Twelve months of Sticky Bellies!

If you’ve been around my blog long enough, you know I love writing monthly updates for Belle! {Can I just add that I am awesome for keeping up with it for a whole YEAR!?} Taking the pictures, making the collages, and writing out the happenings of the month definitely took some time, but I am so excited to have a record of her first year! And it most definitely wouldn’t have been the same if it weren’t for the Sticky Bellies stickers!

Check out those scrawny legs at one month. Her feet were ALWAYS in the air during month four and five! She started sitting during month six and has showed off her first toothy smile in month eight!

I read about Sticky Bellies on some blog back when I was early-on pregnant with Belle. I contemplated getting some for maternity pictures, but never did. And the thought of getting the stickers for her was always on my mind, but I just didn’t know if I should buy them. I was just trying to be such a good steward of our money while Derek was gone. I showed the pictures to all of my friends, secretly hoping they would convince me to buy them and sure enough it worked.

I remember being so excited when I first got the little package. I looked through and found my favorite colors and was thinking—seven months and twelve months are so far away! Silly me. I should have known it’d go by so quickly!

My Sticky Bellies stickers have been, by far, my favorite baby purchase! I just don’t really keep many opinions to myself and because I'm especially fond of these, I feel obligated to share! I tell every pregnant friend/acquaintance/stranger about these cute stickers! You can even check out the testimonial page on the website, scroll about halfway down and you’ll see that I even contacted them to tell them that not only do I love the stickers, but I love their service too.

My favorite thing about the Sticky Bellies is that it has allowed me to document her growth in photographs each month. I won’t pretend that I’m a skilled photographer and it’s probably very obvious to most that I just have a point and shoot camera. But, I like the way they turned out. And I love that I always had several shots to make into a collage to create a bigger picture of her personality each month.

My favorite monthly collages are 4, 6, and 7. Just click to make them bigger.

Eight Months

Ohmigoodness... when did my little girl get so big?! She's mobile and quick. She is has a happy, energetic personality, and she's got her first tooth!!

My happy baby! The bottom right picture is a silly face to put in the collage,
but that's what she's up to these days, so I had to include it! Click on the picture
to make it larger to check out those baby blue eyes. Adorable! 

Dear Belle,

Your smile is the highlight of each day. People *always* comment about you being such a happy baby and it is so true. A big smile awaits anyone who glance your way-- even if just for a quick moment. You've even been known to stop people in their tracks as they walk through the grocery store. I have a feeling you are going to give your father a bit of grief when you grow up to be such a pretty girl. How about you just stay a daddy's girl forever?!?

This month you've gotten a tooth, started pulling up, and started crawling on all fours a little bit. Oh, and you've got your first "trick"!! You can wave. And it is SO cute. It's a whole arm wave and it makes your whole body wiggle. And you make the happiest face when you do it-- see the middle picture above. You were in the middle of a two arm wave.

Sleeping has been a bit off this month. After your shots and then spending a week traveling about the state, your schedule got messed up-- and you didn't sleep through the night for two weeks. Up multiple times a night. Hear me out... that is not cool. I ended up having to let you cry it out one night. It didn't last long and you were back in your routine the next day. Until just the other day. You can stand up in your bed now. So, instead of falling asleep, you stand up and cry. Just because you can stand up, doesn't mean you need to at every moment. K?

You are still much more interested in eating real {baby} food than having a bottle. And you're much more interested in eating finger foods than being spoon fed. A little particular, maybe!? You will drink about 18-20 ounces a day and will have two bowls of baby food and cereal. You have started to eat some finger foods like cheerios and green beans. You also love to crawl around and find any crumb on the floor. Your favorite is paper. {I even used some paper to get you to cooperate in your little photo shoot}. You are wearing mostly 6-9 months clothing, though you are still wearing a few 6 month pieces. You're pretty short for you age {okay, a lot short} so some of the smaller stuff still fits.

Watching you and Jackson play is my absolute favorite thing. You absolutely adore him. And he is so fond of you. Sometimes Daddy and I just sit in the front room watching you two do your thing. Jackson will put his face really close to yours and you will giggle-- He has a special face that he only uses on that occasion! Jackson will crawl and you will chase after him. The only problem is that you think that all babies/toddlers are yours to crawl after and climb. You just love to play with people. Oh, and I don't have a picture, but I swear that your BFF is the little girl in the mirror. You are so funny to watch when you see yourself. It can keep you entertained for nearly an hour at times!!

You are just a great little girl. We wouldn't know what to do with ourselves with you, sweet Belle!! Love, Mommy and Daddy!

You've outgrown some of your toys and have started to utilize them in different ways-- like crawling through and playing underneath your exersaucer.

Jackson was the first person to "catch" you standing up all by yourself! He is such a proud big brother... and look at you, you're so big!

You've started to get your own free cookie from Walmart to share enjoy. You really like the paper better, but I won't let you eat it.

This is your favorite spot. You love that extension cord. I can put you anywhere in the house and you always find your way back here.

And seriously, you love for your feet to be up. They are always up.

even when you are SLEEPING!!! Both legs up in the air. How do you do it???

We love you princess!