Dear Silvia: 8 Months

Dear Silvia,

Happy (Belated) 8 Months!

This month you decided to start showing some interest in MOVING! You spin in circles and squirm and roll and wiggle yourself to get whatever you want. You aren't quite crawling yet but you're definitely working on it.

This month, I had to go away for 5 (extremely) long days for work. It was really hard for me. I think you did great, though. You and Dad got a lot of time together and both sets of Grandparents made it over for a visit too! I couldn't wait to get home and scoop you up. Boy, did I miss you?!?!

I can't say this is a first for you, but you joined me for a day at the salon to visit our friend Natalie. You were such a good girl, sitting in the chair, laying on me while I got my hair washed, smiling at yourself in the mirror. It was so fun to have a special girls' morning together!

As usual, we had a couple fun playdates with our friends which are such a great way to break up the long, cold winter days.

Speaking of cold, we blew this popsicle stand and flew out to San Diego for a week away. This was your first flight and you did great on the way there but sadly shortly after arriving, we learned you had a double ear infection (your first) and bad cold. Your Dad was awesome and found a local medical center to take you to. We got some antibiodics and medicine for you though they made your tummy hurt. Although we always love having you with us, I can honestly say that I've never seen you so unhappy in my life...you cried more in that week than you have in your entire life. It was sad. We were SO scared to fly home, worried that your ears would bother you. The flight (thankfully) went pretty darn good. We lucked out and the airlines gave us a whole row to ourselves. It will probably be a while before we take you anywhere on a flight again. Sorry...but its the truth! :)

In other fun news: Your new cousin, John Jeffrey "Jack" was born this month! He's a cutie with a lot of hair!

This month, we've started getting ready to put our house on the market which is exciting and intimidating at the same time. During our week away in San Diego, we also learned that our offer on a new home in New Prague was accepted! Hooray!

This was another really fun month with you Silvia. Its amazing to watch you grow bigger, smarter and stronger every day!

We love you so much and look forward to seeing what next month has in store for us too!

Mama and Dad

Dear Silvia: 7 Months

Dear Silvia,

Wow - we really stink at this whole blogging thing, don't we? I promise that the only reason we're so behind on blog posts is because we are having so much fun with you!

At 7 months, you really started to show your personality! More laughter than ever, louder giggles and shrieks, bigger smiles! You are so fun to have around and we love hauling you everywhere we go. You're so happy-go-lucky...smiling at strangers, checking out every new scene, kicking your legs, swinging your arms! Everywhere we go, we hear comments on how you're such a "happy girl", "beautiful girl"...and sometimes "handsome boy" :) Sorry, we don't always dress you in pink with bows and you don't have much hair (yet!)

You learned to sit up really tall and strong this month, just in time to open presents during your first Christmas! You recived a fun, pink toy camera from Grandma and Grandpa Rasmusson, a dolly from Nana andPapa Cow, a cool, pink step stool from your Godmom Lynn and a doll house from your Godmom Megan. From Santa, you got your first red-headed dolly named Leona. She's so cute! What a fun Christmas it was for you...and for us! Having you around has made Christmas so much more special for your Dad and I too. You wore a new red dress, cream sweater, tights and gold dress shoes for Christmas. I looked high and low for a pretty gold hairbow for you to wear...but no luck. You still looked so absolutely adorable in your first Christmas outfit. I had a blast picking it out too! (One of the perks of having a little girl!)

Outside of the many holiday get togethers we had, we also had many fun play dates with the other babies and Moms from our baby classes. Of course, we also had a play date with the Sticha Chicas and Garin and Carter!

On top of sitting really well, you've started to get up on all fours and rock back and forth....like you're rev'ing your engine to get moving!

You're enjoying eating solids more and more as we've been adding more foods to your diet. At Christmas you got to enjoy some squash and sweet potatoes...yum!

Silvia - you bring so much joy to our lives...more than we could have ever imagined. You're such a happy girl and we're soo thankful for that!

Keep being your smiley, happy, healthy self!

