Bee's Blueprint: 12 Months!

Hard to believe this is our last Blueprint for baby Bee! My gosh, that first year just sails away. Our baby is growing right up UP UP, and I mean tall! She is taking charge of her toddlerhood and walking and running all over the new house like she owns the place (and of course she does!). With that has come a flurry of bumps and bonks, especially on the hard wood floors, and she suffered her first goose-egg (the size of a ping-pong ball!) just a day before her first birthday. Momma and Bee shared some tears about it and snuggled in the rocking chair until we both felt better. She's a tough little soul, inside and out, and doesn't let much slow her down. Bee's hair is growing long enough to fall into her eyes so we've been pulling it up into a Bamm-Bamm pony-tail and it's all sorts of cute. There is something about that first pony that just pricks a momma's heart. We've started to see small glimpses into the beginnings of her imaginative play. She will take a bowl and spoon and mix them together all over the house saying "nummy nummy nummy." She will bring me the spoon for taste tests as needed. We often comment on how we can literally see the wheels in her head turning as she thinks and works herself through certain situations. Babies are smart! The stairs in the new house are an attractive novelty and Bee can easily climb herself up them, but getting down will need lots of practice. Baby gates are a must! Bee makes us laugh constantly and I'd be fibbing if I said I didn't think that everything she did, even when naughty, was magical. She enjoys the art of the chase and giggles and squeals when she's finally caught and receiving an over-abundance of squeezes and kisses trapped in our arms. She's starting to find her voice and says a few words like "hi," "bebe," "yummy," "momma," and "dada." Bee LOVES playing out in the back yard kicking her yellow ball and finding sticks and interesting leaves and eating dirt by the fistfuls. It's just what this kid needed. We are so happy she's ours, we'll keep her forever!  
12 Month Stats:
20.5 lbs (25%)
31 inches tall (97+%)

Bee's Blueprint: 11 Months

My baby is now 11 months old and I'm in so much denial about it. Where did my baby go? Bee is now officially a toddler, walking around solo like she owns the place. Let's face it: she does. She has the cutest little Frankenstein toddle...but takes her fair share of trips and falls several times a day. New bruises and war wounds are just a sign of growing and learning to operate that strong little body of hers. She's usually pretty tough to shake it off after a few cuddles and kisses from mom or dad. Bee has really latched on to one of her blankets and holds it to her face as she takes a bottle or falls asleep. She still takes a binky, but both the blankie and binky stay in the crib until nap or bed time. If she has her binky and blanket she can sooth herself to sleep with no problems. When we come get her up from a nap she will wave bye-bye and blow kisses to her animals, binky, and blanket in the crib. Teething is a constant and continuing distress but Bee seems to handle it pretty well. It feels like we are always on the verge of another tooth popping through. She amazes us with her growing intelligence and is absorbing more than we know. Her curiosity is insatiable! Currently she is a big fan of avocado, curry, tomatoes, and yogurt. She certainly prefers to feed herself, but momma finds it far more efficient to use a spoon as often as possible. On weekend mornings daddy will bring her back into bed with us and she gets such a thrill playing in the blankets and pillows. She is just beginning to learn a few animal sounds and will sometimes do an elephant trumpet and dog bark. Yep. It's the cutest ever. Bee is sweet and happy most of the time, but every so often we get a little glimpse of her SPICE that tells us she is not messing around. We sure love this sweet and spicy toddler, oh yes we do!

