HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAN!

You made it!

I wasn't sure you would since you started trying to shove everything known to man in your ears, nose and mouth; but you did it.

You're talking more and more- to the point where I'm probably going to stop keeping track of all of the new things you're saying. While that makes me a little sad, it's exciting to think that you're catching up and communicating with us about all the stuff you see!


Margaret likes:

• giraffes
• puzzles
• visiting Mr Jim and Ms Lynn
• lip gloss
• picking Poppa's tomatoes
• riding in laundry baskets
• dancing
• having her nails painted
• playing in the sand box
• going to the playground

Margaret DOES NOT like:

• having her hair brushed or washed
• having socks on

22 Months

Never did I ever imagine how your imitation of my speech could impact me.

Today was a big day for you. You said "doggie," hissed like snake and tried to repeat a WHOLE phrase!

We went to the zoo for their members only night. You were SO EXCITED to go. We went right for the train because the line for that tends to get very long. Your excitement tapered off when I tried to sit you across from me rather than on my lap. You spent the entire ride saying "weee" and "wow," which I've come to expect; when we got off I said "Say thanks for the ride!" To which you replied, "Say fo da diiiiie." I wanted to scream and cry, I was so happy!

I feel like I'm watching you roll over again for the first time.

Holding my breath, every muscle in my body tight with anticipation- waiting. Excited doesn't even begin to describe how I feel about your progress. It's amazing to me to think that not even three months ago I could only make out 10 words and phrases. When I ask you to get in to your seat or even spit out a crayon- you do it! Three months ago you would have just gone on with whatever it was you were doing, as if I hadn't even said anything.

You're understanding me and I'm understanding you.

Awesome doesn't even come close.

Happy Birthday Bear

It's been awesome watching you for the last 365 days. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe just how long it's been. I keep thinking "..remember when she was little?" I have to remind myself that to the rest of the world you ARE little.

After just 365 days here you are 1/30 my age, 1/4 my weight and 1/2 my height. Pretty impressive in my opinion.

Today you got to share cupcakes and pudding with your friends at school- and I got a filling. : / After dinner we went out to Condrell's with Grandpa. Grandma was stuck at work- some day we're going to have to go rescue her and make her have some fun. We can worry about the when's and how's of that later though. For now let's worry about the fabulous, shall we?

Margaret can SAY:

• balloon [boo-n]
• this [dis]

Margaret can:

• get the correct end of a utensil IN to food and then her mouth
• carry objects while walking
• stand from a squat
• climb on to the couch
• climb a ladder

Margaret likes:

• ice cream!
• Star Wars
• pudding
• spinning in the yard
• going for walks
• pancakes
• hide and seek
• mud
• hot dogs
• mommy's sunglasses
• having her picture taken
• ketchup
• visiting the bigger kids at school
• Tangled
• reading books to people

Margaret does not like:

• raw broccoli
• hamburgers
• kiwi
• wearing her own sunglasses

I'm so excited we're starting year 2. This past year really has been an amazing adventure- I can't wait to see where you take us to next. Sooner rather than later you'll be the one calling the shots and we'll just be supporting players. Don't be afraid to remind us of that if we forget- it's all about you now.

So, where are we going?

Eleven Months

I can't believe I'm sitting here doing this. I feel like we've already spent a lifetime together, but truthfully, this is where all of the fun starts. You've developed this awesome and sassy personality, I frustrate you daily- but you get over it. You got teeth 8, 9 and 10 this month. No stats until 12m, which will be more like 12.5 since we won't see your doctor until the middle of September, let's not dwell on that, let's just talk about how awesome you are. Ok?


Margaret can SAY:

• all done [ah duuuh]
• that [dat]

Margaret CAN:

• walk, not well. But she gets it done
• open and close doors
• flush a toilet, thanks honey
• climb stairs

Margaret likes:

• Taco Tuesday
• Despicable Me
• sprinklers
• hot dogs
• watermelon
• carrot cake
• slides!

Margaret does not like

• whole raspberries
• peas, we sort of knew that
• putting on shoes

I'm so glad you're here. You make some fabulous faces that make me make equally awesome faces. And while you're sometimes a challenge, you don't ever let me get bored. Thanks for that boo bear.

Perfect Ten

Ten Months- and you're talking. Mostly gibberish, but some words. Which is, in a word, best.


