TWENTY THREE MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

My little tan Mexicana!  Look at those legs!  That tutu! That smile! 

I can't believe you will be TWO next month.  Althoughhhhhhhh you are a big girl now and talking our ears off.  Repeating anything and every thing.  Running with your hermanos. And hitting just like them too. (stop that- you don't have to copy EVERYTHING!)

Just recently you are interested in some TV.  Daniel the Tiger is the only show that you watch from start to finish, but you get a little interested in Peppa Pig and Curious George. 

You are a bookworm.  Reading books to yourself daily, but love trying to convince us to read "mas mas mas" at bedtime.  Current faves:  Mommy and I,  From Head to Toe  and a counting flip book. 

Speaking of counting, you are one smart cookie!  "two, three, four" is your favorite sequence! 

You have gone pee pee in the potty a couple times, but our praise has not convinced you that this is should be a regular thing yet.

TWENTY TWO MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

My southern beauty! 

TWENTY ONE MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

Oh my baby girl ..eres tan BONITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!

Your hair is getting so long.  Up, down or straight out of bed, I am loving your blondie locks!  It is fine and seems to tangle easily in the back, just like mama's.  I'm sorry.  Luckily, your skin soaks in the Summer like a true mexi-CAN-a, like your papi.  (#bronzedbeauty)

You are so outgoing.  That smile, your laugh.  Im so in love. You make friends with everyone.  Kissing on command and out of the blue too.

You are napping like a champ and still breastfeeding a few times a day.  I really don't think you neeeeed it anymore, but by golly you love that leche, and I have to admit I still enjoy our quiet time together....so why not?  In my head, there is a hard cut off of chi-chi at two years old, but I never like to set things in stone.

You are talking up a storm.  Your vocabulary amazes me!  Talking in sentences even.
I want to eat you up you are so cute...and I do everyday, those cheeks are sooooooo kissable.
Te quiero mucho mi bonita, chiquita, muñeca, mamacita.
tu mami 

TWENTY MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

HOW HOOOOOOOW are you twenty months?  That is almost TWO years old and I havent't even posted your birth story.  Ay yayay.

Oh my sweet baby girl. You are a girl who knows what she wants, that's for sure! 

You have BLOWN UP in the talking department.  Look at all those words you say...and I'm already remembering some that I missed:  Juice, yes (pronounced sheesh), bus, big, mailman, tu (you), Elmo, play, push, help.....

You call BOTH of your brothers "MANA."  At first we were stumped as to why, but finally we figured it out.  Every night when you go to sleep we tell Mateo y Marcelo "ok, dale un beso a tu hermana"   So now....tus HERMANOS son MANAS!  haha

You also have been calling a lot of people that play with you "mom" Guys and girls???  A term of endearment I suppose. 

Hands down, our favorite thing to do is listen and DANCE to music.  You know how to open Spotify on my phone and flip through the songs.  You leave each song on just enough to do a little dance move then you swipe to the next.  When you get to Master of Puppets, you break out your air guitar.    

Wheels on the bus is a favorite as well, I still need to capture you doing the motions on video.

So. Cute.

So. Beautiful.

So. Loving.

So. Smart.

So. Sweet.

So. TOUGH!!!  (this is what having two brothers will do!)

NINETEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

When you turned 18 months, I thought, "she is not saying much" but It is crazy mami, in the last couple weeks you have started spitting out words!  ( I will compile for next month!)

You  say  "OH" for "No" and firmly let us no you don't approve by shaking your finger back and forth.

You love to jump and you are climbing on everything.  There is no doubt in my mind that you will be just as daring as your hermanos.

You are a good sleeper,  but you've been cutting some HUGE molars and it has woken you up at night.  You don't want anything but one minute of comfort chi-chi and you are back to sleep.

