Merry Christmas

14 months

Since your party so much has happened, you have grown like a weed! Your mouth is full of teeth which is the biggest change. They are so silly because they have a slant to them like a jack-o-lantern, it's a good thing they were coming in around Halloween! We have spent the Fall going to Uncle Eric's football games, parties, and having as much fun family time as we can. It was a tough start to your second year of life when sadly your GG went to Heaven just a few weeks after she celebrated you turning one. I think one of the last things she said was, "I love you Danica." Oh how she would light up when we'd say yours or Charli's name, and when you were around her I truly believe those were the most perfect moments in her life. She loved you so very much and I know she is an angel watching over you. Your GG was so very special and I want you to know just how much joy you and Charli brought to her and just how proud she was to be your GG. We will miss her very much.

Much to the meaning of your middle name, we continued to "Liv" and count our blessings daily. You continue to change every day and at about 12.5 months were an official walker and runner, and have received the new nickname of Danicane; as you very much resemble a hurricane!!! I know Kathy has a field day with you whether you are trying to hog all her attention, push down Maria, or take someone's toy, you are always on a mission with a different facial expression that goes with your next move. My favorite being how you yell at kids to "off" when they try to pick you up, or the "p-u"" plugging of your nose for poopies. You also know to point to your nose on cue, so smart!

Your weekdays are filled with stimulating interaction playing with multiple kids at Kathy's, or going on outings to the library, shopping, the park, or out to eat just to name a few. Then every Friday night you and Charli get very excited to see Uncle Eric and the Bartlett Hawk. Your vocabulary continues to grow and even consists of communicating with the Hawk by yelling at him and laughing. A 13 month old not afraid of a mascot, unheard of, and better yet you are friends with him! You love to walk up and down the ramps and back and forth down the fence of the games so it is definitely a workout for your Dad, Grandma, and I. Charli likes to encourage you so we watch 2 little girls all bundled up run and fall and run and fall. It's a perfect Friday night. The Hawks went back to the play-offs this year, I'd say they have 2 very lucky charms... Not to mention lucky charms for the Cubbies who went to the NLCS and in that vocabulary you have is, "Go Cubs!" It is beyond cute! You love when Charli sings the song, she is an awesome sister!

Eric and I both celebrated our birthdays and we shared a family dinner at Rosebud where you and Charli both helped to blow out our candles and eat the dessert! There was also the great holiday of Halloween to celebrate and we did that for many days. This year you were dressed as a poodle and Charli as a  poodle girl, what an adorable combo. We started the festivities at the high school where you colored, ran around, pushed a tricycle around an obstacle course and road on an indoor train! It was the petting zoo that caused us distress when you didn't not want to leave the animals especially the giant turtle.  Just like the horse at your party, I think you think any new animals we see become yours :) We also went trick or treating at the strip mall and you got to sit on the front seat of a real firetruck, so cool. They gave away free ice cream so that was a real treat sharing cones with Daddy and your sister. Everywhere we walked I could hear people say "those are the most beautiful girls I have ever seen."

You are following in Charli's footsteps with your fashion sense, as you love to try to put headbands on and clothes over your clothes. You are so cute with your purse that you put around your neck and walk around the house, all while carrying your baby. How sweet! We are beyond blessed to have two such beautiful and smart girls.

You are very intelligent when it comes to problem solving....so Charli taught you to open the oven of the toy kitchen, climb on it, up and on to the play kitchen, and then bang on the windows....oh yeah that happened! You have figured out stairs as well and though you take precautions you are a Danicane, so limited precautions if that. We have had no major injuries but somehow you and the door hit one another and you ended up with the biggest goose-egg on your forehead, I cannot believe it didn't split open and get this it healed within a week. You are such a strong girl. Thinking of strength you were very brave at your Doctor appointment where you received 3 more shots, but the stranger danger  has begun and you had it with Dr. Mike and you have now started it with others as well. We had Charlee babysit and you cried for the 2 hours we were gone! No more babysitter while you are awake unless its Grandma!  And in Dr. Mike's defense it might have been the shots that got your riled up as I never left your side. You continue to top the chart at 70% for height and wow have you evened out on your body, but your thighs are still the cutest and your little boob. Your hair has maintained a light brown color and we have yet to give you a haircut as it has given itself its own adorable style. Let's not forget those blue eyes they continue to melt hearts.---Speaking of Grandma, you are in love with her, sometimes you just sit on her lap the eintre time we are at a restaurant without even a squirm! What is that all about, it gives her a big head that she has the magic touch...shh don't tell her she really does :)

