All About Alexa at 18 Months!

Another month, and another update of our growing gal! This month, we had an appointment with her doctor. But unlike past visits, she now KNOWS that a shot is coming and was NOT HAPPY. We couldn't even get her to sit on the scale! Poor baby. I had to hold her and step on a scale, then subtract my weight. It was also very hard to measure her length and head circumference! Here are the photos of our growing girl, with her height and weight updates below. She remains consistently in the 25th percentile.

Height:

Birth: 19 3/4"

1 month: 21 3/4"

2 months: 23"

4 months: 24"

6 months: 25 1/2"

9 months: 27"

12 months: 28.5"

15 months: 29.5"

18 months: 31"

Weight:

Birth: 7 lbs, 12 oz

1 month: 9 lbs, 7 oz

2 months: 11 lbs, 5 oz

3 months: 12 lbs, 3 oz

4 months: 13 lbs, 10 oz

5 months: 14 lbs, 6 oz

6 monhts: 14 lbs, 13 oz

7 months: 15 lbs, 4 oz

8 months: 16 lbs, 1 oz

9 months: 16 lbs, 12 oz

11 months: 19 lbs, 3 oz

12 months: 19 lbs, 13 oz

15 months: 21 lbs, 13 oz

18 months: 23 lbs

And now... All about Alexa at 18 Months: 

• Alexa's vocabulary continues to grow. She delighted her daycare teacher by saying her name, Chi Chi. She repeats words after us and can point to certain items in her word book. She also has begun to understand how to ask for things, like "water" or "money" (muffin). 
• And, to our delight, she says "please" and her version of "thank you."
• Related, Alexa can now tell you what nearly every animal says! Lion? Roar. Cat? Meeeu. Dog? Woof. Horse? Nay. Pig? Uck. Sheep? Baa. Cow? Boo. (Yes, boo, not moo, not sure why!)
• And, as you might imagine, she has JUST STARTED to combine words, like "Happy Bebe"!
• Alexa continues to love the color and word "purple." She can also say "yellow" and "blue" but her first answer when asked what color something is is always purple! (Northwestern Wildcat at heart?)
• Alexa gives hugs when asked and it's the Best. Thing. Ever.
• Alexa knows that her pacifiers are only for her crib. When we hold her over the crib and tell her to put them back, she drops the ones in her hands and spits the one in her mouth out. Ha!
• She has learned to use a fork and loves it! Especially when eating pasta. But don't try to spear a pasta with the fork for her. She'll bang the fork to get it off. ONLY FOOD THAT SHE SPEARS HERSELF will be eaten. So don't even try!
• Alexa continues to love books. Her favorite kinds, if anyone wants to buy her books, are ones with flaps that she can open. Like this one, this one and this one. 
• Alexa has TWO new teeth! She already had two on the bottom, in front. Now she has four! Total teeth count is now up to 12. Four on top, four on bottom and four molars. Yay!
• Finally, Alexa says both "Hi" and "Buh-bye." It's adorable! Her teachers at daycare say that on buggy walks in the neighborhood, Alexa will tell everyone they pass "Hi" and then "Buy-bye." So cute! It's not so cute, however, when we're in the middle of a conversation with a neighbor or friend and she gets bored and interrupts us with "Buy-bye" and a wave of her hand. It's like... Uh, sorry!

And on that note... Buy-bye!

All about Alexa at 15 months!

We took Alexa to the doctor for her 15-month appointment today! She was soooo good. She got several shots and was a real trooper. She also ran around the examining room, totally impressing her doctor. Plus, when I told the doctor that she could say "dog" and "ball," she immediately proved that she could and started saying "dog? dog? dog?" She also waived her hands when I said TOUCHDOWN!

