Little Miss E: 18 Month Update

Little E is actually 19 months old TODAY, but I'm going to make this post her 18 month update as I reflect on her life the last couple months.

First up...stats from her doctor's appointment. Still long & lean. Weight is 22 pounds and height is 32 1/2 inches. Next doctor appointment is right on her 2nd birthday.

She has 12 teeth and is currently working on more. She gets really excited to brush her teeth. She pitter-patters to the bathroom as fast as she can when we tell her it's time. The actual brushing part is harder though as she tends to fight it. I think when she finally has all her teeth it will become easier for everyone! Teething pain is no fun! I oftentimes wonder if we should have gotten an amber teething necklace for her, but I figure it's a little late now to start. She has her first dentist appointment scheduled for the day before her 2nd birthday.

Eating has been rough, to say the least. She seems to be getting pickier and pickier. She won't pick up a  vegetable for the life of her, so we're doing a lot of "green" smoothies and trying to find ways to sneak them in her little mouth. Meat is also a struggle. Everything else is ok for the most part. She loves fruit, carbs of any kind, dairy, and peanut butter. Current favorites are strawberries, bananas, applesauce, toast with peanut butter, any type of cracker, cottage cheese, shredded or sliced cheese, scrambled eggs, pancakes, and ice cream.

Sleep is still great! Still 12 hours at night and a couple hours for a nap right after lunch. She likes waving goodnight to the fish on her ceiling from her sound and light projector and saying goodnight to the birds on her mobile. She sleeps with a little "blankie"(aka burp cloth), a little bunny and elephant lovey (Arya's old ones!), a glow seahorse (I wouldn't waste your money on one), a blanket to cover up with, and a pacifier (still). We're starting to think about when to switch her to a big girl bed, but she seems to doing just fine in the crib, so we're in no big hurry.

She still LOVES reading. Little E will gather up every book she can find, say "sit, sit" (sometimes pronouncing it as a four letter bad word by sneaking an h in there), pat the couch or rocking chair with her hand a couple times, and then insist on reading. She is starting to get selective with her choices. Sometimes in the beginning of a book,  she'll say "no", slam the book shut, set it aside, and get another book. She is getting bored with her more recent favorites, rediscovering her old baby favorites, and finding new favorites. Today she loves Jamberry, The Foot Book, Hairy Maclary From Donaldson's Dairy, Curious George's Opposites, Blue Hat, Green Hat, and her new Gossie books. One month ago, her favorites were Red Truck, Hooray for Fish, Curious Kitties, Doggies, Cars Galore, and Oink Moo Meow. 

In the very rare instance she is not reading, she likes playing with her kitchen and food, working on puzzles (she is quickly getting better at them!), putting blocks or other small toys in and out of containers, waving around her play silks or playing hide and seek with them, running around with her walker toy, carrying her foam bath letters, and playing with her fridge DJ. I also found a cute baby doll at a garage sale for a quarter that she likes to hug and give kisses. There are many, many other toys that I would like to get for her, but I'm learning to use restraint (especially since 9 times out of 10 she goes for her books!). I am excited for her birthday and Christmas though to finally have a valid excuse to get her a couple new toys.

Erin is starting to say more and more words, but is still mostly quiet. No (no-wa), Yes (yis), Sit (s*it), oops (oos), and duck are the words we hear most often. She points to Brisco or Willie (Gma & Gpa Camp's dog) and says "no, no, no" (poor dogs!). She will say lots of animal sounds (cow, sheep, dog, cat, monkey, snake, wolf pup), will say "beep, beep" for a car, and will say "wee, wee, wee" for the last little piggy. She will also repeat many words upon request when reading.

Current favorite songs are "Row, Row, Row Your Boat", "Baa, Baa Black Sheep", "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes", "Jesus Loves Me", and "Skinnamarinki Dinky Dink". She doesn't watch TV at home, so I'm not sure if she has any favorite shows (she does watch some TV at her babysitter's place).

