So much has been happening...Stacie is pulling up

So much has happened since last post. stacie is almost 11 months old and is pulling herself up for small bits of time. Madi loves to go in to Stacie's room in the morning and she hands her 2 books through the crib, they then sit together, laugh and read. Madi is a great big sister, making sure Stacie only has safe things to play with, but at times still likes to get a reaction out of Stacie and tests her a bit! Ah, sisters!

We have begun to make our own baby food as the options are not great for store bought (choices of 4 veggie types) and also the level 2 and 3 are too different..Stacie wasn't ready for chunks yet but level 2 is too watery. We are going to make some fun mixtures; parsnip and carrot, risotto, etc in the Magic Bullet.

Stacie will be 1 in April. We sent out homemade invites with Stacie's handprint on them in blue paint. Madi is going to be 5 in July

Madi says some very funny things. she likes to make up stories, she asks if things are clean, has a keen awareness of others' feelings. She has been loving her twin bed. She also loves when Aunt Sophie sleeps over, because she sleeps in Madi's room!

Madi loves playing tball outside, so we will see about signing her up for a summer league. She hits very well!!

Madi loves telling us she loves us, but if she is upset at something we say she either says "you don't love me" or "I don't like you" or "I'm not talking right now"

Stacie babbles, takes a sock and places it near her foot (knows where it goes), puts her hands up when we say "all done", dances to music by twisting torso and shakes her head, VERY sweet baby! She drinks about 26 ounces a day of milk and has food 3X a day. We have been adding 1 tsp of miralax to food 2X a day to help her out.

More later,
abelsons

Stacie is crawling

Steve and I went to S. Beach and the Keys for 6 days. We came back the 30th of December 2011. In time for New Years. A couple days after we got back, Stacie started crawling. She did it one time when we were gone as well. We lowered gthe crib. Stacie has been babbling.

Madi is quite sassy, she is quick witted and very strong willed. she wants things the way she wants them and on her terms. She is very strong. She is clever as well.

Stacie loves to eat baby food, Madilyn tries new foods willingly. Madi loves her sister, but also can be too rough, sometimes by accident, sometimes on purpose. If Stacie is crying, Madi will tell us and sometimes says "stacie is crying, but she'll be ok"or "stacie is crying, go get her"

Stacie is now 8 months old

She is biting everything, loves all food we have given her, naps well, sleeps almost through the night, loves to watch Madi do everything, laughs at Madi and when she sees kids playing. We took her to Edinborough Park with Madi and Stacie loved watching all the action.

Madi is a great big sis and loves seeing Stacie after school and when waking up in the morning "stac you're up, I'm so glad you woke up so I can squeeze you" Or if she hears Stacie is up "Can I go see Stacie?"

Madi asks a lot of questions, she likes to know reasons behind things and how things work. she still loves to read books and likes to make up stories, although we think she thinks she is reading (which is still great). She loves newspapers and reads them as if she can truly read.

Madi will be in Kindergarten next school year. Unbelievable

Updates

Stacie is 7 months tomorrow. She can clap hands together, laughs at Madilyn, babbles, turns over very quickly and makes her way around the room. She can use her arms and knees to move forward and push backward.

Madi like to "read" books and makes up stories, she comes up with very funny phrases..."I'm okay with that" after we tell her the way something will happen.

Madi and Stacie

Madilyn is very good at knowing the sequence of our routine and going through, verbally, everything that she has done. Madilyn is a great helper and sister. Madi loves to go up to Stacie and make her laugh or tell her she is cute. Stacie is busy scooting forward using hands and feet to push her forward toward a toy. She also is making many new sounds, our favorite is her "growl". She wakes up from naps happy, talking in her crib, rolling around, smiling. Stacie loves to watch all that Mado does, and laughs when Madi goes up and down in the swing at the park.

