Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Cousins!



Cousins! (Taken with Instagram)

Saturday, November 23, 2013

November 23

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Somewhat happy to be on her belly today.

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One more from my bagel lunch date with Caitlin.

November 22

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Such a happy girl.

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Caitlin skipped her nap at school today and had gymnastics tonight, so she was one tired little girl.  She picked 3 of the shortest books to read at bedtime and was almost asleep before I walked out the door after bedtime.  That never happens!

November 21

Bathing beauties.  Caitlin loves taking baths with Natalie!
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November 20

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Ryan had to work late, so I let Caitlin watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates in her bed while I put Natalie to bed tonight.  She was thrilled.

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Natalie with her creepy mustached Daddy.

November 19

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Pretty girl after bath tonight.

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Basically the same picture as Nov 18th.  She's consistent with her sleeping positions (really, I just forgot to take a picture tonight).

November 18

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No idea, just awkward.

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Proof that she sleeps without the swaddle.  Seriously, those cheeks.  I can't handle it.

November 17

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We took a walk today, and Natalie got to take her first ride in the stroller without her car seat.  She looks thrilled, doesn't she?

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Queen of the (rock) mountain!

November 16

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My pretty princess.

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I swear she's getting teeth (even though there is no sign of them yet).

November 15

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Just hanging out in the bouncy seat in Caitlin's room.

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I went into her room to check on her, and this is what I found.

November 14

These cuties would like to wish their Aunt Becky a very happy (belated) birthday!!
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November 13

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Hanging out in Mommy and Daddy's bed watching something on TV (probably Sprout).

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One socked girl (whose shirt says "I make chunky thighs look good!").  True story.

November 12

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Showing off her lollipop!

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5 months old today!

Natalie - Five Months

(written November 12, 2013)
Likes: Sleeping, eating, Mommy, watching big sister, your hands (and your thumb), Sophie, bathtime, Daddy, putting everything in your mouth
Dislikes:  The snot sucker, getting your nose wiped
Biggest Achievement of the Month: Rolling back to front
Biggest Challenge of the Month: I guess I'd say getting you to remember that you can roll back when you're on your belly.  Still working on that one! 
Sleep:  You usually take 3 1-2 hour naps (with an awake period of about 2 hours between).  You typically fall asleep for the night anywhere between 630 and 730pm and wake up anytime between 6 - 730am.  The big news this month is that we did "sleep training" and took away the swaddle and pacifier during the weekend of November 9th.  I put sleep training in quotes because it really wasn't true training.  It seems that daycare has already taught you how to fall asleep on your own (and without a paci), so it was quite possibly the easiest task possible.  One day when I picked you up from school, and they had just put you down for a nap, so I had to go into the crib room and get you, and as I was getting you up, I realized that you didn't have a paci, and there wasn't even one in the crib.  Apparently, your wonderful teachers realized that you did better going to sleep when you didn't have the paci (who knew!?), and you already sleep at school without a swaddle, so sleep training was so easy for us.  You do still cry when we put you down, but you very quickly find your thumb and fall asleep.  So far, you always sleep on your back and once you fall asleep, you sleep with your arms out or above you head.  
Temperament/Personality: You are generally pretty calm/content/happy and happy to hang out and take everything in.  You really only cry when you're hungry or overtired.  When you're awake and Caitlin is home, you love watching her, and she has started taking an interest in you as well.  You're such a happy girl, always smiling and cooing/talking to us.  You found your voice this month and do not hesitate to screech/squeal whenever the mood hits you.  
Eating: Nursing is still going well.  During the day, you are eating about every 3-4 hours which works out to be 5-6 times a day.  Since you're sleeping through the night (and have been for a while now), you are not usually eating at night.  
The Superficial: Your hair is still dark-ish, but still falling out.  Every time I kiss your head, I end up with a piece (or two) of hair in my mouth, and when we run our hands through it, more hair falls out.  The top is still somewhat thick, but that's about the only area that still has a good amount of hair. Your eyes are still a dark grayish blue, and I am predicting that they will turn brown. You are still wearing 3-6 and 6 month clothes this month.  You have rolls on your arms and on your thighs, and I just love it. You are still wearing a size 1 diaper.  There was no well appointment this month, so I weighed you today (11/23) using the highly accurate way of stepping on the sale by myself and then with you and calculating the difference, and I came up with 14.2 oz.  The other thing I wanted to mention is that over the past month or so, you have really had some stinky farts.  I'm not sure if it's something that I'm eating that causes it or not, but sometimes, you can clear a room.  You also let out some good "adult-sized" burps like it's your job.   
Developmental Milestones: You are  a pro at putting toys in your mouth.  You are still super grabby and laugh a lot more these days.  We went up to PA a few weekends ago and were joking about what Grandmom was going to get you to do while we were there and wouldn't you know, you rolled back to front while we were with her!  Of course, you have completely forgotten how to roll from front to back now, and you get so angry when you get stuck on your belly.  You have also found your voice and are super screechy/squealy.  Not sure that this is really a developmental milestone, but you are a thumbsucker now!  You really only do it when you're going to sleep or are tired, and you never do it while we're holding you, maybe because you associate that with sleep?  You also have started noticing that your feet exist and trying to grab them.
Out and About: Hmm, not a whole lot this month... Daily trips to school and a weekend trip to PA to see the LeNoirs and Mooneys! 
Favorite Baby Gear: Boppy, burp cloths, activity mat, bouncy seat, rock n play, Ergo 
Big and Little Sister:
Natalie:
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Caitlin:
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You still have Caitlin beat on the amount of chub and hair that you have, but at 5 months, Caitlin was sitting up.  I think you're close, but just not quite there yet.  I also think you are much more interested in food at this age than Caitlin was, so it should be interesting when we start solids next month!

