ONE year and counting

My sweet little baby girl, you are ONE!!  Already walking, talking, sassy and sleepless. 

You started taking steps on February 1st, about two or three for a piece of a twizzler (I had to bribe all kids with candy to walk) . And less than two weeks later you were off to the races. You LOVE to climb, on the couch, on stepstools, on outside chairs and the kids jeeps. You love when big sister pushes you in a stroller or a bike ride to get smoothies. You get all fussy and the only thing that calms you down is opening the front of back door. The second you see the outside you are silenced. Knowing you are my last baby has been sad, but so bittersweet. I have taken the time to savor the moments, to cry at new beginnings and the endings of a "baby" phase. I will long remember these days, where it is madness and chaos in the house, but squeals of laughs and joy all throughout the day. And while everyday I pray for two naps outta you, you don't wanna miss a THING. And you know what? Neither do I. I always look at you with joy, knowing you were the last piece to the puzzle in my heart. That you have completed my life's mission. You have made me a mother for the last time. And you have made it oh so fun!!! 

You are STILL breastfeeding, I know I know, but it's sooo hard to quit. It's true when they say it creates a bond between a mother and her child. I enjoy the quiet with you, watching your eyes roll until they close and I quietly try to place you in the crib for a nap. I love knowing that you were kept alive solely off me for the first year of your life. I also love knowing that we stuck it out, even when it was oh so hard in the beginning to feed you. You have been a challenge since you were born, trying to find a balance, trying to keep the older kids quiet so you can sleep, trying to keep you happy while still giving your brother and sister attention too. But I wouldn't take it back for the world!!! Thank you Iris Nicole alexander for being born, for completing our family and for bringing us ALL so much joy!!! Happy 1st birthday my sweet sweet girl 

10 months of sweetness and sleepless

10 months old, you are magic. 

You can:

crawl

stand up on your own

stand for about 10-15 seconds at a time, but you won't take a step. You try to move your body forward but don't move your feet so you instantly just fall down. 

Clap your hands

Say DOG ( you and Eli both said dog as your first word) 

Walk with a walker 

Wave bye bye 

You HATE: 

Your car seat 

Changing your diaper 

Cleaning your face 

Mommy walking out of the room 

Drinking from a bottle (whenever mommy works you won't drink milk from a bottle) 

Getting dressed 

Putting shoes on 

Sleeping at night 

You LOVE : 

Brother & sister ( you hear their voice and instantly pop up from sleep) 

Food, mostly real food and not much baby food 

Drinking from a straw 

Being held 

Stroller walks outside 

The spa 

Playing with the dishwasher 

Balloons 

Being outside 

You are a super easy going baby, not much seems to bother you. But you DONT SLEEP!!!!! You take on average about 1-2 naps, not consistent on times or duration which kills mommy. You usually go to bed about 8pm and sleep one stretch of about 4 hours and then wake about every 1.5 hours for comfort nursing. It's driving MOMMY CRAZY. I don't want to make you cry it out because it breaks my mommy heart and I know you're my last baby. So usually I just suck it up and lose sleep. But the mornings are so hard with your brother and sister waking up early. Mommy has the babysitter Sarah come in and help in the mornings so I can sleep a few hours. Coffee is a MUST for mommy now that she doesn't get much sleep.  But you on the other hand, you would never know you don't sleep, you look so well rested! 

We decided to have a 1st and 5th combo birthday party for you and Deborah. The theme will be rainbows and unicorns. Deborah is so excited. Can't wait to celebrate you!!! This year has gone by so fast, it's hard to believe you are already going to be a year old!!! Happy 10 months Iris alexander 

SEVEN months of sweetness

my little lady, you are already SEVEN months old!!! And I remember everyone saying,  your third baby is soooo easy. They go with the flow, they sleep through all sorts of noise, they just adapt. LIES, all lies. You LOATHE sleep. You never nap. You are so afraid to miss out on anything. If you fall asleep in the car, the SECOND that car door opens, your eyes are wide open, ready to get up and play. You nap for maybe about an hour or two during the day. You rest your bones at about 7-8 pm and are up around midnight to eat again. Then up again at 0300, again at 0500, and up around 0700 with Deborah and Eli because you can't stand to miss a moment. You still HATE your car seat, cry every time you are put in it, unless I swivel it to forward seating (which no, I do NOT drive with your forward facing). You LOVE being outside,  walks in your stroller, your jumper, brother and sister (obviously) . Being carried in your ergobaby, baths, the spa, being held outwards (facing the world) , food (mostly real food and less purée food) . You can roll over, you sleep MOSTLY in your crib (mom learned after Eli not to let a baby bedshare for too long. You refuse formula, barely take a bottle when I am at work, and are super stubborn. You refuse to not be held by mom if she is in the room.  You are starting to have stranger danger.  Your hair is blonde, your eyes changing from blue to grey.  You wear size 3 diapers, you weigh 20 ish pounds. You're beautiful and mostly smiley unless you are sleepy, then you're hell on wheels.   

