Happy Halloween from Daisy & Lilly...

Crawling and Exploring

Logan is one week shy of being 7 months.  I say it every time, but I can't believe how fast he is growing, and how old he is getting!  It is going by soooo fast!  Logan is geting very good at army-crawling.  He zooms around the living room quite well -- usually to chase a dog, or try to get a hold of a computer cord (which is a no-no!).  He is such a sweet, sweet baby.  He has this adorable grin, and loves to snuggle with his mama -- of course both of those traits make me fall head over heels for him every single day. 

Fall trip to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch

A few weekends ago I joined our neighbor's church on a trip to a local apple orchard.  It was the most amazingly beautiful, perfect fall day.  The drive there was about 40 minutes, along the Mississippi River, and it was the first day that the leaves had really turned colors.  It was stunningly beautiful.  The only hiccup during the trip (aside from the fact that SB couldn't join us as he was on a team trip) was the fact that our apple-picking trip wasn't very successful as they were apparently "out of apples."  Bummer.  I had an apple muffin recipe all ready for my bounty of apples, but they were not to be had.  However, it was so gorgeous that most people picked a pumpkin, and then enjoyed the petting farm, pony rides, slides, and yummy goodies.  Here are a few fun pics from the day:

Before I was a Mom...and Now that I am a Mom.....

Before I was a mom, I thought that only very granola-type moms would nurse their babies beyond 9 months.  Now that I am a mom, I have been doing it for 6.5 months, and I am hoping to make it to 9-10 months (if not 12).  I had no idea that the AAP actually recommends that moms nurse for the first 12 months.  I seriously thought that was strange prior to having a baby!  Now I really admire moms who are able to do that.

Before I was a mom, I would have told you that I would never nurse in public.  Like never, ever, ever.  Now that I am a mom, I learned quickly that I'd have to be a hermit to avoid doing that -- and quite honestly, it isn't so bad (with a cute cover, mind you!).  I have now nursed on an airplane, at the dinner table with my entire family, in the car, in a fast food parking lot halfway between Wisconsin and St. Louis,  on the beach, and in my backyard - trying to get the dogs back in the house,

Before I was a mom, I figured I would serve my baby the customary baby food from the grocery store.  Now that I am a mom, I like to know every little thing that goes in my baby's body, so I make my own baby food.  He's been eating vegetables for 3 weeks now, and has tried carrots, sweet potatoes, peas (he loves, loves, loves peas -- like his Daddy), green beans, avocados, and now bananas.  It is so easy to make!  I simply steam or microwave the food, add a little water and then run it through our blender, and voila -- baby food!  For the avocados and bananas, I simply mashed them into a puree, and added a tiny bit of water.  I was surprised today at Whole Foods that even their organic varieties had oil and a bunch of ingredients beyond just the veggie itself.

Before I was a mom, I thought that the people who used the pharmacy drive-through were just lazy. Now that I am a mom, I think it is the greatest invention ever, and I was a dummy for ever questioning it!!  Hello - it is so ideal when you have a baby in the back seat -- awake or asleep.  It can be a hassle getting him in and out every time, and carrying him throughout, or getting out the stroller too -- it just trims off so much time!  I really love the pharmacy drive-through now! 


Before I was a mom, I wouldn't say that I judged moms -- because I truly don't think I'm that judgmental -- but now that I am a mom, I definitely wouldn't question what other people do for their own children (so long as they are safe and well cared for).  Just because I nurse and now make my own food, doesn't mean that I think that people who don't do that aren't doing a good a job, or don't have their children's best interest at heart.  Parenting is a tough job!!  Period.

Favorite Things -- 3-6 Months Edition

Months 3-6 have been really fun.  Logan is getting increasingly interactive, and we are getting increasingly comfortable with our routines, and with the exciting changes that a new baby brings.  For the most part, Logan's favorite "toys" are Daisy and Lilly, our dogs!  He loves to watch them, and he likes to  crawl (not exactly on all 4's -- more like inch-worming) over to them, to pet their feet.  Lilly doesn't mind one bit, and will just lay there for him, but Daisy doesn't like anyone touching her feet (much like me!).  However, she does love the attention he gives her, and likes to be near him at all times.  Logan would also give anything to play with their toys -- he is really eyeing their big green ball, and their big Nylabones.  Of course, I don't so much like the idea of the dogs sharing their toys with Logan! 

Here are a few of our favorite things lately:

 

Logan LOVES this activity center/exersaucer!  It really entertains him, and gives him so much to play with -- along with some classical music.  I recently heard that these things aren't the best for babies' hips (the physical therapist related it to riding a horse), and they shouldn't spend long periods of time (ie: more than 15-20 min) in them.  He started using it around month 4. He likes the "johnny jump-up" thing ok...but he LOVES this.

