10 Month Update

Personality:Ella is playful and sweet. Last night we went to dinner with friends and their son who is Ella's age. He kept trying to play with her, touching her face and playing with her toys. You would have thought that someone was pinching her. She was not about it...she was such a diva! Haha! I've noticed in the last couple of weeks she has gotten BRAVE! I know that some Mama's would be nervous about their little baby pulling themselves up on a cart with wheels, or deciding to crawl off the couch but I've really learned to relax. These are things that she has to learn herself. I'm raising a free range kid!

Sleep: We still co-sleep. We still sleep great. I love it. We've been putting her down in her crib until she wakes up at about 2am. Then she comes to the family bed.

Health: Healthy! She has started taking swim lessons. We've decided to go with gentle learning lessons (it goes right along with our attachment parenting practice). We go on Tuesdays and Thursdays and I LOVE IT. She's learning to kick in the water and navigate the side of the pool. She loves the water. I'm constantly pouring water on her head while saying "1,2,3 GO" so that when its time for her to go under she can hold her breath. She giggles..

Eating: She is still Baby Led Weaning. She eats everything that we eat and to this day has never had baby cereal or baby food. I love it! Last night for dinner she had; avocados, black beans and a banana. 

Appearance: Did you see her picture? Haha. Her hair is getting longer, shes thinning out and she has more teeth (four to be exact). Friends say she looks like me from the side, has her Daddy's eyes and my nose. She def has her Dad's feet (poor girl).

Well...thats the end for now. 

I still can't believe that she's going to be a year soon!

Xoxo Mama Bird

5 Month Update

Personality: What an inquisitive little stinker! She's always trying to figure out what the world is around her! I know that everyone says that their baby is happy but...I have a HAPPY BABY all the time! 

Sleep: She gets a bath at 8:30 and she is in bed by 9PM. She wakes up around 4AM and gets in bed with us. Clockwork..

Health: Hmm..I think she is healthy :0) We have her check-up on the 18th. I think we will begin discussing immunizations. I don't want to immunize at all but I think Nate is more on the fence. I have not done enough research to support either way and I NEED to figure it out SOON!

Eating: We are going to introduce solids SOON. I have given her some homemade applesauce and she was a little confused at first. After the second time she was okay with it. I think we're going to wait a little while longer. She has NO teeth (I'm hoping that changes soon). So...I think we'll wait till she has some mini chompers! 

Appearance:She looks just like me when I was little! It's funny though, there are times she IS a little Nate. I notice when she is trying REALLY hard, she gets a "determined" face and it's Nate Axness all over the place!

Happy 5 Months Old, Birdie!!! Mama Loves you!

4 Month Update.

Personality: Awh. She has started talking. She'll look at me straight in the eyes with the most serious look on her face and just begin talking. She just coos and coos. 

Sleep: This chick! She has a bath at 8:30pm and is in bed 9pm. She sleeps ALL NIGHT!...That's right! All night. This all could change in the blink of an eye but I'm enjoying it while I can!

Health: She is getting taller! I think that she is extra healthy too but I may be bragging...it might be because she is all natural! Not so much as Tylenol has entered this girl body!

Eating: I wish that there was more to report on this and her health but lets face it...I have raised a super baby!

Appearance: Uhm. Did you see her pictures?!

3 Month Update.

Personality: Ella has began laughing. It's the best sound in the world. She is happy most of the time and she is VERY determined. She loves it when we hold her hands and she pushes herself up to stand. She thinks it's funny when she gets angel rides. She loves being lifted up and "flown" around. She laughs so hard. Birdie is securely attached to her Daddy. You can tell that she views him as a caregiver/parent. She loves him so much. I love watching him interact with her. They're so cute together.

Sleep: I have been putting Ella down in her crib during naps and sometimes at the beginning of the night. She still sleeps with Mama and Papa. She is def a heavy sleeper. She is so cute...she sprawls out, hands over her head and saws logs. 