Your Feet! This deserves its own paragraph. They are huge! I'd say a size 4! And get this you are coordinated enough to kick a soccer ball over and over while picking up your pace. Now that's quite a feat, pun intended!! #proudmomma   and don't forget the USA Women won the World Cup this year!

Last but not least you are such a terrific eater! You either like something or you don't and there isn't really much you don't like, you even suck on lemons!! Oh and the faces you make, priceless. I'd say you are a 70% greens eater, you love greeny beanies as I call them and you love peas. Good girl honey, and you even have helped with the dog's diets by feeding them from your high-chair. Don't tell but sometimes I watch daddy try to put you in the chair and boy do you extend your legs straight out to resist it and it is FUNNY!!! What until you are a teenager!

Oh and I forgot to mention...sleeping arrangements have still not been finalized in regards to a set place but we do have a set time. We have kept you and your sister on the pre-daylight savings time and its working! Eat, bath, play, bed...prayers....Thank God for you and Charli and God Bless us ALL, I love you!

One YEAR Old!

Danica Roo you are already one year old.... WHAT, when did that happen??? It is an absolute true statement when they say time flies when you have kids and they grow up so fast; honestly it is almost surreal that you are ONE! On August 8th you began taking your first steps and what silly ones they were, with every step you laughed and giggled and when you fell down you crawled as fast as you could to your destination. Charli is so helpful holding your hands to help assist you in walking but it ends up looking like you are pushing a football sled and you both are moving so fast until one or both of you fall down. With each passing day you continue to take more and more steps but honestly you are all about speed and what will get you there faster, whether it be to walk, crawl, or roll---but all with a smile on your face. You are a true Houdini who can finagle out of anything and in a moment you are gone. Your mobility has made for tired parents that is for sure. With four teeth coming in you continue to be such a happy girl; but may I add they are really nice big chompers and seeing as you are such a terrific eater it is the perfect match. At your one year Doctor Appointment, one in which Charli repeatedly reminded everyone in the office that it is " Danica's Day," you weighed in at 22lbs and continue to top the charts in height. What a healthy big girl you are and how brave you were receiving 3 shots. Like appointments in the past you really don't miss a beat once the appointment is over and your smile just continues on. Oh Danica, that smile, those cheeks, those teeth, you are something else. Speaking of something else....let's discuss TOT Rock. We had our first class and let's see... you hate sharing, you hate clean up, you don't want to sit where you are supposed to, you scream to get your way, and you are too smart for your own good- I think that sums it up. I had the best time, it was hard not to laugh. We have a lot to work on, but your high fives and being nice to the other kids and smiling are on point. Oh and you know when you are bad--you know.
     Let's talk birthday celebrations. On your birthday we went to the German restaurant and you were serenaded by a duo playing  the accordian at September fest-- everyone in the place was given bells including you, and we all sang Happy Birthday. How awesome that was! Then we went to see Uncle Eric's football game where you would scream and yell- the perfect environment for you. Then next day was your party which was a party for the ages, ponies, petting zoo, and pool party at Grandma's and it was awesome! Once you got on the pony you did not want to get off- you weren't afraid for a second. The weather was on the cooler side as opposed to the heat we have been dealing with and the rain held off, I know Grandpa was there especially when you were riding the pony "Ice" and "Keen Ice" beat American Pharoah at the wire-- no one saw that coming. We had over 100 people there to celebrate your day and everyone had such a great time. It is wonderful to have such a great group of people celebrate and love you. You did an amazing job with the smash cake Grandma made and you smeared it all over my face, thanks honey! Charli helped blow out your candle and was more then happy to help open your presents and play with them and what terrific presents you received. I'd say a great year was topped of with a wonderful party for an amazing girl! We love you honey!

