California Trip Shutterfly Book

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Myla at 11 months

To my sweet girl,

This month is a hard one for me as your mama - it is the last time that you would be turning a month, not a year... does that make sense? I just feel like your baby-ness is slipping away!

You are a delight! Everyone comments on how smily and happy you are. You especially love wooing strangers with a huge grin until they smile or talk to you. You still have just 4 teeth, but it looks like more will be coming in soon on the bottom.

We've gone to the splash pad quite a few times this month and you just love it! How do I know that? Well, the last time we had just barely gotten out of the car and you spotted the splash pad and started laughing and trying to get over there as fast as you could. You have no fear when it comes to the water and you follow the "big" kids everywhere. You even had a couple of kids "adopt" you the other day (they came and informed me that they were the king and queen and you were their baby princess).

You are walking like a pro and getting faster every day. It seems like you were just taking your first reckless step and now you're everywhere! The second you fall on your bum you start looking for something to pull up on and get going again. You haven't really gotten into cupboards or drawers yet and I think it's because you just have so much fun walking around. It's what you do for the majority of the day. You also love carrying things around with you - clothes in particular, but you also like to carry around your dolly and stuffed animals (even if they are bigger than you are). It's pretty good balance if you ask me!

We discovered a new library this month and you really enjoy the play area and playing with the other kids. You are a social butterfly! No shy bones in that body of yours :).

Daddy wanted to take you to a McDonalds playplace for the first time and you liked it alright... I was happy to see that you do have a safety filter and wouldn't cross the netted tubes that your arms could fall through. Sometimes I worry that you have absolutely no fear, but you taught me that you do have some boundaries (thank goodness).

Your favorite toys are all your books. You just want us to read and read and read to you. You like to kiss the wolf in Little Red Riding hood and really enjoy lift-a-flap books. It's pretty much the only time you stay still.

You are talking more and more and are starting to mimic words that we say. Your favorite word is "ball" and you know what a ball is - whether it is a tiny golf ball or a big basketball, you say, "baaaaallll." You also are pretty consistent with mama, dada, and banana.

I was able to put your hair in a (very small) ponytail this month! Now THAT is a milestone, ha! You still don't have very much hair. It seems to be getting darker - I don't know if you really will end up a redhead!

We took a trip to California with the Fairbanks this month (including your boyfriend, Cohen). You did so great on the trip and really enjoyed the ocean... until you started eating sand and got in trouble for it. You took one big handful and I thought for sure you'd realize how gross it was and stop eating it... wrong. You kept shoveling it in any chance you got. It was in California that you really took off with your walking.

You're still taking 2 naps a day and sleeping about 12 hours at night. We love you baby girl!

Myla at 10 months

My oh my baby girl - 10 months!

Life with you is better than ever! You continually get more sweet, fun, smart, and mischievous. You scare me to death by the way you're not scared of anything... even though you're still unsteady on your feet, you like to let go of the furniture and determinedly walk as far as you can... You used to only do that if we were right there to catch you, but now I see you going for it when I'm across the room. Let's just say you're experiencing a lot more "bonks" lately.

You do enjoy pushing around your walker although you haven't figured out how to turn it. It doesn't bother you one bit when you get stuck, you just let go and walk/crawl away to something else. You still love chasing games and have started chasing us back. You've finally really warmed up to the pool and get so excited as soon as it's in sight. You don't mind being dunked underwater and really like to chew on goggles. You like to mimic what we do - especially "playing drums."

I used to be worried that you wouldn't be much of a talker, but you've certainly put that worry to rest - you babble all day long. Dad and I both think you know what "mamamaaaa" means now because you say it way more when you're around me. You also said "cookie" one morning while trying to get daddy out of bed. I'm sure you didn't know what it meant, but it was sure cute! I think your first official word is "ball." You said it quite a few times while we were playing with your ball and then again the next day when we were playing with it. Today you wouldn't say it, but I think that's just you doing what you want (or don't want!).

We took another road trip up to Show Low this month and you did great. I expected no less after your angelic performance on our 2 week road trip, but it was still a relief! You had so much fun playing with cousins while dad and I helped paint gma and gpa's house. Your great grandpa Buzz has a slip n' slide at his house and we had so much fun with that (you included!). You had some stranger danger back at the family reunion, but that seems to be all gone now. You love to be social and will smile at anyone! You even said "hey!" to an old man in the store after he said hi to you.

You are starting to snuggle more when you're tired and you sleep with a blanket and your zebra snuggle blanket. We find you in the most uncomfortable looking positions, but you're sleeping so well! Every night before dad and I go to sleep, we sneak into your room to kiss you goodnight. We always find ourselves just standing there and marveling over how peaceful and sweet you look while you're dreaming. It's hard to believe that an energetic baby girl like you can be so still.