Margaret can SAY:

• hi
• mommy
• daddy
• yes
• no

Margaret can:

• clap!
• cruise with one hand
• take 3-4 steps

Margaret likes:

• pickles
• peek a boo
• blanket tents
• REAL tents
• the zoo

Margaret does not like:

• being on grass

Eight Months

I'm more than amazed at how much you've grown and everything you can do. When I think about how little and helpless you seemed, that all seems so silly now. You're hell bent on doing whatever you can, as often as you want. That may not go over so well shortly- but for now, we'll ride it out.

We have no stats this month other than weight, 23lb 14oz. You're not climbing the scale as steadily these days. A lot of that has to do with your insane desire to wiggle. Once you figured out how to crawl, self propelled motions became the name of your game

Margaret can:

• crawl
• pull to a stand
• stand!
• cruise!

Margaret likes:

• standing and watching Sesame Street
• standing in the front yard
• yelling at cars as they drive by

We don't yell at all of the cars though. We sit outside and wait for daddy to come home most mornings. You get soooo stinking excited when you see him pull in the driveway. It's more than a little adorable.

Seven Months!

You've got a serious set of pipes my friend. You've learned how to squeal and scream like a professional in the last month- I'm not sure which one of your friends at Day Care taught you that- but I think it might have been Ava. Ohwell. This wasn't really a big month for milestones, you've gotten very comfotable rolling around, you haven't quite figured out that crawling business yet. We don't have any official stats on you since there was no doctor's visit this month and there won't be until June. But I am absolutly certain you are over 22lbs.


Margaret CAN:

• roll front/back and back/front to the left AND right
• get up on all 4's

Margaret likes:

• waffles
• toast with jelly/jam
• MANGOES!
• riding in carts
• baths in the big girl tub
• bubbles!

Margaret does not like:

• peas
• little girl car seats

There aren't too many dislikes because most of them have stayed the same. You still don't like having your nose wiped although we make silly noises and faces at you now while we clean your face- that seems to make it more amusing for you.

Six Months

You've made it to another milestone: Your very first Half Birthday, congratulations.

Somewhere in the last month you became very, VERY demonstrative of your feelings. I shouldn't find your irritated grunts and moans as funny as I do. But someday, god willing, when you have children of your own you will understand. It's been a very busy month for you. You seem to be convinced that the big kid's stuff is way better than yours, and god dammit, you want it.

You're still in the 95^th%ile for head height and weight! You just won't quit. You're 20lbs 9oz and 30in tall.


Margaret CAN:

• pass things from hand to hand
• pick up small objects
•  sit completely unassisted
•  roll [back to front AND front to back, but only when she feels like it]
• feed herself!

Margaret likes:

• grown up food and still wants you to share
• her sippee cup, especially if it has apple juice
• Puffs!
• fresh peaches and cherries
• the sounds: oink, quack and woof
• Sid the Science Kid
• Sesame Street

Margaret does not like:

• people who won't share grown up food, yes sometimes that includes me
• reclining, she will sit herself up or use toy bars to pull herself to a seated position if put in a bouncer or infant rocker- this is most distressing
• the sounds: neigh, moo and cluck

You've come a long way baby and I super, duper, ouper, schmooper love you.

FIVE months

You've been here for quite some time now, and I'd like to take a moment to thank you for that.
To show my appreciation I've started planning your birthday party: you're welcome. You're still stuffy and I still hate it. But whateves. Hopefully the new doctors can help me get to the bottom of that. I don't know your stats because there's no well baby check this month. But we did go to see them several times for sick visits- at one point you were 21lbs 3oz so I shudder to think what you are now. You're still in 6-9m clothing but some of it is getting tight and some of the long sleeved shirts had to be forced in to early retirement because they looked like 3/4 length sleeves on you.
Now for the fabulous:

Margaret CAN:

• ROLL! [back to front]
• sit up for short periods of time UNASSISTED!
• hold her own bottle [if she feels like it]
• get the CORRECT end of a spoon in to her mouth

Margaret likes:

• the Veggie Tales theme
• BOO!
• The Princess and the Frog
• apples and peaches!
• water!
• hanging upside down
  

Margaret does not like:

• Veggie Tales, odd no?
• having her nose wiped
• having her nose sucked
• not having control of the remote
• people who won't share cups

Daddy keeps giving you cups with water in them. He holds on to them- but you drink from them with his help. This makes for a very sad you when I'm home alone with you and you want me to share... my rootbeer. I'm just not down with that.

