L started carrots today after spending the last four days on squash. She wasn't so hot on squash. She would shutter her shoulders. D & i thought it was so funny we could hardly contain our laughter. :) Yesterday I mixed it with pears and she liked that much better. Anyhow, her first expression with the carrots was priceless. I think she was still expecting to get pears and carrots definitely weren't the pears, but she seemed to get over the initial shock and eat the rest of the carrots just fine. I fed her in just her cloth diaper b/c my sister said that carrots stain and it's impossible to get out....so even though she's yet to be messy, I didn't want to take any chances. She was supposed to start peas today but our attempt at making homemade baby food peas didn't go so well so it was on to the store bought organic carrot baby food (carrots can retain nitrates from the soil so you don't want to make them at home...the baby food companies test for nitrates and don't buy produce from known areas of nitrates).
The last couple days she's cried for like 10 minutes after i took her out of the bath so apparently she really likes the bath (evident by lots of splashing) and is royally ticked at me for taking her out. She's also developed a distaste for the changing table and seems to like to cry when I put her down to be changed. Of course, she doesn't do that for D.
She also really likes to screech, much to her parent's dismay. We are really not fond of this discovery!
Yesterday, it snowed again all day (it snowed all Christmas day) so now we have quite a bit of the white stuff. Yea!!!!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Rolling over...
She rolled over the other way today!! So before, she was only rolling from her back to her stomach. Now she can roll from her stomach to her back. And she can keep going. She rolled about 3 feet today! :)
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Our 6 month old's development: week 2
Baby sign language
If you want to introduce sign language to your baby, now's the time. Her understanding of language and her motor skills develop much faster than her ability to speak. Most babies, for example, discover how to wave (around 9 months) and point (by age 1) long before they can say "bye bye" or "look at that!"
Giving your baby the tools to express herself may help cut down on her frustration. While baby signing doesn't promise to eliminate tears or tantrums, babies this young have been taught to "sign" successfully.
To begin, try using a hand signal every time you use common words such as "book" (open your palms with your hands together) or "hungry" (put your fingers to your lips). Later on, your baby will be able to express more complex ideas such as "I'm done with my juice" with a simple gesture such as putting her palms up at shoulder height.
And don't worry: Signing won't interfere with your baby's progress in learning to speak. In fact, it may actually help develop her language skills.
Lefty or a righty?
Your baby may favor one hand for a while and then switch to the other. But you can't really tell whether she's a lefty or a righty until she's about 2 or 3 years old.
Don't try to influence your baby's hand preference (it's determined before birth). Forcing her to use her right hand when she's really a lefty, for example, may confuse her and lead to problems with hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and handwriting down the road.
Playing games
Your baby will love turn-taking games, especially ones that involve sounds and language. Let your baby be the leader sometimes, and mimic her vocalizations. When it's your turn to lead, a good way to teach — and amuse — your baby is to make animal noises ("quack-quack," "bow-wow").
One upside of these kinds of games is that they can be played anywhere. Your baby will delight in the sounds of water splashing in the bathtub or blocks hitting the floor. Show your baby how to make these fun (if sometimes annoying) noises and then let her have a turn.
If you want to introduce sign language to your baby, now's the time. Her understanding of language and her motor skills develop much faster than her ability to speak. Most babies, for example, discover how to wave (around 9 months) and point (by age 1) long before they can say "bye bye" or "look at that!"
Giving your baby the tools to express herself may help cut down on her frustration. While baby signing doesn't promise to eliminate tears or tantrums, babies this young have been taught to "sign" successfully.
To begin, try using a hand signal every time you use common words such as "book" (open your palms with your hands together) or "hungry" (put your fingers to your lips). Later on, your baby will be able to express more complex ideas such as "I'm done with my juice" with a simple gesture such as putting her palms up at shoulder height.
And don't worry: Signing won't interfere with your baby's progress in learning to speak. In fact, it may actually help develop her language skills.
Lefty or a righty?
Your baby may favor one hand for a while and then switch to the other. But you can't really tell whether she's a lefty or a righty until she's about 2 or 3 years old.
