Our Little O'Cutie

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! (Although I thought it was on Saturday the 14th). I nearly forgot about Brooklyn's fun St. Patty's Day outfits...but I remembered TODAY!! So at least she can wear them throughout March...and most importantly, today!

Crazy wonky hair after a bath...I even slept in green!!

Here is a little update on our cutie. We started her on Stage 1 Gerber foods on her 6 month birthday. She has had: Green Beans, Peas, Prunes, Carrots, Pears, Squash and Applesauce (and in that order). Next on our list are Sweet Potatoes, Bananas and Peaches!! Then we will be moving on to the Stage 2 foods...which are slightly bigger portions and combinations!! So far she hasn't been allergic to anything. Also...she really LOVES this thing we all do called eating!! Sometimes she makes you feel guilty when you eat in front of her because she looks like she wants to try it so so bad!! She gets "food" three times a day...morning: 1/2 container with cereal, lunch: full container and dinner: 1/2 container with cereal. So far this seems to be working well for her. When she looses interest in eating she starts to make "raspberries" and blow and splatter food everywhere!! Luckily she is usually pretty into it! She's not a fan of cereal alone...but once we mixed food with it she chowed down! A side note...I LOVE Brooklyn's new plastic bib!! One of the best things we have purchased!! We only need one bib (vs 3 a day) and we just wipe it off!! So so nice!! I'm all about convenience and cutting back on dirty laundry!! Also...a big fan of the "Take and Toss" spoons (and other products)...not that I would ever "toss" them (they are too nice! basically Gladware for babies)...but wouldn't be heartbroken if one got left at a restaurant. They come in a pack of 20 for only $3 and we go through a TON of spoons too...so this makes it easier on the dishwasher (AKA me).

Wonderful "Take and Toss" spoons

All gone!! Messy messy prunes!!

This is why we got the WONDERFUL plastic bib (and its cute!)

Although she's not near that messy anymore...

New plastic bib!!

She is nearly sitting unassisted. She is SO SO SO close! She can do it for just a couple of seconds before she teeters and totters. Another new found skill she has become a fan of is rolling. She rolled from her back to her tummy several months ago...but since we have been restricting her time on her back, she hasn't had the opportunity to try or practice. However, her much needed tummy time has now come to a screeching halt because she IMMEDIATELY rolls over...and kicks her legs in excitement!! I lay her back down and she rolls over...it kind of becomes a game. Therefor, making her spend time on her tummy has now gotten more difficult. She has progressed from crying and hating it...to realizing that she doesn't have to be there.

However, this skill has made a negative impact on her napping. For the past month or so she has been taking an incredible morning nap!! Usually for at least 2 hours...if not 3 hours some days. We put her on her tummy just for naps and she slept great!! She would wake up...check out her crib and go back to sleep. That isn't the case anymore. Now she wakes up and flips over...and that is the end of our nap. Yesterday she got herself stuck in the slats of the crib. We have nothing in her crib with her...just a sheet and Brooklyn. Her poor right arm and leg were wedged between the crib and the wall! Her arm came out with great ease...but it was a little tricky twisting her leg and getting back through. Needless to say Grandma bought her a lovely chocolate breathable bumper that we put in her crib last night. I must say...it might help our nap situation because today when she woke up she rolled over and fell back asleep for a little while because she didn't have the crib slats to play with. We also stopped swaddling her arms about a week ago at night. So far...so good! We just swaddle her torso...so basically we just use the little velcro wrap from her armpits down, so she still feels "snug as a bug in a rug." She seems to sleep really well. She likes to sleep on her side....so as a result, un-swaddling her has helped her to not be on her back as much!! With free arms comes movement though...she usually rotates a full 180-360 degrees by morning...so again, breathable bumper should be a good thing. So...we shall see.

Here is our new mesh breathable bumper (not our crib though)

Grandma also bought Brooklyn her first swimsuit!!! I didn't want a bikini for a baby...and they had some cute tankini ones....which were cute, but I thought the diaper would probably show a lot more with separate bottoms (although they might be easier to change). We got her cute little pink and orange plaid swimsuit that has three ruffles down the front and a white daisy at the bottom of each strap...it's pretty fun!! We may also get her one with sleeves...Old Navy has a really cute one with pink, orange and yellow flowers...that has ruffles on the leg holes...we'll see. I mean, how many swimsuits will a 9 month old need?? I really hope to take her to the pool though because she LOVES her bath...I think she will be a big fan.

Another fun thing in her life...we have introduced the sippy cup! She has no clue what to do with it...but she loves to wave it around (occasionally bonking herself) and suck on whatever part of it she can get in her mouth. I don't think she has yet to get any liquid out of it. I also wasn't sure what to put in it...so we have started with water. I think that is all she'll get for a very long while.

A new favorite (and oh so cheap) toy that will entertain her...mainly when we are at restaurants is PAPER!! Tissue paper, wax paper, napkins...anything that she can crinkle up and shove in her mouth!!! (under supervision of course!)...so when it gets nasty...we give her a new piece. It works quite well! I've decided I should have a big piece of cellophane in the diaper bag because it wouldn't get soggy with slobber. She also has fun sitting in our laps while we are at the table...but watch out! She will grab anything and everything in front of her!! Including a big handful of rice off of Brooks' plate.

She still loves to jump and be bounced around. Any fast movement makes her laugh. Brooks and I were talking about how much we just love (and I mean LOVE) to listen to that little chuckle that comes out of such a cute little body....and how it is such an innocent little sound.
Daddy tried to give me a mohawk...but it just flopped over into a big curl

Brooklyn goes back to the doctor for a followup on her head this Thursday, a weight check with the pedi on April 2nd. Brooks is having surgery next Monday and will be home from work for a week or so. Even though he will be recuperating...at least he will get to spend more time with us!! He has plans of catching up on The Unit, City Limit Fishing (which he has a MILLION recorded), watching guy movies...and playing video games (Playstation on loan from Ian)...all with Brooklyn at his side (unless she is eating or sleeping).

Just a sweet picture! She NEVER lays on us like this...how could I resist??

I have been working on planning a "belated" 30th birthday party for my Brooks (AKA my wonderful husband and Brooklyn's wonderful Daddy). It might be at Lake Medina...and it might be at our house...who knows! We went out to the lake last week and the water level is way down...so it didn't look like much fun. Either way...we hope to celebrate and have a get together for Brooks with family and close friends (he doesn't want a lot of people...I keep telling him, "Brooks, you come from a BIG family"). You might ask why we are doing it now when his birthday was in January...well it was really close to Christmas and people were already traveling left and right...and it's cold (or should be in January)...so we decided to have a little shindig for him in the spring. That is a short (or long) update on our life at the moment.

Cute little feet poking out of bluejeans...first time in jeans