Preschool

-- First day of Preschool, Wednesday August 27th 2014. --

It has been exactly one month since Chloe has started preschool! Because of our work schedule she goes five days a week and is there from 7:30 in the morning until 3:15 in the afternoon. That's a long day for a three year old! I was so worried Chloe was going to have such a difficult time adapting to our new schedule and being away from me all day long. Up until this point there has only been a few occasions where I've been away from Chloe for several hours and even then she was with her Daddy and in the comfort of our own home. Our sweet girl has adapted beautifully though, better then we could ever have hoped for and I am so proud of her!

I am so pleased with our decision to enroll Chloe is preschool instead of daycare. She is truly thriving there and is so excited to go back everyday. 

My favorite part of the day is always the same. picking Chloe up from school after a long day at work. Seeing her beautiful smile and feeling the weight of her body as she wraps her arms around my neck melts my heart every single time.

33|52

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Chloe, sunkissed, giggles and smiles! Ready to start her very first day of preschool! Such a huge milestone in my little girls life.

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 project.

17|52

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

Well it's official! Chloe hasn't worn diapers in a few weeks now, I think it's safe to say my little girl is completely potty trained! I am so proud of her, it amazes me how quickly she "got it" once she became 100% ready to use the potty on her own everyday. 

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 project.

6|52

" A portrait of my child, once a week, every week in 2014. "

This week we have officially begun potty training Chloe. We've had a bit of a rough start, but I am trying my best to remind myself that this is only the beginning and that this journey is going to take time and a lot of patience, love and respect. For all you Mama's out there who have gone through the potty training process or even if you are currently potting training your child what advice and tips do you have for me, I would absolutely love to read what your experience has been like!

* ISO 400, F2.8, 1/125

Joining in with Jodi for the 52 project.

Firsts: Late Night Bowling

On Sunday, after a full afternoon at the park, one long nap, and a delicious dinner, we met with Mike's Dad for a little late night bowling before his flight back to Seattle the next day. This was Chloe's very first time bowling and I have to say she absolutely loved it AND did an amazing job too! I think this might become a new family tradition whenever Grandpa Chuck comes into town for a visit.

Firsts: Easter Egg Hunt

On Saturday, after a delicious breakfast of eggs, fresh squeezed orange juice and coffee, we ventured out to our local park for Chloe's first Easter egg hunt. Chloe did such a wonderful job collecting as many eggs as she could to put in her basket, and it was so fun to watch how happy and excited she was about the whole experience. After the egg hunt was over we walked around the park for a bit and then took Chloe to the gazebo where she got to meet the Easter bunny for the first time. I couldn't believe how much Chloe loved sitting with the Easter bunny, she thought it was just the funnest thing ever and didn't seem scared at all. I love experiencing moments like these as a family, to me it just never gets old!

Firsts: Haircut

-- Chloe's first haircut, 20 months old. --

On Sunday Mike and I took Chloe to get her very first haircut at a little place in the mall called KidSnips. Chloe did such a wonderful job sitting so still and patiently while the stylist trimmed her hair. I think Chloe looks so adorable with her new bangs and sweet little curls. I cant believe how much more grown up she looks now too, oh it just makes my heart ache!

One Year Old

One year ago today, at exactly 11:26 pm, my sweet, beautiful daughter Chloe was born. It feels nearly impossible to describe how much love, and joy, and beauty this little girl has brought to our lives. She has forever changed us, and I cant stop thanking God for the beautiful blessing that she is. It's truly an honor to be her Mother. Chloe has blossomed into such a beautiful toddler full of curiosity and excitement. She is incredibly smart, silly, stubborn, loving, happy and outgoing. 

Here's all that's new with Chloe:

:: Chloe has gotten so good at walking and balancing herself and can walk pretty far without falling,  she also still crawls

:: Can sign more and all done

:: Loves to mimic what we are doing

:: Tries opening doors by reaching for the door handle.

:: Loves opening all the cabinets in the kitchen and playing with the pots, pans, bowls, and utensils

:: She is getting so good at climbing on and off of furniture and chairs

:: Loves to play peak a boo and to be chased around the house

:: Likes to try to brush her own hair and put on her own shoes

:: Loves music and dancing

:: Fights us when we try to put her in her carseat, once she is in it she is fine but getting her strapped in is the difficult part.

