Ten Months

Dear Sadie,

Another month has flown by. We finished up two weeks of swim lessons. We had a lot of fun and got to go down the slide on our last day! You didn't enjoy being dunked, but had fun with everything else!

We play a mean game of peekaboo. 

You started pulling yourself up and doing more of the traditional crawl. 

You think it's hysterical when I say I'm going to get you while you crawl away. 

You have four teeth!

Every diaper change is an adventure. I'm not sure how you're stronger than me, but you take off the second your diaper is off. You love being free! 

You like splashing in the bath. 

Sticking out your tongue doesn't get old for you. 

If you had it your way I would read to you all day long. 

You get really excited when you hear me get water from the fridge. 

You love avocado and pear popsicles. 

You dance when daddy starts singing. 

You put your hands together when you're nervous or unsure of something. 

You're always on the move. 

You were a little cuddle bug this month and I am not complaining!

You fake laugh when someone laughs and you don't know what's funny. 

I could listen to your giggles all day. 

You're pretty awesome Sadie Sade. 

Love, Mom

Nine Months

Dear Sadie,

We took you to the doctor and you are a healthy baby! You weigh 14 pounds 8 ounces. You are a tiny little thing!

We did one day of swim lessons this month. You LOVE being in the pool as long as the water is warm. You're a little fish.

You are a happy baby full of smiles and giggles.... Until someone else comes around, then you're all business!

You army crawl all over the place. You get into everything. You like to climb over me and you are starting to pull up on things.

You are more interested in food this month. Yogurt, puffs, and water are your favorite things. There really hasn't been anything that you haven't liked, which is awesome!

You love it when daddy plays the guitar for you.

You're starting to bounce when a song comes on that you like. You throw your hands in the air when I say dance over and over.

We have little conversations back and forth making different sounds.

You are the proud owner of two teeth! Your bottom two came in. I cannot believe you have teeth! Where did my little baby go?

You started crying when I put you to bed this month. I think it was from teething because you haven't been doing it the past week. I hated hearing you cry.

You love your books.

You give your dad and me so much joy. We love you and you make us so happy. Please stop growing so fast! That's an order.

Love, Mom

Eight Months

Dear Sadie,

Another month has flown by. I cannot believe we will be celebrating your first birthday in four months!

You are a sassy little thing. You get that from your dad. :)

You figured out how to sit up by yourself. You've hit your head a few times on your crib from playing around instead of sleeping.

You do a combination of rolling and army crawl to get where you want to go.

We're working on your first tooth and it's a joy. I say "we" because it's a joint effort.

You like to make your dad and me laugh. Sometimes you and I will look at each and start giggling. It is one of my favorite things ever.

I don't think you're ever going to get tired of sticking out your tongue. There has been a few times I think you're having a severe allergic reaction because you've kept your tongue out for so long.

We took you in the pool for the first time. You loved it! We're going to do swim lessons next month.

We took a break from solids because they were upsetting your stomach.

You love to drink water. You try to drink the pool water. YUCK!

You are ticklish on your tummy.

We celebrated Daddy's first Father's Day this month.

Daddy went to Texas for work for a few days so it was just us girls. You fussed the whole time.

Your hair is starting to grow and when it is wet it has some curl.

You kick your legs when you get excited and when you want something.

You are a little talker. I don't listen to the radio in the car because I enjoy hearing your little voice.

I feel like I am wrangling a baby alligator when I'm changing your diaper. It makes poopy diapers a lot of fun!

You do not like to sit still. It was hard to get a picture of you where you weren't lunging forward or moving your hands.

You are my precious little girl. I love you so much. You make me laugh and so very happy.

Love, Mom

Seven Months

Dear Sadie,

You're the big 7 months! This month snuck past me.

You're sitting up like a champ!

You say dada all day long. Sometimes you throw a mama or nana out, but for the most part it's dada.

You are rolling all over the place and I can't leave you unattended anymore. There's been a few times where I have moved you away from something and then you giggle and roll back to it. 

You're working on crawling. You start trying to crawl and then realize you can roll and plop on over.

