INSIDE PLAYTIME

The weather the last several days hasn't been too great with scattered showers & down pours.  We've managed to squeeze in a couple 5 miles runs just before the rain but have been couped up in the house otherwise.  Poor Hampton...lack of outside time leaves a rambunctious 9 month old to torment a lazy English bulldog.  She chased him from the kitchen into the dinning room in her walker while slamming the keys on her walker & waving, all while screeching at the top of her lungs as she smashed into anything in her way.  Hampton hid under the dining room table like he was being chased by a bear or something.  He is probably wondering what happened to his quiet immobile little sister. If she isn't after him, she is trying to find a way to get to his food.  Apparently while I was at the gym the other day she smuggled some of his food in her cheeks, only to be found by Philip 10 minutes after he pulled her away from the bowl. Sheesh. She loves to pick up her blocks and throw them & Hampton seems to be her favorite target...poor guy. She is now walking with a push walker & you better be out of her way if you don't want to get run over because she darts across the carpet like it's nobody's business. She is so brave too...fearless. She has starting letting go of things, standing for several seconds unassisted.  I wouldn't be surprised if she started walking in the next month or so.

I will be in BIG trouble when that happens. She is literally into EVERYTHING!

GARDEN PARTY

I love events; casual social gatherings, themed parties, races, Christmas functions...anything that gives me an excuse to wear something I wouldn't otherwise wear. Over the weekend we attended an all white themed garden party to celebrate a few students high school & college graduations. While I wasn't excited about wearing a dress (I am still covered in bruises from the mud run & climbing the rope at CrossFit), I was excited like a giddy school girl to wear my white floppy hat. Addison had an adorable ruffled collar, white eyelet dress hanging in her closet that I have been dying for her to fit in (4-6 month from H&M) & lucky for me...IT DID. Addison spent most of the time crawling around attacking balloons & eating the delicious salmon & roasted asparagus that was served. Here are a few pics from Saturday:

THIS WEEK

This week...

• We went to the pool almost everyday...she is fearless & LOVES the water
• I realized that Addison likes to crawl around with things in her mouth (like a dog)
• I felt inspired by Julia Child
• Addison started walking while pushing toys
• I caught her snuggling with Mr. McQuacken while she was sleeping
• I climbed a 25 ft rope
• Monday night volleyball started back
• Philip & Addison had a daddy/daughter date
• I didn't take many pictures
• I started reading "Creative Correction"
• We went to the farmer's market
• We got to have quality time with Sarah
• I attempted beet chips....they would have been fantastic had I not forgotten about them & burnt them
• I decided I need to get back into the blogging grove

FDA WARNING

For the third time in the last 6 years the FDA has issued a warning against using teething gels that contain benzocaine, the local anesthetic that relives pain in sore gums from teething.  They have recently re-issued a warning, urging parents to avoid using any teething pain reliever that contains benzocaine, stating it causes methemoglobinemia, a serious, and sometimes deadly, condition that reduces oxygen in the bloodstream.{http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm250024.htm}.

I not one to post recalls & rarely talk about the headlining news but with so many friends getting ready to have babies & so many dealing with teething I HAD to post this. There are SO MANY alternatives to teething gels; Sophie the giraffe, frozen teethers, frozen wash cloths, hard dried fruits, BPA-free plastic teethers, wooden teethers, amber teething necklaces, chew beads...there are endless options.  

VEGIN' OUT

We made our first trip to the farmers since being home from Hawaii & I stocked up: red leaf lettuce, boston lettuce, kale, celery, beets, sweet red peppers, sweet yellow peppers, green bell peppers, zucchini, sweet potatoes, green beans, butternut squash, tomatoes, grapefruit, green tomatoes, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, cauliflower, blueberries & lots more. We swung by the grocery store & picked up some nuts, meat & tamari while we were out.  I SO MISSED my weekly trip to the farmer's market while we were gone.  It's so inspiring.  I have been diggin on beets lately on my salads. I think I am going to try & make some baked beet chips & see how they turn out.  If they are good, I'll post the recipe.   

9 MONTH STATS

Addison's doctor visits seem to be slightly anxiety producing while exciting at the same time.  I am always nervous on how she'll do with shots but excited to find out how she stacks up. Since we constantly get comments on how small she is, it's always reaffirming for her pediatrician to tell us how great she looks & that we are doing the right thing. Developmentally she is doing marvelously; she is exactly where she needs to be in some areas & ahead in others.  While she is still tiny for her age, she falls exactly where she should on her growth curve since birth.  She weighed in at 15.6 lbs putting her in the 8th percentile. She is 27 inches long (30th percentile) & her head circumference is 42.3 (5th percentile).  She did fantastic with her Hepatitis B vaccine & I didn't even have to remind them of her adhesive allergy this time.  She barely flinched, I think she was preoccupied by waving the a wipe at the cute baby in the mirror.  She was as happy as could be & showed off waving at everyone, saying bye-bye & mum-ma. She doesn't go back for her next visit until her 12 month appointment...crazy!

