Monday, November 24, 2014

N I N E Months Old...

You are changing every day, Miss Millie.


*What's new:
-you weigh 18.12 lbs
-28 inches long :)
-all on your own, you decided you wanted to start walking with your walker... and the day you started it, you didn't stop! You were all over the place! And SO proud of yourself!
-you like to make sure everyone notices when you do something (again, always so proud of yourself)
-AMAZED at Christmas stuff (because every single store, every single tv channel (we only get like 3 ha), everything is Christmas)>  I took you to Hobby Lobby and you kept saying "wooooo woooo".  So many people stopped to talk to you because they thought the sounds you were making were so precious.  Many commented how "fun" Christmas would be for us this year.  I'll admit I'm having a bit of anxiety about the tree since you are so mobile and so "interested" in every little thing. ha!
-you pull your hair all the time.  You pull mine, too (I got it chopped off and you still find a way)
-laugh at yourself constantly.  you like to watch yourself on our phones when we flip the camera around.  You also like to watch videos of yourself or other babies.
-it's time to child-proof the house a bit more thoroughly.  You are starting to pull things off the tables and shelves.  You love to pull the baskets (and dump them out) off of your bookshelf in your room, so I filled one with toys and you thought it was so funny the first time you saw what I had replaced it with!
-taking a bath in the big bath tub (this made me sad at first but it is SOOOO much fun for us all). YOU LOVE IT!
-you love to have your mickey and/or minnie that tone-tone got you at Disney World with you wherever you go.  seriously the cutest thing
-your first stomach bug :((((  I may cry typing it just thinking about how sad it was!  You were in our bed (still putting you in bed with us when you wake up between 2-3:30)  {thankful, actually, that you were sleeping with us because it would've made me even more sad if you'd been alone in your bed} and started moaning/crying and got up on all fours and threw up all over your daddy's back (bahh) around 5:45.  It was quite a bit (mainly milk) and then you threw up a few minutes later.  I changed you and we went to reside on the couch for the next hour.  You threw up five more times throughout the morning.  It was awful because you would whine and throw up/gag then your head would just fall on me.  Then, you'd get a burst of energy and want down to crawl around and giggle.  The cycle seemed never-ending.  The last time you threw up was around 11.. then I gave you some pedialite and you kept it down.  What was so pitiful was that you kept trying to nurse the whole morning and whining for it.  SO SAD!!!!  Since you had kept the pedialite down and hadn't thrown up in almost two hours I let you nurse, and you didn't throw up the rest of the day.  Broke our hearts to see you so sad and sick.  Thankful that it was just a few hours.
-pick things up and inspect them.. move it from hand to hand and stare intently
-YOU HAVE NO FEAR--AHHH!!!
-LOVE mum-mums :)
-you sleep with your booty in the air most of the time-- hands and feet tucked under you ;)
-YOU SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!!!!... yeah... I know.. I can't believe it either!!!! Of course, this is just as of last Thursday night, but oh my goodness gracious this feels like we are living a completely different life.  I was seriously almost in a mild state of depression because I thought I had messed up your sleeping for life.  I just randomly started reading different "methods" last Wednesday... I haven't been all about going by the book with most things baby, but I didn't know what else to do!  Nothing anyone had been recommending had worked, and I wasn't the biggest fan of letting you cry (I had tried that for two weeks and you would cry for HOURS and it just was not working).  I started reading about the "ferber method" of "progressive waiting"... so I prepped your dad and got him on board and we tried it!  Thursday (nov. 20) I put you down (awake) after rocking for a little while.  Of course, you popped right up... you "whined" for five minutes- i went in to pat you/soothe you (did not pick you up)... then set my timer for seven minutes-went in pat/soothe... set my timer for ten minutes.. you whined for about 3 minutes... i looked at the monitor and you were spread eagle and had fallen asleep sitting up..then plop! your head between your legs ASLEEP.. ON. YOUR. OWN.  what whaaaaaaaat.... then you woke up at 5:30.. I fed you and you were back asleep until 7:30!!!!  so every nap since then you have gotten yourself to sleep (after I rock you for a few minutes)... it didn't go quite as smoothly over the weekend because we were at Tone-tone's in jonesboro, but you slept until 5:40 this morning, I fed you, back to sleep until 7:15! I FEEL LIKE A NEW WOMAN WITH ALL THIS SLEEP, SISTER! Thank you so so much, Millie!!!! Now, please keep it up! ;)
-You say "mommmmmmyyyy" all. the. time.
-you clap for Mickey Mouse at the beginning of every episode (and usually wail your feet all through the air, too)
-when I rock you now, you like to sit up and lay your head against my chest with your giraffe snuggled to your face

*What else is going on:
-you put EVERYTHING in your mouth.. when I say everything I mean like you will find the smallest little speck of fuzz or grass and it is in your mouth.  I should probably learn the heimlich maneuver ASAP..
-still {just} 8 teeth ha.. and nursing is getting VERY difficult
-crawling all over the place.. there's nowhere Millie won't go. ha.
-still SO nosy--you notice EVERYTHING!!!
-pull up on everything
-your main interests are shoes (that are sitting on the floor) and cords
-remotes and cell phones always seem to find your hands!!! :)
-still pretty baby blue eyes!!
-your hair is curling even more!
-wearing 9-12 m clothes...  12m pants fit in length....    sizing is getting super frustrating to this momma of yours!
-make the sweetest like "ahhh" "woo" sound
-we are working on saying "more", "please" in sign language while you eat, working on blowing kisses, saying/nodding "yes", and you have mastered the hand clap and saying "yay".


