6 months

Alethea is 6 months old! It doesn't seem like it has been 6 months since our little sweetie was born.

Dear Alethea,

    Your are getting so big! I can hardly carry you in your car seat anymore. You are looking more and more like your daddy everyday. You have his eyes, light colored hair and wonderful expressions. You are such an expressive baby! I have learned to know exactly what you want based on your facial expressions, and raising of your eyebrows. Your new tired sign is when you start rubbing your eyes and your right ear. If I am holding you then you start to bury your face into my arm. No one other then mommy has been able to really get you to sleep, but as soon as I sit down to rock you and start singing you fall fast asleep. I love being able to sing and rock you to sleep and love that you know my voice. Your beautiful eyes look up at me as we rock and sing and your head slowly slides down into my arm and your eyes close. Singing you to sleep for naps and bedtimes are one of my favorite parts of our day together. It is a time that we get to spend together, just us, with no interruptions or worries. You are starting to settle into a bedtime routine and going to sleep earlier without waking up. Right now you go to bed around 730-8 and wake up twice to nurse (before 11pm) and then will only wake up once in the earlier morning (around 4am) to nurse again. You are such a happy baby when you wake up in the morning. You are getting such a great nights sleep that I wake up to my beautiful Alethea talking in her crib and looking at my eyes. There isn't a better way to wake up.

You are becomming more attached to your mommy everyday. You are constantly follwoing me around (with your eyes) and are always aware of where I am. You still let strangers hold you, but will be watching me to make sure that it is ok. Although, there are times where you will start crying if I leave the room or you can't see me anymore. I love it! I love that you know who your mommy is and that you want me. It is your way of showing me how much you love and need me. It's Wonderful! Pretty soon your will be crawling and moving all over the place. I love you and can't wait to see what the future holds for you.

Wallace wanted a picture with her bear too

First Vacation

Alethea has one of her big "firsts" at the end of March: A Vacation!! Man, was I WORRIED! Jacob and I knew that we wanted to take Alethea to visit my side of the family and to meet her great-grandma, great-pap, and other great aunts and uncles. Since Jacob had a few days off from school and work we decided to make the 10 hour drive to Pennsylvania. As I was planning for this trip, I was really worried that Alethea would not do well in the car for that long in 1 day, (I mean she was only 5 months old, and I can hardly be in the car that long in 1 day) so we decided to only drive 5 hours each day. Which to some people sounds crazy, but it worked out great!

Car Ride!

One our way to Pennsylvania, we stopped in Kentucky to visit my aunt, uncle and cousins. (sorry no pics)It was so great to see them and also to give us all a break from the car. We had so much fun and stayed up way too late, but Alethea did wonderful! The next day we headed back in the car for the rest of our journey. Alethea could make it 4 hrs (stopping at 2hrs) without much whining, but that last house was pretty bad. (very thankful we decided to drive it in  days) We had so much fun visiting my family and Alethea did wonderful! She let everyone hold her and hardly cried at all. She also did great sleeping in a different place (the country), and in her playpen for the first time. I anticipated to not get any sleep but was surprised when Alethea slept great all night! I think it had to do with her being so exhausted! We had such a great time visintg family, taking a break from school and having some much needed relaxation. We also got some good tips and ideas for our next long trip this summer to Michigan.

On our way back we stopped in Ohio to visit our "grandparents" from college. Jacob and I call them our adoptive grandparents because we spent so much time with them while we were in college. They have taught us so much and it was wonderful for them to meet Alethea. (This was a special moment for us as we weren't sure if Alethea would ever be able to meet a couple who has had such a profound impact on our lives.)

And just in case your wondering; you can TOTALLY use cloth diapers while traveling. (they actually worked better then the disposables)

Enjoy the pictures!

Great Grandma Tippy-toes

Great Pap-Pap

Our Adoptive Grandparents

5 month

My little sweetie is now 5 1/2months old.  She has grown up so much this past month I can't believe it. She has started eating cereal twice a day, and soon we will be adding other baby food. It is still hard to believe that my little baby is already eating "real" food. We are still nursing and loving it! YAY! I love having that one-on-one time with Alethea.

I feel like every month I am saying how much you have grown, but I can't help it, you are growing so fast! In the past month you have learned to roll both ways, although you still do not like being on your stomach. You reach for people, mostly mommy and daddy but occasionally you will reach for nana. I love walking into a room and having your little arms reach out and grab me. You love to touch and grab my face (or whoever else is carrying you). It is the best feeling to feel your little tiny hands on my face and  your eyes starring into my eyes. The other major physical milestone that you have done is to sit supported! I say sit supported because I can't yet leave you on the floor by yourself sitting. Most of the time you do great sitting by yourself, but will on occasion fall to the side while reaching for a toy.

As you have grown older, mommy and daddy are always talking about who you look most like, and what your personality is. There is one thing that we ALWAYS agree you.... you are a TALKER! You love to talk, talk, talk, talk. This makes perfect sense, because your mommy and daddy both talk A LOT.

You are now eating rice cereal and sweet potatoes! You LOVE to eat! You get so excited whenever we put you in your highchair because you know that means you get to eat.

Oh how much your personality is beginning to show! Your are such a sweet little baby, but have started screaming when you can't reach a toy, or are not fed fast enough. One of the funniest stories this past month has been your new scared face. Daddy was playing rough with Wallace and Wallace growled at our daddy and you looked directly at me terrified then buried your head into my shoulder. We love seeing all the new faces and hearing the noises that you are making.