Four months

Hello my supremely large child! You are a beast it's true, you are a lovable beast. While you're becoming more aware of the world around you, you don't seem to enjoy being made aware of the cold. For now you hate the breezes and the cold air that sneaks in at your hands and face when we go out. You seemed to be super duper into ripping wrapping paper, but I'm thinking that was just because you seemed to think it was deeee-licious and promptly tried to eat everything you ripped off. You were 17lbs 15oz and 28in at your check-up. Instead of continuing to grow at a rate that is perpendicular to the growth curve. You've now decided that parallel is more fun. You're still in the 95+%ile for head, height and weight. I will continue to blame your father for this since your projected height is now 5'10"-6'1". Now on to the lists!

Margaret can:

• stick out her tongue
• sit by herself
• grab her toes

Margaret likes:

• bouncing
• flying!
• Head, Shoulders Knees and Toes
• Christmas Lights
• cereal!
• the cats!

Margaret does not like:

• tissues
• having her nose cleaned

All in all it's been a fabulous time with you. You laugh at all of my jokes and you like it when I get silly- so I think it's safe to say we've got quite a ways to go until I actually scar you.

Three Months

You are turning into quite the little stinker dear! You are developing strong opinions and you are making them known. Today was your first Thanksgiving. You slept for most of yesterday and quite a bit of today. I was hoping that that meant your dad and I could sit and have dinner together- something that never happens any more. The increase in sleep also makes me nervous because it can mean a growth spurt or you're getting sick again. If I get to choose, I'd like the spurt please!

You slept through the sweet potato boiling, the butter melting, the potato mashing, the stuffing stirring and the turkey carving. But as soon as we started putting things on the table- you woke up. We put you in the highchair and pulled it up to the table between our two chairs so you could see both of us. You were still groggy enough that you didn't notice you weren't being held for long enough for us to finish dinner.
I'm not sure how you feel about Thanksgiving since you spit up all over your Thanksgiving shirt and had to be changed before 2:00PM. Next year should be better for you though, you'll get real turkey and mashed potatoes!
We don't know your exact stats at 3mos because the next time you see the pediatrician is next month. But we do know that you were 15lbs15oz at your sick visit on the 11/15. So it's safe to say you're over 16lbs now.

Two Months

You madam are a trooper. You didn't even really fuss about your shots, you cried until I picked you up and then you stopped. You're still in the 95^th%ile for Head, Height and Weight. But I've been told once again that you're being fed too much and that they'd like to see your weight come down on the curve by your next visit. Between you, me and the internets- I doubt it'll happen. You're now 15lbs 7oz and 26in, and I'm ok with that. Now lets get on to the list of Margaret cans!

She can:

• belly laugh!
• 1/2 roll
• sit with help
• reach for objects

You didn't do too many new things this month, but that's ok. You're still figuring this whole place out- it's a lot to take in.

One Month

Today was your 4 week check up. You're in the 95^th%ile for Head, Height and Weight. There was a HUGE jump on the Weight Curve. Which didn't really surprise me, since you'd been taking 3-6oz every 2-3 hours. Eat that much food with a lazy life style and you're bound to see some poundage. You went from 7lb 11oz at birth, to 8lb 8oz at 1 week and then 11lb 7oz at 4 weeks.

Margaret can:

• hold up her head
• smile!
• do push-ups
• support weight on her legs
• follow objects
• grasp and hold
  
• coo

We had a bit of a scare yesterday, Similac issued a voluntary recall of 5 million cans of powdered formula. The formula may or may not have been contaminated- I'll leave it at that. The formula that was contaminated was said to cause infants GI distress/discomfort and potentially result in a refusal to eat. Well, you had tummy troubles starting your second and third day home- they never seemed to let up. As I sat entering the lot numbers off of our cans I found out that every one of the SIX! that we had was in the recall. I started to wonder if that was the cause of all our problems. While I know that it's common for babies to be gassy and spit up- I was a heck of a lot calmer knowing that I could eliminate the formula as a potential cause just by switching formula... again. Since we'd changed it three time within your 4 short weeks here I decided to just stick with the kind you were on now but get the liquid instead of the powder.

Twelve hours after the first bottle of the liquid formula it was like I had a different baby. There was no inexplicable screaming, no burps stuck in your tiny belly, and something I'm sure everyone was worried about- normal diapers.

It's been an interesting and exciting month, who knows what next month will bring.