8 Month Recap

This has probably been our business month yet- both socially and for you physically!

You weigh about 20.5 pounds.

Wearing size 3 diapers.

9-12 Month clothing.

You have eight teeth!

4 on top and 4 on the bottom.

So it was time for a big girl tooth brush!

Your sleeping has been pretty inconsistent this month because of all our traveling and your sickness, but at some point throughout the day you take two naps- usually a morning and an afternoon..

if you're not talking, standing or trying to get out.

You usually start off sleeping on your belly and then you end up all over the crib in all different ways.

You still sleep with your Elli, your giraffe and giraffe blanket. You don't need to sleep with any of them, but you love them and they help you sleep better when we are traveling.

You love to eat solids.

Plums are your favorite, but you don't have them very often.

Blueberries are also your favorite, although I am not sure how you can even taste them as it seems like you mostly just swallow them. You devour the things and can't get enough.

You also love cheese doodles, you could eat those all day every day I think. Just like your momma.

{I was really impressed you figured out your new snack cup right away}

You love raviolis and most of the new food in the squeeze pouches

Some fun firsts were Auntie Anne's Pretzels, String Cheese and an ice cream cone.

Bottles have been the biggest battle this month.

I am lucky if I get you to take 16 oz.

Hot, cold, sippy or bottle- you're over it.

But you need it.

So I keep trying and take whatever I can get.

07.24.12

We celebrated our 3rd year of marriage and we are beyond thankful that you were to be a apart of this wonderful year!

07.27.12

Uncle CJ took us out on another date!

He is so good to us. 

You are pulling yourself up on everything.

You've figured out cause and effect and you've demonstrated that by playing with some of your toys.

It's been so fun to see.

You love the swings, book and to be read to.

Your favorite book is "Where is Baby's Belly Button?".

Your favorite show is Mickey Mouse.

Your favorite song is the "Hot Dog Song"- you get so excited every time, it never gets old for you or us!

You love Roxie.

You love to give big wet kisses. 

You still love your tubby times!

{And I love that scrunched face}

You have the cutest little curls on either side of your head.

Everyone calls them your little "jewish curls". 

I can't wait to see how your hair will change as you keep getting older.

You love swimming at The Farm.

You started to mimic our voices/sounds.

You recognize the sign for "more", "all done", "water", "sleep" and "potty"

And you sometimes can wave "hi"- you did it for a while, but now you wave once and put your hand in your mouth so I'm not sure what that is all about!

You started to clap, but it looks like you're wiping dirt off your hands- it's so funny!

You came down with your 2nd sickness- it appeared to be the same exact one you had a couple months ago. You had a high fever for a couple days which later turned into a bad cold. We had lots of snuggles and steam showers. You were miserable and moaning when you had your fever- it was the saddest thing! I never enjoy when you are sick, but I will always soak up the extra cuddles that come with it!

We had 3 family reunions this month {of course, the perfect time to be sick} and our own little family vacation!

07.28.12-07.30.12

We went to the lake with Daddy's family. 

You met your 2 cousins and we went to Story Land with Nana.

 

07.30.12-08.02.12

From there you and I went to Maine to visit with Papa G's family.

Daddy had school and had to work so he couldn't come with us. 

This was your first time in the sand in the water. 

{07.31.12 You signed "more" for the first time. }

We were home for a day and I brought you to the doctors because you had had a bad cold for over a week and it seemed to be moving into your chest. 

You were sick with bronchitis and a slight ear infection in your left ear. Poor thing!

You were so happy and smiley all week- even through your sickness! It wasn't until the end where, for the first time, you were really clingy to me and would cry if someone else held you or I left the room. It seemed to be a quick phase though, I think you were just done with traveling, new people and being sick. You were such a trooper! 

08.04.12-08.05.12

 We went to camp for Reunion with Mimi's family!
You had fun with your 2nd cousin.

You loved the wagon ride!

08.07.12

You climbed all the stairs for the first time.

You were so proud. 

We were too!

08.15.12

Your Great-Grandparent's came to visit.

08.16.12-08.19.12

We took our first family vacation and we went to the beach!

We had so much fun!

We went to the beach when you were 4 months, but that was only for a walk so this was your first real experience and you loved it!

You've been talking more, moving more, laughing more and smiling more.

You make me so proud when we go out and you smile at everyone.

You think everyone is there to look at you and it makes me laugh. 

We love watching your personality develop each day. 

And it's hard to imagine, but just like your personality, our love for you is growing every day too!

Every month is always bittersweet, but we try our hardest to focus on the sweet. 

And you are the sweetest thing, so you make it pretty easy :)

Crumb Catcher

Apparently we need a bigger crumb catcher.

A really big one.

I always have the diaper bag filled with toys and snacks when I know we will be going out to a restaurant.

It's always a little nerve-wracking to be out in public with a baby- at time it's like a ticking time bomb- and I try my best to have things on hand to keep her busy and quiet to avoid making a scene.

Sometimes I am amazed at how much she really ate.

Most times I am amazed at how much I thought she ate and how much ended up on the floor.

When Adalyn started solids and we went out for the first time she felt the need share the wealth and leave some of her goodies behind.

As we were leaving I saw Mr. B picking her crumbs up off the floor and I questioned what he was doing.

He thought it was rude to leave the mess.

I thought they have a broom and vacuum and they could clean it up.

The more I thought about it and the more we ate out, I decided it is  nice and respectful to clean up her mess as best as I can.

So typically we just clean up the bigger chunks of food.

And now she like to just waste our money throw food onto the floor so those pieces are easy to clean up anyways.

I was curious to see what you all did because I had never really thought about it. 

Do you clean up the floor in a restaurant after your child?

And if everyone says "yes" I may or may not feel like a bad person.
Just sayin...

