Numbers

Caitlyn's 1st Year Statistics

Weight: 17 pounds 2 ounces (3%)

Height: 30 3/4 inches (90%)

Head: 46 (75%)

Splish Splash...

It's Caitlyn's 1st Birthday Bash! Saturday, after I posted on my blog... Caitlyn and Ashley woke up, we made cinnamon rolls and sang happy birthday to Caitlyn... She learned that she really likes cinnamon rolls!

In the evening, we went to our friends' (Sandy & Ian's) wedding.

It was at the Point Defiance rose garden and it rained all day... but cleared up just in time for their outdoor wedding. It was beautiful!!! Caitlyn stayed the night at Babcia and DziaDzia's house (her very first night away from us) so Ash and I could spend the next morning getting ready for her big party.

Sunday was the big day!

We celebrated at my Aunt Cindy and Uncle John's house, they were gracious enough to let us invite many of Caitlyn's friends over for her first pool party! There's not much to explain... just enjoy the pics...

Here's just a few of Caitlyn... her cake... her friends... In this collage... she gets her own special cake to eat... which she prefers to feed to me... then to herself... then she offers me a frosting fingered hug... then feeds dad

(she's loves to share & we teach her that sharing IS caring!)
Then of course we had to take a family pic with frosting all over!
Here are a few more pictures of many of her guests.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this party so special! Who would've thought throwing a party for a 1 year old would be so exhausting!?!

Exactly a Year Ago Today…

She changed me into a better person! When Caitlyn was born, my life was flipped upside down and into a total tail spin, since then… I have grown and learned just as fast as she has. On this day at exactly 8:29am, I met my baby, Caitlyn Leigh. She was like no one I had ever met before. She completely melted my heart. In one single very short year she has changed me and taught me to be so many things, including: patient, caring, understanding, happy, sacrificing, hard-working, imaginative, proud, tender, and most importantly how to love with all my heart! I was a pretty emotional person pre-Caitlyn, but since her arrival… my emotions have been enhanced and boosted to some new level. Ash and I were reading through my blog from start to present and we realized that I cried (or shed a tear) a lot. Everything about her makes me so happy and brings me to tears… This morning… I have a ton of mixed emotions. I have cried 2 times so far (I’ve only been awake for an hour). Both times were because I can’t believe it’s been a year! I feel excited and happy that I have a happy and healthy 1 year old. I feel sad that she’s not a tiny baby anymore, I feel amazed that this year has gone by so fast and scared because I don’t know exactly how to slow down time.

Thank-you, Caitlyn Leigh for making me who I am today! I love You with ALL my heart...
and I am shedding happy tears as I type this post ;)

11 Months

Well, I am two days late posting about Caitlyn turning 11 months. It is absolutely amazing how much she has learned from last month. This picture was taken at my parents' house and I LOVE the look on Yssim (their dog's) face. He wants that pretzel so bad! Top 10 Things Caitlyn Has Learned This Month

1. Kisses & Hugs
2. Clapping and shaking her bum when she hears music or her mama sing
3. Walking/Running (she's up to about 15 steps at a time and she's so fast)
4. Swimming (she's definitely our little fish, she loves the water)
5. Words: Hi, dad! Everytime she sees him she says, "hi, dad!" She also picks up any phone or tv remote, puts it to her ear and says, "hi, dad!" She also says, "phu" and raises her NEB's (Non Existing Eyebrows) when she sees Roger (our cat) or Yssim.
6. Getting on and off the couch (without hurting herself)
7. Sleeping forever... she takes two and three hour naps during the day and then sleeps about ten hours at night.
8. Eating hard things is not impossible without teeth. She gums everything so well!
9. Climbs up the stairs very fast.
10. Her mom and dad love her more than they have ever loved before!

10 Months

Happy 10 months, my sweet baby girl!

Last weekend we took Caitlyn in the pool for the 1st time and she LOVED it! I cannot believe she is 10 months old. I don't know why, but that seems SO much older than 9 months. She is learning at lightening speed. Caitlyn still scoots, but prefers to cruise (pull herself up and hold onto things to walk). She even pulls herself up on the wall and will walk with that as her support. I love when I am washing the dishes or getting ready in the morning, she uses my legs to help her stand and just stands in between my legs waiting to be picked up. She loves to crawl up the stairs and then look back at mommy and daddy to make sure we noticed how well she did. She's kind of protesting baby foods... she doesn't like to be spoon fed right now. I've been cutting or tearing up foods that we are eating and putting them on her high chair. She would much rather feed herself and she is still toothless! Caitlyn will engage in a full conversation with us... she mostly says, "DA DA DA DADADA DA DA!" & " BA BA BA BABABA BA BA!" She speaks with such authority! My favorite thing that she does right now is give kisses. She's always given really good wet open mouth kisses, but lately she has been forming her lips to give her mama a kiss. All I have to say is, "Give your mama a kiss" and she comes diving in. I love it!!!

Enjoy her 1st swim pictures!

9 Months

Happy 9 Months of life to our little Caitlyn Leigh! Yesterday we went to the mall with Tiffany, Kory, and their daughter Avery to have pictures taken of the two little ones. We had a wonderful time... and I can't wait to post some of the pics we got. Caitlyn has her 9 month check-up on monday... so I will post more then!

8 Months!

Caitlyn turned 8 months today!So, last night, I set Caitlyn in her crib for the night and next thing we know Caitlyn was being a little fussy... so Ash and I entered the room and to our surprise... Caitlyn was sitting upright waiting for us to come and...play?!?! It was the first time she sat up in her crib by herself... So naturally, on her "8 months of life" day, we videotaped all her fun new talents AND lowered her crib to its lowest position.

We're Back!!!

