Seven Months!

 Olivia Grace, you are SEVEN months old!

What have you been up to?

*You are about 21 1/2 pounds and somewhere between 29 and 29 1/2 inches.  You outgrew the mats we measure you on, so we had a hard time getting your length.
 

*You are still in size 6 to 9 month clothes.  You have a few Old Navy things and in those you wear the size 6 to 12 months.  You still wear about half of your 6 to 9 jammies.  I had to put 3 pair of one brand away, so we've also started using some of the smaller size 12 jammies as well.

*You are still in size 3 diapers.  Since you started sleeping on your stomach, and you sleep so long, we were having some night time leaking issues.  We bought some night time diapers and we haven't had an issue since.

*Speaking of sleep, you go to bed around 7-7:30 each night.  This is the bedtime you have chosen for yourself.  You wake up each morning between 7 and 8.  You take a nap two hours after you woke up--almost to the minute.  You usually sleep 30 minutes.  You keep this pattern up throughout the day.

*You still wake up some nights.  It's usually between 3 and 5, but generally closer to 5.  If you do wake, we just feed you and you are right back to sleep.  I have tried putting you back to sleep without feeding and it just never works.  You cry for an hour and then daddy says it is time to eat as to not upset the neighbors.  I think you probably are hungry.  Otherwise you wouldn't go back to sleep so easily.

*You don't move around much for your naps, but at night you prefer the top corner of your crib.  It doesn't matter how we place you, you somehow squirm all the way up and put your head right in the corner.

*Right after you turned 6 months you discovered your hands.  You've been holding them close to your face... well, since you were in the womb.  You've been sticking them in your mouth for months.  Now you realize they are attached to you and you will examine them for great lengths of time.  You slowly turn them and inspect your fingers.  It's pretty cute.

*Along with finding your hands, you've started opening and closing them.  You will open and close them around our fingers, around objects, at your side, or just in the air. 

*We started doing some sign language with you.  So far we just do mommy, daddy, milk, eat, more, and all done.  You definitely know the sign for milk and eat! :)  You don't do it back to us yet (although your opening and closing of the hand looks pretty similar to milk-I know it's just a reflex), but when we do the sign(s) you get all excited and start bouncing and making noises.  I've read that even though you may start to understand the signs, it may take you months to be able to do them back to us.  Even if we only do a handful of them, I will be happy to have a way to communicate basic things.

*You have started solids.  We are following the 4 day rule.  This isn't really all that popular anymore.  Especially with those who do baby led weaning (BLW).  Since you have a know allergy, it's just wise for us to go this route.  You have had avocados, sweet potatoes, peas, butternut squash, bananas, pears, carrots, apples, and green beans.  Sweet potatoes and bananas have been your favorite.  You weren't really a fan of peas, but you ate them just fine when mixed with sweet potatoes.  You had a weird reaction after carrots, so we only did it for 2 days.  I'm not 100% positive it was from the carrots and not something else, but we are just being cautious.  We'll try them again in a few weeks.  You hate green beans! I couldn't even disguise them in sweet potatoes.  It could be a texture thing though.  Peas and green beans don't puree very well.  I've heard it takes something like 20 times for a baby to decide if they really don't like the taste of something, so we'll keep trying! :)

(Her hand on her hip cracks me up.)

*It took you about a week and you were a pro at eating.  You have been eating one meal a day.  Right now it's dinner.  You usually eat about 2 to 3 ounces.  You have about 2 ounces of the "new" food and one ounce of a food you've already tried for 4 days (or more).  When it is a food you don't like, we are lucky if you get an ounce in you.

*You take 5 bottles a day and have anywhere from 28 to 36 ounces.  We are about to add a second meal to your day, so I'm hoping we will drop a bottle...or at least a few ounces.  The doctor said you should be taking about 30 to 35 ounces a day.  I'm hoping to get closer to the 30 ounce side of that scale.

