6 months old!

Aubrey Girl-
Whoa. You are 6 months old! You are SUCH A JOY. You are such an easy-going, laid back, go-with-the-flow baby. I think you get this from your Daddy.

You are learning so much. You are a totally different baby from 2 months ago. You were learning to roll over 2 months ago and have now mastered rolling over in both directions with such ease. No more sleeping on your back only - you're now sleeping on both your back and tummy and I still sometimes worry about that. But what good is worrying? You're a STRONG girl. You have fantastic neck/head control so sleeping on your tummy, being something I can't prevent, is just the way it is.

Daddy lowered your crib last night. Gramma Beck was worried about the mattress still being up high in the infant setting, so now you're lower in the crib.

You're making lots of new sounds - growling, high pitched screaming and soft sounds as if you're talking to yourself.

Nonna Jo thinks you'll be crawling in 2 weeks - at least combat crawling. You're a fast learner. If a toy is out of your reach, you find a way to get to it. You don't stay still on the floor in one spot for long. You are in love with the exersaucer and your jumparoo. You can be entertained in them for quite a while - but I try not to put you in it for too long. You fell asleep in the jumparoo while at Charni's. Here's a picture to prove it!

You're sucking on your bottom lip - it's cute. Maybe because you're teething, or maybe just because. Everything goes into your mouth. You love your feet and hands and Sophie too. You study everything with such focus. We can just see those gears turning in your head as you absorb everything around you.

You play peek-a-boo with anything you can cover your face with.

The game goes something like this:

AG - grabs lovey or a burp cloth or a onesie or whatever is in reach and covers her face (sometimes leaving one eye uncovered to "peek" through) and starts kicking her legs and waving her arms. The key is to wait until she lets go of the cover.

Mama - "Where's Aubrey?" "Where's Aubrey?" (repeat until either Aubrey pulls the cover from her face or mama pulls it)

Mama - "THERE SHE IS!" "There's Aubrey Girl"

AG - LAUGHTER ensues

It's a fun game. and you're so cute when playing it!

Sleeping is still going pretty well. You typically go down for bed sometime between 8-9pm. Wind-down for bedtime starts around 7. We sometimes do a bath (I won't lie - you're only bathed 1-2 times/week), change into nighttime diaper (you've started leaking through diapers at night - we put you in a Size 3 nighttime diaper), PJs, read a few books (Goodnight Moon, That's Not My Monkey & Is Your Mama a Llama?) and then you nurse and fall asleep. I lay you in bed and you typically wake up once, sometimes twice between bedtime and midnight. Then you sleep until sometime between 4-6 and wake up to nurse. On days when Mama doesn't have to work - you (we) go back to sleep (we snuggle in mama and daddy's big bed) and sleep until 8ish usually. On days that Mama works, you're up and at em' by 6:30 and it's off to nanny charni's we go!

You had your first beach trip with Mama and Nonna Jo this month. We headed to the beach on Mother's Day - mama's first and it was a great one! Daddy got Mama a beautiful watch and we got your name and birth-date engraved on the back. You were so cute when we introduced you to the beach. You got to sink your little toes into the sand and touch the ocean water. You enjoyed the sand - you didn't go crazy trying to grab it like I thought you would and the ocean water was a bit cold, so we didn't dip your toes in for too long.

We took you to see a plastic surgeon for the mass on your back and found out you have a subcutaneous hemangioma. This should go away by age 5 hopefully and doesn't seem to bother you. It bothers me more than it bothers you.

Here are your stats...
Height: 23 inches
Weight: 16 lbs, 13 oz
Diaper Size: 2 (size 3 at night)
Clothing size : SOME 3-6 mo, but you're mostly outgrowing those, Carter's 6 mo. and some 6-9 mo (but those are still a little big)

You are just the most beautiful, sweet baby Aubrey Girl. I couldn't be more proud to be your Mama.

 Love,
Mama

Aubrey Girl - today you are 4 MONTHS OLD!

Aubrey Girl

Wow - 4 months have passed by so quickly! I think I will say how quickly time has gone by in each and every letter I write to you. This has been such a big month of change for you! You are SUCH A HAPPY BABY! You only cry when you are overly tired or hungry. You used to tell us immediately if you had a dirty diapee but now you let it go for a while.

You have been spending your days with "Nanny Charni" while Mama and Daddy are at work. She and her family are a true blessing for us. You get such good care and LOTS OF ATTENTION from Nanny Charni and her two girls, Becca & Katie. They dote about how you are a joy to be around and are so happy, and that pleases me to no end. It's true - you smile all day and are now LAUGHING! It's so great. You get a kick out of the saying "stinky bootie". If you have a stinky bootie, all we have to do is ask "do you have a stinky bootie"? and you just laugh and laugh. it's AWESOME.

