Week 26

Merry Christmas everybody!!!  Tomorrow is my 6 month birthday and I'm getting bigger and bigger and bigger.  Mommy seems to think that I'm growing and changing faster than my sister did but maybe it has something to do with me being the last baby in the family.  I'm full on crawling now and am having so much fun being home on vacation this week with my whole family.  We've been BUSY busy busy though and boy am I tired.

This weeks fabric came from my cousins Sophia and Mira Spillane.  They are the sweetest little girls.  I got to spend some time with them on Christmas Eve and Mommy said they will be great babysitters soon enough!!  They picked out this Christmas fabric for me because they said it's their most favorite holiday and I have to say, after these last few days of family, friends and presents, I think this holiday might be my favorite as well!

Week 25

25 weeks and I hear that the 25th of December is a big day around here.  Something about a guy named Santa?  I don't know.  Seems like there is a lot of stuff going on these days, lots of place to be and people to see.  Mommy's been trying to get a picture me where you can see the number on my shirt, but I just like squishing up into a little ball like this.  What can I say?

I'm officially on the move these days.  Not quite coordinated crawling yet, but I can get wherever I want to go using a cute little inch worm method I created where I get up on all fours and sort of throw my big heavy head forward and plop down on my belly.  Then, I get back up and do it all over again.  It's not the most effective way of moving, but I can sure get to whatever I want to play with.  Time for Mommy and Daddy to start baby proofing!

This week's fabric came from Mommy's Aunt Peggy.  I've met her a few times but we just saw her last weekend for Ritterbusch family Christmas.  I love her lots!!  She got me the cutest little outfit for Christmas and I can't wait to see her again soon.  She picked out this fabric because all of the pine trees reminded her of Up North and the cabin.  I was there once already this summer when I was just 10 days old.  It's really pretty up there.  Mommy picked this fabric for this week because we've got a live pine tree living RIGHT INSIDE OUR HOUSE right now...for Christmas!!  

Week 24

Clearly I love grabbing my little toesies these days because the last few pictures have been hard to see the number on my belly.  We're going to have to try for one where you can see it next week so we can keep track of how old I am.

This week's fabric came from Grandma's friend Natalie.  They worked together for a long time when Mommy was little.  Natalie said that she picked this out for the cute little animals and because it was gender neutral. Remember, Mommy and Daddy didn't find out if I was a boy or a girl until I was born.  Stinkers!  My big sister Abby really like this fabric.  She thought the monkeys and the elephants were the cutest.

Big news for this week!  I'm sleeping through the night.  Like, for real!  Mommy puts me down around 7:30 and I don't see them again until 6am.  I might wake up a few times a night and cry a bit but the long nights are over and I am so happy for the sleep (so is Mommy, I think).  It was a long week and we didn't start out, this great.  I did a lot of crying those first few nights but I think we are finally over that hurdle now and we're happy as can be.....the cry it out plan wasn't awesome at first, but we're believers now.  I'm even napping in my crib (when we are home that is...we're always on the move).

Week 23

Getting pretty close to that 6 month mark!!  This week comes with a few more first.  I got my first real fever on Friday and Saturday night.  I seem fine during the day but then come evening I spike a fever in the 101 - 102's.  Mommy is not a fan!!  Yesterday I just was not myself.  I was cranky and tired but didn't nap more than 20 minutes.  She thought maybe I'd sleep well last night but that wasn't the case either.  She's hoping I'll be back to my normal smiley self here soon.

The other first is that I'm on the move now...well, sort of,  I am pretty good at inch worming myself around the room.  It's not so much of a crawl as a "get up on all fours and scootch forward".  Crawling is not far off though!!  I'm ready!

This week's fabric came from a very special friend of Daddy's, Christine.  She and Daddy rowed together in college and she picked this water fabric because it reminded her of the rivers they use to compete on.  Christine has a daughter now too, Devin, and she is doing a quilt project just like me!!  I can't wait to meet her and Christine the next time they are in town.  Mommy picked this fabric for this week because this weekend Daddy went to down to Purdue and spent the weekend living like he was back in college...but he's old now, so he's REALLY tired this week.  Of course, my not sleeping at night isn't helping that either.....maybe tonight I'll surprise them all and sleep through the night!

