Eight and Nine Months

Nine months sounds so old. But that's my baby! I have a great big nine-month old.

On September 12, after being 8 months old for two whole days, I was sitting at my parents' dining table when my dad announced that Scarlett was standing. And sure enough, I turned around to see her holding onto the living room ottoman for dear life. My parents and I then proceeded to photograph the moment sufficiently as she stared up at us, most likely hoping we might save her from an impending fall. Since then she has taken to standing anywhere she can--in her crib, by the couch, at the French doors yelling at the dogs ( DA-DA!), and in the fridge trying to commandeer the soy sauce. My favorite thing about her standing is when she is fussing and I can say, "Come here, sweet girl." And she'll crawl over and climb into my lap and stand up by the couch and wave her arms around until I lift her up. I also think it's pretty cute how she chews on the edge of the couch, squealing all the while. 

It's pretty impossible to get Scarlett to sit still, especially when it's 50 degrees outside like it was the day I tried to take Scarlett Jane's 9 month photos. I always try to take her pictures outdoors to get the best lighting. Or at our last place we got a ton of light into Scarlett's giant bedroom window so I always took her photos at that window. And after how adorable her 8 month photos turned out...I mean, look at this face!!

 I was set on getting something just as adorable this month. But, alas, every time I sat her down she simply LUNGED toward the camera. Oh well.

 

These are the only ones I could get that didn't show her in a partial blur. She looks pretty as can be in brown in her cute little t-shirt from Mimi. Thanks, Mimi!

 

My 9 month old eats cheerios, chicken, and green beans among many other little finger foods that she can pick up all on her own. She still gets tired of feeding herself and demands that I shovel in some puree and she still nurses plenty of times throughout the day including once around 4 am.

Her bedtime is between 7:30 and 8, at which time we read, sing and rock until she can barely keep her eyes open.

She takes no interest in her sippy cup except to chew on it.

She takes two naps each day. One starts 2 hours after waking up and lasts around 2 hours. The second one is about 3 hours after that first one ends and lasts about an hour.

She loves to shop. She admires all of the colorful items on the shelves and sucks her thumb when things get boring.

She sucks her thumb for many reasons and oftentimes for no reason at all.

She loves to watch children play. I'm thinking of hiring some local children to entertain her so I can get some work done around here...just kidding. Child labor laws and such.

She is a super fast crawler, can take about 2 steps with the help of her push walker (in the picture above) and when she is really ready for a nap, she tries to climb my legs.

She says "Dada" and "Mama" very clearly and yells, "Badu!" or "Bada!" at the dogs.

She puts her index finger in her mouth when she is being shy with people.

She wakes up around 7:30 or 8:30 each morning.

She weighs 17 pounds 14 ounces and is 26 inches tall.

She loves her bath time.

She loves to eat just because I am eating.

She eats a poached egg yolk every morning.

She loves the theme song to Gilmore Girls. It makes her stop whatever she is doing, smile, and shake her arm all around like it's on fire.

She gives very sweet kisses to Mommy and Daddy.

She is my very favorite thing!

 

 

 

Hello, September.

I know this photo does not accurately convey the way in which I will spend my September. (Hint: there will be shorts, and sweating and yelling 'Where are you, Autumn?')...but I am still looking ever forward to one of the greatest times of year.

Scarlett turned 7 months old on her very first (of many) Florida vacations. Texan and I both grew up spending summers in Florida visiting family, going to the beach and frequenting Disney World. So I love the idea that Scarlett will know that same joy that it brought her parents as children. I wrote about very day (here in my blog) as it happened, that's why sometimes you'll read in present tense, then in past tense as I added detail. This may not bother you, but for some it will drive you nuts. Just think of this as my journal of our vacation. I know it is long, but it has been about 3 weeks coming. So hunker down and get ready. And take a bathroom break somewhere after day 3 if necessary because it could be a while before you get another chance.

On Friday, our first day in Florida, we recovered from the exhausting late-night flight the night before. We didn't get to the house until after midnight and even though that's only 11 in our state, the stress of the anxiety in traveling with baby had me worn out.

