Amber is 8 months

A little late with this post, but better late than never. As of Tuesday, Amber was 8 months old!! I know I say this every month, but I just can't believe how big she is getting. This last month was a big one for her. She is doing more and trying more things. She is such a happy baby. She loves to smile, laugh and babble. She loves bath time, being outside, and putting anything she can get her hands on into her mouth. She loves spending time with Leah. She is a bit of a mommy's girl - but that is only fair since Leah was a daddy's girl!

Here is what she has been up to this last month...

*20lbs, wearing 12month clothing
*outgrew her infant seat and now is in a rear facing car seat
*Holds her bottle independently (when she wants to)
*Starting to eat finger foods (puffs, crackers)
*2nd tooth (9/23)
*Taking a bath in the regular tub
*Scoots on her bottom (moves from a sitting to a half crawl position and then moves one leg forward then sits down and starts the process again)
*Recognizes her name
*Consistently rolling both directions
*Eating 3 meals a day, and about 5 bottles
*Tries hard to move from sit to stand, but not quite there yet
*Loves to be standing
*Played in leaves for the first time- was a little unsure at first, then tried to eat the leaves! Of course...everything goes into her mouth
*Goes to bed awake, typically asleep within 15 minutes!! Sleeps typically 10-11 hours at night, but the last few nights has decided to get up for a refuel around 3am (growth spurt?)
*Has started to take more predictable naps during the day
*First sinus infection - diagnosis 10/12, amoxicillin for 2 weeks.
*Started clapping
*Babbles mamama, dadada, and even may be saying them in an appropriate manner - hard to tell just yet!

Congrats MOM

My mom received an award last night - MNA Health and Safety 2010 award. Congrats. The banquet was last night in Duluth, myself, my dad, Aunt Vicky, Uncle Jim, Aunt Linda, and Uncle Steve were all in attendance. She did a great job accepting the award which sounds like it was well deserved. Congrats and way to go MOM! We love you.

The girls are doing great. Leah is still adjusting to kindergarten. Doing well in school. Seems to be learning a lot. Still working on figuring out the balance at home as she is very tired which leads to break downs at home. This to shall pass! She really is a delightful and bright child, which is what I constantly have to remind myself which she is in a whiny moment!!

Amber is a blast. She is so darn adorable with her cute little chubby cheeks. She is such a happy baby. I really love this age where you can tell that they are taking so much in. She is recovering from a sinus infection. She really has not been too crabby due to the infection, as a matter of fact, the only reason I brought her in was that I thought it was too long for her to be coughing and snotty! Can you believe she will be 8 months tomorrow? I will post an update soon. For now, I have to get ready to go to work (I took a half day off as my dad and I came back from Duluth this morning).

Amber is 7 months

Seriously, this year needs to slow down. I can't believe it, but it is true, Amber is 7 months. Her smile lights up a room. She greets you with such excitement that you can't help but be in a good mood. Here is what she is up to...

*eating cereal, veggies and fruit
*very interested in table food
*First TOOTH! 9/5/10
*Attempted sippy cup - 8/31/10, not quite ready
*likes to stick her tongue out
*sleep 10 hours at night, naps are still a work in progress!
*mastered supported standing
*working on unsupported standing
*scooting on bottom
*moving from sitting into a crawl like position
*Lots of new sounds- purses lips together and blows out, sticks tongue out and blows out, sounds like hi, yeah, dada, mama
*First time at: Bunker Beach, Chuck- E -Cheese's, Como Zoo, MN Zoo
*LOVES her big sister, taking baths, being outside, hanging out with mommy and daddy, getting attention!

Leah's First Day of School

Dear Leah,

I watched you get on the bus this morning as you headed off for you first day of Kindergarten. You are so excited. As I watched, I couldn't help but think about that 4lb 14oz baby that was born 5 years ago too early. Look what you have become - you are intelligent, caring, loveable, compassionate and empathetic. Yes, you are also stubborn, but this is part of what makes you special, what makes you YOU! I am so excited for you to begin this new chapter of you life. I am confident that you will do well even that you will enjoy it! I am not sure what will become your favorite subject, but I am so excited to be a part of the journey that will lead you to find your likes and dislikes as well as your strengths and weakness. Your dad and I will be there for you every step of the way, and I hope that we will provide you the right amount of guidance and support. Good luck Honey, I am so proud of you.

