Lucy Kate- month 11

Sweet Lucy,

How in the world are we one month from your first birthday?  I can't believe at this time last year, we were waiting patiently for you to arrive...  So many questions were swirling around inside my head at that time.  Our family had been three for so long, it was hard to think about our life with another member to the family. And now, almost a year later, I can't believe you weren't there.  I barely remember our life before we were a family of four.

Walking is quickly becoming your preferred mode of transportation.  You can get around much quicker than you were, and you typically let go and just walk until you fall down.  Sometimes you stand back up and try again.  Other times you are content to crawl.  If I were guessing, I'd say you'll be getting around solely on your feet by the time another month comes around.

You've added the words "Hi!" and "mama" to your vocabulary.  You love saying "Hi!" while waving to everyone around you.  You've also learned to pick up things, hold them to your ear and say "Hi!" like you're on the phone.  It cracks me up.  You don't say mama a whole lot, but when you do, it totally melts my heart.  I think you might also be saying "all done" when you finish your food, but I can't tell for sure if that's what you're saying or not.

 We finally have all four top teeth!  The baby vampire was cute while it lasted, but I'm a little relieved to see those other teeth make their appearance.  I think you're getting bottom teeth too.  It won't be long before you have a whole mouth full of teeth.

 You love to play with your sorting box, putting the shapes in and out.  It's also a lot of fun when we build towers and you knock them over.  That makes you laugh so hard!  You are also enjoying the little people farm that we got out, although you're preferred way to play with it is to eat the animals.  I love watching you explore and take in new things.

This month you went on your first big vacation.  We drove 14 hours to Tennessee to visit family there.  In fact, you turned 11 months while we were there, which is why these pictures have such a great background.  You had a blast chasing your cousin Hayden and seeing lots of new things.  You were a total trooper in the car and only screamed the final 2 hours of the trip.

You also had your first real sickness this month.  Right before our big trip you came down with a high fever, cough and runny nose.  It ended up being double ear infections and a yucky cold.  Fortunately, antibiotics knocked it out and you were back to normal before our vacation.

I love you so much, my sweet baby goose.  I can't believe the next time I sit down to write one of these recaps you will be ONE.  I am so very thankful that God gave you to us.

Forever,
Mommy

Lucy Kate- month 10

Well, if I thought month 9 was full of change, this month has brought even more.  You are oh so quickly moving from that tiny baby to a full blown toddler and I don't like it one little bit.  Actually, I really do love this stage.  You are so much fun and I'm seeing more of your little personality each day.

You have officially let go and started taking steps around the room without holding onto things.  I wouldn't by any means say you are "walking" but you're well on the way.  Typically if you're distracted by something (a toy you want, your brother, something tiny on the floor only you see...) you'll take quite a few steps.  This has resulted in quite a few bumps and bruises, since you frequently crash into things.  You definitely keep the poor nursery workers on their toes!

This month also brought your first words... "Dada" was first, quickly followed by "Bubba."  This has motivated me to start referring to myself in third person more... :) You babble all the time- dadadada, babababa, nananana and mmmmmmmmmm are some of your favorite sounds.  You've got a gap in your teeth (we'll get there in a second) so you also love to stick your tongue between the two teeth you have and make a "whistling lisp" sound.  Cracks me up every time.

Speaking of teeth- those pesky top teeth are STILL giving you trouble.  Your eye teeth are out, but not the middle ones.  I love that you have fangs and I call  you my tiny baby vampire.  The middle teeth are right there and I can feel them when I put my finger in your mouth, but for some reason they just do not want to come on out.  This has lead to some fussy nights for you, which is no fun.

You love to play peek-a-boo.  You mastered putting a blanket up over your head and pulling it down this month.  Now you do this with EVERYTHING- small toys, blankets, burp rags, cups... even if they don't come close to covering your eyes.  You hold them up over your head and wait for me to say "Where's Lucy?  Peek-a-boo!"  This gets the biggest smiles and giggles.  Other favorite toys are: your walking push toy, shape sorter and a little drum.

You also love pacifiers.  Not because you actually LIKE them for their intended use- no ma'am, it's still all thumb all the time for you- but you like to steal them from your friends.  Your cousin Elijah is your most frequent target.  As soon as I set him down, you crawl over and promptly take his binky and crawl away.  Apparently you've tried this on some bigger kids in the nursery too, only without as much success.  I'm working on getting you to stop, and I suppose you'll figure it out soon.

I've had so much fun buying your fall wardrobe this month.  Most of your clothes are size 12 month.  They're a little big, but you're long and I'm sure you'll grow this winter.  From leggings, dresses, tights and jeggings- girls clothes are a whole new ballgame for me.  It's more complicated than your brother, but oh so fun!

You are still such a good little eater.  I should do a post someday about all the food you eat, because the list is too long for this already long post.  You've started to nurse every 4 hours vs. 3 and MAN- what a difference that extra hour makes for our days!  And I guess it's also time to start thinking about the weaning process since you'll be a year before I know it...

You are the light of our lives, sugar goose!  We love you to pieces and can't wait to see what fun this next month holds.

Forever, Mommy 

Lucy Kate- 9 months

*our computer that I use for all my photos is having some issues, which is why I haven't posted month 9 yet- I was waiting for pictures... but I decided if I don't get these on the blog it will never happen. So here is month 9 sans pics... month 10 is coming soon.*

Nine months... You're officially 3/4 of the way to being ONE. How did that even happen? I can't believe I'm already looking at first birthday ideas and thinking about planning your party. Crazy. But enough about being one- let's look at month 9.

You are quite the crawler and are into everything these days. You can make it across the room in no time. You've also started to cruise around the furniture and walk behind the little push toy that we have. I'm not ready for my baby girl to be walking!

Your favorite game to play is "chase." You love to be sitting on the floor and watch as John Mark or Daddy "sneak" up on you and then pretend to get you. You crawl to me and try to jump into my lap, while laughing and clapping the whole time. Then you turn around and wait for them to do it again. You love playing peek-a-boo and crawling around after John Mark. I love to see you two playing together. He loves you so very much. You couldn't have asked for a better big brother, that's for sure!

You are still such a good eater. So far you have tried everything I have given to you, and I can't think of anything you have refused. You definitely have your favorites- all fruit and carrots... and you definitely don't love corn (what can I say? You are your mother's daughter!) and broccoli. You still nurse around 5 times a day, but I can tell you are moving to only 4 times a day soon.

Sleep this past month hasn't been great. I think it's because you are working on getting all 4 of your top teeth at one time. You're up at least once a night, sometimes more. You're still taking great naps, so fortunately you haven't been too cranky during the day.

I love you so much my little goose. I'm so thankful for the sweet blessing you are to our family. I don't know what we ever did without you.

Forever, Mommy