7 Months

Noelle-

The month of June has been absolutely crazy! I was working like mad, we had an out of town wedding, and we were house hunting every weekend in between, with you along for the ride most times. You were happy 90% of the time in the car but when you weren't, oh boy!


You had two big accomplishments for the month - sitting up on your own and actually enjoying your "solid" foods (let's face it, they aren't even close to solid...but they aren't in a bottle so we'll go with it).

You are so happy to be able to get up to a sitting position on your own and then be able to lean and grab toys and play with them, all while being able to see what else is going on around you. You love new things and tire of things quickly so I am trying to rotate toys in/out so you don't get bored. Since daycare has an entire room of fun toys and other babies to watch, I think you are a little bored at home! Thankfully, June weather was a little better and we were finally able to make it out to a park and put you in a swing for your first time! You didn't quite know what to think and kept looking at Dad for some reassurance.



We are also in a food routine and you are getting some fruit in the morning and veggies in the afternoon. You love your fruit and get impatient between spoonfuls, but you aren't so keen on your veggies. Hmmm, do you have mom's sweet tooth??

We took our first trip to Iowa for our dear friend Brett's wedding. It happened to be located just minutes from where your Granny Annie and Grandpa Al keep their boat. Since I was in the wedding, I was pretty busy with events during the weekend, but your grandparents were thrilled to spend so much time with you while we were away. We also went to their boat to hang out for a while and you were intrigued by the water. We didn't go for a ride, but we will next time!



Well my love, I continue to be amazed and amused by you every day. I know there is so much more that happens in a month because you are constantly changing. We hit the big stuff in this monthly letter, but it's really the day to day little stuff that warms my heart - your smiles in the morning, your babbling and laughing during the day, reaching out to me when I come to pick you up, and the sweet sounds you make while sleeping. I love you so much!

Love,
Mama

6 months!

Noelle-

Half of a year has gone by and in some ways it feels like longer than that and in others, it seems like the blink of an eye. We are so blessed to have a baby like you. All the time we are told how happy you are, how active you are, and how lucky we must feel. And we do.

Compared to April, May was a much calmer month. You are totally settled in at daycare, I am totally settled in at work, and your dad and I have our routines down pat at home. Teamwork is key and we are all pretty good at it! Lucky even takes his turn watching you - and he is by far your favorite "person" in the house. Here is, carefully watching in the background.
Our time together now is spent playing together and it is actual playing. I feel like we are interacting more than ever before with the way you observe, react, and communicate. I look forward to waking up in the morning and getting out your toys and watching what you will do next. It's so entertaining to watch you think through things (how to get an out of reach object, how to play with two toys at once, which toy you want). You love anything that makes noise and your stack of ring, which you don't like in a stack...you knock them off asap.
This month you have been moving around a lot more! You aren't crawling, but you can get up on your hands and move sideways. I didn't think you could get all that far until I watched you move all the way across a room. Crawling isn't too far off and that means I need to get to childproofing! And let's discuss your posing. It is beyond hysterical. You get up on your side, flip you arm over your let, and just stay there. Everybody comments on it and say that have never seen a baby do this, especially since you do it all the time! Here you are, hamming it up:

We took our first big road trip this month but made the very wise decision to leave at your bedtime and deal with arriving at 2 AM as opposed to having you stuck in a carseat for 5 hours when wide awake. We headed up to Traverse City and you got to spend time with your Great Grandma, Grandma & Tata Ortega, Aunt Donna, Aunt Mykayla, and many, many others. Everyone commented on how perfect you are and we have to agree. You were at a graduation party and played, laughed, smiled the entire time. Stealing hearts already, my dear.


Our last bit of exciting news is that you are sleeping through the night! You are also moving to taking 2 naps a day and are sleeping longer amounts of time. With all your playing and moving around, you have also been known to fall asleep mid-play. Yes, I often give you a calculator as a toy, is that wrong? You have CPA genes coming from both sides of the family so we may as well encourage it.

Well my sweet girl, another month has gone by, and it is my favorite month so far. I love you so much and continue to count my blessings for having you in my (our) lives. You are such a sweet angel and I love you so much.

-Mama

6 Month Stats:
15 1/2 pounds, 27 inches long.

Loves:
Playing peek-a-boo, magazines (you seem to love the sound of pages...and the taste), sitting up (with some help), new people, being able to move a bit, grabbing everything in sight, banging things together, the cats.

Dislikes:
"solid" foods, seeing mom or dad leave the room, having to wait more than 10 seconds for your bottle (notice, napping is NOT in this list!)

