Noah: 7 Months

I am having a mini-panic attack that my baby is 7 months old. Actually I am a week late posting this so he is actually 7 months and 1 week. He is getting so big, and looks more like a toddler now than a baby. Although things are definitely much easier now at this age, I miss my little itty bitty baby.

The great things about this age, I no longer have to rush home for feedings or constantly be checking my watch while we are out so that we can rush home for a feeding. I can be an hour late for his feeding and he'll be a little trooper and carry on without a fuss. It makes 'parenting' so much easier. I was at the grocery store this week and realized he was 20 minutes late for his 4pm feeding and he was so happy and content. I wasn't worrying about a feeding, or a blowout, or that he'd start screaming. It was just so comfortable, and so NICE!

He sleeps better, he eats food, and he is so animated! He is like a little sponge, soaking everything in and learning something new every day. He loves to read, he's trying to figure out how to crawl, and he likes to grab things and experiment with textures. His favorite things to play with are Iphones, remotes, coasters, place mats and plastic water bottles. Why do kids love things they aren't supposed to? Also likes to bang on the table and throw things on the floor...over, and over, and over again since we keep picking them up!

His new thing is rolling onto his belly in his crib. I put him down for nap times, and by the time I make it out to the monitor he has himself propped up on his belly looking at the monitor like "hey mom, come and get me!" Little bugger, he just wants to play! He also sleeps on his belly now as well.

Forget the change table these days. He arches his back and is constantly flipping around. The only wya to keep him still is to give him a diaper to play with. He is sitting up really well on his own and loves to sit and play with his new toys.

We had our official first full night's sleep last week, Tuesday night he slept from 8:30-5:50am. Ah-mazing! I was hoping he'd keep it up, but ever since he's been up a few times a night. But at least I know he can do it! Two naps, around 9am and 1pm. Normally they last from an hour-1.5 hours.

Noah is eating 2 solid meals a day now, not sure when we'll start doing lunch. He also tried mum mum's this week for the first time. We tried fruit (pears and peaches) for the 1st time this week. So cereal and fruit at 9am, and 2 veggies at supper. Then BM 4 times a day, still nursing like a trooper. He loves sweet potato, carrots, butternut squash and avocado. He tolerates peas. Chicken is still a fail.

He LOVES to be on the go. He is my little buddy. Daddy is working lots of late nights lately and on weekends, so my little sidekick and I do almost everything together. But when Daddy IS home, I can't even feed the kid. All he wants is Dad, and his eyes follow him everywhere!

We're on the go all the time except for nap times. I try to always be home for his naps to keep him on schedule. The odd day he'll nap in the car, etc, but i try not to let it happen all that often. Lucky for us he still fits and tolerates the swing, perfect for those early AM's when Noah thinks it morning and I am not ready to get up yet. Also loves bath time (but hates getting dry), and walks, and this kid loves to swing. I try and take him to a park every day that we walk, and I swear he could swing for hours! He is noticing the kitty car more now, and likes to pet him.

Still such a happy boy, always smiling and now that those 2 teeth are through he very rarely cries or fusses. Still no stranger danger either!

It's been a wonderful 7th month! Looking forward to all the fun (and hopefully sleep) that 8 months brings!!

What are these things??

Starting Solids

Trying Peaches!

Well we've been feeding Noah solids now since May 5th, so 6+ weeks. I would say it is going pretty well. I know I had a TON of questions when starting out, and it seemed like everyone had their own way of doing solids. I wasn't sure how or what to do! So I thought doing a little post on it couldn't hurt. Some things I don't follow the text-book on, but starting solids was one thing I was definitely not going to stray from. You just hear so many things these days on allergies and reactions, etc. So this is what worked for us!

When did we start?: We waited until Noah was just shy of 6 months, the recommended time to introduce solids.

