January 2014

Now that the girls are bigger and not doing as many new things, I'm going to start posting less often.  My goal is one post a month and give highlights on both girls.  I will probably still do individual post for birthdays.

Not too much to say this month since I just did a birthday post on Miss Abigail.  Speaking of Little Miss, she is my sneaky one.  Our couch is pushed against the wall under the breakfast bar in our living room.  It's where we keep pens, remote controls, a candy box, and various other things we'd prefer the girls not get into.  Anyway, the girls are usually really good to play by themselves while I take and shower and get ready in the morning (on days we don't go anywhere, I get ready while they sleep on other days).  Lately, Abigail has decided that while I'm in the shower she should stand on the couch and play with all the stuff on the breakfast bar.  This is the ONLY time she tries it, so I know she knows that she isn't supposed to be up there.  I've found her surrounded by pens and scratch paper she's colored on, she's turned off or on the TV before.  The other day she got into a box of Hot Tamales.  She put two in her mouth and then spit them out (according to Hannah).  I now have to trap her in the bathroom with me.  What a STINKER!

 Both my girls are so verbal.  They repeat everything I we say and most of it is correct.  I love listening to the few things that aren't right grammatically or pronounced right.  It Abigail is playing peek-a-boo, she covers her eyes and says "where are me?".  She also says "I want to hold you" when she wants to be picked up.  "Patakiller" is caterpillar, and "bafroom" is bathroom.

Hannah got her other two shots when were went in for Abigail's check up.  She surprised me by crying this time.  Thankfully she calmed down fairly quickly.  We haven't spent too much time lately working on letters and spelling with Hannah.  She knows all her sounds, but can't yet translate it into reading.  If you slowly say a word one sound at a time she can spell it.  Of course we've only talked about short vowel sounds and haven't gotten letters that make more than one sound like y, c, etc.  She was playing on her computer (old keyboard) and sending notes.  She spelled GME (Grammy) and POPO (PaPaw).  I was pretty impressed! 

I'll leave you with one photo.  This was shot for one of my mom's photo challenges.  LOVE IT!

18 Month Check Up

Abigail had her check up this morning.  She is doing great:  22 lbs and 32 1/2 inches.  She moved up to almost the 20th percentile in weight and has slowed down a bit to the 75th percentile in height.  Only one shot today and she calmed right down.

I'll leave you with one cute story.  When Abigail gets to the end of a book or I finish reading, she says "amen" instead of "the end."  :-)

And a photo just because...

Fifteen Months

I wish I could understand everything Abigail says because she is ALWAYS talking.  These are the words I can recognize:  bib, milk, car, yump (jump), anna (Hannah), shoe, ahh rii (all right), dank oo (thank you).  She loves to say this when she brings things to you or if you give her something.  She also says "wock"  when she wants to rock in the rocking chair.  Hannah never requested this, but Abigail LOVED to rock as a baby so I'm not surprised.

 She is officially walking!!  She will crawl up or down a step, but then get right back up and walk.  She is getting faster and stumbles less. The biggest hindrance to her balance is that she tries to carry a toy in each hand while walking.  She did the same with crawling too, and managed to get very speedy.  She is so funny to watch. This picture was taken before Abigail took off walking, but it's still cute.  She LOVES this car...and by the way Hannah was afraid of it until she was two.

I posted a couple months ago about Abigail not wanting to share.  She has TOTALLY mastered saying please if she wants something.  Most of the time that's great.  However, she thinks it's a magic word and because she said it she should immediately get what she wants.  Sorry Abigail you can't play with the phone or the humidifier, etc, just because you said please.  =)  And we're still working on waiting her turn if Hannah is playing with something.

Abigail seems to have a love for books just like Hannah.  YEAH!!  She actually turns the pages and looks at the pictures now instead of just trying to eat the book.  =)  Still not interested in hearing the words read yet, but I know it will come.  And check out the adorable monkey hats my cousin got the girls for their birthdays!

 




Went to the doctor this morning so here's the latest stats:  20 lbs and 31 1/2 inches long. 

Long and lean as expected.  The doctor said she looks great! Abigail got 3 shots today, but calmed down fairly quickly.  Poor child still has only 2 teeth.  Her top gums are slightly swollen and she had a runny nose and cough for a week, but nothing broke through.

