Five Month Update

BOSTON, MASS. -- Oh, Marin! Stop growing! Our little girl is getting so big and it makes me a little sad. Though, I think this has been my most favorite age so far. She is a crack-up and so fun to play with now that she's fully alert, aware and not floppy. She's a pretty solid kid!

My mother made her this darling Easter dress

This past month has been filled with all sorts of adventures. We went to Maine twice... once for an Easter weekend getaway, and again the next weekend for a quick day trip when my sister, Brittany, came to town.  The next weekend we flew to St. Louis to visit my other sister and her family for an extended weekend, and loved hanging out and playing with them in the warm weather.

At Cape Elizabeth, Maine

Playing with her cousin Preston, and experiencing warm weather for the first time

Five Month Stats: 

• No doc appointment this month, so I'm going to have to weigh her myself. That could get complicated. 

Eating:

• Started eating rice cereal this month after the doctor said she was "big enough she could probably use the extra calories." She seemed pretty indifferent to the taste of it, though glad to have us give her a spoon with food on it. When Isaac and I are eating you'd think it was the most fascinating thing on the planet. She won't take her eyes off us. Needless to say, she was excited when we let her have some real food. If you call rice cereal real food. I tried it. It tastes like puke. 
• Pears: indifferent
• Apples: went crazy over them 
• Bananas: Loved them
• Sweet potatoes: loved them the first day, the second day wasn't so sure 

Saw animals for the first time at the St. Louis Zoo

Loved this baby bouncer that Amy had at her house

Sleeping:

• Started being a better napper this past month as I tried out the "cry it out" method... which is pure torture by the way. I hate hearing her cry. It only took a few days of leaving her awake in her crib for her to figure it out. She usually naps an hour or so after she wakes up, and then again around 10:30 am and 2 pm for anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours. Still crashes around 4:30/5 and usually takes a cat nap in my arms for a few minutes. 
• Bed time is around 7:00-7:30 pm after we give her a bath.  She still sleeps like a champ, usually 10 hours straight... give or take an hour. Yes, that means she wakes up around 5 some days. I think it's because that's when the trains usually start pulling out at the "T" stop across the street (we live across from the orange line hub). They are pretty squeaky and loud in the morning.  

Wearing:

• Size 3-6 months still. Though I bet she'd fit into 9 month clothes if I tried. I think I'm in denial that she's already so big, so we won't go down the 9 month road just yet... 

Tricks and New Skills:

• She can finally roll over both ways now. For the longest time she'd just roll from her back to her tummy. But as of this week she can now roll back from her tummy to her back. She does it very cautiously. 
• She likes to explore her vocal range these days. She'll squeal loudly and make funny voice inflections. 
• She also discovered her toes are fun to play with and we'll often find her on her back with her toes in her mouth. 
• She is so close to sitting up on her own. She wants to sit up or stand a lot these days, but can still lay on the ground on her play pad for quite a while playing with her "animal gym."  
• She's also started laughing more. While we were in St. Louis this month visiting my sister and her family, her little two year old, Preston, was playing with a yoga ball next to Marin, and Marin started laughing hysterically for a good 30 seconds. She thought he was pretty funny.  It's the first time she's laughed on her own, without us trying to do something to make her laugh. It was pretty cute. Isaac also can get her to laugh pretty good by playing peek-a-boo with her... sometimes the classic games are the best! We discovered her ticklish spots too... right under her chin and smack dab in the middle of her tummy.  
• She also still goes crazy in the tub... pretty sure its still her favorite time of the day. She splashes around in there like its going out of style. Makes me laugh every time. 

  

  This little peanut loves bath time... and her dad
  
  

  
  

  
  

  Can't wait to see what next month brings!

Four Months Old and Rolling Around

BOSTON, MASS. -- One of these days I'll think of something else to blog about besides monthly baby progression. Until then, here is another round of baby updates as this little lady hits the four month mark!

Oh, I love this girl.

Four Month Stats:

• 17.9 pounds
• 26 inches long (95 percentile for both)

Yes, she is a tall and chunky one. She is already wearing 6 month clothing and has been for a month. I tried putting a pair of her 3 month leggings on her the other day and they looked ridiculous. 

