SUMMERTIME and the living is easy

I'm trying to slow down and not think about the fact that Michaels, Pottery Barn, and World Market all have their Fall decor out right now!  After the 4th of July, I constantly fight the urge to fill my house with pumpkins and spice candles.  Luckily, this year I've found a great 'cheat' candle.  It has just enough smokey-pine scent to remind you of blankets, fire pits, and smores, but enough vanilla to be used anytime.  It's a Target exclusive and isn't on their website yet however, it's called Cozy Nights.  Also- NFL preseason starts in like, 2.5 weeks... Until then I'll soak up the last few weeks of flip-flops, sundresses, and watermelon shakes from Cook Out.

The Summer brought many new experiences for us all.  For Joey and me; middle of the night wake up calls- and for Juliet; 2 new teeth, (they both came in at the same time).  She is also eating more solid foods than ever, which has made mealtime a big production at our house now and diaper time a fiasco!  It has left me screaming, "There's poop on my finger!  There's poop on my finger!", several times- which weren't my exact words but you get the idea.

Here are a few Summer favorites... some of which include mealtime favorites and even though the list should include cords, door stops, and shoes, this is the more acceptable list of things that she loves!  

Flora the Flamingo book

Svan High Chair

Silicone Bib

Swing

Spoon

Glass Containers

Mermaid Pajamas

Fish Float

Our pool days are almost over but I will gladly trade them for denim jackets, scarves, and cute boots! Has anyone picked out their little's Halloween costume yet?  It's hard shopping for 12-18 month Fall clothes for my girl, but I know it's a must.  

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*Month 9*

Whew!  This past month has been a doozie!  Almost to the day of our sweet girl turning 8 months old, she began teething something fierce.  She quit sleeping and started drooling and gnawing on anything, everything, or anybody.  It took her most of the month, but her 2 bottom/front teeth popped through- finally!  Because I'm not going to a job early in the mornings, I'm able to be up with her on those restless nights and it's made it a lot easier for all of us.  However, Joey has become quite the "Daddy Robot".  The moment she makes a sound his feet hit the floor- awake or not.  It's honestly hysterical to witness!

I love her monthly pictures... each one shows just how much she is changing.  She's growing into such a sweet, mischievous, and silly girl that loves to hide behind things and suddenly jump out to scare you. (And you have to jump or she will continue to make zombie noises until you do.)  She still loves to be rocked and swaddled in her blanket at night, which I wouldn't change for anything.  We keep on having to struggle with dry skin though, (which means that we had to stop using my beloved Baby Magic.  So sad.  The lavender Baby Magic is my favorite).  We traded in the Baby Magic for the Honest Co. skin products.  If you moms have any other suggestions, please feel free to share!  I want to try Tubby Todd- it makes phenomenal bubbles and I've read that it's very mild on baby's skin.  I'm just curious as to how it smells.  Also, we're hoping that she doesn't have to have the procedure done that opens her tear duct.  Since she was 2 weeks old her right eye runs water sporadically.  It gets worse when we go outside and it takes awhile for it to get better each time.  I've tried to massage it as much as I can, but it was much easier to do when she was younger.  

Along with her 9 month favorites, she loves ripping magazines to smithereens and playing in the tub until the water is cold enough for penguins.  WARNING:  She will scream if you take her out too soon.  And to add to her least favorite things, let's just narrow it down to anything that straps her in; carseat, buggy, highchair...  She's fine after you click her in, but until then... shew!  

 She completely melts when she gets in water which means we can make more trips to our neighborhood pool this summer.

 She loves her reflection... obviously.

"Gotta kiss myself, I'm sa-pretty"

 Home from church.

Keep a bow in this girls hair if you can.  If it isn't a headband- it ain't stayin'.  Her hair is getting fuller and has good body too!  I actually fixed it with Davines Sea Salt spray and it gives it lots of volume.  It's our first thing to share as momma & daughter... She obviously can't wear my shoes yet.

  

Oh, Juliet and Jackson... their friendship is so sweet, yet so typical.  She follows him everywhere and he has to show off every time they're together.

Someone found Daddy's candy.  Look at that face...

 Shopping with baby in tow.

Blurry but a goody.

We love you so much Juliet Frances and watching you grow and change every day is such a blessing!  You capture everyone's heart with your big smile and sweet spirit and we become more and more proud of you every single day.  