Don't try to influence your baby's hand preference (it's determined before birth). Forcing her to use her right hand when she's really a lefty, for example, may confuse her and lead to problems with hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and handwriting down the road.
Playing games
Your baby will love turn-taking games, especially ones that involve sounds and language. Let your baby be the leader sometimes, and mimic her vocalizations. When it's your turn to lead, a good way to teach — and amuse — your baby is to make animal noises ("quack-quack," "bow-wow").
One upside of these kinds of games is that they can be played anywhere. Your baby will delight in the sounds of water splashing in the bathtub or blocks hitting the floor. Show your baby how to make these fun (if sometimes annoying) noises and then let her have a turn.
Christmas
opening present from grandpa Don & grandma Karyn
baby's first christmas sleeper from grandma Karen
awww....
Sunday, December 23, 2007
12/23/07
new trumpet toy from grandma karen (along w/farm animals from cousins chase & kenzie)
friend michelle visits from arizona
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas letter..
I emailed out our Christmas letter last night. It was kinda a pain b/c I emailed them all out from Outlook through gmail and i got a message back saying too many receipients (what? 247 is too many?? :D) Anyhow, apparently it did get through to some on the first try but I had to print out my address book and go through checking off everyone on the list that it said didn't go to so I could go online to gmail and send out a new email listing everyone who didn't get it.
So, if you didn't get my Christmas email, email me and I'll email one to you!
Thanks for your patience!! :)
So, if you didn't get my Christmas email, email me and I'll email one to you!
Thanks for your patience!! :)
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Elodie starts solids... (is it really solid??!!)
she gets her own spoon
Elodie's first attempt at solids
look mommy...i puked it up. mommy's not stupid. when she hears gagging sounds, she takes L out of the high chair and puts her on the floor. much easier to clean. bib complements of grammie ann.
Elodie's second attempt after mommy makes it more runny
yum...she can't get enough
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Elodie's 6 months old!!
wow, how time flies!!
She had her 6 mo. old check up yesterday. She's 25.25" long (25th percentile) and weighs 16#4oz. (50th percentile)...so her growth is definately slowing. Now she's below average to average in size. :)
well, must run as other things these days are taking up my time instead of updating the blog. :(
She had her 6 mo. old check up yesterday. She's 25.25" long (25th percentile) and weighs 16#4oz. (50th percentile)...so her growth is definately slowing. Now she's below average to average in size. :)
well, must run as other things these days are taking up my time instead of updating the blog. :(
Your 6-month-old's development: Week 1
Rollin', rollin', rollin'
Your baby's stronger neck and arm muscles allow him to practice rolling over toward one side, a milestone that will probably awe and amuse you. Your baby might adopt rolling as his primary mode of ground transportation for a while, or he may skip it altogether and move on to sitting, lunging, and crawling. As long as your baby continues to gain new skills and shows interest in getting around and exploring his environment, don't worry.
Rolling over can be fun for your baby, but it can also be nerve-racking for you. Keep a hand on your baby during diaper changes, and never leave him unattended on a bed or any other elevated surface.
Your little social butterfly
At this age your baby not only tolerates attention from others, he'll often initiate it. Though you may soon notice the beginnings of stranger anxiety, your baby will probably still be fairly indiscriminate: Chances are anyone who approaches him with welcoming eyes or a grin delights him and becomes an instant friend. But don't worry — he still needs and craves lots of love and attention from you.
Your baby is also learning that his behaviors, both the ones you like and the ones you don't, engage you, so starting now (and for years to come) he'll do just about anything to get your attention. Right now almost everything he does is endearing, but as he gets older, he's more likely to get into mischief to provoke a reaction from you. Just don't forget to give him positive feedback when he's being good. It's a great way to start teaching right from wrong.
One thing will become clear: Your baby is beginning to expand his attention-getting repertoire to include more than crying. You may notice him wriggling, making noises, blowing "raspberries," and so on. Over the next three months, he'll develop a uniquely personal way of letting you know what he thinks, wants, and needs.
