Hanging Around with Monkey

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Merrie's 1st Birthday Party

Fantastic Friends Pink Birthday

Click here to browse Shutterfly birthday card designs.

View the entire collection of cards.

Monday, April 30, 2012

April was a month of growing...mostly socially and mentally. We seem to have a child who wants to stay small.
Socially, Merrie has hundreds of friends, pretty much anyone near her. At church she "talks" to everyone. She hasn't quite figured out the need to stay quiet during the service. Luckily we have a great church with young people with small kids, middle aged people who have kids and grandparents...so no one cares when she adds her "amen" every once in a while. Sometimes, it even sounds like she is saying real words.
Merrie has hit all of the movement, vision, and cognitive milestones for 7 months :) She has hit each language milestone except responding to "no". But then again, if she's like her mom she might just be ignoring it.
I looked at milestones for 8-12 months and she is even reaching some of those.
Merrie is now eating stage 2 baby foods, we'll start her on stage 3 next week after we go through each stage 2 food again.
She likes: pears, green beans, sweet potatoes, squash, and prunes.
She does NOT like: peas :) or bananas :(
Here is a snapshot schedule of a weekday for us:
Up at 2, 4 and 6 to eat
6:00 - 6:45: play in play-pen until mommy is up and showered
6:45 - 7:15: eat and play with mommy
7:15 - 8:00: back in pen to play
8:00 - 9:30: play with daddy
9:30 - 10:30: nap
10:30 - 10:45: bottle (5 oz)
10: 45 - 12:30: play with daddy
12:30 - 1:00: nap
1:00 - 1:15: solid food
1:15 - 3:30: play with daddy
3:30 - 4:00: nap
4:00 - 4:15: bottle (5 oz)
4:15 - 5:30: play with daddy/mommy
5:30 - 6:00: walk with mommy
6:00 - 6:30: nap
6:30 - 6:45: nurse/solid food
6:45 - 7:30: relax with mommy and daddy
7:30 - 8:00: bath/story time
8:00: bed time
Of course this is just a snap shot, her naps especially change constantly.
Here are her stats for right now:
Length: 26 inches - 25th percentile
Weight: 15lbs 6 oz - 10th percentile

Meeting mommy's trumpet Fredryck, and playing with grass for the first time

eating the measuring tape

My first Easter and stats pic

playing with the rings

got a new tub

eating food - squash

Friday, April 6, 2012

Month 6 - March 2012

I am amazed that it has been 6 months since our lives changed so dramatically. We've been through a lot that last month. Here are some updates:

Merrie is now:

Wearing size 2 diapers
Wearing mostly 3-6 month clothes, but some 3 month and even newborn stuff still fits
Can sit up by herself if put in a sitting position for a couple minutes
LOVES tummy time :)
Can roll over, and actually prefers now to be on her stomach
Hasn't figured out that her legs can go underneath her yet
Has tried green beans and carrots so far - both were successes
Drinks 3 - 5 oz bottles of breast milk during the day, nurses every couple hours when I'm home
Likes to splash during bath time
LOVES her twin in the mirrow
Can stand up without help from mommy or daddy, if she's holding onto something else (like the edge of the table)
Loves to talk to herself or anyone who will listen

Stats:

weight: 14lbs 3 oz; between 10 and 25th percentile
height: 25 1/2 inches; between 25 - 50th percentile

In general, Merrie is growing by leaps and bounds it seems. She is amazing and a great addition to our family. We've decided to stay home this year and not travel at all - for a variety of reasons. This will be really tough on me personally, but hopefully it will be beneficial to the development of our small family.

New sleeping position - on her side

Favorite Toy

Monday, March 12, 2012

Month 5 - February 2012

February was a month of first. Merrie learned to roll over from front to back and back to front. She can stand un-helped for a couple seconds. She watches us eat and wants to put EVERYTHING into her mouth. Tummy Time is not as much of a chore as it was before. We also got rid of the bassinet and replaced it with her play pen. This makes getting her out of it more difficult, but she's more comfortable.
We went to the Valentine's Dance at RBMS and Merrie was really alert for the whole thing (unlike the Christmas dance where she slept the whole time). Sorry about the sideways pics, I can't seem to figure them out.
Length 23 in = below percentile 5
Weight 13 lb 5 oz = between percentile 10 and 25

Wearing an outfit made by Great-Grandpa Paul for mommy as a baby

V-day outfit!

Trying out the sippy cup

Standing

"Little Sis"

Wearing mommy and daddy's rings

In Sierra Vista with Aunt Em

Hanging out in the exer-caucer

Watching the Super Bowl

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Month 4 - January 2012

The beginning of January marked a new year and the beginning of Merrie's 4th month of life. We left Michigan after ringing in the New Year with Aunt Rita, Uncle Fred and other family members. We also visited Daddy's mom and sister in Ohio. We returned to Arizona on the 9th, only to find out Merrie had gotten RSV while in Michigan. We spent one long day in the ER, although the verdict wasn't quite clear at that point, the nurses said she was fine. At the follow up doctor appt, the doctor only called it RSV because there was no other name. Basically, Merrie couldn't keep anything down (or not much anyway). She wasn't dehydrated, didn't have a fever and was still responsive. We feel, it was just a bit of a shock to have the weather change she did so fast. During January, Merrie found her hands for real (discovered they had purpose, and started grabbing things). She also started talking and giggling. It's so fun to hear her attempt words.
At her 4 month appt the end of January, Merrie weighed 12 lbs 2 oz and was 23 inches long. She's still small for her age, but has a percentile and is on the curve, so the doctor isn't worried.
Length = between percentile 5 and 10
Weight = between percentile 10 and 25

Going to Grandpa and Grandma Scott's church

Meeting Angie. She worked with Mommy and Daddy

Meeting Grandma Marguerite

Meeting Aunt Jessie and cousin Damian

All of my girl cousins. Ella, Madelyn, Nora, Abigail and Amelia

Aunt Rita and Uncle Fred

with Uncle Steve

With Aunt Paula

With Aunt Sarah

I started holding a bottle well, this month

I can stand against things now

first swing ride

First slide ride

With mommy on her birthday.

Month 3 - December 2011

Merrie spent her 3rd month preparing and spending time in Michigan. We spent Christmas day at home, just the 3 of us and then left for 2 weeks in Michigan the next day. While in Michigan, she was able to meet her grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and "big sister" Naomi. Everyone was really excited to see her. Merrie also went to her first Middle school dance that month.
At 3 months she weighed 12 lbs and 22.5 inches.
Length = in percentile 10
Weight = between percentile 25 and 50