You eat anything and everything. We joke that you're going to be a body builder because your favorite foods are all loaded with protein... chicken, eggs, and cheese. You also love love applesauce. You can down one of those squeezy applesauce tubes in practically 5 swallows (ok, I'm exaggerating a bit - but just a bit!). Your top left tooth came in this month so you are having no problems eating all that chewy food!

You were babysat by a YW in the ward for the first time while dad and I went dancing and you were an angel for her. I think your favorite person - other than us of course - is Janet. You have the biggest grin on your face whenever she's talking to you and you like to give her unsolicited kisses. I have yet to get one of those, so I'm pretty jealous. I have to request them special by saying , "kiss? kiss? kiss?" Then, only if you feel like it, you lay a very slobbery open-mouthed kiss on me.

Your favorite toys are your books. I think we could read them all day long and you'd be happy. You also like to dance when dad or I sing or when you hear music from your toys or something else. You used to really shake your booty, but now you prefer to dance with a more sophisticated sway. I hope you start doing a combination!

We love you Myla bean!

He's gone!

He left! He left and it reminds me so much of when dental school is in full swing... I fed, cleaned up, played with, bathed, read to, snuggled, and put Myla to bed all by myself. I cooked and ate dinner by myself. I folded laundry and cleaned by myself. I went to bed by myself and tucked myself in with my huge body pillow. Then, I woke up alone and started the day all over again - just me and the little jelly bean. We swam, we played, we practiced saying "ball", we read, we got bonks and feel better kisses, we went out with friends, we played some more (lots of chasing games tonight - she is so tickled by them!), we disagreed over the importance of getting jammies on for the night... and he's still not home. We miss our dude.

Good thing he'll be back tomorrow!

Myla at 9 months

Myla bean,

9 months has never gone by so fast. You have been out as long as you were in now and I can't believe how big you're getting. You learn new things every day and you are always surprising us with the cute things you do. You're clapping (or trying to - you have one hand open but you keep the other one in a fist), crawling so fast you'd think your pants were on fire, climbing to stand on everything, jabbering with "baba, gaga, dada, kaka, googoo, gaga, etc", and... dancing. It's my favorite! Not only do you dance to music with a good beat, but all I have to do is sing the first few words of "popcorn popping" and you start to move your booty. I need to get a video, pronto.

Your favorite game is "peek-a-boo" and your favorite song is the Itsy Bitsy Spider. You also are starting to understand "anticipation" and squeal and smile when we chase after you saying "I'm gonna get you!!" You can walk on your own pushing your walker around but get stuck when you hit a wall/furniture/person. You LOVE to drink water... whether it's from your sippy cup, our cup, or the bathtub (we try to prevent that one). You really like other babies but you have yet to learn how to be gentle. You are very... assertive. Meaning. you aren't afraid to explore their faces (esp eyes) and try to "climb" them.

We went on an extended road trip and were in the car for about 30 hours total over 2 weeks. Our longest stretch was 6 hours and you did great! We just bought you a bunch of new toys from the dollar store (including a dog toy - which was your favorite) and you were entertained (well, that and plenty of snacks). We went to Vegas where daddy took his first dental board exam and you and I hung out at the pool (hard life, right?). From Vegas we traveled all over including St. George, camping for a family reunion near Cedar City, Eagle Mountain, Newton to see your great grandma Petersen and some aunts and uncles, then to Riverton, back to St. George, and home again. We were all happy to be home - but especially you! You were so glad to be able to crawl around and climb things all day without being strapped in a car!

We were all impressed with how well you did camping. You took great naps, slept (decently) well at night, and only had mild stranger danger with the over 100 new faces. I loved dressing you up in some cozy winter clothes - you looked so cute in a jacket and hat... You don't get much of a chance to wear those here in AZ! I'll do a separate post with pictures about the road trip later.

We've had a little trouble with you pulling up in your crib and not being able to get back down. We thought removing the bumpers would make it so you wouldn't climb up... yeah right! You can get down now by yourself, but you don't like to :). I actually love coming into your room in the morning and having you standing there, peeking over the edge, waiting for me.

You're sleeping like a champ still - 11-12 hours at night and 2 naps during the day ranging from 1.5 to 2 hours each. I'm in heaven! You love to eat and are pretty demanding about it. You're eating about everything and are only starting to get more picky. You aren't needing prunes anymore - so that's nice! When you eat something you really like you start kicking your legs, smiling, and making excited noises. I'd say yogurt is your current favorite food... followed closely by frozen peas (ha!).

You're loving having dad home from school - now you have 2 people to play with all the time!

We love you baby girl - don't grow up too fast.

Myla at 8 months

Hey baby girl!

