milestones

Happy 8 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

Sweet boy, I am all sorts of behind on your blog posts but I did remember to make your 8 month board and take pictures; I feel like that counts for something (maybe backdating this entry will help…let’s all pretend it isn’t 11/21)! And while we’re on the subject, this 8 month madness felt familiar so…I looked back and confirmed: we went through the same thing with your sister!

This (last) month, you started picking up food with your two little fingers! Your movements are both clumsy and determined. You sprouted some top teeth too but you don’t like to show them nearly as much as your flash those bottom teeth. All the better to eat with, my dear!

You are on the move now, army crawling like you have somewhere to go. No one would believe you’ve had all these infections and fluid in your ears! It doesn’t slow you down during the day but it does keep you up at night. We’ve tried our best to stay on top of it and although I hate to give you yet another round of antibiotics, I am proud of you for taking your medicine well!

This past month was a whirlwind and although it came and went quickly, you did get to enjoy your buddy’s 1st birthday party and some quick weekend trips with family. You light up rooms wherever you go and make this chaos easier with your easy going demeanor.

Happy 8 Month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 7 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

I missed your true 7 month mark so what better day to celebrate than on the first official day of Fall? I’m getting ahead of myself but I cannot wait to share my favorite season with you! I have a feeling you will love the crunching leaves the best! And in honor of that, I chose your outfit today! You look like you belong in a baby American Eagle ad. Where’s your football? Why it’s stitched onto your shirt, of course!

This past month you seem to have grown exponentially! At your last checkup, your doctor even warned us that you’d be out of your infant car seat in a matter of weeks. 29 inches long. Your sister was still occupying the next size up so we had to make a flurry of purchases to get everyone sized into their next seats. I’m not complaining. You’ve gotten the hang of this sitting up thing which makes you so much easier to hold!

You. love. food. Honestly, same. Just today your teacher told me that you’re her favorite to feed because you are always excited to eat and you’re so neat and tidy when you do. I agree. I think you realize that months of spitting up was getting old so you’re treating us to the cleanest meals I’ve ever seen out of a babe.

And you’re happy. Easy going. You bop your little legs while you sit in your chair and you look around to take in all that you can see. You belly laugh for your sister (See the bottom left picture? That’s when sissy came into the room) and you snuggle deep into daddy. And momma? Well, you and I have a habit of drawn out bedtimes with books and your heavy weight on my chest. It’s bliss.

Happy 7 Month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 6 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

I’m behind again but your 6 month celebration fell at the beginning of an amazing time in the UP so it felt right to postpone this post! It was your very first family reunion (held every three years) and it was well worth the wait!

You were the perfect little traveler through car rides and tailgate feedings, pack and play sleeps and pass offs. You changed hands over and over with a smile on your face, and lots of chatter and laughs. And your cousins – oh how they love you! They could watch you all day, holding your hand, announcing your next spit up, and interpreting your baby babbles for me (“He said he wants me not you right now”)!

At reunion, you met new family and you tried a new food: Banana! You LOVE it. You were fine with avocado and peanut butter but bananas are your jam! We can tell you’re getting a hang of the mouth movement required to eat and our fingers are crossed that this is the start of less “happy spitting.”

Over the past month you’ve also been getting so much stronger. You can sit with just a little help of a Boppy behind you and you’re holding yourself upright when held, straining to see your sister and dad. The alligator rolls are getting faster and faster too. We can barely catch you these days! Along with the transition into some 9 month clothing, it’s another sign that time is flying by! We love you, big boy!

Happy 6 Month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 5 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

This is getting a little ridiculous, little love. Slow down! You shocked your family and your teachers with a new tooth this past month but to look at the pictures here, no one is surprised that one tooth so quickly became two! You are a constant pool of spit up and drool and we are oh-so-glad to have finally purchased respectable burp cloths. Those muslin burp cloths didn’t stand a chance! YUCK.