I love you lots!
Mommy

Leah chose her backpack, lunch bag and first day of school outfit. I am starting to wonder if she has a new favorite color!?!?!!

Conversation before the bus comes
Mommy: Will you look back when you get on the bus
Leah: Okay....
A little while later, Leah:
No, mommy, I don't want to do that!

And, Nope, she did not look back.

My baby is growing up!

Addendum: Leah's favorite part of the day: recess and coloring!

More fun stuff from the summer that went too fast!!

Labor day weekend in MN...marks the end of summer!:( If the weather today is any indication...so long to summer. We had a fun, busy, fast and crazy summer. Can't believe how fast it went, but we did get in many fun activities. Here is what we have been up to the last couple weeks:

8/24: Bunker Beach with Leah's friend Michael and Mom, Sara. We had a fun day. The weather was a little cool, but the kids didn't seem to mind. Amber joined us in the middle of our afternoon. Amber enjoyed sitting in the pool and splashing. This year...Leah had no problem with the water slides...in fact, that was where she headed first.

9/2: HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!

9/4: A conversation today with Leah.
Leah: Daddy did you know that we can't see real dinosaurs because they are all gone?
Daddy: That's correct.
Leah: Were they around when I was a baby?
Daddy: No, they have been gone for a very, very long time....
Leah: So were they around when you were a baby?
Daddy: (While laughing) No honey, daddy isn't quite that old.

9/5: The girls and I spent the day at Como Zoo. Leah had fun showing Amber the ropes, and introducing her to her fav- Sparky the sea lion! At the park at Como Town, Leah did the Monkey Bars completely unassisted! Go Leah.
9/5: AMBER cuts her first tooth!

9/6: First visit to Target field- MN vs KC. Twins win!! We went with our friends- Sara, Mike and Michael. Had a nice day...but I could have done without the rain! The field is very nice and there doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the place...now, how can they add a retractable roof?? Okay, maybe I need to settle down about the rain. It really was a fun time. Glad we were able to go and enjoy the baseball game under the sun (well, at least for part of the game). :)

This week Leah has kindergarten entrance week with her visit with the teacher on Thursday. She begins her school year on Monday 9/13. Wow!

Amber is 6 months

Yesterday, Amber was 6 months! Amber is growing so fast and we are just trying to remember as much of this stage as we can! So, this is Amber at 6months...

• 18.9 lbs, 26.25 inches
• she laughs, babbles, and smiles a lot
• she has mastered the skill of unsupported sitting
• she can stand for brief periods at furniture
• she still doesn't have much interest in rolling, however, she did roll stomach to back today and Leah captured that great shot of her in mid roll!
• she tries to scoot/crawl during tummy time
• she likes to play with her feet and suck on her big toe
• she is sporting a new style with her cranio cap which she wears about 22 hours each day
• she is starting to eat veggies along with her rice cereal- on the menu so far- green beans and peas...she doesn't seem to have any trouble with new foods!
• she loves to take her bath
• she is still a fantastic night time sleeper, however, naps still are not established...usually cat naps, but starting to note a morning and afternoon routine
• she loves her big sister!
• she has experienced her first time: going to the movies ($1 kids show), weekend away from mommy and daddy which was spent with Nonna and Grandpa (along with big sister), sitting in the stroller without her car seat, sitting in a restaurant high chair, sitting in a shopping cart, sitting in her high chair at home, swinging in her swing

I took this video on 8/15/10. Love how Leah tries to get Amber's attention...

A conversation with Leah

So, last night I was talking to Leah on the phone as she is up at the cabin. Here is a portion of that conversation which I just found adorable and funny! She is talking about the CMT Crossroads DVD of Taylor Swift and Def Leppard

Leah: "Mommy, I really like that Taylor CD (she means DVD). I like how she is talking about the song and then she sings it. But, Mommy, Taylor doesn't need help singing, does she?"

Mommy (unaware of where this was headed): "No, honey, she doesn't need help"

Leah: "Well, Mommy, then why is that boy helping her sing. Taylor doesn't need help singing!"

Oh, too cute