Who's six months old? This little cutie, that's who!

She was officially 6 months old last Wednesday on the 11th, but I decided to wait until after her latest physical so I would have her stats to post. Cailyn and I shared a fun Friday together, I took the day off to take her to her doctor's appointment. She was such a trooper with her shots that we bought her a new toy (no pictures of that yet, but she loves it) that can lay on the floor or on legs so she can stand up to it. I had the legs in and thought maybe she might be sore from her shots so I put it on the floor and she flipped out, and quickly stopped after it was standing again! Anyway, her latest measurements are:

Length: 26.75 inches
Weight: 17lbs 15.5oz (SO close to 18!)

The doctor said her physical growth is great, she is around the 80th percentile in all her areas, and her developmental growth is fantastic. He was really surprised that she's already pulling herself up. He did worry that it meant she couldn't sit well, but she showed him otherwise :)

Both the above and below pictures showcase her expert pulling up skills, she's started cruising a little, too. Pretty much- we're screwed!

Other things she's doing at 6 months:
-Turns her head when she hears her name
-Loves to read books with mom and dad (or whomever else would like to read to her)
-Has figured out if she crawls up to mom or dad and pulls up on their pants, they will pick her up
-Has discovered the kitchen
-Does not like to be IN the exersaucer, but would rather stand and play with the toys
-Eats about a jar and a half of baby food with cereal each day (in portions of course)
-Definitely knows who mom and dad are, especially mom, and loves to give big mouth kisses!





The following is just an excerpt from the last photo, but I just love her chubby little legs in tights and a ruffled butt!

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And she's off!

Ladies and gentlemen let the games begin! In the past 2 weeks our sweet little baby girl has become a tornado since learning to actually crawl by alternating legs and beginning to pull herself up to standing. We used to be able to toss stuff onto the couch to get it out of her reach but now we actually have to CLEAN! This is how Cailyn spent the past weekend:

We didn't really consider baby fingers when we purchased this entertainment center on our honeymoon....whoops.

I wish I could say that was a basket of clean laundry- the good news is, at least she wasn't trying to eat anyone's socks or undies!

Previously this space was home to our laptop when not in use, now just another nook for a little booger to climb into and rummage through Daddy's baseball notebook.

Great Grandma Mary sent her a soft blanket in the mail- she sleeps with it, but she couldn't get enough of the box it arrived in :)

Wish us luck in trying to keep up with a new mover!

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Slumber party anyone?? We have room!

We bought a bunk bed.

No- Cailyn's not sleeping in it quite yet, nor will she be for a while I'm sure! What happened was we finally moved our queen size guest bed down to the basement bedroom for my sister, leaving Cailyn's room bedless. Now I figured we could have gotten another big bed or even just a little twin size bed for the time being but I am a future thinker. I think waaaaaaay into what may be when making big purchase decisions like these. Jerod thought I was crazy, but my rationale is that not only will they be used in the future by Cailyn and, hopefully, her siblings- but we can use them now for when company comes to stay with us instead of having to haul out all the air mattresses and have people on couches, etc. So he agreed and I ordered a twin over full with a trundle (from Bunk Bedz King- no tax and free shipping!!). The worst part was having to put it together. I usually love furniture construction projects, but this one got the best (or maybe I should say worst) of me, and curses to the person who created the allen wrench!

All the pieces sorted out- see that club looking chunk right in the middle of the floor? That's a bed post for the bottom bunk and it needed to be attached to the headboard, but the stupid little dowels and the opposite holes didn't line up, so when I was trying to jam it on.....

The post fell on my big toe, the spot right below my toenail. My toe hadn't been that swollen since I was pregnant with Cailyn- ironic that the pain radiated through my whole body for about 20 minutes and I reminded me of being in the hospital and having contractions, ouch!

Progress! Frames together and ready for mattress slats, and also to be bunked

Finished product, along with some more girly bedding, I was going to try to keep the bedroom neutral still, because who knows what sex of child we would have next?? But she needs some femininity in this cocoa room.

Trundle under the full bed- that's room for 4 people!!

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Cailyn biffs it...a common occurrence now that she's pulling herself up!