Abelsons

Updates

Stacie is now 6 months, 23 pounds, 27 inches. She just had her 6 month immunizations. She is eating veggies and cereal. She can roll both directions and scoots backwards. She can also turn herself around. The other day, as steve was holding her, Stacie kept looking at m and when I would look back she would give this "thank you for looking at me smile". She is beginning to get a little separation anxiety when a new person holds her, if I am nearby. However, she doesn't cry when I leave her at daycare.

Madi is 4 and 3 months. She is very busy, talkative and is really putting big ideas together.

Madi says very funny things and we laugh everyday with her. She is a real treat.

more later,

Abelsons

Stacie and Madi

Stacie cut her first tooth this week...she is 5 months old.

Madi started pre-K. Cannot believe it!

Stacie and Madi

In August we got our family pictures done and we will post them when we get them from the photographer.

Stacie has been rolling over from back to front for over a week now. She also rolls in her crib and seems to prefer sleeping on her tummy. There were a couple nights when we would barely sleep and checked on her frequently after realizing she was sleeping on her tummy!!

Stacie continues to eat her rice cereal one time a day.

Madi has mentioned her NY school "old school" off and on. So we have been showing her pictures of her old friends and teachers. She remembers EVERYTHING, nothing gets by her! Madi has been asking lots of questions about many different things. It has been nice to read/conversate with her and see what she comes up with. I is especially fun to watch her conversations with friends at playdates and school.

We have had a great summer back in MN, and we recently had a family bonfire/bbq, all family came except Andrew/Kari and Soph/Will. It is so nice to be able to have quality time with so many family members.

More later,

Abelsons

Catching up...

July 24, 2011

Stacie is busy gumming everything and is no longer turning away or crying when Madilyn comes near or bothers her. However, in turn, Madi has to try harder to get a rise out of Stacie. Stacie has great hand-eye coordination, able to bring an item from her grasp to her mouth. She is an easy going baby. Stacie will be 4 months on August 1 and Madi turned 4 years on July 21, 2011. Madi says many funny things and is very smart and intuitive. She has been a joy and at times a challenge because she does know what to say and do to get out of things. She has been able to hold her head up and if we hold her core she can hold her head up and look around. She doesn't like to be held laying down because she likes to look at all going around her. She met Aunt Esther on July 24. Stacie has a last feeding at around 1030 consistently and then most times can make it until 430-530 AM to eat. She is a hardy eater, as is Madi. Both are great sleepers. We have noticed Stacie is a lighter sleeper than Madi was/is. Madi will try almost any kind of food, there are some she doesn't like; spinach, kiwi, etc. She loves olives, black or green. Stacie always wants to drink a bottle when she sees us eating. Madi one day in July decided to go without a diaper at night and was dry from that night forward.

August 11,

Stacie and Madi had shots on aug 5. My bday. 4 yr madi. 4 mo stacie. Madi was terrified and stacie stopped crying when she was held. Madi is 40 p 40 inches and has next shots when she is 11. Stacie is 20 pounds. Madi was 18 p at 6 mo. Stacie is now grabbing her toys and can sit up with little support. She can also roll back to front. She started rice cereal on the aug 8th 2011 She sits in high chair. She has been drinking 6 oz every 2 hrs and wakes 1-2 times at night.

Madi's current phrases;

"I amn't yelling, I am talking loudly so you can hear me"

"Look at my mouth... It is thirsty"

"Someday you will poop on potty without diaper" Madi..."That will be wonderful"

More later,

Abelsons

May 3

Madilyn continues to be a great big sister, always wondering where Stacie is and wanting her to be around.

Stacie had Dr checkup today. She is 4 weeks and weighs 11 pounds 8.5 ounces. She is very healthy. She holds her head up well, makes great eye contact, and has smiled a few times while we are speaking to her. She tracks objects well with her eyes. She turns when Madilyn speaks to her. When swaddled, she always takes out her left hand. She eats 4 ounces (or a bit more) every 2 hours during the day and at night wakes only 2X to eat. She is becoming more alert and awake as time goes on.

More later,

Abelsons