15 Months Old posted late

Stella,

Another month has passed and you're another month older. I can't believe what a big girl you are now. You're a little better at listening this month than last, but are still a little wild woman. You are following simple directions more consistently and respond better when we tell you "no". You're repeating a lot but so much is jibber jabber that it's hard to decipher the real words in there. I need to get a video of your "talking" because it's so cute and nearly constant. You have a LOT to say! Your sleeping hasn't improved a ton this month although you had ONE night where you slept all night long and I even had to wake you to nurse before I had to leave that morning. You generally are up once a night, but some nights are worse than others. I was convinced you were cutting your canines on the top earlier this month and then they went away and your crankiness improved, without any new teeth. My new thing is worrying about your bottom tooth. You have 3/4 of your bottom teeth and I recently learned your Aunt Charlotte also doesn't have that tooth. So now I'll worry until it appears...or not. You are going through a huge mama phase and cry a lot of the times I pass you off to others, even Daddy. I had to stop dropping you in the childcare area at the YMCA because they would come get me since you were crying so much. It's a bummer, but I'm hoping a little time will solve that problem and we can try again. Your eating is hit or miss and you still love meat. You love dairy although it definitely makes your reflux worse. With your cold we actually had to increase your reflux meds this month because you seemed uncomfortable a lot and weren't eating as well. You are down to one nap a day and usually nap at the same time as your sisters. You nap anywhere from 2-3 hours most days and I love that down time when everyone is sleeping. It's so nice when the house is so quiet, although it never seems to last long enough. You have such a big personality and add so much to our family. I just love you little Stella.

crazy girl

Looking at the trees at the tree farm

The only Santa she would go near

Not so sure about him...

Accidental twinning with Mama

Christmas Eve 

She wanted to carry her stocking just like her sisters did. 

More twinning 

I'll jump on any breastfeeding bandwagon. These pics were going around social media so I made one for us too. 

Stella 8 Months

I can't believe my baby is 8 months old already (well, 8 1/2 practically at this point, but oh well).

Stella,

You are such an excited, adorable, and exuberant little girl. You want to do everything your sisters do and giggle like crazy when they play with you. You're rolling all over the place and scooting backwards so never are in the same place I left you. You LOVE food and will eat anything we offer you. There are nights where I swear you eat more than your sisters. We are doing mainly baby led weaning with some purees. You just love it all! Initially you had a hard time with pureed foods, but you've definitely got it down now. You are still nursing 4-5 times a day and a couple times a night. You cut your first tooth and sleep went seriously down hill. We need to get your daddy on board for some self-soothing before you forget how to sleep without my boob in your mouth. You're still a little peanut at about 13.6 pounds but are wearing mostly 6-12 month clothes now. You have a really close relationship with your sister Lucy and I can tell how much you look up to her already. A lot of your mannerisms are like hers already. You also do the "butt bumping" as we called it for Lucy and flap and flail your arms and hands like a wild woman. I can tell how much you love your sisters company as when you're alone you're so much fussier. You really miss them when you have to go places with just mommy, especially in the car. This month you finally starting babbling some other sounds like "mamama". It's usually only when you're upset or sad, but at least it's not "dadadada" all the time anymore. You love your bath and splash and kick like crazy. This month brought your first ear infection and I'm amazed it took so long with fluid just sitting in your ears. I'm so excited for you to get tubes and to be able to hear well (hopefully). Life is so amazing with you in it! I just love you so much!

Stella 6 months

Stella- You really are one of the happiest and most alert babies I know. You love, love your big sisters something huge and watch everything they do very closely. You love that Lucy holds your hand and sings to you in the car and really missed her the week we rented a van and you were in the middle row alone. You're getting so much better at sitting and can stay up independently without toppling over for a few short minutes. You've even started to catch yourself when you fall to one side or another. You roll back to front and front to back consistently and have started to rotate your body like a little clock, turning all the way around while playing on your back. You've also started bridges or "butt bumping" as we called it when Lucy was a baby. You are wearing mostly 6 month clothing but aren't huge. Your weight is similar to your sisters at only 12.9, but your head is in the 83rd percentile! You've recently changed up your napping routine and only nap about twice a day, maybe three times. Your naps are longer, but it's much more exhausting with you up all the time and harder to predict when you will sleep. You babble "dadadada" all day long but haven't figured out the lip closure for the mama sound. It's all about that little tongue of yours! You're getting a little better with the drooling and open mouth posture and I think food has helped a lot. You have no idea what to do with a pureed food, but anything with a little texture gets munched right up. You've tried sweet potato, acorn squash, pinto beans, zucchini cakes, and puffs. You still have fluid in your ears but will hopefully get tubes placed soon. You light up and smile when you see me or your sisters and you're generally very friendly with strangers. You got baptized in an April snow storm. Getting there was crazy stressful and then the priest was having balance issues and nearly dropped you. I'm so glad you were okay. You're still not a great sleeper and never want to miss a thing. Getting you to fall asleep is often a challenge, and you're really not going any super long stretches at night. You're generally up 1-2 times a night to eat. This month you took your first plane ride and felt the sand in your toes for the first time. You really are a joyful and wonderful baby and I can't imagine our family without you. 

St Patrick's Day 

Looking down from the top of the stairs. Such a cute little face!

We are ready for a mini van!

Eating some mum mum crackers. 

Trying out our bathing suits. 

Fri-yay!!!

No one cried! 

A new hat from Grandma Becky!

Hanging with Togie. 

We had to stop swaddling with muslin blankets are start using this. Muslin was getting too tough. 

Easter Sunday. 

This! This is why we need a van. To keep the baby safe from eating things like napkins in the car. 

Piggy back from Lucy. 

Baptism

Love this photo.