In addition to a new tooth, you also began to roll over from back to front, completing your cyclone of movement across the floor. You are so eager to move! In a continual state of kicking, wiggling and shimmying in seats, on changing tables, and in arms.

You took your first pontoon ride this month and although you are a smooth sailor in calm water, you’re not about having all that wind whipping at your face! You also celebrated your first annual 4th of July party at our house and slipped smoothly into sleep just before the first firework went off (early for the kids). You slept the whole time!

But our favorite part of this past month has been seeing your love for your sister blossom. She captivates you and you will arch yourself around from any position to see her or hear her. You love catching her eye for a smile and you are sure to reward her wild antics with your contagious belly laughs! It’s the best!

Happy 5 Month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 4 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

You little weed! You graduated into size 3 diapers and just started rolling over at the end of this month. You’re starting to sit up when we hold you but you show no signs of slowing down the spit up! Doc calls you a “happy spitter.”

In what started as an attempt to curb the constant soaked shirts, you tried oatmeal cereal and now we’ve added avocado and peanut butter to the list. Avocado is by far your fave – just like sissy!

We went to Traverse City to check in on grandma Shier and you attended your first Festival of the Arts to soak in some tunes. You’ve cashed in on our new Costco membership but thankfully you’re a natural in a shopping cart!

You’ve been sleeping through the night since week 6 and we were sure it was a fluke but you continue to show us every day (and night!) just how cool and easy going you really are.

Happy 4 Month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 3 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

Three months flew by so fast I almost missed it altogether!

This was a big month of transition, Freddy. You mastered the art of sleeping through the night before you reached your first day at daycare! We have quite the morning checklist these days but you sail through the morning routine with ease. Your teachers already love you!

Your sister keeps an eye on you at school, skipping class to hang with the babies whenever her teacher will let her. I have to pick her up first so she can give me the full report on your day. You go for walks in the stroller, play with friends, and even had your first fire alarm drill! You slept right through it, of course.

You met quite a bit of family at Easter and loved being passed around from aunts to uncles. And your grandparents? Man, they sure do love you! The chaos and commotion doesn’t rattle you as long as it’s not a surprise attack!

You’re the coolest little dude and I almost feel guilty when I tell people about your demeanor but I can’t! We appreciate you, bud!

Happy 3 month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 2 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

Two months old! How time does fly!

Thank you for answering the challenge of earning back your birth weight! You’ve now moved past size 1 diapers and are pushing into 6 month clothes. You’re as big as some of your friends who were born months earlier but not nearly as strong when it comes to tummy time!

You’ve been living up to your uncle’s nickname “Freddy Chill” and encouraging us to believe that your first month of ease wasn’t a fluke. You’re up once or twice a night and we’re grateful. We probably couldn’t handle more!

This month you accompanied your sister to her first professional dental cleaning. You charmed your first babysitter, and started exercise class with your momma. Your trips to Starbucks are still going strong.

You’re happy. Smiling by day and chuckling to yourself in sleep. Your little feet don’t stop moving when you’re on your back and we pretend you run all around the world with those busy legs! Our very own adventurer.

Happy 2 month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 1 Month, Frederick C III!

Posted on by megdanielle

Baby Freddy, how are you 1 month old already?

You are the sweetest little boy, content to sleep or silently take in your surroundings when your basic needs are met. In fact, your go-with-the-flow attitude had us fooled into thinking you were getting enough to eat when the scale proved otherwise! Let’s get you back up to your fighting weight, okay?

You’re strong and alert, locking eyes, moving toward sounds, and lifting your head. You like fans and lights and your sister’s cuddles. (You are so loved by her!)

So far in life, you’ve been to two dinner parties, a birthday party, several Starbucks runs, to Target and Lowe’s. You’ve met Emma’s friends at school, hung out with your grandparents, made new friends, and heard your first sermon.

You’ve washed the wall in urine and pooped clear across the room, causing considerable panic and even the need for eye drops… but even with all that, you are the cool to our crazy; we are in awe of you!