11 months

WOW Danica does time fly and each day you change. How is it even possible??? I feel like I miss something if I blink. One thing remains the same you are the happiest baby. Your smile is so contagious with those big blue eyes, double dimples, and two teeth! Did I mention your little boobies? We went to see Dr. Charles and he said not to buy you a sports bra, you just have a little extra estrogen and no problems. So let me tell you, it is quite a physique you have, you are curvy in all the right places-- or should I say a chubba wubba in all the right places! You are definitely starting to thin out with the amount of activity you do from crawling so fast to scaling all the furniture and tables, getting yourself in trouble with the toilet (with Charli's help)and you can already stand up on your own unassisted; I know walking will be here before we know it! You are quite the communicator and a such people person. You love to be around people and are so very nosy, I think your picture could be in the dictionary next to rubberneck! If you are not within reach of someone you are not a happy camper. You love to be stimulated and giggle and laugh and you sound like the Pilsbury dough boy. When music is on you just dance and you can keep the beat with your head and your body and have a permanent smile. What a little entertainer! You scream for things and I am talking blood curdling scream which then Charli imitates and then you both laugh, this is not a good habit but at home it sure is funny--at restaurants not so much. You also have quite the little temper when you want something which makes for a household of hotheads- oh boy that includes the dogs!        Your words increase everyday as you copy what we say and it is amazing. Hi, Bye, Mom, Dad, Doggy, baby, dolly, no, kiss... this are all words you attempt and come close to saying. You even know when the dogs next door are barking you want to say "no barking doggy" you curl your lips and you get a very serious face, oh you are too much! You intelligence is quite astounding for 11 months whether it be communicating, playing with your toys, your alertness while out and about; you have such an understanding of what is going on it really is amazing. Whenever I tell you "Danica is so silly" you laugh on cue and just love it, we could do that for hours. Another love of yours is to swing at the park and go in the pool. Grandma had the hot tub filled up and you floated around in your princess floatation device just kicking your feet and laughing. What a great time we had, Charli was so proud to be in the water with you and she is so excited for you to get "bigger," especially next summer at the "play pool."
     There is not enough room in the pack n play for you both we have learned. We have also learned to not turn our back for a minute- Charli thinks she can pick you up and carry you and if she could she would take you outside and just play. We have had a few talks with Charli this month you can imagine, but she is the greatest big sister and loves you so so much. This is why morning walks have been a daily summer activity  with you both in your stroller and you kicking your feet the whole time.  The dogs go on the walk with us and you have taken such a liking to them both and want to pet them and crawl all over them and although you don't understand personal space they too are trying to understand you. Boy is it cute watching you pet River and just giggle, he just wags his tail trying to figure you out.
     I have watched you problem solve ways to get out of the rigged areas of the house which is crazy smart, but nothing more than when you were in a baby mobility seat at Grandma's walking all around and you wanted to pick up a toy, you were able to move the toy with your foot up to your hand to pick it up. This is something kids at soccer camp can't do until age 5. I was shocked and very proud! I think you are definitely an athlete and like your sister fearless when it comes to doing and trying new things. We went to see the Pietrowski family and you were up their stairs in the blink of an eye!
      As far as strangers you are in the stranger danger mode and definitely cannot have Daddy or I out of your sight. This still makes for sleepless nights as you are up about two times a night. I am hoping in the next 3 weeks when we start you on real milk that will fill up your belly and you will sleep "like a baby" through the night. Otherwise I think your Dad and I will still agree there is nothing like rocking you to sleep.  Although once you are in the car it is magic you are out like a light. ---You are just so sweet honey.---As I mentioned starting you on milk it reminds me of just how much you eat and I think at this point you are in love with green beans over any other food. You ate an entire can and wanted more! Nice work! When it comes to baby food whatever you don't eat Charli wants to so I guess it is a win-win. You are not very fond of your high-chair but we make it work and when you have had enough food without fail you hit our hand and the food flies everywhere- nice reflexes Danica!
     You and Charli are in love with each other and I hope it lasts, she can fit in your clothes and you can't---does that make any sense? You are so tall and about 22 lbs. I mean that makes for beyond cuteness and more of a reason when Charli tries to hold you and pick you up its not a very safe idea. Thinking of you while writing this makes me smile and just want to grab you and give your kisses. You love kisses right on your cheeks and you lean right in, that is the best feeling Grandma can agree! You are so loved by everyone who lays an eye on you- and I know Grandpa's heart would have grown a million times if he was here to see you, he wouldn't even know what to do with you and Charli. I know wherever he is he is smiling. We are truly blessed for you to be born in August and to help heal all of our broken hearts, I think you were the greatest gift for all of us.  We love you more than words...