HAPPY 9 MONTHS

Today Addison is 9 months.  It's crazy that she has been out of my belly as long as she was in my belly.  While she was growing inside 9 months felt like forever & the last 9 months has flown by.

Since we have been home from Hawaii she has been my late little sleeper, getting up at 8:00-8:20.  Nice right?!? I have been walking in the door from the gym right as she is waking up. She is still going to bed around the same time (7:30-8:00) but she seems to be requiring a little more cuddle time before I can put her in her crib.  She turns her body sideways so she's cradled in my arms but can see my face; her face pressed against my chest with one arm tightly wrapped around mine while she twirls her hair with her other. She sighs & babbles, gazing at me until eventually she falls asleep.  The past few nights she has startled when I put her down, let out the saddest cry as she reaches her hand towards me (separation anxiety), fusses for a few minutes then falls right to sleep with her little bum in the air.  She hasn't slept in a sleep sack since we have been back from Hawaii so I think we are going to pack it up & put it away. Down to 2 naps a day varying from 1-2 hours. She wakes up so happy...I love to get her from her crib right after she has woken up.

She is working on a tooth on top but it hasn't broken through her gums yet.  She been gnawing on dried unsweetened papaya & frozen apple slices (and Sophie of course).

Her hair is getting SO long & WAVY! I love the way it flips out!! It's super blonde too.

Meal time is a blast.  While she still eats purees but it's obvious she prefers small finger foods...her independence is already shinning through.  We've explored lots of new flavors the last month: mango & coconut sauces, curries, terragon, rosemary; she loved them all! She loves Salmon, tuna, ono (Hawaiian fish), mahi mahi...pretty much will eat whatever we are eating.  She tried scrambled egg yolk for the first time this past week & is a fan.  She loves to snack on grapes without the skin cut in half, soft pears, pieces of peach, fresh mandarin orange slices, cooked carrot sticks, apple slices with homemade sunflower butter, freeze dried fruit of all varieties...thankfully she isn't picky & she loves just about anything we give her.  I made a roasted eggplant baba ganoush dip & she was in heaven, even with a pretty potent garlic flavor. While we were in Hawaii she tried a Hawaiian banana called an apple banana & ate tons of fresh mango & papaya. She loves to drink water from her sippy cup but still hasn't had any juice. Nursing is still going as planned...only a few more months.

Her vocabulary is growing!  She now says Da-Da, Ma-Ma, no-no, Hi, dog, duck, bye bye. She tries SO hard to say just about anything you ask her too.

She waves & claps. She'll imitate your hand motions & if you slam your hand on a surface that makes noise, she'll do the same. She almost has the sign for more down pat.

She is a super sonic crawler now & into everything. I've caught her in Hampton's crate, at his food bowl & actually licking Hampton.  My eyes are on her at all times. She LOVES to stand & walk holding onto something.  Her favorite thing to do is hold onto your pinky fingers & walk around.  She walks along the side of the couch while holding on independently & will move back & forth from the ottoman and couch. She's constantly moving.  She loves to dance & does a little "jig" when she is standing.

my floors need to be waxed so bad!

She plays so well independently.  She'll lay on her tummy with a board book & turn the pages jabbering away as if she is reading. She talks to her baby doll & will sit forever building with her blocks, stacking her cups & putting things inside of each other.  She knows where her toy box is now & crawls over to it when everything is put away.  Smart girl :) I make a point to include her in toy pickup, although I know she doesn't understand yet. She still loves to cruise around in her walker. She darts around the house crashing into things & cracks herself up.

The pool opened while we were in Hawaii so we've tried to spend a little time there everyday since we've been home.  SHE LOVES THE WATER.  In the baby pool section she can touch the bottom while standing & it makes her giggle.  She cruises around in her float just like she does in her walker; hilarious to watch.  She is FEARLESS of the water which is a little scary but super exciting.  She splashes away with her jibber jabber watching all the big kids play.

Hawaii got her broken in with sunscreen application & she doesn't mind it anymore.  We have to stick with California Baby because it's the only thing that she hasn't had a reaction to so far.  I am very proud to say that she still remains sunburn free though!

Bath time is still a highlight of our day because she is so darn cute in it.  She still LOOOOVES to have her head washed! She had her first shower in Hawaii & she kept her tongue stuck out as the water rolled down the whole time.

Happy 9 months my little teddy graham!

 She goes to the doctor's on Monday for her her 9 month visit.  I'll post updated stats after her visit.