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*Month 8*

I hope everyone had a fantastic and safe 4th of July weekend!  This month has been her busiest yet, as far as development goes.  We've been climbing the stairs, clapping when music comes on, (which turns from this mad attempt to put her hands together, to opening and closing them vigorously... It's seriously the cutest thing to watch those pudgy little fingers trying to create sound), talking jabbering, waving hi and bye to anyone that will look her way, crawling and pulling up!  

 We took some snapshots in front of the stables for Daddy's Father's Day present. Here are some of my favorites from that shoot.

  We spent some time in Mississippi swinging on one of Gran's many porch swings.  

Sun's out, bum's out

One of many naps taken in the car.  I had to take this because she is such a blanket baby.  She is either cuddling it, like in this picture, or chewing/sucking on it.

Let's just stop for a moment and discuss teething.  Whew!  I think there should be an awards ceremony for parents and babies after the teething months.  

And it should be held on a Disney cruise ship.  

She has taken a liking to baby dolls lately.  Especially this one, (which was mine as a girl).

She pats it in the face to show how much she cares.

This is how I find her sleeping 98.9% of the time- 

no cover and stretched out as far as humanly possible. 

Bath-baby pictures are the best.  

And chicken is her favorite.  We decided early on that we would take the "child-led weaning" approach with her so that she could feed herself whenever she was ready.  (Which is just a fancy way of saying, "we started offering her real food from an early age from the table".)  She wasn't quite ready at 6 months... she would gag really easily on anything that had a thickness to the texture.  But after month 7 she's been eating everything we eat and it's so easy!  Her favorite foods right now are french toast, grilled cheeses, yogurt melts, chicken in any form or fashion, and this girl will eat blueberries faster than I can cut them in half for her.  

Obviously.

Lastly, the Reggio teacher in me has to end this 8 month post talking about Juliet exploring light and shadow.  There is something so magical about light.  No matter the extent of your understanding of the science behind light, it always ignites curiosity and wonder within us.  The real magic is watching my sweet girl making sense of the world around her; discovering shapes and lines, exploring the movement of light and how she relates to it.  For 10 minutes I watched her lean towards her shadow trying to make contact as well as chase the shadows of her hands, up and down the light path in her room.  

"Light is vital for life, has great metaphorical significance, and is a highly fascinating element which children encounter in their everyday experience, from a very early age.  Children encounter light- a natural phenomena in general- with strategies which are at once relational-affective and rational-cognitive.  The first triggering elements are wonder and curiosity, i.e. the activation of a questioning intelligence."  -The Wonder of Learning, The Hundred Languages of Children.  

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Our Weekend

This weekend called for some much needed rest, morning snuggles, meeting long-lost-friends for brunch, inviting friends over for grilled chicken sandwiches and a game of corn hole, discovering Blue Bloods on Netflix, and of coarse celebrating Daddy as well.    

Spent the day in the sun planting flowers and hanging our hammock.

Front porch girl talk with my sweet friend, Amber. 

 We're teething!  Big. Time.  

Opening his first Father's Day gift which consisted of this cute photo of Juliet that Joey hadn't seen before!   

Hope you all had an amazing weekend! 

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*Month 7*

I just put away all of her 3-6 month clothes and we are now in 6-9 or 6-12, mostly.  Emotional times, I tell ya.  As far as firsts are concerned or special moments, Juliet went to Sunday school for the first time.  She didn't cry when we left and when we ran went to get her she was asleep on one of the teachers.  Needless to say, I think she felt comfortable there!

 Her 6 month appointment went well.  It was actually scheduled after I wrote about her month 6, so here are a couple pictures from that visit.  

Wrapping herself up like a taco in the puppy pad mat was her favorite thing to do during her visit. 

Poor baby got an ear infection, runny nose, and 

runny eyes after leaving the doctor's office for her checkup.

Feeling much better!

More moments from month seven.

 Her bracelet was a "dedication" gift from Joey and me, along with her bible.  

It was actually my first bible so passing it along to her is pretty special.

Having a "Marilyn-Moment". 

 Helping Daddy open his birthday gift!  Happy 30th, Joey!

 Sitting in a highchair for the first time at Chuy's.  Good God- That ranch dip.

 I tell people all the time, if I knew all my babies would be like her I would have 12!  

In other news... I have 14 more days of school and I can't wait to be out and spend my days with her.  Bring on Summer!

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