Months 10 & 11

Weight: 20.4lbs  
Height: Still around 27 inches, she was too much of a wiggle worm
*We can't be positive about these, they were done at home by us so maybe a little user error *   
Clothing: She can still wear some of her 6-9 month clothes but mostly 9-12 months now
Diapers: Size 3's

10 Months

11 Months

  Feeding: B has been eating three meals of solids a day with a snack or two depending.  She still loves fruits and veggies but is starting to want more carbs and  cheese, I wonder where she gets that from.  She loves to eat whatever we are eating and most of the time half of our meals have been consumed by her, even with her three little teeth.  My milk supply is getting lower and lower so our pedi approved us starting to add in 1/4 whole milk with 3/4 pumped milk.  I am sad we didn't make it the full year on just nursing but so proud of how far we have come.  It does look like she will get breast milk through a year and for that I am grateful!
 
Sleep: It seems like she has been adding time to her overnight sleep schedule so that is playing with her naps now.  Before this little change she would wake up around 6:30am and go down for her first nap around 9:30am, sleep for about an hour and then be up until 2:30pm when she went down for another hour or so.  She would then go down for bed around 7:30pm and then sleep through the night, thankfully that part hasn't changed.  I am guessing she is going to start cutting out a nap but we will see.  

Updates: Big news here, we have a walker (as of 10/26/12) on our hands and sister can move!  She has been all over the place and loves her new independence.  We took her to the park a week or so ago and right when I got her out of her bike she took off running and face planted into the cement, her poor little nose had quite the scrape.  She just wants to go and walking just isn't fast enough anymore.  She is also a babbling machine, she chats and chats, she has three "words" so far: Momma, Dadda and HI (super shrill).  Grammy has been working on signs with her that we continue through the week so she can now sign: milk, more, eat and all done.  She has also been waving hi and bye for a while but she has added blowing kisses, so cute.  I love that she is understanding what we say and sign, it makes communication that much easier - although she has started getting frustrated when she wants something and can't let us know.

She is completely my daughter in her music regard, she loves it and dances anytime she hears it, even yesterday at the grocery store to the Christmas music.  She was quite the show for the other shoppers.  Brae also loves her books, she loves to sit and look at the picture board books we have.  She has the 100 first words and has been pointing to the dog when we ask, she also loves the kitty picture (a sign she recognizes) like her Grammy's Mya kitty.

We have been getting her used to the potty and so far she has gone in there about 5 times.  We try in the morning, if we aren't running out the door, and before bath time.  She knows that before the bath/shower she has to potty so when we get her nakey she goes straight to her potty, such a smartie pants!  Overall she is growing so much and learning all kinds of new things, we can't believe in just a few weeks she will be a big one year old (where oh where has the time gone).

9 Months

Weight: 19.4lbs  
Height: 27.8 inches
Clothing: 6-9 months
Diapers: Size 3's


 
Feeding: Bottle feeding pumped milk and nursing about every 3 hours during the day and goes around 10 hours at night, she still does 2 meals a day of solids.  We have added yogurt to the normal fruit, or toast and scrambled eggs.  She has tried all kinds of new foods and seriously LOVES food, sister can eat!  She loves her puffs but we found these "wagon wheels" that have a lot more texture and are easier for her to hold so she has loved those lately.  My milk is starting to get lower and it is really scaring me, I am not ready to give nursing up quite yet and it doesn't seem like she is either. 

Sleep: Teething has continued to be tough on our sleep schedule but little miss did get her two bottom front  teeth in, left one first!  For the most part the Natural Orajel and IB Prof. has taken the edge off the pain for her.  We still have a sleeping through the night baby and for that I am so grateful!  

