11.5 MONTHS- TABLE FOOD OR BODY FOOD?

NEED I SAY MORE?

11.5 MONTHS- WATER BABY!

We may have several inches of snow outside, but the kids have been enjoying swimming at the local YMCA lately, thanks to the family membership!  The kids LOVE it!  Nevaeh is getting pretty good at crawling up and down the stairs into the pool!  We are sooooo lucky to have a BEAUTIFUL state of the art local YMCA just down the road from us!

11.5 MONTHS- GOTTA LOVE THIS FACE!

One of the loves of my life!

11.5 MONTHS- THE SMALLEST THINGS ENTERTAIN HER!

Nevaeh spent a good amount of time trying to figure out how to sit in the Bumbo seat on her own.  Mommy SKYPED us and I took these snapshots of the screen.  Before we logged on, Mommy shared that she was sitting in it correctly (forward facing) and was sooooo proud of herself that she started clapping and saying "sit", "sit"....of course it sounded like, "s_it" !   I LOVE SKYPE!  Feels like I am sitting in their livingroom watching this!  In the last screenshot, Nevaeh realized we were watching her and pointed at the computer and waved!

11.5 MONTHS-OOOPS!

This is what happens when the American Idol show catches your eye!  OOOOPS!

11.5 MONTHS- TWO WORDS!

Nevaeh put two words together today.....Mommy wasn't feeding her fast enough, so she yelled "Nevaeh Bite".....Mommy said she yelled it plain as day....and Mommy was stunned! 

11m11d- BLOWS KISSES!

Today, we SKYPED with each other.  As soon as Nevaeh noticed us on the computer screen, she got the biggest open mouth smile on her face!  She waved to us several times and even blew kisses to us before we logged off.  Gosh I love her soooo very much!

11m10d-I'M A BIG GIRL NOW!

Nevaeh is doing really good with table food!  She love Chinese!....It is really cute, because she knows how to blow on her food to cool it down!

11m9d-SLEEPING BEAUTY!

Aunt Caitlin couldn't resist taking pictures of sleeping beauty! Nevaeh  soothed herself into a nap with her paci and blankie.....with her feet propped up on the crib rails!  TOOOO CUTE!

11m9d-FEELING BETTER!

 Finally feeling better and playing with her new toy!  Her first laptop!

 Such a sweet face!

 There's that tongue!

Brushing her two teeth!  She brushes her teeth after bath time or when we are getting her dressed.  She even moves the brush back and forth over the only two teeth that she has!  Not sure when she will get more teeth.....They are slow in making an appearance!

On the Mommy front.....Courtney was offered her first job in her career field of Occupational Therapy!  As an OTA, she will be making more money starting out than teachers do ....How do I know?  Because I am the one that hires teachers!  I am sooooo very proud of her!

1ST. VALENTINES DAY= SICK HOUSEHOLD!

Today is Nevaeh's 1st Valentines Day and she is still SICK!  Soooooo sad to see her like this.  She hasn't kept food down for 3 days!  Great Grandma Martin ended up in the hospital for the last 5 days with this nasty viral bug and now Mommy is feeling crummy!  YUCK!!!!!

11m4d- SICK SICK SICK

 Our poor baby is SICK, SICK, SICK (low grade fever, vomiting and diarrhea)....The size 3 diaper just isn't doing it's job lately.....YUCK.  Mommy has done more laundry these last couple of days than she has in a couple of weeks!  Thank goodness for pedialyte- strawberry flavor!  One thing I can say....with the exception of fussiness......Nevaeh is a trooper.  She is still in a good mood even with this viral bug that has made it's presence known!

11m2d- PHONE CONVERSATION!

Guess who puts the phone up to her ear and says HI to me on the other side?  Yes you guessed it!!!  Nevaeh is now saying Hi to me when I call!  Then she babbles away and tries to eat the phone!  TOOO CUTE!

11 MONTHS OLD ALREADY!

Dear Nevaeh,

OH MY GOSH....you are 11 months old already and your 1st birthday party planning is in full swing! Where has our tiny newborn gone?  You have grown and learned so much!  Since you do not have a pediatrician appointment this month, I am guessing that you are around 18-19 lbs.  You have lost all of your baby fat and seem to be getting a little bit taller....but if I had to guess, you may be in the lower quartile in weight and height.  You are short, like your Mommy, but not really petite, just small.  You wear 9 month clothes comfortably, while some 12 month clothes fit, too.  It depends on the brand and style.  You still wear size 4 shoes, and size 3 diapers.  Your hair is absolutely beautiful!  Your Mommy started putting it up in two piggy tails to keep it out of your face.

Your eating habits perplex me.  You shake your head NO to baby food, you will eat table food, but still not enough to satisfy me!  You will say "nak" (snack) or "bite" when you are hungry and you drink juice from your sippy cup quite well.  Sometimes even one handed....then you fling or drop it to the floor!  You get the biggest smile and deep belly laugh when you feed the dog your food....You think you are being sneaky about it but we see and hear you.  Actually it is really hard not to laugh with you, because it is sooooo cute to watch. You still love your two cereal bottles a day (morning and bedtime)....It breaks my heart to think that it is recommended that we take away your bottle next month, because so far you will not drink milk from a sippy cup. You look at us like we are crazy.....In your mind, bottles=milk and sippy cups=juice.  Not sure how to break that thought pattern.  However, yesterday, Mommy shared that you drank chocolate milk from a regular cup through a straw.  At least it is a start!