(Eating carrots in the terminal)

(Happy baby, happy Daddy about to board the big metal bird)

(Waiting for Texan's dad to pick us up curbside in Florida)

 Scarlett took a while to calm down and go to bed but by 2 am we were both asleep and she has slept like an angel the entire time we have been here. I am sticking to our time difference so she doesn't get confused. So she goes to bed at 9:30 and wakes up around 8 Florida time. She has taken two long naps every day that we have been here as well.

(Scarlett LOVES her aunt Savannah. I think the feeling is mutual)

Friday night Scarlett met her great aunts and uncle and her great grandmother at the rehearsal dinner. Did I mention we came into town for Texan's sister's wedding? Small detail I forgot. Scarlett was her happy giggly self all evening and was a delight to all who were met with her smile. 

On Saturday we swam and went to lunch at our favorite pizza parlor with my best friend who gave birth to Scarlett's best friend one month before Scarlett was born. Sunny and Scarlett love to stare at each other and giggle and coo. Sunday was their 7 and 8-month birthday. We went to our old church and had lunch with our friends again at our favorite sushi place and attempted a beach trip but were rained out in a hilarious turn of events which left us screaming and dashing for the car while dragging all of our drenched belongings behind us.

(Grammy Rochelle with Sunny and Scarlett)

('Aunt' Heather and 'Uncle' Keith)

(Soaked from rain after the beach fail)

Monday was a more successful beach trip and also Texan's last day of vacation before returning home for work. We went to the beach with Texan's younger sister early, about 9:30. Scarlett loves water, so it was no surprise when the tide washed over her chubby little legs she kicked and splashed with delight. She even had her first taste of sand! (A right of passage, I think). Texan wasn't too thrilled with her eating it, but I couldn't help remembering my nephew's first beach trip where he ate plenty of sand and lived to tell about it.

I like to let her curiosity blossom whenever I can as long as it won't hurt her. Then came lunch at our favorite cafe in Titusville. Do you detect of pattern? It was as delicious as we remembered and we got to visit with the owners who gave us a free dessert to thank us for coming to visit them. Texan worked there once during college and they have remained good acquaintances.

 The rest of Monday was used up with a shower, a nice long nap (had by both Scarlett and myself) and saying farewell to Texan until Friday.

(Wake up, Dad! It's time to get on a plane!)

Scarlett and I lounged around and watched a movie and went to bed right on time. 

Tuesday was the most exhausting day of them all. Scarlett was bright-eyed by 7:50--ahem, 6:50 Texas time. Yawn. We had breakfast, called her doctor to describe a rash, learned that she has eczema (maybe? Not really. My family refuted that when we got back home) then she napped for 90 minutes while I sun bathed by the pool. At 11:30, Heather picked us up and we went to Target to get some baby essentials, then to lunch with Heather's mom, sisters and grandmother.

All of whom are on my list of favorite human beings. And it's a short list, so they made the cut. Haha. Lunch was followed by helping Heather with housework then spending the evening showing off Scarlett to everyone at the elementary school where Scarlett's great aunt and great grandma work followed by buying out the baby section at Macy's and eating steak one-handed (thanks for cutting my steak, Grandma Gail) because by the end of this day Scarlett was spent and needed my lap.

(Somebody rode in style about the mall)

Once home she had a good bath, some bananas, some play time in a box⤵️

followed by bed at 9:30 (8:30). I'm tired just telling you about it.

Wednesday we spent the day with Heather and Sunny again and even spent the night at their house!

(Here are Sunny and Scarlett on their 8 and 7 month birthday! Scarlett is rocking her beach ball onesie from her Mimi that says "7 months" at the bottom)

We watched the video taken during heather's labor/delivery and cried our eyes out together. We just love being mommies together! Thursday we swam and said our goodbyes later in the evening. It's so sad to not know when we'll see each other again! 

Friday we left the house at 1 for the airport and we arrived at my sister's house at midnight, making for an 11 hour day of travel for Scarlett and I.