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Cailyn's Christmas Vacation

Hi, my name's Cailyn, and mom says I'm almost six months old. She also says I was a trooper with all the traveling we did. I'm not sure what that means, all I know is there were new faces every time I got out of my car seat! First, we went to a farm and stayed with Grandma Deb and Grandpa Bret and Uncle Tanner. I wasn't too sure about Tanner- he kept mean muggin' me....

Anyway, we had dinner with Grandma and Grandpa Brown on Friday night and Uncle Ty and Uncle Beau came over- sometimes I have to look really hard at all of them because if I look too fast I think it's Daddy. After dinner I got to rip up some paper and what do you know? There was some noisy things inside a red box just for me, Grandpa Bret said they're farm animals and a barn to carry them in.

I'm not too good at making the farm animals talk yet, so Dad helps me.

The next day we just hung out and played with my new toys and Great Granpda Charlie came over with more stuff, have you ever heard of a doll? Me neither, but that's what he got me and I guess it tastes good so I like it. We went to church that night and mom made me get all "fancy" which means I had to wear shoes, too. I'm good at kicking off shoes :)

That's my Grandma Deb, I'm smiling on the inside....that finger was just too tasty!

What is it with all the pictures when I'm fancy?

After church it was time to see Great Grandma Carole for a party. I also met Uncle Rex and Aunt Judy, they helped me open my presents. Mom and Dad said, "Wow, they make so much noise," but their faces didn't look like "wow", they looked like when I spit up on Mom right before she goes to work. We just stayed for a little while, but they released me from my dress and that stinky headband- it squished my head all up. Then, we left for Sioux City to see Grandma and Grandpa Wyant.

Look up there in the corner, you see what I mean about the mean-muggin?!

This rocking horse is great, but so far I can't play with it by myself, what do you expect? I just learned to crawl 2 days ago!

I slept the whole way to Sioux City and went right back to sleep when we got to the house, I was so tired I didn't even care I was sleeping on my back.

Can you believe those kids forgot to give Santa cookies and milk?! I'm not sure what cookies are but I like my milk and if you didn't give me my milk I sure wouldn't leave you presents...

We didn't have to go anywhere in Sioux City, we just played and ate and slept. Then, on the last day we stopped to see Great Grandma Mary and Great Grandpa George and I brought home MORE noisy things!

Do you know I get to do things at Grandma and Grandpa's house that mom NEVER lets me do? Like, look at me- that's not the floor people, that's the table I'm crawling on- and Grandma Jacque let me :)

Crazy sideways picture- Uncle Tom got me a mirror for Daddy's car and guess what? IT MAKES NOISE!

Remember I told you I got a doll and it tastes good?

I'm not sure who's supposed to be having fun here- to get out of it I just lay there, then Dad gets bored.

That's all for now folks, I had a good time hanging out with mom and dad, but I miss my friends at daycare- grown-ups just don't like to play like they do!

Love, Cailyn

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Man Room (check!) Basement Bedroom (check!)

We have finally put the finishing touches (mostly) on the Jerod's man room and the basement bedroom where my sister stays. There's still a couple things needed in the man room, a louvered door to hide our fuse box and another recessed light in the bar area, but we cased doors and installed base boards this past week and those things really have the space looking sharp. We've moved on to painting the "brick" foundation on the unfinished side of the basement where the toy room, laundry, and bathroom will be. Hopefully, the toy room part of that gets done in the next few months as we are already running out of places to stash the toys this girl is receiving- and she's not even six months old yet! Anyway, we love the man room (which comes complete with a bar and kegerator- stop by for a beer sometime!) and Jerod is banished to it when his yelling and use of foul language toward whatever sporting event is on become an issue.

Bedroom Before

Bedroom After (don't mind the messiness, please)

Man Room sitting area BEFORE:

AFTER:

The door at the end of the room leads to the bedroom. We special ordered the couches- they're sooooo comfy and when you take off the back cushions they are almost as wide as a twin size bed- great for extra sleeping space (always a must when you have a big family).

Bar Area BEFORE:

AFTER:

See the baseball & bat keg handle? This part of the Man Room definitely exceeded our expectations- we never imagined that it would look so great (but pay no attention to the ugly fuse box in the corner.....)

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