How did you know he was ready?: We were away in Florida 2 weeks prior to starting, and he was waking up every 2-3 hours at night hungry (very unusual) and was reaching for food and smacking while sitting at the table with us. I knew breastmilk just wasn't cutting it anymore.

What did you start with?: I started him on organic oatmeal to begin with. After 2 nights of him waking up with gas pain, I immediately switched to organic rice cereal. He had no issues with that.

How many times/day?: We started with 1 feeding/day for about 10 days. He got the hang of eating from a spoon right off the bat, and really enjoyed his cereal from day 1. So after 10 solid days, we went to 2 feedings/day.

How much did you give him?: I started out with one oz of breastmilk in a bowl, and then added cereal to make it a soupy liquid. I would say 2-ish tsps. Once he got used to that texture, I started making it thicker by adding more cereal. Now I would say he gets 2-3 tbsps with the 1+oz of breastmilk.

When did you introduce other foods?: After about 2.5 weeks we decided to try pureed chicken. Meats & Alternatives are now recommended before fruits and veggies. I made it myself in the processor. Noah HATED it. We tried again on night #2, and it went no better. He would let it sit in his mouth and then spit it out. So we decided to wait. I asked his doctor about it and she said as long as he was getting and liking iron fortified cereal, not to push the meat. So that's what we did.

Then what did you try?: After the chicken failed, we went to veggies. First was sweet potato, then avocado, carrots, butternut squash and peas. We waited 4 days in between introducing new foods. Some were big hits (squash, avocado), others were fails (like peas and beans).

When did you introduce fruit?: We just started fruit last week on week #6. We started with pureed pears and then tried peaches this week. He didn't gobble them up like he does veggies, but he eats them.

What does a typical day look like for Noah at 7 months?: At this point, he has 6-8 oz of breastmilk 4 times a day. And he gets 2 solid meals/day. I offer him solids at breakfast and supper, an hour after his last feeding so that he isn't still full. For breakfast, he gets cereal and a fruit. And at supper, we've been trying chicken again and 1 veggie or we do 2 veggies.

What next?: Well, good question. I think we will stay where we are at for awhile and gradually go from 2 meals to 3 meals in the next month or two. We will likely start introducing snacks at some point as well, but I am not sure when or what to try? Any good recommendations?

"Yuck Mom, PEAS???"

Weekend Re-Cap!

What a great weekend! Weather-wise, we were blessed with blue skies and warm temperatures. This was the first weekend Tim didn't work in 6+weeks. Well, he did go in for a few hours Sat AM but Noah and I were napping so technically it didn't count. It was SO nice to have him around. We had a super weekend together, we spent Saturday at the cottage with the fam. The first day at the cottage this year!! Followed that up with a stop at our favorite Fish and Chip joint on the Island, Richard's!

Beers with Dad! Still not a huge fan of his baby Banz.

Hammock time!

Driving out to the cottage together!

Finishing up the day with some Fish N Chips and Lobster Club!

We started Father's Day Sunday off with snuggles in bed, and we gave Tim his cards and gifts. I set Noah up with this adorable photoshoot and gave Tim the photo framed for Father's Day. I bought the letters at Michael's and they worked perfectly. Could he be any cuter?

We also gave Tim the complete men's line from Arbonne. He loves a good clean shave, and he was super pumped about his gift he went right to the bathroom to try it out!

Sunday after doing our little father's day morning here at home, we were off to spend the rest of the day with the other important father's in our lives! We first met my fam for brunch at one of our favorite sports, PEI Preserve Co., and then came home long enough for Noah to nap, then packed him up and off we went to Souris to have lobster with Tim's family. Yum Yum! Noah was a bit out of sorts all day long, I think he was just off schedule and it really through him. He cried most of the hour car ride to Tim's parents and when we got there his humour didn't improve very much. At brunch that morning we had to walk him around the restaurant over and over as that was the only way he was content. Just not his day!