Mostly, Erin is just a happy, lovable, adaptable little gal. She'll easily put a smile on anyone's face and everyone she meets comments how sweet she is (thankfully she's only thrown tantrums at home for now!). I feel so incredibly blessed to be her mama. I honestly didn't know I could love a little person so much!

Little Miss E: 15 Month Update

Baby Erin is not much of a baby anymore! She turned 15 months old on January 30th. Crazy, crazy, crazy!

Height: 30 inches

Weight: 20 pounds

Teeth: Just got her fifth tooth on January 30th (lower lateral incisor). Looks like many more are on their way too!

Diapers: Size 3

Clothes: Size 12-18M. Erin is long and lean! 12 month pants are too big around the waist, but are quickly getting too short. 18 month pants are huge around the waist, but are perfect for length.

Mealtimes have been really hit and miss lately. One day she eats everything on her plate quickly and happily. The next day she'll refuse to even try her food. I'm hoping this is teething related and will pass shortly! Favorite foods include: graham crackers, cheese, spaghetti, pizza, pancakes, grapes, cottage cheese, and applesauce. She prefers to drink out of a straw and has struggled with a normal sippy cup. After much effort though (mostly thanks to her babysitter), I think she's finally figuring out how to lift up a cup! I hope to switch to a regular cup when it's not so freezing cold out. Hurry up spring!

Erin loves reading her books, playing with blocks, putting away toys, walking (more like running) around, giggling, climbing, sitting in her new chair from Gpa Oelrich, finding and petting the kitties at Gma & Gpa Camp's house, and playing with stacking toys and puzzles.

We try to give Erin a bath every 2-3 days after supper and before bedtime. She seems to enjoy baths as long as she has a toy or two to play with! She shivers and giggles getting out of the tub, refuses to let go of whatever bath toy she happens to have, and looks mighty adorable in her new hooded towel from Gma Oelrich!

Erin will say dada, mama, briskee, kitty, uh-oh, whoa, yeah, what's that, (basically the same as last month). She has excellent non-verbal communication by pointing, making faces, gasping in excitement, pushing something away, etc. She makes the funniest faces and sounds!

Sleep continues to be great, thankfully! Her bedtime is usually around 7pm and she usually wakes up on her own around 7:30am. She usually takes one nap (2-3 hours) after lunchtime. We still use the sound machine and the light projector and Erin still uses a pacifier (but doesn't use it at all outside of her crib except for the sermon at church). We also read a couple books and say a prayer before she goes to sleep at night.

We've just started working on identifying body parts. So far she only understands nose. She waves bye. She has started to give her stuffed animals and dolls hugs which is so cute. She can take off her mittens and hat and put her mittens IN her hat so that they can be put in her coat sleeve. She'll oftentimes take off her mittens, hat, and socks (if we don't have shoes on her) during car rides. This is rather inconvenient during our arctic winter!

Also, Erin is usually great during church (thankfully). She normally plays and reads quietly during the service. Every once and awhile she'll start fussing and one of us will have to carry her out, but so far it hasn't been bad at all. There are other little ones at our church, so Erin's little noises kind of blend right in :)

Sweet Erin, you are awesome and oh so loved!

First Birthday Party...Pig Themed

We celebrated Erin's 1st birthday party on the Sunday after her birthday. Gma & Gpa Camp were super gracious and let us use their home.

I decided on a pig theme for her party because I used to collect pig things and I didn't want to spend much money. Plus it's naturally pink and girly!

This pig cork board (complete with pig push pins!) made for a fun way to welcome guests. It features a newborn pic, 6 month pic, and 1 year pic of Erin.

The fireplace was decorated with stuffed pigs, a homemade photo banner with some of my favorite Instagram pics, a couple framed photos, and a couple Shutterfly photo books of Erin.

Another Instagram banner was strung across the wide doorway into the living room.