Updates: We have some fairly big news, some things have changed with our personal life and we have decided for now I am only going to work p/t at the Dr's office.  I really love my job there and the staff is fantastic so being able to do p/t for now is perfect.  Over the next few months we will see how that goes and reevaluate then, for now Mommy is VERY happy!  
We have a cruiser on our hands!  For a little bit we thought she may skip crawling and go directly to walking but she decided she digs the crawling thing and has backed off a bit on walking - she knows she can get there quicker and on her own by crawling.  She loves to stand and walk around the furniture though so maybe she will decide to go back that way soon.  She has also started "talking" a lot more - she now says "Momma" for me and if she gets upset/tired, she likes to say "yea yea yea", she also understands more when we talk.  She laughs when we say "no" which is totally a Mommy trait we are hoping to break!  I cannot believe she has been "out" as long as she was "in" now!

8 months

Weight: 19lbs  
Height: 27.5 inches
*We can't be positive about these, they were done at home by us so maybe a little user error *
Clothing: Mostly 6-9 months
Diapers: Size 3's
Feeding: Bottle feeding pumped milk and nursing about every 3 hours during the day and goes around 10 hours at night, she also does 2 meals a day of solids.  Normally fruit for breakfast and then veggies for dinner.
Sleep: Most of the time our sleepy baby is fantastic but we have had some up's and down's here at the end of the month with teething and just the 8 month regression.  We still do the same routine and most of the time we are good for the night.  Naps have been harder to come by, unless she is at Grandma's during the week then she is a super star napper!  We got her a little sea horse that glows and plays a little melody and she seems to like it enough but I was hoping this thing would work miracles. 

Updates: Our big girl is growing so much, she is crawling around like crazy now.  She loves to climb the stairs (assisted of course) and is standing with support all the time.  Now that she is crawling all over walking has taken a back seat but I think it will be no time at all before she is back pushing for that.  She has been getting to spend more time with her Gigi and Poppy and has been having a fantastic time!  I love that our little girl is surrounded by a loving family, especially in all the facetime/skype calls!  

She has been loving solids and is not wanting puree's anymore so we have switched to tiny pieces of food that she can gum and swallow.  She is quite the eater and loves chicken, peas, cantaloupe,  wheat toast, sweet potatoes and yogurt.  We did try to add some cinnamon in her butternut squash, she loved it but got a little rash around her eyes so we are going to back off on spices for a little bit.  

Braelyn has been getting a little more "sensitive" to who is around her and has been wanting her Mommy and Daddy more, which is a change for our social butterfly.  I do have to admit I love when those little arms reach up to me!  It is really making this back to work thing sting more than usual but I know she is in great hands.  I promise to update with pictures soon! 

6 and 7 months

Sorry for the delay and double month update, since I went back to work things haven't slowed down for a second!  We did our first family vacation to Gleenwood Springs with the Wells', we had family in and we traveled again.  Because she just turned 7 months we want to make sure we hit everything and don't confuse any dates!

6 months

7 months

(stats are from her 6 month appointment since she won't have a 7 month pediatrician visit)
Weight: 17lbs 8 ounces 
Height: 25.5 inches
Clothing: Between 3-6 and 6-9 months
Diapers: Size 2's
Feeding: Bottle feeding pumped milk and nursing about every 3 hours during the day and goes around 10 hours at night
Sleep: There isn't a lot to be said in this area because Braelyn is the best baby sleeper.  We put her down after shower/bath, lotion/massage and then her last nursing and bottle session with a book and song.  Normally she goes down around 7:30pm and wakes back up around 6:30am.  We were a little off this month because we had my amazing family in from the East Coast and got to fly back to Chicago to see the Sax side of the family for Uncle Randy and Aunt Courtney's wedding.  What a lucky girl, getting to stay up past her bed time and see her family!

Updates: Since Mommy went back to work last month B has got to spend lots of time with Grandma and her Aunties and has been loving every minute of it!  She has become so interactive and loves to "play" with her toys on the blanket in the living room.  At the beginning of 6 months she started getting up into the crawling position and rocking back and forth.  Since then she has been "army crawling" and loves to go after my makeup tray by the big mirror in our bedroom.  We have been spending lots of time at the pool and have a little fishy on our hands, she loves the water and splashes all around (we need Auntie Megan out here STAT).  She is becoming a very lovey girl and will give fabulous kisses, even to the "baby in the mirror" she likes so much.  


