Solids Update

Isabelle is going on her 3rd week of solids.  Luckily she doesn't look like this as much anymore..... 

 ....Isabelle and her first bites of food from Nana.  She reeeeaaaally was not a fan and made sure we knew it. 

 

These days she is typically a happier eater and has made her preferences known:

Rice cereal all by itself....no go.  She needs it to be mixed in with the food.

Cold food...not so much.  7 seconds in the microwave is the magic number.

Green beans....major yuck.  Like choke it down or cry a lot yuck.

Prunes....bring 'em on!!! 

Isabelle is also a tester....she wants a little on her lips so she can taste it before she starts to attempt opening her mouth.  She is still at the point where she forgets how to open her mouth to actually get the food.  But she is starting to get the hang of it.  

She handles at a pretty thick consistency, which I think is pretty impressive.

So far she has eaten banana, sweet potato, green beans and prunes.

Fall Activities

We have been doing some fall activities and I have a couple more planned.

We went on a walk and picked out colorful leaves

Then we glued them to make a leaf collage.  Amelia had lots of fun picking out what leaves were going to be used.

Isabelle was an onlooker and provided moral support.

The finished product!  Amelia was so proud and made sure we hung it in a place she could see it.

 

The next activity was decorating a pumpkin.

 The kit was a potato head concept which is really great, since Amelia can re-do her pumpkin over and over.

 Once the holes were punched - Amelia went at it.  It seemed only the hat was consistently placed :)

 Amelia - proud of her work! (Note the blocks on the head - very intentionally placed)

I'm planning on carving up the other pumpkin and making the pumpkin seeds - I think it will be good for her to get the goo all over.
We also did a melting crayons between wax paper, but that activity didn't go over as well as the others.  I think Amelia is a little young yet - though she loves to look at it hanging in the window!

'Go Hawkeye, Go Hawkeye'

We made it down to the Iowa Hawkeye homecoming parade for the third year!

 Homecoming was early this year so the weather was really nice, which was great with the girls.  We got there early and set up our little camp.

Paige holding Isabelle

 Eating grapes! 

 Amelia couldn't get enough, handful after handful

 Amelia, Alaina and Isabelle in the background

 Auntie and Isabelle!

 The parade about to start as the girls watch on

 Mommy and cool Aunt Mel

 Unkie Mark with Isabelle 

 Alaina holding Isabelle.  It was nice Isabelle could sit up better, that way they could look at each other

 Auntie Mel with Amelia while she ate cookies

 Paige and Isabelle.

The weekend was quite warm, so we were able to spend time outside.  It kind of felt like the last summer blast before it turned cold.

 Daddy and Amelia

 Piggy back ride!

 Alaina at the park

 Amelia has been sort of anti-slides this year.  This was a really short one and she decided to give it a try and liked it!  When I was watching her she would go down the slide, get to the bottom, stand up, put her arms in the air and say 'tadaa'.  Then run and do it all over again.

 Alaina on the monkey bars

 Amelia, Daddy and Paige way up high

 Amelia was timid going over the bridge, but still was working on going over the bridge

 Alaina walking Joey, she had so much fun taking her around

 Everyone swinging

 Auntie Mel hanging out with Isabelle

 Auntie got some super cute pictures of Isabelle!

What a pose! 

 After supper we had a bonfire.  Amelia was able to have her first toasted marshmallows - which of course were a hit!

 It was such a good night for a bonfire

 The girls watching Psalty

 Unkie Mark and Isabelle

Alaina and Isabelle.  I completely see Alaina in Isabelle.  These two girls could definitely be sisters.  Auntie took a picture where they look even more similar than this picture.  We looked back at some of Alaina's pictures and the resemblance was definitely there!

We had such a great, relaxing weekend!

Isabelle is 6 Months Old!

This past Sunday, Isabelle turned 6 months old!  In the last week or so she has really picked up on a couple developmental items.  She is getting really good at racking objects with both hands, picking them up and putting them in her mouth.   When she sweeps those objects in the opposite direction or drops them, she now looks for the object.   Isabelle is really starting to sit up by herself better.  And for the past 4 out of 5 days Isabelle has been sleeping from approximately 10:30/11 pm to 7/7:30 am!!!!  YAY!!!

Isabelle took a try at solid foods for the first time (pictures to be posted later)!  It didn't really go so well the first time.......she ended up crying most of the experience.  Though on the positive, she didn't choke and Nana got to feed her!  I gave it a try again yesterday with a couple tweaks and she did much better!  So far it has been just rice cereal so once we add a little flavor like avocado or bananas or prunes - then we can declare a party in her mouth.

I have a sneaky suspicion this month will be a big development month for her.

Happy 6 months sweet girl!

Here We Come Great Grandma and Grandpa!

Last week we stopped by Great Grandma and Grandpa Bower's house and they were able to meet Isabelle for the first time!  It was so wonderful to see them again and spend a little time together. 

 Great Grandpa Bowers and Isabelle

 Amelia LOVED a stuffed dog that great grandma and grandpa had!

 Amelia helping the dog hop

 Amelia sitting in the chair with the dog.  Amelia also had the dog sitting in a chair looking out the sliding door for a while.

 Great Grandpa getting some smiles from Isabelle

Isabelle and Great Grandma

Great Grandma brought up some old toys (that mommy used to play with!) and she had so much fun pulling this little turtle around!

Great Grandpa re-finished this adorable little chair for Amelia!  We said we were going to go eat some lunch, so Amelia brought the little chair to the kitchen to "eat, eat" and "help".

Isabelle was soo tired after lunch so Great Grandma rocked her right to sleep

Amelia, Mommy, Great Grandma, and Isabelle

Great Grandpa, Mommy and Amelia

Amelia is very interested in glasses -- so she hijacked great grandpa's for a trade....

.....a trade for her own.  And she even went so far as to help put them on.

Such good work.

The trade was only temporary....the glasses are back on Amelia....upside down :)

Great Grandpa lovin' Miss Amelia

Amelia has found a new way to carry her baby around, just a quick tuck into the shirt and .....

....off she goes. 

Great Grandma helping put Amelia's shoes on so she can go outside

Group picture!  Note: Dog in the photo....Amelia insisted!

Another group picture with Mommy included.