Health: Not a whole lot has changed except for the fact that she has gotten bigger! I think she is about 12lbs now. Please stop getting so big Ella-stay small forever! 

Eating: Our breastfeeding relationship is still going strong! She loves it, I love it and my husband is very supportive! Of course when I am gone Nate gives her a bottle. They def have a connection and I still feel close because I can provide her with breastmilk while away. Nate being able to bottle feed has been really great!

Appearance: Oh goodness! There are times that I think she looks like me and then times she is a mini Nate. I love that she still looks Asian. Nate looked at her the other morning and said to me "honey, she looks so Chinese right now"! He wasn't lying-shes an adorable, almond-eyed little sweetheart! 

Two month update.

Personality: This month our little lady has really blossomed! She is so happy all of the time. She isn't upset or fussy unless something is actually wrong. I love taking her grocery shopping in her gauze wrap. She loves front facing and looking out at everyone!

Sleep: Ella is still sleeping with us. I love it! She has certain days that she likes to sleep. I think she's just growing...we have noticed that she sleeps better when mommy is around. She nurses about 1-2 times a night. 

Health: Talk about healthy. She has her two month check-up on the 17th. Last time she was in the 95%. I look forward to seeing how much my little booger has grown! I know that she's chunked up a bit :0)

Eating: She still eats on demand. I prefer it that way. Again she has no "set" schedule. I have noticed that she is on a bit of a schedule..she has kind of made one for herself. There are times when my oversupply gives her gas. I have to make sure and burp her well..

Appearance: She is soooo stinkin cute! She still has her Daddy's eyes, Mommy's nose and baby rolls! There are a few facial expressions that are SOOO Nate. Haha. Yesterday she was pooping and she looked like me. I have a pick of me pooping when I was a baby. Spittin image!

On a side note...I'm getting fit again!

One month photodump.

These are my favorite photos from Ella's first month of life! Yay!!!

One month update.

Please excuse the photo quality of this picture! I can assure you that I don't plan on posting that type of image quality often. It just so happens that this particular photo crashed during upload and this is what I got during recovery :( 

Well...it's been on month! We've made it! Yay! It's been soo great! 

Personality: Ella is proving to be as laid back as her Dad. She is not a fussy baby AT ALL! She usually only cries if she needs something; food, clothing or diaper change. We cloth diaper so she has to be changed more frequently (I will be posting about cloth diapering later). 

She is very smart and began tracking at just a few days old she rolled over for the first time on 07/22/12. I was very excited! She really loves tummy time.

Sleep: Ella has been bedsharing since her arrival. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I'm aware that there are many opinions on co-sleeping and thats what they are OPINIONS. For me, it's been amazing. Ella gets up once a night for a change and about twice for a feeding. I've really enjoyed cuddling with her.

Health: The only hiccup that we have had is thrush. It's of the devil and I hate it. I've boiled bras, taken every probiotic under the sun, washed up with vinegar before feeding and even rinsed her mouth after feedings. It's been trying to say the least. I have resorted to taking diflucan. She is not being treated, just me. So...we will see how it goes. Other than that, things have been great. She has gained 3lbs since birth and 2 inches in height. Exciting stuff!

Eating: We have a routine for sure. She lets me know when she is hungry and I feed her. Thats about it. Haha! I know that some will schedule and such, but that hasn't really worked for us. She gives me very strong cues and I listen. I just go with her...

Appearance: Well..she DID have a full head of hair. Not so much anymore. I was sad when I realized she was losing it on the top of her head. It happened over a few days. We would wake-up in the mornings and it would be scattered on the bed. Bald baby. It's growing in now but she looks funny. She looks a lot like me as a baby. It's the nostrils..haha!

One Week Update

At one week Ella was:

• Holding her head up
• Following objects with her eyes
• Grasping her Daddy's finger
• Pooping a TON
• Getting up twice through the night
• Perfecting her latch on