 

Sophie really is a great teether toy.  Logan loves this thing!

 

 So originally my plan was just to use the BOB as our main stroller, but it can be a touch heavy/bulky, so I bought this to just throw in the trunk of our car for short, easy trips.  I still love the BOB and use it ALL the time in the neighborhood, and jogging -- and I know plenty of people who strictly use that as their stroller, but this little umbrella-type stroller was a nice addition for me.  Logan just started using it at about 5.5 months -- when he was sitting up on his own consistently.

This is kinda yucky -- but Logan had an ear infection at the start of month 3 (related to the darn reflux), and we gave him an antibiotic to treat it.  Antibiotics mess with babies' tummies a bit, so let me just say we were changing a LOT of dirty diapers while he was on it.  The triple paste was a terrific preventative tool to try to avoid getting diaper rash -- and treat it when he got a little bit of it.  I've also liked Desitin - but this one was better for a more "serious" case!

More family photos...

Cassie Allen shared a bunch more of the shots from our family photo shoot....and there are so many good ones that I just love!  This will really help us get some good stuff on our walls.  Now I just have to find the right frames!

Catching Up...

• The Halloween 10k was SO FUN!  I was totally lame, and didn't end up wearing a costume, but I definitely wasn't alone.  However, there were so many fun costumes -- I'd love to do this race again, and I'll wear a costume next time!  My goal was to run it in less than an hour, but I ended up finishing in 1:00:14.  That's right, 14 seconds over an hour, a 9:41 pace.  Sooo close, and yet soooo far away!  Just more motivation to continue with the training!  (though it's starting to get cold....I now understand why people get treadmills.....an easy thing to do while baby naps!  Christmas is coming, I guess :)
• A few of the fun costumes:  Elvis, full gorilla suit, full banana costume, lots of kitties/tigers/leopards/etc., tortoise and hare duos, lots of St. Louis Cardinal-themed costumes (the city is really excited to be in the World Series -- people are baseball-crazy here!) -- "Rally Squirrel" and a beaten-up Brewer, Where's Waldo, Skunk (this is an easy one -- all black, white stripe of fur down back), hippies, tons of super heros, a guy in full KISS makeup, clowns, Elf, Gumby, matador and bulls, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Wizard of Oz characters, lady bugs, bees, fairies, lots of 80's girls, White Swan/Black Swan ballerinas, police officer/prisoner, 3 blind mice, 3 little piggies, witches, devils, Santa and Mrs. Claus, and super heroes galore!  
• My parents were here last weekend (they watched Logan while I ran -- SB was in Green Bay for the game, lucky guy!....though not so lucky for the Rams - they're having a tough season with tons of injuries), and we also partook in our neighborhood chili cook-off Saturday which was a lot of fun.  Logan kind of had a mini melt-down an hour into it when I left to feed him, so we stayed home and didn't get to enjoy it as much as I'd hoped.  
• It's getting cold here!  It dipped into the 30's last night.  After work Logan and I went to the outlet nearby to pick up a hat and some mittens for him.  I need to get him a jacket too.  I checked my receipt from Old Navy when we got home, and they charged me twice for one item -- I had 7 items, but 8 on the receipt.  Just a reminder to always check your receipt -- it's so easy for them to make mistakes like that!
• Tonight is Bunco night -- I'm so excited :)!  I never thought I'd say those words - haha!

Halloween Costume Ideas Needed!

This Sunday I'm running a Halloween 10k.  I'm really excited to be doing this race, because I know I'll be laughing throughout at everyone else's costumes.  BUT I am floundering when it comes to figuring out a costume for myself!  (I've never been good at coming up with creative costumes for myself....I usually go with "witch" or "cowgirl" when pressed!)  It's going to be about 50 degrees at the start, and I need to be able to run like 60 min in it (ie: no chafing, not too hot/cumbersome).  I'm so not creative when it comes to costumes....have any of you ever done something like this, and do you have any EASY ideas for me?  I was planning to run with a friend, but she's now injured so it's just me. 

A few I've considered:

• 80's -- just can't find leg warmers....  
• Bumble Bee
• Super hero (saw a Superman t-shirt with cape at the Halloween store...just not that creative)

I'd love to hear any of your super awesome ideas!! (especially now that you can comment without worrying about contracting some awful virus from my computer!)

Comment Issue Fixed?