10 Months

Wow! What a month. You are weighing in at 21 lbs. 9 oz and continue to be in the top percentiles for height and weight per our 10 month appointment with Dr. Mike. You also received a shot and were so brave, Charli made sure you were okay the entire time. An amazing feat is that the Doctors always have to do a movement with the hips where every baby cries, not even a peep out of you. I can't even tell you how strong you are it is really quite exceptional. As far as being happy you take the cake with your double dimples you are just so cute! You have been styling a Pebbles hairstyle which only adds to the cuteness. . Your hair remains a light brown but those eyes, they are a piercing blue which seems to keep getting bluer.You also have another bottom tooth, wow two teeth already. You are everywhere crawling, standing, walking along tables, along couches and are sooooo fast. I couldn't imagine that you and your sister could already be playing tag at this age! Now lets talk about your favorite thing to do in the house....ummm the air vents. You flock to the air vents and love to remove them as well as the plug to the wrestling scale or any cord you can find. You even love the vacuum cleaner. You could amuse yourselves with those items for hours. Like I mentioned with your strength you are able to lift things and open things that no 10 month old should be able but we already know you are extra special. You are completely in love with Charli especially when she is dancing around and acting out movies, you keep the beat right up with her bouncing up and down and moving your head to the beat, gosh is it ever cute. We went to the park the other day and you just giggled and screamed in the swing, I think that was your perfect day. It is so fun when you scream out noises it not only amuses you but everyone else. You have added "bye" to your list of words which consist of a "mom mom dadadada" and screams and grunts. You bye is also in connection with waving your hand, I think you have that one down. You are quite the conversationalist. We got the okay for table food so you are quite the foodie as well. I don't think such a fan of spaghetti like Charli but you like everything from chicken to noodles, to puffs and yogurt.  Oh my gosh I have forgot to mention your woobie, can't go anywhere without it. Sleeping is still a bit of a stretch at night. Occasionally you are in the swing, occasionally in your crib...and I have to admit I don't know the last time you slept through the night, but we will get there sooner than later I hope. Oh and Danica the cutest part of this past month is your little nose. Uncle Eric takes his hands and makes it look like he is going to steal your nose but he stops just a little bit shy of it and you finish the task putting your nose right in there and then you squish your face and giggle. It is the cutest funniest expression with your little squished up face and nose. Oh you are just too cute. We had some great times with Daddy's birthday and Father's Day. You and Charli bought Daddy a card and cologne and we had dinner with Grandma and Uncle Eric out on our deck on the most glorious day. You joined us in you little seat with you squished up nose just giggling and asking for more food. You continue to fill up my heart I didn't know it could get this big. With school being out and the more family time we have it makes Daddy and I realize that we have something really special going on and can only pray it continues. Love you you little tooky. Oh and one more thing your huge feet, Danica you kick them together, you tap them on the ground, you prop them up in strolley rides. You and your feet are something else. Just keep growing honey! Can you even get any cuter???! I think the lady at the photo shoot couldn't even believe how beautiful you and your sister are, we get stopped everywhere, just look at those eyes. What's in store for us next?!!!