(Scarlett's souvenir from Orlando airport)

(Documentation that she survived a 2.5 hour plane ride. She pulled an old lady's hair and pooped in her diaper. Let's not forget to mention she dumped a cup of water on herself as well. I have never been so glad to be in Kansas City than when that plane landed)

(We also survived a 3-hour layover in KC on a wing and a (bunch of) prayer)

We then spent Saturday in McKinney with family before heading home that evening. Finally, home! It felt so good to rock Scarlett in our glider, to put her stinky diaper in my diaper genie (safe from the family dog in Florida who has a taste for baby poo), to crawl into my bed with my feather pillow and not have to worry about waking Scarlett up for any reason, because she was in her room across the hall sleeping and dreaming of her favorite sippy cup, bananas and the beach. Or whatever babies dream of. Home.

August has been, by far, our busiest month this year. It began with a sisterly reunion of sorts,

(Scarlett with both of my sisters' daughters! We each have our own sweet girl to love on. I just love my nieces)

included having Texan's parents from Florida come to stay, our first family vacation,

our first time hosting bible study in our home, Scarlett's first attempts at crawling and pulling herself up,

lowering her crib mattress,

(Watching daddy lower the mattress)

saying "Da-Da" at the sight of her actual, living, breathing Da-Da, and many more exciting--and maybe a few relaxing--moments.

I am so ready for September. Fall. Autumn. Pumpkin. Candy. Coffee. Boots. Ah, Fall. Goodbye August. It's been real. Real hot. Real fun. 

 

Adventures in Baby Fooding

 

I began making food when Scarlett was about four and a half months. I always planned on exclusive nursing until she was six months, but since I was given a load of squash and zucchini by Texan's grandparents, who have a massive veggie garden, I got an early start and planned to freeze the veggies until her half birthday. But at about five and a half months Scarlett showed signs of being ready. She tried to pull anything I was drinking away from my mouth, and when I held a slice of watermelon in front of her, she shoved it right into her little mouth and made quite a surprised face at the sweetness and coldness, I assume. Then she went back for more.

 I started with a steamer basket, peeling and de-seeding the veggies, and steaming them until they were soft enough for a fork to slide right through.

I had never tried to de-seed a squash or zucchini. It turns out there are a ton of seeds, so basically just assume you're going to lose 1/3 of the veggie to the de-seeding process. (Pile of seeds above). The recipe I found in my baby food book called for a pinch of basil. But I hate basil and I don't see the point of really making the food all herb-y as long as baby enjoys it. And these vegetables tasted great on their own.

 Here they are post-steam. They are kind of translucent. This took about 20-30 minutes depending on how much squash I put in the steamer, and baking is also a good method which is good at maintaining nutrients. 

 I had to take a break from Baby Fooding during our move, so Scarlett went quite a few days just having breast milk. Then when she got more and more excited during food time, I caved a bought ready-made baby food. I found a form of the Beachnut brand called JUST. Basically if the front of the jar reads "pears," then the ingredient list reads "pears" as well. No extras. Coincidentally, she hates pears. So, Texan ate them,

I have one left we haven't tried yet. 

When we moved into our new house I was lucky enough to have my mom and her best friend in town to set up my kitchen for me. So I began baby food production right away. During VBS week at church, someone had harvested a ton of giant zucchini from their garden and left them on the volunteer snack table. I took one home and saved it for just such an occasion. 

To give you an idea of how huge this zucchini was, a regular-sized one makes a single portion of baby food once peeled, seeded, steamed, and puréed. This one made SEVEN! 

Today I made something very special and tasty: roasted vanilla peaches. 

I began with these: one pound the sweetest and most perfect peaches I have ever tasted. 

I peeled, pitted and halved them. Then I put them in an inch of water with a drop of vanilla at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes--until the peach was falling apart at the touch of the fork. Then I puréed them, adding a bit of the roasting water to thin them out.

 The reason the portions are smaller is because I haven't deluded the peach at all, and if I had done them full, I would've only gotten two portions which would've meant she would be eating an entire peach in one sitting. 