Week 22

This past weekend was Thanksgiving and one thing I've learned we are thankful for is family!!  This week's fabric came from my second cousin Ryker, that lives in Colorado with his Mommy and Daddy.  I haven't met him yet, but maybe someday soon.  His Mommy said that he picked out this fabric for me because Thomas (and James and Percy) are some of his favorite friends.  My sister must know them too because she was pretty excited when she saw that this was my fabric for the week.  I guess when I get bigger I'll learn more about that!

I've been trying all kinds of new foods this week since that's what Thanksgiving is all about.  I've had all the flavors of stage 1 baby food (peas, green beans, prunes, apples, bananas, sweet potatoes, carrots and tons more that I can't remember right now).  Mommy says I must be going through a growth spurt because I eat about THREE jars of food a day on top of the milk I get every 4 hours.  You'd think I'd be super sleepy with this full belly but I still like to see Mommy or Daddy every few hours at night.  That's normal right?  Why would I want to be all alone in my own room when I can see them instead?!

Week 21

Well guys, it's a big week for all the Packer fans, like me (shhhh...don't tell Daddy).  Thanksgiving day the Packers play the Bears, it'll be a big game....and, they are retiring some guys jersey that day too.  Mom, and all the other Packer fans in my life, say this guy is a pretty big deal.

Really though, what I'm most excited about is Thanksgiving!  This week Mommy started feeding me real food and guys, seriously, I've been missing out these past 5 months.  Food is awesome!  I started out with Oatmeal, it was ok.  Then we had applesauce, which I thought was very sour.  I also had sweet potatoes, which I LOVE, peas, which made me gag, and squash which was "eh".  After we get through all the veggies Mommy says we can try fruit which she says I'll like best.  Veggies first though.  Maybe she'll give me a real green bean or something to chew on at Thanksgiving!  That'll be awesome.

Week 20

Can you believe I"m 5 months old already??  Just wait til you hear about all the new tricks I started this week.  I'm testing out being mobile and getting up on all fours now.  I'm getting really really good at it.  And, if I'm going to be doing all that moving it's time for me to start eating some real food!  So, this week I had my first bites of oatmeal and I even tried a MumMum.  I'm not too sure about the MumMum, but that oatmeal sure was good.  It was finger licking (and tray licking) good.

This weeks fabric came from Grandma.  She got it for me for the fall because those pretty sunflowers are some of the last signs of summer.  Isn't it pretty?  Mommy says it will be pretty in my quilt too.

Week 19

Hi!!  This week was a good week.  Mostly because I'm finally learning how to sleep and Mommy is so thankful for that.  I'm sleeping from about 8pm-4am without too much fuss and some mornings I'm even able to fall back asleep without much drama until 6.  We're getting there (finally!).

I'm the happiest baby and am getting really good at holding things these days.  I can intentionally grab for things and hold them for quite a while.  My favorite thing to do is put things in my mouth though. That and rolling over.  I love to be on my belly with my head held high so I can see what is going on around me.  It usually ends up with a handful of wet dog hair so Mom puts lots of blankets down for me.  I have lots to say and am getting really good at blowing bubbles with my mouth.

This week's fabric came from my mom.  Aren't the little fawns cute?  No special reason for the fabric...just because she liked it and thought it would be pretty in my quilt.  I can't wait to see what that is going to look like!!!  I want to have one just like my big sister.

Week 18

I'm one happy baby!!  I've found my toes and love to grab for them.  I'm getting really good and grabbing and holding things too!  Mommy found some of the baby toys and we've been practicing holding rattles, balls and Sophie the Giraffe.  I love to chew on her nose and feet and it really makes me laugh when I accidentally make her squeak...sometimes she scares me with that squeak though and I think it makes the dogs a little crazy.