9 MONTHS

Oh my little nugget how you are growing! This month has been the big change from baby to a big girl baby. First off we started with our first tooth. Yep, your bottom tooth has popped through and boy is it cute. There is a lot of drooling going on and everything you can grab is going in to your mouth but that is to be expected.You are moving everywhere not only rolling but crawling. You have a great Army crawl and can cover a lot of space very quickly. You can pull yourself up and with your own strength and stand up for quite a long period of time. Diaper changing is no longer an easy process, not that is really ever was, but now we have to chase your buns all over to fasten the diaper. As far as clothes we have by passed all the cute clothes I had lined up for you and you fit in to 12-18  month outfits, you are such a tall little one and your body is starting to thin out, but lets be honest your boobies, bunnies, and thighs all are still making their mark! You can torpedo underwater in swim lessons for 5 seconds, what a feat, and you smile the entire time. We had a little bit of a tough month with a virus and when you reached a 103 fever we went in to see Dr. Mike but everything checked out fine so your body continues to be strong and able to fight through whatever germs we all bring home. You also didn't miss a beat with eating but definitely needed some extra beauty rest. We are now down on the bottle counts per day and up on the oatmeal, vegetables, and even lasagna. I have snuck in a few bites of ice cream and cool whip too, yummy yummy. Puffs are now a go to and  little yogurt melts, let me tell you Charli has no problem helping to eat most of them. You enjoy a yogurt or oatmeal breakfast everyday before your morning nap. You also take a long afternoon nap, a cat nap when Daddy picks you up and bed time is around 8:30. During the day you are in a pack and play because your rock and play has been retired this month. You now sit right up in it and are ready to pop out. Charli made sure I knew you were going to flip right out of it , she is definitely in charge. Sooo let's be honest we have now gone almost a consecutive week in the crib and a few nights that you have slept through without a peep. We also use the swing when you don't allow for the crib option, but I think we are doing a pretty good job of trying to make the crib a full time spot. I will speak for your Dad that it is pure heaven when you fall asleep on us but that requires one of your woobies to accompany us in this feat. You are so peaceful when you sleep and definitely let everyone know when you are ready because you will rub your eyes and want to be somewhere quiet and you even soothe yourself with the sound of your own voice, just precious.

You are having a great time at Kathy's where you have your own language of long loud grunting back and forth, you are so attentive, responsive, and quite a good copy cat; as well as being a chatter box like Mom. There is a lot of momm momm momm and dadadada's that are being said. Kathy works with you on giving kisses and asking for more as well as raising your arms for "uppy." You love the song itsy bitsy spider and taking pictures and I have a lot of little videos of you giggling. Looks like another Collins star in the family hence the meaning of your name! You  love when we tickle you and and play peek a boo. Charli entertains you in the car by playing peek a boo and you just giggle louder and louder each time, it could go on for hours. It is completely contagious someone smiles you smile right back. You will be most popular I am sure. Speaking of popularity you have a brand new friend at Kathy's, Maria, who is 3 months older and your playmate- built in best friend. You two pull each others hair, grab and scratch each other, steal toys as well as bows out of each other's hair and crawl around everywhere; how fun to have somebody your age to play with, life is good. We even went to Maria's first birthday party where the two of you played in a ball pit inside an inflatable pool which made for some really cute pictures.

Your eyes are so blue, I think they may the bluest in the house how is that for beautiful! Your hair continues to be a light brown with gold tints in the sun and is just so fun because it still sticks up in the back like Grandma's! Your temperment could not be better you continue to be such a happy baby and so smiley and independent. The way you light up when Charli walks in to the room is amazing and the feeling is mutual. Charli tells everyone, "Danica is MY sister!" What a protective sister you have and boy does she love you. When you are sitting on the ground and Daddy or I pass by you just scream out, start bouncing your buns off the ground and giggle. How could any day not be wonderful with you around, it just couldn't be, you are amazing. You catch the eye of everyone who passes you, what a beautiful baby girl inside and out.

Thank you for making this Mother's Day the best one yet by gracing me with your presence. I am truly the most blessed Mom and I love you honey. ( We spent Mother's Day at the racetrack and it was one of my greatest family memories to date) We have a 9 month photo shoot planned that we had to reschedule because of being under the weather, can't wait to see the pictures!