Some of the new things you're doing include:

• more major kicking - definitely have a future soccer player among us (you get that from your mama)
• you push yourself backwards when you're laying on a flat surface (changing table, floor, etc.) - and rotate around when on the floor - no more laying still in one spot for you!
• you rolled over from back to front for the first time on St. Patrick's Day! You've rolled over from stomach to back as well - maybe once, so we're working on that.
• talk, talk, talk - you are a talker! you are finding new pitches with your voice daily and you sit there gabbing away - it's the cutest thing!
• you love your "lovie" (you probably think we are trying to push a love of giraffes on you with your lovie, sophie the giraffe and your giraffe music maker hanging on your carrier - we aren't)
• you are a DROOLING machine - Nonna Jo thinks you're teething ~ time will tell!
• you have started biting me when I'm nursing you. this is NOT nice and I am sure to let you know this
• the other night i think i scared you when i said "no biting" b/c you de-latched, pouted your lip and started crying - mama felt bad afterwards...but it hurts baby girl - OUCH!
• speaking of nursing - besides the biting, it's going well. you take a bottle easy peasy while away from me, but when you're with me we do not use bottles and the transition b/w the two forms of feeding have been seamless. let's hope this stays that way!
• sleep - you like your sleep (which is GREAT). People are surprised when I tell them you're sleeping through the night - and have been for a while now. Sometimes the actual bedtime is late - around 11pm but you typically last until 5 or 6 am, with the occasional 4am feeding. You typically fall back asleep on the way to Mrs. Charlene's and sleep until 10ish. We've had a few 4am feedings and the other night you pulled a fast one and woke up at 1:30am to feed. 
• speaking of sleep - we tested out the crib and you slept in your crib for 2 nights in a row (i was nervous, but you did great). Sunday night, however, i could NOT get you to stay asleep and so for the sake of all of us NEEDING sleep - we brought you into our room. you wouldn't settle for the moses basket either - so i nursed you in our bed and that is where you stayed for the night. this has happened a handful of times and it freaks me out sometimes b/c i don't want you to get hurt b/c you're in our bed. 
• we tried out size 2 diapers last weekend (just before your 4 month b-day) and although they may be a wee bit big, we are probably going to stick to it and keep you in size 2.
• you're outgrowing 3 month clothing and there are some outfits i'm still cramming you into (like i did with your 1st st. patrick's day outfit). i think it's time to shift to 3-6 month clothing!
• you're holding your head up like a champ and we introduced the BUMBO seat to you - you seem to like it. We are keeping it at Mrs. Charlene's house.
• you're losing your hair!  you were born with so much hair and now you're working on a pretty awesome mohawk. Your left side of your head is more bald than the right.

Your 4 month check-up is this week. This means more vaccinations...boo. But you did so great last time, I'm hoping for another easy shot day. We will get lots of snuggle time in afterwards and Nonna Jo will be at our house, so she will sneak in lots of snuggles too.

You are just a gem, Aubrey. I grin from ear to ear every time I think of you and I cherish the evenings and weekends with you since that's when we get to spend our time together. 

I love you baby girl!

Mama

UPDATE: you weighed in at 13 lbs. 11 oz. and are 25 in. long. You're in the 75th percentile for height and 50th for weight.

A girl and her giraffe

Yesterday I introduced Aubrey girl to Sophie the Giraffe. It's totally a dog toy marketed to children. It squeaks easily and is soft and great for teething. She was interested and 1 minute later, she blew her diaper out! Fun times!

Aubrey Girl ROLLED OVER! 3.17.12

On St. Patty's Day 2012, Aubrey rolled over for the first time!! Clair was visiting, as well as Diana & Hunter. It was very exciting!!!

We were fortunate to catch it on video - we were expecting it!


Check it out here!

Bubbles, Bubbles and More Bubbles

Aubrey girl is into blowing bubbles right now and it puts a huge smile on my face and brings such laughter when she starts doing it. She loves her changing table and so after we've changed her "diapee", I usually leave her on her table and let her talk, coo & blow bubbles.

The other night, I captured it on video when we were getting her ready for bed and it's just the cutest thing ever! 

Check it out by clicking here.

Any our nanny, Charlene, caught this picture too!