5 Months

Noelle-

I hope you don't take after me in regards to procrastinating. Again, I have lots of good excuses for my tardiness..but let's just jump right in to a recap of your 5th month.
April is going down as the month of "firsts". Here are all the firsts we got through this month: first day back to work, first day of daycare, your first time being sick (which coincided with my first night of staying up wondering if we should take you to the ER - we didn't), first taste of "solids", first time sleeping through the night (and then no longer STTN), and your first Easter. It was also my birthday and we had a visit from Granny Annie! Whew!
The biggest event was me heading back to work and you heading to daycare. I was actually excited to be working again, but leaving you with someone else that first week was really difficult for me. The "drop off" took at least 20 minutes each day because I kept coming back for one more kiss, one more "I Love You". Your teachers told us that you did really well and after that first week, I felt much better about the whole thing. I know it is a hot topic - but I believe that daycare is a better option for you as opposed to a nanny as it helps you to acclimate to new places & people, plus you get to play with other babies all day and learn new things from watching them. By the end of April, you were smiling at your teachers when you arrived and didn't seem to care whether I was in the room or not because you were so occupied with all the toys and the other babies.
The one downside of daycare is getting sick. It took only 2 weeks of you being there before you came down with a cold. The congestion freaked this first time mommy out and I literally had you in bed with me all night the first night (and many nights thereafter) so I could listen to you breathe. We rushed you to the doctor in the morning and they told us that it's a cold...and then I think secretly checked the box on your chart that said "first time parents freaking out about sniffles". However, this did eventually turn into an ear infection which was awful for you and heart-wrenching for me when all we could do was hold you and pray for your meds to start working. But, we made it through and you did get better and back to normal.

Our first foray into solids was somewhat successful. Although, I think you were really into chewing on the spoon rather than the food that was on it. Subsequent attempts resulted in a very large mess and you making a face that is better suited to someone sucking on a lemon. We are still trying on occasion, but we're letting you decide when you are ready.
Your sleeping schedule was pretty great for a while - waking up once during the night during a 7pm - 5am sleep. You even had THREE GLORIOUS NIGHTS of sleeping through then night. Then you got sick and sleep for all of us became a thing of the past. We aren't ready for sleep training yet so we still cater to your every whimper and you were a fixture in our bed for about two weeks while you were sick.

My birthday was wonderful! It was a simple night with you, Dad, my mom, and some cupcakes. Perfect night to celebrate the best year of my life! Dad bought me a beautiful necklace with your birthstone and I wear it every day.

Easter was fairly good. You were sick so you weren't the happiest girl, but you still enjoyed looking through your Easter "bucket" and checking out your goods! When I was growing up, it was a tradition that I got a Disney movie every Easter in my basket. This year, the Easter Bunny gave you Bambi!
You are such a happy baby (except when you were sick, obviously) and you make me smile all day long. I love waking up to your huge smile in the morning along with your excited kicks and crazy arms! I am so proud of how quickly you have adjusted to our new routine and how well you have done at daycare. Time is really flying now that I am back to work and while I am so happy to see the new thing that you do every day, I want to sometimes just hit pause and hold you in those happiest of moments.
This entry is so long, so I'll try to wrap it up, but I'm a mom - we gush - even if nobody else is reading :) Your new skills this month were rolling back to front (and then you didn't stop), discovering your toes, you have fine tuned grabbing objects and can now easily grasp something with one hand in one attempt, babbling and blowing raspberries more frequently, and a large amount of smiles and giggles!

5 Month Stats:
I'm guessing around 15 or so pounds.

Loves:
Your toes! Rolling, grabbing everything in sight, banging things together, the cats, Daddy tickling you, playing independently, watching the other babies at daycare

Dislikes:
Napping (still), having a toy you want out of reach (you have developed a sense of which specific items you want)

I'll write again two weeks days for your 6 month update!

Love you, love you, love you,
Mama

4 Months

Noelle-

I am so sorry this is so late! You are closer to 5 months than 4 at this point, but I'm going to try my best to only gush about your March activities. I have good excuses for my tardiness - my birthday, grandma in town, and going back to work all took place the weekend I would normally write. But anyway, that's next month's blog so let's begin...

The month of March was fantastic for us. During February you had turned a corner from being a shall we say "fussy" baby to being more happy. During March, you were an absolute doll. I kept telling others that you were so much fun and it was a nice way to end out my leave from work, but also made it harder to leave you.

You smile so much and giggle when you hear new noises. You LOVE playing on your tummy and grabbing at your toys in front of you. You are now coordinated enough to pick up toys and get them to your mouth, which is where everything ultimately ends up. It might take you a few tries, but you get there eventually. You also we through a phase with your tongue where it was constantly out of your mouth. It only lasted a week, but it was hysterical. Everytime we looked at you, there was your tongue, just hanging out. I'm sad I didn't get a picture, I didn't realize it was a passing fad (but thank goodness it was).