We love you so much - having you was the best decision we ever made! :)

Mama and Dad

Dear Silvia: 6 Months

Dear Silvia,

Let me start out by saying how much we love you...and follow with how sorry we are that this post is nearly 3 months late! We're having so much fun being your parents that we simply cannot force ourselves to take the time to write it all down, but I know we must or sometime you'll ask us "when did I first sit up" and we'll look at eachother blankly and say "we don't remember...but I'm sure it was sometime before your 1st birthday"...so, we write! :)

The 6 month milestone brought about many exciting firsts for you:
-You ate solids for the first time. We started with cereal and it took you a couple weeks to get used to the idea. Now, you're a pro!
-Your first Halloween...you were a monkey!
-You became a "big" cousin...your new cousin Joseph Kenneth arrived on Oct. 30th. He's a cutie!
-We celebrated my birthday - Your mom officially turned 29 for the first time!
-We also celebrated Nana Cow's birthday.
-You attened your first 5K race. You and Dad came to watch me run my first race since having you. It was SO cold, but we bundled you up tightly!
-You and I and one of my friends went to a book signing for one of our favorite blogging couples (Young House Love). We waited in a long line (you napped) then when we finally got in you took in all the sights and sounds of the HUNDREDS of people there. At the end, the woman behind us in line said "I cannot believe how content your baby is." We hear this a lot about you - you're such a good girl!

Your hair is starting to come in more and more and we sometimes lovingly refer to you as "Fuzzy"! You are still incredibly long. We're used to your pants being highwaters and your onesies snapping tightly. At your 6 month appt., you weighed in at 16lbs 10oz. (67%), 27" (92%) and your head was 55%.

You continue to have such a wonderfully content personality. You smile at us, strangers and yourself in the mirror. When we sing, you "sing" along. You're practicing your sitting but still tip over when left unassisted for too long.

With the addition of solids, and a little help from sleep training, your nights have only gotten better. You sleep 10-13 hours a night, in a stretch...it's SO wonderful! Thanks for that!

Daycare continues to go well - you love to see all the other kids and learn from them. You still love bath time and playing with your toys on the floor. It's fun to see how you now play on your own, picking up toys and inspecting them closely, then following up with a taste test of each.

Silvia, you are the greatest joy we know - you brighten our days and remind us every minute how becoming parents was the best decision we ever made.

"Halfy Birthday!"

We love you so much baby girl,
Mama and Daddy

Family Pics!

Better late than never...

Our friend and doula, Erika met up with us to take some family photos. She also snapped some (almost) 6 month photos of  just you.

It was a chilly day but we had so much fun at St. Anthony Main and even stopped in a cafe for some hot coffee and a visit with Erika and Grandma Rasmusson, who joined us later.

It was a fun day and I felt ahead of the game since we had our Christmas card pictures ready to rock before the end of October!

Go us! :)

Dear Silvia: 5 Months

Dear Silvia,

Happy very, very, very belated 5 months! Sorry we're so delayed in writing this post.

This past month has been another great month for you (well, for all three of us)!
Some highlights:
-We went to 2 weddings and got to dress up in fancy clothes. Speaking of, you wore shoes for the first time at these weddings...fancy, new gold shoes!
-We spent one Saturday at Grandma & Grandpa Sticha's picking corn with your cousins.
-We had a breakfast play date with "The Sticha Mamas" and your 2nd cousins, Garin & Carter.
-We celebrated your cousin Joey's 6th birthday!
-We also celebrated your Dad's 35th birthday (whoah, that's old, huh?) by going out to dinner. It was a fun day!
-We attended the annual Horejsi family reunion and you got to meet you new 2nd cousin, Charlee. She's just 4 weeks younger than you.
-My good college friends Traci & Krista stopped by for a visit and we learned that Krista is expecting a baby next spring - yeah for little friends!
-We had family photos taken by our friend/doula, Erika. It's so fun that we're still friends with her, especially since she was with us during one of the most special days of our lives...the day you were born!

You have your first tooth, but you didn't get that until this month (so, more on that in the next post). You're working really hard on tooth #2 and constantly have your hands in your mouth. Our always-happy girl now gets a little case of the fussies from time to time, though you're still such a happy little girl overall.

Daycare continues to love having you there and you still smile when we drop you off...so that's great! The other day your daycare mom said to you: "Silvia, are you even a real baby? You must be a doll. Real babies aren't this good." We think you're such a good baby, but its alwasy nice to hear it from someone else.

You talk and talk and talk. You have a lot to say and you stop talking only to flash a big, gummy smile. Bathtime is still a lot of fun for you although you're so long your whole body stretches the length of your little tub....perhaps time for a longer one?

Bedtime is going great. You had a couple rough nights due to teething but overall you're still sleeping like a champ. You've started to flip yourself onto your stomach and you sleep great that way with your little bootie in the air...it's so cute.