Dressed for success
As your baby starts becoming more active, he'll appreciate wearing comfy clothes. Opt for soft fabrics that won't chafe him as he's moving around. Loose, stretchy, and breathable clothing is also smart as it provides your energetic little one plenty of wiggle room.
Avoid clothes with rough or scratchy seams; long ties, buttons, or bows (could be a choking hazard); and anything else that gets in the way of your baby's sleeping, crawling, playing, or other regular activities. In your baby's diaper
Don't be surprised if your baby's stools change color and odor as soon as he starts eating even tiny amounts of solids. This is normal. If his stools seem too firm, switch to other fruits and vegetables and oatmeal or barley cereal. (Rice cereal, bananas, and applesauce may be constipating.)
Your baby's stronger neck and arm muscles allow him to practice rolling over toward one side, a milestone that will probably awe and amuse you. Your baby might adopt rolling as his primary mode of ground transportation for a while, or he may skip it altogether and move on to sitting, lunging, and crawling. As long as your baby continues to gain new skills and shows interest in getting around and exploring his environment, don't worry.
Rolling over can be fun for your baby, but it can also be nerve-racking for you. Keep a hand on your baby during diaper changes, and never leave him unattended on a bed or any other elevated surface.
Your little social butterfly
At this age your baby not only tolerates attention from others, he'll often initiate it. Though you may soon notice the beginnings of stranger anxiety, your baby will probably still be fairly indiscriminate: Chances are anyone who approaches him with welcoming eyes or a grin delights him and becomes an instant friend. But don't worry — he still needs and craves lots of love and attention from you.
Your baby is also learning that his behaviors, both the ones you like and the ones you don't, engage you, so starting now (and for years to come) he'll do just about anything to get your attention. Right now almost everything he does is endearing, but as he gets older, he's more likely to get into mischief to provoke a reaction from you. Just don't forget to give him positive feedback when he's being good. It's a great way to start teaching right from wrong.
One thing will become clear: Your baby is beginning to expand his attention-getting repertoire to include more than crying. You may notice him wriggling, making noises, blowing "raspberries," and so on. Over the next three months, he'll develop a uniquely personal way of letting you know what he thinks, wants, and needs.
Dressed for success
As your baby starts becoming more active, he'll appreciate wearing comfy clothes. Opt for soft fabrics that won't chafe him as he's moving around. Loose, stretchy, and breathable clothing is also smart as it provides your energetic little one plenty of wiggle room.
Avoid clothes with rough or scratchy seams; long ties, buttons, or bows (could be a choking hazard); and anything else that gets in the way of your baby's sleeping, crawling, playing, or other regular activities. In your baby's diaper
Don't be surprised if your baby's stools change color and odor as soon as he starts eating even tiny amounts of solids. This is normal. If his stools seem too firm, switch to other fruits and vegetables and oatmeal or barley cereal. (Rice cereal, bananas, and applesauce may be constipating.)
Saturday, December 08, 2007
Our 5-month-old's development: Week 4
Your baby's development is now working in your favor when she's fussy: She's increasingly distractible. Intensely interested in the world around her, her rapidly evolving brain zeroes in on things that are new and different. So when your baby is a little cranky, use her growing interest in novelty to your advantage by making a funny noise, singing a song, gently banging a pot — any change from the norm may snap her out of her grumpy mood.
**Ever since my mom came in October, Elodie is distractable w/a song...but usually only my voice, not daddy's.
Exploring with her hands
By the time she's about 6 months old (though sometimes it takes a little longer), your baby's hand control is developed enough that she can rake a small object toward herself. She may not actually grab it, but she can bring it to her.
You can help your baby practice this by placing a toy within her reach and waiting for her bring it close. In another month or so, she'll learn to grab larger toys and start to practice moving objects from one hand to the other.
Let her work with this skill by giving her a small rattle or toy to hold on to. Then help her transfer it to her other hand. Then move it back to the original hand, and so on. When she learns to transfer objects, a whole new world opens up — she now has two hands to have fun with!
