Yea it's Spring!!

Well it's been another month and a half since we've updated unfortunately. We know a lot of you are able to see pics of Paige on Facebook, so it makes it easy sometimes to forget to update her blog as well!!
As of April 9th, Paige will be 8 months old already! As always, she's changing and doing new things almost daily it seems. She's really made a lot of strides lately in her ability to sit up by herself on the floor. Like any parents, we were a little worried that she was behind a bit, but were told by our pediatrician that bc Paige is a "smaller" baby in weight, it might take her a little bit longer to do some of these things. In the last couple of weeks though she has made huge strides! She still hates laying on her stomach, and immediately(within 5 seconds) rolls over onto her back. It's actually pretty funny to see how quickly she does it!
With the nice spring weather we've had almost all of March, we were able to go on a few walks in the stroller, and of course Paige loves being outside listening to all the sounds and seeing everything around her. We've also included some pics of her sitting outside in her swing while mommy and daddy did some yard work.
The hardest thing we've had to deal with was Paige being sick a couple of times with ear infections this past month. The first time was just in one ear, and she got over it really quick with medication. However, the second time she actually had a double ear infection, which hit her a lot harder. She ran a pretty high fever up to 102, had congestion and a really nasty thick cough. Our poor girl was miserable for a good 4-5 days, but just this last weekend has seemed to have gotten over it except for a little cough every once in a while. It's been nice to have our smiling, giggling, goofy girl back!!
We're excited for what the rest of spring and summer will hold as she learns to start crawling and moving around and even talking. She really says, "da-da-da", a lot(and sometimes really loud), but has also just started to say, "na-na-na". We have quite a bit of traveling coming up, and also look forward to being able to just sit outside with her and enjoy the weather. We might get a baby pool yet this summer and also plan on putting in a little sandbox for her as well.


cute pic on the chaise

wearing mom's headband to keep warm


hanging out with da-da while he eats


my new best friend Otis lets me pull on his ears!

great picture of the two new friends

playing with her cousins Brooke and Brenna

cousin Kylie watching

cute picture with cousin Brenna

first pic with her new ponytail

playing on the floor cousin Brooke

relaxing with daddy on the bed

bubble bath time with mommy in the sink

hanging outside in my swing

all snuggled up with my toys and blanket

giving a cute smile in my swing

playing in her exer-saucer. this has probably become her favorite toy!





big smile!!

not wanting daddy to take another pic


short clip of Paige making her loud squeak noise!

Paige at 6 months!

When we started this blog, we thought it would be a great idea to keep some of our friends and family members up to date on how Paige is doing with pictures, videos, and fun stories. We thought we would be updating it more often than we have been, but of course time always seems to get away from us and another month passes before we update!
Paige turned 6 months old on February 9th, and it doesn't seem possible. She's turning into a little girl right before our eyes!! She is becoming more of a "handful", and that's not necessarily a bad thing, but is just what happens as a baby gets older I suppose. She's becoming more vocal and understanding more of what is going on around her.
In the past month she has started to roll over, says "da-da-da" a lot, and is now sitting in her high chair and eating some solid foods. She actually doesn't seem to mind the squash and has even tried pears now too. She also reaches for things when she wants them, and loves taking her pacifier out of her mouth and puts it back in. A couple of her favorite things are taking baths, laying in her crib playing with her feet while her mobile spins over her and plays music, and chewing on her cookie monster's eyes! She always seems to smile right when we put her in her bathtub and loves to kick her legs and splash in the water.
Here are some pictures and videos from the past month or so:

Paige at 5 months!!

I turned 5 months old already on the 9th of January and I want to tell(and show) everybody what I can and like to do!
I like to chew on my fingers.
I like to grab things and shake them really hard and sometimes throw them!
I have a cheesy smile and like to show my gums even though I don't have any teeth yet!
I like to growl even when I am happy!
I have found my feet and they taste great!
I can roll over on to my side with ease, but not my tummy yet.
I hold my head up really well and like to sit up too.
I love to kick my feet and splash in the tub and always love taking baths!
I am a picky eater sometimes because I like to watch other things besides eat what's in my bottle.
I love to snuggle with mom and have her read me books.
I love to talk really loudly even though no one understands me yet!
I like to watch TV(oops)!!
I love my daycare and Tanya who takes care of me.
I like swinging in my swing and watching the fish aquarium
I love being spoiled by my grandmas and aunts!



being happy with my cookie monster


holding my head up really good and striking a pose with my hand underneath my chin!


discovering I can reach my mouth with my foot


if only I could fit both feet in...


gnawing on my toes


getting ready to take another bite!


still sucking away on my feet





2 or 3 toes in my mouth now!!

