Collyns at 12 months

-Weighing in at 19 lb and 8 oz (20th percentile - wooh!) and measuring 27.5 inches (10th percentile).
-Collyns has definitely started communicating with us more in her 12th month. Sometimes with words or actual signs, but a lot of gestures and expressions. She can say "mama" but rarely will actually say it referring to her mother. She says "nana" for bananas during breakfast time. She also still loves exclaiming "mmm!" while eating something she likes. She emphatically will shake her head no when there is something that she doesn't want and still signs "all done" when she's finished eating.
-She is a big fan of smoothies, but only really when she can share with mama and drink out of her straw. Not as big of a fan of her own portion in a squeeze pouch. Her favorite foods also include ham and cheese slices broken up into small pieces and diced peaches. She tends to have entire meltdowns when she really wants a sippy cup of formula and we are taking too long to get it to her.
-About a week before her first birthday she up and decided it was time to walk. Until this point, she had been taking a few steps here and there, but her main way of getting around was still crawling. During my primary class though in church on Sunday something just clicked and she hasn't turned back since.
-Even before she started walking, Collyns had started taking getting into things and exploring to a whole new level. She wanders into the front room regularly now and tries to find new goodies.  The kitchen cabinets are always open with items strewn about and she loves to empty the drawers on the tv stand. The same pretty much goes for every room in the house.
-Collyns also (finally!) got her first tooth. Her bottom right started slowly creeping up about halfway through the month and is becoming more and more visible every day. Since the first tooth was such a long process, there were no noticeable and lasting side effects of teething. Her little gum had been swollen though the past month or so, good thing she wasn't a wreck since it took so long.
-Miss C has started to show a little bit of her girly side. While mama gets ready in the morning, she ventures into the master closet and finds all sorts of treasures. Her favorites are long necklaces that she actually puts on herself. She lights up with the biggest grin when you notice and tell her how pretty she looks.
-Collyns has developed an even stronger bond and attachment with Chase. For the first time in her life, she'll reach for him instead of mama (not that mama minds the break). Chase of course is loving it and reciprocates it all right back to his little girl. She's quite frankly got him wrapped.
-C is enjoying being around other babies her age more and more. She has always been interested in older kids and toddlers, but now she'll actually interact and laugh with other babies. She loves going over to play at other homes and when we also have friends over.

Collyns at 11 months

-Collyns is once again SO CLOSE to walking, she just hasn't made up her mind yet I think. She'll take a few steps and then fall. More I think out of the fact that cruises around so quick on her hands and knees. We have fun cheering her on and "practicing", although I'm sure we will regret the consequences of an even more busy Collyns after she does start walking.
-C's 11th month was definitely the month of "tricks". She has a lot of fun giving kisses, squeezes (hugs), bonks, and high fives. She has really started using signs during mealtime, signaling for "more" or that she's "all done."
-She also has begun saying "mmm" while eating. Still loving fruits and having a harder time taking to veggies. We try and sneak them in combined with pears, apples, and other fruit. She is a champ with proteins eating pieces of ham with cheese, chicken, ground beef, and turkey, despite still having NO teeth. Over Christmas the Frischknecht-McCutcheon family ordered some Latin "pupusas" in honor of Elder Chase serving in Louisiana. Collyns loved those pupusas as well as all of the rice and beans. She actually has really enjoyed foods with a little bit of a kick to them. Takes after her Dada on that.
-Collyns LOVES all of the toys she got for Christmas. She zooms around with her little wooden walker and also has a good time both riding in and pushing her wagon. The few little wooden puzzles and block sets have also been a big hit. Another favorite is her big book of names and faces with pictures of everyone from both Mom and Dad's families.
-She has started this darling little thing where she cocks her face entirely to one side and looks at you and smiles. It's like she knows that she's being cute.
-C is still playing catch up to other kids her age in terms of weight and size, but she's doing a pretty good job of it. Slowly, but surely! Her big appetite, longer naptimes, and later morning wake-up time are evidence of this.

