10 Months

Our little sugar bean is 10 months old!

She's been sick a lot in the past month, but not many other changes otherwise.  Still on the same nap and bedtime schedule.  Eating at the same times....2 bottles, nursing twice, 3 solid meals a day.  She has taken really well to lots of new foods this month.  She's eaten chili, biscuits & gravy, waffles, spaghetti, scrambled eggs, chicken noodle soup, and meatballs.  This girl will eat anything (like her daddy)!  I'm thankful that she doesn't seem to be picky yet.  When we are eating something - like when I grab a handful of Cheez-its to snack on - she makes a beeline for the food and grunts until you give her a bite.  Girl likes to eat! 

She is SO not interested in toys these days.  Her favorite things lately are ripping up magazines and pushing cardboard diaper boxes around the house.  She does love looking at books.  She's learned to turn the pages on her own....and she babbles while she looks at each page.  Such a busy little girl.

Her new tricks this month include walking along furniture or while holding onto our hands, waving, and repeating mama and dada when we say them to her (if she's in the right mood).  Her two top teeth are in now....she has a cute little toothy grin. :)

This girl is determined.  When she sets her mind to having something, she wants it.  As in now.  She will push my hands away if she doesn't like what I'm doing, or arch her back and throw her head back.  A bit of a drama queen, this one.  All of a sudden, in the past few weeks, she has decided that she hates taking baths.  Our girl who has loved water from day one has a total melt-down when we put her in the tub.  We do it right before bed, and I don't know if she's just too tired or what....I am going to try giving it to her in the mornings while I'm off work for the next few days and see if that makes a difference.

She LOVES to laugh!  She giggles when we tickle her, when we make funny faces, or when we sing to her.  She also cracks up when we play peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake.  Even my worst days can be turned around in a second when I see this sweet, happy face.

 Yelling at me for taking too many pictures, I think....

She continues to get endless compliments about her beautiful blue eyes.  We can't see to go anywhere without a complete stranger commenting about her baby blues.  I feel so blessed everytime someone tells me how pretty she is (as if I didn't know!).  I am so thankful to have a happy, healthy, beautiful baby.   

I'm so looking forward to these last couple of months before the big o-n-e.  Somehow I feel that after 12 months, she's not a baby anymore.  How can time have gone by so fast?? 
Beautiful, perfect, sweet, little angel baby.  I love you. 

Christmas Progress

So....remember when I posted that I was going to get all organized with Christmas this year, and get done early so I could enjoy the month of December??  HA!  Well, that did NOT happen.  I sure had good intentions.  In a somewhat last-minute decision (5 weeks ago) to make many of my gifts and save money, I dug my own grave.  6 weeks is NOT an adequate amount of time to hand make 75% of  your Christmas gifts...

I am happy to report that *most* of my gifts are done.  I have pictures to share of all my creations...but many of the recipients read this blog!  I will probably have to wait until after Christmas to post some of the big gifts - but maybe it will give you an idea for next Christmas (I guess I need to start in JULY next year), or maybe give you a birthday/anniversary/wedding/shower gift inspiration.  Here a just a couple of little things that I've worked on (and already gifted away!)....

I got this cute subway art from Pinterest (they have TONS if you search for it!), and plopped it in a floating frame that I already had.  Cheap, quick, easy....and turned out cute!  Made two of these to give to co-workers.

Whipped up a batch of puppy chow (did you know they call it "muddy buddies" on the box?  what's up with that?!?) and stuck it in a $4 jar from Target.  Made a tag and tied it on with some polkadot ribbon.  Gave this to Natalie's daycare provider this morning.  I'd like to give her more - because she is wonderful with my sweet little girl.  But according to my calculations, I will pay her approximately $10,000 in a year's time.....so puppy chow it is. :)

I made these magnets and post-it note holders for the ladies I teach with. :)  Cute to use at school, or at home if they wish.  The inspiration for these from Pinterest as well.....it's addictive, people.  Seriously.

So, gifts are in production....most of the wrapping is done (with the exception of the unfinished gifts, of course!), finally got my Christmas cards mailed today, and I am now done with school so I can FOCUS on getting everything finished.  Oh, how I wish I would have stuck to my resolution of getting done early.  Honestly, I'm starting in the summer next year...

In my defense, I've had things like this consuming my time:

My Uncle was Santa this year -- so we had to take a trip to sit on his lap. :)  Natalie was not thrilled...

Oh, and a mysterious illness always makes it easy to get things done...

I'm considering hibernating next winter.....
Merry Christmas! :)

Sick Baby

My poor little sweet pea is sick. :(  She has been battling runny diapers for 3 days, and I figured it was those pesky top teeth (that have decided to both come in at the same time).  This morning, I went in to wake her up as I always do.  As I settled in to nurse her, she felt warm to me.  I didn't think much of it at first because I kind of bundle her up at night, and she's always warm & toasty when I get her out of bed.  While I was changing her diaper, her tummy felt really hot to me, so took her temperature. 100.6. 

So began the 15 minute back-and-forth about who can afford to miss a day of work.....I lost.  Even though things are very busy at work.  But I'm glad I'm with her today, because she NEEDS me!  A baby with a fever is just completely pitiful.  It is the saddest thing.  She doesn't want to play or eat.  Her little hot body has been glued to me all day, and when I put her down she whines "mamamama" until I pick her up again.  Tylenol hasn't made a difference yet, so I hope the fever breaks soon. 

I made a comfy spot for her on the floor with pillows and blankets, and thought maybe she'd lay there for a bit while I made some lunch.  She laid there with her blankie for an hour watching Sesame Street (she looked comfy, so I didn't want to move her).....then fell asleep right there in the middle of the living room.

Poor little angel.
Say prayers for my sweet girl's recovery!!