Amelia right now

Amelia is so fun right now. She learns new things every day and it's amazing to watch her little brain put things together.

Some highlights from lately:

Climbing. She loves to climb on the orange velvet (I know, I'm so classy) armchair in the living room, and sit like a big girl. She especially loves if I sit on the couch across from her and ask her serious questions about how her life is going so far.

She tries to climb into the tub, but always gets stuck straddling it. Then she looks up with the most offended little face that just says, "Well, aren't you going to help me??'

She's talking more and more. She can say "Preeetty", "Bow", "Ball", "Bottle", "Juice",  "Belly", "Baby", "Please", "Bup" (Up), "Weeee", "Shoes" and "Pa" (Grandpa). She loves to say "Dada", and will hunt him down mercilessly when he's home. She's said "Mama" like, twice. She can, but she doesn't feel it's necessary.

She calls Cory's brother "Beeeeee" and loves to find him.

If she hears any sort of rustling she assumes you're opening a candy wrapper and will follow you around saying "Mmmmmm?" (Which means, "I can has some?")

She can find her belly, toes, nose, mouth, and head. If I say, "Do we need to change your bum?" she grabs her booty and walks to the changing table. If we say, "Don't bump your head!" she'll rub her head like she bumped it. Or she'll purposely bump her head in slow motion and then rub it.

She folds her arms before dinner, anticipating the prayer. I mean, they only stay folded for a second, but its super cute.

We went to the library for the first time recently, and one of my proudest moments as her parent was when she looked and the rows and rows of bookshelves and said "Preeeetty". Then she stroked them. We are totally related.

She eats sometimes. I don't even know. She seems super picky now, and its so sad. Some days she'll eat a whole banana, other days she spits it out immediately. We tried the squeeze pouches, and she'll eat the vegetable purees as long as theres a bit of fruit in there too, most of the time.

We're working on "asking nicely" and "using our words". She was developing a very bad habit of angry whining when she wanted something, and I will not have that. She can say "Peeeease" (Please) and "Bup" (Up) which basically covers our bases on her desires these days.

She loves animals the most. She could care less about any cartoon or show on TV except for this Baby Genius "Trip to the San Diego Zoo" show on Netflix. It's basically a video set to classical music of zoo animals and kids looking at the zoo animals. She wants to go to there. She tries to climb the entertainment center and get into the TV with them. And if we play it on the iPad she kisses it.

Aunt Kyli brings her dog over to grandma's house, and that makes Amelia's day. She says "woof, woof" and goes straight to the back porch door to look for the puppy. And if you take her outside with the dog, she gets down on all fours and tries to lick the ground...(we've since rescinded ground privileges when we go out there).

Pillows are great. Her favorite thing is to take all of the throw pillows of the couches and make a pillow mountain in the middle of the living room. Then I say, "Amelia, what are pillows for??" and she face plants into them and says "Ahhhhh."

Amelia's 11th & 12th Months

Stats: (Measurements taken 12 month check up)

• 20.8 pounds (70%)
• 31 inches long (99%) 

Eating:

• 6 oz of formula three times a day (before naps and bed) and one 6 oz. bottle during the night at some point
• Soup is her favorite food. She loves every kind she's had. Chicken noodle, taco, black bean, chili, chicken stew are all in regular rotation. Blueberries and strawberries are her 2nd favorite. She still hates butternut squash enormously.
• She says "MMMM" very appreciatively whenever she see's any food. And even when you set her down in her high chair she just starts saying "Mmmm. Mmmmm." So cute.

Sleeping:

• 2 solid naps a day--one around 9 AM and another around 3 PM. I just give her a bottle and lay her down in her crib and she puts herself to sleep. Love her.
• Bed time at 8:00 PM. Bath, books, lay her down with a bottle and we're golden. 
• She still wakes up at least once a night. Sometimes twice. She just wants a bottle and some cuddles, and then she goes right back to sleep. And I'm totally okay with it. I'll take any cuddle time I can get.

Wearing:

• Size 4 diapers
• 12 month onsies, 12 month dresses, 18 month sleepers/rompers, and 18 month pants. That baby is one tall glass of water.

Tricks and Miscellaneous Skills:

• Started walking at 10.5 months. We were FaceTime-ing with my parents one Sunday, and they asked if she could take a few steps. She had been taking one or two steps from the couch to my arms, so I propped her up to show them...and she just took off! She would just run for 4-5 steps and then fall flat on her face. She was so proud. She figured out how to go between the two couches and she loved when my parents would clap for her. Little show off.
• She loves to clap and say YAY! whenever she does something good
• She can find your nose, mouth, eyes, and ears, and she loves to show you her belly button. If you say the word "belly" in front of her she'll try to rip her shirt off to show you her cute pouchy belly. 
• She learned what monkey's say, and for a while she would run around the house going "AH! AH! AH!". She can also say "woof" and "meow". 
• She loves to dance. Whenever she hears music with a nice beat she'll start shaking her little booty and clapping. "Old Macdonald" and "Happy and You Know It" are her favorites.
• She loves her little play kitchen and will bring me her tiny apron to wear. She likes to pretend to eat the wooden food and makes the best fake eating "chomp chomp" sounds.
• She can say "Preeeetty" but only if she really thinks something is pretty. We were looking through the manual at church and Kendal would find a page with a picture. If it was colorful and fun, she would say "preeeety" but if it was an old man she would shake her head "no".
• She figured out climbing and I'm not a fan.
• Sometimes she goes into bite attack mode, and I don't know what to do. She normally listens when we say "No." but if she's in attack mode she can't be stopped. It's not malicious....she just wants to eat you? She'll bite the couch and the floor too so....maybe her teeth hurt? I'm at a loss.
• She adores her stuffed animals and baby dolls. Kristen/Liam gave her a little doll and stroller for her birthday and she is obsessed. You can ask her "where's your baby?" and she'll run off to find it, bring her back giving the sweetest hugs and kisses to her little doll. Heart melting, I tell you.

Amelia Kate turns ONE

Okay, so Amelia turned one last weekend. I understand the concept of time and all, but seriously. How the heck has it been a year?

I wasn't planning on doing a party. But then I thought about it some more, and I decided we just couldn't let this milestone pass us by completely. So, we had a little party and tried to keep it simple. Just a few close friends and family, cupcakes and root beer floats.

My in-laws not only hosted the party in their awesome backyard, but they added a little cookout to the mix. They are the best. We had hamburgers/sausage dogs, baked beans, and homemade potato salad, all thanks to them. I don't really cook anymore...

I don't really craft anymore either, ha. But luckily I have two amazing sisters to do that for me. Kourtney and Jackie made the ribbon banner during our sisters week in Texas (technically I intended to help, but sitting on the couch was so, so nice...). After I left, they made mini glitter party hats, and the cutest cupcake topper flags too. And then shipped them to us in time for the party. I love them more than words can express.

I listed a few other party details below the photos, for those that are into that kind of thing.

Party highlights:

• Amelia learned that cupcakes are delicious. She was highly confused at first, but once she got a good taste she clapped her hands, and then tensed up her whole body with pure joy. Then she ate almost the entire thing. She was covered in frosting and so, so happy.
• The kids wearing the mini party hats were basically the best thing ever. So tiny. So cute.
• Freya and Lily were in town!! A little piece of my heart has been missing ever since Freya moved to Birmingham, but the birthday party stars aligned and they just happened to be in town last weekend and came to the party! And all was right with the world. 
• I forgot my camera...I know. But I called the aforementioned Freya, who had hers. So she saved the day, and all the pictures were taken by her :)
• The pool water was a little bit frigid, but the tiny kids pool (which Freya was generous enough to pick up that morning at Target---so, technically she saved the day TWICE.) was a hit for sure. At one point Amelia sat in the tiny pool her in giant float and just looked so pleased. I mean, she the float took up the whole thing, but I guess she figured it was her party so she could so what she wanted.
• Ava and Cole were brave enough to jump in the freezing water, and they had a ball...until they started shivering uncontrollably. I got in for a second with Amelia, and quickly decided the pain wasn't worth it. Maybe we're pansies, but that water was stinking cold.
• Liam and Amelia hugged goodbye which was so adorable. And Amelia thought it was so great.  And then she kissed him (a recently acquired skill). And she thought was great. And then things got a little awkward, but still very cute... ha.
• Amelia let Lara hold her for a bit! This was a breakthrough for them. 

Afterwards Amelia let Grandpa take her upstairs and hold her while she napped for about 4 hours. So, I'd say the party was a success. Happy birthday sweet, sweet girl. We're so glad you're ours.

Freya ALSO edited out the personal information from the invite. Because safety. So make that saved the day three times...

Invitations:
Printed on Kraft card stock from Michaels
Fonts used: KG Eyes Wide Open, Bergamot Ornaments, Century Gothic

Menu:
Hamburgers/Sausage dogs
Baked Beans
Homemade Potato Salad
Fruit Salad
Vanilla Cupcakes (From Publix Bakery)
Root beer floats (with Blue Bell ice cream. Is there any other kind, really?)

Activities:
Swimming
Stuffing our faces
Photo Booth (we used Instax Fugifilm (leftover from our wedding 4 years ago) and the pictures became the party favors)

Decor:
Ribbon banner handmade by Kourtney's Kreations
Mini Glitter Party Hats by Kourtney's Kreations
Flag Cupcake toppers by Kourtney's Kreations
Dried Billy Ball flowers (Hammelmans LLC)
Large letter A covered in Yarn (Supplies from Joann Fabrics)
Stained crates (purchased unfinished at Michaels)
Polka dot paper runner, Target Wrapping paper

Another little announcement

So... guess what? Ha. That's right. We're expecting a baby. Again! And nobody is more surprised than we are, I can promise you that.