Bee's Blueprint: 10 months

Bee's wild child has been in full force this month and her stubborn little personality is beaming! Diaper changes are still proving to be difficult which has momma trying all kinds of shenanigans to get it done. We are giving her more and more table foods these days and she's generally a good sport about trying everything, but will let us know when she's over it by dropping it on the floor and waving bye-bye. Blueberries are her most favorite food right now. She squeals when she sees them coming and bangs her tray in fury when they are gone, hence, our blueberry monster. Fruit of any kind is a big hit at meal time and veggies are tolerated if they are the only option. Bee took her first few steps right at 10 months! She's still a bit unstable on her feet but is gaining more and more confidence every day. Crawling is definitely still the most efficient mode of transportation. When she hears the bath water turn on, Bee will head straight for the bathroom eager for her tubby-time. She is taking two naps a day and will put herself to sleep after books, songs, and snuggles. Bee loves to read books and "help" turn the pages. It seems she is learning new tricks everyday. She will  high-five, clap, dance, and sometimes give kisses on demand, of course always on her terms. We are working on sign-language for a few simple words such as more, all-done, please, thank you, etc. Bee despises the vacuum and gets nervous and scared when it rolls out. Needless to say, I don't get much vacuuming done unless I'm holding her and at 7+ months pregnant that becomes slightly interesting ;). Bee is curious and fearless and stubborn and sweet and smart. We sure do love this little wild child and are enjoying every bit of her.

Bee's Blueprint: 9 Months

Bee revolted against her photo shoot this month and would absolutely positively not lay down for even a second. Such is the life of this active busy Bee! She is always on the go, this one, exploring and discovering the nooks and crannies of our little house. Bee has started giving kisses more freely now and will sometimes surprise you with a big open mouth kiss out of the blue. She is perfecting the clap and the wave, but sometimes it's just funner to lump them both together. A little shy in public, she will usually not wave on command, but will frantically flap her arms as soon as we are safely in the car, saying goodbye over and over to the entire grocery store all the way home. She has discovered music and will bop and bounce when she hears a good tune. It sends us into giggles every time! Bee and momma like to have dance parties in the kitchen every morning to get into our daily grove. We love to chase one another around the couch and she's so smart at anticipating where we will pop out of next. She adores hiding games and the simplest form of peek-a-boo will always bring a smile to her face. Clothing and diaper changes are full-body work outs these days and sometimes it's necessary to take a 5 minute intermission to catch our breath. Often it takes both mom and dad to get the job done! She loves to pull her books off the shelf and bang on her drums and push her walker around and find hazardous things to put in her mouth. Just a busy little body all the day long. She is so much fun right now! But boy oh boy, she sure does wear her momma out ;).  
9 Month Stats:
17 lbs 15 oz (25%)
28.5 inches tall (75%)

Bee's Blueprint: 8 Months!

This sweet little Bee is already 8 months old. Be still my heart. Bee is the sweetest of sweethearts and I'm guessing we say that at least 100 times per day around our house. She steals our hearts clean away with her soft smiles, cheeser grins, friendly pats and cuddles, and that little lizard tongue that is always out and about. Momma and Bee (and the rest of Utah) caught a cold this month and Bee cut her first two teeth during the same week. She was happy and smiley through even the worst of it, and sometimes would just look at us sad and confused like, guys why can't I breathe? Bee was practically over crawling as soon as she learned. Crawling is now only a means to get somewhere to stand. She is getting pretty savvy at pulling up on the couches and coffee table and chairs and walls and beds and our legs and...anything! Her favorite hang out spots are the living room coffee table and the ottoman in her nursery. They seem to be the perfect height for her to stand and have two free hands for playing with puzzles and books. Sometimes she forgets that she can't yet walk and has taken a few good spills with a fat bloody lip to prove it. We always find her with her feet or legs crossed in her highchair or car seat. She gets excited at meal time and watches me prepare her food anxiously, kicking her feet and drumming the highchair. So far she has eaten everything we've offered her, even green beans and tofu. I'm crossing my fingers it will last! We have now fully entered the stranger danger phase and she becomes uneasy around even family these days. She is more than happy to be out and around people as long as mom or dad is holding her. I can't lie, sometimes it feels really good to be the mom she wants! Sweet Bee, we love you more than you'll ever know. xo

