Emily Raylynn is 11 months old!

My kid is 11 months old. (11 months and 4 days actually.) I have no idea where the time went. I mean people say it goes by quickly, and they're right, and you know that. (And them saying it, is the farthest thing from helpful and the closest thing to annoying.) Still, even knowing how quickly it all passes doesn't really prepare you for it. In less than one month, I will have a 1-year-old. (And yes, I will still dress her to match me.)

Emily is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything. She wants to walk so badly, but doesn't really know how to, so that results in her sitting in a downward-facing dog pose for much of the day. She can get where she needs to go by crawling, but she'd rather stand. Obstinate, headstrong girl. (Side note: if you know where that quote is from, we can be best friends now.)

 The first day we tried to get her 11-month pictures, she was far too busy to put up with my nonsense.

She's saying all sorts of things, though very little of it are actually words. She still rambles off "dadadada," but we're not sure how often she's saying it in reference to her Daddy. She also continues to say "mama," which I think is more often being used when she's talking to me or about me, but I hesitate to believe she has associated meaning with that either. The good news is she is well aware of who "ayla" (Layla) is. At least she has her priorities straight. 

 On a mission, no time to doddle. 

Quite possible the cutest thing ever, Emily now loves to play patty-cake. She will clap her hands and attempt to "roll it up," and this just makes her so happy. Her Nia (my mom) initially introduced her to patty-cake, and her teachers at the daycare have since practiced with her. Now, she's basically an expert.

 Layla was confused why Emily wouldn't stay on the blanket for picture time. She offered to help.

Speaking of daycare, Em apparently has a boyfriend at daycare! I shouldn't be too surprised, she is, after all, her mother's daughter. Her father on the other hand is looking for his gun. I kid. But he did get super-overprotected-dad-like with his reaction, which was all kinds of adorable. Anyway, there's apparently a little boy in her class who also loves to give kisses. The teachers have to keep an eye on them now!

 Here we go. A nice 11-month picture. Looking way too grown up!

Not too sure of her 11-month stats. When we went to the doctor for her follow-up appointment after her ear infection she was closing in on 22 pounds. She had lost about 6 ounces while she was sick, but she's bouncing back! We'll get all of her weight and height measurements when we go back to the doctor's office in 4 weeks for her 1-YEAR CHECK UP! 

This weekend Emily will get some 1-year pictures taken by the photographer who did our Christmas pictures. Then next weekend Emily and I are traveling home to Virginia for an annual 10K and will get to see a lot of family. And 2 weeks later, both sets of grandparents will be heading up to Michigan for Emily's 1st birthday party! Now, just bring on some warmer weather!

Indoor activities with Emily!

So, it's freaking cold outside. There's a lot of snow on the ground. We don't get outside too much. We have to come up with other things to keep us occupied or else we'll all go a bit stir crazy. We frequent the bookstore across the street, but I need to keep that fun, so we have to do other things at home, also. Here's what we've come up with the past couple of weeks: shaving cream fun and painting!

 This is great. Just sat her in her high chair and put some shaving cream and toys on the tabletop and let her go to town.

 We kept her pacifier in so she wouldn't eat the shaving cream. Once she's a bit older, we may not need to do this...

We just threw some toys in the mix to give her something to play with. Keys and teething rings worked great, but she most enjoyed the wipes when I was trying to clean up.

We decided to do some painting. We attempted a shamrock made with her footprints. It turned out OK...

 I swear she's not as miserable as she looks here.

 Then we thought, let's just let her play with the paint and see what happens.

 And it was great.

 

 Layla was there to keep an eye on things.

 Artist in training.

 

Bathtime came a little early that day...

Earlier this week, my mom came to visit/help out. She was originally coming to help out while Paul was away for business, but then his trip got switched to later in the week, so we all got to hang out instead!

 

I'm sure Emily was explaining something important to her.

 

Sharing some puffs.

Really loves those puffs!

 

Reading. Which this kid will do all day long. Loves her books!

And a picture of Layla, because she's awesome.

Emily Raylynn is 10 Months Old!

Monday Emily turned 10 months old. That means pretty soon I'm going to have a 1-year old, and I just can't handle that. Like at all. I feel like she was just born and now she's crawling around, getting into everything, pulling up on everything, saying "mama," "dada," and "ayla" (Layla). Although really, she only knows what "ayla" means... She babbles pretty much all day long and it's really the greatest sound I've ever heard!

She always has this dog with her. Her "Snuggle Puppy." Goes with us everywhere. She sleeps with it. And hugs it extra tight, which is pretty adorable.

Unfortunately, to celebrate her 10-month "birthday" we headed to the pediatrician to get all checked out. Emily developed her first ear infection over the weekend. (Thank you daycare.) Friday she started having a fever that bounced around between 101-102 degrees. She was in great spirits despite the fever. The fever hung around all weekend (only giving her Tylenol once when the fever spiked to 103), and by Monday I thought it best to take her to the doctor. She had started making slight gestures towards her right ear (although I wasn't positive I wasn't just imagining that, being a first-time, probably overly-panicked mother), and sure enough, my sweet baby had her first ear infection! Been on antibiotics for 3 days and you'd never know she was ever sick!

 Just hanging with my owl.

