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!
Margo 03.18.2014
Melting from cuteness!
WenDee LaPlant 03.18.2014
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.
Melissa 03.18.2014
Had to laugh – my daughter’s first word WAS ‘dada,’ – on my very first Mother’s Day :)
Francine 03.18.2014
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.
Mary 03.18.2014
What a perfectly handsome little man! And yes; the 2 hour window of wake time is a total game changer!! Yay for simple schedules!
Sara 03.18.2014
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!
Cynthia 03.18.2014
What a cutie :)
Cari 03.18.2014
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).
Hayley 03.18.2014
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!
Lindsay 03.18.2014
I love these updates! Lincoln is just so stinkin’ cute! Love the shot of him in the swing. :)
KC 03.18.2014
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.
Allison 03.18.2014
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!
Amy 03.25.2014
Um, your pediatrician expected a schedule at 2 weeks? Say whaaatt?? Craziness! Don’t worry about it until at least 6 months!
Amber 03.18.2014
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.
Julie B 03.18.2014
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.
Linda 03.18.2014
I love this idea! Can’t wait to pass it on too! Thanks!
Kristin 03.18.2014
Brilliant! Love it!
Amy S. 03.18.2014
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.
Martha j 03.18.2014
What a cutie!
Jo 03.18.2014
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.
Elizabeth {Positively Healthy} 03.18.2014
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!
Ali 03.18.2014
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.
Maryea {happy healthy mama} 03.18.2014
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!