Firstly, Marin reached a major milestone when she rolled over last Sunday. Isaac and I were both watching her at the time, mesmerized by the weird way she swings her legs to move herself around, when she suddenly overextended her legs and flopped right over. It took her a few seconds, but she started crying. I don't know if it was because Isaac and I scared her to death by cheering so loudly or if she scared herself by flipping over.  Either way, it was cool to witness this defining moment. She no longer thinks its torturous to be on her tummy, as she once did just a few weeks ago. Hallelujah!

I know I'm biased, but isn't she the cutest thing ever? I mean, come on... look at that face!

I'm such a geek and am constantly in awe over the cute things she does and darling noises she makes. This morning she figured out how to smack her lips together repeatedly. It made me laugh so hard watching her do it, that she stopped doing it to watch me laugh. And then she gave me a huge smile and started doing it again. I think she's figured out how to dig into my heart a little deeper every day.

This past weekend we finally had nice weather (geesh was it a long winter or what!), and decided to take Marin on her first train ride into the city to explore. She was completely fascinated by the train station, and wouldn't stop moving her eyes around once we boarded the train. But in true baby fashion, ten minutes in and the train's rickety movements had lulled her right to sleep, where she pretty much stayed asleep the entire time we wandered the Public Gardens and Boston Commons.

At the Wellington "T" station waiting for our train to take us downtown.

On the train ride home. She made lots of new friends.

The girl is still a chunk.  But I'm always reminded of how small she still is when I see Isaac holding her. She's also happy most of the time, which amazes me. She sleeps anywhere from 10-11 hours consecutively each night, which thrills me to no end!  She's still growing up way too fast (nerdy of me to say, I know)! I love this curious stage she's currently in and can't wait to see what she learns next month. 

These two kill me! 

Three Months Old

BOSTON, MASS. -- Our little lady hit the three month mark last weekend while we were visiting my family in Utah. Nevermind the fact that we both got sick while we were there, Marin took being smothered constantly in kisses by her cousins like a champ (hence where the sickness kicked in).

She somehow grasps a hold of our hearts even stronger every single day. I never knew it was possible to love something so little, so much. Isaac and I find ourselves oohing and aahing about how cute she is to each other every night. The phrase, "She's soo-o cute!" is heard around here constantly. How did we get so lucky to have this little girl as our own?

She is still chatting up a storm and when you get up close and look her directly in the eyes, she will take advantage of the attention and mumble the cutest sounding jargon you will ever hear for as long as you will listen to her. It makes me melt every single time.

She is a chunky monkey and has outgrown most of her 1-3 month clothes already. She is also getting stronger, and can pretty much hold up her heavy little head steadily. She also likes to show off and stand up on her wobbly little legs when we hold her up. She gets a big smile on her face and gazes around, soaking up everything in sight.

Oh, we love this little girl.

Hanging out with her Great Grandma Reeve in Salt Lake City

Two Months Old and Chatting Up a Storm

BOSTON, MASS. -- Our little Marin is a chunk! Albeit a very cute chunk. At her two month appointment this past week she weighed in at just over 13 pounds. She is in the ninetieth percentile for both height and weight. Looks like we have a tall kid on our hands!

She's been a lot of fun to have around. She gets really chatty with Isaac and I, and it's fun to hear her cute little sounds and see her big gawking smiles. Oh, my goodness... we love her so much! We swear she changes and gets cuter by the day (how's that for gushing parents?!).

A few weeks ago we took her on her first flight and headed cross-country to Portland, Oregon, where we blessed her at church in Isaac's home ward. It was a beautiful, sweet blessing, and so nice to be with Isaac's family. She wore the same white dress my mom made for me when I was blessed. She looked so lovely in it. While we were in Portland, Isaac's talented sister took some stunning photos to capture the sweet day. Isn't Marin such a babe?

It's hard to believe I gave birth to this roll-polly thing just two months ago. Thankfully I'm starting to brave taking her places alone. At first it seemed much too daunting to go out alone with her. Firstly, it is freezing here, so even taking her outside worried me. Surely I would be a bad parent to expose her to 12 degree air (and it's not like I wanted to go out in it either). And secondly, I just plain didn't dare. I don't know why... life was just so easy to do everything on my own for so long. Taking someone else so fragile in tow (in a bazillion pound carseat nonetheless (why do they make them so heavy?!) just seemed overwhelming. I guess the thought of her crying uncontrollably in public scares me a little too. How do you console a crying kid who just wants to eat, and won't take a bottle, but your grocery shopping isn't done yet?  Legit thoughts, right?  But, we ran several errands following her doctor's appointment on Friday, and I'm pleased to say she slept the entire time in her carseat. I know this won't always be the case when leaving the house, but it did give me a slight boost of confidence that I can be normal and get things done once again on my own. Whew!  I think I may be able to survive this parenting thing after all (knock on wood).  