I went to the doctor this week for my 4 month appointment.  I weight 13lbs 10ozs and am in the 40th percentile for both height and weight.  The doctor did tell Mommy that she needs to just let me cry at night.  She said that I need to figure out how to "self sooth" and that she can't swaddle me anymore (too bad..I like that) or let me sleep in the Rock and Play (too bad...I sleep really well in there) and that she can't keep coming in to give me my paci when I cry.  I just need to figure it out.  It's been a long few nights at our house....Mommy seems tired.  Daddy too in fact.  And, I heard Abby say "Mommy, I heard Hazel crying last night" so basically I'm keeping the whole house up these days.  All that crying is hard work but it sure doesn't tire me out at 3 am!!!  More on that next week.

This week's fabric is from Chris and Brenna.  We went to see them on Sunday and it was really fun to have lunch with them and see all the work they've been doing at their house these days.  I was pretty tired from all that late night crying so I slept through a lot of it though.  Brenna said she got this fabric because they go on lots of camping trips with us.  I can't wait til we do more camping with them next year!

Week 17

There seems to be a battle of sorts happening at my house these days.  Nearly everyday Daddy says something along the lines of "Go Bears" and then my sister gets all mad and starts shouting "We don't say that...we say Go Pack Go".  Daddy's pretty adamant that I'm going to be a Bears fan but Abby want's me to be a Packer fan.  Mommy?  She's pretty quiet on this subject...but I DO see her wearing a lot of green and gold these days.  Clearly this weeks fabric is Bears and Daddy seems pretty happy about it.

I've been learning how to blow bubbles with my mouth this week which makes my shirt all wet...all the time!  But I sure do love the sound it makes.  I'm sleeping in my crib for most of the night now too.  Not the whole night though.  Once I cry a few times in an hour Mommy scoops me up and puts me right back in my rock and play so the whole family can sleep again.  It think it's a pretty fun game.  Mommy's not so sure.

Lots of people have been saying that I look a lot like my sister so check out this picture of her just a few weeks older than I am now.  We are basically the same baby right?  Mommy also thought it was funny that this was my sister's 17 week picture....she didn't even plan it.  She let my sister pick my fabric for this week and she chose Bears.  Too funny right??

Week 16

According to Bubby's Facebook post earlier this morning I think Michigan lost this weekend.  Sorry Bubby and Erin!  Mom also says she knows Daddy will be mad we used this fabric but we support all the family teams around here (even the Bears).

This week Mommy tried something new and put me in my crib to sleep.  I'm not sure how I feel about it since my nose is all stuffy from my cold and I have a hard time sleeping.  She says it's time though.  I guess I'm not a very good sleeper.  I mean, aren't I supposed to wake up every hour and cry so they know I'm alive?  I thought I was.  I guess my sister was sleeping through the night long ago and already in her crib but Mommy's been trying EVERYTHING to get me sleeping better.  It's not my fault I get lonely in that room at night.

Week 15

Boiler Up!!  This week's fabric is for Daddy.  It came along with some Michigan and Bears fabric one weekend after Mommy posted pictures of me in a Packers outfit AND on Ohio State fabric.  I think it was the Ohio State fabric that pushed Bubby over the hill.  She just couldn't stand it anymore!  Mommy's college didn't have a football team so this is one thing they do not fight over.  I can be a Boilermaker fan which makes Daddy happy.

I've started rolling and rolling and rolling.  Grandma said I'm like a little log these days.  I spent my first night away from Mom and Dad this past weekend.  It was their five year anniversary and they went out to a fancy dinner with friends.  So fancy that even I wasn't invited along.  So - my sister and I stayed with Grandma and Pappa and had a blast.  I'm chatting up a storm these days, I just have so much to say!

Oh, and!  The big news.  I'm mostly sleeping through the night.  I say mostly because many nights I wake up every few hours and want my paci but Mommy's not feeding me after she puts me to bed anymore.  She seems pretty happy about that....but I know she's waiting for the night when I just SLEEP instead of making her get up every few hours (or every hour like I did last night...hehehe).  I think she's just tired!