During March we celebrated Dad's birthday with a simple night at home and I know that having you around made it his best birthday yet. Our St. Patrick's Day celebration was limited to dressing you up in green and having dinner with friends and their kids. Mom and Dad's days of going out and acting like fools passed a few years ago, but this year I felt really old when I was in bed early cursing the loud "kids" walking by our house on the way to their next bar. You'll never be one of those kids, right? I'm sure you won't...

In early March we transitioned you from your pack & play in our room to your crib in your room. Suprisingly, you didn't bat an eye. You slept the same you had been in our room, which still consists of 2-3 wakeups during the night...which leads me to our next new activity together - napping! Kid, you don't like to nap. However, if I cuddle up with you in my bed and nap with you, you can sleep for two hours. March was the month that I gave in and started napping regularly with you. It's the best feeling in the world to have you next to me, feeling you breathing and hearing your little sounds while we sleep. I don't want you to get too attached to sleeping with us so I limit it to one nap a day and some time in the morning if you wake at 4 or 5 and we bring you in with us to get a little more sleep. However, if I wasn't afraid of eventually trying to convince a 4 year old that it's time to leave our bed, I would have you with me during the night as well.

Your Grandpa Schumacher came for a weekend visit and you loved your time with him. You were smiling and loved when he tossed you and caught you. You have him wrapped around your little finger and it's so special for me to see him so in love with you.

Little one, things just keep getting better with you and this month has made me happier than I have ever been. You continue to grow stronger, smarter, and sweeter every day. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I love you so very much!

4 Month Stats:
13 pounds, 15 ounces and 25 inches

Loves:
Anything and everything that you can grab and put in your mouth, things that make noises, people's faces, watching the cats, going for walks and watching the dogs at the dog park

Dislikes:
Napping alone...that's about it! See, I told you that you've changed!

Love,
Mama

3 Months

Noelle-

How has another month already gone by? I can't believe you are already three months old. I find myself seeing smaller, newborn babies when I am out and thinking "ohhh, I remember when my baby was that small". I know you are still tiny, but your personality makes you seem so much older. We are constantly told by friends, family, strangers, and doctors how alert you are for your age. You are always looking around at everything and want to be everywhere all the time. I'm guessing this is why you started rolling over from tummy to back at 11 weeks. You do it about 50% of the time you are on your tummy so it isn't a fluke thing.

Speaking of tummy time, you have rounded a corner and actually enjoy it now (for a reasonable amount of time). You can lift your head all the way up and look around at toys or me making funny faces at you.
This month we celebrated your first Valentine's day by dressing you up and taking pictures to send to daddy, who was in Barcelona. He loved them and showed all of his coworkers his little girl. He loves you so much and you are the apple of his eye. The feelings are mutual. Whenever you are with me and hear his voice, your head whips around until you find him and you always smile or giggle when you see him. It's the sweetest thing I have ever seen!

We had very special visitors this month. First was my mom and my grandma who came to stay with us while daddy was away. Four generations of us girls under one roof was such a wonderful experience and I know we all loved the time together. You were in the middle of a "mommy" stage at the time though and would only tolerate being held by others for short periods of time. No matter, they soaked up thier moments with you and happily handed you back to me when you fussed!

Next your aunties came to see you. Lindsay came in from California and Kellie from Washington DC to see you for a long weekend. Auntie Lindsay is slightly obsessed and came with a suitcase full of gifts! You are one lucky kid to have such a great extended family - all of whom love you (and live in wonderful places to visit!)

We are down to our last month with me home and it breaks my heart to think of leaving you during the day. Oddly enough though, I'm also excited to get back to spending time with adults and challenging my mind with work. This past month started out pretty badly with you being extremely fussy and not wanting anyone except me. However, the past 2 weeks have been wonderful and I'm hoping this is here to stay. You can play by yourself for small amounts of time and you are happy to be held by anyone. Your smiles are contagious and that little laugh of yours is getting bigger and bigger. I don't know how I could love you more, but somehow I do each and every day.


3 Month Stats:
12 1/2 pounds - we don't have height as you didn't have a dr appt this month

Loves:
Dad, mom, the t.v., your hands, your stuffed animal Scout, singing

Dislikes:
Laying on your back when not asleep (ie - your stroller), being tired (you start to lose your mind and don't know what you want - bottle, paci, hand), naps

Love you so very, very much -
Mom

2 Months

Dear Noelle-

Month two has been quite an adventure. Dad went back to work so it has been just the two of us at home. It has been a big adjustment for both of us, but we have made it through and gotten into a groove now (most days). We've had some hard days along the way but also some really great days.