Bee's Blueprint: 7 Months

All of a sudden Bee is on the move and just this week has starting crawling. Apparently, she is taking this "promotion" to big sister seriously. She has a surprisingly strong little body and we love to watch her stretch and work and learn to use it. This crawling thing is definitely a game changer and mom and dad are busy baby-proofing the house and waiting to see just what she'll be interested in exploring next. Bee started eating solid foods this month including oatmeal, carrots, squash, spinach, avocado and pears. We think it's hilarious to watch her try new foods and immediately spit them out. Usually the next day she is opening up like a little eager birdie. Sometimes she is stubborn and will only open her mouth if she is holding the spoon herself. Sigh. We've got a very independent little soul in our midst. But that is just what we love the most about her. Bee giggles when daddy throws her up in the air and loves to be tickled and play hiding games. She is having her first love-affair with a Soothe and Glow Seahorse given to her by our neighbor Uncle Richard, and she gets all weak in the knees when she sees it. Too cute. But then again, we think everything she does is cute! We are in constant awe of how much she is absorbing and learning everyday. What a joy!

Bee's Blueprint: 6 Months

Happy 6 month birthday, Phoebe girl! In our house, it is unanimously believed that this has been the fastest 6 months of our entire lives. I mean, whoa. Where do I even begin? I want to freeze this little lady so I can remember her exactly how she is in this moment. The way she stores golf balls in those cheeks. Her skinny little ankles. The way she smacks her lips and pulls her bottom lip in. Her sour pucker face when she is expressing displeasure. How she squeals and kicks her feet in excitement when I come into the room. And whines when I walk out of sight. The way she smiles with her whole face, whole body. The way she crosses her feet. The way she cuddles into her daddy's neck when she's tired. How her hair sticks straight out and up. Goodness me. She is a sweetheart. Phoebe is now sitting up on her own like a champ. When she's on her tummy she pushes up on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth, sometimes lunging forward or scooting backwards. Her tear ducts are still clogged and it seems everywhere we go people ask why she's been crying. Other than the annoyance of having them wiped constantly, it doesn't seem to bother her much. Bee loves any sound you can make with your mouth; kissy noises, whistling, quacking, whatever you can come up with, she will laugh and giggle. It's fun to see her sense of humor emerging!
6 Month Stats:
15 lbs 4 oz (30%)
26.5 inches tall (75%)

Bee's Blueprint: 5 Months

This little Bee Charmer turned 5 months old on Halloween! She is at such a fun stage right now, but like most first-time moms I'm sure I'll say that every step of the way. When Bee first pulled her foot up to her mouth, she could hardly believe her good luck. She looked up at me as if to ask, "has this been here the whole time? And there's two of them?!" Bee can sit up on her own, propped on her hands, although she doesn't like to be separated from either her hands or feet for very long so sitting usually doesn't last. She much prefers standing on her legs, any chance she can get! Her napping habits are becoming much more routine and she can usually put herself to sleep without much fuss. In her rocking chair we read books and sing songs before each nap, and those few minutes are some of mommy's favorite throughout the whole day. Bee will sometimes sing along with mom, especially when mom slips in a Christmas song now and then. She is happy most of the time and will play on her own for short periods. She will roll across a room and back when the opportunity presents itself. Her favorite sound is daddy's trumpet mouth and she will laugh and smile every time he does it. Her giggle is hands down our favorite sound and we laugh and smile every time she does it. We can hardly believe how much we love this little Bee and are so grateful she's ours.

Bee's Blueprint: 4 Months

Phoebe just passed her 4 month mark and is growing so quickly it gives her momma chest pains. Much to our surprise, she rolled from her front to back at 14.5 weeks. By 15 weeks she had rolled from her back to front which is now the preferred position for almost everything, particularly sleeping. Piece of mind, out the window. There were a few restless nights for mom and dad while we reassured ourselves that she was strong enough to push up and change positions if she needed to while on her tummy. Consequently, she is taking much better naps! So I'm thinking a tummy sleeper is not so bad after all. Bee is starting to show a slight preference for who she smiles at and who is holding her. When BD was out of town for a few days she kept looking at the door, then back at me, then at the door again, as if to say "where is that guy, and shouldn't he be home by now?" She prefers to put her self to sleep these days and will rarely tolerate us rocking her for very long. Sigh. Of course, that has its perks, too. Bedtime routine is our favorite time of day because daddy is usually home and it's great family bonding where we are all together and focused on her. Bath, massage, jammer-jams (I don't know why), books and songs, nurse, burp, snuggle, binky, down. Then, binky, binky, binky, on repeat until she settles into a spot to doze off. Bee is trying really, really hard to suck her thumb. Mom is trying really, really hard to encourage the binky. It's not certain who is winning just yet.
4 months stats:
14 lbs 4 oz (75%)
25.25 inches tall (90%)
15.94" head (50%)

