princess party

Kinsley, Aimee, Ella, Abby, Gabe, & Makaylee 

Gabe helped Ella blow out the candles (marshmallow in his mouth and all)

Each of the kids helped Ella open the gift they brought

 Ella has wanted a princess party for over a year now.  I had SO MUCH fun putting it together with lots of help from my mom. For Christmas this year my family did a service exchange instead of our traditional gift exchange.  My parents got our family and as our gift my mom made Ella's birthday cake, eclairs, chocolate covered Oreos, play dough (for gift bags), and a pin the kiss on the frog game.  We invited Ella's friends from preschool along with Gabe and Makaylee.  We were so excited they could all come and that they dressed up in such fun princess and prince costumes.  We had a great time playing frog, frog, princess (our version of duck, duck, goose), "Who's got the button?", pin the kiss on the frog, and having a tea party.  Ella talked about her princess party for weeks before her birthday and after all of her friends left, she asked if we could have one again later that night.  She had a great time and so did we.  We love our little princess and are so lucky to be her parents.

six months

When we took Sophie in for her sixth month well visit she was as healthy (and cute) as can be.  We found out her current stats:

 Length: 26 1/4 in. ------ above 50th percentile

Weight: 15 lbs. 10 oz. ------ almost 50th percentile

Head Circ: 43.4 cm ------- 75th percentile

Sophia LOVES to arch her neck and look upside down.  She's been doing this since she was 3 months old and has a nice bald spot on the back of her head to prove it.

This month my little Sophia has been fussier than ever before.  We aren't sure if it is because of the cough and cold she has had for a majority of the month, or if she is just getting more opinionated.   She is definitely a mama's girl and she let's Gustavo know it.  In general Sophia has a calm disposition, but when she is upset she let's you know and she doesn't give in easily!

 

Sophie's hair is crazy!  When we don't fight it, it looks like this.  We've been told many times that Sophia looks like a Dr. Seuss character.  I can't believe how quickly she is growing up.  My little baby is already getting so big.  The most exciting milestone she's reached in her sixth month is SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!!  HOORAY.  It took crying it out (our second attempt), but it has been worth it.

Bye Bye Pacifier

December 15th was a great day at our house.  Ella decided to put her pacifier under the tree so Santa would come early and give her a Jesse doll in exchange for it.  She and I talked about it and Ella decided right away that was what she wanted to do (I thought I'd give her the idea and that she'd think about it for awhile and maybe go for it).  Gustavo and I decided we were up for the consequences so we called Santa on Ella's Belle phone and he came right away.  It took Ella nearly 2 hours to fall asleep the first night and she had a melt down when she woke up at 2 in morning, but things only got better from that point on.  She never regretted her decision and sometimes asked for her pacifier, but accepted our answer that Santa had it.  All in all, I am still a big believer in the pacifier.  It helped her be an AMAZING sleeper for quite some time and weening wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be.  Ella is officially a big girl, oh wait, she still isn't potty trained... that is our next milestone to conquer.

Christmas

This is the first year Ella understood Santa.  The week of Thanksgiving we took Ella to the Disney Store for the first time and let her look at all the toys.  She was in HEAVEN!  Right now she is in love with all things princess (and Toy Story).  Every where she turned she saw something new that she loved.  She left the store deciding that she wanted Santa to bring her a Buzz and Sleeping Beauty.  Ella is typically very shy and won't talk to acquaintances, let alone strangers, but at the beginning of December she gladly went to sit on Santa's lap and told him what she wanted and happily accepted her candy cane.  We were absolutely shocked because it was so out of character.  She enjoyed her visit with Santa so much that she looked forward to seeing him again at our ward Christmas party the week before Christmas.  This excitement helped us enjoy the holiday season even more than usual.

 

This year we stuck with tradition and spent less than an hour at hour house and then rushed all over to visit all three sets of Ella's grandparents.  It was pretty hectic and a little tiring, but we enjoy the opportunity to spend time with all of our family.   We started off at Abuela and Abuelo's for breakfast.  Ella couldn't leave the house without the Buzz and Woody that Santa Claus brought her (she changed her mind throughout the month and started asking for Woody instead of Sleeping Beauty).  She was so excited that Abuela and Abuelo got her a Pinkalicious motorcycle!

Ella got incredibly spoiled by all of our family and LOVES all of her new toys. Ella got a set of Disney princess dress up shoes from grandma Liz and grandad.  Ella couldn't believe it!  She was so excited that she tried on every pair and then lined them up and just stared at them.  When we told her that it was time to leave she started to cry and asked if she could take at least one pair home with us.  When we told her that she could have all of them she stopped crying and gladly packed up each pair.  She got a fun ladybug tent from grandma and grandpa Kramer that she has up in her room.  She loves to play in it with her friends when they come over.  We had a great Christmas!

five months

 Look at those cheeks!  I love how chubby Sophie is getting.  Gustavo loves putting her in the bumbo because she looks so cute in it.  Sophie continues to be super content and happy, but is starting to be a stinker at night.  Between both girls I am up SIX times some nights.  We need to do some serious sleep training after Christmas.  It is a good thing Sophie is such a cute girl so that even when I get her in the middle of the night and want to be frustrated, she gives me a HUGE smile and quickly softens me heart.

Sophie still exclusively breastfeeds. She won't take a bottle and sometimes that is really annoying, but secretly I don't mind.  I realize that she is going to be big before I know it and nursing is one of my favorite parts of the day because Sophie and I get to snuggle.  I love being a mom and love that I get to spend every day with my babies. 

four months

My sweet Sophia is getting sweeter by the day.  She always smiles!  Even when she cries, if she looks at us, she starts to smile.  We can't believe what a good baby she is.  Sophie is starting to have more of a sleep schedule which I like.  She's got more of a nap schedule, but unfortunately doesn't sleep in her car seat much anymore which makes us stay at home more (which I usually don't mind).  She has even started sleeping from around 11pm until 5 or 7 in the morning.  It is lovely!

 When we took Sophie in for her 4 month checkup the doctor asked "Is she always this calm?" She is just a sweet, chubby girl with her daddy's bright blue eyes.  At her appointment we found out her current measurements:

Length: 25 in. ------ 75th percentile

Weight: 13lbs. 14 oz. ------ above 50th percentile

Head Circ: 41.7 cm ------- above 50th percentile

three months

 My sweet Sophie continues to be a dream baby.  I often think of her as my therapy.  She hardly ever cries and is easily consoled when she does.  I honestly hope everyone has at lease one baby like Sophia.  She is an angel.  I love her so much and am so grateful for her.