**Elodie's been able to do this for awhile now.
Your baby the babbler
Your baby now sees and hears the world almost as well as you do. Her communication skills are expanding rapidly, too, as evidenced by her squeals, bubbling sounds, and operatic octave changes. Her sounds can demonstrate her attitude or response to objects — such as happiness, eagerness, or even satisfaction — with a problem well solved.At this age, about half of babies babble, repeating one syllable — such as "ba," "ma," "ga," or other consonant-vowel combinations — over and over. A few will even add another syllable or two, making their sounds more complex.
You can encourage your baby by babbling right back at her and by making a game of it ("The sheep says, 'baaa,'" or "The goat says, 'maaa'"). Or, when you hear a syllable you can't identify, just respond enthusiastically with, "Yes, that is a car! See how shiny the red paint is?" Your baby will appreciate your encouraging her by keeping the conversation going.
She'll also appreciate it if you listen as if you understand everything she says and find it extremely interesting. Try simulating a conversation: You listen while she talks, then ask a question and wait for a response!
**Ever since my mom came in October, Elodie is distractable w/a song...but usually only my voice, not daddy's.
Exploring with her hands
By the time she's about 6 months old (though sometimes it takes a little longer), your baby's hand control is developed enough that she can rake a small object toward herself. She may not actually grab it, but she can bring it to her.
You can help your baby practice this by placing a toy within her reach and waiting for her bring it close. In another month or so, she'll learn to grab larger toys and start to practice moving objects from one hand to the other.
Let her work with this skill by giving her a small rattle or toy to hold on to. Then help her transfer it to her other hand. Then move it back to the original hand, and so on. When she learns to transfer objects, a whole new world opens up — she now has two hands to have fun with!
**Elodie's been able to do this for awhile now.
Your baby the babbler
Your baby now sees and hears the world almost as well as you do. Her communication skills are expanding rapidly, too, as evidenced by her squeals, bubbling sounds, and operatic octave changes. Her sounds can demonstrate her attitude or response to objects — such as happiness, eagerness, or even satisfaction — with a problem well solved.At this age, about half of babies babble, repeating one syllable — such as "ba," "ma," "ga," or other consonant-vowel combinations — over and over. A few will even add another syllable or two, making their sounds more complex.
You can encourage your baby by babbling right back at her and by making a game of it ("The sheep says, 'baaa,'" or "The goat says, 'maaa'"). Or, when you hear a syllable you can't identify, just respond enthusiastically with, "Yes, that is a car! See how shiny the red paint is?" Your baby will appreciate your encouraging her by keeping the conversation going.
She'll also appreciate it if you listen as if you understand everything she says and find it extremely interesting. Try simulating a conversation: You listen while she talks, then ask a question and wait for a response!
Friday, December 07, 2007
11/24/07
My dad arrived in town today so we went to his house to hang out with him before Elodie's nap. She took a nap at his house but I had to wake her up early in time to get to the photo shoot w/Candice. In an attempt to not wrinkle our shirts, I took them out of the car and put them over a chair at dad's. And of course, we got down to the beach without them so my dad had to go back up to the house to get them and instead of feeding Elodie in the comfort of the car, I had to feed her on a very public, hard park bench at the beach (at least it had a great view). Anyhow, we ended up starting the photo shoot late and then right after we took some pics of just L, she fell over...face-plant into the sand and that was basically the end of the shoot b/c she screamed for so long. Poor girl had sand in her eye. Luckily, my dad had a water bottle with him and we poored water over her eye in an attempt to get the sand out. Anyhow, we weren't that sucessful at getting Elodie to smile in pictures with both of us in them, but if one of us wasn't in the picture and she could see us, then we could get her to smile.
He's so cute with Elodie.
mander ree gave L a beanie for Christmas. too cute!
manda was making dave a beanie but ran out of yarn so he put it on and pretended it was one of those muslim hat thingys. she ended up spending the afternoon redoing the beanie with some orange so that it would be big enough.
dad's fiance jan came into town that night (after the photo shoot and after dinner w/manda, cadence & andrew).
