Catching up!

Well....so much for staying on top of this Blog!! Last time I wrote was September, and boy has a lot happened!!! Let's start with October....and of course pumpkins and Halloween! We visited Burt's Pumpkin Farm again this year. It was a very cold day....so we didn't stay too long, but Bailey had a great time looking at the pumpkins, and especially liked the bumpy ones! We brought four pumpkins home, and Bailey enjoyed them all season long! We also went to Chicago to visit Uncle John and Aunt Amanda....we had so much fun! Bailey really enjoyed the Halloween festivities. She had costume day (she was a UGA Cheerleader) at school, and a costume parade in addition to Halloween in our neighborhood (she was a Lady Bug). She loved collecting the candy, and had her first Reese's Peanut Butter cup on Halloween night. Boy does she take after her Daddy!!! She had a PB Cup in one hand, took a bite, and then proceeded to try to open a second with the other hand!!! She loved them!!

November brought a lot of new changes for Bailey. She is becoming much more independent going up and down (scary for Mommy and Daddy) the stairs! She wants to do everything herself, and has an iron will! She knows what she wants and will try and try until she gets it right. She has really taken off with her books....she will "read" several each day! She loves looking at the pictures, and telling you what they are. Her vocabulary is expanding like crazy...more and more words each day! She can put sentences together, and Really makes sense! We have really loved seeing this growth, and love that she loves learning.

December has brought many milestones to us! First off, our little Bailey turned 2. Wow!! Time sure has flown! She can tell you that she is "so big", and can hold up her 2 fingers to show you how old she is. She can say most of her ABC's, count to 10 (although she skips 5 and 6), and sings about 5 or 6 different songs! Her little personality has really come out, and she can tell you what she is thinking and what she wants or doesn't want! It truly amazes me to see that she is actually a little person now rather than a baby! I think our biggest step this month has been the transition from diapers to pull ups...or as we call them "big girl underwear". She decided over the Christmas break that she no longer wanted to wear diapers, and refused to put them on. She loves her big girls underwear, and knows that she has to start using the potty. She loves sitting on the potty. She hasn't quite figured the sequence out yet, but know that when she peepees that she should sit on the potty....we just have to get here there before she peepees rather than after! But---regardless of the sequence this is a big step!!!

Christmas was a blast! Bailey was really into the presents this year. She knew how to open them, and loved finding her new toys and new clothes! Her big present this year was a scooter....she got on it right away, and Daddy had to push her on it right away. She also got a doggie vet kit that came with a toy stethescope.....she has listened to all of our hearts! Bailey loved Santa from a distance....she loved to see him , and talked about him all the time, but she didn't want anything to do with sitting on his lap....maybe next year?

We had Bailey's 2 year check up, and she checked out great! She was 23. lbs...which put her in the 11th percentile, and was 33 3/4 inches tall which put her in the 50th percentile. The doctor said she is doing great,a nd we dont have to come back until she is 3! Bailey also has the tubes removed from her tear ducts, and so far is doing really well. Hopefully the tubes did the trick, and we wont be facing anymore surgeries.

January and February have brought even more changes. Bailey has taken a big step towards potty training.....she has poopoo'd and peepee'd in the potty. She is very proud that she can go on the potty, and tries to go all the time. She sits and sits until she goes! She is well on her way!

We have also encountered some big sleep problems over the last few months. St the end of December Bailey became scared of her crib. She would scream and scream. So, Ron and I took her bed apart to show her that there was nothing to be scared of, and then we converted it to a day bed. We thought that might help, but it turned into about two months of me waking up 3-4 times a night to calm her down, and get her back to sleep. We had to figure out what was happening. I started to notice that when she slept in our bed or one of the bigger bed in the house that she slept more soundly. So, Ron and I decided to move her to a Full sized bed...the best decision we have made!! She has started sleeping through the night, and going to sleep on her own.....finally mommy and daddy are getting some sleep! YEAH!!!

We have started Bailey in a little gymnastics class. It is for 2-3 year olds, and is probably one of the cutest things we have seen. Bailey loves the activity...running, jumping, and playing....what 2 year old wouldn't? We have been to two classses, and she has thoroughly worn herself out at both. Hopefully she will continue to like the classes!

I have attached a bunch of pictures..including some from our snow day!

I'll try to keep this updated better!! Until next time.....

Bailey is growing!