Emily LOVES to read. Like more than any kid I've ever known. And that's saying a lot because my niece could seriously read for days and not get tired of it. What is it with the next generation being smarter than us?! The other night Emily woke up in the middle of the night and didn't go right back to sleep (which has become quite rare for her). I went in to check on her to make sure her fever wasn't back, and then after some cuddles and rocking her, I put her back to bed. She didn't go back to sleep and started to get a bit fussy, so Paul went in and checked on her. She just kept looking at her books and whining. Paul read her one her favorite books a couple times and put her down and she went right back to sleep. Yeah, my kid wakes up and the middle of the night, demanding to be read to.

She's still rocking the 12-18 month clothes, although I put her in an 18-24 month shirt the other day, and while slightly big, it wasn't huge. She's still just shy of 22 pounds, not sure of how long. She's starting to cruise a bit on furniture, which makes me nervous. I'd like at least a little while longer before she starts walking. But ever since she started daycare 3 weeks ago, she started reaching all of her developmental milestones very quickly (crawling, pulling up, cruising, first ear infection...).

That's it for now! St. Patrick's Day is coming up, so I'll have to get busy with some St. Patty's Day activities!!! (Green beer drinking for me, shamrock painting for Em!)

Emily's First Valentine's Day!

Emily is 10 months old today, and I will be updating on that later this week. Unfortunately, with her 10-month birthday, she came down with her very first ear infection. I decided not to bother her trying to get her monthly picture today. I'll give the antibiotics time to do their job, and attempt a picture later in the week!

But, that doesn't leave us with nothing to update! We celebrated Emily's first Valentine's Day this past Friday. (You know, on Valentine's Day...)

She had quite the haul!

 

 We may spoil her, just a bit...

My sweet valentine. Still smiling even with a fever!

And just some more pictures...

 Sweet baby hanging out in the snow!

 Getting tossed in the air by daddy is her favorite!

 She has a more toys than any child actually needs, yet she prefers to play with Layla's toys.

 THIS face. 

 These two are best friends.

 

 Tired baby. 

Mischievous baby.

Hanging with my best friend.

Valentine's Day Crafts!

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so the other week, Emily and I sat down to make Valentine's Day gifts for her grandparents and great-grandparents (and one for us!). I'm pretty pleased with how they turned out!

If those aren't the cutest little feet... :)

A note about the valentine: we tried making the "O" with her hand, and while it's still cute, it makes it a bit harder to read. She also hates making handprints, so maybe that's part of the problem!

I use Crayola washable paint and canvases I ordered from Amazon. We used to use construction paper/poster board, but using the canvases they are all ready to hang as soon as you're done, without having to frame them or anything. On Amazon I got 12 canvases this size for about $13. I know some craft stores sell them as well!

And now, some more pictures of my girl...

 Cuddling with her Valentine bear from her cousin Riley.

 Emily doesn't get to watch a lot of TV, but we could resist the Puppy Bowl. She was waving and talking to the puppies on the TV. So sweet.

 She has started removing her bows, but then she wants them back on so she holds them on her head.

 Just standing up. Being a big girl.

 Bedhead.

 I guess all the Mommy & Me yoga is paying off, a little downward facing dog action.

*Also, her daddy may have forgotten to snap her onesie after changing her, so I just snapped it on the outside, which is why she's got the super hero look going on.*

 Taking a quick nap on the way to daycare.

Up to no good.

Next week this little butterbean will be 10 months old! I'm kind of having panic attacks about that. But I'm of course hard at work planning her first birthday soiree! Go big or go home!

Emily Raylynn is 9 months old!

I haven't updated this in quite a while. Soooo, this will just be full of pictures of my girl! I cannot believe she is 9 months, only 3 months from being 1 YEAR OLD. I cannot believe it. I feel like she was just a little 8 pound newborn.

 Yup, this little stinker is 9 months old.

Let me be the first to say, this is like the greatest age ever. She is so much fun to interact with. She waves, claps, harmonizes Boyz II Men with me, and gives the greatest hugs and kisses ever. 

Seriously. So. Much. Fun.

And here she is wearing cowboy boots like her mama!

She just loves standing up! Rockin' her Nike yoga pants. She is just too much.

And a fun little "9 months in - 9 months out" shot. Wow. And yeah, we're matching again with my scarf and her headband. I'm that mom...

She still somewhat allows me to have a little photo shoot for her monthly picture. Here are a few of those shots...

A shot with her owl.

She is getting far too tall!

We had her 9-month check-up this week. She is 21 pounds, 10.5 ounces (89th percentile) and 29.25 inches tall (91st percentile). My girl is just getting too big! She's wearing 12-18 months size clothes.

"Sure, I could spin this toy, or I could eat it instead!"

She LOVES clapping!

This week she started daycare. Mommy's handled it pretty well, actually. The first two days I dropped her off, she didn't cry at all, but was a bit fussy when I picked her up. The third day I dropped her off I think she figured it out and cried when I left her. She did nap a bit, but was still a little fussy when I got her. I think it will take a couple weeks, but we'll get there!

Giving her snuggle puppy big hugs!!

Bring it on Polar Vortex. We've got cowboy boots and Patagonia. No big deal.

We'll be doing some Valentine's Day crafts this weekend, so I'll try to update that this weekend!!