All About Alexa at 15 Months:

• Weighs 21 lbs, 13 oz and measures 29.5" long
• Shrugs her shoulders when she doesn't know something or when you say "I don't know?"
• Hides objects of interest (like a silver locket) behind her back!
• Thanks too Grandpa, now knows the word MINE (pronounced "meh") and uses it too!
• She also now says "aw-duh" (all done, while shaking both hands in the air to indicate being all done with her meal)
• If you are keeping track, she is now up to 16 words! Other new words include "doll," "woof" (as in what a dog says), "ba-boll" (bottle), "ack-er" (cracker), "baa baa" (as in what a sheep says), "Pop" (used for her grandpas), and "bat" (bath)
• Understands simple commands, like "play your PIANO" or "CLAP your hands" or "do you want to go in your STROLLER?"
• Has 2 more teeth! Her top right molar is totally through and the top left molar is halfway through. Her gums on the bottom are swollen where two additional molars are about to pop... Total teeth count is 6!
• With all those teeth, it's no wonder that she now loves chomping on apples!
• Tried potato latkes for the 1st time -- and liked them, especially dipping them in applesauce!
• Also tried cakeballs for the 1st time -- and liked them too!
• Gets onto her rocking giraffe on her own and rides with her hands up in the air
• Dances! Oh yeah. Put on the music and her arms go up in the air as she stamps her little feet!
• Continues to sing, even hums sometimes. It's very cute!
• And a new thing she loves to do... Stick out her tongue!
• Helped decorate the Christmas tree for the first time -- her favorite ornament was a felt dog

Not even 20 pounds yet! Our little peanut!

Alexa was all smiles this morning playing with her toys... She especially liked her new wooden frog!

After breakfast, we took Alexa to visit the doctor for her 12 Month check-up. Turns out she's still under 20 pounds! She weighed in at 19 pounds and 13 ounces, measuring 28.5 inches long. So she's still in the 25th percentile. Our little peanut! She also got some shots. Ouch!

When we got home from the doctor's office, Alexa took a long nap and then played with Aunt Jen in the yard! She had a good time throwing her ball. Yay for throwing!

And then... Surprise! Aunt Kelly and Uncle Ben showed up! Wow! They flew in for the weekend! We all enjoyed a nice dinner together, and I finally baked the challah I made! It came out great!

Weight Check!

We took Alexa in for a weight check today... And she's not nearly as big as we thought she was! Alexa seemed to really chub up, so we were sure she had put on 5-6 pounds in the last two months. She hasn't. She's still in the 25th percentile and hasn't even topped 20 pounds yet! She weighed in at 19 lbs., 3 oz.

Here are her updated stats:

HEIGHT:

Birth: 19 3/4"

1 month: 21 3/4"

2 months: 23"

4 months: 24"

6 months: 25 1/2"

9 months: 27"

WEIGHT:

Birth: 7 lbs, 12 oz

1 month: 9 lbs, 7 oz

2 months: 11 lbs, 5 oz

3 months: 12 lbs, 3 oz

4 months: 13 lbs, 10 oz

5 months: 14 lbs, 6 oz

6 monhts: 14 lbs, 13 oz

7 months: 15 lbs, 4 oz

8 months: 16 lbs, 1 oz

9 months: 16 lbs, 12 oz

11 months: 19 lbs, 3 oz

Our talkative baby gets her 9-month check-up! (video)

Alexa was all babbles and giggles today! She was talking up a storm. Dadadadada, mmmmm, nom, nom, nom. And laughing! She was cracking herself up, as well as us!

Click HERE for a video of our cutie pie. Can she be any cuter?!

At today's appointment, Alexa was weighed and measured!

Here are her new stats!

HEIGHT

Birth: 19 3/4"

1 month: 21 3/4"

2 months: 23"

4 months: 24"

6 months: 25 1/2"

9 months:  27"

WEIGHT

Birth: 7 lbs, 12 oz

1 month: 9 lbs, 7 oz

2 months: 11 lbs, 5 oz

3 months: 12 lbs, 3 oz

4 months: 13 lbs, 10 oz

5 months: 14 lbs 6 oz

6 months: 14 lbs, 13 oz

7 months: 15 lbs, 4 oz

8 months: 16 lbs, 1 oz

9 months: 16 lbs, 12 oz

Alexa loves her Mommy and Daddy!

Look at my cute little princess! She is so cute I can't stop hugging her! I also can't decide which picture of us I like more... She's just too stinkin' cute!

In the sunroom, Alexa kept crawling over to her Da-Da. She even grabbed his hand! So cute!