Oh yes.  You still love/want chi-chi and I don't see any signs of that waning. Your mami actually doesn't mind at all, but I do see a struggle in the near future.  I have a "loose" goal to wean you this next month [before we head out to San Diego]  but sometimes I think....Why do today what you can do tomorrow?  I don't like setting myself up for failure, so I will set our ABSOLUTE cut off at 2 years. LOL

You have the sweetest personality and the cutest pucker queuing everyone its time to kiss.
Te quiero mucho.
mami

EIGHTEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

SEVENTEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

SIXTEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

Oh my beautiful baby girl! This picture cracks me up.  You are a character for sure.  Learning new things all the time.  Making us laugh daily....And boy, you are on the move!  I wanted to get a sweet smiling picture, but you would not stay in that darn chair long enough for me to get it.  Silly face it is.  Sweet silly smiling face. I don't think I could even count how many times a day I kiss those cheeks. 

*  You are ALMOST not a baby anymore!!!  But yet you will always be my baby!

*  Your hair is growing at record speed and we are loving the "mexi-mullet" that you are sporting. (same as your brothers did-and your papi for that matter)

*  4 teeth on top and 4 on the bottom

* You are NOT talking up a storm, but your communications skills are highly effective.  Pointing and saying "da" (translation: that) gets you pretty much everything you want.  You do ask for "agua" by name.

*  You are slowly easing away from the hand signal for "mas" and just yelling in rapid fire succession "MA[S], MA[S], MA[S]"  until we comply with your wishes.

*  You are an eating machine and pack away meat, chicken, beans, cheese sticks, fruits and veges by the tray full.  Current faves include:  blueberries. avocados, frozen peas, apples, cucumbers, beans, cheese, cheese and more cheese.  Also I would be remiss if I didn't mention that you love dipping chips in salsa [with a little kick].  Yes so cliche for a mexicana, but ....

* Most favorite thing by far though is still breast milk. "chichi" is the first word out of your mouth every morning... and I am happy to give it to you baby girl.  I'm *thinking* about weaning to just morning an night but darn it, if you are not persistent, then I don't know who is. ha!

*  You are absolutely and undeniably IN LOVE with your papi.  When I say papi is coming home, you run to the window to see if his truck has pulled in the carport and then wait for him at the top of the entry stairs.

*  Your dancing skills are on point.  I mean seriously.  Rhythm and everything.  You have got Gangnam Style (your favorite song) down and request it by breaking out in the famous arm motion that made this song famous.  You bring me my phone and if you don't break out in Gangnam moves, I have to guess what song you want.  You emphatically nod your head when I guess the right one.  Usually Can't Stop the Feeling (Justin Timberlake) or Don't Wanna Know (Maroon 5)

* The book reading could go on forever.  My little book worm.  Pajama Time has been your FAVORITE since day one.  Other favorites, Spider Tea Party, Jamberry, Opuestos, Night Night Pookie

*  You want to kiss everyone before leaving for mimis (another Mexicana tradition - your abuelos are going to be very impressed!)

* You love to try and keep up with your hermanos when they are running around, and even though you are frequently plowed down, you are a tough cookie and join back in.

* Besides your tried and true entertainment of mixing bowls and whisks, taking apart mami's Russian nesting dolls, licking the lime and salt from papi's empty beer cans [that you dig out of the recycling -yuck!], your latest hobby is climbing stools (or pushing your chair close) so you can flick the lights on and off. Off and on.  On.  And.  Off already! 

FIFTEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

FOURTEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

You are sooooooo beautiful mamacita! 

You are making mami and papi laugh everyday with your fun personality.

Easy going.  You have lived in the car (with mami) the last couple months and 

You are now saying:  mama [sometimes], papa (for papi and grandpa), agua, chi-chi, you bark at dogs (but it sounds like a pig) you sign for more and say "mas" sometimes too.

Naps have been inconsistent due to Christmas lighting - it makes routine nearly impossible.  First nap of the day is reliable (either in your bed or in the car @930-10a) and after that all bets are off.  You usually catch at least a cat nap.  Mami is loving the early darkness because that signal is all you need to go down for the night.  