:: Can be very cuddly at times which melts my heart

:: Loves to share her food and toys

Stats:

Chloe doesn't have her doctors appointment yet but we were able to weigh her on our home scale, she now weighs 23 lbs and 6 oz and we are guessing she is around 31-32 inches long. In one year she has gained over 14 lbs and grew around 10 or more inches!! Chloe is wearing a size 4 in diapers, 18 and 24 month clothing and a size 4/5 in shoes, she also has a total of 12 teeth now!

Food:

I am proud to say that breastfeeding is still going wonderfully and that we have made it to our first goal of 1 year. Our plan is to continue breastfeeding until Chloe is ready to wean. At one year old Chloe is still nursing quite frequently throughout the day so I am thinking we still have a ways to go on this journey of ours!

As for food, Chloe is eating 3 meals and 1 to 2 snacks throughout the day. Some new foods she has tried this month are, peanut butter, hummus, pancakes, plain hamburger, and vegetable soup. Her favorite foods are blueberries, strawberries, soup, avocado, carrots, cheese, chicken, pasta, and pears. Chloe is a pretty good eater for the most part but she does have her picky times where she doesn't want to eat anything we give her.

Happy first birthday my dear sweet Chloe! You make your Daddy and I so incredibly happy. Thank you for filling our lives with so much love and beauty, You truly are our little sunshine!

11 Months Old

Today my daughter is 11 months old.... I just cant believe how quickly these past months have gone by. Sometimes it feels like it was just yesterday that Chloe was born but most of the time it feels like she's been here forever with us, filling our days with more love and happiness then we even know what to do with. This little girl has enriched our lives in more ways then I could ever even say.

This has been a busy month full of learning and growing for Chloe.

Here's whats new with my little love:

:: Can stand up on her own for long periods of time

:: Has taken 3 steps and is getting closer and closer to full on walking everyday

:: Chloe still loves to cruise from object to object

:: Can climb up and down the stairs

:: Chloe loves to clap and hear others clap

:: She will start clapping if you say "yay" and "good job"

:: Loves to share her food and toys with us and loves when you thank her for sharing!

:: Chloe loves being around people and is still extremely outgoing

:: When Chloe meets someone she will stick out her hand to them as if to hi!

:: Chloe really enjoys looking through books and hearing us read to her

:: She is babbling so much these days, you can have a full on conversation with her but you just cant 

understand what she is saying!

:: Chloe has said Hi and Hello a few times now

:: Loves dancing to music

:: Has been trying to put on her own shoes

Stats:

Chloe's last check up was at 9 months old, at the time she weighed 21.03 lbs and was 29 inches long so I can only imagine she is bigger now. Chloe sure seems much longer and heavier these days! Chloe is still wearing size 4 diapers and is in 12-18 and 18-24 months clothes. This past month Chloe got 4 new teeth giving her a total of 10 teeth now! She has handled teething incredibly well and I honestly believe its because of the amber necklace she wears every day and night. Chloe's hair is getting longer and waiver and its so pretty but sometimes it looks like she has constant bedhead!

Food / Sleep:

Baby led weaning is still going really well! Chloe is eating 3 meals a day and a few small snacks, she is also still nursing often throughout the day. Some new foods she has tried this past month are waffles, watermelon, pasta with marinara sauce, homemade sweet potato fries and peas. Chloe's favorite foods to eat are grilled chicken, avocado, carrots, peas, pasta, rice, cheese, banana, grapes, yogurt, corn, waffles and sweet potato fries.

Sleep has been amazing these days! Chloe usually takes two naps a day and goes down for bed very easily at night. For a few months we were really struggling getting Chloe to bed so for her to be sleeping better these days is amazing!

Its incredibly difficult for me to not get emotional thinking about my sweet Chloe turning 1 next month. I never knew time would go this fast. I'm so grateful that I have gotten to spend everyday with my little love and have been here for all her firsts. Motherhood is an incredible, beautiful, wild journey and I am so forever grateful that God chose this journey for me!

Happy 11 months Chloe, I love you sweet baby girl!

10 Months Old

Today my sweet Chloe is 10 months Old! These past 10 months have flown by quicker then I ever imagined them too, as the days go on its becoming harder and harder to remember what those sweet, sleepy newborn days were like. I'm so glad I have so many pictures and videos of my little love, I love the feeling that washes over me as I look through each picture of her.