8 months

WOW Danica you are on the move. You are rolling everywhere and starting the crawling motion. You can make it from one side of the room to the other in seconds. At 75% percentile for height and weight we have a major athlete on our hands. You have terrific manipulation skills and love to pick up things and throw things, and punch things, and grab whatever body part of whoever is closest to you.You are still the happiest baby ever and smile at everyone and everything, you just love to giggle. Oh and the sounds you make, you try to imitate everything Charlli does and she wants to spend every minute with you. If you can believe it, we have a baby that sleeps... YOU. Daily, Kathy has you on a schedule and you have a new friend Maria besides your boyfriend Logan. You have made your way to a pack n play and stretch out when you sleep, especially loving to sleep on your stomach. At home we call your bed time between 7:30 and 8:30 and you sleep through the night until about 6:45am, it is truly amazing. We are still making the transition to the crib but I know we (I) will get there soon, I can feel it! You are such a great eater and eat pretty much everything especially chicken and apples and we have started to move on to puffies. The best thing about your diet is that Charli wants to eat the same food you do, therefore you are both eating healthy, cheers to that. Swimming and baths still remain on the top of your lists of must- you are the happiest in water just splashing around and when the water is poured on your head. Boy do you kick and kick and splash everywhere and just giggle and laugh. It is so fun to take pictures of you and movies because you are so photogenic and non-stop smiling. We visited GG on Easter and that brought so much joy to her. You also met Aunt Soph and Uncle Rich from California who came bearing Minnie Mouse gifts, how fun! It is just amazing the little person you are becoming and just how much you are growing. Your hair is so fun and still brown, but those eyes of yours are piercing blue! Your thighs and buns have started to fill out a little but lets be honest you are still a little "porkchop"  but the absolute cutest and happiest one I have ever seen. Oh Danica to just rock with you in the chair and hold you is the most amazing feeling, you are such a nuzzler but honey when you are ready for a nap there is no stopping you....you rubs your eyes, whimper in your little way and when we put you down tuck you in with a blanky and your wubbanub and you are out, even Charli can't get you up---well yes she can and she does. You two are already a team and just in love with one another. This little family we have with Reilly and River is truly something, every day it jsut keeps getting better. Here's to another healthy month with a little cold to end it but that doesn't slow you down or stop you from happiness honey you are something else. We love you!

7 months old

Oh Danica you are just toooo cute and toooo smiley. You are really the best baby!  Today you are 7 months old and you had quite a busy day. You had your second flu shot with Dr. Charles and you didn't even cry. You weighed in at 19.8lbs up from your last visit by .4. After the Doctor you had swim lessons and you just loved every minute of being in the water. You worked on holding the side of the pool and kicking...okay lets be honest you worked on laughing and smiling. After your bath at home , we blow dryed your hair, put you in an outifit for pictures and you rolled around the floor, giggling at Charli and rolling and rolling and rolling some more. You are very vocal and I think you say DADA more than momma and you like to say goyga goyga goyga which is so silly. You just love carrots and are starting to like your oatmeal. You took another trip this week for Spring Break to the Dells. You and I spent most of our time watching Charli and Daddy go down the slides. I didn't want to put you in all that chlorine so we hung out for the most part. I can see you are starting to change this week from infant to baby, You babble you want to sit on your own. You grab everything in site and put it in your mouth. You want to be part of the action at all times. You also stay awake for a long time but still haven't slept through the night and you still are not a full time crib sleeper, but we will get there. Your hair is lightening up and you have so much in the front but it has fallen out for the most part in the back. No teeth yet but lots of drool. You have beautiful nails that grow and grow. Your pudgy legs and buns are still pudgy but I can see that you are growing and starting to even out a little bit. Your face could not be rounder, you are just so cute Danica. I love you honey.