My oh my - 8 months old! You've become a wild one this month - getting into as many things you can. You learned how to army crawl and then yesterday you officially started crawling. Fast. Very fast. Especially if there is a cell phone or remote you want to attack. It's pretty adorable. In addition to crawling, you are also pulling to stand and standing unassisted for longer and longer amounts of time. I believe the standing record is 14 seconds. Ay carumba.

You are a night owl and love to be around people. You smile and woo everyone at church. I think our sunday school class pays much more attention to you than they do to the lesson :). You smile and squeal and giggle and babble. Your favorite? "Babababababababaaaaaaa." You think it's hilarious when we blow in your face or squish your cheeks and make you mouth "chocolate chip cookies..." We play peek-a-boo all the time and you get a huge kick out of it.

You sleep SO well now. You usually sleep from about 8:30 to 8:30 and then take 2 naps during the day ranging from 1.5 to 2 hrs each. I feel spoiled! You definitely are thriving on your schedule and usually take your naps around 11 and 4. When I lay you in your crib at night you just look up and me and I stroke your cheek and say "I love you..." until you give me a big smile. Every time. Heart melter. You've figured out how to pull your crib bumpers down and when you wake up in the morning you pull them down, peek over them, and babble until we come and get you. It's adorable.

Your two middle bottom teeth are officially in. We had some hard days this month with the teething pain, but we got through them with cuddles and ora-gel. Your smile is cuter than ever with those two little teeth!

You love to eat! Even plain yogurt... which is about the nastiest thing I've ever smelled. Your favorite food is still prunes, but puffs and cheerios are at the top of your list too.

We love you so much!

myla at 7 months

To the most adorable baby in the world,

Seven months and I love you more every single day. You are such a little person with so much personality! Your dad and I joke that you are  "high adventure" baby because you thoroughly enjoy getting swung around at top speeds, getting thrown into the air, and anything that could be considered a "ride." You love motion. You are also trying to move yourself around. Much to my dismay (and excitement) you are on the verge of crawling. You are up on your knees rocking and otherwise either planking, rolling, or trying to stand (making diaper changes very, very difficult). You can stand up with your walker toy by yourself and with a little encouragement can pull to stand. You love to "walk" while holding onto our hands or your walker...I am going to have a mobile baby on my hands before I know it and I'm not sure I'm ready for that. The apartment isn't ready for your curiosity and I'm not ready for you to be so grown up. What happened to my snuggly girl?

You are sitting absolutely by yourself now and I love it. You can play much more independently and you are pleased as punch about it. You've also figured out your jumparoo and have a great time in there. You also think that I am a jumparoo, however, and try to jump whenever you're standing on my lap. Good arm workout for me.

You have a passion for food and have liked everything offered to you. You like to sit in your bumbo, bib on, food in sight, and have your arms straight out to the sides while beckoning the food forward with your hands (hard to explain). It's basically a "give me that food!" stance. It's pretty adorable. If I'm not delivering it fast enough you start to grunt and groan. You have now tried oatmeal cereal, bananas, avocados, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, cottage cheese, cucumbers, puffs, apples, "mixed veggies (spinach/carrots/peas), and prunes. While timid with new flavors at first you have loved them all after a few introductions. I think your favorite is prunes mixed with oatmeal. You like to say "Mmmmm...Mmmmm...MMMMMM" while you eat.

Your mouth is prepping for more chunky food - you sprouted a tooth at the beginning of May and the second one isn't far behind. Bottom center left... or as your dad insists, "left central incisor of the mandable - tooth #23". You are still nursing and those teeth make me nervous, but so far no barracuda attacks! Let's keep it that way.

Thanks to your new food, your poop is... different. I won't go into it. More gross but less blow-outs.

You went on your second set of plane rides when we went to New Mexico and you did great! I was very nervous because dad wasn't there to help out, but you did just fine despite going longer than you have in your whole life without a nap (4.5 hours!). I thought for sure you would sleep on the plane but you just wanted to be social with everyone. You grinned at everyone as we walked down the aisle to our seat and then flirted shamelessly with the people sitting next to us for the hour flight.

We had a great time with grandma and grandpa Nielsen, auntie Jen, and sweet cousin Gage. He couldn't get enough of you and you loved him too! You are so much fun to play with and are starting to really get into "peek-a-boo," "pattacake," and the "tickle-monster!" You also love it when we blow in your face. You always smile after you sneeze. You have the silliest personality and you crinkle your nose when you smile real big... like when we tickle you just right.

You are officially consistently sleeping through the night! Alleluia.

We love you so much. I love being home with you and feel really lucky that I get to be around you all the time. Thanks for being SUCH a joy. xoxo

Love, mom

at the splash pad!

in New Mexico!

Gage and Myla were SO cute together!

this lady loves her baths!