On your 6 week birthday you gave me your first big smile that was just for me! You had smiled previously for different sounds and even for your Grandpa Shue (you really LOVE deep voices), but never just for me until that day. I tell you what, it made my heart skip a beat to see that I made you so happy just by being with you. Now you are smiley every time you wake up from a good sleep. I spend so much time sitting with you and doing all kinds of silly things to see that grin - funny faces, new noises, playing music and dancing in front of you. Unfortunately, when I bring out the camera, you focus on that and forget all about smiling for me!

You also squeal with excitement now and have started the beginning of what will be a laugh one day. You mostly do it when I play "bee" with you and "get you" with my hands. The anticipation of my hand tickling you is just to much and you usually squeal, smile, and shake your head back and forth. It's absolutely adorable and my favorite part of each day.

You have also began a love affair with your hands. You have always liked them, but you are now able to get them to your mouth on purpose rather than the occasional accident. You can spend endless amounts of time sucking on your fists and it can be very loud. It is a testament of my love to you that I can stand to be around it b/c I am notoriously disgusted by mouth noises - chewing food, sucking candy, gum, etc.

Your patience, or lack thereof, is not from a growth spurt...it is who you are. When you want something, you want it now. You demand to be carried around when you are awake and tricking you by sitting and bouncing is a no-go. This has gotten better in the past week so I hope that was a passing fad because I am exhausted. On the plus side, I only have 10 more pounds to lose due to the constant walking and carrying. I'm also sprouting some pretty sweet arm muscles.



Lastly, I don't understand how I gave birth to an early riser. Neither myself or your dad are early birds but somehow you rise consistently at 5 AM and think it's the most wonderful thing every day to be awake. In the midst of my foggy sleep vision I see you smile when I come to pick you up and it makes the walk downstairs to start our day bearable, well...almost.

Time is flying by too quickly. I only have 2 more months of maternity leave and it makes me so sad to think of leaving you for someone else to enjoy all day while I work. I never had any intention of being a stay at home mom, but I can understand now why people do it. I still don't plan to stay home, but I know going back will be tough.

2 Month Stats:
10 pounds, 15 ounces (50th percentile); 24 inches (95th percentile)

Loves:
Mom, Dad, men's voices, being carried everywhere, rattles, bright lights

Dislikes:
Tummy time, sitting still, swing

I love you so much little one and I can't wait to see how much you grow and change over the next month.

Love you-
Mom

1 Month

Dear Noelle-

It has been one month since you arrived. I think what I am suppose to say is that I can't remember life without you. But the truth is that I do remember - and it involved full nights of sleep, completed tasks, regular showers, jeans that fit, and wine...a good amount of wine. What I want to say is that despite what I remember of the perks of life before you, I wouldn't change a thing and I don't want to know a life without you.

In one month you have already changed so much. You are no longer the sleepy little baby we brought home weeks ago. Instead, you have been replaced by a more alert, more hungry, demanding baby. You are still mostly pleasant, but we need to work on your patience. I understand you are hungry when you wake up so no need to scream before even opening your eyes to see that I am getting you in to place for your meal. I've been told this could be a growth spurt, but I'm guessing this impatience is inherited for me so I have no-one to blame but my genetics. Speaking of growth spurts, at your one month appointment you weighed 9 lbs, 4 oz and were 22 1/4 inches long. The dr. told us you are in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th for height! You are already out of your newborn size clothes (and have been since about 2 weeks!).


Your dad and I have an array of nicknames and phrases to describe all of your Noelle-"isms". Dad calls you Nugget most of the time, I call you Baby Girl, Little One, or Tyrant. Your startle reflex makes us both laugh every time and Dad calls it your "praise Jesus" move/position (see pic below for example). We also have the pirate, the stiff leg, crazy eyes, fish hook, and the poop-shooter (unfortunately, earned during the middle of the night and my pjs and our bed linens fell victim to this move).


I hate to see you cry, but admittedly laugh when you fuss with your pacifier in because you make the most amusing sound. You like to blabber during tummy time and cannot get enough of looking at yourself in the mirror. You are pretty cute though, so I get it :)

Dad and I are doing really well. This past week was our longest stretch of days without a grandparent to help and I think we coped really well. Lucky for me, your dad is extremely helpful. However, he goes back to work in two days and you'll be stuck with me all day. I am excited to have you all to myself, but also worried about being alone all day and being lonely. We'll get through it though with the help of two ladies whom I love - Oprah & Judge Judy (yes, really).

Word on the street is that I should see your first real smile in the next few weeks. I'm pretty sure that smile will be able to get me through any trying moments that we have ahead of us, and that it always will.

I love you Little One-
Mom