Hey guys -- The sweet mFw alerted me to an issue on my blog....and Up North Preppy said that she had been having trouble commenting.  I just tried to update a few settings, and I think it's fixed.  Can anyone out there in blogland let me know if it's working again (or how to fix it if it's not!)?  Thanks so much!! 

Family Photos -- Sneak Peek

We had a great family photo shoot with Cassie Allen (of Cassie Allen Photography).  Logan seemed to enjoy it too, but it wasn't easy to get him to crack a smile!  It seemed like he just liked watching us make fools of ourselves to try to get him to grin, so he held out just to continue the adults' shenanigans!  However, I think she got some really great photos, and I can't wait to see the whole batch.  Here's our first teaser....we will be able to see the rest in about 3 weeks.

 

HGTV -- Sarah 101 -- Nursery

Throughout my pregnancy, I hunted and hunted for inspiration for our baby's nursery.  I found lots of nurseries that were cute, but I really struggled to find something that I loved.  It really stressed me out!  I wanted to pick fairly neutral bedding that could be used for more than one bambino, but I didn't really find anything - so we went with something that both SB and I liked from Pottery Barn Kids.  After seeing a few nurseries recently, I kind of wish that I'd gone a little more of a unique route -- maybe having curtains or bedding made, or having a slip-cover made for the glider my sister gave us, and doing something more interesting with the walls.  However, that said -- his room is sweet and I do like it, he can grow with the furniture and curtains, and we can use most all of it for a future #2, with a few tweaks if it'll be a girl (and don't worry, #2 is only a glimmer in our imaginations right now :)  Well it's never too late...(though I'm sure SB will cretainly be rolling his eyes if he reads that!  haha -- he keeps telling me that the room is fine as is!)

Today I was watching HGTV's Sarah 101 program with Sarah Richardson and her trusty sidekick Tommy, and I fell in love with the nursery that they created.  It's so unique, and I love how she incorporates so many fabrics and patterns into one room.  I so wish I had an eye to be able to do something like this myself.  My favorite part would be the window panels.  Love the pom-pom fringe!!  Just seeing that reignites my desire to have a sewing machine!

  

And just for fun, this last image is of a different nursery Sarah created (maybe for her own daughter?).  I adore the fabrics. 

Pumpkin Crazy

I know I've said it before, but I am seriously loving the fall weather here.  It has been sunny and crisp, and just plain beautiful.  This past weekend I drove by a cute roadside farm stand, and decided to pick up a few pumpkins for our front porch.  Yes, it's just barely October, but I figure we might as well enjoy them for all 31 days!  (as long as the neighborhood teenagers don't have other plans for them....fingers crossed they stay away this year.  They got our neighbor's pumpkins last year...they were road kill.)  So on Sunday I put out our fall wreath, decorated our pumpkins with thumbtacks (one has a "B" and the other a jack-o-lantern smiley face), and bought a mum for my yellow planter.  It's the little things, sometimes!

Here are a few of my favorite pumpkin pics from Southern Living and Midwest Living:

Happy 1/2 Birthday!!! 6 months old already!

Stats:
Weight:  *we'll find out on Tuesday, when LB has his 6 mo. checkup
Height:  
Milestones:
Sleeping: You are sleeping well.  You go to bed between 7 and 7:30pm, and wake up around 6:30-7am.  For the last few weeks, you have been waking up at 4:30-5am, but you fall back to sleep after some comforting, and listening to your mobile.  Hopefully you'll start sleeping all the way through the night consistently again soon!
Eating:  You are a great eater.  We do baby oatmeal in the morning, and rice cereal for dinner.  You have your mama's milk 4-5 times a day on top of that. 
Clothing Size:  6-12 months, 9 month, even 12 or 12-18 month!  -- every brand is different
Diapers:  Size 3
Etc:  You can now sit totally unsupported by yourself.  You've also started doing a scooting, inch-worm maneuver to get around on the floor.  You can pretty much move yourself to wherever you want to be (usually by the dogs!).  When we hold you, you are very interested in whatever it is we are carrying, and you like to help hold it too.  If we are holding a cup, you try to drink out of it, which is pretty funny.  You are very interested in watching us eat and drink, and it will be fun to start feeding you some new solids this month (fruits and veggies!  yay!).  Fortunately your acid reflux seems to be under control.  You are really into watching the dogs, and petting them.  You like to touch their fur, and they really make you giggle.  This month we traveled to Wisconsin for a few days (my first time driving all by myself!).  We did a fun photo shoot last night to capture our family at this fun stage. 

I seriously can't believe you are 6 months old.  26 weeks.  It honestly feels like yesterday that we drove to the hospital bright and early in the morning on Saturday, April 2.   Happy 1/2 Birthday!  We love you so much!