We started giving you solids this month. We started with purees. You took one bite and gave us a look that said this is not what you guys are eating so I don't want it. We switched to baby led weaning after that. You seem to be doing well with it. You don't eat a ton, but I can tell you're getting some stuff down thanks to your diapers. So far you have had broccoli, carrots,  avocado, apple, banana, and sweet potato.

 It is impossible to change your diaper. You will not lay still. You do not like taking off or putting on clothes. We were hoping you would grow out of that, but here we are and you still get mad when your onesie goes over your head. 

You're becoming a bit of a rascal! It's cute now. Sometimes when I tell you no, you giggle and do it all over again. 

You love when daddy plays the guitar for you. Your favorite part of the day is when he comes home from work. 

We may have a drummer on our hands. You like to bang on everything!

You are the happiest little girl when you wake up. Our personalities are so similar, however we are complete opposites here. 

You're starting to warm up to people and let them hold you. You don't always look happy about it, but you don't start crying right away.

The months are starting to fly by and your first birthday will be here before we know it. I love you so much and I am so thankful I get to spend everyday with you.

Love, Mom

Six Months

Dear Sadie,

You're half a year old! Luckily, this month didn't fly by as fast as last month. You love sleeping in your crib. You pretty much sleep for 12 hours at night. Your naps have gotten so much better. It's pretty rare that you wake up and need me to soothe you back to sleep. Whew!

You want to crawl so badly. You roll and scoot all over the floor. It was quite a shock to come back from the bathroom and find you on the other side of the room. You can push your little booty in the air, but you're still figuring out how to get moving.

We're starting to hear more giggles. If we had to pick one word to describe you, it'd be serious. You smile a lot too, but you like to take everything in. People still comment how alert you are. You're a little busybody!

We made it to six months exclusively breastfeeding.

You are SO ready to eat solids. You give us a sad look whenever we eat in front of you. You don't understand why you can't have anything! After your 6 months check up in a couple of weeks, we'll start you on solids! I think it will rock your world.

You're starting to sit up on your own. You went from having zero interest to sitting up unassisted pretty fast.

You're into textures and like to feel everything.

We spent your first Easter in Durango! It was a rough drive in the beginning. You were not a happy baby. I was ready to turn back, but your dad kept saying lets go a little further. Once we got to Flagstaff you fell asleep and stayed asleep until we got to the hotel. We had so much fun! I was worried how you would do away from home, but you did great! We went for a couple walks, walked around downtown, went out to eat, and hung out a lot. You slept in your pack n play and did pretty good. You woke up a few times throughout the night. It was such a fun trip and we can't wait to go back. I'm pretty sure Auntie Tonya and Uncle Ryan will have us back...

You love the wind and stick out your tongue whenever it hits your face.

You still stick out your tongue a ton. It's pretty cute! You scrunch your nose a lot too.

You love being read to. I'm thankful we have a baby that likes books. I have all of your books memorized.

Still no teeth!

Love, Mom

Lately

We've been trying to enjoy the weather before it gets too hot by going on walks. It also helps calm Sadie down when she gets a little fussy. She loves being outdoors. I'm not sure what we're going to do once the temperature hits 100°.

Sadie has been busy trying to get moving. She scoots to the side a little and can push herself back, but is still working hard to move forward. I call this her walrus impersonation. 

Our library has an infant play group that meets the second and fourth Friday of each month. We checked it out this week and had so much fun. Sadie was the youngest baby there by a few months, but we were able to participate. It's a really awesome program that stresses the importance of early childhood development. We did a sensory activity involving noodles that had been colored with food coloring. Since Sadie can't fully sit on her own I put her in the tub and let her go to town. She was interested, but didn't dive right in. She was so serious playing with the noodles and checking them out. We ended with a couple songs and headed home.

On Saturday we had a family barbecue. Reed's Aunt was in town so we had a little get together at his cousin's house. Sadie gets a little nervous around big, loud groups of people. She would be fine if I held her, but if anyone else tried she would start crying. We were able to stay for a few hours and visit. Reed worked so I took Sadie baby home and he stayed for a few more hours.

