Saturday, January 9, 2016

Happy 15 months, Lydia!

A lot has happened since September 5th! Most of that deserves a few posts of their own, but I'm not sure it will get its due. So we are forging ahead. And our baby girl is 15 months old! She has changed so much since her birthday. When we start measuring by quarters rather than months the difference is profound. Needless to say, it is a joy and a privilege to watch Lydia grow. We are thankful for each day (and sleepless night!) we have had with her and will treasure each we get with her in the days to come.

The adjective we use most often to describe Lydia is industrious. She takes care of business. This sometimes comes across as demanding and sometimes just genius. But she is ever watching, ever learning, and when you are least expecting takes you by surprise.

Weight: 29 lbs 4 oz (99th%)
Height: 32 in (88th%)
Head: 47 cm (82th%)

Diapers: size 5
Clothing: 18 and 24 month, 2T (most of our hand-me-downs are in storage, so we've been on repeat with the best outfits that still fit and are seasonally appropriate!)

Likes: slides, climbing on anyone who is on the floor, new-to-her toys, being in the bathroom (no privacy around here), creating a pretend phone out of anything, reading books (Good Night Cape Cod is her current go-to book), redistributing everything in the house slowly but surely, bath toys, shoes

Dislikes: not being picked up as fast as she would like, being put down unexpectedly, getting to the bottom of a cup of milk she really enjoyed

Schedule:
6:30-7am Awake for the day!
9:00-11am   Nap
1:00-3pm   Nap
7pm   Down for bed

Sleep: When we first moved Lydia went back to waking a time or two at night and needing us to put her pacy in. We had just gotten back to good sleep when she got teeth, then sinus trouble, and then a double ear infection. During that phase she was waking every hour for several nights and no one was getting good sleep! But as soon as she started the antibiotic she transitioned back to a good sleep cycle, though she still occasionally wakes before 7:00 and sometimes needs help with a pacy during the night.

Physically: She has at least the one new tooth (a molar I believe). She is getting a little more hair, though not quite enough for clipping in a bow. And she is a solid walker. Lydia isn't losing any baby rolls yet!

Food: Lydia continues to be a good eater. I wouldn't call her picky by any means, but when she isn't ravenous there are some foods she can give or take. Favorites in any situation would be crackers, peanut butter, bananas, grapes, yogurt, and cheese. And dum dums, which we learned we can't leaved in her vicinity. She can unwrap a sucker and pop it in her mouth faster than you might think!

Communication: Lydia still doesn't say very much, but sometimes I get the impression that she thinks she is saying more than we know. She makes a consistent sound for shoe and please (to the point she refuses to sign please), but she is really far from being able to repeat words. I wouldn't say she calls me Mama, but she has said Dada when she thinks Dave is walking up the stairs.

Fun things:
- She first had a sucker on Thanksgiving Day, much to our surprise. This is an instance where we throw up our hands and call her industrious :)
- Lydia stands at her booster chair when she is ready to eat.
- She likes to take things to people. She is constantly bringing me my phone, the big kids their correct water bottles, and taking the correct lovey to someone who is sad. I am kind of impressed that she can sense emotion like she does.
- She is having a great time in nursery and really likes the new-to-her toys.
- Our downstairs neighbor has a couple of dogs. Anytime Lydia hears them bark, she barks back! No need to worry about words though, she says . . . :)

(Not in any particular order, but our favorites from September 5 to December 5.)


Riding the big slide at the dairy barn in Bowling Green





Bubble chasing at the Newport aquarium



Every once and a while you do what you need to do to get some pacy

Playing with her long distance friend!

Those feet :)




Who wouldn't smile when you have this kind of help packing :)


She loves to brush her (lack of) hair :)

Such a happy girl at our new park




Krispy Kreme!




A new library . . . all at her fingertips!


Talking to a new friend who came to play

"I wouldn't have to climb out if you would just pick me up!"

The sucker she found and commandeered on Thanksgiving :)

Chipotle tastes just right on vacation

Monday, September 21, 2015

Happy 12 months, Lydia!

Here we are- one year in! Our baby girl turned one on a beautiful Saturday and we had a lovely day remembering her birth. She is inquisitive and giggly, persistent and daring. She is a delight to our family!

Weight: 26 lbs 2 oz (99th %)
Height: 30.75 in (94th %)
Head: 18.5 in (94th %)

Diapers: size 5 and cloth
Clothing: 18 and 24 month, 2T

Likes: an audience, If You're Happy and You Know It, her water bottle, eating, sliding, swinging, balls, peek-a-boo, favorite toys (the gas nozzle from the lego set, hay bale from the train set, etc), and "Tom Brady" (so named by Dave . . . she holds her hand up and just waits for someone to high five her)

Dislikes: not getting food as fast as she would like, going down the living stairs on her own (she can do it, but she would definitely file it under dislike), milk (questionable, she would say)

Schedule:
7:00am Awake for the day!   Nurse and eat
8:30/9:00-11am   Nap
11am-ish Eat
12:30-3pm   Nap
3pm   Milk and eat
7pm   Nurse and down for bed

Sleep: Praise the Lord! It took her a whole year, but this little lady is sleeping. And we are sleeping. And it is bliss. The trick seems to be filling her up way beyond what you think a little girl needs to eat for dinner. Lots of dinner equals a full night of sleep!