B took her second flight to Chicago for Uncle Randy and Aunt Courtney's wedding.  She did so awesome on the plane and loved first class...a little diva already ;)  Mommy and Daddy got a night out alone while Grandma and Auntie Barbara watched baby for the rehearsal dinner.  Brae also got spoiled by her Aunt Sarah and Uncle Eric while they watched her the night of the wedding. 

We have also introduced lots more solids this month and little lady takes after her Daddy in the eating department!  We have tried oatmeal cereal, rice cereal, avocados, bananas,  peas, pears, broccoli, carrots and pluots (all Mommy and Daddy made).  She didn't love the pluots, we think they were a little to "sour" for her.  She also loves her "num nums" and has tried some cheerios!    
  
Favorite moment this month: Daddy says his favorite moment has been walking in to her room in the morning and seeing her huge smiles, it sure starts the day right!  Mommy's favorite moment has been coming home after work and getting that smile when she hears my voice.  I knew it would be hard to go back to work and it is a job everyday to leave my little girl but knowing she is with my Mom and getting that smile makes it a little easier.  


PS- how in the world do we have a 6/7 month old!?

5 months in pictures!

First night in her crib - thank God for video monitors :)

Sister loves to bounce!

Such a big girl in her high chair

O-Balls make great pillows

Love our Mommy/Daughter cuddles

I can't end this post without smiles

and even bigger smiles, man we love this girl!

5 Months

Weight: 16lbs 8 ounces 
Height: No check-up appointment this month so we aren't sure
Clothing: 3-6 months, we are still lingering in 0-3 months here and there
Diapers: Size 2's
Feeding: Nursing every 2-3 hours during the day and 8-10 hours at night
Sleep: Braelyn has officially moved to her room and does all night sleeping and most naps in her crib.  I think this is the hardest transition for Mommy so far, but B was a champ.  We had a difficult time the first night and decided on a modified Ferber sleep schedule.  I wasn't comfortable with "timed" intervals so we went in and soothed when she got too worked up, I read a lot on different sleep methods and combined what we were comfortable with and that seemed to work great with her.  She did have a couple off nights but I think those were directly related to the bladder infection.

Updates: She is growing so much and I feel like every day brings something new.  She rolls both ways, she "scoots" and rolls to get places and this weekend she pushed all the way up and got on her knees but just kept face planting so for now no movement there.  She laughs and smiles all the time, we get so many comments on what a happy baby we have!  Braelyn has been recognizing and reaching too, it's so cute when Danny comes home and she hears his voice she is looking all over for her Daddy!  She has also been "reaching" when she wants you to pick her up or sit her up, it is SUPER cute!
  
Favorite moment this month: My favorite moments this month have to be all the Mommy/Daughter time we have gotten, work has slowed way down since it's my last month and I have had a lot more time to focus on baby.  I am so thankful for this with the transition to full time office work coming up, Mommy is already a mess.  


PS- I have to schedule an appointment this week to ensure the bladder infection is gone and to review the ultrasound results, I will update everyone when we have more information!

Hospital Visit

Last week we took B in to the Dr. with some symptoms of an UTI/bladder infection, the urine analysis came back positive with a bacterial infection.  Our Pedi felt that because of her age she should have a full work up to rule out renal reflux/genetic abnormalities, so to Children's Hospital of Denver we went.  We made both the ultrasound and VCUG appointments for first thing in the morning so that Danny could come too.  She was a rockstar patient and the tech's kept commenting on what a cute, smiley baby we had!

The VCUG results were given to us right away and came back negative for any reflux, we are so thankful, but we have to wait for the ultrasound results to come back.  I will absolutely admit that Danny and I sat up in bed talking for a long time last night and the anxiety this morning was not good.  Seeing our little angel in that hospital gown almost pushed me over the edge, when they pulled it out and asked us to change her into it I couldn't help tear up.  I feel so blessed that we were just there for a renal reflux test and ultrasound when so many little patients around us were there for things much worse.  Thank you so much to our family and friends for the support this week, I will update you when we have the ultrasound results back too!  Until then I will leave you with some adorable pictures of our adorable babycakes!

