Big girl!

Who needs to cook when you can use it to get on your knees!! Iris is pulling herself up on everything now!!!

This girl is on the move!!!

My first thanksgiving meal!

I had to work thanksgiving so I decided to make our first thanksgiving meal today!!! We bought a turkey breast bc a whole turkey is just too much food for 2 people =). I made green bean casserole, stuffing, rolls and sweet potato casserole! It was all very yummy!!! Iris had her favorite butternut squash and I gave her some tastes of my sweet potato casserole! She loved it!!!

It all turned out so well and oh so yummy!!! I'm pretty proud of myself!

It's Christmas Time!!!

Doug and I decorated the house today and it was so much fun!  We had Christmas music playing the past few days and today we decided to pull out all the totes out of the attic!  Iris went down for a nap so we decorated the tree!  Once she woke up, we had all the lights off and only the tree on.  She was mesmerized by the lights and seemed to really enjoy it =)

Lynx seemed to like it all as well!

Iris testing out her Christmas present

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h70hqyuC3hA

We technically haven't given it to her yet =)

Iris on her new toy box!

Doug's dad made Iris a toy box for her birth.  He makes something special for every child and when she was growing in my belly, I thought a toy box would be something perfect for her.  So, I sent Doug's dad my idea of what I wanted it to look like and here is the final product!!!  I wanted it to be big enough for her to sit on it as well!!!

I think it's perfect =)

She loves it!!!

Black Friday buddies

We decided to venture out today to partake in some of the deals!! We found a few good deals and were able to get iris some clothes and some cute toys!!!

We also found time to relax and enjoy a little latte together at Starbucks!

Iris loves being up high!

Snuggle time with momma!

Teaching iris to crawl

I have been working on getting her up on her knees! I will regret this as I'm chasing her all over the house haha

Besties seeing breaking dawn

These two girls have been BFFs since 2nd grade!!!! They have been through it all together! No matter the distance between them or the weeks they go without chatting, as soon as they talk, they pick up right where they left off!!! It's like they were meant to be together! Born besties!!!

With breaking dawn coming out, we decided to go see it opening night and it was so much fun!!! Just like the good ole days!!! We giggled and gossiped and had the best time!!!

Love ya bestie!

Can't wait to see breaking dawn part 2 with you =)

Thanksgiving Festivities

Since Thanksgiving is my holiday to work, my in-laws decided to stick with their annual tradition of appetizers and game night the night before thanksgiving.  We decided to head home so we could visit and Doug and Iris went back on Thanksgiving for the actual feast!

It was so much fun!  Iris was cute as ever!!!  Here are pictures from the day =)

Iris hanging out with lucy

I'm going to get ya!

Iris with aunt betty

Aunt Betty, Iris, and Grayson

Playing with Addy

Playing with grandpa!

Grayson giving us a thumbs up approval!!

Us =)

We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Another cute hat for Iris

This one came from my friend Jess!  She ordered this from Etsy before Iris was even born!  She came over on Tuesday for her baby fix and to have pumpkin spice lattes with me!  It was great to see her and catch up!

Seriously...could she get and more adorable?!?

Love those cheeks!!

Iris pulling herself up on her bumper

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apAuH2zMCNQ
She is such a silly girl!

uh oh...

This past weekend, we decided to put Iris's bumper back in her crib since she can roll around on her own and because she keeps getting her legs stuck and woke up with a red mark and dent in her head from falling asleep next to the railing.  

Needless to say, she thought this was super fun and tried to pull herself up when she was sitting up!!!

Luckily, she can only sit up when we put her in the position so we are safe for a bit long but she really enjoys pulling herself up and looking over the railing at us.  We had a good 30 minute laughing session!  Such a funny girl!!!

Iris saying dadda

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPkwYiqgLpM&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Iris's first word!

Because every baby needs a bunny hat!

Baby Food

I was intrigued by people making their own baby food so when I was pregnant, Doug and I decided that we would try to make Iris's baby food when it came time.  My SIL always made Addy's and Grayson's baby food so I had a good resource person.  So, once Iris turned 5 months, we started shopping at whole foods and the organic isle at krogers to get our hands on what we could find to make her food.  I was shocked at how inexpensive it was compared to jar baby food and I love how I know exactly what is in her food!  No artificial colors or flavors here.  Nothing but nutritious goodness!!!  Plus, a little food goes a LONG WAY!!!    I feels good to be saving money plus giving Iris nothing but the best!!!

This was our weekend project haha

Here it is 

(minus the peas and spinach...ran out of steam for those)

There is also some frozen sweet potatoes, carrots, and butternut squash from before

No complaints on that face!!!

Iris says hello!

