Jordan is 12 Months Old!

Such an amazing, busy, awesome, bittersweet month with our baby girl. Or should I say, big girl? Jordan took walking to a whole new level this month - running all over Charleston as we tried to soak up every last bit of our time there. She developed a whole new love of beaches - especially a fun time with friends at Carolina Beach. Jordan was excited to have her Burgess/Bonus family visit just in time to have an early birthday party. The Heffners also visited from St. Louis - which was such a great time for all of us.

Doug coined a new phrase that we are loving for her this month. She is always so busy - picking up a blocks, moving things around, playing so well by herself or others. Doug started calling it her "baby work". And it's such a perfect way to describe it. The way she tackles each task, does make it seem like she is doing a job.

Walking/Running
Do you remember the scene in Forest Gump where he says, "Now you wouldn't believe me if I told you, but I could run like the wind blows. From that day on, if I was ever going somewhere,I was running!" That is a great quote for Jordan this month. She wants to walk (run) everywhere. We struggle to keep up with her baby energy.

Stacking Blocks
Jordan has always loved to play blocks - usually knocking down any structures Doug or I would build. But this month, on her own - she started stacking blocks. It was so fun to see her doing it all by herself.

2 - It's the Magic Number
This month carrying things around the house became a big pastime. But it is always two things. And if possible, it's two matching things. In fact, one day, Jordan went into my messy closet and found a flip flop. She then went back in and found the match to the pair and walked around with them for an hour or so. So funny.

Words
Da (Dog), Ge (Doggie/Willie), Mama, & Dada are her words this month. Although she isn't saying a ton of words, I am absolutely amazed at how much she understands what we are saying. She really comprehends so much of what is going on. She throws away her own diapers and with very few gestures really follows commands very well.

Opposites
Someone gave Jordan an opposite book and she really loves it. This month - she was very into opposites. Up/Down, Asleep/Awake. It was so much fun to see her throwing her arms in the air for up or laying her head down to be "asleep".

Books
Although we have always read books, Jordan became very, very interested in holding and opening them this month. In fact, changing her diaper is so much easier now. When you lay her down, she points to her shelf with books and I give her one. She lays back while her diaper is changed, quietly turning the pages. It's too funny.
Teeth
Jordan's bottom two teeth got really big this month - prompting us to teach her how to "show us your teeth" as explained in this photo. She also cut her top two teeth - which are looking big, a little spaced out and completely adorable.

Other fun photos from this month:

Fun with Grandma & Grandpa at Middleton Place Plantation

Loving her new tent from James, Kim & Will

Dinner with the Moses & Heffner Families

Jordan was playing Hide and Seek...

Boxes, boxes. We are never moving again!

Beach babe on Memorial Day

On her birthday on the steps. My big girl.

Playtime with Chloe, Will & Parker

Sandcastle fun at Carolina Beach

5 Years

I can't believe that Doug and I celebrated our five year anniversary. To celebrate, we went out on a date night to dinner in Charleston then took Jordan and spent the weekend in Savannah. We really enjoyed getting away and exploring such a fun city. We were blessed with great weather and a happy baby - perfect weekend. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the trip.

Fountain at Forsyth Park - one of the many parks we explored

Riverfront at night

Relaxing near one of the fountains

Jordan's standing was just getting really good at this point (April 9 and she had taken a few steps)

With dad

So much has happened in the past five years! I look back on the day of our wedding and I can honestly say that I would not have done one thing differently. It was a wonderful day, surrounded by our friends and family - and a great way to begin our lives together.

Two weeks before our wedding we found out that Doug matched for residency at Duke - so we were moving to North Carolina. A few weeks later we flew to North Carolina to purchase our first home. And now - five years later - we look to make some more big changes in our lives. But although I sometimes get nervous about the future - I know one thing is unequivocally true. I chose the absolute, perfect partner for this amazing journey.

Jordan is 8 Months

Valentines Day, Missouri trip, meeting Uncle Aaron & lots of new stuff for Jordan this month. Our little baby keeps proving that sometimes the best things can be found in little packages. Small but mighty - she continues to amaze us with her inquisitive mind and happy personality.

Our little girl had lots of opportunities to work on her socialization this month - we joined the gym at MUSC and Jordan spends time in the nursery while mom goes to yoga class two days a week. It's been a nice break for me and Jordan has done great in the nursery. The first time I came back to pick her up, she looked at me with a bored look and went right back to playing.