 

Month 5

We spent your fifth month FLYING on our very first airplane trip to Chicago. We went to go see uncle Joe and meet your cousin Ryder Robinson. You did AMAZING on the flight TO Chicago. Not one cry, are on takeoff and slept for over half the flight then played for the rest. You did okay on your trip, a bit out of your environment. You sleep from about 10-3 and then wake about every hour to eat after your first stretch of sleep. You continue to sleep with mommy in bed ( a habit I need to break but really like the little sleep you do give me) . You weigh 17 pounds. You LOVE food. You eye everybody while they are eating. You love being held, seeing sister and brother, being outside, being in the baby carrier, your jumper and the water (pool or bath). You're teething something unreal. I don't remember your sister making a peep with her teeth coming in. Your brother struggled a little. But YOU, you cry ALOT. You put your fist in your MOUTH a lot. You refuse a pacifier. You HATE your car seat and any sort of stroller ride. I am holding onto even moment as we are certain you are our last baby. Writing that brings tears to my eyes.

Mothering has completed me, made a part of me feel while that was lost when your grandmother passed away 10 years ago this Christmas Eve. You are such an unexpected blessing to our family. Deborah and Eli love on you so hard it's not even funny. Eli tends to squeeze you a little hard but only out of love. Deborah is a mini mommy, watching your every move and telling me everything you need. She loves picking out your outfit for the day with a matching bow. She also LOVES to match you. Happy 5 months my sweet sweet second girl ❤️

FIRST food

Oh man sweet girl, you are almost FIVE months old!!! Weighing 17 pounds and wearing size 3 diapers, you are a HAM!! You're already in 9-12 months clothes. You have been eyeing everyone's food for WEEKS now so I decided it was time to slap some food in your little belly!!! Last week I teased you at Disneyland in the 100 degree weather with a strawberry Popsicle lick or ten. You had baby rice apple & pear combo. Big sister LOVED feeding you. 

You have been such a good baby. It was a rough start but you seem to have developed a routine. You go to bed about 9pm and usually only wake up 1 to 2 times to eat and go right back down. You adore your brother and sister !!! Whenever you are fussy going outside can immediately cheer you up. You love to be worn in a carrier or sling. You HATE your car seat (so did Eli) . You LOVE the pool. You roll on both sides (back to belly, belly to back) . You have found your get. You are fussy with teething and nothing seems to help but breastfeeding. You scared us and fell off the bed a few weeks ago. You scooted with your feet all the way off mommy and daddy's bed. I have a welding you will be a early crawler just like Eli was. You are always wanting to be standing, never sitting. We are so lucky to have you!!! We cannot picture our family without your sweet face 

MONTH ONE

My sweet sweet Iris Nicole, you came into this world on March 14th, 2016 (your grandma Debbi's birthday), weighing in at 7.5 pounds and 19.5 inches. My smallest little baby, you were perfect. Your hair was brown, your eyes were blue. You loved snuggling right away and wouldn't latch on mommy. You were born at Kaiser Fontana and we got to take you home the very next day after mommy had her c-section. We got one full week of just you me and daddy, a house of peace and sleep. Then you met sister and brother. Since that day, you haven't been the BEST sleeper. you have learned to adapt to the sounds, the screams and the crying, but your naps are 30 minutes at a time.  you don't like to be set down, you love to be held by a solly baby wrap or a sakura bloom wrap. you throw up after almost every feed. At 3 weeks of age, you became a cryer, just like big sister. you arch your back, you poop every 3-4 days, and you let everyone know you're in a room with your cries. At exactly 1 month of age, you weighed in at 10.15 pounds, a little chunk of formula and bottled breast milk (because you refused to latch to mommy). At 1 month, things you seem to enjoy or tolerate is mommy milk in a bottle, being held, car rides, big sister, big brother, being in water (bath or spa), being outdoors, and Nana's voice. between debs 4th birthday and mom trying to adjust to 3 babies at home, we missed your one month appointment, but made it to a 5 week appointment. turns out you're just fine.