Lainey: 11 Months

Miss Lainey turned 11 months this week. One is around the corner! Hardly seems right yet here we are!

We are really in the exploring mode right now. No draw is safe with Lainey on the loose. She is into everything, except her toys that is. She is starting to collect an entourage as she moves about the house, adding things as she goes along. A random sock, a doll and a block, etc.

She is getting more confident walking along furniture and just started pushing her little walker around. Probably another month away from walking but she is improving everyday.

I can't wait to get outside with Lainey and show her the SUN! Since she slept through the entire last summer we have lots of catching up to do. It's going to be warming up this week and we are all ready from some fresh air and sunshine!

Her personality is starting to come out a bit too. She's funny, an observer, a little sneaky, likes her space and loves exploring. She is happy 95% of the time.

Can't you just feel the sass?

Ready for some sun!

Side by side with momma at Lainey's age.

Pigtails! Gah! Love this little girl so much.

The 'o' Face.

11 months and couldn't be sweeter.

At 11 months, Lainey...

- Has 2 teeth with a few on top just about in.
- Mimics most words and phrases
- Loves making the 'o' face
- Likes to ham it up and make others laugh
- Is a great snuggler and wonderful sleeper
- Is allergic to bell peppers apparently. Found that out the hard way. :(
- Loves dancing to 'Shake it Off'
- Likes to drink out of everyone's water bottles!

A typical day for Lainey is:
6:30-7:30am: Wake Up
8:00am: Breakfast of eggs, fruit, toast or yogurt. Girl can EAT!
9:30am: 8 oz. bottle & 1.5 hour nap
11:30am: Lunch
1:00pm: 8 oz. bottle & 1.5 hour nap
4:00pm: Snack
5:30pm: Supper
7:00pm: 8 oz. bottle & bed

Lainey: 9 Months

Miss Lainey is 9 (and a half) months old! It's been an eventful month with her first Christmas celebrations. I have to say never have I ever met a baby so happy on such little sleep. With a week+ of napping in odd places or skipping all together she not once had a melt down. Not once! She smiled through it all.

Our in-house fashionista!

Her brother can do no wrong in her book.

It was so surreal having Lainey in our family this Christmas. Years and years of praying and wishing for a baby and to finally have her here was a dream. I can't even tell you how fun it was to open adorable outfits and girl toys for her. Dream come true!

Lainey's vocabulary continues to grow and he is attempting to mimic many sounds. So far she says Mama, Dada, Bubba (Brother), Yeah, kind of says 'All done'. She is waving, doing 'so big', claps when we say 'yeahh!', kisses and copys lots (stick out tongue, vibrate lips, clicking tongue, etc.). She has two bottom teeth now as well. She pulls up to things on her knees but has not figured out how to stand yet. Totally ok with that!

Lainey and Bryn (7mo).

Dawson's Christmas 4K Program.

We are definitely seeing more of Lainey's personality. She is a fairly quiet baby with not many outbursts. She likes to be around the action and observe and take it in. She's very laid back and easy going. She is cuddly and has bright blue eyes that say a whole lot. She seems like a wise old soul in a little body....but that's coming from her Momma! ;) She smiles all the time and is very photogenic but doesn't laugh easily. Lainey is easily distracted by sound and likes to know what's going on and who is around.

Pretty sad girl after her first shower....not a fan. BUT those eyes.

Daryn and Ty...25 years later Dawson and Lainey!

Christmas partying!

Typical Day for Lainey at 9 months...
7:30am: Wake up
8:00am: Breakfast (fruit, LOVES eggs, yogurt, toast)
9:30am - 11:00am: 8oz. bottle and nap
11:30am: Lunch
1:00pm - 2:30pm: 8oz. bottle and nap
4:00pm: 8oz. bottle
5:30pm: Dinner
7:00:pm: 8oz. bottle and bed

Testing out Christmas present!

SO BIG!

She's on the move!

Lainey Bug started crawling today! Nothing is safe! ;)

 

Lainey: 8 Months

It's been so surreal this Holiday season with Lainey and our sweet family of four. For the past few years I dreamed and wondered if we would have another babe to share our family traditions with. Waiting, wishing, praying....and to have her here is pure joy. I still can't believe we have a baby...much less a girl. Pinch me!

Lainey and her gal pal Cori! <3 br="">

Lainey is so much fun lately and is into everything! She's still not crawling but gets everywhere quickly! I forget about how busy this stage (and by stage I mean years!) becomes. Every bit of anything goes right into the mouth. Things pulled off shelves and the little trails of evidence she leaves behind.