Dangling Feet

Aubrey Girl
I'm sitting on the couch watching you sleep in your swing and your feet are just about hanging off of the edge. You're growing so fast, right before my very eyes.

Here's a pic I just snapped - you're so beautiful:

I love you baby girl!

Love,
Mama

2.7.12 - Thumb Sucker

you found your thumb!

Today - YOU ARE 2 MONTHS OLD!

Aubrey Girl
Today you are 2 months old! You've got us wrapped around your little fingers. You are just the cutest little thing and amaze us every day. It's a new year too - Happy 2012!

I took you in for your 2 month check up and you had to get 3 shots for your vaccinations and one was given orally. I was very anxious about this visit but you were a champ. The nurse prepped your little thighs by placing the bandaids half-way on so she could quickly cover the spot where you were given the injection. She was very quick about things and although you screamed for about a minute, I was able to nurse you afterward and calm you down.

You weighed in at 11 lbs, 10 oz and are 23.5 in long. You're in the 75th percentile for your weight and height and just under 50th percentile for your head.  You have s mass on your back that I've been concerned about. The doctor said we would just keep an eye on it and he didn't seem too concerned. Your next appointment is at 4 months old.

We've bumped you up to size 1 diapers b/c the newborn size were getting tight. You're still a spit-up queen! You've found your hands, so you're sucking on them all the time now. There goes that cue for telling me you're hungry! It's okay - there are plenty more cues that you give me to let me know it's time to feed you.


Your Zia Clair came and watched you while I went to a dentist appointment. This was the first time I've left you with someone. You were sleeping when I left and woke up while I was gone. Zia played with you until I came home. You've started cooing and it's a joy to interact with you in response to your cooing.

We've been getting out a lot more, visiting Mama's friend Kory and her new baby Kaeli.  We were gone all day and you did great! We've met Karen for lunch and we met your PaPa Lou and Auntie M for brunch.

You're still a kicking machine. You love, love, love to kick! And you're smiling responsively now! It's so fun! You've got great head/neck control too!

It's been a great 2 months!!

Love you tons!
Mama

Happy New Year!

In Her 3rd Week of Life

In Her 2nd Week of Life

In Her 1st Week of Life

A few of my favorite pics from Aubrey's 1st week of life

Today - You are ONE MONTH OLD!

Aubrey
Today you are one month old! Where has the time gone?

You are much more alert with each passing day which means we get more time to interact with you! Granted, you are still sleeping a lot, but that's what you're supposed to do! You're starting to get little rolls on your arms and legs - so I think it's safe to say that you're eating well. You spit up a good amount, which has caused some concern on Mommy's part, but with every doctor's visit, it is confirmed that you are steadily gaining weight - so the worry is unnecessary! We just keep extra clothes and bibs nearby because we are changing you frequently! You are still nursing every 2-3 hours, sometimes every hour, but I think that is attributed to a growth spurt that you are/were going through. You are sleeping pretty well at night. I usually stay up until your 11/midnight feeding and then you wake again around 3/4am, and not again until 7/8am - making it only one time that I have to nurse you in the middle of the night. I think you're nearing an end to the newborn size diapers, although I'm hoping we're able to make use of all of the diapers that have been gifted to us in the newborn size. We've only purchased one pack of diapers in the last month, which is pretty impressive. You've got some baby acne going on, but that is to be expected with all the hormones that you were subjected to while in my womb. It will take time to work out the impurities and all we can do is sit back and admire your beautiful face while it's worked out! You like to kick your feet and move your legs and arms, sometimes making it hard when it comes to changing your diaper! We had your first diaper blowout yesterday where poop went all over your back and even got on your arm. So we had to give you a bath, which was okay b/c you needed one anyway! we also experienced another poop incident in the middle of the night when Daddy was changing your diaper. You like to wait until Daddy has a new diaper under you and then pee before he can finish putting the diaper on. So, you did your thing and Daddy was getting a new diaper ready and then you shot poop right out your little bum and it got all over the place - changing pad, dresser - EVERYWHERE. It was an experience - but we just cleaned it up! Fortunately we haven't had another situation like that!

Nonna Jo has been staying with us for most of the time since your birth and has been a big help. Daddy got a job and had his first week at work last week, leaving Mommy home alone with you for a few days. With the holidays, he hasn't had to work a full week just yet so it has been nice having him home to help with you. The kitties haven't been as curious as I thought they would be. Raja runs when you cry and Reese could really care less. That is a good thing!

You are growing so fast right before our eyes and I can't wait (but really I can) to see what the next month brings us!

I love you my dear Aubrey!

Love,
Mama