Baptism

This post has been a long time coming. On January 22nd Alethea was baptized at our church.  We were so thankful that both side of the family were able to come share in this special day. Alethea's one aunt, was unable to make it but stopped by the weekend before to see her. We had a great weekend together! Here are some pictures to enjoy!

4 Months

My Dear Alethea

I am always late in writing a letter to you on the exact day you turn so many months old. I have just been too busy playing with you! :)

Today you are 4 months 15 days old. Everyday I look at you and am so thankful that God gave us you. You went for your 4 month doctors appointment and did great! It was a little harder for me to see you in pain with your shots, but I know it is for the best. You weigh 11lbs 13 oz. You are a tall petite little girl and we wouldn't change a thing about you!

Nana came with us to the doctors since daddy was working and you had such a fun time smiling at her and giggling. I expected you to be very cranky after you shots but you were great! You fussed a little bit whenever we touched or moved your leg but other then that you were wonderful. I never would have known that you had shots by your attitude.

Your are starting to have very strong opinions about who holds you and how you are being held. You will go to daddy fine most of the time, but have started crying when nana or anyone else will hold you if you can't see me. I love that you know who I am and want to see me all the time!

You have been coming to Bible study with me the past 3 weeks and everyone there loves you. It is so nice to see the ministry you are already doing at your young age. You sit in my lap and look around at everyone in our group, and usually voice your own opinion on the topic. (everyone LOVES hearing you talk)

You are now rolling over, from your back to stomach. The first day you did this was Thursday Feburary 23 2012. You haven't completly rolled over again, but you are always on your side and even sleep that way. Not only do you roll over, but you LOVE your exersaucer. You reach the the toys and are starting to move yourself around and jump. Your little squeal while you are jumping is so cute! The first time we heard you, daddy jumped up thinking something was wrong, only to see that you were smiling away. Everyday you are getting better at grasping toys and bringing them to your mouth.

Another favorite activity of yours is to go outside. The weather has been WONDERFUL here and we have been able to go outside at least 5 days a week for a while. You love being in your Moby wrap and looking around at everything outside. When you are fussy, one of the quickest ways to calm you down is to walk outside for a minute. I wonder if you are going to be an outside or inside girl.

I know this post is so long, but there is so much I want to remember about this time in your life. Your are doing wonderful sleeping through the night and will be starting cereal soon. We are still trying to get in a nap routine but you will usually take 3 naps a day for 45min-2hrs. You are such a big girl and growing up so fast! I can't believe by next month, you could be sitting up, eating food and moving all over the place. Your daddy and I love you so much!!! Happy 4 months our dear Alethea!!!

Valentines

Happy Valentines Day!! Around here we don't celebrate Valentines day, we never have. But this year is different. This year we have something HUGE to celebrate. Today is February 14 2012.

4 months ago we finally got to meet our little bundle of joy. Oh how time flies! Happy 4 months to our wonderful daughter!! (4 month post to come next week after her drs. appointment)

3 months(ish)

I know I'm WAY late on this post, but hey I was too busy playing with Alethea to write this. :)
This post was meant to be written as your 3 month old post, but now it is being written as 3 1/2 months since you will be 4 months in 2 weeks.

My Dear Alethea,

You are becoming such a sweet little girl. I love waking up everyday and seeing something new that you are doing. You have the most beautiful smile, with cute little dimples! Although you do smile at other people, you mostly smile at your mommy. Not only are you smiling, but you have started to giggle and talk. Your "talking" is just little sounds but you love to talk. When I come to get you out of bed you just look at me smile big and start talking. No matter how rough the night was, waking up to your smile and the joy you radiate when you see me just makes everything better. I can't wait to see what you start doing next!

One of your new found loves is to sit on the changing table without any clothes or diaper on. Sometime Mommy and Daddy will bring your changing mat to the couch and let you lay on the couch with us naked. As soon as we start walking towards the changing mat you stop crying and start smiling. It is such a joy to see your big smile and giggles when you know you are going to be "free" of your diaper. Not only do you like to be naked on the changing table, but it is your FAVORITE time to talk to mommy, daddy or nana. You will talk non-stop with anyone who will listen. Maybe this mean you will be a talker? (and an easy child to potty train)

There are so many new things that you are doing now! (so to other I apologize for the long post).  You have started to cry when people other than your mommy are holding you. Sometimes, (even when daddy is holding you) you will cry when I leave the room. It is so sweet to see that you know who I am and miss me when I am gone.  Right now I LOVE this! I love that you only want your mommy and that I am an instant comfort to you, but I have a feeling this will become harder as you get older.

Here is a quick (hopefully) list of all the things you are now doing:

1.scooting around on the play mat (I will put you under one toy and come back a minute later and you are either turned around or off the play mat)

2. starting to try to roll over (Right now you can get your legs and butt turned over but not quite the top half of your body. You are also really starting to enjoy your tummy time and are doing a great job building up your arm and neck muscles)

3. grasping for objects (not only are you JUST grasping for objects, but now you will hold them and put them towards your mouth to chew on. Teething maybe?)


4.  a sweet personality (I love seeing your personality evolve! You are such a good baby, not fussy [except in the early evening hours], very smiling. giggling and bashful. You love to "flirt" with the older women at church by smiling then turning your head into my shoulder. You are a laid back girl and tend to go with the flow of things. Hopefully this will continue to be true.)

5. Along with that personality come whining. (your cries have started changing to "big girl cries" and you have began to whine more because you don't like a certain position or want your mommy)

You are such a big girl! At your 3 months doctor appointment you weighted 11lbs!!! We are so proud of you to be that big!! The doctor says you are growing great and have improved amazingly since your last visit.  (at your 2month appointment you were 8.8) Mommy and Daddy love you so much!!!