15 months

I was very diligent about writing about Jolynn the first year. I feel like I have been slacking since then. I'm going to try harder. I have been documenting many of her milestones on Facebook. There are videos of her taking her first steps, our fun times with friends and family, and hide and seek. The part I have been trying to remember is the words. She is saying more everyday and sometimes they are recognizable. Jon swears she has said a few things too, but she hasn't repeated them.

Words this month (some heard by me, some by Jon, some only heard once): hot, mouth, hiding, ouch, polly (sort of), Mike, Margaret, pretty, nigh nigh (night night-bedtime), ahyaboo (I love you), bath time,
Previous month and ever since: momma, daddy, ow, uh oh.

She loves giving Daddy kisses.

Biggest milestone this month has been WALKING!! A few steps here and there and every day she makes more and more progress. She does more when she is not paying attention and you are not either.

*I tried putting a video of her walking, but it keeps saying an error has occurred. To see video go to Facebook.

State Fair 2011

I'm a little late with this post. We went to the State Fair on the last day, Labor Day. It was a beautiful day, not very crowded. I did not eat my typical fair food, which made my body feel pretty good. I feel like I missed out a little though. The whole point of the fair used to be the food. This year it was more "the experience" and all about Jolynn's experience. I love watching her discover everything.

Her favorite booth at the fair: the shower heads. See Facebook for photo.

First stop was the K-9 building and she received her dog ears.

Then she went through the Cub Foods Farm.
Apron: check. Gathering bucket: check.

Driving the tractor full of hay.

Payment for all her hard work: CHEERIOS!

Midday nap. She can sleep through anything.

A tradition that we started last year - we will get Jolynn's hand mold done each year at the fair. The one the left is her first year at 5 weeks old. The one the right is from this year. Can't believe she used to be that little!

**I forgot to mention we stopped in the Education bldg for our family photo and weighed in Jolynn. Last year I had to weigh myself, then hold Jolynn to get her weight. This year we had her STAND BY HERSELF on the scale. She weighed in at 21.1 lbs.

Where does the time go?

It has been another month since Jolynn's first birthday. The first year went by so fast, how could the next go just as quickly? With work in full swing again my days are very busy and our weekends have been spent gallivanting visiting grandparents and friends. It has been a busy summer. This past month we caught Jolynn standing. She also pushes her legs straight with butt in the air. One of these days she's going to stand straight up and just start walking! She LOVES to "walk" around the house. She has also been very interested in watching me cook. We put her in her high chair and scoot her really close, then I do a tutorial on whatever I am making.

We've started having bath time at 7:30 or so. She loves the water so much and this has helped getting her to bed earlier and staying asleep through the night. Her nose has been very stuffed up lately and the bath also helps get rid of all the crud. She has started putting her face in the water and trying to blow bubbles. Most of the time she just ends up taking a gulp of water. It has been a good thing seeing her put her face in the water and not getting scared. She had fun playing every night with Ethan (friend from South Dakota).

Our friends from South Dakota came for a visit before their kids had to head back to school. Daycare was closed Friday, so I took the day off and we all went to IKEA. Then the next day we went to Como Zoo. I think Jolynn was more interested in people watching than animal watching. Should make the State Fair interesting. We used her new wagon and we had many comments of "honey, we don't have a wagon yet. I want that one for Christmas!". It was hilarious. I swear I could have sold it easily...not gonna happen-we love it!

Words this month: Ow, Uh Oh, Wuff Wuff, HI! (which she says to everyone whether they are coming or going) and lots of DADDY DADDY DADDY!

She's our little dancing girl!

One Year

This past month has been very busy with getting ready for her first birthday. Lots of planning and I have learned a lot. Knowing that this was the first I wanted it to be big. I just thought it should be. After the first what is there? just kidding

Milestones this month - she is walking with a "walker". Go ahead and move into the walking stage honey! We've got the banister up! Unfortunately the baby gate doesn't fit, so we still have to do the modified version that she knows how to push over. Oh well. Jolynn is also eating more solid big people food. I think she is very much over the mush of cereal. She really likes banana, peaches, grilled cheese, mac-n-cheese, pancakes, and waffles. So far these have been the finger foods given. I tried some veggies, but she just chewed on them then spit them out. I forgot watermelon! she is also transitioning to a sippy cup.