Thirty-Four Months

 Hannah's pretend play is so much fun to watch.  She takes care of all her toys and has conversations with them.  Nathan gave her an old computer keyboard, she will type and say she is taking a survey.  Nathan belongs to several on-line survey companies and takes many surveys. =)  She will also sit at the kitchen table and say she is doing her bible study (just like mommy and daddy).  I mentioned a few months ago we thought Hannah had an imaginary friend named Bunny.  He is definitely real to her!  She talks about him and to him ALL day long.  He goes everywhere Hannah goes and often wears the same clothes and eats the same food.  She also tells Bunny about her day and sings him songs.  Hannah is not lacking in imagination!

 

Hannah still LOVES learning.  She's known all her capital letters for several months and we are beginning to work on lower case letters.  She also desperately wants to spell her name.  I think the double sets of letters confuse her.  If we get out magnetic letters or are typing on the computer she can consistently spell HAN and then adds lots more N's, and H's.  She also wants to spell Bunny which usually comes out BNNNNNY.  Hannah can also write a capital H and draw a fairly recognizable happy face.

Hannah got a mild tummy bug a few weeks ago.  Thankfully the actual sick part was very short lived.  She was tired and didn't have much of an appetite for about a week though.  Poor child that doesn't like being dirty was NOT pleased when she got sick.  Abigail and I stayed healthy, but Hannah did share with Nathan. 

Hannah is starting to assert her independence more and more.  She has an opinion and is making it known!  We have had lots of whining and crying lately and Hannah has spent time in her room.  Not only do Nathan and I not want to give in to her temper fits, but Abigail is so sensitive that she starts crying right along with Hannah.  We tell Hannah she has to stay in her room until she is ready to be happy and then she can come out.  I honestly think she likes being able to let out her frustration because every so often she will ask to go to her room.



We are also struggling to keep Hannah in her bed an nap and bedtime.  She did great when we first switched to her toddler bed, but now not so much.  The problem isn't that she comes out of her room, she just gets out of bed and lays on the floor by the door and talks, sings, etc.  At first it was just for a few minutes then she would go back to bed and sleep.  Now, she'll play for hours....which results in no nap and then she's quite grumpy the rest of the day.  So we started something new the other day.  We do our normal bed/nap routine (story, kiss, turn out light, pray) then close her door.  Nathan and I will wait in the hall outside her room and listen for her to get out of bed....which is usually within 30 seconds.  =(  If she gets up we walk her back to bed with out talking to her, leave the door open, and sit outside her room long enough for her to lay still and go to sleep (usually 10-20 mins, but an hour the other day).  Hopefully this will create a good sleep pattern and we won't have to sit in the hall forever.

Hannah and I both got flu shots yesterday while we were at the doctor for Abigail's check up.  We had talked about how we were going to get shots and we didn't need to cry.  I went first and then it was Hannah's turn.  They laid her on the table, scooted down her pants and had me hold her hands.  She just laid there and didn't even flinch.  There were no tears either.  I was very proud of her and I think the nurse was super impressed!

9 Month Doctor Visit

Abigail went to the doctor this morning.  She has slowed down a little in her growth, just like Hannah did at her age.  She weighs 15 lbs 15 oz and is 29 inches long.  The doctor wasn't overly concerned since Hannah did the same thing and her weight was back up to the 75th percentile by age two. Abigail also got 2 shots...one if which was the flu shot.  Thankfully she calmed down quickly as soon as I picked her up.

Last week we let Abigail chase some cheerios around her tray.  She seems to like them and if I only give her one at a time they almost all end up in her mouth.  =)  She still doesn't have any teeth, but sadly her nose is runny and her gums are swollen again.  I wish those teeth would just break through.

We took Abigail's monkey photo today.  She was not interested in sitting still.....crawling was much more fun!

Four Months

Can't believe my sweet little girl is already four months old!  We went to the doctor this morning and she is growing like a weed!  =)

Weight:  13 pounds 2 ounces

Height:  26 1/2 inches

At SIX months Hannah was an inch shorter and only 10 ounces heavier.  Think she may out grow big sister!  Glad Abigail is doing so well though.  She got two shots today and will get the other two next month.  Thankful my doctor lets me break them up.

Abigail continues to be more and more interactive. She gives LOTS of smiles and is starting to laugh (if we can amuse her).  She has been sleeping 10 hours at night for the last 6 weeks.  She will take 3 good naps during the day and usually a short nap around our dinner time. 



