Holy buckets, we’ve arrived at the 7 month mark!
Well, technically the 7-1/2 month mark. I am so awful about taking Lincoln’s photos on time – I barely squeaked his 6 month shoot in before I had to turn around and take his 7 month photos! Anywho, here’s what’s on my mommy mind right now!
Say it with me – this has been the best month yet. I KNOW. Seriously though, life with a 7 month old is not without its challenges, but I feel like it’s finally returning back to normal and we’re not in this constant manic infant state. Here’s why:
We’re finally on a schedule. It took 7 months, but by golly, we did it! It’s funny, you go through pregnancy having this preconceived notion that your baby will sleep perfectly and when you want him to. Well…that’s not always the case – at least in our experience. That being said, we’re finally at a place where Lincoln is eating and sleeping at predictable hours throughout the day. WHEW. So many people told me it would happen when it happens, and I can’t tell you how happy I am that it finally did!
This past month we also gave up Lincoln’s 9:30pm dream feed which means we put him to bed at 7 and he sleeps until morning. It’s a small change, but knowing that I don’t have to feed him before going to bed myself has just made evenings that much more enjoyable. (To wean him off the dream feed I fed him at 9pm for 4-5 days, then 8:30 for 4-5 days, and then stopped completely.) To be honest though, I do miss that last quiet snuggle before bed. (Holy close up.)
Lincoln can now stay up for 2 hours between naps, which happened very suddenly. For so long he was only able to stay up for 1:15-30, minutes then one day he was magically able to stay awake for 2 hours. Again, sounds like a small thing, but it’s been life changing! I don’t feel like I’m rushing to get out the door and complete one errand before having to turn around and come right back for a nap. That feeling of being in a constant hurried (and harried!) state that I wrote about in my 3 month update has lessened significantly as a result. I can breathe again!
If he’s not eating or sleeping, Lincoln is likely blowing raspberries with his lips. All. Day. Long. It’s his favorite thing. That or growling. I cannot get enough of his hilarious growling (which he’s entertaining himself with in his crib as I type.)
Adventures in eating are going well! We’ve only had one episode involving carrots. He didn’t have a full blown allergic reaction but was kind of gaggy and acted like they itched his throat for awhile afterwards. Other than that we’re currently chowing two meals a day rotating between bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, pears, prunes, peaches, green beans, peas, applesauce, and butternut squash, with an afternoon snack of finger foods like banana chunks. I’m not sure a single piece has made it from hand to mouth yet though. : )
Speaking of baby food, I’ve been making mine in my Blendtec (more details and a giveaway coming soon!) I’ll steam veggies then add to the blender with a little water, and then freeze in ice cube trays. Soft foods like pears, frozen peaches, and avocado I’ll blend uncooked then freeze. It’s so handy having pre-measured food cubes all ready to go, and really doesn’t take that much time at all.
I know a lot of baby’s first babbles are ba or da, but Lincoln’s was MA! Mama-mama-mama or moooooom, is what I hear all day long (when he’s not blowing raspberries or growling, of course.) He has no idea what it means but it makes me nearly melt into a puddle on the floor every single time.
The weather has been crazy these past couple of weeks, alternating between 60s one day, then snow and 30s the next day. We’ve been getting out on walks and trips to the park whenever we can though. Lincoln was unsure what to make of the swings at first, but totally got into it a few seconds later. We’re waiting for Dad to be able to join us before I take him down the slide for the first time. I don’t want him to miss all his playground firsts! ; )
Like I said, life with a 7 month old is not without its challenges – I think Ben and I are still adjusting to the fact that we can’t go and do whatever we want, whenever we want (that being said, thank goodness for Grandparents who love to babysit!) – but we’re truly savoring each moment with our funny, sweet little guy. Our funny, sweet IMMOBILE little guy. I think this zen-like state will likely go out the window once he starts to crawl!
I totally agree that the 2 hour awake window is a game-changer. Then they go to one nap a day and that really changes everything for the better again. Then the nap goes away, and well, everything changes again, but not really for the better. ;-) I enjoyed reading about your little cutie!
We’re still working on the sleeping schedule at 12.5 months. He only wants to take a morning nap, which is weird! I am trying to push it back so it’s just an afternoon nap. Our eating is going well too! Congrats on getting him on a schedule – that’s awesome and makes your life so much better.
He is so adorable! He look like such a happy baby as well! I can’t wait to hear all about your baby food making!
Yes, around 6 months is when I felt things finally got into a groove and I could really enjoy parenting… and so much personality starts to come out. And love the close up! What a great capture.
