Lucky #7

Dear River
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Happy seven months baby boy. Right now you are taking a nap. You are trying to sleep off your first illness. You've never been sick a day in your life, then we get your first immunization shot and within 24 hours you have a fever, chest cough, labored breathing and sores on the back of your throat. Hmmm.... glad I didn't have you get more, or get them sooner. Sorry you don't feel good buddy. Even with being sick, you wake up every day with a smile. When you're achy and get fussy, you are a master self soother. Who needs a binkie, when a thumb is so handy? (Get it?)
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You also cut your first tooth today. When it rains it pours. The bottom right front tooth made its debut. You don't like us to look at it. You are a master of hiding it with your tongue.
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You are super steady sitting up. The doctor tried to knock you over and couldn't. You are a tad bit happier on your belly. You have started pulling your knees under you a bit, but when you push forward, your hands get left behind and you haven't quite figured out how to bring them back up. Take your time little man. Mama likes having you in the same spot she left you in when she has to run to the bathroom.
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This month you finally rolled from your stomach to your back. You've been doing the other way for awhile, but would only put your head down and start sucking your thumb, when you wanted off your belly. Not anymore. You just stretch your neck way far back and around, then magically the rest of your body follows.
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Your collection of funny noises have grown, as well as the volume. It sounds like you say eight... so we always say nine, ten right after. Maybe you will like math like your Papa Hal? It also sounds like you say add. I tried to get you to add a d and say dad, but you change it to dab. So close buddy. None of your noises sound like mom... oh well... why do you need to say mom, when I am always right there?
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My two favorite new things you started doing this month are your grandpa face and your much loves. You suck your lips in and since you have no teeth, oops, I mean one tooth, you look like the cutest old man. You also beat your hand on your chest, right over your heart and then stretch out your arm to me or dad. We always say much love, because it seems like that's what you are trying to say to us.
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Of course I still love your raspberries. You do them so much, we call it motorboatin. You've added a delightful new twist... motorboatin while eating. Nothing like a good banana shower to get the day started.
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I better publish this. You are going to wake up soon and I am very tired. It's not your fault. You've been sleeping great. It's just hard on a mama seeing her baby sick. I do enjoy the cuddles though. Feel better soon and no more shots for a looong while. Promise.
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Love Mama

Diabetics Beware

The sweetness of these pictures might send you into sugar shock.
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Melissa at Melissa Sue Photography is the best. She made my photos beautiful, even without the Earth Mama Hair. Of course my handsome husband and gorgeous babe, with his million mega watt smile, are pretty easy on the eyes.

Stupid Mom Face

When you're an actor, you have a lot of pictures taken; head shots, stills on set, cast and crew photos, etc... Most likely you are of the personality type who enjoys a nice photo of oneself and is quick to jump into most anyone's picture. As a result of all this experience, you learn your best angles, your good side and how to smile naturally. If you're really good, you learn camera awareness. Being quick to spot a camera insures never being caught off guard in "candid" shots. You might hear expressions like,"Oh my gosh. You look so cute. It's almost like you're posing.", quite frequently. (Who me? Never!)
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It's not that you're vain, okay, maybe it's a little that you're vain... but it's mostly because it takes a lot of confidence to make your living in front of a camera. If you're going to be able to sum up the confidence it takes to have a video camera inches from your face day in and day out, having a shoe box full of rocking photos of yourself is helpful.
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My point in all this is, I may not be a model, but I know how to take a good picture, or at least I did... until I became a mommy. Suddenly, I've been stricken with Stupid Mom Face. You know, the one where you smile so big your eyeballs are going to pop out of your head, while you try to get the teeny, tiniest smile from your babe. Believe you me, it quickly gets worse and spreads throughout the entire body, as you're child gets older and more distractable. If I knew how to make collages, (anybody care to share) I could fill your computer screen with many an example, however, I'll just leave you with this one lasting image to haunt your dreams. Don't think you're immune. Stupid Mom Face will get you in the end.

Heat Wave

You better call before you come over, because we might be in our skivvies around here. When it hits 100, the clothes start coming off. Don't be surprised if it takes us 30-45 seconds to answer the door. You think I'm joking... go ahead... risk it if you must.

Orange Is My New Favorite Color

Who knew that pureed carrots would change our lives this much? My pediatrician is a fan of starting babies on solids around month four. I thought this seemed way too early. A breast milk only diet was serving River just fine (let me count the rolls) and was plenty convenient in the preparation and clean up department. I liked the purity and simplicity of River living off of only me for the last 15 months. (In utero counts.) My mom didn't start me on solids till I was a year, so I thought I had plenty of time. River thought differently. Six months rolled around and the side long glances while I was eating, turned into full on obsessive stares. The boy wanted to eat! After he snuck a couple tastes of Greek yogurt from a stealthily grabbed spoon and finger dived into my lemon poppy seed gelato, I finally conceded.
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I picked carrots as his official first food. It's a veggie, but sweeter than green beans. Plus the contrast of the orange on his green bib makes for some awesome pictures. I think all parenting decisions should be made according to what kind of photos it would make. Anyway, he took to eating with a spoon right away and it's worth the extra mess to watch him opening his mouth like a baby bird wanting more, more, more. So far carrots, blueberries, strawberries, and bananas have been a hit. Squash was a meh and green beans were a... Not on your life... how could you... don't you love me!?! I have to admit, as much as I want River to like green veggies, they did smell pretty bad.
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So having not researched this, I am open to all advice/tips. Once a day, twice a day, meats yet??? Please don't make me read another baby book. I get all obsessivey/compulsivey and would much rather hear what worked best for you. Oh and speaking of how this has changed our life, don't even get me started on the fun, new surprises in his diaper. It's just carrots... Come On!

The First Fourth

How do you celebrate your very first Fourth of July? With a little less fireworks and a lot more spit and giggles!