Well it's been months and months since I posted last..boy where does the time go???? So lets start with the basics. We had Bailey's 18 month check up 3 months ago, and she is doing great. At that point she was just above 32 inches tall (if I remember correctly that is in the 70th -80th percentile) and was 22.6 pounds which is in the 25th percentile. Since then I think she has shot up even taller....and gained almost a pound. It is crazy how her little capri pants which were almost down to her ankles in the spring and now just under her knees!! She has really mastered the art of talking...she can string 3-4 words together, and is very expressive about what she wants, doesn't want, likes, and dislikes. She knows all of her animals and sounds, all of her body parts (even arm pits and elbows), colors, lots of names, can count to 3, and a multitude of other things. Bailey has become very curious about the potty, and I think we are well on the way to potty training. She loves the "pobby", and will sit on it and wipe...every once in a while some peepee even goes into the potty! She has recently made the connection that when she feels the peepee she should go to the potty...she will tell me "pobby mama; pobby mama" all the while she is taking off her pants and diaper. We will sit on the potty, and she will ask for the paper!! It is priceless!! I think we are going down the right road..yeah!!!

We have seen in the past few weeks that she really likes her stuffed animals and dolls. She goes to bed every night with Elmo, "Baby doll..hat", monkey, and panda. She loves all her animals. We went to Build a Bear while on vacation, and she made "Bunny"..she loves bunny, and had added bunny to her collection of lovies!

We took Bailey to the beach in the beginning of September. She was very excited about the sand and water.....she liked playing in the sand and the pool right away, but was not so sure about the water with waves.....eventually she warmed up to it, but I think if it was her choice she would have played in the sand and in the pool the whole time! We were lucky enough to be joined at the beach by some good friends. Lucky for Bailey her BFF Alex was there to play! Alex and Bailey kept each other entertained, and had the best time with each other. I think they both got used to having each other around!!! It's is so funny to see how at this young age that Bailey really has friends, and is excited to play with them!!

We have also made a few trips to the Zoo and the Aquarium in the past few months.....if you haven't been able to tell Bailey loves animals. I think that I could take her to the Zoo every day, and she would never grow tired of it!!! She loves to make the animal noises, and jumps up and down when she sees a new animal or something that excites her. Our most recent trip to the aquarium peaked her interest in Alligators--she couldn't get enough!! She cried when we left the exhibit!!! We also hit the Yellow River Game Ranch one afternoon..Bailey wasn't so sure about touching the animals, but really liked that she could get pretty close to them!!!

21 months has proven that Bailey wants her independence. She likes to put her clothes on and take them off, she wants to take her own diaper off, and wants to go up and down the stairs by herself! She tells me "self Mommy" when we are going down the steps. She puts one foot in front of the other, and off she goes. She wants all of her food in big girls pieces..no need to cut anything up anymore, and she can climb into her chair all by herself! She likes to put her own bib on, and is very capable of using a spoon and fork. She has also started drinking from a big girl cup, and prefers to use one whenever I will let her....sippy cups will soon be a thing of the past!!

She is loving bathtime..especially if I let her have a bubble bath!!! She cracks up laughing while playing with the bubbles! Sometime its hard to get her out of the tub..I have to let all the water drain before she will decide to get out!!!

She is becoming ever so picky with her eating....she doesn't like meat or vegetables....so we have found that Flintstone vitamins are a must!! We are lucky that she does like any kind of fruit or dairy product, peanut butter, and pastas. Pizza is her absolute favorite followed closely by raisins!! The doc says that this is a stage.....one that I hope she grows out of sooner than later.....she doesn't know what she is missing!!!

We have also found that her first love is Elmo...followed closely by Zoboomafoo!! She will ask to watch one or the other before bed, and it has become our nightly routine to snuggle together in the chair for 30 minutes while watching one of these shows before we go to bed....I cherish this time. She snuggles right in and says "thank you Mommy"....melts my heart!! She loves the Elmo's World song, and will sing and dance when it comes on..we have been able to capture some of these videos..priceless!!!

We are so excited about this changing weather.....more outside play time!! Bailey loves to go outside and play with all the kids in our neighborhood..we are so lucky to have such great neighbors surrounding us! Makes for a great time with tons of kids laying outside every day!! We are looking forward to our annual trip to Burt's Pumpkin Farm, and will probably test out a few other outdoor activities as well.

Well..I think that I have rambled enough for now...hopefully I will be better about updating in the future!!!

Catching Up

Well this must be the week for all of us busy mommies to catch up on our blogs!! We have had a really busy 2 months..I cannot believe that was the last time that I updated Bailey's Blog. Bailey has had a lot of changes in her life in the past few months. Back in April she got tubes in her ears and tear duct probe. The tubes have been amazing, but we have still been having problems with her tear ducts. Last week she had her second surgery for her tear ducts. The doc did another probe, and then inserted tubes into her tear ducts. The tubes will stay in for about 6 months, and then will be surgically removed. The tubes are in placer to give the tear ducts something to grow around with the hopes that when they are removed her ducts will stay open....we wont know until a month or so after the tubes are removed if the procedure worked....so keep your fingers crossed.