Her newest trick is rolling from her tummy to her back. She is a pretty happy baby, but definitely LOVES to snuggle and be held.  She enjoys watching Hannah play and is starting to reach for objects.  Abigail has also discovered her feet.  She can't get them in her mouth yet, but she enjoys watching them.  =)
 
 This month's photo was much harder to get.  Abigail kept falling over, or eating her fingers, or eating her dress.  We weren't intending to get Hannah in the photo too, but she climbed up, sat still, and said "Take my picture with monkey and Abigail."  She is not usually that cooperative...guess it has to be HER idea.  =)

Two Months

This post is a few days late, but Abigail had her doctor's appointment this morning. She is GROWING. The latest stats are: 11 pounds 5 oz and 24 1/2 inches long. She's already wearing size one diapers and has officially outgrown newborn size clothes. They just don't stay tiny for long!!

She is not the greatest napper. She will sleep, but not for more than 45 mins or an hour. When she wakes up I usually try to keep her quiet so she can at least rest. She just gets grumpy if she stays awake for too long. She is doing well at night though. For the last 2 or 3 weeks she has only been waking up once at night between 2:00 and 2:30. Then she goes back to sleep until 6:30 or 7:00. I've had an alarm set for 2:30, but have only needed to use it the last few days. The doctor said today that since she is over 10 pounds she may be ready to sleep all night. So I will be turning that alarm off!

Abigail is smiling and cooing much to our delight! She is also tracking objects and responding to sounds. We do small amounts of tummy time throughout the day. A lot of the time she is content to just lay on her tummy and rest. But eventually she gets mad and lifts her head up. =)

She got 3 of her 5 shots today. We decided to break them up so she'll get the other 2 next month. Poor baby is having a rough afternoon. I can tell she doesn't feel good. I've given her Tylenol and I'm letting her sleep on me. Once we started sleep training, she's been doing much better about sleeping in her bed, but I don't mind bending the "rules" when she doesn't feel good.

I'll leave you with a few photos.
7 weeks old in this shot.


The outtake: I think Hannah is pouting because she wanted to get down. =)

Two Years Old

I swear I was in the hospital giving birth just yesterday and now I have a sweet little girl! I really cannot believe she is already 2! She doesn't really get the whole birthday thing yet, but will say "happy birthday to you." And she if you ask "how old are you?" she can reply two and hold up 2 fingers. We are doing a small family celebration this weekend for Hannah (and my mom) since their birthdays are only 4 days apart. I'm sure baby girl and I will celebrate birthdays together too since they will also be close together. What can I say we crammed 4 birthdays and Christmas into a one month span. =)

Hannah had her two year check up this morning and the doctor said she looks great. She weighs 28.6 pounds (65th percentile) and is 34 inches tall (50th percentile). She has never been that high on the weight chart before! Hannah is getting better about trying what Nathan and I are eating. She still get her own meal, but we're glad she's trying new things. She still hasn't mastered feeding herself with a spoon, but she's getting better. She says "Hannah have turn." Hannah only got one shot this morning and she didn't even cry. She whimpered and I thought she was going to, but she was distracted by the band-aid or "circle sticker" as she called it. Such a big girl!

Hannah is really such a sweet girl. She gives lots of hugs, kisses, and snuggles. She knows most of her colors and we're working on numbers. She can count to three, but then wants to skip to 8 and 9. She also knows the letter "x." She's usually really good about picking up her toys before bed or nap. She hardly ever cries when we put her to sleep and she LOVES to help carry things or throw things away. She's going to be a big help when baby sister comes.

Speaking of baby sister...Hannah totes her baby doll all over the house. She hugs her and feeds her a bottle. So sweet! And if you are whispering she says "Shh be quiet, baby sleeping." She's going to be a great big sister!

As promised we took a picture with Hannah's monkey friend for her birthday. I wasn't sure how cooperative she would be, but she did surprisingly well. Of course the toy teapot was a great distraction. =) I bought party hats knowing that monkey would wear one, but not too sure about Hannah. We put monkey's hat on and asked if she wanted to wear one too. She said yes, but when we tried to put it on she said " no, all done hat." She did keep pointing to monkey and asking to wear a hat, but REFUSED to let us put one on her. So I finally asked if she wanted to wear monkey's hat and she excitedly said yes. So I took off monkey's hat and put it on her head and she was happy as a clam. Then I took her hat (which was EXACTLY the same) and put it on monkey. Too funny!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET HANNAH!

