eating 3 meals a day now!
- You have learned how to play peek-a-boo
-We've learned that you're ticklish and love to be tickled!
- Tooth #3 is popping through on the bottom.

Reese's Nine Month Stats: 

Weight: 20lbs 13oz.

Height: 29.5"-- you are a tall girl! It's time that we retire your bucket infant seat and purchase a convertible car seat since yours maxes out at 30".  This makes me sad! Gone are the days when you would fall asleep in your car seat and be easily transferred.

Clothing:  9-12 or 6-12 months (BabyGap's sizing).

Diapers: Size 3 

Favorite Toys: You love your music table, your sit and stand walker (that you now use as a walker), stacking cups, your excersaucer that was handed down from your cousins-- but you're totally over your jumperroo.

Favorite Past Time: Going to swim class, being out and about, going for walks, and playing with your toys.

Communication: Lots of babbling.

Cries: This month has proven to be more frustrating for you than others.  It's like you want to get something or go somewhere but can't (since you're not crawling yet) and get really upset.  Your attention span seems to be a lot shorter this month as well, so there have been more tears this month. 

Bedtime: You now go to sleep between 7:30- 8pm and wake up between 6:45 and 7am.

Your schedule goes as follows:

7ish- wake, 6 oz bottle

8:30ish- breakfast (whole wheat organic oatmeal mixed with organic fruit puree), puffs, and some cut up fruit- you LOVE blueberries, strawberries and raspberries.

9-30 or 10am- nap for about 90 mins

11:15ish- 6oz bottle
Noon- LUNCH

Noon-2:30pm- this is usually when we go out for our walks, playdates, or do errands.

2:30ish- 6oz bottle

2:45-3pm ish- nap for about 90 mins

530ish- dinner (organic veggie puree or organic yogurt)

6ish- tubby 

7ish- 6oz.

730-745ish- bedtime routine...nighttime diap, sleep sack, bottle, and books (usually 2 books)

8pm- lights out! 

*You typically nap for around 3 hours per day, drink around 24oz total, and eat 3 meals.

Love, 

Mommy