Another amazing month in the books.  We cannot wait to see what the next month brings for you!

Love you to pieces,
Mommy

Bagel date with my girl. #caitlinann



Bagel date with my girl. #caitlinann (Taken with Instagram)

Friday, November 22, 2013

November 10

These two cuties would like to wish their Daddy a very (belated) happy birthday!
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Monday, November 18, 2013

Another weird way she sleeps. I couldn't make this up if I tried. #caitlinann



Another weird way she sleeps. I couldn't make this up if I tried. #caitlinann (Taken with Instagram)

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Another in the series of "weird ways my kid sleeps". I guess this is her way of making her mattress a pillowtop mattress.



Another in the series of "weird ways my kid sleeps". I guess this is her way of making her mattress a pillowtop mattress. (Taken with Instagram)

Daddy wanted to "play" naptime with Caitlin so she covered him up with her Cinderella blanket and gave him Abby.



Daddy wanted to "play" naptime with Caitlin so she covered him up with her Cinderella blanket and gave him Abby. (Taken with Instagram)

Saturday, November 16, 2013

This is the kid who rolled front to back at 3 months, but really hasn't since. She keeps rolling onto her belly now and is pissed she can't get off of it. #natalieclaire



This is the kid who rolled front to back at 3 months, but really hasn't since. She keeps rolling onto her belly now and is pissed she can't get off of it. #natalieclaire (Taken with Instagram)

Thursday, November 14, 2013

How is that comfortable? Crazy kid. #caitlinann



How is that comfortable? Crazy kid. #caitlinann (Taken with Instagram)

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

My cutie in her little sweater and jeans. #caitlinann



My cutie in her little sweater and jeans. #caitlinann (Taken with Instagram)

My little chunky monkey. #natalieclaire



My little chunky monkey. #natalieclaire (Taken with Instagram)

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

5 months old today!! #natalieclaire #cantbelieveit



5 months old today!! #natalieclaire #cantbelieveit (Taken with Instagram)

Monday, November 11, 2013

November 9

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Playing in the leaves.  So much fun!

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Just chilling in the Bumbo.

November 8

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My cute little gymnast after class tonight.

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Hanging out in the rock n play with a cute little bow in her hair.  Somehow, whenever she plays with that ring toy, it ends up on her arm.  Silly girl.

November 7

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Cutie at bathtime tonight.

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Cutie in her velour pants and crazy hair.

November 6

I forgot to pick up my camera tonight, so all I got were pictures of the girls sleeping tonight.
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I'm glad I got this one because as of November 8th, we are officially swaddle-free.

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Crazy girl.  Bubby is always close by.

November 5

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We got the packet with the girls' school pictures today, and we ended up not buying the one of them together, so I thought I'd post a picture of a picture.

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Happy girl with her Daddy.

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Sleepy girl.  I still can't believe she actually sleeps on her pillows.