Eighteen Months

We officially have a walker! She finally gained the confidence about 3 weeks ago to walk unassisted for more than a few steps. She likes to be close to mommy and daddy though so she won't go into another room unless we follow her. She will follow us where ever we go. =)


Hannah is saying lots of new words: ha ha (donkey), haow (hello), grr (bear), yeah, Bob (the tomato from Veggie Tales) and she tried to say "up" today. She will also make a "k k k" sound for my sister Kara, and "t t t" for Tommy (Nathan's mom's husband). Hannah has even learned a few new signs: walrus, keys, yes, blanket, swimming, help, window, and medicine. She tries to help brush her hair and her teeth. She knows what Kleenex is and will help blow her nose.

Hannah asks to listen to music all day long. She can do motions to "Wheels on the Bus, Happy and you Know it, Itsy Bitsy Spider, This Little Light of Mine, Shake your Sillies Out, and a few others I can't remember. She also knows that a piano can play music and likes to play at Grammy's house.

We went to the doctor this morning and they were very pleased with how she is doing. She is 22 pounds 10 oz (20th percentile) and 32 inches (60th percentile). She jumped up on the weight chart which made everyone happy. She got 2 shots, but calmed down very quickly. Hannah has 8 teeth now and is working on a molar.

It's been super HOT here lately. Thankfully Grammy and G-Pa have a pool and the water is warm enough to swim. Hannah cried a little the first time we went swimming this year, but not for long. We taught her the sign for swimming and she can tell you what it is and that she swims with duck and fish. We've gotten in the pool two other times and she's had lots of fun splashing and playing with her toys. =)

That's all I can think of right now. One more cute photo before I go. =)

Fifteen Months

This post is a few days late, but Hannah had her check up this morning so I decided to wait. The doctor was pleased with her weight gain, although she's still on the small side. Also got 3 shots today. Poor baby! =(

Weight: 19 pounds 12 ounces (5th percentile)
Height: 30 inches (50th percentile)

Hannah is finally cruising around the furniture and will take steps if you hold her hands. We have one of those cars that converts into a walker, but she isn't interested in doing anything but play with the toys on the front.

She crawls all over the house and loves to play "find mommy or daddy." She brings her toys to us and LOVES to give them hugs. =) A 5th tooth finally popped through and I think she's working on another one.

Still not really saying more words thought, but the doctor says it's still early. She'll tell you a monkey says "ah ah" and the doggy says "oof." She continues to learn more signs every week and will continue pointing at something until you tell her what it is. Here's the new signs she's learned since last month: book, pretty, toothbrush, duck, swing, music, giraffe, bread, penguin, dog, mommy, baby, chair, whale, diaper, car, tray, pancake, flower, and sandwich. During meal times she will put two signs together and ask for "more please", or "please milk."

Since the weather is beginning to warm up we've had a few fun outings. We went to the Dallas Arboretum with Grammy. We drove to Arkansas for the weekend to visit Nathan's family, and we went to the park with Grammy and Aunt Kara to see ducks.

Six Months

This has been a busy month for us. Last week we drove to Arkansas for a weekend trip. We wanted to introduce Hannah to Nathan's family and friends. She did a great job riding in the car and napping in strange places. Of course, she charmed everyone she met and even shared a few smiles. =)

We also started rice cereal last week. As you can see from the picture below she wasn't sure what to make it the first day. Since then she's done really well. We're still in the exploring stage where more cereal ends up on her face and hands than in her tummy. But she's getting the hang of it.

We've had a few play dates with friends and we went to Grammy and G-Pa's for a cookout. It's been hot for several weeks now and we've been dreaming of swimming. The pool is finally warm enough so we're going to Grammy's this week to try out the water. Hopefully Hannah will enjoy splashing and floating in her chair.

We saw the doctor this morning and everything still looks great. Here's the latest stats:
Weight: 13 pounds 14 ounces
Length: 25 1/2 inches
Head: 16 1/2 inches

She's slowed down a little, but the doctor isn't concerned. Once she's really eating her cereal and starts veggies she'll catch up. She also got 3 shots today, but calmed down as soon as I picked her up. I'll post swimming pictures and her six month monkey photo soon!