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Monthly Update

Kids Monthly Update

Corinne’s Monthly Updates

April 25, 2019

I have not done so well keeping up with monthly updates about Corinne. My last post was when she was two months old. #thirdchildproblems So let’s catch up, OK?

Corinne is now EIGHT months old! She has (obviously) changed so much in the last six months.

Eight Months:

  • She has been saying “mama” for a couple of weeks. It sounded like babbling at first, but she only says it when she wants me to pick her up. So I’m claiming that “Mama” is officially her first word.
  • She weighs almost 20 lbs.
  • She now hates being laid on her back which makes diaper changes super fun since we have to constantly flip her back over.
  • Has been going through a sleep regression. She went from sleeping for a solid nine hours at night with a two hour morning nap to waking up at least three times during the night and struggling to nap for longer than 30 minutes in the mornings. This has been going on for a couple of weeks now, but we are working on getting back to a normal sleep routine.

Seven Months:

  • She first crawled at almost 7 months (on March 10, 2019).
  • She started pushing up to seated from her stomach at around 6 1/2 months.
  • We had to lower her crib at 6 1/2 months because she pulled to standing in her crib.
  • She likes to hold my hand while she nurses, which is the sweetest thing!

Six Months:

  • At this point, Corrine was sitting on her own really well.
  • She was so close to crawling, always rocking on her hands and knees.
  • Start almost exclusively sleeping on her stomach. She flips over as soon as I lay her down, sometimes even trying to flip mid-air while she is asleep.
  • At six months, she weighed 18 lbs (82nd %) and was 27.5″ tall (96th %).

Five Months:

  • At five months old, she was thisclose to sitting on her own.
  • She weighed 17 lbs.

Four Months:

  • At four months, she was an expert at rolling both directions.
  • She weighed 15 lb 4.5 oz (71st %) and was 26.5″ tall (99th %).
  • This was about the time that we moved her out of the bassinet in our room to her own crib in her room. She transitioned really well and, for the most part, has done great ever since.

Three Months:

  • At three months old, Corinne could roll from front-to-back and from back-to-front. She just usually chose not to, happy to be wherever we put her.

I could kick myself for not keeping up with these monthly posts. I really wish I could remember more specific details from each months. Their personalities change and develop so quickly at this young age, that looking back, it’s hard to remember what happened when. Especially with the third baby, it is all a blur that just won’t slow down.

Kids Monthly Update

Corinne – Two Months

October 17, 2018

At two months old, Corinne:

  • Weighs 12 lbs 8 oz and is 24 inches long.
  • Still wears 0-3 month clothes, but will soon be up a size at least in sleepers.
  • Sleeps at least 5 hours at night, usually 6 or even 7 hours at a time!
  • Is so alert and awake during the day! She has the best smiles and is starting to “talk” to us when she is really happy. She loves when we sing to her and likes to make “cooing” sounds back and forth with us.
  • Still hasn’t been away from me for more than 15 minutes. Tonight is our first night back at church, and I know she will do great in nursery, but I will miss her for those two hours!

Cullen still asks to kiss her at least once a day. Colette still wants to touch her all the time and brings her gifts; like a feather from the craft box or a raw potato from the kitchen. It’s very sweet and very strange. We are working on what are appropriate toys for babies. It’s very clear they love her dearly!

Kids Monthly Update

Corinne – One Month

September 14, 2018

Corinne is one month old today! So far she is a very content baby. Like a true third child, she is happy to just go with the flow. She pretty much still just eats and sleeps, but has a little more awake time every day. At one month, Corinne:

  • Weighs 10 lbs 12 oz and is 22 inches long.
  • Wears mostly 0-3 month clothing. I can still squeeze her into a couple of newborn rompers (for today anyway), but nothing with feet.
  • Still likes to eat at least every 3 hours, usually more often than that. She is a growing girl after all!
  • Really seems to like being on her tummy. Her doctor commented on how much she like being on her tummy and how well she is doing with head control. “She’s only one month old, right? She acts like a two month old!”
  • Is a mommy’s girl and would let me hold her all day (and night). But that may have more to do with where her food comes from.
  • Only sleeps at most 3 hours at a time, but must be swaddled tightly if she is in her bassinet. She still has a few nights when she wants to just hang out and look around for a few hours while everyone else is sleeping. But those are getting less frequent and she is getting better about eating and going right back to sleep.

Everyone in our house is truly in love with her. Cullen asks if he can kiss her all. the. time. And Colette wants to touch her constantly. This past month has flown by, but at the same time it feels like she has been a part of our family forever!

