8 months

So much has happened and so fast with you. You've got two teeth and are working on your third one. Now you crawl everywhere. Even when we're outside you crawl off the blanket onto the concrete and keep going. You've got knees of steel. ;-) In the last month you've conquered pulling up. You are into everything. You have reminded me, yet again, that silence is bad. Usually if I don't hear from you or your sister tattling on you your into something bad. You still love putting shoes in your mouth when I walk into the kitchen. I walk around the corner, you throw the shoe down and crawl as fast as possible to get away. You love eating. You're doing great with finger foods. You eat so much more than your sister did. Dad and me have a hard time knowing when to add more food because we're not used to this appetite compared to Sophie. You're really getting into all the things your sister does. You so badly want to be doing the same things she does. She's so good at bringing the activities down to your level. Just today you tried feeding a baby doll. You were too fast at moving to capture a picture of it. Mom's almost done with her masters and you girls have been great since I can't devote as much time with you as I'd like. Just a few more months and you'll be one and mommy will soon be done. You're amazing smile is still so contagious. You make every day brighter!!

Determined to catch up with sister

Nearly after a week of sitting up on your own you began crawling. It only took you a couple days and you became a steady crawler and was into everything. You are obsessed with shoes and unfortunately like to chew on them. Since learning to crawler you have truly learned the meaning of no and not in your mouth.
Along your large motor accomplishments you finally got your first tooth. It's on the bottom, front. Because of your new tooth you unfortunately got your first ear infection too. You've also got a yucky cough because of all the drainage. However, your demeanor is still good. You were a bit fussy, struggling with naps, and really digging in your left ear.
I love watching you and sis play together! Now that you're crawling, you guys chase each other around. I'm so proud of you and am beyond blessed with my two little sweethearts!

6 months

*Wow you have accomplished so much in the last month! Once you figured out how to roll from your back to stomach you started using that as your way of movement. We would put you on your tummy time mat, walk into the other room, and come back to find you across the room.
Then you started pulling up on all fours. Then within a flash you started rocking on all fours and got your back legs to move. You've got the leg movement figured out and you're trying with one arm but can't quit get it all at once. On our first day of summer break you figured out how to push yourself up to sit up on your own. You love doing that but it makes you mad too; when you fall over and bump your head or face. Or especially when you sit up at nap time and can't see or figure out how to get flipped over. It won't be long and you'll get the hang of it and crawling.
*On May 25th you got your ears pierced. You cried for a short bit and haven't cried since.
*Still no teeth.
*You're eating like a champ. You eat 3 oz. of solids with each feeding and a 5 oz. bottle with each solid feeding with the exception of a 7 oz. bottle at bed time. You still sleep wonderfully through the night. Except when your sister starts to throw a fit. You can't sleep through that anymore. Your big sis just told me today that after we put you guys to bed she gets up and checks on you. She is such an amazing big sis. She's been great with encouraging and keeping you safe as you accomplish each new large motor skills.

4 Months

What a busy time it's been. You've been sitting with support real well for a bit now. We started you on solids 2 weeks before your 4 month birthday. We chose to start you early because you wanted to eat 8 ounces every 4 hours. Which would be fine except you then started spitting up more. It was too much liquid on your belly. So we started you on cereal first and then green beans were your first vegetable. You did really well. At first we had to scoop a bunch back into your mouth but now you're an expert. We were on spring break together this last week (3/24) so we started a solid schedule. Dad has been very apprehensive because he was afraid we were giving you too much solid. You get an 1.5oz of fruit and cereal for breakfast, 1.5oz of vegetable  for lunch and at dinner time (3pm). Then a 7/8oz bottle at bedtime. With each solid meal you finish up with a 5.5oz bottle. You've had green beans, sweet potatoes, bananas, and apple sauce. You love them all. Your spitting up has greatly decreased and you aren't acting like you're starving by the next feeding. You are so much different than your sister is with eating. It has been a new experience for your dad and me.
Speaking of differences I was getting a little worried because you hadn't rolled over yet. I know your sister did early on but I have to remind myself that you are two completely different people. Thankful you held out to roll over for when I was on spring break. On 3/27 you rolled from tummy to back. Big sis and me were here to cheer you on. I think we might have over whelmed you with our excitement.
Your big sis is absolutely the best big sis you could ask for! She is so attentive to you. She always makes sure to kiss you good morning. When you're fussing and I'm busy I ask her to go talk to you. You just smile and laugh at her. You guys have the best time. I just love seeing you all interact.
Well in a couple of weeks we have you're well check so we'll see how much you've surpassed your sister at this age.