*If we had to choose one word to describe you it would be sweet.  I tell you that you are sweet all the time.  It seems others have the same impression.  I have had both friends and relative strangers tell me repeatedly that you are sweet.  I don't know if it's your cheeks, your smile, or your disposition that makes others think this of you.  I think it's probably a mix of all the above. :)

*You can sit up unassisted now.  You can sit for a long time if you want to.  Although sometimes you throw your back out or you wobble to the sides.  For this reason we use pillows (or the boppy) around you.

*You are in the beginning stages of figuring out that you can move around.  You get up high on your hands a lot.  You've just recently started to try to get up on your knees too.  You scoot around on your belly.  You mostly go backwards at this point, but you can get some distance.

*I don't believe you are getting teeth.  Ever.  You have had the "signs" of teething since you were 3 months old.  Literally.  You drool through 7 to 10 bibs a day.  You chew on anything you can get in your mouth.  Your gums have been swollen and have the little white lines on them since before Christmas.  I think it's all just a joke. (EDIT: This was written Sunday night.  She woke up Monday morning with a bottom tooth poking through!  More on that in another post!)

*You love Little Man and Little Man loves you.  You stare at him.  You reach for him.  You track his movements around the room.  He makes you smile.

*Daddy calls you squiggs (short for squiggle bug) and I call you punky (short for 'punkin')--because apparently our nicknames needed nicknames.  I also call you booga.  No idea where that came from!

*You still aren't fond of the church nursery and you won't let anyone except mommy or daddy hold you.  How long does separation anxiety last?

*You've started babbling.  You definitely have /d/ down.  We've also heard /h/, /n/, and /g/.  There are probably a few others as well, but these are the ones you stick with the most. 

*You love any silly face or sound we make with our mouth.  You've started trying to make your own silly faces and sounds--including making fish lips. (We've yet to capture it on camera, but it's coming!)

Things you love right now: the itsy bitsy spider, the computer on your activity table, your jumperoo, water bottles, baths, eating, Little Man, Mommy, Daddy, and your paci.


Your least favorite things right now: anyone that is not mommy or daddy, green beans, trying to get somewhere but not being able to do it

 (She kept trying to get my cupcake!!)

HAPPY SEVEN MONTHS BABY GIRL!

WE LOVE YOU!! 

Stylin'

Since last Monday was a holiday, I had the day off.  It was a beautiful 70 degrees out, so we decided to go to the park for a walk/picnic.  It ended up getting windy, but it was still nice to be out in the fresh air.  Olivia hung out in her stroller while Michael and I ate.  She looked so cute with her sunglasses on.  I decided to snap a picture.  Only.... I couldn't snap just one.  She kept making funny faces.  She cracks me up!

Project 366: Week 3

I can't believe it's been a week since I posted last.  I have some ridiculously cute pictures of her in a pair of sunglasses... those are coming.  I have a handful of recipes that have been waiting to be posted about for months now.  Literally.  Those are coming.  Ugh.  I need to get back in the swing of this blogging thing!  Plus, I got an email this weekend that picnik (what I use to edit my pictures) is closing.  How sad.  So after April 19th I'm going to have to find a new way to make these fun collages.

I decided to make this weeks collage x-large instead of large.  I know this means you have to scroll to see the pictures.  Let me know what you think.  Do you like it the size they have been (large) or is it easier to see when it is x-large like this one?

15. Enjoying a tag on her taggie blanket.

16. She was jumping in her jumperoo while I was making dinner.  She was squealing away as usual and I was talking to her while chopping some veggies.  I look up and this is what I saw.  I literally laughed out loud.  Then I grabbed my phone and took a picture before helping her out.  Ha ha!

17. Reading one of her favorite books

18. Library story time started up this week.  She sat in awe the entire 20 minutes.

19.  She has started using her exersaucer.  She just took a break to smile for the camera!

20. Apparently she got a SHOCKING email!

21. Just chillin

Project 366: Week 2

Well don't you know... it's a leap year.  So it won't be Project 365.  It will be project 366.

Now that I am trying to be more diligent about taking pictures every day, I am taking WAY TOO MANY!  It was so hard to pick one per day.  I'm just going to need to do a weekly picture dump too. :)

8.  Reading a good book--she's so advanced! ;)

9. Reading with daddy after her bath

10. After she ate her bananas, she wasn't too into the avocados.  She kept grabbing for the bowl though, so daddy decided to just let her play with her food.  Some actually made it to her mouth.  She loved it!