 

 

 

 

Collyns at 10 months

-This girl is packing on the weight, finally! Although she did not have any official weigh-ins or well checks this month, we think she put on about 2 pounds. Starting to catch up a little bit to everyone else her age.
-The weight gain can be attributed to C being such a good little eater, and her reflux slowly fading. She is very fond of fruits- bananas, peaches, pears, apples- but not as good at eating veggies. Still no teeth, but this month she has managed to really take on to table foods. She eats many of the same meals as us, just broken up into smaller pieces.
-Although she is small, Collyns doesn't let that stop her. She is a busy little thing that is constantly on the go. She loves watching bigger kids play and tries to keep up with them.
-Collyns is not super fond of strangers and in particular, men. She even was scared of her uncles when they were home for Thanksgiving. She generally would cry and reach for mom when they tried to hold her.
-Another month of loving grandma and grandpa's dogs. Luckily they put up with her trying to grab them. For the most part though, Collyns just zips over to their area in her activity walker and watches them and giggles.
-One of her favorite things is FaceTiming Dada in the mornings now that he doesn't see her before work. She knows now that after mama grabs her out of the crib, we go lay in her bed and call Chase just to say hi really quick and have a good day
-Bathtime at night is another favorite. She splashes around like a mad woman and shouts every time she makes a splash. We've got a little fishy on our hands this coming summer I think!
-Collyns is FINALLY sleeping through the night, consistently. Sometimes she will wake at about 5:30, but will go back to sleep for another hour or two after nursing.

Collyns at 9 months

-Weighing in at 15 lb 4 oz and measuring 25.75 inches long. Our petite little thing is still in the 5th percentile for both height and weight... but has recently started growing more!
-Collyns has developed several new talents this month. She gives kisses if you ask her very nicely, although she pretty much just puts her open mouth against your lips. She knows patty cake and gets excited to do it. Sometimes she also will clap if we are clapping and saying "Yay!". Although her clapping consists of her right hand in a fist and the left clapping against it. At some point we'll get the actual thing down ;)
-She LOVES trying to climb the stairs and will go all the way up them if allowed. We have to go with her the whole way, since she still doesn't quite get the concept of going down... or gravity for that matter.
-Collyns zips around on her hands and knees and really is moving around the furniture in the family room. She loves to reach for the remotes that sit on the tray on the ottoman.
-Miss C's eyelashes have grown quite longer and thicker it seems lately and her eyes have settled into a green with blue ring around her iris. Her hair is getting longer and lighter and she is finally starting to gain weight! You can almost see a little chub on her thighs and the beginnings of a double chin ;) This is all thanks to her being a champion little eater. She really will eat most things put in front of her. The prilosec is definitely helping with her reflux also.
-She does not quite have "stranger danger" but can sometimes be shy, depending on her mood. She also sometimes can be quite clingy on Mama. Especially when she's ready for bed or naptime.
-Her new favorite toy is the car keys. She will slyly find ways to snatch them out of your hands. She also loves the dishwasher and fridge when they are open and will get very excited and crawl quickly over if she sees that one of these are open. She then proceeds to try and climb into them.
-One of C's favorite parts of the morning is when Mama brushes her teeth with the electric toothbrush. Maybe it's the noise, maybe the vibration, but either way she wants to hold onto it and "help".
-Collyns has really grown to love the dogs at both of her grandparents houses. Luckily, all are very good sports and let her fascination run its course. Jax and Rusty are actually quite entertained by her as well and let her grasp their hair.

Collyns at 8 months

***Once again, we are beyond late on this post. In fact she's over 9 months old now ha. I'm awful. But luckily the pictures and notes are from when she DID turn 8 months. Just took a month to get it up on the blog. Hopefully I can knock out the 9 month post too before it's a month late as well.

-This little girl is thriving and we have really gotten into a groove. She is sleeping better at night, either waking up once to eat or sleeping through. Her day starts bright and early around 6 am. We play around the house and then head out on a morning walk before breakfast. Still napping twice a day, for about an hour and a half each. We head out and about in the middle of the day for errands, visits to the grandmas, or play dates at the library or park. Bed time is around 7:30-8.

-Collyns loves standing and pulling herself up onto things- the ottoman in the family room, couch, kitchen table and chairs, walls, really anything. 

-She is eating well and has started to really get the hang of solids and finger foods. Still loving her yogurt melts and prunes with apples every morning. Collyns started taking prilosec for her reflux, which has helped immensely.

-Miss C's favorite thing to babble is "Dadada". She started out the month simply saying this randomly, but as the 8 month mark approached, she seems to have associated "Dada" with Chase, often looking at him and saying it when he is talking to her or doing something funny. 

-Collyns has figured out that the stairwell and the loft area right about the stairs echoes if you shout loud enough, so we always pause now to let her get a few shouts out. If she notices that she is in any other big hall or area that will echo outside of our house, she gives us a few little shouts and smiles there too.