Solids!

5mth update is on the way, we are a little behind because of a few things I will post about soon.  In the meantime I will leave you with B's first taste of solids tonight.  Her first solid was officially homemade brown rice cereal.  We were going to start with a pureed veggies but because of the breakouts of eczema we wanted to start with something that had the least possibility of causing a reaction. 

She liked her bib better than the cereal but she did keep opening her mouth for more. 

4 months in pictures

Pics with Megs & Matt before they left!

At the Zoo

Madd's sleeps under her swing, so cute!

TT Teether :)

Happy Easter B

Helping Daddy set the bouncer up

Sitting up with boppy the first time

B's first slumber party!

She loves showers!

Happy Anniversary Mommy & Daddy

Diana got her the cutest outfit, on our way to see Dr. Abbey

Baby Smiles to end!

4 months

Such a happy girl!

Weight: 15lbs 6 ounces 
Height: 24 inches
Clothing: 3-6 months, we are still lingering in 0-3 months here and there
Diapers: Size 2's
Feeding: Nursing every 2-3 hours during the day and 8-10 hours at night
 
Sleep: Oh the up's and down's of baby sleep!  We seem to have hit the 4mth wakefull's recently, it hasn't been as bad as it could be but still not great like it was.  She started waking up at 3am then 4am then 5am and now it's more of random waking up between 3-5am for her pacie.  I don't love giving it to her but it's better than getting her back on another middle of the night feeding.  Our next steps are to stop swaddling, we did try last month but because of our other issues we bought a Woombie and have continued swaddling.  We are also trying to have naps on the flat PNP surface because around 6mths we are thinking it's crib time.  After she gets used of the flat sleeping in the PNP we will transition naps to the crib first, then night time (tear).  Still feeling great about B here, I have heard so many Mommy horror stories so I will take the 8pm-7am with some stray wake up's here and there!
 
Updates: Friends we have giggles and they are the very best.  I love that huge smile and now we have combined that with giggles...melt!  She is changing from a newborn to a baby so fast, she is getting bigger and learning so much every day it is amazing to see.  Grandma Mary and Grandpa James got her an Abagail reading bunny and books that we have been reading and she really loves them, she loves talking and singing in general but just loves watching Abagail "talk".


Nursing is better than ever and I think we are going to wait to introduce solids until right around 6mths because she is doing so great and doesn't seem interested quite yet.

Favorite moment this month: on top of the giggles we our little girl is sitting up, she does need the boppy or her chair for the support but she does great.  The Easter Bunny got her a bouncer and she loves it, the sitting with all the toys, so much fun!  My other favorite moments are just our little family times, it's amazing to look at her and Danny and feel so complete!


A couple of my other favorites from our "shoot" this month - it is getting harder to keep her "contained".

awe you can see her boo boo band aids

Daddy give me that elephant!

Ohh Chicago!

 In February B took her first flight, out of my tummy, to Danny's hometown near Chicago!  She is quite the little traveler and did a fabulous job.  The hardest part was nursing but by the flight back we had it figured out, although I will admit pumping in the bathroom at O'Hare was not a high point of our trip :)

Getting to see her Daddy's old house

We got in late Friday night so we went straight back to the house and got to sleep, we bought a pack n play and had it shipped there and luckily B's Uncle Adam had it all put together for her.  We woke Saturday morning, met with the accountant to get our taxes done and headed to Danny's Grandma's where his family was ready to meet Braelyn.  It was a great day and getting a chance to see so many people that love her so much already get to spend time with her!  Later that evening all our friends came over to visit as well, more heart swelling moments!

Four Sax generations!