11. She is really into tags lately, so I bought her a "taggie" blanket.  I was introducing it to her in this picture.  I love it when she looks down like this--pretty eye lashes, chubby cheeks, button nose, and her tongue peeping out.

12. Using her new cart cover for the first time.  It was her first time sitting in a cart.  She did pretty good, but got tired towards the end.

13. Having fun at bath time

14. Bundled in towels after her bath.  Daddy caught a quick smile on his phone.

*Just a reminder that you can always click on a picture to see it a little bigger.  In this case, it would be the entire collage.

I confess...

I confess...
I really enjoy making Olivia's baby food, but I bought jarred prunes.  I can't bring myself to make them.  You don't just get the Sun Maid kind and blend them up (hello sugar and preservatives!).  You have to get dried plums and rehydrate them with water and blah blah blah.  For the few times she'll eat prunes, I'm alright with the store bought kind.

I confess...
I bought organic fruits and vegetables for Olivia and then horribly unhealthy stuff for Michael and I.  I know I need to be healthier, but I was in a hurry and it was cheap.

I confess...
The doctor called and I have high cholesterol.  This isn't shocking, since it has been high since I was a preteen.  I suppose I need to stop buying said crap and start eating oatmeal every morning.  I'll start next week. ;)

I confess...
I'm pretty sure I would be alright to be "one and done".  It's not because I don't love my daughter or that I don't love being a mom.  I love both.  But working and being her full time caregiver is a lot.  I can't imagine adding another child to the mix.  Plus, kids are expensive.  I'd rather give one the best of me than spread myself even thinner.  I'm sure my mind (and circumstances) will change in time.  I don't think we will be one and done simply because we want Olivia to have a sibling.

I confess...
Being a working "stay at home" mom isn't all it's cracked up to be.  Don't get me wrong--I am very grateful to have a job.  I am also very grateful that I can be with my daughter all day.  However, it's a LOT of work.  If I don't have one, I have the other and sometimes I have them both.  Some might say that would be like being a parent to two, but it's not really.  I have to play by someone else's rules.  I have to be on someone else's schedule.  I miss out on some of the benefits of being a stay at home mom (if it's a rough day you can just stay home, etc.).  I also miss out on some of the benefits of being a working mom (having a half hour lunch break to eat in peace and gather your thoughts, etc.)  My daughter is on someone else's schedule.  Depending on the day and the activity, she is in and out of the car up to 5 times.  I hate that.  Like I said, I am grateful.  It's just not as peachy as everyone makes it out to be.

I confess...
I am SHOCKED at how ignorant some of my mommy friends are.  To the point of covering their ears and saying "la la la" when they don't want to hear something.  Or not knowing basic things, like crib bumpers aren't recommended for babies under the age of 1.  (It's one thing to not agree.  It's a different story to not even know.)  I realize that I read and research a lot.  I also realize that I am always spewing out facts and tidbits of information to my friends.  However, wouldn't you rather know?  Why would you not want to do what is best for your child?  Ignorance isn't bliss.  Ignorance is ignorance.  Yes.  I said that to one of my friends. :)  (I'm not even going to share the examples with you that I really want to.  That would just be mean.  I'm pretty sure you'd be shocked too.)

I confess...
I just bought a shopping cart cover.  I wasn't going to get one because Consumer Reports said they are just as germy as using the cart.  But now I have a baby... and she doesn't sit up very well on her own... and I can't push her in the stroller and get everything I need to get...  So I caved.  Also, I'm not a germaphobe, but the thought of her leaning over and sucking the cart handle grosses me out.  I'm positive it would happen.  I'm hoping the cover works out.  We've yet to use it.