Well, I thought I had it in me to post my favorite pics of our Pennsylvania trip... but then realized that I took well over 200 pictures. I will find time after work tomorrow to pick my favorites and then blog about our good time. It's good to be back! Stay Tuned!

My buddy, Luke, from work let me borrow his camera for our trip and he taught me a few things about photography...

so I think I have some great pictures!!!

Routine Visit to the Doctor's

We had Caitlyn's 6 month check up this morning. She did amazing! She weighed in at 14 pounds and 1 ounce (10th percentile), she was 27 inches long (90th percentile), and her head measured in the 75th percentile. She's still our little 'string bean'. She had some more immunizations today and screamed for only a few seconds... then I held and nursed her to sleep. She then slept for the car ride home and woke up around 1:45pm, she finally tuckered out until 3:30pm. Ashley and I spent the day rotating who was holding and comforting her while the other did some household chores... Now, we have 4 loads of laundry complete, 3 bathrooms clean, 2 sparkling vehicles, and 1 babe who got some extra special attention from mom and dad today... thanks to all those presidents (Ashley had today off of work). She finally went back to sleep about a half hour ago... and I am heading there shortly.

I had to post this picture...even though Valentine's Day is over, we found this headband wrapped in a valentines gift bag (thanks to our household cleaning).Thanks Aunt Tami, Uncle Larry, Morgan, and Natalie

6 Months

Caitlyn turned 1/2 a year on Saturday. It was my weekend to work so Caitlyn spent the day with her daddy. The day started with her and daddy playing. We bought her a new jumping toy so she played in it. Then Grandma came and picked them both up to go shopping... he bought Caitlyn the most beautiful stand up mirror for her nursery. Then they stopped by my work to say hello. I fed Caitlyn (which was great cause nursing her is a thousand times more enjoyable than pumping at work). Then they were on there way to have lunch with pappy.

Ashley fed Caitlyn carrots for the first time... which she enjoyed! When I got home we ordered pizza, filmed Caitlyn, and played with her until it was time for bed. What a great 6 month birthday!

Half a year has gone by so fast. I love celebrating her months of life. It gives Ashley and I a chance to slow down a little and really celebrate how lucky we are to have such an amazing, happy, and healthy babygirl!

I can't imagine my life without little Caitlyn.

Weigh In

Caitlyn is weighing 13 pounds and 7 oz. I took her to the doctors for a quick weigh in and was so happy to see how much she has grown. Her next check up is on February 18th... I look forward to her growing some more. By then, we will have started introducing food to her. I can't wait!

5 Months

Today we celebrated Caitlyn turning 5 months. I went to work today and it was Ashley's 1st day alone with Caitlyn... and they had a wonderful day. They kept in touch with me by sending me photo texts on my phone! I came home to a clean house, a clean baby, and dinner was ready. We ate dinner together and did our traditional video taping of Caitlyn to record how fast she is growing. I watched the tape of her at 4 months and was totally amazed at how fast she has grown and how much she is changing. This month she has discovered her voice... she babbles on and on... I love listening to her! She also has found her feet... She loves pulling them to her mouth and sucking on them! She also loves to grab objects and put them in her mouth. Just yesterday, Tiffany, Avery, and I ate lunch at the Spaghetti Factory and Caitlyn was tired of sitting in her car seat so I held her on my lap... she grabbed the spoon and put it in her mouth... it was so darn cute. Then, when I got home and told Ash all about it, she grabbed my lip gloss out of my hands and tried to put it on her lips (or in her mouth... who could tell?!?) It is absolutely amazing watching her grow and learn right before our eyes. Grandma Riggs came over to help us celebrate. Caitlyn and her exchanged lots of kisses... which led to lipstick on Caitlyn's face... how precious!
Who would've thought that someone so small can make me feel emotions so big! I can honestly say that I have never, in my entire life, been more happy and proud of such a tiny baby. I absolutely adore her and truly enjoy watching her grow!

Four Months

Today we celebrated Caitlyn turning four months. We didn’t do much except our usual videotaping of her (for her 3 months, we went to the San Diego Zoo, so I included some of her favorite animals). She is now oohing, ahing, and squealing. She giggles now, which I love! She loves to stand and hold on to our finger for support. She is beginning to enjoy tummy time… she used to hate it. Now she likes it and I can tell it won’t be long until she’s scooting all around the house. She lies on her tummy and gets her legs up under her with her toosh straight up in the air… It’s hard to describe so maybe I’ll try to capture it on camera next time she’s in the position. Each month Caitlyn has learned so much as we have learned from her. She is the light of my life and I thank God for her everyday.

Last night we enjoyed Zoo Lights with the Newgard family and are looking forward to cookie baking tomorrow!

11 Pounds

Caitlyn had her 4 month check-up today (although she doesn't turn 4 months til December 9). She received another set of immunizations and did so well. She received her first set at her last appointment and listening to her cry really tore at my heart, so this time I brought reinforcement... Her daddy! She screamed like I had never heard her scream before. It brought tears to my eyes and this time one actually went down my cheek. Thank God that Ashley was there!

She weighed in at a whopping 11 pounds and is 24 3/4 inches long. She was in the 90th percentile for her length and the 15th percentile for her weight. The doctor said that she is already taking after her mommy and daddy, tall and slender. She finally went down for the night at about 7:45pm. Lately she's been sleeping anywhere from 7-11 hours in the night. It's amazing... I feel rested. So, for those of you out there with younger babies... There is light at the end of the tunnel.

This is a picture of Caitlyn after her appointment. We visited Babcia for tea and pumpkin pie.

Second Month Favs

Just a few more of my favorites from Caitlyn 1-2 months!

First Month Favs

Here are just a FEW of my favorite photos from Caitlyn's first month of life.