Speaking of the weather, we've been sitting on the patio the past few Sundays. The only time Sadie will let us sit down is if we're outside. She's becoming quite the character. It's so much fun to watch her. She starts talking and then bursts into giggles at something she said. Apparently, she's a comedian like her mama!

And who doesn't love a sleeping baby?

Five Months

Dear Sadie,

This month has flown by. It felt like a week ago you were four months. I'm trying to wrap my head around how a whole month snuck past me! The rest of the year better slow down.

You've been doing really good at night in your crib. For the most part you sleep from 6:30 P.M. to 6:30 A.M. Every now and then you'll change things up, but you're pretty consistent. Naps are getting so much better! Yay! Dad installed some curtains to block out the light and they HELP! You don't get as distracted when falling asleep.

We took our first road trip to Tucson. Your whole world was turned upside down. There was a lot of crying. You spent the last hour and a half before falling asleep hysterically crying. It was awful! We left the next morning at 4 A.M. in hopes you would sleep the whole way home. You did and you were so happy when we made it home. You smiled and talked for a whole hour and a half. Hopefully our next trip goes better, it's further and longer!!

You roll from back to stomach with no problem and roll from your stomach to you back, but not as much. You can push yourself up with your arms, you look like a walrus! You want to be moving. You get frustrated because you kick your little feet, but don't go anywhere.

You are a smiley baby when you wake up. It warms my heart to see your big grin.

We're still dealing with some stranger anxiety, but we're getting better.

You love these little baby Einstein boardbooks. And by love, I mean they will stop you dead in your tracks during a meltdown. We can't figure out what it is about them that fascinates you.

You recently found your tongue and stick it out all the time.

We took you to lunch at Olive Garden and you did fabulous! We were worried because you don't like being in your carseat if we're not in the car. You even giggled for 10 minutes straight.

You're starting to giggle more and more. Sometimes it sounds like a giggle, other times it's a weird, forced noise. For the most part you have stopped making a high pitch noise, music to my ears!

You pretty much always have something in your mouth. You use your index and middle finger to soothe, but will shove anything in there.

The plan is to start solids next month. You don't show too much interest in food yet which is surprising considering who your father is.

You're starting to get attached to whatever toy you have in your hand. If the toy falls to the ground, you scream!

No teeth yet, but I check your mouth daily. You have all the signs of teething!

You love being outside. We go on two to three walks a day.

I have SO many pictures of your feet!

I love you! Not a day goes by that I don't thank God for you. You are so special and my beautiful rainbow.

Love, Mom

18 Weeks

Four Months

Dear Sadie, 

We meet again... The doctor said you are one healthy baby. You weigh 12 pounds 5 ounces and are 24.5 inches long. You're in the 13th percentile for weight and 50th for height. You've grown four inches since you were born. You pretty much wear all 3 month clothes. I put some 6 month outfits on you because we're tired of your old clothes! We need new stuff, right Dad?

You had an exciting month! You started sleeping in your crib. I thought it would be a hard transition, but you seem to like it in there at night. Taking naps in your crib is a little harder. We're working on it. You'll get there!

We started a schedule of Eat, play, eat, sleep that seems to be working really well. You take two, one to two hour naps each day. For most of the month you would sleep for about 11 hours, wake up for a feeding, and sleep for another hour or two. The middle of the night feeding is starting to jump around a little, but you still sleep to about the same time every morning.

You rolled over from your back to your stomach and haven't stopped! You're my little rolly pollie. I'll leave you for a minute on your back and the next thing I know you're on your stomach. You haven't mastered rolling onto your back yet. You're getting pretty close.

You went from having zero interest in toys, to swatting at them, to grabbing them and putting them in your mouth. Speaking of your mouth, you drool EVERYWHERE! You always have your hands in your mouth.

We're still exclusively breastfeeding. My goal was to make it to a year and as we get closer to six months I feel proud that we've been able to make it so far. Breastfeeding is hard!

You won't take a bottle. We try and try, but we're making baby steps.