Bee's Blueprint: 3 Months

Phoebe Girl is 3 months new today. Her daddy and I think she's the cutest little bug and brings heaps of joy into our home every day, every hour. Except maybe the 6 o'clock pm hour. Bee is a charmer and loves to flash the sweetest of smiles to any friendly face. And if we're lucky she will even giggle! Bee finds new ways to talk, sing, and coo every day. She has been moved out of the bassinet in our room and into her crib in her own room. This was sad for mommy. Bee is an angel sleeper during the night. I'm afraid to even say it out loud because I don't want the Universe to notice :). We are pretty incredibly lucky! She thinks naps are for babies though and fights sleep during the day time. Bee has discovered her wonderful! marvelous! magical! hands and has started grabbing things to bring to her mouth for further investigation. It's amazing to watch her learn and discover the world around her. Oh Phoebe Girl, we love you!

Bee's Blueprint: 2 Months

This sweet little Bee is 2 months old today and we couldn't be more in love with her. She's nearly off the charts for height and practically already taller than her mother. Oh she is a sweetie, this one, and is melting hearts all over the world with her infectious smiles. Long strong legs, she likes to stand (assisted) on daddy's lap and hold her head high. Finding her voice, she loves to smile and coo along with mom while we sing together in the rocking chair. A wild little sleeper, she somehow manages to rotate herself 90 degrees in her bassinet during the night. Life is becoming slightly more predictable and routine these days and this new little family of 3 is settling into one another with open arms. No shortage of love and kisses around here.
2 month stats:
11 lbs 2 oz (75%)
24.25 inches tall (97+%)

Bee's Blueprint: 1 Month

Somebody pinch me. My baby girl is 1 month old and I don't even know how that's physically, humanly possible. Eat, sleep, poop. Repeat. Cuddle. Cuddle. Snuggle. The last 4 weeks have consisted of some very long days, but have also been filled with the most intense joy of our lives. She is changing and growing every day, every minute, it seems. We are enjoying every inch of her squirmy, growly, sweetness.
1 Month stats:
9 lbs 9 oz (70%)
22.5 inches tall
Nicknames: Growly Bear, Bee Girl, Toots, Suga Bee, Phoebes Louise

Other Blueprints: 4 days

Bee's Blueprint: 4 Days!

Oh, how we love having this little sugar bee in our home! We had our first check-up today at 4 days old and we (she) passed with flying colors even though Mommy and Daddy were late (opps!). She had gained 2 ounces back, which made us all jump for joy. She has finally flushed all the meconium from her belly and her bilirubin levels are staying low and even though she's not real hungry yet she's thriving in every other way. Momma and Phoebe are making lots of progress on nursing and she is being incredibly patient with her clueless parents as we figure out her needs. We stare at her for hours, wondering how we ever lived without her to begin with. Daddy is smitten beyond his wildest dreams. Momma is pretty sure she's the most beautiful thing in the world. We think everything she does is down-right amazing. She yawns and we gasp with excitement. And she does this cute little thing with her lips that we melt over every single time. Grandma was pretty sure we took at least 75 pictures of her first sponge bath. We love our new little family. We love her so completely.

*Also at the Dr.'s office, she was upgraded to 20.5 inches! Mommy and Daddy could simply not believe that she was only 18 inches long, and we were right. 

Inspiration for recording growth from You Are My Fave, who is a fave of mine :).