Phoebe is one!

This year went so fast, I can't believe our little girl is one!!  We celebrated last weekend with family and friends.  I stayed up until 2am making a marzipan forest for the cake, and I'm so glad I did.  I hope Phoebe felt that her birthday was special, because it was for us.  What a year it was, it feels like yesterday that we were at the hospital with our newborn; it also feels like a very long time ago.  "The days are long, but the years are short."  I'm feeling pretty nostalgic now that Phoeb is a real toddler!  We love you times infinity bagillion, Phoebe!  Happy Birthday!!

Phoebe is doing so many amazing new things: cruising along the furniture, walking with support, just starting to stand unsupported, pointing, recognizing words (especially the pets' names!), taking naps in the stroller and car (finally!), drinking cow's milk, doing the "come here" gesture with her hands... she amazes us.  She continues to be an excellent waver, waving at any friendly face -- or anything interesting that she sees!  We go on at least two walks each day and we get really excited when we pass another doggie or a blow-up Santa.  I'm a little embarrassed to say that Phoebe also gets really excited when we pull into the Target parking lot and she recognizes the bullseye - or the red carts - or both.  A trip to Target usually  means we share a grilled cheese sandwich at their Starbucks.  Phoebe was an excellent Christmas shopping side kick.  We thoroughly investigated the North Jersey retail scene together, we even made it to Walmart (hopefully not again soon - yeesh).  Phoebe has four top teeth and two on the bottom.  We go to a local music class and a puppet show each week.  I am so lucky and grateful to be Phoebe's mom.  We love you beyond words, Phoeb!! 

Nine & ten months

Nine and ten months!  This has been such a sweet and precious time.  Phoebe is officially crawling, pulling up to stand, has two bottom teeth, and is clapping and waving like crazy.  She waves at almost everyone and everything, as if to say "hi, I see you."  We can't get enough.  We just retired the jumperoo, only to be replaced by the "activity garden."  We're starting to feel really nostalgic as Phoebe approaches one year.  How is it possible?!  She's babbling so much and saying "baba" and "nana" and "dada."  She graduated to a bigger convertible carseat, and I don't want to jinx it, but is crying much less and has started falling asleep (finally!) in the car.  Phoebe loves her kitties and doggie, but has started giving them some sneak attacks and squeezes... which don't always go over well.  Now that Phoebe is pretty mobile, she loves making a bee line for the dog food.  We love you, love you, love you, Phoeb!!  We can't believe how unbelievably lucky (and a little tired ;) we are to be your parents. 

Our fourth anniversary!

Happy fourth anniversary to my husband and best friend!  Today we celebrated by welcoming home Ducky from the hospital.  Poor guy had a tampon obstructing his intestine (???!?!?!?).   Serendipitously, the wine store next to the animal hospital had the white wine we served at our wedding!  Of course, had to have.  We enjoyed our Blue Apron dinner tonight, fed Duck lunchmeat in his doggy bed, and best of all, enjoyed our little chub.  I couldn't imagine a better fourth anniversary.  Thank you for marrying me, Chris!

Eight months

Wow, eight months.  We've started casually daydreaming about Phoebe's first birthday, less than four months away.  I say this every day, like every parent does: it's gone so fast.  New this month we have: sitting in the shopping cart (!), eating more chunky foods, eating "puffs" with her pincer grasp (= lots of puffs on the floor, dog is in heaven), splashing in the water, and doing a backwards wave/come hither gesture with her hand.  We've been going on lots of walks around our new neighborhood and last week we drove back and forth to Brooklyn three days in a row, doing a lot of schlepping.  Phoebe was so patient while we got the old apartment ready for new tenants.  Girlfriend is wearing 12-18 and 18-24 month sized clothing!  We used to say that Phoebe is an "enthusiastic" eater, now Chris has started calling her an "aggressive" eater.  Spoons go crashing and if the pace isn't fast enough, we hear about it.  We love everything about you Phoeb, we are SO proud of you!!