Her disposition is so, so sweet. She is smiley and happy all the time. She doesn't make much noise but when she does is a growl or 'Dadadadadada'. I adore the way she looks at Dawson and how she searches the room to find her Dad. Melt.

Waiting to pick up big brother from school.

Lainey got her first tooth this month as well! Her bottom, front, left tooth is in! None others yet, but I'm sure they are close behind. Baby food is just about a thing of the past. She way prefers actual food and bits that she can eat on her own.

She still does like her jumperoo but the time she likes to spend in it is getting shorter and shorter and she wants to move!

Lainey's schedule is fairly predictable these days which leaves us house bound a fair amount. I know I don't have to bend to her nap schedule but she's in such a great sleep pattern I don't want to even touch it. A typical day for her is...

7:00am: Wake Up
7:30am: Breakfast of toast and fruit
9:00am: 8oz. Bottle
9:00am-11:00am: Nap
11:30am: Lunch: Cheese, puff, veggie
12:30pm: 8oz. Bottle
12:30-2pm: Nap
4:00pm: 8oz. Bottle
5:30pm: Dinner
7:00pm: 8oz. Bottle
...then sleeping til 7am. A dream. I'll NEVER take it for granted! If we are up at night its because Dawson has a bad dream and/or wants to crawl in bed with us.

At 8 months...
- Claps, (kinda) waves and (kinda) signs 'milk'
- Has one tooth
- Loves to stick out her tounge
- Loves to put all things in her mouth (expect won't take a Nuk)
- Gets a little shy with strangers and will tuck her head into your neck
- Is a great snuggler
- Is in size 4 diapers and 12 month clothes

Four Generations: GG, Nana, Mama and Lainey

Lainey: 7 Months

What a fun month it has been with Miss Lainey. Lots of firsts and new things with her this month. Love the joy this girl exudes and the light in her eyes. Her presence is so calming. She loves to sit and observe all that is going on around her...but there must be something to hold her interest or she won't last long!

Lainey has started talking too! Her first word was 'Mama' and her second word being 'Dada'. She does seem to call out 'Mama' when she is in distress or growing impatient. The moment she is rescued she'll let out a sweet, soft 'Dada' with a smile. That girl!

Lainey has starting eating some more table foods as well this month. Puffs, toast, bananas, cheese, soft/steamed veggies. The girl LOVES to eat.

Lainey and I had our first 'Mother/Daughter' shopping outing, just the two of us. I can't even hardly explain the feeling...it was something I did with my mom a lot and envisioned doing the same with my daughter one day. Oh the shopping trips and memories we'll have together. Love it! And since this is a 'brag-blog' I have to mention how many people stopped us to gawk at Lainey and say how adorable and well behaved she was...and I would have to agree.

A typical day with Lainey at 7 months:
7:30am: Wake up for the day
Followed by breakfast (toast and a fruit)
9:00am: 6oz bottle and morning nap that is 45min - 90 min.
11:00am: Lunch (veggie, cheese, puffs, etc.)
12:30pm: 6oz bottle and morning nap that is 45min - 90 min.
4:00pm: 6oz bottle
5:30pm: Dinner (veggie, cheese, puffs, etc.)
6:30pm: 6oz bottle and bed

Dawson loves reading to Lainey. The sweetest boy.

At 7 months, Lainey...
- Had her first Halloween. She was an adorable Lady Bug (her nickname is Lainey Bug so I HAD to!)
- Says 'Mama' and 'Dada'
- Is rolling all over and can go from sitting to laying on her belly and vise versa. She rocks on all fours and I have a feeling will be crawling in the next month!
- Does this tip her head to the side move with a smile. It's so cute!
- Is content 95% of the time. Then goes right to screaming...not much crying.
- Dislikes her carseat so very much.
- Likes to sleep on her side or on her tummy with her little bum in the air
- Gets so excited after sleep to have someone come and get her. She flaps her arms, stiffens and bounces up and down like she is going to take off
- Loves her Jumperoo

Lainey and GG!

We love this little sweet pea so much and are so thankful God choose her to join our family.

Dawson is 5!

 

Dawson is 5. Five! Just like that we have a little big kid. A whole handful of years. Five feels like such a milestone and I can't believe I'm the mom of a 5 year old.

4 and 1/2 into 5 has been amazing. I'm loving this age with Dawson. His patience is longer, his conversations are interesting, his imagination is exploding and his creativity is expansive. He's learned so much in the past few months.