Mommy picked this specific picture this week because it perfectly captures how I spend most of the days.  Chewing on my little hands and slobbering EVERYWHERE!  I'm a wet mess most of the time..maybe it's time for bibs?

Week 14

A couple more firsts for me this week.  I spent my first week at daycare which was super fun.  I like all my new friends and boy do they tire me out!  When I get home in the evenings I just want to snuggle with Mommy and sleep.  The first week of daycare also brought my first cold though.  You can't tell it from this picture but I'm not feeling so well these days.  I've got a nasty cough and a stuffy nose, but no fever and I'm generally pretty happy still.  Yet another first was I finally slept through the night!  Three nights in a row in fact, and one night I didn't even wake up for my paci the entire night.  Though, this cold has thrown all that out the window.  I'm up nearly every half hour now because I can't breathe well and I'm coughing.  Mom says "two steps forward, one step back" but hopefully I'll get over this cold soon.

This weeks fabric came from my Aunt Joey and cousin Kayden.  Mommy picked it out for this week because a few days ago my sister wanted to watch Dumbo so we all watched it together.  It's a strange movie!  Aunt Joey is pregnant now with the first little boy in our family.  I can't wait to meet him!!

Week 13

Wait Mommy....you have to go to work today?!?!  And I'm going where?

Today is my first day going to the babysitters but I'm not worried because I've got my big sister by my side.  She's been telling me about Kelly's house since the first day I came home so I'm excited to go.  Mommy?  She doesn't seem quite so excited.  Daddy took me to daycare today because I think Mommy didn't want to cry.

Going to daycare for the first time is a pretty big first but I had another big first this week as well.  I started rolling over from my back to my belly.  At first Mom thought it was just an accident but now I do it all the time.  I'm not very good at getting my arm out from under me but I do it from time to time.  Otherwise I just lay there and chew on my little hand.  I usually roll onto my right side and then over.  Sometimes when I roll back the other way though it's a little scary!

This weeks' fabric came from my Mom.  It's from one of her favorite fabric lines and this is the first time she's used one of the fabrics she picked for my photos.  I think she's feeling a little sad because I'm going to be gone all day so this way she has this cute picture to stare at all day if she wants.

Week 12

Three months old and I'm growing and changing every day.  This week I had two firsts but one was a big one.  I slept through the night for the first time!  Mommy was getting anxious because my big sister was sleeping through the night at 9 weeks, but I'm still not quite there.  At least I did it one time though.  She keeps saying "you can't have a second, until you have a first..." so I know she's hoping we can start doing that more often.  Is it my fault I'm still hungry for a snack in the middle of the night???  I also started sitting in the bumbo now which is super fun because I can sit up and see things happening around me instead of always laying on the floor.

This week's fabric is a little hard to see, but it says "I Love Lucy" in those little hearts.  It came from Daddy's cousin's new wife Kimmy Kat!  Mommy picked it for this week because they got married this past weekend and I got to go to my first wedding.  It was SO FUN and I was lucky to be one of the few kids allowed.  My sissy didn't even come with but I'm little so I got to go and hang out with all the adults.  The music was loud but everyone seemed like they were having a great time.  I did pretty well for awhile but Mommy took me home before the party ended because the music was a little too loud and kept waking me up.

Week 11

Go Buckeyes?? If you know my Daddy you know he's a Purdue fan all the way, so this fabric might seem a little strange.  It came from Mom's cousin Cathy and Bob and their daughter Cora.  They live in Ohio and are big Ohio State fans so that's why they picked this super cute fabric for me. 

Mommy picked it for this week because it was a BIG football week around here.  Not only was it the opening weekend for football, but it was the first Bears/Packers game of the season. Packers won, and if they win just ONE more game this year they'll be tied with the Bears for the overall record over the years.  My big sister has already pledged her allegiance to the Packers but I'm still up for grabs since I don't talk yet or pick out my own clothes.  Soon enough!