Pink balloons decked out like pig faces were hung above the dining room table. (Funny pig faces courtesy of Drew.)

I made Erin's piggy smash cake.

Plus little piggy cupcakes for the guests!

Erin only nibbled at her cake. She was more interested in feeding me. I made this pig party hat for Erin. Gma Oelrich made the sweet personalized pig onesie! 

The meal consisted of lasagna, garlic bread, green beans, fresh fruit, cupcakes, and punch. I made little bags of a snack mix (plus a photo of Erin) for favors.

Erin's favorite people made it to her party (with a few missing). We are so blessed to have such wonderful, loving families nearby and we miss the ones that live far away!

Erin was showered with great birthday gifts! She wasn't really into opening them, but Brodyn did an awesome job helping her out!

I love these photos of Erin with some of her aunts & uncles!

And a family picture! Erin's face cracks me up :)

All in all...it was a low-key and relaxing little gathering to celebrate our baby girl. What a joy she has been to our lives!!

Daily Tidbits

Alarm goes off at 6:45.

Sleep til 7:30 (oops!)

Quickly get dressed and ready.

Take Brisco out and feed him.

Wake up Erin and get her dressed and bundled up.

Drop Erin off to her home daycare and go to work at 8:00.

Bank clock said 3 degrees this morning. Brrr.

Go home for lunch at 12:30.

Take Brisco out.

Eat a salad for lunch.

Back to work shortly after 1:00

Leave work at 4:30.
Pick up Erin.
Take Brisco out.

Notice pretty sunset through our back trees.

Sadly notice that the UPS guy didn't drop off any packages (I'm waiting for watercolor paint supplies)

Feed Brisco.

Attempt to make a new recipe.

Realize my spaghetti sauce is frozen solid.

Realize my huge jar of frozen sauce won't fit into the microwave to defrost.

Remember that the defrost button quit working a couple days ago.

Switch to making homemade pizza using a new, quick crust recipe.

Eat supper.

Erin approves.

Thirsty girl drank close to 12oz of milk.

Cleaned up Erin and supper.
Time for 20 minutes of playtime before Erin's bedtime.
Erin goes straight for her books.
Read 6-7 books per Erin's requests.
Jammies, prayer, and bedtime for Erin shortly after 7:00.
Take Brisco out.
Relax & realize how much I miss Drew. (He'll be back Monday)
Take Brisco out.
In bed hopefully by 10:30.

New Year, New Start

I'm starting the year off with a new blog! I'll try to post regularly, but I'm making no promises.

Erin and I got to spend the whole day together. It was a relaxing and fun day filled with puzzles, coloring, music, walking, climbing, and lots and lots of stories. My heart's desire is to be a stay-at-home mama and I cherish whenever I get to spend a full day with her.

Erin turned 14 months old on December 30th. She also decided to walk that day! Her favorite foods are crackers, blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs, pears, applesauce, Great Grandma's cinnamon rolls, pizza, cheese, and any bread product. She does not like peaches or tomatoes. She is an excellent sleeper, consistently sleeping 12 hours at night and about 2 hours during the day. She LOVES books. She'll choose her books over her toys 9 times out of 10. Her favorites are Moo Baa La La La, On the Go with Mickey and Minnie, Baby Cakes, and The Busy Little Elf. 

Erin's first word was "Briskee" (nickname of our dog, Brisco) at around 12 months old. Soon to follow were "kitty", "uh oh", "whoa", and "what's that". (She has a bird mobile above her crib. Drew and I would oftentimes point to it and ask her, "What's that? Your birdies?" She picked up the "what's that" but not "birdies".) The other day at around suppertime, I asked her, "are you hungry?" and she replied plain as day with "hungry". She also speaks lots and lots of jibberish (almost constantly) which I'm sure will change to English before I know it.

All in all, Erin has been SUCH a blessing and I am beyond excited to get to know her more in 2014!