We have a busy next few months coming up!! Thanksgiving, Daddy's birthday (and gammie, gampie, and aunt brooke), Christmas, New Years....Pete's birthday, and then your FIRST birthday (wahhh wahhh wahhh)

*This month:
-we can finally see starting on the new house coming together.. ha what a long process it has been!!!!
-it has been a super cold month... you aren't really a fan of the cold-- the wind confuses you- you look around to try to figure out where it is coming from :)
-it snowed last weekend!  We got some super cute pictures and you kept trying to catch the snow in your mouth as it was falling.  So cute.
-we are doing your dedication at church Nov. 30! So excited!!!!
-we are putting up the Christmas tree this week! Can't wait to start all these fun traditions with you and to watch your little eyes in amazement!
-mommy started subbing (just one day a week)
-we had an early Thanksgiving at jonesboro with mommy's side of the family.  It was so fun--papaw got to come, aunts and uncles, and you got to spend some QT with your cousins and tone-tone


This morning you popped up in our bed at 7:30, took out your pacifier, said "ahhhhhh", and KISSED me right on the lips! It was the sweetest thing you have ever done.

I am making bets that you might just walk by Christmas... buttttt I've been known to be wrong ;) ha! I would be completely fine if not, though! :)











One random Sunday we went out to the land and decided to take some pics while we were there ;)
















You were Olivia the Pig for Halloween.  Cutest Olivia there ever was! Gammie made your dress and I made your ears ;)
















Thursday, November 6, 2014

E I G H T M O N T H S O L D

Oh heavens to betsy, I can't believe it!
You are changing every second, I do believe! wahhh wahh wahh!

What's new this month:
CRAWLING all over the place!
-Pulling up on everything
-EIGHT teeth
-You weigh about 18 pounds
-Sticking your tongue out and being so so silly
-Dancing ( a lot ) and paying attention to music
-"Mamamama"
-"Woof woof" ALL THE TIME!
-You play with your fingers
-"Talk" to your toys
-"Throw" things and laugh. Uh oh.
-You aren't as weary of strangers, but you do like to go back to your momma after a few minutes :)
-You've had a few bruises on your face from crawling and getting your legs stuck under you then falling on your face :(
-Smacking your lips
-When you sneeze it is never once... usually three or four in a row :)
-Turning the pages in books
-As soon as we put you in your carseat you look at yourself in the mirror and start laughing and talking
-Sticking your tongue out
-You put your right hand up to your mouth and move your fingers up and down and make this ahhhh ahahah sound.. it is so strange but so hilarious and adorable!
-We haven't used the swing at all this month.. sad times!

What you love:
 -to put your cheek next to the person's who is holding you. Melt a heart why don't ya
-for us to walk in your room when you walk up from naps... you make the sweetest faces and are SOOOO happy
-Play in your crib and talk talk talk after you wake up
-Cell phones
-remotes
-watching candles- you're mesmerized
-cords :/
-hair brushes
-having your hair brushed
-still love bath time
-bouncing
-still love watching Mickey Mouse & Sheriff Callie- you also like Sophia and Doc McStuffins
-to eat/chew on your socks
-the play table and walking toy the Benkos let us borrow.. they're so fun

Millie, the sounds that come from your little mouth are so precious.  I just want to eat you every time you "talk".  You cackle all the time, and are almost always smiling! Your little booty scooting around through this house makes my heart smile!!!..
You see EVERYTHING!! ..you are also pretty nosy! :)
Your hair is starting to hang over your head wraps-- it is growing :)) and there are quite a few curls in the back!

You still haven't slept through the night :(... except for the one night your daddy and i left you with Gammie and Gampie over night while we took a quick trip to Tulsa.. ha  quite comical, huh.

Your little hands are still one of my favorite things.  When we snuggle on the couch you like to put yours on top of mine and it usually makes me so happy that I cry haha!

You are wearing some 9m clothes and a few 12m. You wear size 3 and 4 shoes (but they never stay on for long).  Your feet sweat like your mommas..

You still eat sweet potatoes and peaches quite a bit.. but you also like Hawaiian Delight, Squash, and Apples gerber food.  You eat the stew out of puffs (any flavor).  You like to drink water and juice.  We added snack time and you love to eat yogurt!  I am still nursing you (thanking the Lord every day that he has allowed this to last this long--it's such a precious time and though it has it's downs I know i will miss it one day).  I've fed you some of a baked potato... some of an actual sweet potato and TRIED to get you to eat mashed up green beans and mandarins but you made the funniest faces when your hands touched them!  You're not a fan of wearing a bib!

I am already so excited thinking about your first thanksgiving and Christmas!!! It is going to be so much fun!!!  I might also already be planning your first birthday party (not to wish this time away--- i CAN'T even believe it is so close :()


I say it every stinkin' month, but this is such a fun time!  You have so much personality (so thankful for that) and are the most adorable gal I've ever seen!  I just want to freeze time and savor this longer, but I know I will love every little stage for different reasons.  Thank you for bringing us so much joy, Millie Willard!


Also.. this post is about ten days late--can you tell you're keeping this momma busy :) I LOVE IT!