6 months

Could you be any happier? Seriously! The happiest smiliest baby in the world. Could it be because you weigh 19.7 lbs and are the 97th percentile for weight and 60th for height! Could it be because you are loved so very much and you have the greatest big sister in Charli. It could be so many things but you are just perfect. You have the ability to light up every room you enter. Your blue eyes are so big and your face is so round, the light brown hair you have and the huge thighs- you are just the cutest. Oh and those buns and boobies you are jsut a chubbawubba and it is amazing.You don't even have a cry, Grandma says is it the most feminine whimper to get attention and then you just start to laugh again. What is so funny to me is that you have been jumping in the jump jump since 4 months old and you and Charli jump together. She runs around the table and you both think you are chasing each other while you are jumping in the jump jump. Then you both just giggle and laugh-it is contagious. You just love to giggle and it is so easy for you to smile and to make us smile. Your laugh is so cute I can't stand it!!! Charli loves to say your name over and over and you just laugh and laugh. She can't give you enough hugs and she wants to hold you but your weight difference is only 10 lbs so that is so funny to watch. Oh and you are a grabber, a grabber to everything. You grabbed my hot soup on Charli's birthday my heart sunk but you are tenacious and bounced right back. You grab hair, fish hook faces, throw cameras. You are so strong and interested in grabbing anything in your way. The hanging toys on you car seat you mastered within days. Pulling them and hitting the soccer ball back and forth they didn't stand a chance with you. Oh and your wubbanubs we can't go anywhere without those, they are your security blanket. At 6 months old you are able to sit up on your own roll over in both directions front to back and back to front. You have said both maaaa and dada and differentiated who you wanted and you are in love with Charli and the feeling is mutual. You have tried carrots and peas and bananas and cereal. You have managed to spit them all out and lock your lips but each day you take a little more in. Carrots were the first food you actually like along with the bananas in the cereal. Miss Kathy takes great care of you each day, you are still referred to as Porkchop with your little Porkchop blanket and you have stolen everyone's hearts. You still wake up in the night to eat so there hasn't been a full night where you have slept through but that's okay I know Daddy loves to hold you and feed you. You have managed to continue to fight off illness and this nagging cough and even in sickness have been a pleasure. We have introduced Enfamil Gentleease with breast milk as my body has started to deplete in milk capacity. I have put you in the crib twice to nap and I will do my best to continue so you can stretch out and sleep on your tummy. Oh Danica you are truly beautiful and so happy. You just sit in your little seats and laugh at everyone and manipulate your toys and throw them around. You love to talk and giggle and you have made this family even more blessed. The funny thing is you are still a little unsure about Uncle Eric funny how Uncle Eric and babies can make one another so nervous, but that is what silly Uncles are for and soon you and Charli will be parading gall over town with Uncle Eric.  ABth time is still your favorite part of the day and you are now in a bath seat. You had your first swim lesson at 6 months and you loved every moment of it. Life is good, it really is and you keep making it better. I look forward to each new day and the amazing dynamic you bring to it. You are a life changer, a one in a billion, an everything you could want and more little girl, and you are all mine' ours. We love you.

5 months on Sassy's birthday

Danica is truly an amazing little girl. She has such a happy demeanor and sparkling personality. She is in love with Charli and is already so vibrant in her actions and reactions. There have been a few glimpses of sleeping through the night but she is up to eat usually around 1:30 am and then around 5am. Daddy has done an amazing job of late night feeding duty. Our eating schedule is around every 2 hours she will eat 4.5oz. At our 4 month appointment on New Years Eve Danica weighed 16lbs and was 90th percentile for both height and weight. HOW EXCITING! Danica's first food was mashed up bananas(4months) and we worked on open and close while she would spit the bananas out, laugh, and I would scoop them back in. Grandma gave her a little bit of Culvers custard which she loved, but Charli let Grandma know that was " bad Grandma."  Rice Cereal has not been such a hit; with her actually sealing her mouth shut. Talk about a baby who knows what she wants. With her being such a good eater this means that we had to skip over 3 month clothes and are on to both 6&9 month outfits. This goes for her feet too, they are so cute and so big. Miss Kathy who has been watching her since 3 months old gave her a little blanket personalized with "Porkchop," because that she is!

