8 Months Old!

Naomi Irene, you are 8 months old today! Here's what you've been up to:

- You started saying "Mamamamamama" earlier in the month and a few days ago you began "Dadadadada".

Father's Day 2018

- Since Zoë's clothes were in a different season, you are wearing 9 month and some 12 month onesies this summer. You are fitting in 9 month clothes pretty well and still wearing size 2 diapers. It's probably about time to move up to 3s!

 - You went camping for the first time! We went up to our cousin campout at the end of June and saw lots of Mommy's family out on the farm. You had had a rough week with fevers and sickness so I was afraid it might be another long night, but you slept better than you had in a long, long time, maybe ever! Yay for 60 degree weather in a tent :)

- You are a good eater! You drink about 12 oz. of formula and nurse 5-6 times each day. You're eating all kinds of fruits and vegetables and have had bits of ground beef, eggs, and some sweet treats :) You are grabbing the food off of your tray, but haven't quiet figured out how to get it into your mouth.

- You celebrated your first 4th of July and did terrific! The fireworks didn't seem to bother you at all. In fact, you fell asleep during part of the show!

- You are sleeping well, usually around 9 pm - 7 am with 2-3 naps each day, although these are getting a bit shorter. You still like to sleep in the solly during church on Sunday mornings which I enjoy since I get to keep you with me a little longer.

- You love playing with Zeke, Levi, Zoë and Miriam too! I love watching your smile grow when you see them being silly. Or surprisingly, even when the boys try to scare you! You seem to be a Mama's girl and are happiest when I'm holding you. You'll go to most anyone and will even lean toward them if you want to go. But sometimes it doesn't last long.

- You are starting to get up on your knees and moving your body back and forth. Crawling will be here soon! You can roll almost anywhere and get to the toys you want to reach.

- We've been swimming a few times this summer and you seem to enjoy it. Your swimsuit is super cute! You liked splashing your hands in the water at the pool on the 4th.

Naomi, you are such a lovely, darling girl! We cannot imagine our life without you! You are starting to let your giggle out a little more and let me put in a few bows this month. Although, your hands are busy and you snapped one of the bows back into your face which was very upsetting for you! I think we're about to see some big leaps in the coming month -- crawling, feeding yourself, maybe a tooth?! Who knows! But I'm excited to see what's next for you and watch your little personality grow and develop! Love, Mommy

7 Months Old

Naomi, here we are, closer to being a one year old, than being born. You are 7 months old today! You are such a joyful, sweet, lovely baby! Here's what you've been doing:

- You are eating like a champ! It was like a switch was flipped! You like sweet potatoes, white potatoes, bananas, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and the little bits of other things we give you like pancakes and ice cream :)

Meeting great-Grandpa in IA

- You met your great-grandparents in Cedar Rapids, IA! It was your first long-ish car ride and it wasn't too bad. You also got to meet a little more of Daddy's side of the family and see Grandma and Marty again! It was a nice little trip.

Being a little sassy to great-Grandma

Bubba loves helping with you so very much! 

 - You sleep great in your pack-n-play, although you're about grown out of the bassinet! So we have a sheet down on the mattress so you can start sleeping down below. You only wake up a couple times a night, typically at 4 am and 6 am right now. You take a few good naps each day and still enjoy sleeping in the wrap, especially on Sunday morning.

- You've started copying us -- rolling your head to the side, especially in the high chair, to watch us do the same. You also stick out your tongue when we do it as well. You think it's funny to show your tongue and sometimes blow raspberries. 

 - You like to chew on your toes! And your spoons. And the fingers of people who are holding you.

Mother's Day 2018

- We got out the jumper this month and you played in the one (below) at Mimi's house. Your legs are very strong and you hold your head up for long periods of time now! You're not quite sitting on your own, but I'm sure you will be soon. You love to be held and watch what's happening around you. You like to pat the people who hold you and rub our faces. You are rolling everywhere these days! You've fallen off the bed once, so I consider you mobile now. It has to happen to everyone right?! You enjoy watching Marshall (he loves licking your feet!) and Dora as they walk around us. 

 - You laugh so hard when I tickle you on the chest. And under your chin is still a good spot!

Your 6 month picture turned out so sweet! 

- At your 6 month check-up, you had doubled your birth weight! The doctor and I were very happy! I've never had a baby with chunky legs, and it makes me very happy to have you healthy and thriving.