This week I started rolling on my side...not over yet, but I love to lay on my side and munch on my hands.  I also started laughing which Mommy seems to love.  I'm really ticklish right under my neck and Mommy loves to tickle me there.  I also do a lot of "talking" these days and have a lot to say...though you may not understand me yet. 

Week 10

Happy Labor day everyone! We're posting a little late in the day because we just got back from the lake.  It was so fun, but sooo hot! 

This week was a big one for me.  We went to see the doctor and I got my first shots.  They hurt and I cried but not for long.  I was a little fussy that afternoon, not very hungry and I slept a lot but by the next day I was feeling much better and like myself again.  I weigh 11 lbs 7 ozs (51%) and am 22 1/4 inches long (42%).  For comparison when my sister was 2 months old she weighed 10 lbs 11 ozs and was 21 1/2 inches long.  So I'm bigger....but not too to much!  That being said, I've almost outgrown my 3 month onsies and Mommy is hoping fall is coming soon because she doesn't want to buy any more summer clothes for me. 

This weeks fabric came from Mommy's friend, Mrs. Ware.  She's Jamie's mom and Stella's grandma and she was Mommy's principal when she was younger.  So, she got me this pretty school fabric.  Mommy used it this week because most of the kids have gone back to school already and most people think of Labor Day as the official end to summer.  Fall is right around the corner, which Mommy says means FOOTBALL!!  She seems really excited about it.

Week 9

Well, 9 weeks old already.  Gosh!!  This week's fabric came from some of my cousins, the Spillane's.  They have four little kids, two girls and two boys and Jack and Will picked this fabric out for me because they LOVE tractors.  My sister has a tractor like this too, I hope someday she will let me play with it....I'm still too little right now.

Mommy picked out this fabric for this week because I got to meet this whole family last weekend and they were just the sweetest.  Ann brought Mommy a big tray of lasagna and the most wonderful brownies we've ever eaten at our house....seriously, as much as she talked about them I can't wait until I can try one myself!!

Week 8

This week's fabric came from my Auntie Erin - she's been living with us since I was born but Mommy said that she had to go back to NYC this past week.  I guess she really lives there, not in the basement.  She picked out this fabric because she travels all around the US doing shows, signing and dancing.  What a cool job!!  Mommy chose this fabric for this week because we're really missing Auntie a lot these days.  It was so fun having her living with us this summer.

What's new with me?  Well, the biggest thing is that I spelt for a whole 7.5 hours the other night.  Mommy didn't quite know what to do!  She kept getting up to check on me, but I was just snoozing away.  I'm smiling a lot more these days and am really getting good at holding my head up.  I don't even hate tummy time.  I do it for about 5 minutes before I get tired and mad.

See you next week!

Week 7

Holy moly.....we've been busy and it's tiring me out.  This past weekend was a big one for us.  It was my baptism and my sisters 3rd birthday.  I can't believe how many people came out to see us at church and then at our house after.  I don't think I touched my swing or the ground once yesterday.  I'm so excited I finally got to meet so many of my family members.  Many of them I was seeing for the first time.

First we went to a place called a church where there was a lot of signing and then this strange guy got my head all wet.  It was weird but I didn't cry, not even a little bit.  Then after church we all went back home and people kept coming and coming.  They brought all sorts of presents, some for me, and some for my sister, and then there was more singing and cupcakes.  I didn't have any though, mom says next year.

This week's fabric came from some of daddy's cousins, Cathy and Mike Casey.  I haven't met them yet but Cathy said she picked out this fabric because it reminds her of all the "delightful delicious gatherings we share during family our family day reunions".  Mommy picked it out for this week because we certainly did a lot of celebrating this weekend and she said my sister has had enough cake to last her a month.  HA!