Welcome

We welcomed you to our family on November 22nd, 2013 at 7:09am. I went to the doctor the night before and she stripped my membranes in attempt to start labor. After the appointment I went deer hunting. I felt some pressure and occasional cramping but I was determined to get a deer. Well no deer but did start contractions at about 7ish that night. I wasn't really sure if that's what I was experiencing because they were pretty inconsistent at first. I tried going to bed around 10ish. I slept for about 30 minutes. They were getting more consistent and intense. However, I knew it wasn't intense enough to go to the hospital yet so I got up and went into the living room to watch TV while working through them. I knew I'd need daddy in the end so I wanted him to get his rest. At about 3:30 they were about 4 minutes apart. I called the hospital to see if they thought I should come in. They told me to wait about another half hour or so. It seemed like as soon as I got off the phone they began being 2 minutes apart. Daddy called Uncle TJ so that he could stay with big sis as we went to the hospital. By the time daddy got dressed, Uncle TJ got here, daddy had his early breakfast we were on the road by 4:15/4:30ish. Aunt Lacey called me on the way to the hospital, because she was in Texas. I really wish I could have had her here. But your daddy was the most amazing support. We got into the hospital room at 5am. I was dilated 5.  I told them I wanted to try to go all natural. Well about an hour later the contractions were very intense. I was fearing that I was going to be experiencing this pain for many more hours. So I asked them for the drug that's not an epidural but helps alleviate some pain. They checked me and I believe I was dilated to an 8. Therefore, they said it's to late to get that drug. I then said I wanted an epidural. I was in so much pain, I just wanted it to stop. I didn't care anymore at that point what my original plans were. They said we also didn't have time for that. They were also having a hard time getting a hold of my doctor. They finally got a hold of her and they said we had to wait till she got there because I was a VBAC patient. She just barely got there in time. I started feeling lots of pressure and they said it was time to push. Your dad said I pushed four times and you were here. It felt like an eternity to me. ;-) You came out with dark hair and a lot more then sister had. My doctor guessed you to be 8 pounds. She was just a shy of it, you were born 7lbs. 15oz. and 20.25 inches long. Your daddy was such an amazing support. Through every contraction he let me squeeze his hand. (which he told me later it didn't hurt at all) Every time I wanted to throw in the towel and get medicine to help the pain he kept telling me how strong I was and that I could do it. I couldn't have done it without your daddy. :-D We all were really exhausted after it all but there was no rest. The visitors started rolling in all day. Grandma Even, Aunt Tammy, Pa, Ma, Aunt Jamie, Grandma Suthoff, Uncle William, Zach and Addie all came to see you. It was a very busy day. The next day we all came home and the fun began.
When we went to your two week check up you had already gained an inch in your height. Woo weee you're going to be a tall girl. You also weighed in at 8lbs. We're afraid you're going to surpass sister. It does seem though in the last month your sister has shot up in her height. The week before we discovered you had reflux just like big sis. We knew all the signs this time to look for. At your two week appointment your doctor noticed you have soften cartilage in your throat area.  She said you'll grow out of it eventually but you will sound horrible when your sick or when you're feeding. You do sound scary when you eat sometimes but the doctor reassured me that you're ok.
Sleep: The first night home we put you in your crib in the room you and your sister share. I really don't believe in having babies sleep in their parents room. I feel that it creates a bad sleeping habit. Well that night we went against everything we believed. We also don't believe in co-sleeping. You and your sister feed off each other that night. If one cried the other cried. If one woke the other woke. We finally brought you into our room. However, Aunt Jaimee and Uncle Josh had borrowed our pack n play to use at grandma's. So against our wishes the only other option was to put you in bed with us. It was rather cold otherwise we would have made you a bed on the floor. About two weeks later we put you back in your room. You weren't sleeping through the night yet but you were waking up all kinds of weird hours which I blame on you sleeping in our room. So we started the transition on the weekend because I knew it was going to wake sister until she got used to it. It took you guys about a week to get used to each other sleeping together. A week or so later we put you on your belly to sleep. We did this with Sophie and it made her sleep better. You eventually dropped to one feeding at about 3ish. in the middle of the night and then wake up anywhere from 5-6:30ish for your morning feeding. Eventually that feeding just became a snack feeding because you would only nurse for about ten minutes. Even though it sucked for a while but we had to just put your paci in when you fussed at that time. Normally when we'd put the paci in you'd doze for another half hour or so. At about 4.5/5 weeks you were sleeping through the night minus the occasional need for the paci or a quick diaper change. I have figured out that if your cry is a long wail (which really is actually short but it's longer then your short cry for a paci) that means your diaper is dirty and you aren't happy.
Some other things we've noticed about you:
You hate hiccups. They make you mad and you actually get them quite often. If we give you your paci that calms you with the hiccups. Also sometimes before you burp you start to whimper some and then a wet burp usually happens. You're a very gassy kid. ;-) You also have a very strong sucking reflex. After each feeding you will talk for a little bit but it's not long and you are wanting that paci bad. I've tried not giving you the paci right when you cry but you quickly busy yourself with trying to get a finger in your mouth to suck. I have a feeling you might be a hard one to get the paci from. In all you are a very good baby. You even handle sister well when she's in your face and loud. We are very proud to have you as our newest member of the family.

You like to sleep just Sophie did when she was a baby.

This was the day you got baptized. 12/22/13 Pictures of baptism to follow. Sophie loves holding you!

I got you guys matching Christmas dresses. Neither one of you would participate well for the picture.