I also did a part-time, short-term, nanny job this month to help out a friend. Jordan spent a few weeks with two fantastic kids and I think it really helped her be more social and get into an even better nap schedule.Jordan & Jake

Here is what is going on with our 8 month old sweetness.

Getting Down- Early in the month, Jordan started getting so much better at getting down from standing. She began to understand that she needed to slowly lower herself (opposed to falling flat on her back) This is a great video to showcase this skill and the next...

Cruising - Jordan started cruising along the fireplace when we were at Grandma Ceil's house at the beginning of this month. She is getting better (and faster) everyday - turning corners and even moving from one piece of furniture to the next. She can also pull up on flat surfaces like walls or moving objects like doors.
Tongue Curl - Our new favorite trick - flipping our tongue over. It is sometimes accompanied by a squeal.

Climbing - Doug's mom told me that Doug was a climber and it seems Jordan inherited his proclivity for climbing. Jordan loves to play on our end tables, which have a shelf about 5 inches up. She has also started climbing into her toy basket - yikes!

Eating - Jordan starting feeding herself this month - starting with large rice cakes (Mum Mums) and working her way to Puffs. She is getting better and picking up the small puffs and somehow shoving them into her mouth.

Mom and Dad? (Talking!!)- Last few months with Jordan have been on the quiet side. Usually when she is doing lots of development - she doesn't "talk" as much. This month, we started to hear lots more sounds. She loves when you mimic what she is saying - thanks to Uncle Aaron. We hear a lot of m sounds (mum, mama) especially when she is upset. I have also heard her say more of dada - when she is happy and sort of singing. Not sure I would classify them as words quite yet, but she is getting close.

Waving- This month we have started to work on our waving. Usually saying goodbye to Daddy when he goes to work or Grandparents on the webcam. Some days are better than others - but it's so cute when she gets it! No good picture yet - but here she is holding hands with Willie. Which is just adorable. Other fun stuff this month:

We had a fun play date with Jordan's two cousins - with the little ones wearing their team's outfit. It was so much fun to see them all together and dressed up.

Sleeping - Jordan is currently sleeping 12 hours per night - sometimes getting up once to eat, but go right back to sleep. Towards the end of this month, she was sleeping straight through with no wake ups.

She loves to play Pat-A- Cake - especially with Dad. Her love of music should help out when she starts Kindermusik class next month.

Jordan took her second plane trip this month - back to Missouri with Mom and Dad. She was such a big girl. Even trying to read the safety card.

Jordan got to see her first big snowfall in Missouri this month - and a chance to wear her snowsuit :)
She is such a happy baby and such a blessing to our family. So much fun! See you next month!

Jordan is 7 Months

Between Christmas, New Year's, Doug's parents visit & a trip to Missouri - it's been a very eventful month for our little family. Baby Jordan's increased mobility continues to keep us on our toes as she amazes us with her curiosity. One important thing that happened this month, Jordan is learning to be much more independent. Being mobile has helped her to be comfortable playing on the floor and not needing to be held nearly as much. Her personality continues to be amazingly happy and sweet - she loves hugs and kisses. Here is what our big 7 month old was up to this month.

Crawling - (FAST!)
This past month was a busy one for mom & dad - chasing after our little mobile baby. Jordan's crawling went to super speed this month. She can also travel large distances - which seems amazing when I see her cross a whole room. This is Jordan crawling at 6 months, 1 week. You should see her move now - I need to get a new video.

Pulling Up
Right before the New Year, Jordan decided that she wanted to experience things on another level. She started trying to pull up - usually on her basket of toys or music table. Things progressed to couches, tables and even Willie. About a week later, Doug went in to get Jordan after her nap and found her standing in the crib - grinning at him. Pulling up was a bit traumatic at times, since she wasn't totally steady on her feet & couldn't really figure out how to get down afterwards. A few bumps, bruises and one black eye better - she is getting better every single day.
Here she is with Grandpa - playing peekaboo while pulling up. Momma's little multi-tasker.

Pulling up at 6 months, 1 week

Pulling up at 6 months, 2 weeks

"Walking" with Mom or Dad
So funny to see Jordan move her feet one in front of the other while holding onto Mom or Dad's hands. She starting doing it right around the time she was pulling up - so right around 6 1/2 months. Here is our sweet girl, after "walking" on the beach with Dad.
Sitting From Crawling
Last month, Jordan started crawling and mastered sitting, but could not transition from crawling back to sitting. She has learned to do that this month - she is getting so strong and deliberate in how she maneuvers her body. Here she is sitting in our bed - very interested in the humidifier steam.

