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Thursday, February 2, 2012

7 Months

Somehow you are closer to a year than you are to the day you were born.

We are on the upswing to your 1st birthday - crazy!

This month has brought lots of new milestones and changes. You are getting to be such a big girl!

(I tried to save a bad camera setting here. I don't even know the camera settings, but it definitely wasn't on the right one for this adorable picture so I did my best to salvage it!)
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I decided it was time to put the swing away. We were relying on it for naps too much, and I knew it would be easier to break this habit now than when you no longer fit in the swing. So you are now napping in your crib and doing very well! Your naps vary from 45 minutes to an hour and a half. Most of the time we can just lay you down, turn on your waterfall music and you put yourself to sleep. Sometimes I will rock you to sleep (this is more for me than you though!).

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We also switched you over to the convertible car seat. You were getting too heavy in the carrier and are such a big girl sitting up on your own now so we didn't really need it anymore. You seem to be quite comfy in your new seat. I will have to get a picture of you in there wearing your adorable pink bear snowsuit.

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A big change this month is that I am no longer pumping at work. We are still nursing in the morning and at night, but we decided to do formula during the day, although we are still working through my freezer stash of breastmilk yet. So at daycare you usually get 3 bottles - 2 of those are half formula/half breastmilk and the third is all formula. When you are at home with me on Fridays and the weekend, you usually just get 2 bottles during the day. Our schedule is a little different than the daycare, but it all seems to be working great. You have done great on formula so far. I honestly think you will drink anything from a bottle - you love to eat girl!

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You are also getting 3 'meals' a day now. I send breakfast and lunch to daycare with you and you eat dinner with us at home. We have tried a lot of different Stage 2 foods now, as well as puffs and mum mums. As I said before, you love to eat and so far we haven't found anything you don't like. You are working on that pincer grasp with the puffs. Most of the time the puff ends up in the palm of your hand and your whole fist goes in your mouth, but every once in awhile you get one in! You seem to be enjoying more the little sippy of water you get with each meal

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You have the biggest, brightest, most beautiful eyes (see picture above!) and your cheeks are the most kissable ones I've ever seen (see picture below!).

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You are constantly rolling over to your belly now. And have finally started rolling back as well. This means that you can officially roll across the room. It doesn't happen often and there definitely has to be something worth rolling towards, but you can do it. You did this for the first time last week. Periodically, you will still throw a fit on your tummy and wait for someone to roll you over, but you can do it yourself!

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We have also seen you spin in a circle on your belly. There is no forward (or backward) motion yet, but you can spin around really well. Army crawling is most likely next! We have warned your brother that he has to be extra good about picking up his toys since you are just about on the move!

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You are sleeping through the night again! After an almost 3-month hiatus from sleeping through the night, it's back! I might get up once if I hear you making noise (seems to always be between 3 and 4) and give you your paci, but most days, I just let you be and you fall back asleep on your own. During the week you are usually asleep by 7/7:15. By 6:45 you are literally rubbing your eyes to death. As much as I would like you to stay up a little bit longer so we can play, I feel like I am torturing you. So we usually go to your room where I nurse you and rock you and hold you for a long time. I am making sure I take full advantage of having a sleeping baby in my arms because I know it doesn't last! You usually wake up around 6:30. We get you changed and then you play for a little bit while I finish getting ready for work. We nurse and off we go for the day. The morning rush is actually pretty relaxed for the most part these days.

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You still smile a lot and we can really get you giggling now too! I am talking really great belly laughs! The person that makes you smile the most is your brother. You sure do love him! You follow his every move. He has been a terrific big brother lately and seems to have a lot of stories to tell you. And you are still a mama's girl :) You also make all kinds of fun sounds now too. I swear you say "Hi!". Ok, maybe you don't but it sure sounds like it!

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What you don't like these days are men - ha! We got a little glimpse of this at your 6-month appointment when you sort of freaked out when Doctor came into the room. When Papa was here on Sunday you made the saddest pouty face ever when you saw him. You got over it and played with Papa, but I think we may have this issue with all men or at least men with facial hair (like Papa and Doctor). You also don't like people in hats - even Daddy. You made that same sad, pouty face when Daddy went to pick you up while he was wearing a hat. Once he took it off, you were fine. So we showed you over and over again that it was Daddy with the hat on and with it off. Punky (daycare teacher) was wearing a hat the other day too and you reacted the same way. Your brother never had this stranger anxiety so this is new for us. I have a feeling the dressed-up characters won't make you as happy as they do/did your brother!

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That pretty much sums up the past month. You are growing so fast, but you are still our squishy, cuddly baby girl.

Happy 7 Months Paigey girl! We love you!

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Tuesday, January 31, 2012

The Pictures Are In!

First up, the school (daycare) pictures are in! I just wanted to buy the group shot, but of course you have to buy a package so I figured I might as well get the staged picture of the two kids together. Gotta love school pictures! (I have 8 wallets to give away...who wants them???) These are pictures of pictures so not the best quality!

Remember the last time I had bought these pictures??? Check it out here!

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They did the group picture on MLK Day so that the after-school kids can be there too. So that is why there are quite a few older kids in the picture too. Also, 5 of the kids in the picture belong to Punky. It's hard to tell but Paige is actually smiling. There is one teacher missing - Punky's mom Sai.
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The second set of pictures that are in are Paige's 6 month pics we had done. You can check out our photographer here. She will be doing some family pics for us in early July.

You can check out the whole gallery on her website. Go to her website, click "Clients", choose "Z Family", and the password is zukowski. The pictures are only there until Friday 2/3.

We just did a mini session and were able to get the cd of images so here are a few of my favorites!






Saturday, January 28, 2012

A Tea Party and a Picnic for Two

Watching these two play together makes my heart smile! Luke has been an exceptional big brother lately. I catch him saying the sweetest & cutest things to Paige.

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I thought the grandparents might enjoy this video of the two of them!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Beach Babe

Well, unfortunately, we aren't headed to the beach anytime soon, but we are taking our 2nd annual trip to Key Lime Cove waterpark next month. So that means, baby girl needed a swimsuit! I found a cute one at Target and tried it on her last night.

Getting ready for the big reveal!
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And here it is!
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I mean, really, I may be bias, but isn't she the cutest, squishiest baby you have ever seen?!?!
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Those thighs are to die for!
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And the dimple on her right shoulder - love it!
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She's not shy - check out her belly!
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Can't wait to see her in the water!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Snow

We got out and played in the snow on Sunday afternoon.

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Nala joined us too!
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We made snow angels!
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We threw a lot of snowballs!
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Look out....
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snowball headed at you!!!
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Lukey's turn to get Daddy!
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We didn't stop smiling!
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We rolled around in the snow!
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And then Luke and Daddy made a pretty awesome snowman! (We tried to use celery sticks for arms, but it didn't quite work.)
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Luke was telling Frosty to smile.
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We found eyes for the snowman - yay!
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Who needs a hill and a sled? Daddy made our own little slope! (Paige woke up from her nap so I had to take these pictures from inside!)
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Fun times! And now all the snow has melted - until next time!