Our holiday season with Paige....

We're finally back home for good from our holiday travels. We had two fairly long trips out of town and luckily everything went very smoothly. Paige is still a saint to travel with and overall!! A couple of times, one of us had to climb in the back of the car with her to help keep her entertained but she never had any meltdowns.
Our first trip out of town was the weekend before Christmas. We left on Thursday and went to Sioux Falls where Jeremy's grandparents live. We saw them for a bit on Thursday evening, and then again Friday morning for breakfast before we headed on. We stopped for lunch and part of the afternoon in Emery where Jeremy's dad lives. After a couple of hours visiting there, it was on the road again for the rest of our trip home to Gettysburg. There in Gettysburg we celebrated Christmas with a big meal on Saturday and opened gifts. Then on Sunday, we went down to Pierre to see a childhood friend of Jeremy's and to do a little shopping. It was almost 60 degrees so we stopped at the Capitol Lake and fed the geese and walked around. It really seemed as if Paige heard all the geese and wondered what was going on around her! Monday, we headed home to Omaha with a short stop again in Sioux Falls to break up the trip a bit.
We were home only a couple of days before heading out again on the Thursday before Christmas to go to Sarah's parents home in Humboldt, Iowa. We had more time back in Iowa to relax but it seemed like we were still always busy!! On Christmas Day, we celebrated with a big lunch and then gifts in the evening. On the 26th of December, most all of Sarah's relatives on the Graaf side came over to Sarah's parents house. There were close to 20 more relatives that came over for the afternoon. It was definitely a packed house but it was the first time in over 10 years that everyone was able to get together on the Graaf side. Finally on Tuesday we packed up the car and headed home to Omaha.
Like we mentioned, Paige is still an amazingly well behaved baby!! She seems to always be a happy baby, and even if she's unhappy she politely lets you know!! She still sleeps most, if not the whole night going to bed around 9 and waking up around 8 in the morning. She recently had her 4 month checkup and measured at 12 lbs 9 oz and 25 inches long. She's making more noises than ever and has discovered her feet! She's also holding things now and grabbing things. She is really close to rolling over, as she goes over on to her side or arches her back by pushing up with her feet. We've been truly blessed to have such a happy, healthy baby!!


Paige mad after she hears about all the time she'll spend in her car seat:)

all snuggy in my snowsuit



Paige looking cute in her bouncy seat

first time decorating Christmas tree with mom

decorating with dad

all wore out from decorating!

not a real ice cream cone!

Paige making Great Grandma Lang laugh

relaxing with Great Grandpa Lang

opening our first present!!

another present!!

hanging out in front of the tree at Grandma and Grandpa Shields

watching everyone open their presents

looking cute as can be with a red bow in my hair!

opening another present at Grandma and Grandpa Shields

Paige had fun tearing and holding the wrapping paper!!

opening a present with mommy!! So spoiled!!

all wore out from opening presents, cuddling up with daddy and my new favorite stuffed animal

our new piggy bank from Grandma and Grandpa Shields

in front of the tree again



happy for my first Christmas!!

holding a fun new stuffed froggy!!

watching mommy unwrap one of my presents

Jeremy and his mom watching the geese at Capitol Lake


Paige in front of the lake

we were lazy and didn't want to take Paige out of her seat for the picture!!

Paige enjoying the nice weather by the lake

Grandpa Shields feeding the geese

view of the lake and the Capitol

Paige opening her presents at home before we leave town again

hanging out on the bed before we leave

wrapping paper makes a great blanket!

We decided to start trying rice cereal. The next few pics are of Paige's first time trying the cereal. She actually didn't mind it too much!









sleeping with mom on the recliner at Grandma's

Santa came and brought me more toys!

laying on the floor with my new bath toy monkey

happy as can be!!

Santa also brought me my first purse! I'll use it more when I'm teething!

we took some nice pics at church in Humboldt

with Grandma and Grandpa Graaf

looking too cute with my new Christmas dress on

again!!

big happy smile

playing on Grandpa's lap

one of the cutest things Paige has done yet. she fell asleep in this "odd" position on Grandpa's lap and slept like this for a good half hour!!







Paige didn't look very comfortable but sat like this for quite a while

more presents and more wrapping paper to play with!!

watching mom unwrap one of her presents

Paige fit in the box perfectly!!



just hanging out in the box playing with some wrapping paper!

FINALLY!! Christmas is done, sleeping with Grandma Graaf before we go home