 

 

Daryn and I were talking the other day about how vast his interests are. Just an example, on his birthday he picked out an easel for his gift and spent the first few hours of the day coloring on it. Then he went outside with Daryn to play kickball and run around the house. Then he came inside read books and played his drums. We then topped the morning off with a dance off in the kitchen. I'll be curious to see what interests rise to the top, but for now I love that he has so many things he likes to do.

 

At the end of summer I wrote a post at how much I love Dawson's personality as is continues to develop. He's so sensitive, kind, caring, energetic and has such enthusiasm. He reminds me SO much of Daryn and that only grows daily. I'm so thankful for how God knit Dawson together and that he placed them in our family. He brings joy and light to whoever he interacts with.

At 5 years old, Dawson...

- Is 3'9" (88%) and 46lbs (83%)

- The Doctor projected Dawson to be 6'1" as an adult.

- Has an incredible memory and can recall details from years ago out of the blue or a fact he learned from a book.

- Is a great helper and is always asking what he can do to help around the house.

- Is a GREAT big brother. He's so sweet to his sister and loves to make her laugh. LOVE watching their relationship develop.

- Really enjoys 4K. He loves to play school at home and make up projects to do.

- Loves going to AWANA Cubbies each week. He enjoys memorizing verses and thinking about how he can tell others that God loves them. Cubbies is a highlight each week and I can definitely see the effect it has had on in heart and in his sweet spirit.

- Loves to help grocery shop and is so excited when I come home with a load of food. He has to taste test it all before we put it away.

Interview with a five year old:
1. What is your favorite color? Red
2. What is your favorite toy? Leap Reader
3. What is your favorite fruit? Watermelon
4. What is your favorite tv show? Caillou
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Chicken Nuggets
6. What is your favorite outfit? My Red Pants and 'Tough Champion' shirt
7. What is your favorite game? Candy Land
8. What is your favorite snack? Fruit Snacks
9. What is your favorite animal? Cheetah, Falcon, Kitty, Fish and Giraffe
10. What is your favorite song? Some Nights, Drummer Boy and TobyMac
11. What is your favorite book? Harold and the Purple Crayon
12. Who is your best friend? Jackson, Veda, Averi and Adelie
13. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Waffles
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Kick the red ball at the garage ball with Daddy
15. What is your favorite drink? Apple Juice and Sparkling Water
16. What is your favorite holiday? Christmas and October
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? Weenie the Beanie Baby ;)
18. What do you like best about yourself? That I'm right handed
19. What is your favorite thing to do at school?  Play with Jenna and Adelie and play with the blocks
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? A musician

Lainey: 6 Months

This girl loves to eat! Do her cheeks give that away? ;)

The. Best.

This little squish is 6 months old today. What a milestone that feels like. Hard to believe that in another 6 months we'll be celebrating her first birthday!

I love getting glimpses of her personality and thinking about what will stick and what is just a phase. People that are around her always ask, 'Is she always this happy?'. And yes, yes she is! (With a few exceptions of course.) Lainey is full of smiles, especially when her big brother is around. She is so taken with him. He loves to make her giggle too. Aren't baby giggles the best?!

Lainey sits up on her own and is rolling too. She doesn't roll much on her own and mostly just from her back to tummy. It loves to bang her arms around and suck on her toes. She will sit up on the floor and then folder over to suck on her toes...it looks so funny.

Lainey is a GREAT sleeper at night but her naps are a little touch and go...but I'll take that! She's started a bit on solid foods and is not a fan of green veggies. She will just sit in her high chair with a smile on her face and lips pressed together as if she is saying 'Oh you can try but there is no way I'm letting that in!'.

Seems like she's been growing like crazy too! I was swaying her to sleep and looked at the mirror in the room and couldn't believe how big she looked in my arms. When did that happen?

Man, does this girl ever brighten our world. We LOVE her and the life she brings to our family.

Lainey is 28" (99%) and 18lb 9oz (87%). Doc said she is the size of an average 1 year old!

I mean...seriously?

Here are what Lainey's days look like:

5:30am: Wake for a 5oz. bottle then back to sleep (however this feeding seems to be dropping)
7:00am: Up for the morning. So happy too! I love getting her out of her crib in the morning.
8:30am: 6oz. bottle
9:00am: Nap for 30min - 1.5 hours
11:30am: Baby Food
12:30pm: 6 oz. bottle
1:00pm: Nap for 1-2 hours
4:00pm: 6oz. bottle
5:30pm: Baby Food
6:30pm: 6oz bottle and bed

Went to go and check on her before bed one night and this is what I walked into!