-She has developed quite the aversion to getting put into her carseat. Generally, she doesn't mind riding around in it, but the going in part is pretty intense. Arched back, cries, and wiggling to avoid it. Chase sometimes will put on quite the theatrics to keep her distracted while I strap her in. 

-Collyns LOVES books. We read a few together before each nap and bedtime, and she will also play with them during the day, flipping the pages and occasionally chewing on them ;)

Collyns at 7 months

***Now that we're a week away from 8 months I figured it was about time to get the 7 month post up. Luckily the pictures and updates are from the actual 7 month mark, it's just taken me this long to edit them and write it out fully. Also, for any of you that actually read blogs still, I'm impressed you're sticking around amidst all of the baby posts! These are mostly just for me to keep record of. 

-Collyns has become quite the little adventurer in her 7th month. She is even quicker at crawling and has realized that she is now able to get around where she wants to in the house. Her spatial awareness has grown and she has started to explore quite a bit more. She still has yet to venture into the bathroom or our front living room downstairs, which I am grateful for. 

-She is now pulling herself up and standing whenever possible. She'll use anything to pull herself up, including walls. Her crib had to be lowered (sad day for mama) because we were afraid she was ready to fall over the edge. She also has managed to climb a few stairs, but of course has not concept of getting back down, so we are always running to catch her when she starts to head up them. 

-A lot more babbling and talking going on this month. Up until now, it seemed like she was just making certain sounds. Now it's more of a babble of made up "words", like she is chatting and communicating with us. Also, Miss C has learned to make even better use of those lungs of her. When she wants to be, she is LOUD. Loud cries, shouts, squeals, and babbles.

-Loving peek-a-boo even more this month. That game never seems to lose it's charm, especially when played with blankets over our heads. Another fun one is clapping. Really, just watching mama and dada clap. Hilarious, apparently.

-In those fun/excited moments, Collyns has gotten quite bouncy and sometimes will nearly jump out of your arms. Her little legs kick and kick as she does her little squeal laugh.

-Collyns developed this adorable scrunched nose smile this month. She sort of squints her eyes and her nose scrunches up and it is the cutest and funniest little thing. 

-Miss C is loving solids and eating with her own hands. We vary between smaller and softer food that she can eat on her own, store-bought baby food, and food that mama makes in the Baby Bullet. She loves her little rice puffs and yogurt bites. 

-Collyns is developing a fun relationship with Chase. She certainly knows he's the funny one and loves being entertained by him at nights and on the weekends. 

Collyns at 6 months

-Weighing in at 12 lb 12 oz and measuring 24.5 inches... once again the 5th percentile about!
-This little girl is just thriving on a schedule and has grown up right before our eyes in her 6th month.
-She started of this month by doing a half crawl, half bear crawl. In the days after that she began sitting up. She would lean a bit while sitting and sort of prop herself up. After some more practice though, she has mastered sitting up straight.
-Collyns is still not a fan of crawling on her knees, yet manages to zoom around with her bear crawl nevertheless. She has yet to venture onto the wood floor and mostly stays in the family room unless I set her at my feet in the kitchen while cooking.
-C likes to sit up in her crib and pull on the bumper, sometimes pulling herself onto her knees. The crib still has yet to be lowered, so we are watching close for when she figures out how to pull herself up using the railing and stand on her feet. Probably just a matter of time.
-Screeching and yelling are a fun past time, according to Miss Collyns. Much to mama's dismay.
-And if she's mad or frustrated, you can expect that she'll let you know with these shouts and often raspberries she blows. There is no shortage of personality (aka sass) in this tiny thing.
-Collyns gets a kick out of cups and water bottles. She will grab for your cup if you take a drink while holding her. She's figured it out and immediately pulls it up to her mouth for a sip. She then proceeded to figure out that mama's water bottle on morning walks is pretty much like a cup. She loves to just hold it and can even drink up through the spout.
-She is still pretty friendly to strangers, showing off her big smile and squeal if they come in close and talk to her.
-Her eyes are technically still blue, but seem to be showing a little bit of a green tint now, like Mom and Dad.
-She loves her grandmas and particularly FaceTiming with Aunt DD in Washington DC. She gets a kick out of Dad and knows that he is the funny one around here. Yet she wants her mom if she is tired and upset.