Easter bunnies :)

First tooth! And... of course she is chewing on EVERYTHING she can

Enthusiastic with her sweet potatoes. I got together with a few friends this month and we made a bunch of baby food - it was a lot of fun and myla has liked it all!

Myla at 6 months

I never posted this one! Never mind she'll be 7 months in a few days...

Sweet Myla,

I can't believe you've been out of my belly for half a year! Happy half birthday. You've changed so much lately and we are loving watching you grow. You get stronger every day and would rather be standing than anything else... you can get quite feisty until we pull you up to standing. You are also sitting all on your own now! Being the little curious girl you are, however, you tend to tip over when trying to explore something that's just out of arm's reach. Falling down doesn't faze you and you're always ready to try again.

We started you on some solid food this month! You had your first taste of oatmeal cereal on March 13th and you loved it! You're still trying to figure out how to taste it and swallow it without it getting out of your mouth though. You've also tried a bit of banana and avocado and liked both of those too. You make the cutest faces when you're eating and try something new! You couldn't figure out how to get the avocado off your tongue and down your throat so you just sat there with your mouth open and tongue sticking out.

You love to explore things with your hands... especially my face... especially while you are nursing. You like to try and stick your fingers in my mouth and just stare at me while you eat. It's pretty adorable.

We go to lots of activities during the week and you are getting more and more involved. We have Baby Rhyme and Playtime at the library on Tuesdays followed by lunch and institute with daddy. On Wednesdays you have swim lessons but those are going to end now that you are turning 6 months. Then on Fridays we have Music Makers at Midwestern.

You are still not sleeping through the night, but you are getting better. You consistently take 2-3 naps during the day and sleep from about 8:30 to 3ish, then you eat, and then you sleep again for a few more hours, eat again, etc...  Your daddy and I are thinking about starting some sleep training in the near future :).

We're going to New Mexico this month to visit your grandparents, auntie, and cousin - can't wait! Hopefully you're just as well behaved on the way there as you were on the way to Oklahoma :D

We love you so much, Myla girl!

picnic fiasco...

Myla and her friend, Cohen!

fresh out of the tub!

Myla at 5 months

This month FLEW by. Practically broke the sound barrier, I think.

Myla bean,

You are so much fun! This month has been a whirlwind of watching you grow, seeing you continue to develop your sweet personality, and dealing with sickness. Yep, 2 bouts of sickness in one month... It really isn't fair! You had your first cold (along with dad and me) and you took it like a champ! Last week, however, you got the flu and it wasn't pretty. You were so tired of throwing up, having a fever, diarrhea, and a yucky cough. I finally took you to the doctor and she said we just have to wait it out and make sure you are hydrated! You liked pedialyte ok - as long as it was warm. Good thing you liked it, because from personal experience I think it's disgusting! I loved the extra cuddles. One of the nights you slept in my arms all night long because you just couldn't stay asleep in your crib or in the swing. Just in your diaper because you were warm, I got to snuggle you all night long. Despite almost no sleep for me, I wouldn't trade that night away! It took you 8 days to get over it, but now you're back to yourself :)

you can just tell she feels crappy :/ So glad she's all better now!

Anyway, enough about the sickness, let's talk about the rest of the month! You are doing great at swim lessons and the teacher says you are ready to go under water! Egads! I don't want to try it until daddy is there to watch, too. Quite exciting. You are now the oldest baby in the class and the teacher likes to use you as an example for the other babies.

You love to play with toys - especially toys that light up or make music. You've started bouncing around more in your jumparoo and it is just adorable! Daddy has been able to get you to laugh a few times, but you're still working on that social skill. Lots of smiles though!

You reach out with both of your hands when you want to touch or hold something. You love touching our faces and playing with/pulling my hair. You like it when we play with your feet and sing songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" or "Pat-a-Cake." You really like to touch our clothes. You always reach for my shirts and feel them, pull on them, and try to eat them. You also like sucking/chewing on your burp cloths and blankets.

You can almost sit up by yourself and you never want to lay on your back... you always flip over to your stomach (and then get frustrated after too long). If you had it your way, you'd always be standing. You'll even take some steps if we lean you forward. I think you might skip crawling all together and go straight to walking! You can stand while holding onto something (our hands or even the couch!). When you eat you like to help by trying to hold your bottle.

Spring break was LOTS of fun - it was so great to have daddy home for an entire week! We took you on 3 hikes in the baby bjorn and you (mostly) liked those. You also had your first trip to the zoo. You didn't really know what was going on, but you were very well behaved and enjoyed being out in the sunshine! You met one of my best friends and her cute little girl, Lizzie. We're hoping your roommates in college one day like we were :).

It has been a VERY fun month! We love you Myla girl!

Love, mom

Anyone else dying of cuteness?!