Monthly Update

Colette: Sixteen Months

August 30, 2016
I am really starting to see Colette as less of a baby and more of a toddler. Her baby-like mannerisms are going away. She is able to do more and more on her own, and even though she still doesn’t say more than the same few words, she communicates her wants and needs very well.
Aside from pointing at what she wants, which she has clearly mastered, she answers questions with nods or head shakes (and the occasional “yeah”), she says “up” and raises he arms if she wants out of the highchair or to be picked up. She follows commands, as well as any toddler can: sit down, bring me that, don’t feed that to the dog, etc.
She also knows when she needs a diaper change and knows how to ask for one. She will bring us a diaper or get a diaper and lay down in the floor and try to take off her bottoms. Which is super helpful, and makes me very hopeful for potty training in the future.
In the past month, Colette has gone from six teeth to at least ten teeth, possible twelve, she won’t let me get a good look at her top teeth to get a good count. And she certainly puts those teeth to work. I swear she eats all day long. There are times we have to cut her off because there is no way that tiny little belly will hold anything else!
One of my favorite things about this age is the shift to really playing with toys. Carrying her doll and bunnies around, feeding her doll, and making her bunnies hop. She loves toys that play music; like her brother, she jumps at any chance to have a dance party. She loves to throw and catch balls, drive her brother’s cars (complete with sound effects), and has very recently taken an interest in coloring. (Which makes me super grateful for the Magic Eraser. Crayons very easily make their way off the paper.)
I don’t think I have ever seen a more fun loving or affectionate little girl. Bedtime takes ten minutes longer than it used to because everyone needs an infinite amount of hugs and kisses. Eskimo kisses are hilarious, and like with everything else she finds funny, lead to the best squeal. She is just so much fun to be around!
Monthly Update

Colette: Fifteen Months

August 16, 2016
This is our sweet, sassy, bossy, loving, fifteen month old.

It seems like every day Colette gets more and more vocal. She nods yes and shakes her head no. If she wants something she points at it and then herself, over and over until someone gives it to her. And she now babbles all the time. Not a lot of words yet, but I feel we are on the verge of a whole new vocabulary.

And talk about a little one on the move. She is running all over the place, climbing up and down off of furniture. And into everything. No bag or drawer is safe from being unloaded. Messes are a way of life around here.

I think that petty much sums up Colette these days. She is wide open, has the best laugh that she loves to share, she lives her life fully exploring everything around her. And to top it all off, she is as sweet as can be.

Monthly Update

Colette: Fourteen Months

July 28, 2016
Popping in here with a quick, very late fourteen month update for Colette.
 
At 14 months, she had just really started walking. For a few weeks, she only took a couple of steps a day. Then all of a sudden, almost over night, she just took off and hasn’t looked back since. Crawling became a thing of the past. In all honesty, I’m glad she is more mobile and independent, but it is exhausting keeping up with a three year old and a babe that can now get into everything.
One of her most favorite things is carrying something (anything) on her arm. Bags, bracelets, hair bands, shoes; if she can put her arm through it, she will carry it around the house.
It has taken a while, but she is actually starting to enjoy books. She will finally sit in my lap and let me read. Usually though, she insists on turning the pages, which means we read books out of order, but that’s fun too.
The sweetest thing is her new love for this bunny. She got it at Easter, but has just recently started to love on it. It now goes everywhere with us. She loves to give it hugs and snuggle with it when she is going to sleep.
The time is passing all too quickly, and this little girl is growing up. She is in full on toddler mode, and loving every minute of it!
Monthly Update

Colette: Thirteen Months

June 7, 2016
Just popping in for a quick thirteen month update for Colette (a couple of weeks late!)
I love that we are getting to see so much of her personality these days. Happy almost all of the time. Most of the time, she is happy to play with Cullen or by herself. Occasionally she is extra clingy, but only if she is really tired. And she can be kind of loud when she gets mad; she won’t hesitate to scream at me. Who knew such a tiny girl could make so much noise. But like I said, mostly happy and playful!
Her newest trick is blowing kisses. So sweet! Every once in a while, she will even give real, open-mouth kisses, but those are mostly reserved for the dog. 
He iron has almost come back up to normal levels, which means she doesn’t have to be on an iron supplement too much longer, and she can have dairy again. Yay cheese!!! Colette is still eating everything we put in front of her. And she is doing great with weaning. I’ve stopped pumping at work and she drinks from a cup during the day. At this point, just nursing first thing in the morning and after dinner and right before bed.