I confess...
I rock Olivia to sleep and I don't feel a bit bad about it. (gasp!!)  I keep reading all these posts online about sleep training and "Help! my baby wakes up every 2 to 3 hours now" and blah blah blah.  I'm not saying I'll never sleep train.  I absolutely will if and when it becomes necessary.  The way I see it, she's only a baby for a little bit.  Back in the day--before the 8,000 books on what to do to get your baby to sleep--lots of babies were rocked to sleep.  Generation after generation turned out alright.  Babies are meant to be rocked.  She falls asleep in minutes, transfers to her crib just fine, and sleeps for 12 hours.  I don't see how that is a bad thing.  If I am creating a bad habit (which I very well could be), I'd rather "train" her when she's a little older than when she's still so young.

I confess...
I can't really get into pinterest.  Everyone thinks it would be so my thing.  Normally, I think it would be.  Having a baby has zapped my creativity.  Plus, I have no money to craft, so why look.  "Pinning" clothing ideas or movies seems very strange to me?!?!  I don't get that.  I got an email from a friend saying she expected me to have "awesome boards" and they are blank.  Why yes they are.  I may still get into it.  However, half of what I see pinned is literally from years and YEARS ago.  Seriously.  I realize it's new to some people, but for someone like me who has been looking at craft blogs for 5 years--I get annoyed.

I confess...
While I'm at it, I don't get TOMS.  I mean, I know that they give shoes to those in need.  But they are UGLY.  Why is ugly so popular?  And expensive.  I would much rather give $25 to buy someone in need a pair of shoes, then spend $60 on cheap and ugly shoes.  Peoples toes are constantly peeping out of those poorly made things.  Yuck.  I don't get it... right along with Coach purses, Louis Vuitton and Uggs.  Man, I'm so glad I don't buy into the names.


I confess...

I wrote out a confession three times now about Olivia not being vaccinated and being as healthy as can be.  Unfortunately, I feel as though the rest of my thoughts on that topic wouldn't come across as being very nice so I've deleted it.  I confess that I am now censoring my OWN blog even more.  How frustrating. So much for the many layers........

I confess...
I think I need to choose a new font.  This one makes all my exclamation points look like I added an L to the word.
 

Not Even CLOSE to a Wordless Wednesday! :)

Ha ha!  I was slacking on posts towards the end of the year.  I've just been really tired lately.  Sitting down and thinking about what to write was the last thing I wanted to do after Olivia went to bed at night.  I finally uploaded some pictures onto the computer the other day.  So instead of a Wordless Wednesday post, I'm just going to do a picture dump post.  Enjoy.

Sitting up like a big girl (with the pillow behind her just in case!)

She is loving this toy lately.

Looking at herself in the mirror.  LOL!

(Also, a good view of her crazy hair.)

I sat Olivia on the chair real quick so I could put my tennis shoes on.

She put her arm up on the arm rest on her own.  It cracked me up.

So I took a picture.

But she was so cute, so I couldn't just take one.
She's such a sweetheart.

This is how I find her after nap--

raised up on her arms, crazy hair, squinty eyes, rosy cheeks, and a smile (or a tongue!).

How can you not just smile at this?

To Cut or Not to Cut

Olivia's hair is a bit ridiculous.

Michael wants to cut it.

I do not.

What do you think?

I'll give you a little tour of her head. :)

First, she has this crazy little cowlick.  Her hair literally parts right in the middle.

Then there is this funky little triangle that goes the opposite direction of all her other hair.

I'm hoping that when it grows out and she has bangs or something that it will be easier to train.

Oh, and that front patch and the crazy patch next to it are NOT growing.

It's really scraggly.  That's why Michael wants it cut.

There is a really thick patch on the front sides and then it thins out some.

Her bald spots are growing in though.

It's super long

Then it gets short again.

Then in the middle of the back it gets long again.

The funny thing is, the long part isn't even the hair that is on the bottom.

The long hair comes from the middle of her head.

Some other views

I will admit that it is a little out of control.

I also have no idea what to do when I put bows on her.

Half her hair stays under her bow, half her hair goes above the bow and it just looks crazy.

The thought of cutting it makes me sad though.  I want it to grow and grow and grow.

I think I'm afraid to cut it.  What if it looks awful?

Do you think we should cut it or leave it?