He's so cute with Elodie.
mander ree gave L a beanie for Christmas. too cute!
manda was making dave a beanie but ran out of yarn so he put it on and pretended it was one of those muslim hat thingys. she ended up spending the afternoon redoing the beanie with some orange so that it would be big enough.
dad's fiance jan came into town that night (after the photo shoot and after dinner w/manda, cadence & andrew).
11/23/07 Day after Thanksgiving w/Dave's family
The day after Thanksgiving, we drove up to Thousand Oaks to visit Dave's sister Kerrie and her son Justice. Can you believe Justice is 21 months old and this is the first time we've met the super cutie?? Shame on us! Justice is so cute and can totally talk, although half the things he said we had to ask his mom for translations. We had a lot of fun since we haven't seen Kerrie since she was super pregnant with Justice. Anyhow, we had lunch with them and left in time to get to Dave's grandma Ethel's in Camarillo for Elodie's naptime. She slept the entire two hours while I let Dave visit with his grandma, Uncle Dale & Aunt Candy and I went shopping at Old Navy in Oxnard. Yea Oxnard b/c there were no crazy lines and I was in and out of there in an hour! I came back to feed L at 4pm and they ordered Round Table Pizza (my favorite!) for dinner. We had yummy pizza and then grandma whipped out the leftover Marie Calendar's pies and of course we had to stay for that too! :) Yum Lemon Meringue! Then we had to leave to get home by 8pm...and of course we left a half hour late so we got home late, but that's how it is trying to see everyone! :)
Kerrie, Justice, Dave & Elodie
Elodie loved Kerrie's long hair...or should I say, Elodie loved to pull Kerrie's long hair!
Elodie is facinated with their big screen tv
Aunt Candy w/Elodie. She got Elodie a cute pink knit outfit and fuzzy sweater. Can't wait to put her in it!
Uncle Dale showing Elodie his love :)
Elodie with her gg Ethel
4 generations (kinda): Dave's Aunt Candy, Grandma Ethel, daugher Elodie, Dave, Uncle Dale
Kerrie, Justice, Dave & Elodie
Elodie loved Kerrie's long hair...or should I say, Elodie loved to pull Kerrie's long hair!
Elodie is facinated with their big screen tv
Aunt Candy w/Elodie. She got Elodie a cute pink knit outfit and fuzzy sweater. Can't wait to put her in it!
Uncle Dale showing Elodie his love :)
Elodie with her gg Ethel
4 generations (kinda): Dave's Aunt Candy, Grandma Ethel, daugher Elodie, Dave, Uncle Dale
Thanksgiving 11/22/07
This Thanksgiving we celebrated at my Nana's house. Dave & my mom did most of the prep work, while Amanda, Katie, & Dave did a lot of the clean up. We did our traditional 5 kernals of corn to remind us of the pilgrims and we all shared 5 things we were thankful for. My aunt Aran's last kernal struck me the most. She said she was thankful for all those who have had a better year than she has (she lost her husband, my mom's brother, in August).
3 generations
4 generations :)
Katie and Sara
Amanda, Sara & Cadence
Daddy & L
I finally caught Sara smiling!
family portrait :)
How big is Sara? "So big!"
auntie katie & elodie
auntie ann, nephews owen & stephen, with sara
cousins owen & stephen entertaining cadence while daddy gets her pjs from the car
elodie thinks cousins stephen & owen are so funny
peek-a-boo
4 generations of women in our family
us girls and our families
our family picture at the very end of the evening and elodie was very over it
3 generations
4 generations :)
Katie and Sara
Amanda, Sara & Cadence
Daddy & L
I finally caught Sara smiling!
family portrait :)
How big is Sara? "So big!"
auntie katie & elodie
auntie ann, nephews owen & stephen, with sara
cousins owen & stephen entertaining cadence while daddy gets her pjs from the car
elodie thinks cousins stephen & owen are so funny
peek-a-boo
4 generations of women in our family
us girls and our families
our family picture at the very end of the evening and elodie was very over it
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