Sunday, June 12, 2011

3 Month Milestones!

I am afraid I am going to forget all of these milestones! So I started documenting all the cute things Bella does! I tried to get it all in order!  These events take place between May 19 and June 16!

3 months old!

12 weeks: Loves rubbing eyes when tired and frequently pushes passy out of mouth

12 weeks: starts to put hand on the side of her bottle



12 weeks: stares at hands constantly

12 weeks: holding items in hand -- flowers, shirt (lifting up shirt), hair brush
12 weeks: laughed when I sang "Shake your Groove Thing"

12 weeks: pays attention to my singing when I say "Blue" and "That's the Night When the Lights went out in Georgia" (must like country)

12 weeks: sleeping between 9 and 12 hours a night (usually 9-10)

12 weeks: Still pulls her hair or rubs her ear to go to sleep

12 weeks: loves to sleep with her hands behind her head

12 weeks: Always smiles when Chris lifts her above his head

12 weeks: Being outside calms her down when she is hungry...give me time to make the bottle!

13 weeks: Eating habits changing...not eating every 4 hours and not eating same amount every time.

13 weeks: kicks her playmat so hard that she wraps up like a burrito, loves to try and catch her mirror on her playmat between her feet!

13 weeks : Teething kicks into high gear...lots of chewing (tries to put our fingers in her mouth, leans forward to bite us) and cranky behavior, plus change in eating, puts passy to the side of her mouth to chew on it

13 weeks: using her shirt or bib to move the passy closer to her mouth to put back in

13 weeks: holding passy in hand and moving it in and out of mouth

13 weeks: taking hour plus naps in her crib

13 weeks: becoming more clingy (realizes when we aren't near her)

13 weeks: likes to use Alabama rattle (even though she hits herself in the head)

13 weeks: rolling from tummy to back (only for Jeneane!)

13 weeks: Scooting -- in play mat or crib. When I lay her on back she scoots herself off the mat completely or spins to lay opposite way (horizontal to vertical or vice versa)

13 weeks: Smiling while sticking out tongue.

13 weeks: likes to kick legs when sitting in her Boppy. She likes to press her feet against the couch.

13 weeks: super cuddly --lays head against your head when sitting up, rubs my face during cuddle time, honked my nose

13weeks: interlocks fingers

13 weeks: tummy time lasting longer than a minute

14 weeks: gets fussy if she doesn't have something in her hand (loves to hold an empty water bottle or her brush)

14 weeks: grabs toes on her own while sitting up

14 weeks: held teether on her own with both hands and put it in her mouth by herself

14 weeks: rubs/tickles my stomach while I feed her a bottle

14 weeks: pushes/swats bottle away from her when she is full

14 weeks: reached up to touch her items hanging on her playmat

14 weeks: talks so you will look at her!

15 weeks: brushed her own hair! -- I have witnesses
15 weeks: laughed and giggled when I breathe heavy and fast

15 weeks: laughed to Aunt Em's ride a little pony

15 weeks: sat in Baby Einstein Activity Seat...feet wouldn't touch bottom. First time sat there and stared. Second time in seat kept leaning forward, mouth wide open to try and chew her toys.


Shew! I'm tired...and Bella just turned 20 weeks! Now to catch up on the last 5! :)

Friday, June 3, 2011

Hands!

Bella is getting better at using her hands.  She tried to help hold her bottle! Precious!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Going to work with Mommy

Last Friday was my last day at Marietta High School (well, before summer school starts).  All of my classes were finished and all I had to do was work on grades.  So...I decided to bring Bella to school. All of my co-workers had asked to see her and were excited when I brought her. I had a few students stop by to see her too. Several girls offered to babysit.

She did so well!  She didn't cry at all! She slept in her stroller and sat up in her Bumbo!  What a trooper! 

She wore her big girl outfit so that she could meet the big kids!  :)

Getting ready to go to the big kids school

After school photo shoot -- one day with the high schoolers and she thinks she is a model!


Showing off her big girl dress!


Monday, May 30, 2011

Bella keeps holding on!

Chris has been working with Bella on learning how to grasp things with her hands and hold on.  Here is a sweet video of how he taught her to hold her brush.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Baby Dedication Weekend!

We had a lovely weekend with friends and family celebrating Bella Rose's baby dedication. We kicked things off on Saturday afternoon with the arrival of my mom and Chris' family.  We had a nice family dinner at our house.  Our nieces went on a walk to the pool with Chris, PawPaw babysat (aka fell asleep) with Bella, and the mom's went for a walk around the block. 

PawPaw and Bella taking a nap



She loves how her PawPaw calms her down!


















After a relaxing evening with family, we woke up early for Bella's baby dedication. It was a lovely service. We were blessed to have friends and family present for the big day.   During the ceremony, pictures of Bella and a recorded prayer we wrote for Bella played while we stood center stage.

Bella did so well! I took her passy out just before we went on stage, and she didn't cry at all!  I was so proud of her...especially since she has had a bad cough and has been cranky.


Before the service

During our presentation

After the service

Family photo!

After the service, we went to O'Charley's for lunch. Then, we went home to get ready for our party. Ayleiah and Leionna were big helpers; they helped stir the punch and the lemonade. They were also greeters!  We had a great party! Jeneane made awesome cupcakes, a pie, and phenomenal chocolate covered strawberries! I made my special party punch, bought some ice cream, and had two delicious Paula Deen pound cakes.  Thanks to all who attended! We are blessed to have an amazing "family" away from home!  After the party, Bella was knocked out.  She took a nice long nap which gave us time to recuperate. 

Party Pics:

Party People!

Bella took a nap in her G'Mommy's arms. The party had just started and she was already worn out!

 
I didn't expect presents...but had a blast opening them!

 
Uncle Curt giving Bella her party snack!

Community group family!

Chillin' with her BFF -- Emery!


Friday, May 27, 2011

A Walk to Remember!

Chris and I finally tried out Bella's baby carrier.  Her waist is still a little short for the carrier. Her head barely peers over the top.  Chris enjoyed carrying her around. I reminded him that I had already carried her around like this while pregnant! :)  We had a nice walk around the block at sunset. Precious memories!

Pics:
Ready to go!



She's not too sure what to think about this...

Family shot 1

Family shot 2: Don't you just love her expression?


Thursday, May 26, 2011

Best Friends!

Bella Rose is so lucky to have a friend like Emery.  Emery is cuddly, cute, and always stylish. The best part is that Emery has an awesome mom who just happens to be one of my closest friends!  Emery and Bella are 12 days apart in age. I can't wait for them to grow up together!  Play dates coming soon!


Bella and Emery at their first meeting.

Bella and Emery now!

Holding hands!

Emery was done holding hands...but Bella wanted to comfort her!