Top Baby Items: 3-6 Months

I am so behind on these.

Shocking, I know.

It's now to the point where these make me sad because she looks so young. 

How am I forgetting that she was so cute and chubby already?!

So in no particular order here are our top baby items for 3-6 months:

Pack 'n' Play

 Originally we didn't register for one of these. But as she got older and no longer slept well in my arms {tear} it was time to get something she could sleep in at The Farm. This has been a life saver both there and our travels/hotel stays. I really liked having the bassinet part when she was younger, too! I used some coupons and got a great deal on this one at Babies R Us.

Mum-Mums

 One of the first finger foods she ate. They are clean, easy and safe! 

Playtex sippy cup with the straw

We started out with the Nuby sippy cup, which worked fine for her but I felt like she was ready for a straw. I hated the Nuby sippies with the straw- she couldn't get anything out and I tried and even had a hard time with it too! 

With that one you need to kind of bite the straw and suck it at the same time. So I bought these ones and they were so much better! The only problem with this is she usually sucks too much and ends up coughing so we have to remind her to slow down. She's been using it since 5 months and we love it! 

Amber Necklace

 I have a post on this soon. This has been a must for us! I can't believe it works, but it really does! The necklace has worked wonders with all her teethies coming in. 

Exersaucer

 Adalyn was never a huge fan of the jumperoo, but she loved her exersaucers! We have two at our house {one upstairs and one downstairs} and one at The Farm. She loves standing, twisting and playing and I love knowing she's safe and happy and the freedom it gives me to get ready, clean or make dinner. 

Lovie

 This is a giraffe that is filled with lavender beads and she loves to cuddle with it. She also has her Elephant "Ellie" that she likes to cuddle up with. Having "lovies" to sleep with is a security and comfort that helps her fall asleep wherever we are. And it's pretty much the cutest thing ever. 

Inflatable Duck Tub

I loved our big Primo Bathtub, but when she learned how to rollover it didn't take long for her to start trying to rollover in that tub. So we pulled out the duck tub and she loved it! She loved being able to sit up and move around a little bit and I loved that it was padded and protected her little noggin as she slipped from time to time. It also has a suction cup on the back so we just hung it up in the shower when we were done with it. 

Shopping Cart/High Chair Cover

Absolute must!!! This stays in the car and we use it everywhere. In every store and every restaurant. I love the style/colors, the easiness, the comfiness for her and protection against the germs. 

Take and Toss Bowls and Nuk Soft bite spoons 

We also use the take and toss spoons, but I prefer the rubber ones. We use these all the time.

Aroma Rice Cooker and Steamer

This makes the best rice and it also steams her food fast and easily!

Black and Decker MiniPro Food Processor

Easy and fast to make some food for Adalyn. 

Space Saver Highchair

Love this! Love that it's just part of our kitchen table and I love that she could sit up and play in it while I got things done and then when she was ready for food she can sit at the table and eat with us. 

Push and Ride Toy

A special farm toy that she loves. She is the most content thing when she is riding this! 

Still loving from 0-3:

Sound Machine

AngelCare Monitor

Nail Scissors

K'tan

Gripe Water- I've become a fan of the travel ones {found at Buy Buy Baby}, they come with the syringe attached! I think they should all come like that! She still gets hiccups all the time and this is our miracle worker.

To Flu Shot or Not...

That is the question. 

Today Adalyn had her 9 month check up.

Yes, NINE months. 

::tear::

At her 6 month appointment the Dr. mentioned that at her 9 month there would be no shots, but that it would be time for the flu shot. 

This had me freaking out a little. 

I wasn't ready to commit to it. 

At this point, I feel as though I am pro-vaccines, but as far as these side ones...I'm not so sure.

So I've been doing some research, I asked some of my friends and currently the responses are tied.

So I went in to her appointment today and decided I was going to put it off at this time and if I felt she needed it then I would come back another day.

I wasn't feeling 100% comfortable with it-with the adverse effects I read about, a slight chance of it even working and the misc chemicals being put into her body- I just wasn't confident. 

And thankfully, God was good and they didn't have the flu shot yet and said to call back in a month to set up an appointment. 

Which gives me more time to be confident in my decision! 

Mr. B and I don't get them. My family doesn't get them. I stay home with her and we go to occassional play groups and the nursery on Sunday so she's not overly exposed to germs.

But on the other hand, although we rarely get the flu I know when it hits it is zero fun.

I don't want that for Adalyn nor do I want to risk it turning into a worse condition like pneumonia. 

But I've read that vitamin D and healthy eating is also sufficient in building up her immune system to fight off sicknesses.

Neither is a guarantee.

 So is it worth it?

There will be no judgement either way. 

I'm really on the fence with this and respect whatever decision you make for your child, I am just curious to hear what you do/did and the reasoning behind it. 

Thanks!! 

Babies Don't Keep

There's a poem by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton, that replays through my head most days. 

Out of justification/excuse, but also out of truth. 

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,

But children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

~ Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

I feel behind on everything.
It seems to be the consequence when you choose to enjoy your sweet baby 
or choose to do other things like tv,pictures or pinterest during nap time. 

And that's okay. 

Those things can wait. 

Because as soon as you think your baby has grown...
 she grows even more the next night. 

So in the meantime, I will continue savor each moment and beg time to slow down.

Because babies don't keep.

3 Years

Today marks 3 wonderful years since I said forever to living life with my best friend!

I am so thankful for each year, season, chapter, up and down we have experienced together.

I am thankful for the wonderful husband, provider and daddy that Mr. B has become.

" And I thought I loved you then..."

Our wedding song, and a song I am confident will be true with each passing year!

And of course we can't celebrate this day without bringing back our Father/Daughter Dance!

I love my dad and I am so glad he made these fun memories with me!