Week 6

Smiles!!  And I actually let Mommy get a picture of it to share with you guys.  This weeks fabric came from Mom's friend, Jennifer.  She and Mommy used to work together at Sears but both of them have moved on to new jobs so they don't get to see each other as much as they'd like but they still get together for breakfast once a month or so.

Mommy picked out this fabric for this week because we just got back from 4 days of camping at Turkey Run State Park for the annual cousin's camping trip.  While we did sleep in the camper for over a week when I was just two weeks old, this was my first REAL camping trip.  We did all kinds of strange things like eat outside and play outside and basically do everything outside.  It was hot and humid the whole weekend and I was sure happy when we went in the camper with AC.  Actually, I was so happy that I slept for a whole 5 hours one night!!  Can you believe it?  Mommy can't wait til I start doing that more often. 

Week 5

I'm getting closer and closer to smiles....it almost looks like I'm smiling in this one.  I'm starting to sleep just a little bit longer at night, which mom LOVES.  I sleep one 4 hour stretch most nights and then the rest are 3 hours, but mommy thinks we're making progress.

This weeks fabric came from my cousins that live in Alabama; Karen, Matt, Maddie, Sam and Gabe.  They bought it for me because it looks just like the beaches by their house.  Cousin Karen said the beaches have sand so white it looks like snow....I've not seen snow yet, but it's still summer time.  Mom picked this fabric out for this week because it summer and we wear sandals every day. 

Week 4

It's my 1 month birthday.  Mommy says it's going by way too fast!  This week's fabric came from my Grandma.  She got it because she says I'm like a little baby caterpillar right now and soon I'll turn into a big bright butterfly.  I think she also picked it because it's covered in food and I'm a great eater these days.  I'm already up to 8 lbs 11 oz and getting too big for mom's taste.  I went to church for the first time this week and I was really good and slept through it all...my big sister did pretty good too!  I also went to my first birthday party this week.  It was Zach's 30th and it seemed like everyone was having a good time.  I liked it because I got to be held by lots of new friends.  We sure are meeting a lot of new people these days.  Seems like there is always someone new coming over to meet me.

Outtakes:

Weekly photos aren't always as easy as Mommy makes them look.....

Week 3

The last of the 4th of July fabric and isn't it pretty?  This one came from Mommy's friend Justin.  We spent last week on vacation at Mommy's family's lake house Up North.  I got to spend lots of time with Grandma and Papa and Mommy's Aunt Peggy and Uncle Joe.  I'm starting to sleep a little more at night...some nights I'll sleep 4 hours at a time, others it's more like 2.5 or 3....but we're getting closer to a longer stretch.

Week 2

I'm not QUITE 2 weeks old yet, but Mommy says we're headed on vacation tomorrow so we're squeezing this one in a little early this week.  This week's fabric came from Ryan's Uncle Tim and Aunt Lynda.  Isn't it cute?  Sandles AND 4th of July combined!  Mommy picked it for this week because we're headed to the lake tomorrow and everyone (except me) will be wearing summer clothes and flip flops all week.  


Outtakes:

"Stop hitting yourself...stop hitting yourself!"

Mommy says it looks like I'm holding a mic in this one.  "I'd like to thank the academy...".

Week 1

Hello world!!!  Can you believe that I'm already 1 week old?  Mom says she can hardly believe that a week ago she way laying in a hospital bed snuggling me for the first time.  It's been one crazy week around here.  I got to meet my big sister and all the rest of our family.  And (!) it was a holiday weekend so I got to see my first fireworks.  They were REALLY REALLY loud but I actually slept right through it.  Mom said Abby really like them a lot and someday I'll be excited about them too, but this year I was just pooped so I slept through them.

This weeks fabric came from Daddy's Uncle Bob and Aunt Kathy.  They said they picked it out because I'm the all american summer child.  Actually, since my birthday was so close to the 4th, I think we have a few variations of Fourth of July fabric so be ready for a few more weeks of flags, fireworks and red, white and blue around here.  It's ok!!  I'm going to love the 4th as much as my Mommy does.  She says it's her favorite holiday.