Monthly Milestones: 11 Months

Where did this year go? Seriously. I cannot believe that it was one year ago today that I was impatiently awaiting the arrival of this little love bug. 

Tomorrow is Aubrey's 1st Birthday and I am so overcome by emotions right now as I type this. I love watching her grow and learn new things and develop the adorable little personality that has but at the same time I just want to freeze time and cry when I realize that my "baby" is going to be a toddler tomorrow. I know that there are so many new, fun, and exciting things ahead but this past year has been so amazing and I'm just not ready to let go just yet. 

It's bittersweet.

We're having a little birthday celebration tomorrow with some cake and then her big birthday party is this Saturday. It was actually supposed to be this past Saturday but Aubrey has been sick and is just starting to feel better today, I just started antibiotics for a sinus infection, my husband was sick the week before with bronchitis, and we ended up getting a snow storm so we had to cancel. I have a feeling that this little girl is going to have many more snowy birthdays in her future too.

Month 11

Weight & Length: about 21 lbs., approximately 30 inches 

Clothing Size: 12-18 months and some 9 month onsies, strangely enough

Diaper Size: Size 3

Sleep: You were SSTN until your started cutting some more teeth, then right after that you got sick- for your first time. You were up all throughout the night for about 3-4 nights because you were running a fever one night and the other nights you were so congested with a runny/stuffy nose and a little cough that kept you awake. Now that you're on the mend you're back to sleeping right through the night. You've been waking up around 5:30am though so I feed you and you go back to sleep until 7 or 8. 

Feeding: She is now eating everything that we eat (mashed or cut into tint pieces). Still loving her puffs. Bananas and sweet potatoes are her favorite. 3 weeks into her 11th month we mixed some cow's milk into her sippy and she didn't even notice, then we tried giving her a bottle with just cow's milk and she spit it all out so we're mixing her bottles with half and half for now and gradually transitioning to all cow's milk. Speaking of sippys, Aubrey is fully converted- no more bottles! She didn't even put up a fight about it and I don't think she misses them at all so I guess the timing was right and she was ready, I probably got lucky too;)

Hair Color: Medium brown with a golden hue. Little curls in the back!

Eye Color: hazel

Milestones & Firsts: She is waving bye bye all the time now. She thinks it's so funny when she holds her hands over her eyes to play peek a boo and she loves going in her tent to hide- she'll wait for you to come looking for her and crack up laughing when you find her. 2 more teeth on the top. She claps her hands all the time which is so adorable. She even knows when to clap at the end of a song or story. She can stand all by herself for a few moments now I think it's just a matter of her getting the confidence to take the steps by herself. She is walking really well and going a long distance with her push walker so I know that it's going to happen any day now...

Nicknames: Aubster, Aubs, Lobster

First Birthday Party Planning

I cannot believe that I am in the midst of planning Aubrey's 1st Birthday Party. I still feel like we came home from the hospital with her a few months ago. I'm so excited but at the same time I'm so sad that my baby is growing up so fast. Everyone told me at my baby shower- "Enjoy it, it goes so fast!" I wrote it off as one of those things that people just say to say it; as a small-talk kind of filler. Wow! They were not kidding- that statement is SO true and I don't think you can totally grasp the concept until you are a mother/father yourself. 

The invites are out so I guess it's official- her party planning is in full swing...

I made these invites myself using picmonkey.com and I'm so happy with the way they came out. If you haven't checked out that site, you really should. I could play around on there all day. everyday.

We decided to go with the Winter ONEderland theme since she's a winter baby and there are so many adorable options and decorations. I turned to Pinterest for some inspiration so I thought I'd share some inspiration photos with you since that's all I have at the moment.

I'll be posting lots and lots of party pictures after her party, of course.

Monthly Milestones: 9 & 10 Months

I can't believe how far I fell behind with not just blogging but with my Monthly Milestones posts as well. Here I am planning her first birthday party and I haven't even posted the 9 and 10 month updates. I'm becoming more and more emotional about the fact that she is going to be transitioning from a baby to a toddler soon. Life with a baby really is crazy- you go from wishing they would just sleep through the night to finally getting them to sleep but then wanting to go in and just admire them while they're sleeping and then contemplating taking them out the crib to snuggle. Crazy roller coaster ride this is. Crazy.

The monthly stickers are now a thing of the past. All she wants to do is rip them off now. Monthly photos shoots are getting harder and harder now that she is so mobile and wiggly. This girl is in constant motion. You can see what I'm talking about with my attempts below:

Month 9

Weight & Length: about 20 lbs., approximately 28 inches 

Clothing Size: 9 months and 12 months

Diaper Size: Size 3

Sleep: The first half of the month was rough. You were taking naps 2x a day but they were only half hour naps thankfully this was all resolved by the end of the month because I couldn't get much done and we were both unhappy with this routine. You woke up a lot a night too this month but it could have to do with the fact that you cut not one but 2 teeth this month- your 2 front teeth!

Feeding: 7 ounce bottles of breast milk every 4 hours, fruits, veggies, meat, oatmeal

Hair Color: Medium brown with a golden hue. Curls are coming in!

Eye Color: dark blue/gray with flecks of brown- a perfect combo of mine and my husbands eyes.

Milestones & Firsts: This strong little girl climbed a full flight of stairs and made it her new favorite activity because all you wanted to do was climb up and start over again and again and again... You are climbing on everything you possibly can. You love peek-a-boo and you are so excitable now. Your little personality is whinging through and you crack up laughing now- it's definitely the cutest thing in the whole world. 