You are still a VERY GOOD SLEEPER!  YAY!  You also love your pacifier and blankie when you are tired, but not tied to pacifier all day long....which is a good thing!  We are soooo happy that we switched over to breathable bumpers because you love to bury your face in them when you sleep!  You have been standing up in your crib for a few months now when you want out.  It won't be long and you will be asking to get out of the crib, vs. crying for us.

You have learned soooooo much this past month.  Around 10.5 months, you started standing unaided for about 30 seconds.  Now we notice that you will stand next to things without holding on.  I'm sure it won't be long and you will be taking your first baby steps!  You have even mastered climbing the stairs, but not quite sure how to go back down yet. You still play quite well by yourself and with others.  You will put objects in and out of things and figure out where shapes go and what buttons do. You even have a play phone that you put up to your ear and chatter away! You will babble up a storm with expression and wait for us to answer you.  Sounds something like: bitta, bitta, budda, da,da de.....over and over again....telling us a story.  I hope to catch it on video! You can also follow our questions and do what we ask.  For example, "Nevaeh, where's grandma's eyes?"  You will point to my eyes.  You can also point to my nose, mouth and your belly and feet, buttons on my shirt and yours, and point to the dog.  Sometimes our response to you is "just one" and you will put up your index finger for the number 1 in response. You can also shake your head NO and nod YES when you are trying to tell us something.  You repeat many words we ask you to say.  I think the cutest one is "Tate" (Aunt Caite). You still don't like to give kisses (neither does your Mommy....so you get this honestly), but you will kiss your dolly!

Lately, we have noticed that you has developed quite the personality....both good and no so good.....  Mostly sweet, however, there is that side to you that likes to test the situation to see how far you can go.  You have even started throwing little temper tantrums.  But these little outbursts are short lived.  Once you realize that NO means NO, you will arch your back, throw yourself backwards and fall,  hear a few more harsh NOs from us, cry deeply as if it were the end of the world for a few short seconds (with real tears) and then quit as if nothing even happened a few short seconds after that and return to your normal sweetness!  Sound familiar, Mommy?  LOL!!

I love you with all my heart!
Love, Grandma Dason

11 MONTHS TOMORROW!

Her first breakfast (other than a bottle or baby cereal)....She LOVES pancakes, bacon and sausage!  She also drank chocolate milk in a glass through a straw! Doesn't she look and act more and more like a toddler!?  Where has the tiny baby days gone?

10m29d- EATING WITH A FORK!

Courtney SKYPED me tonight and shared that she was feeding Nevaeh from her plate with a fork....Then the phone rang and Courtney stopped feeding Nevaeh.....well....Nevaeh decided that she wanted the food left on the fork.....She picked up the fork by the handle and put it in her mouth the correct way and fed herself!  WOW!!!  She did it a couple more times while I was watching.....Now that takes coordination of her fine motor skills!  YAY!

10m27d- FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS- CELEBRATION

 Great Grandpa Richards- 66 years old, Nevaeh - 10m27d

 Great Grandpa and Grandpa being silly for pictures!

Grandpa Dason (47 yrs.), Nevaeh (10m27d), Great Grandpa Richards (66 yrs. old)

My side of the family gets together regularly and celebrates monthly birthdays.  Since Grandpa Dason and Great Grandpa Richards have February birthdays, the party was at our house!  Great Grandma Richards called Nevaeh "Nosey Rosie" because she refused to take a nap and miss the fun......Let's just say, she was in rare form a few times during the party....but still the life of the party!

 These are the shirts Courtney and Mike made for them!

10m26d-PLAYING

Here's a video of Nevaeh playing with her train.  She loves this toy!  ......Today when Mommy was sitting on the floor, Nevaeh crawled up to her, pulled herself up by holding onto Mommy and then let go....stood there and just smiled.....She was soooo pleased with herself!

10m25d-WE ARE PROUD OF YOU, MOMMY!

Do you remember this picture?....Mommy studying with Nevaeh on her lap a few days after she brought her home from the hospital!

And, do you remember this when Nevaeh was 6 months old?  Mommy and Daddy graduated from college!

Well......just a few weeks ago, Mommy took her National Board test for Occupational Therapy Assistant.....and........SHE PASSED!!!!!

We are proud of Daddy too......today, is his first day in the Police Academy!

You have such good role models and smart ones at that!  Mommy has her OTA certification, Daddy has an associates degree in criminal justice and is in the Police Academy, Aunt Caitlin will graduate in May with a bachelors in Nursing, Uncle Joey also has an associates degree in criminal justice and has completed the Police Academy, Grandpa Dason has two masters degrees,  your Great Grandma Richards will have an associates degree in health information technologies, and I am nearing the end of my PhD program in Educational Administration.... What do you want to be when you grow up, Nevaeh?

Love, Grandma Dason

10m25d-CLIMBING STAIRS!

She is climbing stairs with ease!  You can hear the excitement in Great Grandpa Richards' voice.

2011 ICE STORM UPDATE

5 hours of ice later and this is what we saw!  Luckily, the temperature went just above the freezing mark over night, which turned the ice storm to rain.....all was gone when we woke up.  THANK YOU GOD!.....With the wind picking up, it could have been devastating!

10m23d-ICE STORM OF 2011!

 This picture is the start of the 2011 ice storm.  We are supposed to get up to an 1 inch of ice!  YIKES!

Nevaeh is ready with her flashlight....just in case the power goes out! And.....as we were filling containers full of water for the what if scenario, Nevaeh crawled over to the dog cage, pulled herself up and then stood there by herself (unsupported).....This was the first time!  YAY......wish I could have caught it on camera!