Sunday we got to spend all day at Uncle Adam's & Auntie Mana's hanging out after our wonderful Walker Brothers breakfast.  Later that evening more friends and family came over to be with B.  It was so amazing to see that so many people love our little girl, and she loved hanging out with them!!  A big thank you to all of the Sax family and Auntie Mana's family who came over to visit with us, we missed you all!

Monday Danny and I took B to visit her Great Grandpa Samuel's grave, her middle name Samantha is after him.  Grandpa Mike joined us there and after we ran to visit with a couple more people and then over to Uncle Adam and Auntie Mana's for a short visit before a VERY exciting lunch at Portillo's (for Daddy anyways).  We visited Uncle Randy and Aunt Courtney after that at their house, Uncle Adam even got to feed B a bottle there!  To end the night we had a lovely dinner with Grandma Nancy, Uncle Adam and Auntie Mana with lots of play time for B.  We left Monday afternoon to head back, our first trip anywhere was very successful and B earned her wings!

3 months in pictures

Sorry our three month posts are a little late, we had a great weekend with some out of town guests that kept us away.  Thanks Megan and Matt for spending Spring Break with us!!  First off, our little girl found her fingers.

She loves grabbing onto things now and of course sticking them in her mouth!

She doesn't mind if it's just her fingers either :)

We of course celebrated St. Patty's day, we went to a yummy lunch with the neighbors after Daddy finished golfing (so we had some photo fun while we were waiting).

 We spent some time working with together, B has lots of fun snuggling!

While I was paying for some work stuff Sister swiped this right out of my hand, we are in big BIG trouble!

Daddy has been very busy, but we made sure to get her 3 mth. picture with him!

Lots of love from our little family, the months are flying by but we are having lots of fun!

3 Months

Too hungry for smiles :)

 Weight: 13lbs 11 ounces
Clothing: 0-3 months
Diapers: Size 1's
Feeding: Nursing every 2-3 hours during the day and 10 hours at night
 
Night time Sleep: Thankfully B has kept her sleeping habits, she sure loves to sleep at night!  She has continued with her going to sleep around 9:30pm and waking up around 7:30am.  We are certainly lucky parents to have been blessed with this little miracle as neither Danny or I function very well on little sleep.  She is still sleeping swaddled in her rock n play but she has grown out of the swaddling blankets and the miracle blanket isn't fitting very well anymore.  I am really nervous that once the swaddle comes off the schedule will be kaput.  We think this week will be the last week in it so we shall see!  We also got her video monitor this weekend and are going to see how sleep sans swaddle goes before moving her to her room.  I am not anxious to get her out but I do want her to get used to her crib, I sure will miss that little baby sleeping so close!
 
Updates: We weren't supposed to have a 3 month appointment but on the 20th B had a horrible day and I was sure she had an ear infection so in to the Dr we went.  Our favorite Dr. Abbey was out on vacation so we saw the same lady we saw for B's eating issues.  Turns out my little girl has bad excema and she wasn't pulling at her ears but scratching at what I thought was just a case of craddle cap.  We are on a prescription hydrocortisone and another shampoo, Danny thinks we can open a store with all our extra's, and that seems to be really clearing things up so far.  

Everything else is going so great, she is quite the eater and now that nursing has become second nature we are both really enjoying the time we have together.  She is getting bigger and more active every day, she is also cooing and chatting away, we are waiting for the giggles to start and we are sure there close with these big gummy smiles she has discovered. 
 

Favorite moment this month: Our little girl ROLLED OVER this month on Thursday March 1st.  She kept almost getting there so Daddy pulled out his IPad and got it all on video.  I was sure it was a fluke but again later on in the month she did it while I was recording so it looks like we have a roller on our hands, only tummy to back so far!  I love these milestones but I really cannot believe our little girl is growing so quickly, time is just flying by!

2 Months

My smiley angel!

