Alaina’s 4th month January 31, 2011

Our chunky monkey is now 15 lbs. 5 oz (95th percentile) and 24.5 inches long (75th percentile) and it has been a big month for her developmentally.

Highlights of her 4th month include:

-Making lots of “ugh” noises, preferably while her fingers are in her mouth.

-Blowing rasberries.

-Reaching and grabbing things, which is typically followed by shoving them in her mouth.

-Getting really close to rolling over from her back to her tummy; she makes it 75% of the way and then gets stuck.

-Loving doing “baby sit-ups” and holding her weight if we stand her up.

-Grabbing her feet for the first time.

-Her first cold and cough, which she’s still trying to get all the way over.

-Becoming obsessed with the sound of water. She’ll orient to it whenever she hears water running.

A’s Baptism January 20, 2011

We had been planning to have Alaina baptized while we were home over the break so my parents could attend and keep their perfect record of attending their grandchildren’s baptisms. After my mom passed away, we decided to go ahead with the baptism plans and since baby Owen would be coming into town, we just made it a double baptism! It was a nice service in the chapel of the church I grew up in and so special to have so many family and close friends in attendance. Alaina got to wear the beautiful baptismal gown that was originally worn by my maternal grandfather so she’s the 4th generation to wear it!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Holidays 2010, Part II January 19, 2011

I’m glad Alaina doesn’t have separation anxiety yet, because the holidays sure meant having her get passed around from relative to relative. With my mom’s funeral being over the holidays, it meant we got to see family we didn’t expect to see, including Alaina’s new cousin who was born the beginning of December. It was fun to compare Alaina to 6-month-old cousin Kendall and 3-week-old cousin Owen!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Holidays 2010, Part I January 18, 2011

Here are the first set of pics from the holiday madness that was Alaina’s first Christmas. It was exciting getting to introduce her to my parents and to Frank’s sister’s family, and we finally got to meet our newest niece, Kendall, who was born in July. Alaina didn’t have a clue about presents, etc. and she slept through a lot of the activities (that’s why she’s still in her car seat in several of the pics), but next year will be a different story when these babies will be walking!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Alaina’s 3rd Month January 5, 2011

Alaina’s third month was a busy one- tons of traveling and meeting people! She didn’t go to the doctor this month so we’re not sure on her weight and height other than she’s one solid baby! She fell asleep after playing on the floor the other morning, so we just decided to make it into her 3 month picture.

She is a drooling queen these days so is usually sporting a bib. She loves to eat her hands or suck on her fingers, which just adds to the slobbery madness. Her tracking of faces and voices has really improved the last couple of weeks, maybe since she was meeting so many new people. And she is enjoying tummy time more.

Third month highlights included…

-Her first party- my work holiday party.

-Her first road trip- she survived the 13+ hour trek to Kansas and back for the holidays.

-Her first Christmas! More pics of this to come in another post.

-Meeting tons of friends and family! She loved all the attention and liked to smile for her grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, great-grandmothers, great aunts and uncle, and second cousins!

-Getting to enjoy some time with her Nana before she passed away on the 26th. For some reason, it was really important to me for Alaina to meet her Nana, even though she won’t be able to remember it. Perhaps because my maternal grandfather passed away the year before I was born and I always felt I had missed out. I only got a couple of good pics of Alaina and Nana since I hadn’t learned how to use our new camera yet and A is so squirmy these days, but I’m happy they at least exist- I know I will cherish them!