Eating
Jordan started eating at the beginning of the month, and it was slow going at first. She still thrusts her tongue when she eats anything - so it can be a bit frustrating. She really got much better around the new year when Doug's parents were visiting. Whether it was their experience or patience, it definitely did the trick and eating has gone so much better since. Jordan is a pro at her rice cereal and loves the food I have been making - a new favorite is sweet potato.


Reaching for Mom & Dad
I remember the first smiles and laughs that melted our hearts. Recently when Jordan started reaching for us - well that almost topped those moments. It started with Mom and then Jordan started reaching for Dad, too. We are totally smitten.


Toy Basket
Jordan loves to pull up on her toy basket. Once she is at a good level, she proceeds to pull out every single toy. So much fun! Now if we could just teach her it's fun to put them away???


Dancing
Right at the end of month Jordan starting bopping her head to music. It's super cute when she "dances" - usually one of us has to start first, but then she joins right in.

Pincer
It's so fun to continue to see Jordan's coordination develop. She is really getting good at using two fingers to grab at things. She is able to find the tiniest thread or fuzz on the floor - it's amazing (and keeps me on my toes vacuuming).



Curious & Independent Jordan
Everyone says a baby's mind is like a sponge - and it really seems to be true lately. She concentrates on people and things and is so curious while exploring the house. We do our best to provide a commentary.

Goodbye Pacifier, Hello Thumb?
Jordan was never much of a pacifier girl, although, she would use them when going to sleep. All of a sudden this month, Jordan started throwing her pacifiers out of her crib - I think it had a lot more to do with her being able to pull up in her crib. Now, every now and then - Jordan will stick her thumb in her mouth when she is tired or needing to be soothed.


See you soon - Mommy was really late getting this month posted :)

Florida Fun

Doug had a conference in Boca Raton, Florida at the first of December and Lil' J and I tagged along for some sunshine. We were happy with our first long road trip - driving through the night so Jordan would sleep. Doug did great staying awake and Jordan did great sleeping. We enjoyed the sunshine, resort and our time away. The ocean was too cold for swimming but we had fun at the pools, beach and just walking around the beautiful resort. Not to mention Jordan started crawling while we were there - but more on that later.

We lucked out and avoided the cold snap that hit right after we left. We made a stop in St. Augustine, FL - for Jordan to stretch out and roll around since we didn't drive through the night on the way home. Now I can say I've been to all three walled cities in North America - Quebec City, Charleston & St. Augustine. Huge dork, I know.

Doug & Jordan chilling at St. Augestine

Family shot on our trip home - the fort

Beach baby. She loves sand but not the cold ocean.

Perfect photo of my babies. Jordan cracking up and Willie looking like "What is so funny?"

Chilling poolside with the cutest baby on the block

Sunrise over the orange groves in Florida. Possibly the most beautiful sunrise I have ever seen.

Durham Trip - Meeting Ella

Beautiful day at the Life & Science Museum

You are so tiny! Lil' J looking big next to baby Ella.

So cute!!

We made a quick trip up to Durham before the holidays to visit with friends and meet Ella - who was born after we moved away. So much fun to see everyone and get the kiddos together. Fun Saturday at the museum & lunch with the Slubickis - followed by a great brunch on Sunday. As usual, the time went way too fast and we didn't get to do half of what we would have hoped. Learning to plan a schedule on baby time is interesting... Can't wait to visit again soon!

KC Fun

The second half of our trip was in Kansas City. We took it a bit easy - we were all worn out. My mom babysat one night so Doug & I could go out to dinner, and we made ourselves at home in her new house. On Friday night, family came over to meet Jordan and say hello. It was so great to see everyone and the highlight was getting all of the cousins together. You might remember this post, where three of us cousins were due to have babies within a few weeks of each other. So fun to get the kiddos together! On Saturday, we had a great day at the Mizzou tailgate and game with my girlfriends and their families. Very successful trip back home - can't wait till the next time.

Jordan's first Missouri game. She loves the Tigers -but could do without the cannon.

With all the girls and kiddos - what a fantastic day!

With Grandma Ceil Four Generations Cousins with baby cousins. They are going to be best friends :) Meeting J for the first time. My sweetums on the plane ride home. People couldn't believe how good she was on the flight!