Mid-Autumn vacation day 1

Today was the first day of mid autumn holiday. We started the day with family hike. We had a great time Joy loves the outdoors. Rudy accidentally went for a swim in the river. We thought it was hilarious... he is traumatized. We then came home for a movie and some baby snuggles. A very good day!

watering cans and apples

The watering can seems to be Joy's new favorite toy. However this morning she was drawn like a magnet to the dog toys. I think the location of the dog toys needs to move because as I was writing an email and thought she she was playing with her toys....I looked over and she was chewing on the dog's raw hide bone. GROSS.

 I  must admit I love this picture because everything matches...Joy's outfit, her eyes, the high chair and the apple are all the same shade of blue and green. She loves to "eat" apple pieces.

Peekaboo & the walker

We had a fun weekend of relaxing, cooking yummy food, playing and going to one of Joy's friend's first birthday party. Joy has had a bit of a cold this weekend so she has been a little under the weather, but overall still our happy baby. She has started to babble and this afternoon she didn't want to take her last nap, but instead just laid there saying "da, da, da, ba, ba, da, da"...it was adorable. Also Brad discovered that Joy loves peekaboo!

Here are a couple videos of our cute little Joy-bean.

Happy 7 months!

 What Joy is doing: 

• Joy is almost crawling! The last few days she has mastered rocking back and forth on her knees and hands, however she still lacks the coordination to get her hands and knees going in the same direction. She can get from one side of the carpet to the other with no troubles at all. 

 Look at me, I am up on all fours

 I like trying to crawl but sometimes I get mad and frustrated!

• Everything goes into her mouth! So far the things we have caught her with in her mouth other than toys: carpet, chair leg, the ottoman, the entertainment center, diaper bag, anything with straps (my tank tops, the Ergo, the activity center buckles/straps), my shoes, Rudy's toys. Yep the last two are pretty gross. I am trying to put stuff away and clean the floors more. Thankfully she hasn't found the dog food yet!

 

Rudy is hoping Joy stays away from his bed

  

 Eats

• Nursing: She still loves to nurse but does get quite distracted, especially in the morning when she first wakes up. All she wants to do is play with daddy so eating is not that exciting. 
• Solid food: Joy has taken to solid food like duck to water. Although she is still pretty particular about texture (no lumps please) and temperature (it must be warm or she will NOT eat it).
• Loves: pumpkin, carrots, green beans, apples, pears
• Verdict is still out on: bananas (her Aunt Ruthie would be proud)
• Introducing this week: avocado and peas
• Had an allergy to: sweet potatoes (gave her terrible diaper rash)

Sleeps:

•  Night time: Sleep training has been working, but she still does fuss when she goes down. She gets an extra bottle of breast milk when she goes down because she is very hungry at bedtime. She still sort of likes being swaddled.....it helps her calm down to go to sleep but she breaks out of it almost immediately (swaddlers aren't meant for such big, strong babies!). She is an early riser like her dad and wakes up very happy. She has started sleeping on her stomach which took her a while to tolerate. She still doesn't love it but in a half asleep state she has a hard time getting herself back to her back.
• Naps: Joy still takes 3-4 naps and is doing much better at napping longer than 40 minutes. She has abandoned her paci for her thumb.If she naps in the Ergo she will still take her paci, so there is still a small space in her heart for the paci.

Weighs: Joy still weighs 15lbs. Looks like she has reached a plateau in her weight gain, probably because she is moving so much. The girl doesn't stop moving unless she is DEEP asleep.

Likes: Her bear is still her favorite and holds it while she sucks her thumb. She loves people watching and will squawk at people in the MTR until they look at her and smile.  She loves sitting on the roof with her dad while he throws the ball for Rudy. This has become a ritual especially in the evenings since it is cooler and I tutor, so Brad gets the dog and baby out of my hair so to speak.. She loves her nighttime ritual of reading books with daddy. It is so cute to watch her follow each page.

Dislikes: Joy dislikes sleeping while we are out of the house...there is just too much to see.

Favorite event: Eating breakfast on the roof as a family and the moment that daddy walks in the door after work.

Dear Joy,
I love doing this blog post once a month. It is great to re-read your previous month postings and see how much you have grown and changed. Every month I have a hard time finding things that you "dislike" and I could go on an on about the things you like. It is a great reminder of what a happy baby we have on our hands. Joy you are such a blessing to us and we are grateful that God entrusted us to be your parents. You are the greatest "job" I have ever had. You are a great reminder to us of God's unconditional love.

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine......Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give people in exchange for you, nations in exchange for your life.  "( Isaiah 43: 1, 4)

Favorite striped PJs

 Joy has almost outgrown some very cute PJs and I realized that I didn't have any pictures of her in them. At least she isn't growing as fast as she was during the first three months. I thought that something magical happened when the clothes went into her dresser. One day they would fit her great the next day WAY too small.  I have been organizing our pictures from summer time and it is amazing to see how big Joy is compared to summer. She is so fun these days; smiles, laughs, scooting all over, screeching and squawking in excitement., throwing her arms down when she wants something that is too far away. We love you Joy!

 

Joy has been resistant to napping in her carrier these days and still takes 4 naps...so the last two days we have been chilling at home. Joy is getting a crash course in home ec; you know watching me do: cleaning, laundry cooking, baking, and a few skype dates :-)Tomorrow we are leaving the house for a lunch date because I am gong a bit stir crazy.

Look at Joy's hair! It is hard to capture in pictures because it is so light, but this morning it was sticking straight up, so a picture was in order.

So yes this baby has my eye shape and chin but in every other respect she is her daddy's girl. Never in a thousand years did I think I would have a blond hair, blue eyed baby.

Mmm this chair is tasty

And she moves

Ok so Joy isn't crawling (didn't want to get your hopes up), but she is defiantly moving. Call it a scoot, or a shuffle, a wiggle or a slide....whatever it is she gets from one side of the room to another. Yikes and I thought I could wait a few more months to baby proof my house. I thought that since she was 5 weeks early it would take her a while to get the hang of going where she wants to go. I moved early and Brad didn't even crawl, he just was drug around on a blanket by his older sister until he walked. I guess Joy is taking after her mom.

 She gets stuck places which is pretty hilarious and I still need to get it on video but here are a few pictures of the evidence.

 Obviously under the chair is a great place to hang out. When Brad saw the picture he said "Em she could have pulled the whole chair on to her head!" I didn't even think about that...good thing I was CLOSE BY.

 Have you tried to do that move before? Legs and arms not touching the ground.... I tried while doing Pilates and it is REALLY hard.

 Joy started in the middle of the activity mat.....and I came back from doing dishes and this is where she was!

hmm this ottoman tastes great

Thanks Great Uncle Michael

Joy's Great Uncle Michael gave her a very cute onesie and a matching monkey rattle/blanket. Thank you so much!

 Yes it does feel good in my hand while I suck my thumb

Joy & Rudy

Joy has just started to notice that there is a furry little creature in our house. I think she must think he is a real live stuffed animal and like all stuffed animals he belongs in her mouth. Rudy doesn't like that Joy "pets" him so erratically and grabs his fur, but so far he just runs away. Beware Rudy....Joy is VERY close to crawling. Yesterday Joy moved (scooted and rolled, but not really sure because my back was to her) to the other side of her activity mat..watch our world.

 Enjoy the videos of the two interacting :-)

Eating like a champ

Joy is loving solid food now that she is used to it. We have tried: bananas, pumpkin (her favorite), carrots and green beans. This week sweet potatoes and avocado

Here she is in her new booster seat and lounging in a high chair at ikea. She was a little annoyed that she wasn't eating anything at Ikea :)