 Her hair has lightened to a soft/auburn brown and she has lost some of it so it has a style of its own. Her cradle cap is almost gone and the baby acne she had so severely, at 4 months old is gone. Her eyes are a dreamy blue with such long eyelashes. She continues to have 2 dimples, a round face, and big cheeks. Her nose is the same as Charli's and as much as their babies pictures were like twins, Danica has started to take on a look of her own.

Her favorite time of the day is bath time. I think she would live in the bath if she could. She just splashes and kicks and gets her hands to be in rhythmic motions to splash the water. It is really amazing to see how coordinated she is at 4 months. When we take her out of the bath that is when the tears come. Danica isn't really a cryer she is more of a wimperer and its strictly for attention because she will laugh as soon as you approach her. She is already trying to sit up and can roll herself from side to side. If I have to step away from her changer (which she is also in love with) I have to buckle her in just in case. Danica is definitely a baby who wants attention, wants to be busy, and wants to be around people. She loves to be held and be entertained. She loves when Charli sings Frozen songs and plays patty cake and peek a boo. She is also already jumping away in her jumperoo. I didn't know a 4 month old could be so active and so strong. She is really trying to sit up on her own and can sit up and play in her seat from Aunti Mimi which I can't believe she can do at this age. She reaches for you, grabs hands, hair, fingers, anything she can and she has a very firm grasp. She has a woobanub pacifier that we cannot live without- it is truly a soother to her and well as moaning sounds she makes to comfort her to sleep. On her car seat she has 2 hanging toys she also loves to play with. One being a soccer ball taggie which she hits like a punching bag and the other a zebra which if you pull down it will vibrate back up to its original position. How she can manipulate both is truly amazing to me. She is definitely a drooler although no teeth are on the horizon but we will see if they come before Charli's did at 16 months.

She also loves to get her diaper changed. She lights up like a Christmas tree and stretches and kicks. She is definitely vocal when it comes to eating and being changed which is  a bonus for us to know because that means happy baby. She is a good napper and loves to be swaddled in her rock and play. This may have been because I never put her down in the hospital and if she ever whimpered once we brought her home I held her, so I guess I have held her the majority of her life. However I do put her in her crib when Charli and I are playing in her room and she has napped in there for 20 minutes so that is huge strides for me as a Mom.


She is definitely her Mother's daughter and a talker. She just talks and talks and talks and Daddy swears she has already said mom and dad. Talk about a proud Father. She is also aware that her family consists of Mom, Dad, Charli, Grandma, Eric, and GG as well as Reilly and River. If the get in her face she smiles and if they bark she doesn't even hear it. There is something about babies and dogs, if you are going to have pets its the perfect time to do so they simply co-exist.

Danica has already had her first fever, first cough, and first virus. She got RSV while we were in Florida and it took almost a whole month for it to pass but she remained a happy eating and sleeping little baby which shows just how strong she is. I feel so blessed to have this angel in my life and she brightens up every day.

She has already been in the pool at 3 months old and just loved it, she was also wearing Charli's 2T suit! Siesta key was the perfect vacation for her. She was amazing on both flights sleeping for most of them and smiling for the rest. On the plane ride home it was an evening flight and the Captain came on towards the end of the flight letting everyone know arrival time and Charli yells out, SHHHH you are going to walk up Danica!" obviously the plane erupted in laughter and Danica just kept on sleeping.

At Disney I submitted a joke on Danica's behalf at the Laugh factory/Monsters Inc and they used it both saying Danica from Palatine IL and the joke as well as using Charli as "Boo" in the production itself. My Hollywood star bound little girls!

I can't say enough about just how happy she is and how much when she stares at you it feels like she stares in to your soul. She has such a calmness and kindness about her. Grandma always says just how sweet she is, she truly is so sweet. She has amazing eye contact and expressions and I just love her to pieces. Time has already flown by so fast and she is already on the path to mobility. God continue to bless my little miracle and keep her healthy and safe, there is no doubt she LOVED LOVED LOVED!

Happy Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at GG's with all of us and Uncle Bill and Great Aunt Jean. We have a lot to be thankful for, especially for you Danica.