You are very active -up and down, down and up, dance dance dance.  You LOVE music, just like your brothers and your shoulder just starts moving when you hear a song you like. 

Current favorite:  I don't Want to Know by Marroon Five

THIRTEEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

**This is the first time in 5 years that I forgot to take one of my kids' official "monthly photo"

Bad mami blogger!  Luckily I had this cute picture of you Paloma, and it was taken just a week after you turned 13 months.  Please forgive me, it will not happen again! 

You are officially a walker Paloma!!! 

A few days after your birthday you took your first steps (Oct 5) 3 days after that (Oct 8) you were done with crawling.  And just like that - we have a toddler! 

Although you have said "mama" many times, it doesn't compare to the amount of times you call out for your papi.  "papa, papa."  You follow him around the house.  You get excited when I say "Papi's home!"  You know when I command Siri to "call Neto" that it is time to start yelling out his name until I put him on speaker to talk to you. 

You aren't saying too many words, but your communication skills are great.  You point to what you want and say "DA."  You sign for "more" and this is so helpful.  With that sign you also started saying  "ch-ch" which leads me to believe weaning you from breast milk isn't going to be as easy as it was with your brothers.  Oh well, I still enjoy our cuddle time and Im not feeling any rush to cut you off. 

Mami has been so busy with Christmas lights and carting kids and you have been the sweetest easy going baby girl - for the most part.  You did have a couple bad weeks after finding out [at your one year check-up] that you had an ear infection.  You woke up nightly crying, and I ran in your room to console you!  You would go right back to sleep, but we both had interrupted . We may have created a little habit... that of course had to be broken once you got better. We are back on track now. 

This month has been about CAR RIDES AND CAR SLEEP for you mamacita, but I promise we are going to have a lot more fun in the future....one December 15 arrives, we will be all about playing again! Te prometo! 

ELEVEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

* You are now standing on your own. You will take steps with help.

* Sticking your tounge out on command.

* You still love music and dancing, but you have added snapping your fingers to the beat! No sound yet, but keep trying mama!

* You are playing more and more with your hermanos. Hitting and everything!

* Mami still nurses you to sleep most nights, other nights you soothe yourself. You also aren't a stranger to CIO. (Crying-it-out) Either way you sleep like a champ all night and usually wake up with a HUGE black poopie (TMI?) and a smile!

* Your favorite fruit, hands down, is blueberries. (hence the black poopie)

* You love this little barn toy (from grandma) with animals that sings a catchy tune.

* You just started putting your hands out (palms up) to say "where is so-and-so". Mostly Titi.

* You LOVE LOVE LOVE Titi. You follow him around and lovingly swat him in the face. You are making a noise that we think is a meow. I am pretty sure Titi will be your first word.

* You started saying uh-oh (is that a word?)

TEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

* Dancing

* Blowing kisses

* Waving

* No no no no finger waving

* Sleeping in your crib (finally!) 

* Still loving breast milk but eating a WIDE variety of solids. Guacamole and blueberries are favorites. 

* Your hair is so thick now and lighter from the Mexican sun.  

* Eyes are DARK like papi's.

* You are furniture cruising and crawling fast as lightning.

Nine Months {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

* You started crawling mamacita!!! You got really fast in a matter of days too! Yikes!

* You are also pulling up on the couch. Unfortunately you have had quite a few spills but are getting better at easing back down to the floor.

* You can wave hola & adios! It is too cute.

* You are clapping every time you see your papi because he taught you "patty cake"

* You are STILL sleeping in the pack and play, but I promise papi is going to bring your crib down from the attic this week.

* You are also STILL on that streak of waking up once on most nights and whining until mami brings you into bed with us. Which is another reason why you need to be in a crib in your own room! It's hard for me to ignore you when you are right beside me mama.