Also, I didn’t mention this on your previous post about going gluten free, but I am excited for the recipes you’ll be sharing (and not that you have celiac disease). I don’t have to eat gluten free, but I do feel better when I eat less. Plus, a friend was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease so I told her she had to check out your site.
What a cutie!
What a sweetie pie and yay for a more steady schedule! It made all the difference for me when we finally got to that stage.
He’s such a cutie!!!
I have made baby food for all 3 of my kids too. It is so easy to take whatever you are eating and blend it up for them. One tip I have to pass along is that if you go out to eat just throw a garlic press in your purse. That way you can easily mash up any veggies on your plate to feed baby. This is helpful for us right now because we have a 5, 3, and 9 month old. It’s helpful to not pack your whole kitchen every time you want to leave the house.
I love this idea! Can’t wait to pass it on too! Thanks!
Brilliant! Love it!
The first 9 months are always a blur for me and once they turn one, they get so much easier (for me!). Our youngest just turned 14 months and she is so much fun. My husband and I had a hard time adjusting from no kids to kids. It is such a major life change.
What an adorable baby! I would love a post on your tips for taking good baby pics. I just looked into professional photography pricing for baby shots and was seriously shocked. I’d like good photos at all the major milestones – newborn, 3 mo, 6 mo, 9 mo, etc., but it looks like I will have to take them myself!!
Also, looking forward to the baby food post. Can you include what storage containers you are using? I will be making some purchases in the near future, since I plan to make baby food as well.
I am so looking forward to the day when I can say that we have a schedule around here. At my baby’s two week pediatrician appointment, the nurse asked if we were getting settled into a routine. What?! We are a very long way from a routine or schedule, but I know it will happen eventually!
Um, your pediatrician expected a schedule at 2 weeks? Say whaaatt?? Craziness! Don’t worry about it until at least 6 months!
I love reading your updates even though my own babies are school aged now. Your family posts make me smile and bring back good memories. :) I also have some nieces who are Lincoln’s age, so I like to read all the helpful tips so I can be “in the know” about all the latest baby toys, supplies, etc. Thanks for sharing.
I love these updates! Lincoln is just so stinkin’ cute! Love the shot of him in the swing. :)
I love this post! My little guy will be two in June, and even though it was not that long ago, I forget some of the things from that stage! I didn’t make my own baby food. Even though I wanted to, it seemed daunting. Reading this makes me hopeful that I can do it next time around!
Love your family updates! I wouldn’t be so sure that Lincoln doesn’t know he’s saying “mama.” My son was just over 7 months when he looked at me as I was about to pick him up and said “mama” for the first time. Lincoln has probably connected that you are “mama”!
Also, saw your post on going GF. Though I’m not GF, I will definitely continue to follow your blog. You have a talent for making recipes accessible and easy for amateurs like me to make (or believe they can make).
What a cutie :)
I am a first time mommy to a 3.5 month old little guy and would love for you to share some baby food recipes! :) Love reading these updates about Lincoln – gives me an idea of what to expect in the months ahead!
What a perfectly handsome little man! And yes; the 2 hour window of wake time is a total game changer!! Yay for simple schedules!
You two are so cute! Being on a schedule makes such a difference. Love that you are making his baby food – everyone thinks it is a lot more work, but it’s so nice to be able to come up with different foods and know what your baby is eating.
Had to laugh – my daughter’s first word WAS ‘dada,’ – on my very first Mother’s Day :)
Oh my gosh, thank goodness for this blog. Really! I was going into Lincoln withdrawals wondering where and when I would see him again. Geez, the time is flying isn’t it? It’s been fun reliving being a first time mom through your blog. I’m sharing this with my daughter who is “trying” to get preggers. She’ll drool over your pics I’m sure! It’s going to be fun watching the little guy grow up online. Thank you for letting us into your mommy world.
Melting from cuteness!
Adorable! I love your posts & pics of Lincoln!
Yes, going 2 hours between naps is huge! I remember when my little one made that switch. She is now 9.5 months old and just switched from 3 naps to 2 – basically is on a 2-3-4 schedule. First nap TWO hours after waking, second nap THREE hours after waking, then FOUR hours after waking from 2nd nap is Bedtime.
He is the cutest, bright little baby — a joy!
I LOVED this stage with my daughters. They were still little but not too big and not yet getting into trouble! He is super cute and I love reading these updates :)
They’re so much fun when they’re little!!! Those eyes of his, though!!! Gorgeous!! :)
What a doll! I love the look on his face in the picture near the end where you are holding him….looks like a devilish grin :)
My favourite time with my little ones (who are not little anymore) was the 6-months-and-up time. Before that is a blur I think, neither one was very co-operative with sleeping! But once 6 months hit, the schedule kind of fell into place and their personalities really started to come through….such fun times!
