tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22448200392127189092024-03-14T02:30:16.430-07:00 .(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.comBlogger162125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-37915351510931060112017-09-12T06:20:00.000-07:002017-09-12T06:20:40.556-07:00The Twelfth Month
Time flies.
Need I say more?
Maggie's first year of life went very slowly for me. In stark contrast, Pepper's first year has, well, where has it gone?
At twelve months Pepper...
...weighs 19 pounds and 7 ounces (43rd percentile)
...is 28 inches long (16th percentile)
...wears 12 month sizes.
...sleeps 5:30pm-5:30am.
...has officially eliminated an early morning short nap and currently (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-74649235659105096502017-08-11T14:24:00.001-07:002017-09-12T06:24:03.558-07:00The Eleventh Month
Just when I think our life will slow down for a bit, it does quite the opposite. We spent this month recovering from traveling and from being sick, spending lots of time watching the road construction in front of our house, and trying to spend as much time outside without getting heat stroke. This is my favorite time of the year and clearly the girls enjoy it also!
At eleven months (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-71328217453410693692017-07-27T06:02:00.001-07:002017-07-27T16:55:14.808-07:00The Tenth Month
This was an exciting month as we took a semi-last minute trip to Pennsylvania to visit my family. For many of them, this was the first time meeting Pepper. Besides both girls getting sick and the stress of meeting a constant stream of new people, we had a blast!
At ten months Pepper...
...wears 9-12 month sizes
...sleeps 6pm to 6am.
...takes two long naps each day.
...is a bit picky about (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-90022237049075611362017-06-08T06:00:00.001-07:002017-06-08T06:01:40.539-07:00The Ninth Month
Ah. My heart is at peace.
We have survived yet another long Minnesota winter and can finally awaken from our dormant states. The warm sun. Trees full of luscious, green leaves. The smell of a dewey morning. The brilliant sound of songbirds, the excitement of a tiny seedling emerging...
All these things awaken me to the fact that summer is soon here. Simply put, I am alive again. My eyes are (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-2383806222249226762017-05-09T18:56:00.000-07:002017-07-27T06:04:49.206-07:00The Eighth Month
Last month we attempted phase one of sleep training by waking Pepper up at 10pm for a dream feed only to have her relapse after one perfect week. This month? Phase two. In a stroke of brilliance we decided to cut out even the dream feed and have her sleep the entire night. The goal? 6pm-6am with no feeds. Can she do it? Is it too much to hope for?
The short answer? DONE.
Hallelujah. Praise(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-18508386632091897142017-04-14T20:44:00.000-07:002017-04-14T20:44:29.304-07:00The Seventh Month
This month? Sleep training one child. Potty training the other.
[Who's grand idea was that?]
Sleep training had gone so well. After a few rough nights in the beginning, Pepper successfully went from waking us up every 4 hours down to one scheduled dream feed at 10pm! Andrew and I were elated that our lives were returning to a new normal. Sleep! Sleep! I remember you!
...until the next(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-47921962724807989272017-03-14T20:40:00.000-07:002017-03-15T19:44:06.785-07:00The Sixth Month
No wonder every parent thinks their kid is the smartest in the world! We all start off with a dependent lump of smelly cuteness who sleeps all day and eventually begins to interact with the world around her. From there its a short jump to being able to hold intelligent conversation and then, dare I say it, the smelly lump of cuteness eventually turns into a well-coordinated, intelligent being(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-27537253513629353942017-01-29T19:17:00.003-08:002017-03-15T19:44:18.487-07:00The Fifth Month
Both our babies have been pretty chill, but Pepper is especially so. Perhaps this is typical of the second child-- constantly being entertained by the older one? All she has to do is literally sit back, relax, and enjoy the show that goes on around her. What a life!
This month in a nutshell? Rolling, eating solids, and really beginning to learn how to play with toys!
At five months (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-91567018443392929542016-12-26T12:16:00.000-08:002016-12-26T12:16:01.044-08:00The Fourth Month
There comes a point in a newborn's life where it is clear that they have decided to move out of the helplessly limp and cross-eyed stage onto a more interactive and cuddly baby stage. For lil' miss Pepper Mae, this change rapidly took place this month.
I remember reaching this point with Maggie and having a moment of awe when I realized I was now caring for a 'real' baby, a future human, a (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-72677067326839874702016-11-25T20:13:00.001-08:002016-11-25T20:14:18.349-08:00The Third Month
What have we been up to this month? Many smiles, smiles, gurgles, and coos! Also, the leaves fell, the snow came, and Pepper started learning how to sit up. She is so happy when she is sitting and standing. As we head into this bitterly cold Minnesota winter I can't help but think about how interactive and fun Pepper will be when the spring arrives! Happy three months, Pepper Mae!
At three(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-36593000982289282462016-10-25T15:29:00.000-07:002016-11-25T20:14:06.484-08:00The Second Month
Time flies. Month two has disappeared just as fast as month one. Pepper is growing by leaps and bounds and has just begun to smile intentionally. My wise old friend, Abby, once told me that caring for a newborn is extremely difficult because the parents sacrifice so much of themselves and don't receive much in return... until that first smile arrives. One smile is all it takes to remember (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-81258485888910063462016-09-27T11:33:00.001-07:002016-10-25T15:29:39.837-07:00The First Month
The first month.
The hardest month.
The best month.
Pepper Mae arrived quickly and three weeks early on August 19. I will share her birth story at a later date. Right now, I'd like to focus on the first month before it completely up and disappears.
It is strange to think that I now have two kids, that we are now a family of four, and that there is a new us. Let's be real-(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-11484592713377861292015-07-15T18:34:00.001-07:002016-09-27T11:42:30.839-07:00The Twelfth Month
We have a toddler, folks!
