New Tricks and Words

I'm learning a few new tricks. One is where my belly is. Mom and Dad ask me, "Where's your belly?" and I pat my belly. I also love to bounce. Either when someone is holding me or when I'm just sitting there. If they ask me if I can bounce I bounce up and down - Daddy even caught me bouncing to music yesterday - so they told me that is called dancing. :)

I love to be held upside down. Completely upside down. I think it's so funny. I also have been getting up on my hands and feet and putting the top of my head down on the floor. Mom and Dad think that's pretty funny. 

Mom and Dad think I'm starting to get some words figured out. I have been playing with my doll quite a lot lately and I have a word for her that sounds a lot like 'baby' it's more like 'ba-bee" I definitely know and say "Da-da"and they think I also say "na-na" for banana. 

Ten Months Old Today

I am ten months old today! Double digits!! What have I been up to in the past month?

Well, I'm sleeping better - not that I was sleeping bad before but Mom and Dad say I'm sleeping like a rock star now! I got to bed around 8:30 and wake about 12 hours later.

Naps: I normally take two naps a day. A couple hours after I wake and the second one around 3:00 p.m. I usually sleep for a couple hours each time.

Eating: I'm eating a lot more solid food - all three meals and snacks. I usually have 2 or 3 bottles still. I always have one before bed and one before my nap. Sometimes I have one more late morning. They are usually 5-6 oz.

Some of my favorite foods are pizza, grapes, bananas, peas, broccoli, sweet potatoes, toast, scrambled eggs, vanilla yogurt and graham crackers.

I'm walking around things and cruising along furniture, and walking behind my push toy. I'm also really working on forming some actual words but I'm not quite there yet. I say "Ba" or "Baa baa" for everything I recognize or like for example, "Ma-ma, Da-da. Minnie Mouse, Marlie, Cohen, bananas, bottles" One of these days I'll come up with some differentiation.

I love playing with Cohen - and I have to say I think I'm really growing on him. He likes to play with me too. Every time I wake up I hear him ask Mom, "Can I go see her?" and he comes in my room to talk to me. He always makes me smile. The other night he really had me laughing the hardest I've ever laughed. We're really starting to bond with each other.

Some of my favorite toys are Minnie Mouse, the Leap Frog music table, the shape sorter and stacking blocks.

I also love Marlie. I'm starting to be a little more gentle with her but I love rubbing my head on her soft fur. She tolerates me pretty well.

My only "tricks" are 'so big' and patty cake. Mom, Dad and Cohen are trying to teach me some new things so stay tuned.

I'm a very smiley, happy little lady - until I'm tired or hungry. Once I'm fed or nap I'm a happy, happy girl again. I love watching the big kids run and play. Mom thinks I even might imagine the day I can try to keep up to them. :)

Our Mini Vacation Get Away

Mom and Dad took Cohen and I on a short 2 night get away to the Minneapolis area. We stayed in a hotel - my first time staying in a hotel actually. I also got to swim in a big pool for the first time too. I wasn't too sure about it at first but I quickly adjusted and thought it was alright.

We went to a Zoo...that was another first for me - and a Children's Museum. There was even a place just for babies there. I had fun crawling around playing in the baby area.

Mom and Dad said I was an excellent little traveler. It was a long car ride for me but we made it the entire 4 hours without having to stop.

Playing at The Minnesota Children's Museum. 

Having some snacks at the zoo.

Waking from my zoo nap.

Ryalnd and I checking out the aquariums. 

My first swim in a big pool with Daddy and Cohen.

We were just checking out the zebras. 

New Friends

I met some new friends over the weekend. Well new to me, not not new to my family. I met our friends from Michigan - Kelly, Drew, Cole and Chase. I haven't met Adam yet but I will sometime. Chase and I are five months apart but he's bigger than I am. I'm a peanut and he's a big boy. We are both cute though. :)

Parker, Drew Holding Chase, Cohen holding Me, Cole and Bella

9 Months Old Today!!

I turned 9 months old today! What have I been up to? Well, I have started pulling myself up on the furniture, toys, people, etc...  I recently learned "So big" and put my arms up in the air. Mom and Dad aren't certain but they think I wave and even try to say "hi".

I had my Dr. appointment and I weigh 14 lbs 11 oz and am 27" long. I'm just a peanut. I'm in the 4th percentile for weight and 24th for length.

I've started feeding myself a bit more. I've had some pasta, chicken, a variety of fruits and vegetables, Cheerios, eggs, toast....so far I'm a fan of food! I do still eat some baby food but Mom said we're working toward all finger food.

I still like my bottle but am getting fewer of those too. I get one before bed - about 8 ounces, one when I wake in the night - another 8 oz and one in the afternoon - 6 ounces. I get a sippy cup with my meals - about 3 ounces at each meal. I don't always finish that though.

I have developed a love for Minnie Mouse. I have a stuffed Minnie and when Mom or Dad says, "where's Minnie?" I go right to her and grin. I like to chew on her nose.

Sleeping - I go to bed around 8:30-8:45 p.m. and wake most nights somewhere between 3:00-4:00. Occasionally I sleep all the way through the night until 8:00 a.m. or so but that's not the norm. I nap in the morning for a couple hours, again in the afternoon for a couple hours and then most nights rest after dinner. I don't usually sleep then, but just have some down time in my crib.

I love trying to keep up to Cohen. I love snuggling Marlie and taking her chew bones. I have even been known to chew on them myself sometimes.

Mom and Dad think I'm a stinker. I say I'm just curious. I go right for things I have never seen or shouldn't have. I go from one to the next, to the next, to the next.

All in all I'm a happy, smiley baby. Unless I'm tired or hungry. I enjoy playing on my own, being read to and climbing over Mom or Dad.

Hard to believe I'm 9 months already. I've been on the outside as long as I was on the inside. :)

Trouble maker. 

 Trying eggs and toast for the first time. 

 And it begins...my brother giving me bunny ears in pictures. 

I was really excited about this - Cohen was not.

Another New Toy to Try

Dad brought this toy up from the basement for me to try now that I'm starting to stand more. I thought it was pretty neat and Cohen was showing me how it works. 

Weekend with Cota Family

This past weekend we went back to Harpers to celebrate our Great Grandpa and Grandma Cota's 65th Anniversary. It was a pretty special day for our family. We had a celebration at their farm, followed by a Mass for them (which I missed because I was pretty cranky and tired), then cake and ice cream afterward in the church hall.

Me with Julie (Heffern) Pladsen

With a replica of their cake

Their kids and spouses

Grandpa and Grandma Cota, Kathy, Larry, Brigid, Ron

Mary Lou, Bob

The Grandkids and Great Grandkids who could be there.

Mom, Cohen and I are on the right front. 

Great Grandkids

Great Grandma is holding me and Cohen is standing next to Great Grandpa

Mom with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Mary Lout