Naomi Irene, your smile is beautiful and your eyes seem to sparkle when you smile. You are very interested in the world around you -- your family, toys, leaves, animals, etc. You seem to be adjusting to the very hot and humid summer here in MO. I think it's time to put away all the 3 month clothes I keep trying to squeeze you into. You're wearing mostly 6 month clothes now, so I just need to get them put away so they're no longer an option. We love having you as part of our family and look forward to watching you grow and change and be you! Love, Mommy 

Walk for Arthritis Update

Thank you to everyone who contributed to Zeke's Walk for Arthritis this month! He raised $65 which was way more than I expected! His team won 3rd place for the highest amount raised among the groups that participated! He completed 2 full laps around the stadium which equaled 2 miles. He got pretty tired the second time around, but his Taekwondo coach Miss Tiffany was walking with us and encouraged him to use his perseverance and he made it the rest of the way!

It was a very warm and sunny morning, but the kids had lots of fun! They received balloon animals, played on a playground, drank new juices, received some fun swag, and Pop-Pop was able to come and cheer us on! 

Human Hamster Ball -- a big hit! 

Zeke was invited to test for his first Taekwondo belt the first week of June! We are excited to see him grow and learn. He is enjoying his class very much!

6 Months Old!

Naomi, you are six months old today! Here's what you've been up to:

 - You are grabbing your feet, especially when you lay on your back. You continue to hold your hands together as you sit watching and waiting for things. I think it looks so precious!

 - You are talking even more! Aunt Heather lovingly referred to it as "squawking" :D And you love to join in the singing, especially at night when Zoë and I are singing before bedtime.

 - You've started eating some solid food the last 2 weeks! We're sticking with applesauce, bananas, and potatoes (both white and sweet) while your tummy starts adjusting. But you are loving it! We got out your high chair and the bibs and you're sitting at the table with us at meals, in your chair. You are opening your mouth when the spoon gets close and trying to chew, at least a little bit. We did try some avocado one day and it did not sit well and I mixed in a cooked carrot with the potatoes one night, which you enjoyed. I'm excited to try new foods with you and see how you enjoy them! You like when we feed you pretty fast, just like when your Daddy was a baby!

 - You're about to outgrow the little sleeper in the pack-n-play! The other day I saw you stretching after you woke up from a nap and your little toes kept popping up from the bottom, it was so cute! You are taking a great morning nap, usually a couple of hours! And then your afternoon nap is shorter and your last cat nap is usually from 7:30-8 pm and then you'll sleep for the night from 9 pm - 7 am. It's a pretty great schedule!

Naomi, you bring even more joy to our family. You are gentle and I love when you reach up and grab my face. You laugh when we blow raspberries on your tummy or tickle you under your chin. Your legs are always moving and your toes are long! You are wearing size 2 diapers and I just purchased a couple new 6 month outfits for the summer (thanks great-Grandpa and great-Grandma!) because you are ready to move up! And surprisingly we don't have many dresses or outfits for the hot weather, just lots of onesies. You enjoy bath time and playing with the green frog. You hold onto one of his front flippers for a long time. You've lost some of your newborn hair, but I can see the new growth coming in underneath and it seems to be staying pretty dark for the time being. I feel like we're going to see some big jumps in development in the coming month. Your family loves you so much and we are so thankful for having you in our lives for a half a year already! It has gone incredibly fast and before we know it we'll be celebrating your first birthday. So I'm holding on to these baby days and trying to stare at your face a little longer and take pictures in my mind of these fleeting days. Love, Mommy

5 Months Old

Another month has passed, Naomi, and you are 5 months old today! You are growing and changing and here's what you've been up to the past month:

Today-- 4/11/18

- You celebrated your first Easter! It was the snowiest Easter I ever remember! Even though it was snowy, we had a lot of fun searching for eggs and our baskets as the snow came down. You also got to see Mimi's new chicks!

- You are laughing out loud now! Your smile gets so big and then it just bubbles over. You think it's funny when I bounce beside you on the bed, sometimes you laugh when Levi scares you (although I'm not a fan of this method), and your tickle spot is right under your chin. It's so fun to make you laugh!

- I still love the way you hold your hands together and play with them. You've begun to stare at your arm and sometimes when you catch a sight of your brightly colored socks. Bows are starting to fit on your head, plus you received some new clip-ins for Easter!

- We took you in for an extra weight check and you've jumped up to almost 12 lbs. hooray!! You are breastfeeding and drinking formula. We have tried a couple foods -- mashed potatoes and bananas, but you're not very interested yet, so we'll keep waiting until you're ready.

- You discovered your tongue on Easter and started blowing raspberries. It was sooo cute! 

