52:28 Finding Your Friend

I Want to Remember

Finding Your Friend

I want to remember you finding your friend. You are becoming more aware of the World around you more and more each day. Whenever people hold you you are always touching their faces - pulling on their noses, putting your fingers in their mouths, pulling on tongues and taking others glasses! I read that by doing this you are creating a mental image of each face and that your tactile sense actually creates an understanding of who each person is! You love exploring people's faces and discovering them with your hands. 

 Mirror Mirror on the Wall...
Lately you have been intrigued by mirrors. You always giggle whenever you see yourself in the mirror. You are now big enough that you can sit up in front of the mirror and play, touch, and even kiss your cute "friend" on the other side of that glass. Here is to some seriously cute entertainment and enjoyment! 
 Even better?! There is a point to looking in the looking glass!  Mirror games help babies learn how to focus, track images, and explore the wonderful things a face can do. And it promotes social and emotional development as she interacts with you and her own image! I can't wait until she'll learn that the friendly face she's been looking at all along is none other than her very own!! 

52:27 Dressing You For Winter

I Want to Remember

Dressing You For Winter

I want to remember dressing you for winter. Not because it is always fun or exciting, it is actually quite a pain! But seeing you all bundled is beyond adorable! I get such a kick out of seeing you all warm and snuggled and once you get outside, you really do seem to like it too...now getting you in that car seat all bundled is a whole new story!

Oh, Baby it's Cold Outside!

Okay, so once again I am ranting about winter. As much as I hate it, I sure do talk a lot about! I would like to think that as soon as my Christmas decorations go away, so will this wretched cold weather. Well, unfortunately, that isn't the case...at all. So thank goodness for adorable outer layers, puffy stocking hats, warm thigh leggings, snug boots and patterned tights! 

 

   

52: 26 Your First New Years

I Want to Remember

Your First New Years

I want to remember your first new years. You definitely didn't stay up until midnight, but you still brought in the new year right - surrounded by family and a new friend, Reece! We traveled out to Rapid City and rented this amazing cabin for four days. We had so much fun relaxing and loving, cuddling, playing and skating this holiday season! You were such a champ on the very long road trip! You went ice skating, hiking in the woods, snuggled by the fire place and tried some new foods! This was such a lovely vacation and a trip we will all remember for years to come!

A Look at 2012
Lilyan celebrated turning 1 on February 19th!  
Ashley celebrated her 26th birthday in February 20th.

  Nickolas ran a full marathon in Greenbay, WI. Unfortunately it was called off around mile 18 due to high heat conditions. But it was wonderful spending time with family!

We signed a balloon to send to "heaven" on the one year Anniversary of Valerie's Passing. Gracie sent it off and it sailed high into the sky. 

We bought our first home!! We moved in on June 15th and LOVE be homeowners!

 Anniston Jean was born on June 30th at 6:19pm.    

Annie was baptized at All Saints on August 20th. Jake and Angela are her godparents. 

 Annie took her first plane ride to Colorado and met many family members!

 

52:25 Snuggle Time

I Want to Remember

Snuggle Time

 I want to remember snuggle time with you. These past few weeks I have been so spoiled because I have had work off. We have taken daily naps, read several books, worked on getting up off the ground off your tummy, and sitting independently. This nap was so special because daddy was working downstairs on the basement and he came up and found us like this. He got jealous and we all went to bed for a serious snuggle session! This was one of those moments that I want to remember forever. 

Caught Napping at the Cabin! Love this moment!

Sleep...Never!

Well, I am OFFICIALLY done bragging about Annie's awesome sleeping schedule! She now hates to sleep at night! We tried weaning her off the swaddle and then taking it away completely. We have tried feeding her food right before bed and just giving her the boob before bed. We have tried elevating her crib and letting her sleep in the bassinet. We've put her to bed earlier and tried putting her to bed later.  And NOTHING is seeming to help her sleepless nights. So as for now I am thankful that I can nap with her during the days, but when I go back to work this week I am hoping that she gets some sleep so I can actually function in my classroom! Here's to hoping that this growth spurt/teething/ear infection stage is almost over so we can all get some serious sleep again!


You are 6 Months Old!

52:24 Your First Christmas

I Want to Remember

Your First Christmas

  

I want to remember your first Christmas. Your Papa and I were so overjoyed this Christmas to have you to celebrate with. We spent time in Chaska for your first Christmas with Daddy's side of the family and you spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with Mommy's side of the family. You did so well with all the traveling and all the family members. You got VERY spoiled, but you were more entertained with the wrapping paper and ribbons than the actual presents!  You got some fabulous new outfits and great new toys to that you will grow into! Cannot wait to try them all out. We truly just felt so lucky and blessed to have you this Christmas.

My thoughts on the Holidays:

This season is WaY more fun with a baby to buy for!

My favorite Christmas gift for you was Elijah the Elephant by Rockabye Baby 

There are LOTS of adorable holiday books and songs to read to baby! 