Just in time to celebrate her first birthday with balloons and chocolate cake, Maggie has decided it is time to walk independently. Along with her newfound freedom, she has developed quite a little personality. She laughs a ton, loves to tumble and crawl over things, makes an oh-so-cute sniffing face, and now has short spurts of whining when things aren't going (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-10018168069885214162015-06-10T19:23:00.002-07:002016-09-28T07:49:22.420-07:00The Eleventh Month
I can sum up this month in two words: cognitive function.
Now that Maggie has semi-conquered walking, I think she has allowed herself to move onto other types of skills. She has begun to mimic us in both actions and sounds, recognize that words have meaning, remember what objects are, and even react to our emotions. Every day it is something new. I now understand (if I hadn't before) when (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-8519962013249886402015-05-09T20:37:00.000-07:002015-07-15T18:39:24.354-07:00The Tenth Month
Its good to have Maggie back.
After two weeks of congestion, fever, a secondary ear infection, antibiotics, a rash from the antibiotics, new antibiotics, a rash from the new antibiotics, loads of doctor visits, lots of sleepless nights, and too many snot-soaked tissues, she has finally returned to her cheery self.
Little one, we missed you.
April also brought play dates, (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-80396636257285747422015-04-09T18:18:00.002-07:002015-07-15T18:39:40.560-07:00The Ninth Month
We finally were forced to childproof the house.
And by finally I mean we are still working on it.
Now that Maggie is crawling, I find it easiest to just follow her around and take things away from her as soon as she gets into them: That cupboard? Now locked. That outlet? Now plugged? That crumb? Eh, that can stay.
But really, when will it ever stop? I know that as soon as I (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-65250025416967724532015-03-12T20:10:00.000-07:002015-07-15T18:39:56.373-07:00The Eighth Month
She giggles to herself all the time now.
Its hilarious.
I have to say things are so much easier now that Maggie isn't a newborn. Andrew and I often reflect about those first few months and how there really are no words to describe what parents go through when a new person enters this world. Utter exhaustion? Complete hopelessness? Surprising newness? Supreme joy? Instead its just one(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-65210362709240213622015-02-10T15:59:00.001-08:002015-07-15T18:40:14.532-07:00The Seventh Month
I really have no words.
My little baby isn't so little or baby anymore.
Tiny bits of a little girl are now starting to appear.
I think its freaking both Andrew and I out.
...Wait. We have a daughter?...
At seven months Maggie...
...weighs enough that Mommy always has a sore back.
...six month sizes are a thing of the past.
...began her first stage of sleep (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-49100098456872749792015-01-14T09:16:00.000-08:002015-07-15T18:40:23.439-07:00The Sixth Month
Ceilings are boring.
So says Maggie.
[At least that's what Mommy thinks she says.]
Ceilings are so boring that little Miss Maggie has decided to learn how to sit up.
So now she looks at the walls instead.
Walls are much more interesting.
Seriously, though, it is fascinating to watch what captivates her attention now that she spends most of her days in the upright position. (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-82838571478136095582014-12-09T10:42:00.003-08:002015-07-15T18:40:30.782-07:00The Fifth Month
This has been an exciting month of firsts for Maggie: her first blizzard, her first plane ride, her first time being around loads of people, her first time meeting her namesake, her first teeth, and her first solid food. But however crazy the last few weeks have been for her, she has adjusted well and has learned many new things because of it!
At five months Maggie...
...weighs (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-2389862318206964182014-11-19T09:27:00.000-08:002015-07-15T18:40:40.170-07:00Maggie's Crib: A Brief Tour
Welcome to Maggie's crib!
[Yes, I just did that.]
Here's a quick little tour for all those who have asked to see it!
Maggie Lena's namesakes.
We are just about to begin traveling for the holidays. Wish us luck!
I'm sure we can expect some kind of new and crazy travel adventures now that we have a little one in tow!
xoxo
<< m >&(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-36706378128035591222014-11-12T12:54:00.000-08:002015-07-15T18:40:48.937-07:00The Fourth Month
When Maggie was first born, I remember looking at babies who were four months old and thinking how grown up they were-- they could hold their heads up, smile, and gurgle. I remember being so excited for Maggie to get to that stage. Now that she has most definitely arrived, I have a hard time remembering her as that fragile newborn, as the baby who didn't need to be entertained, as the smelly (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-54771077943281840162014-10-22T08:17:00.000-07:002015-07-15T18:40:56.855-07:00The Third Month
If this is how fast life with kids goes, then I should totally be middle-aged by now.
Wait.
I'll be 30 in a few months.
Umm.....
Shoot.
Crap.
Ughhhhhh.
Is 30 considered middle-aged?
At least mom-jeans are back in style.
The day I say a sad farewell to my twenties, this little sack of grunting cuteness will say hello to five months. Ack! Next thing I know she will be(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-83205834991368483952014-09-27T21:07:00.002-07:002015-07-15T18:41:09.202-07:00The Second Month
Time flies. Maggie's second month came and went without us noticing! It probably hasn't helped that both Andrew and I are walking around dazed and confused and wishing, just wishing, for one more hour of sleep! But alas, all is well and we might just be getting the hang of this parenting thing!
At two months Maggie...
...weighs about 11 pounds (18th percentile) [How did that happen?!]
(m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2244820039212718909.post-47182094901234597932014-09-24T10:03:00.001-07:002015-07-15T18:41:17.641-07:00The First Month
The first month.
The hardest month.
The best month.
It's just crazy how fast Maggie grows. This little smelly sack of grunting cuteness who all at once has taken over our lives continues to change every day! Sometimes it is an obvious change [like being able to stay awake through an entire feeding] and sometimes its isn't so obvious [like those physical changes that we only realize (m)http://www.blogger.com/profile/09375289207455727742noreply@blogger.com0