She now has 4 teeth on the top and 2 on the bottom. Not sure which ones will come in next, but I think there are more in the works because she has every sign at the same time. Lots of drool, rosey cheeks, chewing on everything, and diaper rash.

We've had a few 90+ degree days with 100+ heat index. That makes for good pool weather. I see us having many more of these pool days if the summer keeps up like this.

We thought she had said Momma a few months ago, but couldn't tell if it was just a sound she was making or the actual name. We believe her first word (that is decipherable as an actual word) is UH OH! It is so cute. She does a lot of babbling and I suspect more words will be coming in the next few months.

Happy Birthday Jolynn!

Today is the day - at 7:17am I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. This year has gone by so fast. I think I need to recap with a few of my favorite photos.

ELEVEN Months!

It's hard for me to even write the words. I can't believe she is eleven months already!

Swimming classes have ended. She missed class over Memorial weekend; but had her first camping experience and we visited Grandma and Grandpa Benson's cabin. The following weekend was BOW. She was going to miss her final class too, but my mom was able to take her. I mainly wanted her to take the class if she was afraid of the water as a way to get her not to be. She LOVES the water.

Late May I watched Jolynn crawl from one end of the room to the other, then pull herself up on the toy box and coffee table. I was cooking in the kitchen and the sliding door was open with the screen shut. Jolynn crawled across the kitchen, over to the screen, put her little hand on it - and OPENED IT! There isn't a lock on the screen door, not sure how we will keep her in on this one.

Still working on getting the railing up. So far we have been letting her wander around in the living room while we sit on the couch watching. She seems more adventurous and wanting to discover what things do when she doesn't think someone is watching. If we can't be watching her, she goes in her room and we put up a baby gate or we put her in her exersaucer.

This past month she also started: waving bye bye and hello, claps, and is "cruising" from couch to couch to coffee table and back to couch. I am quite positive she will be walking in a few months. She really thinks she is the stuff when you hold her hands and she practically runs (like a march) across the room. She is so proud, and so are we.

More sounds are emitting from her - can't wait for them to be words. We have been working on sign language during eating. Mostly "done", "more", and "milk". I don't know much else. "please" and "thank you" have been others that I try to do.

Ten Months

BIG CHANGES! May 6 - Jolynn crawled! Since then she has been scooting all over the house. I used to be able to leave her in the living room on her blanket while I got ready for work. Now when I check on her she is into some wires or stuck in a corner. She is also fascinated with Polly's toys. Like she doesn't have enough of her own, she has to go after Polly's. So far Polly hasn't minded. Polly just licks her...over and over and over. Saturday morning I watched her crawl across the living room and reach up to the coffee table. She wasn't able to get off her knees, but I suspect it won't be long.
I'm very disappointed. We have this great video camera that was intended to capture all this special moments. So far we have captured them, but not been able to share them.

Next project - Banister and railing so we can put a gate up for the steps. Also, time to baby proof.

We have been working on the two upper teeth for a few weeks. Looks like the top right has finally broken through. I can't imagine how that feels. Just the thought of it makes me feel bad for her.

Another thing she has found (and quite loudly) is her voice. What once was quiet babble, is now ear piercing screeching. Jon and I have taken to singing when she starts to do this. So far I think it is working.

Two more busy months until her 1 year birthday. I can't believe it. It went by so fast. We have something going on all but maybe two weekends for the next 2 months.

Swimming lessons are going great. I will be gone this weekend at a scrapbooking retreat so the Grandmas are going to take her. They are going to have so much fun. I'm sure they both wish they could be in the pool with her at the same time. There will be plenty of time for that this summer. She LOVES the water. I hope we can spend lots of time at G&G Moritzs.