Watch Me Grow!!!

The First Year

Birth

February 2004

7 lbs 1 oz

19 in long

Marina is the most wonderful baby. She eats well, sleeps well, and has the most gentle temperament. She loves to cuddle up and sleep on her mommy and daddy's chests. She likes to be held all the time, but that's ok, who would want to put her down. She signals that she is hungry by saying a a a. Because of a mild case of hip dysplasia she was put in a Pavlik Harness mid month which she will be in for a couple months. The way it holds her legs she looks like a little frog. It's kind of sad but cute.

One Month

March 2004

8 lbs  13 oz

21 in long

Marina loves to watch the red light on her swing. Though born with a head full of hair she lost most of it this month. It is slowly growing back. She is such a cuddle bug and always seems to be happy.

Two Months

April 2004

10 lbs  12 oz

23 in long

At eight weeks old Marina started trying to roll over from back to tummy. Three weeks later she did it. She didn't like it very much and doesn't do it very often. In the meantime she also started babbling by saying a goo when she was nine weeks old.

Three Months

May 2004

We didn't manage to get portraits this month and didn't see the doctor so we don't have stats, but it has been a busy month none the less. Marina is out of the Pavlik Harness. There were a few of rough nights once she was no longer sleeping in it. She kept waking herself with her legs moving freely and found it difficult to get back to sleep. This only lasted about a week and is back to sleeping like a champ. She started smiling socially and giggling this month. She found her feet and finds them fascinating. She also started playing in her exer-saucer and has made great progress with tummy time. She loves to stand and can sit by herself with the assistance of a pillow behind her.

Four Months

June 2004

14 lbs  12 oz

25 in long

Marina is developing quite the personality. She charms everyone with her gummy grins. She has no problem letting us know when she is doing something she doesn't want to do. She also has her daddy wrapped around her little finger. When she sees him she grins and opens her arms in hopes of being picked up. She continues babbling up a storm adding new sounds to her vocabulary and is rocking from her arms to her knees in preparation for crawling. She is working on sitting up unassisted and can keep her balance for a couple of minutes. Her feet are her favorite toys. She can't keep them out of her mouth.

Five Months

July 2004

More funny faces, more fun with feet, and finally enough hair to put a bow in. Marina also found a new friend. Abby our beagle has taken an interest in her. They pal around during tummy time. She enjoys nibbling on chins and has taken to sucking in her bottom lip making the funniest face. A new favorite toy is paper. She loves to crinkle it and tear it up. She has been doing better about sitting up on her own.

Six Months

August 2004

15 lbs  11 oz

26.2 in long

It has been an eventful month. Marina sat up from lying down for the first time on her daddy's birthday. She started eating solids on the 26th. She began with rice cereal and added carrots five days later. She loves to eat!!! Mid-month she began crawling around. Rather slow and not very far, yet. She moved into her big girl bed and is sleeping well. She's growing up too fast. Sniff. 

Seven Months

September 2004

Marina started pulling to standing and cruising along furniture early in the month. Her personality continues to develop with laughs and smiles around every corner. With improved crawling has come curiosity and exploration. The dogs are finding that they are no longer safe escaping to the couches. She can find them. Hello baby proofing!!!

Eight Months

October 2004

Another eventful month. She was Christened at on Halloween. She has found a new favorite game. She plays her own version of peek a boo called "where's Marina" where she hides herself behind a blanket and pulls it down for us to find her. She squeals at our delight at "finding" her when she drops the blanket and "there she is." She also loves "row the boat."

Nine Months

November 2004

18 lbs 8 oz

27 in long

We have a tooth!! Her first tooth came in on the 11th. We got her first big girl shoes at the beginning of the month. She looks so grown up standing in them. sniff She also had her first Thanksgiving. She tried turkey for the first time but didn't like it very much. She also stood on her own for about 30 seconds while visiting grandma and grandpa in Frostburg. She's looking forward to meeting Santa Clause next month.

Ten Months

December 2004

Santa came!!! So did her second tooth. Even with all of the great toys Santa brought, Marina's favorite past time is crawling into the kitchen and pulling all of the storage bowls out of the cabinet. We clean up the mess at least 5 times a day. She also loves to get into the doggy water. She outgrew the kitchen sink and started taking baths in the big girl tub this month.

Eleven Months

January 2005

Marina is developing quite the personality and is getting around quite well. Not walking yet but she doesn't need to. She climbs like a little monkey. This makes the nickname her daddy gave her as a newborn all the more fitting. She also likes figuring out how things work and discovered snow this month.

One Year Old

February 2005

20 lbs

29.5 in long

Happy First Birthday Marina!!!!

Marina found the joys of table foods this month. Favorites include pasta, chickpeas, pasta, carrots, pasta, pork chops, cooked apples, broccoli, oh and did I mention pasta. She has six teeth and enough hair to make a nice topknot. She doesn't want to walk but crawls and climbs quite well. Her favorite word is dada and her favorite game is patty cake. She is also nuts about chocolate and ice cream. If you ask her how old she is she will hold up one finger. She's so smart.