Happy 1 Month Annie!

You are such a sweet baby girl! In some ways it doesn't seem like you could already be a month old, but in some ways you seem much older than one month. You really have been an easy baby, and remind me of Ella as a baby in that way.

 

For instance, you sleep really well most nights considering you are only a month old. You got off to a rocky start in the hospital (barely sleeping at all the two nights we were there), and I was preparing myself for some really long nights ahead. But you have proven me wrong! Most nights you sleep at least a 4-5 hour stretch, and one night you even slept for a 7 hour stretch. You are spoiling me! We've had a few nights here and there where you've kept me up, but overall you are a really good sleeper.

You are also bigger than your siblings were at this age. I don't know how much you weigh, but you have definitely been growing! Your clothes are getting snugger (in fact, you've outgrown a couple of things already!), and I can tell you've grown when I put you in your bed, your carseat, or your swing.

You enjoyed your first Christmas this month as well . . . or should I say, you slept through your first Christmas. I think you slept through every Christmas celebration we had during the holidays!

You smile sweetly at times in your sleep, and it melts my heart. You also started making some sweet talking/cooing noises when I talk to you. You love white noise and being swaddled. You also like to be carried in my sling. You do not like pacifiers no matter how hard I try to get you to like them. You do like to suck on our fingers, and you've sucked on your hands a few times. I wouldn't be surprised if you ended up being a thumb sucker, but you haven't quite figured that out yet.

Your siblings absolutely love you already (although Luke was really unsure in the hospital!), and have been quite patient with you. They all love to help out by getting diapers or my diaper bag for me. They also all love to sing to you when you are crying. There are times we've asked them to sing when you've been sad, but they've also started singing to you when you are sad without us asking them. They love to give you hugs and kisses throughout the day, and always insist on a goodnight hug. Luke loves to tell us "Annieee cwying" when you are crying. Luke also likes to direct us to put you down in your bed or swing, and looks around for you if you aren't where he thinks you should be.

Your siblings holding you for the first time: 

Luke @ 1 Month
Troy @ 1 Month
I didn’t start writing these monthly posts for Ella until she was 17 months old  

Top 14 of 2014

Here are my top 14 (eh, 15, but that's only because I didn't get one picture of all three kids in their costumes at Halloween!) photos of the kids from 2014 (in no particular order because it is too hard to put them in order!).

Top 13 of 2013

Top 12 of 2012

Top 11 of 2011

Top 10 of 2010

Happy 15 Months Luke!

The big news this month is that you finally starting walking at about 14 1/2 months (almost exactly the same time that Ella started walking). You remind me so much of Ella in how you look, and even how you started walking. When I watched Ella's video of her first steps, it looks so much like you. Unfortunately, I can't find the video of Troy's first steps . . . hopefully I will find it!


Luke walking from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.



You continue to be extremely vocal, although you don't have a lot of official words yet. You have gotten more pronounced in the words that you do say. You also love to "sing" and we often here your sweet voice when we having the radio playing. You've also started signing "finished" more frequently.  You haven't picked up any new signs, but I think part of that is probably because I haven't been as diligent with you. I've started doing other signs with you more often recently though.

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You continue to be a picky eater, though you really do like to eat. When we put you in your high chair you start pointing and banging on your tray as if you are saying, "put the food right here!" You are also what I consider a very "suspicious" eater, as if we've given you something at some point that you really didn't like. When we give you food you often poke at it, pick it up and examine it, and then sometimes put it in your mouth.



You have a TON of teeth. When I took you to the pediatrician for your 15 month appointment, he "congratulated" you on all your teeth. Although you seem so big to me (probably because Troy was SO little for his age at this age), you are still only in the 25% for weight and the 20% for height. I still think your hands and feet seem big for your size, so maybe you'll grow into them. : )



You love playing with your siblings (for the most part anyway!), although you and Troy struggle sometimes. Troy still doesn't quite get that you can't "share" the way he thinks you ought to be able to share. Troy also doesn't always understand that you don't like him being right up in your face. You love to play "wrestle" with Ella, Troy, and Daddy. I think your favorite part is jumping on the pile. And, speaking of jumping, you love jumping and bouncing, especially when you are in your crib.



You LOVE the Christmas tree and all the decorations. When the Christmas decorations started coming out in the stores you'd point and yell at the decorations in excitement. You do a pretty good job listening to us to you "no" about touching the tree, but you'll go over by it, stare at it, and coo and talk to it. It is precious!

Signs you do: more (though you are "lazy" most of the time and do a modified clap instead of the official sign), finished (you do this sign a lot more these days).

Words you say: Mama, Dada, Eh-wa! (Ella), "anks" (thanks), "eeses" (Reeses), "eye" (hi)

Favorite foods: Yogurt, chicken (especially chicken nuggets/strips), grilled cheese, baby pouch foods

Favorite activities/toys: Books, balls, little figurines (like Mickey Mouse), cars. You love to "put things in things" as well as throwing. You also love to play chase with the other kids, and you've added a new level of "fun" since you started walking. You love to push things around too (boxes, your push toy - especially if Ella is riding on it, etc.).


Luke a couple of weeks after starting to walk from Lisa Kennedy on Vimeo.


Luke @ 14 months
Troy @ 15 months
I didn’t start writing these monthly posts for Ella until she was 17 months old

Nose Scrunch

Despite some subtle differences, there is no doubt that my kids are related. They look so much alike, and even make similar facial expressions. Here is one of my favorites: the nose scrunch.

Ella: 

 

Troy: 

 

Luke:

Happy 4 Months Luke!

This past month has been filled with lots of firsts for you. First long drive back to visit families, first extended overnight stays away from home, first Christmas,  and first New Year’s. Considering the craziness of our life over the past month, you’ve handled it well.

When we are in the car, I have a hard time believing that you are one of our children. You actually like riding in the car (particularly once we get going fast) and often fall asleep on car rides. Ella and Troy (especially Troy) screamed and screamed in the car and rarely fell asleep. I’m very thankful you like the car, especially since we drove a ton during the past month.

You are a very, very active baby. You have been since you were in the womb. You LOVE kicking. You had a great time kicking and playing on the mat at Gigi and Pop-pa’s house. Reeses even caught your eye when you were down playing on the floor one day. You are also a strong baby. You are often doing what we term “baby situps,” lifting yourself up without using your hands. Your pediatrician has also commented about your strength.

You haven’t been sleeping as well this past month, but I think there are probably a lot of things affecting your sleep, including our travels and a need to have your acid reflux medicine dose increased because you’ve grown so much.  You weighed 14 lbs 4 oz at your 4 month appointment – 2 lbs more than Troy did at 4 months old.  At your 4 month appointment, we also determined that you are highly likely allergic to soy protein. You had some bad reactions to soy formula (which we gave you in the first place because Ella was allergic to milk and Troy didn’t handle milk well either). You seem to tolerate cow’s milk fine though. Most kids outgrow this type of allergy though by the time they are 3-4.

You are a very ticklish baby, and I love to tickle you! You started laughing at things this month as well. I got the first laugh out of you. I’m pretty sure your dad got the first laughs from Ella and Troy, so I’m pretty excited to get the first laugh from you. When you grin big, you have a little dimple on one side.

Ella (and Troy) helped open your Christmas presents for you. They loved getting to help you out and showing the presents to you. I love watching their interaction with you. They both interact with you in their own precious ways. They especially love coming to talk to you in the morning when you wake up. 

 

Luke @ 3 Months

Troy @ 4 Months

(I didn’t start writing these monthly posts for Ella until she was 17 months old)

Sweet Siblings