My V didn’t sleep at all..ever..he would cluster feed at night, and then I would be up an hour later trying to pump. He has spent most of his nights in my bed, which is fine when it is only him and me and two cats. We are now trying to get him back into his bed after 3 plus months of constant strep throat and then removal of his adenoids and tonsils.. keep in mind, he will be 7 in May..
Not the best of plans..but it was worked for us..I am all for what works for you. Don’t let anyone else tell you how to raise your child. Do what works for you and him, every child is different.
Love the raspberries! So funny! I was sick for a couple of days when my dd was about this age. Her daddy took care of her and the first thing I heard when I felt better was da da da da! :-)
Thank you Kristin for taking me back to the days when my two angels were Lincoln’s age. They grow so quickly, trust me. Our boys are 28 and 26 now. Our eldest is with MLB (it’s the truth, I swear, haha!) and our baby is finishing his Masters in Epidemiology at Harvard. He’ll be starting his post-doc this Fall. Both are incredible young men and we bask in their every achievement (yes, even now, you’ll see!). I miss those days of cuddling. Truth be told I miss every single moment of their childhood. We live for their phone calls and visits. Take tons of pictures and video. You’ll need to relive those precious moments, for as much as we think we’ll never forget, sadly some memories do fade. Your baby is adorable. I don’t think I’ve ever met a baby that I didn’t immediately fall in love with. It’s God’s plan! Cherish every moment, even the tough ones. You are a wonderful mother, and you’re both great parents!
Oh, the raspberries! I remember that 2-hours-awake mark, too – totally threw off my schedule. What saved my bacon was finally realizing it’s OK if he sleeps in his carseat occasionally when I’m out running errands, and that I didn’t have to tie nap time to the crib (or swing, or bouncy chair). We have car naps even today when necessary. You seem to be having so much fun with Lincoln, and that’s the way it should be!
To help keep up with the constant changes we took pictures of the kids every month on their birth date. We have pictures of them from newborn through age 6 or so. We do a lot less now, but looking back at those usually casual pictures is priceless.
ADORABLE!
My (big) little guy is turning 7 months tomorrow. We sorta have a schedule – nap at 9:30 and then again anywhere from 1.5-2 hours after he wakes. So the afternoon schedule *really* depends on how his morning nap goes! And that varies daily.
Jealous that you have an all night sleeper – we are still dealing with 2x a night feedings (down from 4!!) and he is a horrible self-soother. Does Lincoln have a lovey/stuffed animal/blankie he uses for soothing? Or are you still swaddling?
Lincoln doesn’t have a lovey and isn’t swaddled (though I do put him in a sleep sack) but I tell everyone who will listen that the day we took away his pacifier (around 4 months) was the day he learned how to self soothe by sucking his fingers. Does your son use a paci? Maybe try slowly taking that away slowly over the next few days? (I’m obviously no expert just suggesting what worked for us!) :)
Thanks for replying, Kristin! :) I always feel special when bloggers respond to my comments. It makes me so happy to hear that Lincoln can sleep without a lovey – “everyone” has been telling me there’s no way I’ll get my guy to sleep by himself without one! Thanks for the pacifier tip, too!
I havent been on your site for a while ..because I have a now 8 mo old. He is maybe 2 weeks older than Landon I think. We are going through all the same things and it is amazing!! We have alot of the same clothes too which is funny! GAP is the best. Charley started crawling and warning it might throw off his new schedule! But it came back within a week so don’t stress! Landon is beautiful. Enjoy every second..we sure are!
I just realized I wrote Landon rather than Lincoln!! Im so sorry. I hate it when someone even misspells Charley’s name. Just read about the lovies. Charley uses his fingers too and I am beyond thankful we arent dependent on anything!
Oh gosh, no worries at all! :)
Did I read that right, that you freeze avocado? I heard you can’t do that, so I had to find a recipe that required half an avocado as no one else in my house likes avocado (including me), just baby. It would be awesome if I could freeze it! How does it turn out for you?
Oh yeah, it freezes/reheats beautifully! I just blend it up with a little bit of water (could use breast milk) then freeze in ice cube trays. :)
Have you froze potatoes?? She seemed to really like a bit of mashed potatoes I gave her once from my plate. So, I’m thinking I might add that to our line-up.
Just sweet potatoes, which freeze very well (I blend them up with a bit of water before freezing.) I haven’t tried white potatoes yet only because I keep forgetting – I’m sure he’d love them! :)
A little mini Ben. So CUTE!! And his hair is so gorgeous (among his eyes, nose, and smile). I’m jealous! My baby girl is 14 months and has less hair than Lincoln.
Readers request: more family and baby photos/posts!