You are incredibly happy in the morning. We took these pictures at 6:00 A.M. because we were heading to Tucson. 

You like taking baths with me. You're starting to hit the water with your hands and make water splash everywhere.

We don't let you watch TV, but if you catch a glimpse, your eyes are glued! You use all your strength to keep watching!

You're starting to like shopping. Yay! I'll hold an outfit up and if you smile we get it! If you don't smile and I like it, we still get it.

You're attracted to the color green.

You are mesmerized by this wood abacus you received for Christmas. You used to lay on your side and play with it with one hand, now I have to hold you in my lap so you can use both hands! Your face is so determined while you make the letters spin.

You make a really weird noise when you giggle. You give me a mini heart attack because I think you're choking. Every now and then we'll get a real giggle out of you!

You talk in a normal sounding voice and a really loud squeaky voice. I'm a little worried that's how I sound to you and you're trying to mimic me!

My favorite moments are when I look at you and you smile at me without any prompting. You're still pretty serious, but we get smiles out of you.

You're starting to have some stranger anxiety. 

I love you beautiful. These months are starting to fly by. You are my sweet girl and I cannot imagine life without you. 

Love, Mom

Thankful

My sweet, little baby is taking a nap on me and I keep thinking I couldn't be more thankful for her. The last couple of days have been a little rough. She's been fighting sleep during the day so she gets really upset because she's so tired, but won't fall asleep. There's been a few times when we've cried together. Even though she's been a little bipolar, going from smiling to screaming in 1.2 seconds, it is the most amazing thing I've ever done, being a mom. I love her so much. Sometimes my heart can't take it when she smiles, it's the cutest thing I've ever seen. There's also been a few times when I cry looking at her because she's our little miracle. She's been pretty expressive since birth so when this happens she'll raise one eyebrow and give me a "what the heck is your problem lady" look. This often causes me to tear up a little more because while she looks like Reed, she's definitely all me inside.

Three Months

Dear Sadie,

Another month has passed. You don't go to the doctor this month so I don't know how much you weigh, but you're definitely growing! I love your little cheeks. You wear 3 months clothes, but you'll be out of them pretty soon.

You rolled over from your front to your back three times the beginning of this month, but you haven't done it since. You've gotten pretty close though!

You kick your legs and wave your arms all the time. You try and kick us in the face while we're changing your diaper.

You are so alert and always looking around. When we're out and about people always comment how alert you are. They also say you're pretty cute, but I already know that! :)

You love being naked and that makes your dad a little nervous.

We celebrated our first Christmas with you. It was very special. You had no idea what was going on, but it was special to me. We had family over on Christmas Eve for a brunch and went to a service at church in the afternoon. On Christmas day we opened our presents and spent some more time with family. You did such a good job with all the commotion.

I love hearing your little voice.

You don't like your head being messed with so that means I have to sneak headbands on you or otherwise you start crying.

You like taking baths with your mama.

You met your Uncle Kai this month.

You eat every two hours during the day and go 9 to 10 hours at night and another 3 hours after that.

You had a growth spurt last week and you were a little crazy! You ate for half an hour every hour and a half. You were a fussy, hungry baby!

I tried giving you a couple bottles, you won't take to them. I'm going to keep trying and hoping you'll eat from one. It would be nice to leave you with dad for a few hours. Whenever I leave you alone I worry the whole time you're going to get hungry and I won't be there to feed you.

You are starting to realize you have control of your hands. It's pretty cute watching you try to grab stuff. You have your hands in your mouth all the time and you're starting to drool all over the place!

You're a good little baby and I love you so much. I can't imagine life without you and I thank God daily for you. You have been such a blessing.

Love, Mom

Sadie's Future

Reed took a few extra days off last week and we were busy. We opened a savings account for Sadie. My grandfather opened a savings account for me when I was 5 years old. I still have it open! Saving has always been important to me. Reed and I want to teach Sadie good habits when it comes to money. If we don't do it, who will? She obviously has no idea what's going on now, but when she's older we'll teach how fun saving can be! Well, if she's anything like me she'll think saving is fun...