Physically: Lydia is a champion cruiser and with the help of her sitting crawl/scoot she sees the whole first floor as her playground. She stands on her own confidently and is standing up regularly as she plays. She loves to have people cheer for her and will stand up and lower down over and over if we are willing to watch and clap. Her hair is getting long at the back of her neck, but is still short at the front. As her stats imply, she is a solid girl. Her thighs are thick and belly round! No new teeth since the first six came through.

Food: She had her first peanut butter sandwich and is a big fan. I like that it fills her up and gives me time to get her more to eat! Lydia continues to love carbs and most fruits. She isn't crazy about strawberries or grapes, interestingly enough. She likes veggies, but is getting tired of what I normally give her. It will be nice when she has more teeth and can chew raw veggies like the big kids.

Communication: Lydia started babbling along when the kids sing this month. Super cute :) She hasn't had a communication bubble lately, but thankfully understands so much of what we say.

She loves a guitar


He insisted on holding her hand as she slept in the mall :)

We do this every time we visit Mashpee Commons

Enjoying her birthday buddy!

Flying home from a great first trip to FL!

I hope she will always be a beach baby :)

Dress by Gigi!
(And if you zoom in you can see the scrapes from her big fall on the patio.) 
 
We have officially entered the box-sitting-in phase

:)

Playing with the big kids

We drove two hours for a trip to Chick Fil A and Target while the house was being shown.
Worth it!

"Houston, we have a problem."


A rare treat to be out of the stroller at a playground!

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Happy 11 months, Lydia!

Here we are with just a few weeks to go to Lydia's first birthday. She is becoming opinionated and funny and brave. She holds her own among the kids and holds a special place in all of our hearts!

Diapers: size 5 and cloth
Clothing: 18 and 24 month, 2T (we aren't trying shoes until walking or winter!)

Likes: pulling up (and sometimes letting go for a second!), balls, asking for something different, EATING, bath time (especially having her hair washed), putting things in her mouth, the stroller

Dislikes: mom putting her down/walking away, not getting to eat anything/everything (like chalk), being put in the car seat

Schedule:
7:00am Awake for the day!   Nurse and eat
8:30/9:00-11am   Nap
11am   Nurse and eat
12:30-3pm   Nap
3pm   Nurse and eat
7pm   Nurse and down for bed

Sleep: Lydia is still getting up during the night, but usually goes right back to sleep with a paci. This gives us hope! Once we are sure she isn't hungry anymore we'll be able to make a plan for sleeping through the night again. We stopped giving her the dream feed when all other factors are equal.

Physically: She has moved from cruising the furniture to sometimes letting go and giggling when she lands on her bum. I hope she always approaches life's challenges with such boldness! I don't foresee her walking in the next month, but she is enjoying the process of learning. This month she learned to go down the steps into the living room, praise the Lord!

Food: Lydia is a carb loving girl in the tradition of her big sister. Give her cheerios, crackers, toast, bagel, etc and she is busy and satisfied. She continues to be a very good eater who loves finger food and has yet to refuse being spoon fed (sometimes the big kids will feed her!). She regularly enjoys green peas, banana, cheerios, berries, and peach along with whatever we are having for dinner.

Communication: Still not saying much, but she may be saying mama. We shall see if she means it :) She has a favorite sign that isn't "all finished" or "more, please." She holds her hands up or out and opens and closes her fingers. This usually means "different" and can be inserted into any number of situations, like wanting out of the stroller, more to eat, or something other than what we gave her to eat. Her "different" hands are how she says it all!

Random, but fun:
*We pulled out the umbrella stroller and Lydia was thrilled with her new ride.
*She gets really excited to see a family member after we've been apart (wether it is mom and dad coming in after a night out or Sarah or Josiah greeting her after a nap).
*Lydia is rocking a sweet baby mullet with little curls at her neck.
*She has been getting a bit of diaper rash, leading us to believe that she may be a little allergic to something. We're going to keep an eye on this and try to figure it out!

Next appointment: Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 9:30am


"None for me!" she exclaims.

A ride off the beach in the beach cart.


Usually at the playground she doesn't get to get out of the stroller. But when we go with friends there are enough extra hands for everyone to get out and play!

Monday, August 24, 2015

Did it rain on you today?

[setting: Cook living room on a cloudy Monday morning]

Josiah: Mom, did it rain on you while you were running outside?

Me [thinking I have the most considerate little boy in the world]: Oh sweet Josiah, it actually didn't rain on me at all. Did it rain here? I'm so glad I missed it!

[long pause]

Josiah: Then why is your face all wet?

[long funny awkward pause]

Dave: Well son, your mother sweats . . . a lot . . .