We keep practicing sitting up and you're getting the hang of it, though without our help you flop to one side or the other. When we put you in your Bumbo seat, you lean really far back and pop yourself right out of it. You little stinker. You also like being in your car/exersaucer since it allows you to stand and use those strong legs of yours.

You'll be 6 months old in no time...this coming Sunday, actually!! We cannot believe how fast time is going. We'll start you on solids this coming weekend and we're certain you'll love it. More on that to come!

You brighten our days and bring so much joy to our lives! Honestly, what did we do before you?!?

We love you so much,
Mama & Dad

Dear Silvia: 4 Months

Dear Silvia,

Another month has flown by - and you've changed so much! We just now took down the "Welcome Baby" banner we hung before you were born!

You sure didn't wear your 3 month outfits long as we've already moved you entirely into your 6 month clothing! You are seriously such a long gal...and I know your 9 month outfits aren't far away.

Your Dad and I took you in for your 4 month appointment. You had to get a couple shots and some icky medicine in a dropper. The first shot went in and you just sat there....no tears. The second shot went in and good golly, you opened the flood gates. It was so sad. You're such a good girl, I'm not sure we've ever seen you cry actual tears before this. The doctor said you're a healthy, growing girl and gave us the ok to give you solids whenever we think you're ready. We'll likely wait until you're a little closer to 6 months to go down that road though.
Here are your 4 month stats:
Weight: 75% (14lbs)
Length: 99% (26.5")
Head: 60%

I started back at work full-time this month and its been going pretty well. Of course, I miss you like crazy all day long but I know you're having a blast at daycare with all of your new friends. Your daycare mom and dad have said often that you're such a good, "easy" baby....smiling, kicking, laughing the days away. You don't nap much at daycare but they said they don't mind since you never really get fussy. Keep up the good work, girlie!

You continue to be a smiley, content girl for us too. We're so fortunate for that and we soak up every minute of your slobbery smiles and squeals of delight. I keep saying that you're being such a good girl to try to convince us that having more is a good idea. (Like we needed the convincing!) Auntie Lynn says we should be worried about what #2 will bring since you've been simply too good! Ha! I guess we'll see.

This past month you've really started to become vocal. You practice making all sorts of noises and love to talk to everyone (or yourself, in the mirror!) You're also getting better and better at bedtime. You are usually in your crib asleep between 7:30-9:30 each night and only wake up once to eat. You do get up bright and early (4-5am) in the morning but I'm usually getting up by then anyway. I feed you again and then you either snooze a bit longer while I get ready for work or play in your crib, watching the mobile. When you get up in the middle of the night to eat, you've started "calling for us" in a new way. You still holler making a noise like "Wa-uh" but now you also pick your legs up as high as you can and then drop them to the mattress so it makes a loud thud. When we come in to get you, you have a BIG smile on your face. You're lucky you're so cute! :)

You're doing a lot of rolling and kicking and really want to sit up and stand (with our help). I think sitting up is right around the corner for you. You still absolutely love ceiling fans and lamps. Your Dad and I joke that your favorite things (in order) are: Ceiling fans, lamps, Mom and Dad. Yes, we know how we rate and its ok...ceiling fans and lamps are pretty darn amazing.

You LOVE when we sing to you. We always joke that we don't want Uncle Jeff (with a good voice) to sing to you so that you learn what that sounds like. Dad and I may not be the best singers but we make up WAY better lyrics than Uncle Jeff every will! :) "Lou, Lou -- Silvia Lou" (tune of Skip to my Lou) or "Standing baby, you're the one" (tune of Rubby Ducky) are pretty big hits around our house!

This past month you attended quite a few family get togethers and birthday parties. You were able to see your first parade at Dozinky Days in New Prague and you got to meet your Great Aunt Barb and Uncle Mark from Illinois!

We had some more house projects done - the kitchen has seen a complete transformation - since we're planning to put our house on the market in the coming months. We love our little, old house. It has seen some of the best times of our lives together - including the day we welcomed you into our world, Silvia - but we know its only a matter of time before this little, old house becomes too small for our growing family. Change can be hard, but we look forward to our next house on a quieter street with a little more fresh air and some extra room to stretch our legs.

Before we know it, you'll be 5 months. Slow down, little one! :)

We love you so much,
Mama and Dad