On a more positive note Bailey is saying so many words!!! She is starting to string words together, and creating her own sentences some of which make sense and some of which dont. Today..she learned "ready, set, go!" Some of our favorites to hear her say are elephant "ele dent dent" and cow moooo! She is so funny!! She has certainly formed her personality, and I have to admit we have a strong willed child! She wants what she wants and is not afraid to tell you!

Bailey did see her 1st fireworks show on the 4th. Daddy bought a few fireworks that we put off in front of the house....she seemed to like them, and wanted to hold the sparklers......she didnt like when we told her no :)

Bailey got to meet her new friend Sophia this moth..they had a great time playing, riding in the wagon, and eating ice cream. She also got to play with her friend Alex.....they went to the zoo! Alex's mommy made them the cutest matching shirts. The girls had the best time looking at the birds and the pandas. I cannot explain how much fin it is to see two 1.5 year old completely excited by the animals....jumping up and down, talking to the animals...absolutely a pure joy to watch. Bailey also got to go to her friend Grant's 2nd birthday, and then play with him another day. It is amazing to see how they interact with each other. Daddy is a little worried though.....when Grant was ready to go home....Bailey kissed him good bye....uh oh!!

Bailey is also having so much fin at her school..she is still earning new things everyday..she has made some really good friends, and loves her teachers! She has been learning to say their names, and now has several of them down pat!

PS...No, Bailey did not blow the bubble...she took the bubble out of daddy's mouth and put it in hers..we just caught it at the right moment...too cute!!

Well..thats all for now....I'll try to write again soon!

Update on Life

Well, its been a long time since I have written, and Bailey is growing like a weed! Easter was a blast. Bailey went on two Easter Egg Hunts, and loved every minute of them! She knew just what to do..she found the eggs, put them in her basket, and then had a great time opening the eggs to find the treats! In fact..we still have her Easter Basket out so that she can play with the eggs. We are constantly hiding her toys in them so that she can open them to find out what is inside!

Bailey is also big enough to start enjoying the playground. She loves the swing, but loves the slides even more. She has even figured out how to climb/walk up the slide backwards...she has figured things out a little faster than I thought she would. She is so cute at the playground..she loves to climb all over..she is such a big girl!

We are also trying lots more foods...she doesn't like meat so much. She will eat an occasional hot dog, but that is the extent of her meat eating. She loves mac and cheese, grilled cheese,

cheese sandwiches (see a running theme?), and almost every kind of fruit. She is so funny when she eats pears..she can hardly put them into her mouth fast enough. I am so grateful that she would like to have fruits as her sweets rather than cookies or other sweets. Yea Bailey!

She has also started to do some really big girl things. We can give her a piece of trash (paper, box, wrapper to something she is eating) and tell her to throw it away, and she will take it to the trash can and


throw it away. She is great at picking up her toys, and keeping things cleaned..although she is great at making a mess as well! She loves shoes--she knows that if we put shoes on that it most likely means that we are going outside. So...she will go around the house and find all of the shoes she can,and bring them to us to put on...then she will take our finger and lead us to the door so that we can go outside...how can we resist....needless to say we are outside a lot!! She loves to play in the grass..and find the birdies and doggies....which she imitates so well....little tweet tweet, and woof woofs are such

cute sounds to hear. We got her a new pink buggy/car to ride in..she absolutely loves riding in it, and will let me push her the whole way to the end of the street, and doesn't even try to get out!

Bailey has also learned a lot of words...mommy, daddy, granpa, pop pop, nini, ball, doggie, birdie, yes, no, thank you, more, uh-oh, up are some of them. She is also really cute with her animal sounds. She know what a birdie, doggie, and bear say. She also know what bunies do..hop hop....she has such a cute way about her.

Bailey did end up getting tubes in her ears and a tear duct probe as well. We reached the limit on ear infections, and needed to do something about it to make our little pumpkin feel better. She has had one ear infections since the tubes, and the tubes did what they were supposed to..drain the fluid. Ear drops and an antibiotic did the trick..hopefully now that summer is here we will be able to move past the ear infections and we will have a great, sickness free summer!

I have included some great pictures, and a video..and I will post a few more videos in a few days...have to figure out how to upload from the camcorder :)

I'll write again soon!