Looking forward to when we can host family get-together's at our house when we have more space, that will make it a little easier on the little man :)

Overall, a pretty great weekend and a wonderful first father's day! Hope all the important Dad's in your lives had a great day as well.

Leaving this post with a little shout-out to my pops...like father, like daughter. Love you Dad! xoxo

Playing tourist last March in Prague

The Best!

Happy Father's Day to the most amazing man and the greatest Daddy. I don't know how we ever got so lucky!! Your love for your family amazes me every day and seeing you as a father completely melts my heart.

Watching Noah's face light up when you greet him first thing in the morning, or the way Noah's eyes follow you around the house when your on the move. The bond that you share is so special!

Noah and I are the luckiest...

We love you so much! xo

My Diaper Bag @ 7 Months

Well what's in my diaper bag has drastically changed since when Noah was a newborn. So I thought it warranted another post. Still cramming everything into my beautiful Coach diaper bag :) Some days I feel like it is a Mary Poppins Bag. I don't know how I fit everything in there!

FOR BABY:

1. Diapers - I like to keep AT LEAST 5 in the bag at any given time. I am always restocking.

2. Wipes - We have a travel case that car fit around 50 or so. I can re-stock it myself so I don't have to keep buying travel size wipes. Great way to save some $$.

3. Extra outfit - You never know when we may have a blowout, so we always carry an extra set of jams. Although now that the weather is getting nicer, I should probably swap out the jam jams for a onesie.

4. Pacifier Wipes - For all the times that darn Wub-A-Nub falls on the floor...at the restaurant, the car, etc. These wipes are sanity savers!

5. Disinfectant Wipes - Mostly for times when we are somewhere germ, like the cart at the grocery store, movie theatre, plane, etc.

6. Baby Bands & Ball Cap- Now that its summer I keep Noah's shades and his hat in the diaper bag at all times. He hates when the sun gets in his eyes.

7. Sunscreen -  Anew addition to the diaper bag, again since the weather is getting nicer the sunscreen has made a permanent home in the diaper bag.

8. Diaper Bags - These Arm&Hammer disposable bags are THE BOMB (excuse my 3rd grade vocabulary). Seriously, these scented bags mask the nasty odor of Noah's stinkys. I refuse to throw his diapers in the trash when we are out visiting friends homes' (restaurants and other public restrooms are ok) but I wouldn't do that to anyone we want to stay friends with! haha. These bags are also great for dirty/wet outfits, etc.

9. Diaper Rash Cream - Now that Noah is on solids his little bummy is getting red. So I bought an extra container of the All Natural Cream for the diaper bag as well.

10. Books and Toys - Now that he is older, books and toys are a necessity. I keep the travel version of 'Goodnight Moon', Sophie the Giraffe, Sophie little teether, and a little Infantino toy on me at all times.

11. Bib and Burp Cloth - These aren't used near as much anymore since Noah barely spits up these days. But again, you never know when you may need one or both of these items.

12. Changing Pad - For all the public restroom bum changes.

13. Bag of Pacifiers - Normally I clip Noah's 'to-go' soother to him before we leave the house (Wub-a-Nub gets thrown around now in the car so we don't take him in public anymore). But every once in awhile I will leave the house without the clip. So I keep a baggie with a few soothers just incase.

14. Nursing Covers - For all the times I have to nurse out in public, which doesn't happen very frequently anymore.

**NOT PICTURED** Now that Noah is on solids, I am starting to carry around Baby Gourmet food pouches when it is not feasible to bring his homemade food, a bowl with a cover (to avoid a mess) and a spoon. Also, on chillier days I throw in an Aden & Anais blanket as well.

FOR MOMMA:

1. Wallet, Iphone, Hand Sanitizer, Car Keys & Sunglasses.

Baby Noah: 29 Weeks

Well I am a little late on this weeks post, but better late than never! We had another busy week this week. A few lunch time visitors (Auntie Sarah and Kyla), some errands, some fitness classes, a full day away from my boys, and a family date night!

