In 8, 9, and 10 months We've Learned...

Wow!!! I'm so behind. I picked this background in honor of all our birthdays approaching and since I'm so slow, by the time I update again, Cece will probably be 1 year! On to the catch up...

In 8 months We Learned...

...Cece handled her first bilateral ear infection well!
...organized chaos best describes our first holiday season with a little one.
...what it truly means to have a mobile baby (aka diaper changes with a baby rolling and crawling away from you).
...Cece does not like Santa Claus.
...now we truly know what separation anxiety is.
...shopping/running errands with a sick baby sucks!
...how sweet (and at times frustrating) it is when all she wants to do is be held or cuddled by you.

How She's Grown
...She's crawling around. It's super cute! She uses her right leg to push off and drags her left leg underneath her.
...Continues to babble.
...Says Mama and Dada
...Cruises (moving from one piece of furniture to the next for support) everywhere!
...She's learning to use her pincer grasp. She especially loves to use it to pick up Gerber Graduates Veggie Dips and Happy Baby Banana Puffs, which I affectionately call Baby Crack

Happy 8 month birthday!


In 9 months We Learned...

...We haven't baby proofed the house enough (nothing bad happened but she gets into everything!)
...What great friends we have (Thanks Sarah for watching Cece the week before Christmas!)

How She's Grown
...She eats with her fingers.
...She drinks from a cup with assistance (she's actually done this for a while, since around October). She's still trying to figure out sippy cups.
...Continues to cruise and crawl.
...She's stands really well by herself.
...She stoops from a standing position to try ti pick something up.
...Uses her pincer grasp very well.

Happy 9 month birthday!


In 10 months we Learned...

(Okay so you got your picture; now I'm going to play with this sign)

...Once again we relearned the importance of Mommy and Daddy time.
...She is a budding escape artist. She is constantly learning new ways to break out of her baby play area.
...Our baby is learning so much every day!


How She's Grown
...She's WALKING!!!!!
...Tons of talking! She says Mama and Dada pretty consistently, though not always to the right parent. She'll imitate words. The cutest one so far is when Trevor was talking to her she said "I like you Dada" and later that same day he said "I love you" to her and she said "I wub you." Ah! melt my heart. She has also said hello and byebye.
...She knows how to wave hello and good-bye! So cute!!!
...She knows if you say "Cheers" you clink your glasses together. She LOVES this!
...She puts objects in containers. The toys with holes cut out in different shapes and you have to put the right shape in the hole; she can put the circle in the circle. She needs some guidance (aka us picking out the right shape) but she's starting to get it!

Happy 10 month birthday!


For more photos click here and here.

In 7 Months We've Learned...

Take 1

 Take 2

Take 3...Mommy gives up

...How cool it is to feel your baby's first tooth!
...Holidays have a new meaning! They're so much more fun!
...How amazing it is to only pump 1-2 times a day instead of 6-8!

...How fast she's learning and growing! 7 months ago she couldn't even hold up her head!
...It's awesome having someone babysit her one night a month so we can have some couple time.


How she's grown
sh... She will drop objects and look for them.
...She babbles a lot!
...She's a squirmy wiggly worm!
...She uses the coffee table, mommy and daddy, the laundry basket, etc to pull herself up to standing.
...She can pick toys out of a box.
...She bangs objects together.
...She loves bouncing when standing or sitting in your lap.
...She can transfer objects from hand to another.
...She's able to turn pages, but chunks at a time. She can do individual pages if we lift the page a little for her.
...She loves walking with assistance.
...She says "Mama" and means me! (poor Dada...)
...Her first tooth is starting to come out.
...Sometimes searches for hidden objects.

Happy 7 month birthday, Cece!

For more photos click here.

In 5 and 6 Months We've Learned...

So I didn't get around to doing a post about 5 months. Oops!  Here's 5 and 6 months!

How she's grown

...She sits up unsupported.

...She passes objects from hand to hand.

...She plays with her hands and feet.

...She lunges forward and tries to crawl.

...it's important to get out of the house.

...once you get a good routine going, things change.

...she's got such a personality!
...having a sick baby stinks!

How she's grown

...She can walk when you hold both of her hands.

...She can stand up holding on to the couch and coffee table unsupported.

...She is eating solids consistently.

...She drags objects towards her.

...She cries when we leave the room (she's discovered object permanence).

...She knows us from strangers.

She's learned cause and effect -- if I drop this toy mommy will pick it up.

Happy 6th month birthday, Cece!

For more photos click here.

In 4 Months We've Learned...

...How fast time flies (and how fast she grows)!
...How blessed we are to have our moms' help!
...How important bedtime routines are but sometimes babies set their own schedules.
...How awesome it is when they hit major milestones!!!
...What a beautiful laugh she has!
...How important it is to continually nourish your marriage.

How She's Grown
- She can bring her hands together
- She can roll over!!!
- She likes to hold her books and toys
- She likes to play her piano
- She likes to sit-up
- She likes to stand up (with support of course)!
- She loves to laugh and smile!!!
- She reaches for and grabs her toys!
- Turns her head when she hear our voices.
- Discovered her toes!
- Tries to lunge forward
- Likes to play with her hands
- Can sit up very briefly without support.
- She likes to sit at the table during meal times.


More photos here.

In 3 Months We've Learned...

Sorry this is a bit late!


...how fast 3 months goes by and how much they grow!
...going back to work is hard (and pumping at work)!
...how to let other's take care of her and do things their own way (including Trevor)
...how much we love her smiles and laughs.
...how much we miss her when we're away from her.
...how to ignore advice that doesn't pertain to us.
...the importance of routine.

How She's Grown
-She found her thumb
-She can hold up her head really well
-She sleeps 8 hours during the night
-She smiles, laughs, and talks a lot more than last month
-She scoots herself off her playmat while lying on her back

Happy 3 months Cece!

More photos here and here.

In 2 Months We've Learned...

...baby spit up is the latest in fashion accessories.
...never leave home without a diaper bag.
...traveling with baby isn't so bad or hard; it just takes good planning (and lots of baby gear).
...binkies are not the enemy.
...babies learn differently than any other animal (thank you discovery channel documentary).
...wrap wearing is awesome and so much easier for shopping than using the stroller and infant carrier (unless you plan on buying lots of things in which case the storage under the stroller is handy!)

How she's growing:
- At 4-5 weeks she started cooing, gooing, and gaaing more.
-Her hair is turning a lighter brown.
-She has hazel eyes in sunlight than her momma.
-She scoots across her playmat with some help from momma.
-She laughs.
-She hits and kicks her toys hanging from her playmat.
-She converses with mommy and daddy and her toys
-She discovered her thumbs.
-She sleeps for 3-5 hours at night. Yay!

-Her newborn pants are now capris.

HAPPY 2 MONTHS CECE!

More photos here.

In 1 month We've Learned...

...being parents is both extremely difficult and rewarding.
...a new appreciation for our own parents.
...always accept help when offered.
...breastfeeding is challenging.
...doing what works best for your family, is what's best for your child.
...how to multi-task while pumping, like writing this blog post.
...a tiny (or not so tiny) cry can break your heart (and at times make you frustrated).
...a tiny smile can melt your heart.
...there is a light at the end of the tunnel; things really do turn around after 2-3 weeks.

How she's grown:
- able hold neck and turn head
- tracks objects/people with her eyes
- sleeps 3-4 hours consecutively at night

HAPPY 1 MONTH CECE!

P.S. KellyMom is an awesome breastfeeding website for whether you are nursing or pumping (Thanks Sarah!)

More photos here.