Happy 1 month, Frederick C III. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 1st Birthday, Emma Josephine!

Posted on by megdanielle

1year_collage

Emma Jo! How in the world has it been over a year since you came into this world??

On April 16th, 2014, you were born. You. were. BORN.

In truth, I’m speechless when I think about this past year. It’s been impossible, beautiful, encouraging, frustrating, humbling and rewarding. Over the last 12 months, you have challenged us with late nights and tossed food, wooed us with long lashes and loving hugs, surprised us with first steps and climbing, and you’ve made us proud – over milestones, yes, but more so being you. Our sweet, confident, musical baby girl.

Those reflexive, startled hands that shot up again and again as a newborn have settled into drum-beating, Duplo-pulling digits and palms. Your chubby legs have turned into skinny sticks for walking and climbing. You’re becoming a toddler before our eyes. You are sassy. Throwing your cup/paci/food/utensils/toys on the floor, you cry out “Uh oh!” again and again.

Your wardrobe has turned over 3 times and you’re starting to push for four, true to size. You exude confidence in your baby Merrells and use them to take you through the garden. You play favorites, daddy still taking the cake but you let me in on a snuggle or two! You’ve gotten over more colds than I’ve seen in years but you always have a beat in your head to bop, wiggle, clap or laugh to. You are so musical! Drums, guitars, microphones, pianos – you are your father’s daughter.

I just can’t wrap my head (or heart) around it. My little girl is 1. I’ve been waiting these past few weeks for the right words to come but instead, tears. Filled to the brim and spilling over with emotion. All emotions. Mother emotions. So powerful and deep and all wrapped into choked up, speechless gasps for breath.

*Gasp* A year *Gasp* We made it *Gasp* I love you *Gasp* I hated parts of this past year *Gasp* Your joy gives me joy *Gasp* You are beautiful *Gasp* Your father loves you *Gasp* You are a blessing *Gasp* I am old *Gasp* Time keeps getting faster *Gasp* I can’t wait to see what’s next *Gasp*

Happy birthday, Emma Josephine. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.

Happy 11 Month, Emma Josephine!

Posted on by megdanielle

11month_collage

Emma, dear, you are one short day away from being 11 months old! (11 months old?)

These past four weeks have been filled with incredible joy. THIS is what people think of when they wax nostalgic for the baby stage. You are constantly on the move, not just physically but mentally too. You go, go, go until something new catches your eye and then your wild abandon quickly becomes acute focus, your tiny fingers going over seams, zippers, cupboard doors, or instruments. Discovering. Learning. Manipulating.

You stand. You bring yourself up on your own with wobbly legs and when you sit, you do so slowly, with intention, lowering your body safely to the ground. You do not plop to your bottom; you are strong. You love to run with your walker but if it’s not around, you use the bar stool, laundry baskets, the ottoman! Anything that slides across the floor. For heavy objects, you lean in and grunt until the item begins to budge, our very own strongman.

You love to try new foods, rejecting only bananas and pureed beef. (I read “beets,” I’ll have you know). Your appetite thrills us and we chuckle over reports of two servings of mac ‘n’ cheese at daycare for lunch. ‘Atta girl! You love chugging water, throwing your head back with sippy cup in hand, and you prefer to feed yourself. That independent thread is woven throughout your being, from feeding to playing, learning and persisting. You’re fearless.

Transitions are hard but I can relate. We see the tired creep into your eyes and know when you’re fighting a much needed nap. When family is around, you prefer to pry those lids wide to not miss a thing. You communicate to all of us by pointing, clapping, waving, patting, dancing, and “dadada/mamama/nanana/bababa”-ing. You sit for reading and play while bathing. You understand a warning but don’t much care to heed one without distraction.

We think you’re the funnest human being we know and we love this stage, delightfully devouring every new thing you do. We are constantly calling to each other to “Watch this!” or “Listen to that!” – full of Emma-awe and parent
pride.

Happy 11 month, Emma Josephine. You are a blessing to this family and a joy.