Two peaches made five and a half portions. I saved the half for Scarlett to have as dessert after her zucchini at dinner tonight. The rest went in the freezer for this week. 

For breakfast I put a twist on hard-boiled egg yolks. My sister advised me to try yolks as her first protein. I took two yolks--babies cannot have whites--and puréed them in my magic bullet with 1/3 of an avocado and a bit of hot water. I tried to use pumped breast milk, but I find that since I don't pump often anymore I really only make enough for Scarlett's appetite. Supply and demand. So I use water. But if you have excess breast milk, I would suggest using that since it's so nutritious! Anyway, the yolk and avocado mixture turned out to be the consistency of a light mousse. And even though I hate eggs, I ALMOST wanted to try some! Scarlett gobbled it up and I loved knowing that she was getting good protein and healthy fats in her belly first thing in the morning. 

This is her eating just yolks for the first time. The consistency is too thick, so I originally added water, but I thought how gross that is. Watery egg yolks. That's where the avocado idea stemmed from.

You may be wondering what I did with the rest of the peaches I bought. Well, Texan gobbled one up, then I sliced one up and put the slices in the freezer for Scarlett to enjoy in her feeder. And I plan on eating the last one for breakfast tomorrow morning!

Her two new top teeth will thank me later. They are taking so long to pop through, and she loved sucking on a nice cold peach slice while I cooked for her. 

In other news, this tiny pink scraper is perfect for getting the last precious tidbits out of the bottom of my big blender, which I use when making bulk meals.

I hope this gives some insight into Baby Fooding for all my new mom friends. It really takes hardly any prep and gives great peace of mind knowing exactly what your baby is getting. And I can't wait to sample those roasted peaches later!

Tomorrow: Carrots and peas, and a little more, please!

A House For Baby

I am aware that this flower is ridiculous. I bought it to clip onto her caraway but she always pulls it off. So I put it on her headband today.

This past Wednesday we signed the papers on our very first house. 

Work began immediately for Texan as he rushed to scrape all the ceilings to remove the "popcorn" style texture, paint over the newly scraped ceiling, paint the raised wood paneling (which is in the dining room, living room and hallway), and paint the base boards. As of today he is ready to paint the ceilings but has to wait for the spakel to dry. 

Scarlett and I went over to bring a new box of spakel from Home Depot and drop off some lunch for Texan this afternoon. Our friend, John, was there helping and his wife and I sat on the back patio enjoying the weather. Scarlett got a chance to reunite with her exersaucer, since it had been in our new home's garage for the past week. I had to cut down on the amount of her toys that lingered around the house here while I clean. 

Wondering why we had stuff over at the new house already a week ago? We are friends with the people we bought the house from! So on Sunday they "secretly" gave us keys to start moving boxes into the garge so I could start cleaning our current rental. It's one of the many perks of knowing the sellers. 

This I what Scarlett has been sitting in since we moved her exersaucer. It's actually a walker, but she is too short for it so her feet dangle. She is happy in it for about 15 minutes then I think it hurts her little thighs.

Since we got the keys we were able to remove all of the boxes and excess furniture leaving only our beds, dressers and living room furniture. I couldn't live in the box maze very long. Unfinished work gives me anxiety (and I know I'm not special or alone in this regard) so this in-between faze is getting old. 

Vbs ended Friday and it was nice to sleep in until almost 9 am today because it wore my sweet baby out having to be up and out the door every morning by 8:30! Ok, maybe 8:45, but it was tiring nonetheless when you're used to staying in most days. I think it's safe to say she'll be catching up on sleep this weekend. 

We are working on standing. She loves to stiffen those legs and be held up at eye level to make faces at me.

This is her sitting unsupported and you can see she's going down quickly. Her right arm is waving goodbye to sitting up and she crash landed the second I snapped this shot. But her longest sitting up has lasted about 10 seconds, so progress is good. She got lots of practice this week because she was one of only two babies not sitting unsupported yet, all the other babies cheered her on as she practiced. Just kidding, one of them did slap her in the face. 

That's our week in a nutshell. Before/after pictures of the house and Scarlett's six months pictures will be here before we know it!