* Even though your main source of nourishment is still 90% breastmilk, you are definately a baby lead weaning kind of girl. Feeding yourself is much more exciting (and messy!) You love to gnaw on big pieces of chicken, bell peppers, cucumbers and beans. Oh and you love rice. You'll eat 1/2 an avocado in one sitting and devour all kinds of fruit.
* You had a low fever for almost 4 days and low & behold, your first tooth popped out (June 29th)
There is some debate whether teething causes a fever, but I am a believer since you had no other symptoms of a virus and suddenly it stopped. hmm
* You have been loving the pool this last month, we bought you a little inter tube to float around with your brothers. You could not look any cuter in your little swim shirt and bikini.

EIGHT MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

How can she get any cuter? I ask Ernesto all the time. But she does. We can hardly stand it!

SEVEN MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Picture}

* Giving us great belly laughs

* You are really interested in what your brothers are doing. They make you smile and laugh all the time.

* Kissing on demand. "beso papi"

* Eating more solid foods. Sweet potatoes, spinach, carrots, chicken, strawberries, bananas, avocados

* Still sucking down mami's milk every chance you get.

* You are a month without the swaddle and sleeping in our pack n play (crib is still in the attic)

* Although you accomplished sleeping through the night months ago, you have been waking up once most nights and whine a little. Mami brings you in her bed, then you sleep "like a baby" until morning.

* Napping during the day is often on the go. (i.e.: in your car seat or while mami is wearing you) You don't seem to mind but your mami feels bad sometimes knowing you would sleep much better/longer in your bed.

* You are now doing a fast army crawl around the living room. You got speedy with just a few days practice. Downward dog is also in your repetuare. Crawling is going to happen very soon. God help us.

 

 

 

Six Months {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

* Weighed 14lbs 4oz at 6 month dr appt. 26 1/2 inches long!

* Constantly babbling squealing and smiling

* Rolling as a mode of transportation

* Held and gummed a piece of rosemary French bread (first solid)

* Still won't take the chuper (I guess it's not going to happen...sigh)

* Cradle cap dwindling- hair is growing back!!

* Woke up once [almost] every night last month (the whole month we were in San Diego) for a few minutes. Wanted to sleep next to mami and I didn't have the heart to wait it out. 

FIVE MONTHS {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

* You weigh about 14 lbs (?) now and seem so tall. Maybe you will have the Arnold's height.

* You are holding your toys better (favorite is the maraca and Sophie)

* Everything goes straight to your mouth now.

* You are still being swaddled and sleeping like a champ!

* No sleep schedule during the day yet.

* You have lost almost all of your hair, except that little tuft on top.  So cute! 

Update: One day after turning 5 months, you rolled from your back to your stomach!!

THREE MONTHS {PALOMA'S MONTHLY PHOTO}

* Weighs approximately 12 1/2 lbs (from our scale)

* Wearing size 2 diapers

* Wearing 3M clothes and some "3-6M"

* Eyes: darker, but hard to tell the color. Maybe hazel?

* Hair: still brown and definitely thinner than before

* Eye lashes and eye brows are filling in

* Smiles on command

* Mostly sleeping through the night (occasionally wakes up once to eat for a second or two)

* Still sleeps a lot during the day (no schedule yet)

* Loves to snooze in the Ergo carrier (at home and out of the house)

* Starting to "coo" and wants to laugh when tickled but hasn't let go yet

* Reaching up to bat at toys overhead

* Wiggles and kicking around a lot

* Rarely cries and has never cried inconsolably (knock on wood)

* Follows mami's voice around the room and is constantly smiling when papi talks to her

* Can't shake a cold (congestion) she has had for weeks:(

 

Two Months Old {Paloma's Monthly Photo}

* You weighed 9 lbs 12 oz at your two month check up. You had to get two shots and screamed on that second one. Mami picked you up right away and you settled down almost immediately.

 

* You are wearing 0-3 month clothes.

*. You started smiling when you were 7 weeks old and it has't stopped. Papi and Mami just have to look at you and talk sweetly and you are flashing us your gums.

* You are a good sleeper and pretty reliable at getting up just once during the night.

* Your little nose has been stuffy for the last week most likely from all of the kisses from your brothers