You can never have too many holiday dresses! 

Driving all over for the holidays, cannot happen every holiday! It's exhausting!

 

52:23 Sitting on Your Own

I Want to Remember

Sitting on Your Own

I want to remember you sitting on your own. The past few weeks you have been leaning, toppling, and wobbling while sitting, with the Bobby surrounding you.  But now you are officially able to sit on your own. Not for very long, and I know this amount of time will only increase, but it is so exciting to see how strong and brave you are! 

52:22 Your First Snowfall

I Want to Remember

Your First Snowfall

I want to remember your first snowfall. You were so intrigued by snow. As it came down I sat you in front of our sliding door and you just stared at it. Your eyes were memorized by it and I just loved watching you tap the window. We took you outside the next morning in your snowsuit and we laid you in the snow.We weren't sure how you'd react, but you just giggled and kept hitting at the snow with your legs and hands. I think you will be quite the snow bunny! 

Midwest Baby!
This crazy child definitely loves the cold! It is the strangest thing, I get her all bundled up to go from the parking lot to the Target entrance and she would throw such a fuss about getting so bundled, I would too, but regardless, the second she feels that chilling breeze from outside she just cheeses out! She got some adorable new snow suits, hats, booties, and mittens!  It has been so fun dressing her up for this ridiculous winter weather! More pictures to come on this! I promise!

52:21 Your First Christmas Tree

I Want to Remember

Your First Christmas Tree

I want to remember your first Christmas Tree. We had such a wonderful weekend as a family! We went to Sibley Park to see 1 million lights, live reindeer, have hot chocolate, see Santa, and listen to Christmas music. You loved looking up at all the colorful lights from the stroller and hearing all the commotion.

The next morning we went and cut down our own xmas tree. You were so giggling on this day. I am pretty sure you were more excited than I was! We spent the entire day decking out for the Holidays. Me and you worked inside the house putting up all the decorations and Papa was outside all day decorating the whole house with lights!

That night we made a great dinner - you eating some more avocados (I think these are your favorites so far), and then we all decorated the xmas tree! The last step was you putting on your first ornament.

We got you an adorable little shoe with your name on it. You loved grabbing it and throwing it into your mouth! I think you like the coolness of it. It was so fun to watch and you get as excited for the Holidays as much as we do! 

Here is to many more years of holiday traditions and memories!

You are 5 Months Old!

52:20 Your First Thanksgiving

I Want to Remember

Your First Thanksgiving

I want to remember your first Thanksgiving. We had so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. Just last Thanks giving I told our family members that you were in my in tummy and this Thanksgiving I gave you your first meal. It was so fitting for the holidays because I gave you sweet potatoes. You didn’t know what to think at first, but before long you were opening your mouth for more. I hope I can keep making you food, so you eat healthier than your mommy!

Making Baby Food

Whew…this is quite the chore! Just looking into what to feed baby first is quite the decision, and making the food from scratch is a whole other ball game! I have two books, few websites, and some friends that I looked into and everyone’s beliefs are so different about what is best, what should be first and how much, how often. So I am just doing what I think is best for Anniston and going with that.

So as of now I am still mainly going to be breastfeeding, but starting off, once a day, I will feed her food – during our breakfast. And so far I am making and freezing her food. So far I've made sweet potatoes, broccoli, carrots, rice cereal and quinoa.  I am completely going to wing this and see how it goes! Any advice? I’ll gladly take it! 

52:19 Grabbing Your Toes

I Want to Remember

Grabbing Your Toes

I want to remember how much you giggled the first time you grabbed your toes. You were so proud of yourself and in aww of what was in your hands. You've tried so hard to put those little toes in your mouth, but you aren't quite there yet. Thanks for being mommy's little helper while changing you this week by holding up those strong legs of yours. I guess it's time to start singing a new nursery rhyme!

To Swaddle or Not to Swaddle
 I am currently struggling with this whole swaddle situation! I am in LOVE with our Halo Sleep Sacks - I tell everyone and anyone that it is THE key to getting your baby to sleep through the night! And so far, it's now worked for 4 of my good friends and their little newbies! BUT, according to some books and some sites I am supposed to stop swaddling Anniston at 4 months. Some reasons being potential to start rolling over, for additional movement when she sleeps, because she has been out of the womb long enough that she no longer needs that comfort, and because my mother calls it the straight jacket!
Well, unfortunately for me, Annie does NOT sleep at all through the night when she isn't swaddled! She literally wakes up about every two hours! And not just stirs. I am talking eyes open, arms flailing, legs kicking and ready to move. But with it, she sleeps 10+ hours! Our doctor said we will know when shes ready to stop being swaddled, because she will start fighting it when we put her in it. Well, she doesn't at all. It is quite the opposite! But regardless, I know the dreaded day/week/month of transitioning needs to come soon. So I just need advice in the transition part of stopping the sweet swaddling and moving her into freedom.

My baby girl all swaddled up with her papa for the night!