She is thisclose to walking. Over the past week, she has taken a couple of steps here and there, so I’m sure it will be any day now that she just takes off! This little girl keeps us busy, but we love her so!
Monthly Update

Colette: Twelve Months

May 11, 2016
Where has the past year gone?

Colette seems to be as rough-and-tumble as her older brother. She is fearless and not afraid to get dirty. We are constantly pulling non-edible things out of her mouth, pulling her off of her older and much bigger brother, and stopping her from climbing on everything. Thankfully, Cullen helps keep an eye on her and keeps her in line. We cannot baby-proof enough!

Her growth is still right on track. She is just going to stay a tiny peanut, which is totally okay. We did find out at her twelve month well check that she is anemic, so she is on a daily iron supplement and a high-iron diet, which seems to be going well. But since calcium interferes with iron absorption, she is not allowed to have dairy. Poor little girl is having to go without her favorite food group: CHEESE! (OK, maybe I sneak her some occasionally. A girl has got to have cheese!) 


There haven’t really been a lot of other changes over the last month. She has four teeth now, which she loves to bite with, biting fingers is especially hilarious. She has started blowing kisses, which is the cutest! Other than that, she is the same happy little girl. Getting into everything and cruising around the house. 

I think what I most want to remember about Colette about this age, is her sweet little laugh. I love hearing her laugh out loud in the backseat when we are in the car and Cullen makes silly faces and noises at her. She laughs when she is happy, when the tiniest thing is funny, and sometimes, just because she sees someone she loves.

Happy Birthday Colette! We love you so much!!!
Monthly Update

Colette: Eleven Months

April 2, 2016
Colette’s newest skills include pulling to standing, saying “mama”, climbing, and clapping. She is growing and learning so much every day; I am afraid I’m going to miss something if I blink. And she has started dancing, which is one of my favorite things to see! Tiny baby dances are adorable, though I don’t think her Daddy is too proud. Too much hip shaking for his little girl.

Her favorite things right now are bath time (so much splashing!), food, her brother and anything he is playing with, and being outside. You should hear the squeals just walking to the door elicits!
Right now, she is working on her third tooth, possibly her fourth. And she is putting those chompers to good use by eating everything in site. I haven’t really found anything she won’t eat. Cheese and pasta are still favorites. She eats meats, veggies, fruits, bread and pasta of course, and then anything remotely interesting that happens to be on the floor.

We thought Cullen was going to be our strong-willed child. Turns out we couldn’t have been more wrong. Colette is already starting to show her stubbornness. For the past two weeks, she has refused to take a bottle when she is away from me. While I am at work, she will eat real food like a teenage boy, but refuses to drink anything. We have tried every type of sippy cup available, warm and cold milk, water, offering it before food and after. Nothing works. She just shakes her head and pushes it away. It turns out, she has decided that she only wants to nurse, she will hold out all day long until we both get home. At this point, the plan is to keep offering and hope she changes her mind soon. We are going to have our hands full with this little girl. I have already purchased a copy of The Strong-Willed Child.
For now, I’m off to spend some time with my almost-one-year-old. If I can catch her that is. 

Monthly Update

Colette: Ten Months

March 8, 2016

We all know that children grow up way too fast. It seems like you blink and they are three years old already. But have you ever had a day where it seems like they change into a totally different person overnight? That was Colette the day she turned ten months old.

One day she was a quiet little baby who was very timidly crawling. From the minute she woke up the day she turned ten months, she has been crawling all over the house. Getting into the dog bowls, pulling groceries out of bags before we can get them put up, and scooting under and around furniture. And she finally started babbling. Lots of “ba-ba-ba-ba” and “ma-ma-ma” all day long. She is like a whole new little girl.

Her newest trick is waving and saying “bye-bye”. And it is the cutest thing ever!

I can already tell that Colette with be our eater. She will eat anything put in front her. Broccoli, carrots, potatoes, quesadillas, guacamole, pasta, literally anything. She will also eat anything she finds on the floor. Which translates to me having to watch her like a hawk and vacuuming nearly every day.

I also had the shocking realization that my tiny baby will be a year old in just two months (even less as I write this)! She is already becoming more independent and less baby-like. I can put her in the floor with some toys and she cruises all over the room and just goes after whatever she wants. I’m able to get more done during the day without a baby on my hip. And she is starting to be so fun to be around, and more than just in the sweet baby coos kind of way. She interacts with us and Cullen, explores and examines toys, expresses her on opinions like she hasn’t before.

We love you sweet little Colette! Happy Ten Months!!!