Though unexpected, it's most welcome news. With Amelia it took about a year before getting our positive test (a time frame that now seems ridiculously short), so the surprise this time has felt more than a little surreal. But it is real! And the doctors said everything looked as good as it could look at our ultrasound the other day, so fingers crossed, everything continues to go just right!

 I'll be 11 weeks tomorrow, and we have certainly felt every one of those days so far. Cooking and cleaning are just lovely little memories of days gone by.  While I do get sick a few times a day, I really don't think I'm as sick as I was last time. So, thats a plus! I am feeling pretty exhausted most of the time, but I just give the energy I do have to Amelia, and we manage just fine with lots of take-out. Wins all around, I say.

So, that's what we've been up to these days! Surprise!

P.S. my brother and his wife just announced their new addition due on October 31st, so yay for cousins that will be just a week apart!!

Amelia's 9th & 10th Months

Stats: (Measurements taken 9 month check up)

• 19.5 pounds (70%)
• 30 inches long (99%) 

Eating:

• She eats 4-6 ounces of formula every 4ish hours, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Ritz crackers, graham crackers, yogurt melts and veggie puff things (we call them baby cheetos) are her favorite snacks. She loves taco soup, alfredo with peas, black beans, and scrambled eggs. She says "Mmmmm" when she eats those. Steamed butternut squash is her least favorite food. She shakes her head adamantly "no", and seals up those lips like Fort Knox every time I've tried to give it to her. 

Sleeping:

• At 9.5 months, she started squirming when I tried to rock her to sleep for naps. And sometimes for bed. So, I gave her a bottle, set her down in her crib with her stuffed animals/dolls and she put herself to sleep. I turn on an electric fan for white noise, and she'll sleep for an hour or two. Nap time is around 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
• Bed time is around 8:00-8:30 PM. I still rock her to sleep at night, but if she's too squirmy I lay her down with her bottle and she takes care of the rest. She might cry out a few times, but as long as its just her "I'm tired an want to sleep cry" I leave her alone and she's asleep in 5 minutes. If its her "Why have you forsaken me, and everything in this world is terrible" cry, I go get her and let her play with us for a while longer. 

Wearing:

• Size 3 or 4 diapers, kind of in between right now.
• 9-12 month onsies, 12 month dresses, 18 month sleepers, and 18 month pants. Those legs will not be contained. (I don't have enough size 18 pants for her to wear all the time, and when I put the 12 month pants on her they are ridiculously high watered. Like, up to her knees. Sister rocks the cropped look.)

Tricks and Miscellaneous Skills:

• She hit 9 months and it was like a switch flipped. She started crawling, pulling up, and growing teeth all at once. Her bottom two teeth came in at 9 months, and her canines are coming in at 10 months. She'll look like the cutest little vampire if her top two teeth don't fill in soon.
• She loves her toys, especially stuffed animals. She hugs and kisses them all the time. Her favorite is a little stuffed frog named Pierre, and when she grabs hugs him I say, "Oh Pierre, you shouldn't have come!" and we both laugh. Cultured baby.
• Her hair is dfinitely blonde, and it still sticks up most of the time, which I love. Its starting to curl in the back, and it is the cutest.
• Still loves peek-a-boo, and she'll chase you if you run away and hide from her. But you gotta be fast because sister can book it.
• She can say "wow", "whoa", "wooo" and uses them when situationally appropriate. She can say mamama, and dadada, and we think she said "herro"(hello) the other day (we should stop saying "herro" to her, I know...). She loves to jabber when I talk, and she has the highest little screech that I might regret encouraging one day. She loves to mimic sounds, so its lucky Cory has a never ending supply of weird, loud beeps, boops, and swishes for her to copy.
• She gives the sweetest wet kisses, and waves hi and bye when she wants so. She can give us five too. Smarty pants.
• She got her first goose egg, and it was enormous, and it was totally my fault, and I don't want to talk about it.
• She loves to stand and look at the back window.
• We call her "Amelia the Plunderer" because she likes to plunder. She loves to open things (cupboards, boxes, trashcans) and fling things out of them as fast as she can. And she is fast. I'm not even mad. I'm just impressed.
• The stranger danger is strong with this one. When well meaning people come up and say hi to her at stores, she'll give them the most offended frown and start sobbing. It can be a little awkward, but safety first, right?
• The other day I pretended to be a pony while Cory put her on my back and she laughed hysterically about it. We maybe did that for a longer time than I'm willing to admit.
• Dancing. Whenever she hears a song she likes, she starts jumping in time to the music. It doesn't even have to be good music. We sang a horribly off key version of Old McDonald the other day, and she went crazy for it. And she jumped through our whole rendition of Happy Birthday to Aunt Mackenzie the other night. Those legs just won't stop.
• My money is on her walking any day now. She can stand up all on her own, and will try to take steps but her balance isn't quite there yet. Where did my tiny baby go??