As you can tell from these pictures today, Alexa is already recovered from her fever! It's been gone now for more than 48 hours and she did not take children's Tylonol all day. We still took her in to the doctor this morning to be sure and she was pronounced "on the mend." (And she weighed in at 16 lbs, 1 oz)

We decided to skip swim class so she could keep getting better and instead went for a nice walk along the Capitol Crescent Trail! We then drove out to Virginia to attend a fundraiser event for Aunt Chimmy's Walking with African's Foundation. Alexa danced to African music and charmed the crowd!

When we got home, she played in the sunroom with a new toy microphone. She's like, what on earth am I supposed to DO with this? I can't talk yet, let alone SING!

Oh, here's something I can do with it! I can eat it! Oh, yes, Alexa loves the microphone. She will be a star for sure!

Alexa gained 1/2 pound!

In the last month... Alexa has gained nearly a half-pound! She now weighs 15 pounds and 4 ounces. We went to the doctor today so Alexa could get her second H1N1 shot. Here is Alexa playing with her doll and having fun with the mirror while we waited for the doctor! Below is an updated chart of her growth. Still small, but growing!

WEIGHT

Birth: 7 lbs, 12 oz

1 month: 9 lbs, 7 oz

2 months: 11 lbs, 5 oz

3 months: 12 lbs, 3 oz

4 months: 13 lbs, 10 oz

5 months: 14 lbs, 6 oz

6 months: 14 lbs, 13 oz

7 months: 15 lbs, 4 oz

Alexa, our big "little" baby! (video)

Today was Alexa's 6-month check-up, so off to the doctor's we went! Alexa was such a good girl. She did not pee on momma when I put her (without her diaper) onto the scale! Plus, she was a trooper and barely cried when she got her shots. She even got the H1N1 shot!

She weighed in at 14 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 25 1/3 inches long. So she has grown 1 1/2 inches in the last two months and gained about a pound and a half. Both measurements place her in the 25th percentile. So she's our "little" big girl!

Click HERE and HERE to watch two new videos of Alexa crawling.

Back at home, we hosted some momma friends and their babies at our house for the afternoon. Alexa enjoyed playing with her friends and crawling around. Here she is with her new favorite book. It has crinkle pages, lots of animal tails and sounds.

She also practiced pulling (pushing?) up. Look at her go!

Then she had some computer time...

And, finally, some more rice cereal! Tomorrow we start a new food... Stay tuned to find out what Alexa is eating tomorrow!

Off to the doctor we went...

With Alexa's runny nose and congestion not getting any better, we decided it was time to pay her doctor a visit. The doctor used his stethoscope to listen to her lungs. He said they sound clear and good. Whew! That means she just has a cold, nothing more serious. But it sure made us feel better to find that out!

The doctor also checked her ears and said they were fine, no problem there either. He said that her cold could take a week or more to go away. He also said to expect that she'll get 7-10 colds EACH YEAR! Oh joy. So this is the first of many more colds to come...

While we were there, we weighed Alexa. She had her diaper and onesie on. Guess how much our little angel now weighs? She's 14 pounds and 6 ounces! Right on track to double her birth weight by 6 months...

By the way, this is what our house looks like after the most recent snowfall. Insanity!

Alexa has gained 6 pounds since birth!

Today was a big day! We headed downtown for our weekly music class at the JCC. Alexa is really enjoying this class. We learn songs like "I have three people in my family" and "I have two eyes." Then we practice at home, much to Alexa's delight!

After music class, we picked up Daddy and took Alexa to see the doctor for her 4-month check-up. Guess what? She gained 1 1/2 pounds in the last month! Altogether, Alexa has gained more than six pounds since birth! She also grew an inch in the last two months -- two inches since birth!

