Annaliece's First Birthday

We held Annaliece’s first birthday on a sunny Sunday afternoon.  We had a nice little turnout of family and friends.  Elizabeth was more interested in helping us open Annie’s gifts than Annie was, but hey, what are big sister’s for.  We did a ladybug theme to mark the big occasion for our little lady and I handmade the invitations and most of the decorations.  Grandma Bartlett made the cupcakes and ordered the cake for Annie as part of her gift and we tried to keep expenses to a minimum.  

We have a lot to celebrate in this past year.  While Annaliece continues to be small in stature, she has proven that size isn’t everything.  She has hit most of her milestones on target and continues to strive to reach the rest.  She is a bit speech delayed and struggles to push the walking barriers but works at it all the time.  She isn’t gaining weight very fast although it isn’t because she doesn’t like to eat.  LOL.  That little one can pack away food better than most. 

She was very happy at her one year party and loved all the beautiful gifts she got.  We did miss the presence of some of our family but loved having those that joined us.  Annaliece especially loved having her own smash cake and LOVED the frosting!  She was disappointed when daddy finally took it away.  She loved having her former NICU buddy Max there to play with and it was an extra joyous party when Kiri  and cousin Braylee came to join them.  Having all those babies in one house playing was fun to listen to.  They have their own way of doing things that makes the rest of us wonder what they are up to.  

All in all it was a wonderful event and was just perfect to mark the one year survival of our very precious princess.  Here’s hoping that the next year is a bit calmer in comparison!

Update on Annie -- 9 Months

Annie recently turned 9 months old. What a milestone for us! I remember seeing her for the first time in the NICU and wondering how on earth something that tiny could possibly survive, yet here we are.

We had her 9 month check-up last week and things went so much better than I could have ever imagined.  It has been such a long 9 months and yet things are looking so bright and she is making such great progress. 

STATS:  weight – 12 lbs 15 oz           length – 24.5 inches     

She is eating 4 solid foods a day and drinking 30-40 oz a day.  She takes 2-3 naps a day and wakes only once at night to eat, but at 12 lbs, can you blame her?! (We would love to be sleeping through the night, but we figure that will come when she weighs a bit more!)  She crawls and rolls all the way over.  She has also begun pulling herself up on things and she has begun cruising along things.  She pulls herself to a sitting position and she loves to interact with other people.  She is a very social person.  She can say Mama, Dada and Hey.  She loves to play with Elizabeth and she can grasp toys and knows how to push and pull them.

On the flip side, we can’t understand why she is still so tiny.  I wish she were a little bigger.  Her doctor wishes she were a little bigger.  When we spend time with other NICU moms I see their babies and they appear normal sized and then I see Annie and she so teeny tiny!  I am reassured by her health and developmental progress, but there is something to be said by my daughter barely graduating to 3 month clothing on her 9 month birthday! 

But hey, let’s look on the plus side, she is happy and healthy, and I pat Jason and me on the back for it!  We are good parents and because of that we have a micro-preemie who has made it and who is thriving!  Happy 9 months baby girl!  Your parents love you!!