Boston Pizza with my boys!

Weight: My guess is still 19-20 lbs.

Health: Noah's runny nose didn't seem to worsen, and I haven't heard him cough lately so I am wondering if it didn't have something to do with cutting his teeth.

Watching Bubble Guppies in bed

Sleep: Usually up once or twice a night. The nights he is only up once it feels ah-mazing. He thinks the day should start between 5-6am though...so normally I bring him in with us until a more reasonable hour. He is getting better at putting himself to sleep as well, sometimes I leave him for a few mins to see if he will put himself back. I would say 50% of the time he does, the other 50% he gets even more upset and I have to go in to feed or comfort him.

Naps are lengthening, his morning nap lately has been about an hour and a half. I am trying to get him down from 3 short naps to 2 longer naps. So instead of putting him down around noon, i've been keeping him up until 1 or 1:30. Will see if a new schedule develops.

Watching Sports Centre with Dad

Social: We did our first stroller fit class on Thursday, what a workout! We had to run hills...with the stroller! We also went to 2 baby/mama fitness classes, met Noah's friends Denver and Marty for a walk, and went for a few walks and to the park. I also left Noah and Daddy alone for the first time for an entire day, they had a great time!

Diet: BM 4 times a day, and once at night. Eating solids at 9am and 5pm. This week we re-tried chicken, that was still a fail. We also tried green beans and peas. Tonight we are trying butternut squash for the first time and then later this week we are hoping to try fruit! He still loves cereal, and also really enjoys avocado, carrots and sweet potato.

I lost this battle with peas!

Clothes: He can still wear a few 3-6 month sweaters. But onesies are all 12 mths and pants are mostly 6-9 months. Size 3 diapers, but he is waking up wet more often lately so I am wondering if we shouldn't move to 4's soon.

Baby Gear Love: We got him a few new toys this week and he loves to sit and play with them. One is a Baby Einstein drum set that does colours/numbers, and the other is an Infantino shape sorter thing. He also loves when he is in his swing to reach up and grab the birds on the mobile. I had the mobile turned on the other day and I was in the bathroom and I could hear something clicking really loudly. I thought the swing had broke or something but there was Noah arching himself out of the swing, with his hand on the bird so that the mobile couldn't move. What a boy!

Out for a walk with Mom

Crying: When he wakes up at night/from a nap. And when you dry him off after a bath. The child HATES to be dried under his chin and in his crevices.

Likes: Stroller rides, swinging at the park and baths.

Anything cuter than baby bums?

Postpartum: I feel the need to brag today about my day yesterday. Myself, and 5 other girlfriends entered the PEI Red Island Relay yesterday as a 6-person female team. There is 5 legs of the race, 2 runs (7.75km and 10km) and 2 bikes, one road bike and one mountain bike (20km and 26 km) and a kayak leg. Myself and my friend Susan were doing the kayak leg together in a double kayak.

practicing our synchronization

So I left Daddy and Noah home for the day and went out to tackle the race with the gals. This meant, ofcourse, that I had to bring my trusty side-kick with me, my pump, and pump in the car around 11am! Oh the joys of motherhood. I was a tad nervous leaving the boys alone for so long for the first time, but they had a great day! Now Daddy knows how much work it is to be home with little man every day.

Kyla and I just a little wet!

The conditions yesterday were horrible as we received the tail end of Andrea. We're talking pouring rain 40-50 mm, 10 degrees, and horrible winds. But we did it, not only did we finish, we came 1st out of all the female teams!! We had such a fun day despite the weather, now to start training for next year's race! We need to reclaim our title!

Milestones: Sitting in the cart for the first time like a big boy. Starting to show signs of crawling, he brings his bum up like an inch-worm!

So another great week! Father's Day is this weekend so we are looking forward to celebrating with our father's and hubs for his 1st official Father's Day. Hope you all have a great week! xo