Seven months

Phoebe is doing so much big kid stuff: sitting in a high chair, moving around on the floor (every direction except forward!), taking the train to swim lessons, trying lots of new foods, going on the swings, grabbing the tv remote!  Every morning, we go to the dog park and playground.  Needless to say, I could probably fill a hundred of these blurry swing collages :)  Phoebe is loving her food - she loves sweet potatoes, guacamole, and gnawing on a juicy peach.  We can't get over you, Phoebe.  Smooches!

Six months

Now that Phoebe is almost seven months, I shall post her six month update.  A lot has happened this month!  I took these pictures the day before we moved(?!).  Once Chris and I decide something, we move pretty fast.  We needed to be closer to Chris's new office in North Jersey, so we started looking for apartments.  Within three weeks, we found a great little apartment with private backyard, and moved in.  It was overwhelming and exhausting, but it was the right move for us.  Phoebe is doing amazing things every day.  She is getting so BIG!  She's in the 75th percentile for weight now and 58th for height.  The girl loves her solids.  We got our Beaba baby food maker working and Phoebs looks like such a big kid holding her pouches:

Phoebe starts swim lessons next week, we're looking for a new music/sing-along class (hard because our old one was perfect :/ )... oh - and Phoebe's baptism is this Sunday.  Life is so full and so good.  We love you so much, Phoebs!

On the floor

I'm getting more comfortable with Phoebe and Duck on the floor together.

Five months

Five months!  I just love these pics of Phoebe at her first ever music sing along this week.  She had never seen so many kids!  She also had her hair pulled for the first time, luckily there wasn't too much hair for the other baby to grab onto ;)

Phoebe is casually trying some solids.  She likes bananas, avocados/guacamole, hummus, cereal, and her baby teething biscuits.  Duck is also INSANE for the biscuits.  Our pediatrician gave us the green light on anything but raw honey, but we're taking it slow...

The first three nights of cereal, Phoebe gifted us with 8 straight hours of sleep.  I'm not counting on this being a regular thing.  We're definitely in the slow lane to self-soothing and independent sleeping, which Chris and I are both fine with for now.  Crying it out just doesn't sit right.

Phoebe loves seeing what her pets are doing - she lights up when she sees our little cat Chip!  She also loves Duck, of course, but I think since she sees him constantly, he's less exciting.  Duck is wherever we are.

I can't believe how big our baby girl is.  She loves her jumperoo, her crinkly dolly, her Miffy night light.  She still hates the car, but is enjoying her stroller more and more.  She can sit while leaning forward for a few seconds and is starting to "inchworm" - she definitely wants to move!

We love you so much Phoebe girl!

Four months

Phoebe is four months old!  This past Sunday was her first Easter.  The Easter Bunny brought her the softest, cuddliest pink bunny - I have high hopes that it could become her lovey!  Phoebe is babbling, smiling, chewing her hands, looking all around, watching the pets, and starting to grab and hold toys. She has the biggest blue eyes.  We love you Phoebe, we are crazy about you!

Errands with Phoebe

A look back at our last month or so in errands!  A flat tire, broken vacuum, Trader Joe's, Target, many dog walks and coffee runs.  We do it all.

Three months

Happy 3 months today to our Phoebe!  She is growing so fast, out of 0-3 month clothes and into 3-6.  We can't get enough of her smiles, her cheeks, her chins.  Little coos and giggles are starting.  Lately, Phoebe is more content to sit in her chair, she has discovered the TV (that wasn't supposed to happen yet!), and can roll from tummy to back!  The Ergo carrier is still her preferred mode of transport, but she might tolerate the stroller soon... and the car is still the ultimate dread.  These photos reflect our impression of March: mostly brown with a little green and lamby weather on the horizon?  Big question mark.  We love you to pieces, Phoebe!

Upgrade

 

Before

After

Two months

Phoebe is two months old today!  She's really holding her head up more, is starting to blow bubbles and drool, and best of all, is smiling!  We're doing a lot of Ergo carrier cuddles, dog walks, reading Daddy Kisses, watching the Olympics, going out for turkey sandwiches and beers ;)  She's also tolerating bath time and car trips more.  We marvel at her every day.  We love you so very much, Phoebs!