- You are such a beauty! You have begun sleeping in your pack-n-play so well! I have to go in often to make sure you're still breathing :) You're starting to take more regular, consistent naps and it has been wonderful! Your morning nap, around 10 am, is usually the best one! You are currently sleeping and have been up there for 2 hrs. so I'm getting a few extra things done this morning :) 

One of your siblings took this picture. They all really love you! 

Naomi Irene, what a wonderful baby you are! Time is just flying by, so I am trying to treasure these little moments since I know how fast they truly go now. You are laid back and enjoy watching the bustle of activity of your older siblings from your bouncy seat. You are reaching up for the toys on the tummy mat and when we put you on your tummy your legs are in constant motion. You are getting stronger every day and sit in the Bumbo occasionally. We added toys to your car seat and you enjoy staring at them during trips in the van. You are one of our only children that seems to enjoy your stuffed animals. Miss Piggy (in the picture above) is one of your favorites, and you are starting to enjoy the bunnies you received for Easter. I try to give you one whenever I lay you down somewhere and you reach for it right away with your mouth open, ready to play. It helps keep you entertained a few extra minutes before you need our attention. Naomi, you are so loved and I look forward to seeing what the next month holds! Love, Mommy

Walk for Arthritis

Hi Family,

We decided to start Zeke in TaeKwonDo lessons. In just 2 sessions, I'm already very excited for him and what he will be learning. The couple that owns the studio, TJ and Tiffany, are a young couple who have a heart to serve their community and have a sister school down in Haiti to empower the children living there. I have really enjoyed getting to know them, as I have been taking jiu jitsu with them as well. If you'd like to learn more about them and what they do, you can visit their website here: https://www.kickma.com/ 

Zeke has signed up for his first walk for a cause! During each testing session (10 weeks) he needs to complete one service project in order to earn his next rank. For this testing session, we chose to join his TaeKwonDo team and complete the Walk to Cure Arthritis on Saturday, May 5th. I am excited to complete the walk with him! If you would like to support his walk and help his team reach their goal of $5000, would you please consider giving a donation? We chose to each raise $10, so any small amount or contribution will absolutely help us reach our goal! Here is his fundraising page: https://events.arthritis.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=14967

If you don't feel like contributing monetarily, that is absolutely ok! Another way you could support him is by sending cards to us and I will save them to read to him on the day of the walk on the 5th. Since this is his first one, I know he might struggle or feel like he can't finish, so any cards that encourage him or tell him what a great job he has done will really inspire him.

He lost his first tooth on Sunday, April 8!

I am super excited to get Zeke involved in this community with other believers who serve and do activities like this together. I think it will be a great investment of time and money and I can't wait to see how he will grow and flourish in a supportive and safe group! I will try my best to give you an update on how he is doing and when he completes ranks and such!

4 Months Old!

Naomi, you are 4 months old today! Here are some pictures from the past month and what you've been up to!

- You are getting long and starting to wear some 3-6 month clothes! We put you in cloth diapers every once in a while. 

Valentine's Day 

You were a sweet Valentine

- You take a long nap in the middle of the day, usually in the solly wrap. You usually sleep from about 11 am - 2 pm. You also take a couple of other shorter naps in the morning and in the evening. At night you're giving me some 5 hour stretches!

 - You have discovered your feet and like holding your hands together, which is super cute!

 - You are becoming so alert! You notice so much, like Marshall and Dora. You follow toys with your eyes and have reached for things a few times. You like to hold on to your little pink pig stuffed animal when you're waiting on the bed for someone to pick you up.

Picture taken by one of your siblings 

Big brother is getting comfortable taking care of you! 

Our first Girls' Night In

- You like taking baths, especially when someone else is in the tub with you! 

Looks like we're going to have an adorable thumb sucker! 

 - I put you in one of my old outfits for your pictures today. You look adorable and sweet with all the lace and ruffles and flower and bows!

Today - 3/11/18

Naomi, you are such a darling, perfect little baby. You happily watch your family from your bouncy seat; you take some of your naps in the pack-n-play. You have begun to giggle when I bounce on the bed beside you and we are starting to find your tickle spots. Your hair is staying dark and long, but it doesn't seem to stick up as much as it used to. Now that you're 4 months old we might give you little bites of fruits and vegetables and your first sippy cup! You are growing up fast and I'm trying to hang on to these baby moments because I now know how fast they go. I love snuggling with you and sometimes you just sit and rock with me in the quiet. I love you so much, baby girl! Love, Mommy