Nicknames: Aubster, Aubs, Lobster

 

Month 10

Weight & Length: about 20.5 lbs., approximately 28 1/2 inches 

Clothing Size: 9 months and 12 months

Diaper Size: Size 3

Sleep: We moved into your new home this month and I was so worried about sleep issues. We got you on a great schedule a week and a half before we moved and you started sleeping soundly though the night. I was convinced that the move would end your perfect sleep schedule but I couldn't have been more wrong. You have never slept better. You are sleeping through the night (bed at 7/7:30pm and waking at 7:30/8am and napping like a champ- 2 naps/day totaling about 3 hours/day. 

Feeding: 7 ounce bottles of breast milk every 4 hours, You had some cranberry sauce and turkey on Thanksgiving and you're starting to eat what we are eating now. You decided to boycott purees so I figured it was time to transition to little bits and pieces of what we're eating and you are very happy with the switch. You love everything- you're such a great eater and I just hope it stays that way.  Oh and puffs- you love your puffs! 

Hair Color: Medium brown with a golden hue. Little curls in the back!

Eye Color: dark blue/gray with flecks of brown- a perfect combo of mine and my husbands eyes.

Milestones & Firsts: You are walking with assistance now- pushing your lion walker around and walking along the furniture while holding on. You are saying "momma" all the time which totally melts my heart. You love pointing at things and then turning to us to tell you what it is that you are attracted to. You cut a 5th tooth (bottom, next to middle teeth). You're stability is improving and I'm starting to realize that you are going to be walking so soon. 

Nicknames: Aubster, Aubs, Lobster

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In other news, we are settling into our new home and it's starting to feel more like home. We're finally starting to hang things on the walls and figuring things out. Between the holidays, working, chasing after an 11 month old, and now with the first birthday just around the corner, blogging has been on the back burner because I really haven't had the time but I really want to blog and I have all of these ideas but I just need more hours in a day. I'm hoping to get back into the groove of posting in February when I'm planning on things calming down. 

Future posts coming up: 

• First Birthday Details
• First Birthday Party
• Second Floor Home Tour
• Updates on the House (progression)
• Outfits (hopefully)
• Clarisonic Mia 2 Review
• Quick 5 Minute Makeup Tutorial
• Hair Routine

What do you want to see more of on this blog?

Hello 2014

I have high expectations for you because 2013 was such an amazing year for us. Aubrey was born in January and we celebrated all of her first holidays this year. We began construction on our home and moved in last month. 2013 has by far been the biggest most life-changing (in a good way) year yet for us. 

Instead of naming a bunch of resolutions that I probably won't stick with I'm just going to list a few hopes for the new year and *hope* that I can accomplish them:

- Start eating healthier again eat the sweets in moderation especially because Aubrey is now starting to eat what we eat and I want to make sure we are setting a good example.

- Try to stress less and keep my anxiety under control. I don't take any medication, I don't think I need to but I just need to gain a little more control over it and put mind over matter.

- Develop and better schedule and stick to it. Aubrey is all settled into a great routine but now that she is so mobile, I need some help so I can still work from home during the day. Staying up until midnight every night just isn't working so that is the schedule that I need to work on. 

- Speaking of schedule, I need to create a cleaning schedule for this house because it's just not possible to clean the whole house in a day like I used to do in our apartment. 

- Make more time for doing things that make me happy.

Just for fun, here is a look back at where I was at this time last year-

New Years Eve 2012

Christmas 2013

Holly Jolly First Christmas

The holidays have been hectic around here but so enjoyable at the same time. That being said, I'm hoping that things will calm down a bit after the new year. I can't believe how fast time is flying- it's New Year's Eve already and in a few more weeks my little baby is turing one! Now that Christmas is over party planning is in full effect and while I'm beyond excited for her first birthday and party I am so sad to think that my baby is not such a baby anymore, she's becoming a toddler and I still feel like we just came home from the hospital last month. 

I know I'm a little late to the party but here is a little holiday recap: 

I couldn't decide on Christmas cards so we had two this year.

We went to see Santa on Christmas Eve and Aubrey was less than thrilled but it did make for a great first picture with Santa. We'll definitely be pulling this out and laughing about it 15 years from now.

All dressed up and ready for the Christmas Eve festivities to begin.

We spent Christmas Eve with my husband's family as we do every year and Aubrey had lots of fun visiting with her cousins and opening some gifts. She also enjoyed dinner with us- she loves fettuccine alfredo!

The night before Christmas...

Playing with some new toys on Christmas morning.

Loving her new play tent- it was a hit!

 It was just the three of us on Christmas morning and it was so much fun. My parents and brothers joined us for brunch at our home and from there we got dressed and went to my aunt's house for Christmas dinner. It was such a busy day and we didn't take nearly as many photos as we wanted- we never got a good family photo either unfortunately. It was such a whirlwind of excitement and I'm glad that we were living in the moment and not posing for photos all day but a do wish we got at least one... hopefully next year!

A favorite Christmas tradition- Struffoli. My great grandma made these when I was little and I always remember her making me a little plate of them. My grandfather eventually took over the tradition and now my mom and I make them every year and every year I can't wait to indulge in a nice big plate of them. It's basically a fried dough ball covered in honey. Delish and so nostalgic. 

Chalkboard fun!

I didn't waste any time putting the chalkboard wall to good use.

I was pinspired to make a Merry Mail hanger for all of our cards. It was so easy and I think it came out pretty good too.