The Alsmans

Caitlin was very busy in July (so were mommy and daddy, which is why we are so behind on the blog!!)!  She went to Brookfield Zoo for the second time with mommy and “Auntie” Katy Dubina.  She also had fun with mommy, Grandmo, Grandpa and Uncle Books in Michigan City, IN.  She wasn’t a fan of the cold Lake Michigan water though (see pic above).  Of course, she also went to a few Sox games and really enjoyed all the sights and sounds.

She enjoyed playing with “big girl” toys (shapes, rings, musical toys, etc).  She had lots of “firsts” this month.  She took a FULL bottle of formula and could hold the bottle all by herself (in fact, we discovered this when Grandpa gave her the bottle while she was laying on the floor.  She just held it and drank it-see pic above).  She also sat in her stroller like a big girl for the first time.  She started sitting and was pushing up on all fours. I even saw her go from her belly to sitting all by herself!  She also learned to scoot backwards.

She continues to entertain us, especially with her silly faces and fun sounds.  She LOVES to have her tongue out and it is out most of the time.  She likes to make a cute “cheese” face and show us her gums (it’s too cute).  She loves talking and is such a happy girl.

She loves her solid food and eats two meals a day, in addition to her milk.  She likes everything we have given her.  If I had to pick her least favorite food, it would be green beans.  But, she will eat them.

Posted by Grant, Jennie & Caitlin Alsman at 4:51 PM 0 comments

We went to Michigan from July 3-July 8.  We started in Glen Arbor for Laurie and Drew’s wedding.  It was at the Homestead Resort and was just beautiful.  The weather was perfect and the wedding was a blast.  Caitlin had fun with all of her grandparents that weekend.  Mom and Dad were busy with wedding festivities so her grandparents helped out ALOT!!!  From Glen Arbor, we traveled to Mackinac Island.  Caitlin liked the ferry ride and the carriage ride.  It was pretty cold there. After that, we went to Ludington for a night and stayed at a Bed and Breakfast.  Caitlin enjoyed swinging in the baby swing at the park there.  She was excellent in all the car rides.  We got pretty lucky, just a few fussy times!

She got a new nickname during this week, Curious Caitlin. She is always looking around at everyone and everything.  She never wants to miss any of the action.  She also started reaching her arms out to mommy and others when wanting to go to them.  It is so cute!!

She learned to roll to belly during diaper changes now, which really frustrates mommy and daddy.  She is such a wiggleworm.  She really enjoyed the fireworks in EP on July 2nd.  She just sat in mommy’s arms, drank her bottle and stared at them. 

Posted by Grant, Jennie & Caitlin Alsman at 6:24 PM 0 comments

We went to Evansville on June 12th to visit our family!  It was our niece Hadley’s first Birthday and we celebrated on Saturday at Blake and Joey’s house.  It was a lot of fun and Hadley LOVED her cake!  Grant had to come home on Sunday, the 14th, but Caitlin and I stayed until Thursday to spend more time with Caitlin’s Mimi, Pops, Gigi, Aunties, Uncle and Cousins!!  We had a lot of fun with everyone.  Caitlin loves her cousins and loved having other kids around.  She would just stare at them and want to play like a big girl.  Laney kept calling Caitlin her baby sister, which was so cute!  When we left, Laney wondered where her baby sister, Caitlin, went (so adorable)!!  She also loved Mimi’s dog, Bella and Auntie Bee’s dog, Moose.  She would just watch them run around and liked to pet Bella’s curly hair!

 

Caitlin had a few firsts while we were in Evansville.  She went “swimming” in a pool for the first time, she went in a swing for the first time and down a slide (with help from daddy).  She also did a great job sitting in a booster seat to eat.  We didn’t think she would be able to do it but she is almost sitting, so it was pretty easy for her.

She also learned a new “trick” to let us know she wants more food.  She sticks her tongue out just about as far as she can (see the pics above).  It was too funny!  She continues to enjoy oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and applesauce.  We will keep adding new food!

 

She was a little stubborn while we were in Evansville.  She wouldn’t take a bottle for two days, she only wanted mommy.  It was a bit frustrating but now we have learned to just hold the bottle in front of her and she grabs it when she is ready.  I have a feeling we have an independent little girl on our hands!

 

We had some professional pictures taken of the whole family and of the cousins while we were there.  We will have to add some when we get them in the mail.  They turned out great!

Posted by Grant, Jennie & Caitlin Alsman at 1:46 PM 0 comments

Caitlin is such a big girl!  She is starting to sit with less support.  I think she will be sitting very soon on her own!!  We also are trying to teach her to crawl.  Don’t think she is quite ready yet but she gets close.  She tried applesauce this week and really likes it.  She looks so cute eating.  She grabs the spoon and then “chews” on the food.  It is too funny!  She gets so excited when she sees mommy bringing the food to her!

Daddy and I were so happy yesterday when she reached her arms up to us when we reached down to pick her up.  It was so adorable!  We also love the little “butt” dance she does when we change her diaper.  She pushes up on her heels and shakes her butt.  It does make it difficult to get that diaper on her though.

We are trying to introduce formula to her.  She does not like it.  We were able to mix 1/2 oz. of it with her bottle of “mommy milk”, so that is a start!  Wish us luck!

Posted by Grant, Jennie & Caitlin Alsman at 1:53 PM 0 comments

 

Caitlin tried sweet potatoes for the first time this week!  She really liked them.  She has even started opening her mouth in anticipation of the oatmeal and sweet potatoes.  She had fun at another White Sox game too, even though it was really cold.  We put socks on her hands to keep them warm.

She continues to entertain us.  She loves it when mommy sings songs, especially ones with animal noises.  She just giggles and giggles.  She has also learned to give Grandpa the “eyes” when she wants him to pay attention to her.  She will just look at him all cute with these eyes and will smile until her responds.  She really likes him ( I think it’s the glasses!)

She is also starting to hold on to her bottle (when she gets one) and is reaching for EVERYTHING!  We went shopping at TJ Maxx and she was trying to touch all the clothes and even put the hangers in her mouth (gross), we need to make sure that doesn’t happen!

Posted by Grant, Jennie & Caitlin Alsman at 1:46 PM 0 comments

Caitlin, Grandmo, Grandpa and Mommy went to Maryland when Daddy went to Nashville for Drew’s Bachelor Party.  We spent Saturday night in Baltimore with Katy, Meghan and Katy’s dog, Guinness.  Caitlin loved watching Guinness run around.  We went on a walk in a big park and visited a Conservatory.  She got to see fish swimming in a little pond.  That night we went out to dinner and Caitlin was SOOOO good.  Our service was a bit slow but she just loved being outside and looking all around.  On Sunday, we met Grandmo, Grandpa, Auntie Rose, Uncle Henry and Erin for brunch.  Caitlin had fun playing with the plastic cups.  It’s one of her new favorite things to do.  She loves plastic bottles, cups, etc.  Later that day, Caitlin went on her first boat ride at Aunt Rose and Uncle Henry’s in Severna Park. She had a blast and fell asleep when the boat was moving.  She was pretty fussy because we were on the boat during nap time.  I was very happy that she didn’t get ANY sunburn.  It was hard to keep her out of the sun on the boat!  On Monday, we visited Annapolis and Caitlin slept in the stroller for most of our walk.  Overall, she was great on the trip.  She traveled a little better this time on the plane.  She was a little fussy waiting for the plane to take off but fell asleep as soon as we were in motion on the way there and the way home.  She stayed on her schedule and slept through the night every night we were there.  She is such a good baby!!

Posted by Grant, Jennie & Caitlin Alsman at 2:16 PM 0 comments