I was worried that Alexa was too small because she is still wearing some 0-3 month clothes and not fitting all of her 3-6 month outfits. But since she is gaining steadily and consistently ranking in the 50th percentile, the doctor said she is fine. Here are the stats:

WEIGHT

Birth: 7 lbs, 12 oz

1-month: 9 lbs, 7 oz

2-month: 11 lbs, 5 oz

3-month: 12 lbs, 3 oz

4-month: 13 lbs, 10 oz

LENGTH

Birth: 19 3/4 inches

1-month: 21 3/4 inches

2-month: 23 inches

3-month: n/a

4-month: 24 inches

When we got home, we celebrated (and cheered Alexa up after her shots) by setting up her new exersaucer! At first, she wasn't sure what to make of it. Then, she decided she likes it! Click HERE for a video of her in her new exersaucer! Thanks Mike & Chris for the exersaucer!

Happy Birthday to Alexa!

Alexa is two months old today! Or, should we say she's two months "young"? In any case, her birthday meant it was time for a few things... Starting with a bath!

She was all smiles! Alexa loves taking a bath...

Is that a shaka sign she's trying to do?

Also today, we went to the pediatrician's office for Alexa's 2-month check-up! Here's how much she's grown:

Birth weight: 7 pounds, 12 ounces

1-month: 9 pounds, 7 ounces

2-month: 11 pounds, 5 ounces

WEIGHT GAIN (in the last month): Almost 2 pounds!

Birth length: 19 3/4 inches

1-month: 21 3/4 inches

2-month: 23 inches

LENGTH GROWN (in the last month): More than 1 inch!

Alexa also got her 2-month shots. Here she is right before the shots!

After her doctor's visit, we celebrated her birthday by meeting up with six other moms in my Mom group for a walk along the Capitol Crescent Trail. It was a gorgeous day out and the walk was so nice.

I then went over to my friend's house and after a nursing session we went on another walk to the Starbucks near her house! What a great day. Tired me out! Hope it tired Alexa out too!

Alexa tops 9 1/2 pounds!

Today was Alexa's one-month pediatrician's appointment. And we learned that she has grown A LOT! I mean, she has been eating nonstop, so it's good to hear that it's been productive!

Here is how much she's grown:

Birth weight: 7 pounds, 12 ounces

Today's weight: 9 pounds, 7 ounces

WEIGHT GAIN: 1 pound, 11 ounces!!

Birth length: 19 3/4 inches

Today's length: 21 3/4 inches

LENGTH GROWN: 2 inches!!

Thankfully, even at this larger size, she is still impossibly cute! Even when, after being weighed in the buff, she peed all over Daddy and the examining table. Oh yeah... Go Alexa! Daddy still loves you. :-)

Alexa's gaining weight!

We had another pediatrician appointment this morning and got some good news: Alexa is already back up to birth weight! Usually babies get back to birth weight around 2 weeks. So, once again, our darling daughter is ahead of the curve!

Not that I am surprised... She eats like a champ. So I figured she must have gained weight since last week!

To recap:

• Her birth weight on Sept. 9 was 7 pounds, 12 ounces.
• However, at midnight on Sept. 12, she was just 6 pounds, 15 ounces.
• By her first pediatrician appointment on Sept. 14, after my milk had come in, she was up to 7 pounds, 2 ounces.
• Today, Sept. 21, she weighed in at 7 pounds, 11.5 ounces!

This all goes to show that she is growing up so fast! Soon she'll be headed off to college...

But until then, the only thing that seems to fit are these adorable onesies from Zara, a gift from Aunt Jen! How cute is she? Too cute...

And speaking of cuteness, we had our professional photo shoot today with Amber from Little Moon Photography. She got some great shots! Can't wait to see them!

Alexa's first pediatrician appointment

Good news! Alexa is gaining weight! While she was born weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces, Alexa lost some weight in the hospital. This is common with babies, but the doctors don't like babies to lose more than 10 percent of their birth weight. Alexa had dropped to 6 pounds, 15 ounces at discharge, which was right at 10 percent.

However, on Monday at our pediatrician's office, she was up to 7 pounds, 2 ounces!

My milk came in on Sunday and she has been drinking her fill, which probably accounts for her sudden upswing in weight. Yay for Alexa's hearty appetite!

Also at our pediatrician's office, we ran into friends Mary Clare and George -- and their new baby Catherine Mary Elaine! Catherine was born on Aug. 29, delivered at the same hospital and by the same doctor who delivered Alexa!

Here is a photo of the two babies. Looking forward to play dates with Alexa's new friend Catherine!