Weight: 12lbs 2.5 ounces (75th percentile)
Length/Height: 22.5 inches (50th percentile)
Clothing: 0-3 months
Diapers: Size 1's
Feeding: Nursing every 1.5-3 hours during the day and between 6-9 hours at night
 
Night time Sleep: My little angel must get her parents sleeping habits because sister is on fire!  She has recently cut out her 3am feeding and started sleeping from her 9/9:30pm feeding to 6:30/7am feeding.  At her 2 month appointment Dr. Abbey said she is growing just fine and we aren't at all worried about her weight anymore so she can sleep as long as she wants.  Who am I to wake a sleeping baby so little lady sleeps!  Her daily naps are pretty much the same but she has been staying up a little longer and doing more of the cat nap thing then full napping.  She loves sleeping on our laps, which we have to stop shortly and get her in her crib for naps.  I just like having easy access though and until we figure out this new schedule I don't want to make any location changes.  Same with at night, for now B is staying in the rock n play, I am not ready to part with her so close to me.
 
Updates: We found out last week on our trip to Chicago that we have a class A traveler on our hands!  She did amazing and we will have a full post dedicated to this visit.  B also started doing one of my most favorite things so far this month, her huge cheesy Mommy is smiling I have to smile grins.  I love seeing her face light up when she sees my smile, her smile could melt an ice berg!  She coo's and shrieks, I think she is telling me lots of stories and I love them all.  B is her Mommy's daughter and loves her alone time, she gets fussy when she needs it and once we set her down on the play mat or a blanket she coo's and "talks" to herself.  I am so glad my angel is independent and that is one quality I will be thrilled if she keeps that trait!  She also gets her love of needles from me, poor girl screamed and screamed for her shots.  I couldn't look but Daddy said that needle went in, her face turned bright RED and we all heard the scream of all screams.  Even nursing didn't take away the lip quivering cries right away!


Favorite moment this month: It's a set of "moments", every morning I wake up roll over and see those little eyes looking back at me.  I say "good morning angel baby" and get the biggest smile ever!  Daddy even got to see it while we were traveling.  He went to get B out of the pack n play and said baby, BABY, I SEE IT!  Daddy got the smile too :)  Our girl, she's the best!

1 Month!

Can our little angel seriously be a month old today!?  

Awe, her headband looks like a toupee - whoops!

Happy 1 month to our daughter!

Mom this is for the birds...are we done yet!?

With Daddy

Weight: 8lbs 11.5 ounces (50th percentile)
Length/Height: 21.25 inches (50th percentile)
Clothing: Newborn
Diapers: Newborn
Feeding: Nursing every 1.5-3 hours during the day and between 5-8 hours at night
Night time Sleep: Shockingly she has been "sleeping through the night" recently!  Our night time routine has been go up between 7:30-9PM do bath (sometimes bath with Mommy, sometimes sponge bath), lotion/massage, pajamas, then we either do bottle with Daddy or nursing with Mommy half way, we swaddle and change dipey if we need to in between and then finish eating.  She loves her sound machine with the "womb" sound and all lights and TV have to be off, she is her Mommy's daughter!  The other night we all slept from 9:45PM-6:25AM but most nights she sleeps from 9:30PM-5AM, either way we are ecstatic with all the sleep we are getting so early in the game (for now anyways)!
Updates: Miss B loves tummy time, I think it helps with all the gas bubbles, she can even hold her little head up.  She also loves laying on our tummy's and looking up at us, we love it too!  She has been doing great with going places, and falls asleep everytime in the carseat, we even got to go see Auntie Q and Auntie Katie's cheerleading practice.  I think we went through a growth spurt yesterday because she ate every hour-hour and a half and was fussy fussy!  Thankfully she was back to normal today!  


We sure do love this little missy, we really couldn't be luckier!  

A quick little update - I am feeling much better, although still a little sore all around.  I am also pretty excited, I ended up gaining 34 pounds but I have lost all but 8 pounds so far.  I tried on a pair of my jeans and they fit but they are still a little to tight to be comfortable.  Hopefully those 8 pounds are gone ASAP and I am back to myself by the 6 week check up!