7 Months!

Our little girl is 7 months! She is becoming more and more opinionated, and it's been such a blast getting to know her big personality. When she was a newborn, all she really wanted to do was eat and sleep. Now that she is getting older a big chunk of our day is devoted to play - it's so much fun!

• Eat

The biggest change we've seen in the past month is with regards to food. This little girl likes to EAT! So far she hasn't refused anything. Nope, not even the squash that she wasn't a huge fan of. I mixed it with other things, and she ate all of it! She has tried apples, pears, bananas, avocados, plums, peas, green beans, squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots. I have a mango on my counter for her to try today too. It's pretty funny feeding her, because she gets so excited! As soon as she sees the little spoon and her food, she starts clapping her feet (it's adorable!) and babbling. She loves food!

She's pretty self-sufficient with a sippy cup, but when it's full it can be a little heavy for her. I'm glad she loves the sippy cup too, because it's been really hot here this week. Knowing she is getting a little more fluid in her makes me feel a little better.

Just in case anyone reading is interested in making their baby food, my friend Lisa sent me an AWESOME website that has been really helpful to me: http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/index.htm

First taste of plums

First taste of peas

• Sleep

Since beginning to eat a few ounces of food per day, Ellie really has been sleeping better at night. After many nights of interrupted sleep, she is now able to put herself back to sleep when she wakes up. We still have rough nights every now and then, but mostly she is sleeping from about 8 until 8. (Fingers crossed, knock on wood, throws salt over shoulder)

She is taking 3 pretty good naps per day, usually at 1.5-2 hours per nap. It was a tough transition to not swaddling for naps or bedtime, but I am so relieved that we aren't swaddling at all anymore. Ellie has learned that it's ok to wake up, maybe move around the crib to find a more comfy position, but she can almost always get herself back to sleep now. What a relief!

• Play

Ellie is on the move! At 7 months and 3 days Ellie started scootching around. It's not quite crawling, as her belly is still on the floor (picking up every ounce of dirt on the floor too), she man is she getting quick! She loves spending time in her play room, because she can go from one toy to the next. Maybe I like spending time in the play room because it's mostly baby safe, and she can't get into anything she isn't supposed to. In every other room she gravitates to what she shouldn't! She's also started coming over to me and pulling up into a standing position. She is one determined baby! She loves to stand, but knows that she can get around pretty well scootching, so she quickly drops down and goes on the hunt for a fun toy to play with.

She handles her car seat much better now than a few months ago. It's still not her favorite place to be, but she doesn't scream bloody murder like she used to. Mommy is very grateful for that! She loves being in her stroller for walks, and usually uses the tray to hold onto so she can sit upright to get a better look around.

In the past month we've been hiking more, and Ellie is such a trooper! She has managed to fall asleep when she gets tired, whether it's in the backpack or in the Ergo, and seems to enjoy it when she is awake.

Completely asleep in the backpack (Telluride - Bear Falls)

Checking out the scenery in the Ergo (Telluride - near The Peaks)

There are a million things I could talk about. . . but that's all I have time for today! Can't wait to see the changes she'll go through within the next few days, weeks, and months!