This is the face of a 7 month old!

Bed head and all =)

Happy 7 months Iris!

Happy 7 Months Iris!

You are growing so fast!!!  7 months already!  Seems like yesterday we brought you home from the hospital.  But seeing all those newborns at work, remind me of how small you were and how much you are doing each and every day!!!

Clothes:  You are going through clothes so much faster now!  We have taken all your 3 month and 3-6 month clothes out of your closet because they are getting snug and we need to make room for your 9 month items.  We have you in mostly 6 months and have started you in your 9 month clothes =)  Some things are a bit bigger but you will grow in them soon!

You are also in all one-size bum genius diapers now.  Your size smalls were getting snug and were leaking too much so we switched you over and love them!  We also bought you size 3 disposable to keep as emergencies!  Size 3....craziness!!! =)

Food:  You are eating so much better now and we have also started you drinking out of a sippy cup.  You want to chew on spout more than drink out of it but we're getting there =)

You also have started eating Happy Melts yogurt snacks and love them!  You can't pick them up by yourself just yet b/c they stick to your hands but you love having us put them in your mouth!  You are also beginning to eat so much.  You get cereal with fruit in the morning, veggie and fruit at lunch and dinnertime.

You love mostly fruits but your favorites are butternut squash, sweet potatoes, apples and pears.  You dislike potatoes and peas.  We have tried multiple times but you gag on them each time.  Gives us a little scare so we might hold off trying them until a little later.  You are also liking carrots a bit more.  We tried zucchini also and seemed to be okay with it!

You are still nursing about every 3 hrs and we're still going strong with breastfeeding!!!  You are taking 4.5 oz of pumped breast milk when I am at work.  We had a little trouble keeping up with the demand when I was in training with my new job b/c I was working M-F so it was hard to make all the bottles but we made it work and I had to use up most of the extra breast milk I had stored in the freezer.  But with all the extra pumping, I think my milk supply actually picked up a little!  I am determined not to give you formula.  Breast milk is the best for you so I want to continue to give you all those extra antibodies!!!  You still get up at least 2 times in the middle of the night to nurse also.  I love our bonding time when I nurse you! It's wonderful to give you something special!

Sleep:  You still go to bed every night around 8pm and have been getting up around 1am and then again anytime between 4 and 5 am.  You will sleep a little more and usually want to be up for good around 7am.  You nap between 9 & 10 am and then again around 2pm.

Activities:  You are really beginning to move!!!!  You wiggle around when you are on the floor and are getting ready to crawl!!!  While sitting you can flip yourself to get on your belly and also rock and try to reach forward to flip on your belly as well!

You were sitting up but flipped yourself over!

Momma trying to get you up on your knees!

You also love pulling yourself up in your crib!  We recently put your bumper back in your crib since you are hurting your head as you wiggle all over.  So now, you use it to pull yourself up on your knees in your crib.  We are safe for a bit longer since you cannot pull yourself to a sitting position from laying down but it will be soon!!!

Silly girl!!!  You are pretty pleased with yourself when you do this!!!

Likes:  You love to give hugs and you give the best ones ever!!!!  It's so cute when we wake up from our nap and you reach over and wrap both hands around my neck!!!  So sweet!!!  You also love to pull my hair and get the funniest grin on your face when you do it!

You also love to go for a walk in your stroller!!!

This was when you and dadda were taking advantage of the warm weather while momma was at work

You also love looking out the front door and feeling the cold glass.  You enjoy watching Wesley and Lynx play!!!  You still jump like a crazy girl in your jumperoo!!!  It's so fun watching you.  We have raised you to level 2 for that so we have a bit more time before you are too big for it!!

Dislikes:  Peas and potatoes!!!  You also do not like it when we take something away from you!  You will just cry and it breaks my heart.  I think we might have trouble saying "no" to you =)

Words:  You say dadda all day long and I think you have said "momma" a few times but not continuously like you do dadda!

Personality:  You are nuts!!!  You are so full of energy and life and we have the best time with you!  I think we laugh the entire time you are awake.  You have really began to jabber and squeal. You whisper a bit also and then can be so loud and scream!  You are a big flirt when we are out and about.  You love when strangers talk to you and you always give them the biggest smile!!!

You really are a good baby!  Not that there is a "bad" baby but you are pretty content most of the time and seem to do well with being in the car during our travels home and all our errands!  You like to sit on the floor and play and wiggle all over your blanket!

Iris, we are so blessed with you!  I thank my lucky stars daily for you!  You make your daddy and I so happy!!!  We love spending every waking moment with you and are so anxious to see what new things you pick up daily!  It's been so fun to see you learn and grow into the sweetest baby girl!!!

We love you!!!