One Month Old and Growing Like a Weed

BOSTON, MASS. -- It might not seem like much of an accomplishment, but I'm pleased to say we are all still breathing over here. I feel like that's an amazing feat! Today Marin* hit the one month mark. It turns out time goes by really fast when you are sleep deprived!  It's amazing to me that she's already been around for an entire month, yet is seems just like yesterday that Isaac and I were living life diaper and spit-up free, and then suddenly coming home from the hospital with a little bundle in our arms. When she coos and smiles at us it makes all the spit-up and nasty diapers worth it. Never thought I would say that!

So, here's what we've learned about the little lady so far:

• Today at her one month doctor's appointment she was measuring in the 95 percentile for height and weight (10 pounds, 11 ounces), and the 55 percentile for head circumference. So, she's tall and chubby, but at least she doesn't have a ginormous head. 
• She hates being wet or dirty. And if she is either of those things, you will know about it until the situation resolves itself. Isaac says this is an indication that she will not like camping (that's my girl)! 
• She likes to eat. A lot. As illustrated by her above stats.
• She is a good sleeper and generally sleeps up to 4 or 5 hours at a time at night. (I love this).
• She has no interest in pacifiers. However, if you lace it with gas drops, she will oblige. At least until the flavor is gone.
• She is already a strong little thing, and likes to push and kick with her legs. Sometimes we lay her in one end of her bassinet at night, only to find her in the morning with her head pushed up against the other end. 
• She likes to have her hands free and clear. Don't try to swaddle them. She will find a way to get them out if you do.

• 

  My dear mother made Marin this bear suit... isn't it the cutest?

Her favorite sleeping position at night: hands up.

Sometimes I wake up to find Isaac just gazing at her while she sleeps. It's precious.

"Milk coma"... she generally passes right out after she eats. I'm told this will stop soon as she starts getting older, and it kind of makes me sad. 

It's been fun dressing up this little one! Though most days we just stick with boring onesies.

It'll be fun to see what the second month of her life has in store. Hopefully it is a lot more smiles and coos! 

*pronounced Muh-rin for those of you who are wondering. 

Farewell 2013

BOSTON, MASS. -- 2013 turned out to be another year filled with all sorts of adventures up its sleeve: a move across the country, and welcoming the cutest baby girl into the world. We're looking forward to more adventures heading into the new year...

Introducing Our Baby Girl

BOSTON, MASS. -- On Sunday, December 15 at 6:42 p.m., in the middle of a massive New England snowstorm, Isaac and I welcomed this cute little girl into the world.

Meet Marin Jean Reeve. She's named after a special place with deep meaning to the Candrian family; and after Isaac's grandmother, a tremendously talented, gracious woman, who passed away a few years ago. Marin weighed 8 pounds and measured 20.5 inches long. We are so glad she's finally here, safe, healthy and happy.

Just four days old in this photo

Overjoyed dad gazing at his daughter a few minutes after her birth 

Proud, tired mom just moments after Marin was born

Marin was a week late, so I was induced Sunday morning, after checking in to the hospital Saturday afternoon before a big snowstorm hit the region. They started me on some kind of pill Saturday to get the process going (since I had not progressed at all), and boy did it work!  After a sleepless night of ridiculously painful contractions every minute and a half, I got an epidural (how does anyone give birth without one?!)... wondering why on earth I didn't ask for one sooner. After a day of slow but steady progress, the doctor popped in around 5:30 to check my progression and she gleefully announced, "Are you ready to start pushing?!"  I wasn't expecting it to happen just like that, and it kind of freaked me out a bit, but moments later I was pushing. And less than an hour later our little girl made her big debut into the world.  She sure is a sweet little thing. We are so glad she's ours, though it hardly seems real.  Christmas was extra special this year with Marin in our home.  What a tremendous reminder of our Savior's birth.