Whats new with my sweet Chloe:

:: I cant believe what a personality Chloe has! She loves people, loves attention and is always smiling and laughing at everyone she meets, she is very much a little ham!

:: She is standing up unassisted for longer periods of time.

:: Cruising along everything and everyone.

:: Has a bad habit of biting and hitting. Its not fun!

:: Loves to play on the piano and guitar.

:: Has played in the sand for the first time this month!

:: Drinks water from a sippy cup everyday by herself.

:: Breastfeeding is still going strong with no end in sight.

:: Chloe loves to babble and can say lots of new words but her favorite words are Ma Ma and Mom.

:: She is obsessed with all things paper, if there is paper around her she will grab it and eat it.

:: Chloe loves to share her food with you by putting it in your mouth, she smiles so big when she does this and its so adorable!

:: She loves to clap, wave, and point!

:: Can climb down off of furniture and sometimes climb back on if its low enough.

:: I keep forgetting to add this but Chloe does not take a binky anymore.

:: Chloe is sleeping awful and has been for the past couple months. She wakes up often crying and wanting to comfort nurse. Its been pretty hard on me but luckily she will fall right back to sleep.

Stats:

At Chloe's 9 month doctor appointment she weighed 21.03 lbs and was 29 inches long so I am guessing she is at the same weight and height or just a little bit bigger now. Chloe is wearing mostly 18 month clothes now but still fits into some 6-12 month and 12 months clothes, she is still wearing a size 4 in diapers. Chloe has 6 teeth as of right now, I don't see anymore coming in but she is drooling a lot lately and wanting to chew on everything. Chloe's hair is also becoming more and more wavier in the back, its so pretty!

Food: 

Chloe loves to eat and has about 2-3 meals a day! We are doing baby led weaning 100% , no more purees whatsoever! Her favorite foods are eggs - either scrambled or hard boiled, apples, oranges, blueberries, grapes, cucumber, avocado, broccoli, soup, bread, cheese, noodles, cottage cheese, yogurt, grilled chicken and organic apple puffs. At Passover Chloe tried her first matzo ball and loved it! I am so happy Chloe enjoys eating so many different foods, I hope that this will continue all throughout her life. I will be doing a more detailed post about this very soon!

Chloe has taught me so much about life and about my self. She is such an incredible blessing to me and Mike! In just two short months my sweet Chloe will be turning 1, time to really start planning her garden themed birthday party!

Happy 10 months baby girl, I cant wait for all that next month will bring!

9 Months Old

 Its hard to believe that 9 months have already passed since that magical day my sweet Chloe arrived into our arms! Looking at that picture above I see a toddler starring back at me with curious eyes and my heart is once again filled with so much love and pride. It still makes me sad to think how short babyhood is but every month that Chloe gets older I am loving more then the last!

Here's whats new with my sweet Chloe:

:: Chloe is drinking from a sippy cup now (just water)

:: She has discovered her nose and we will often catch her with a finger up it!

:: Cruising from object to object

:: Chloe can say Ma Ma, Da Da, Wa Wa, and Ra Ra

:: Loves to shake her head back and forth

:: Sleeps in the most funny positions and with her butt in the air!

:: Babbling a lot more these days

:: Has fully developed her pincer grasp

:: Breastfeeding is still going strong!

Chloe loves, loves food now! I honestly don't think there is a food she doesn't love, which makes me so excited! We are back to doing baby led weaning which I will do a separate post on shortly.

:: Chloe loves to wave and Clap

:: has 6 teeth now!

:: Chloe can stand unassisted for a few seconds at a time

:: And loves to snort when she is happy and excited!

:: We have been struggling with sleep a lot this past month, it feels like Chloe is waking up a lot in tears and wanting to nurse all night long.

Stats:

We took Chloe in for her 9 month checkup on Wednesday, her doctor said she is in perfect health and growing just beautifully! She now weighs 21 lbs .03 oz and is 29 inches long. In 3 months Chloe has only gained half a pound. Mike and I were shocked when the nurse told us Chloe's weight, we were guessing she was already somewhere between 24 - 25 lbs. The doctor told us it was perfectly normal for her weight to slow down and speed up. We also got her iron levels checked and that came back perfect! 

 Its hard to believe my baby will already be 1 years old in just 3 short months. I cant wait to see what next month will bring, happy 9 months my little love!