Tripp - 10 Months!

Another month passed last week, good grief!!

10 Months! 

He was ready for his nap, so he's looking a little sleepy..but still happy!

Likes: Toys! (especially balls and cars that easily roll, wooden stackers and electronic ones with buttons that make noise), stroller rides, ergo rides, Taiga's ears and nose and feet, army crawling, Cheerios, his sister's singing, electrical cords and chasing the vacuum.

Dislikes: diaper changes, most veggies not disguised with applesauce, holding still and getting dressed. 

New tricks: Army crawling... Everywhere!- Bring out the baby gates and remember to close doors. I am thinking this kid isn't going to be as containable as my other one. Pointing... So cute! He's really got that index finger working all the time. Going from Sitting to Crawling... So long being able to "keep" you still. Saying a lot of consonant sounds (d, g, m, b, p, w, t) on repeat.

And of course this new trick of spoon balancing.

Eating: well, we've pretty much moved on from most puréed foods. Tripp would much rather pick up bits and do it himself. And he's more prone to a wider variety of food if I let him do it on his own. This is a good thing because it's super easy to toss lunch on his tray and let him eat with the girls. It's a bad thing because my kitchen floor, booster chair, child and child's clothes are generally peppered with squished lunch. Needless to say, I'm mopping daily and changing Tripp's clothes two to three times a day. Also, I haven't been as strict with the four day wait rule either.. Oops. But on a plus note, we haven't encountered any more reactions, and we've crossed some big barriers (eggs, peanut butter, gluten, etc.)

Snacks from the floor are okay, yeah?


And chicken legs? Those are super okay, yeah?


Wild curls!

And he lives on graham crackers. Sorry, kid.

Sleeping: we are on a solid 6:30pm to 6:30am night sleep schedule. He's sleeping til about 4:30/5am, nurses, and goes right back to sleep for another couple of hours. His naps are at 9/10am and 1/2pm. He's kind of a short napper, about an hour or less each time. But I'll take what I can get. He doesn't show signs of dropping his morning nap yet, and I'm totally okay with that.

Nursing: he lovvvvvvves it.  Still going strong about 5 times in a 24 hour period. I've been making my exit strategy for his weaning in a couple of months. I have a feeling it's not going to be pretty.  

Firsts and other happenings: First time in the pool! A little apprehensive at first, but he warmed up quick. This month Tripp went on another camping trip to the Adirondack Mountains (see previous post). It was quite a different experience taking a 10mon old, as compared to taking a 6mon old.. (ahem, belly crawling e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e) and the sleeping was definitely a miss on the second night.  But we all survived, and much more fun was had than not, so I chalk that up to a SUPER successful camping trip with two littles. We also found a great board walk and pier about 5 min from our house, that's been the new "go-to" for the witching hour before dinner and bedtime.  It keeps us all sane.  Tripp is a growing boy (although because of a pediatrician debacle, I do not know his official size) and is completely in 12mon clothes (some 18 mon!!), is busting out of his size 2 diapers (but Mommy is cheap, and making him finish the box) and has three new pairs of fall shoes in size 3.  

Pool!!

The only cute thing about trying to tackle a drain problem at Home Depot.

Our happy place at Ontario Beach Park (again, note the graham crackers.)

Until next month, my happy little guy! 

Fall Camping

The mountains called to us this past weekend and we listened and obeyed. And it was good for everyone's spirit. 

Who needs a pack n play? 

Like he really stayed on the sleeping pad...

Posin'.

The morning after the night that everyone slept well (not to be confused with the other night that no one slept well or slept at all).

All these cuties. 

Beer Walls climbing approach. 

Rock rest. 

Jarod taking a lap on Frosted Mug. 

Right before she slid face first down that rest spot. 

Buddy boy!!

47 is pretty cold for camping!

Looking A LOT like his big sister here. 

Beer Walls selfies! Aka, waiting for Dad to finish climbing. 

Much good was had in the Adirondacks. Grateful. 

In Other News

I know that for the past near year, I have only blogged about my children. And I love them dearly and nearly.  However, there is more to me than my mother hat (which is on about 98% of the time).  So, perhaps in order to reassure myself that there is indeed more to me than mom-dom, I am blogging about that two percent today.

That two percent is mainly focused on the capsule wardrobe and quilting at the present.  I would like to clarify that I am not quilting my capsule clothes, however.

So, I am transforming my closet into a "capsule wardrobe".  I stumbled across this concept about a month ago on the blog, un-fancy.com. Go here. Read that statement. Then print this (free wardrobe planner).  I love, Love, LOVE the concept of only having 37 items in my closet.  37 items that I love, feel good in and are "me."  (It is by season, so for fall, I will have 37 fall-ish items of clothing-accessories and shoes included!) When I lived abroad in Finland, I had a mere suitcase full of winter clothes to last my entire six months there.  And it was a VERY AMPLE amount... getting dressed was so E.A.S.Y.  It was, "Do I wear sweater A or sweater B with pants A or pants B?" And now, I need more easy in my life.  I am still in the beginning stages of the capsule wardrobe, and I will update my progress.

Moving on....

The spring before last, thanks to my MIL and SIL, I was introduced into the wide world of sewing, in particular, quilting.  Now I was am not a sewer (?).. at all.  Remember this blog? I made a few things over the past year: a rag quilt for Baby Tripp, a fleece car seat swaddle blanket, burp cloths and bandana bibs for presents, one pillow case, six place mats and six coasters.  This is my sewing history. (The quilt my MIL & SIL started me on is sitting very unfinished in my sewing basket).   Well, I feel like I skipped a million growing steps in the world of sewing and was plunged, head first, into the super hard stuff.  Quilting is like the mecca of sewing.  Everything (stitches, cutting, ironing, etc.) has to be perfect.  And well, in the fine arts realm, I'm more of a "free spirit."  Needless to say, quilting is very hard for me!!  But alas, there are all of these darling fabrics and then, well, I'm completely sucked in...  So I am a total newbie trying to tackle being a quilter.  Maybe I like challenges? Maybe I just like pretty fabrics..

Here is what's happening.  This is the fabric (love, Love, LOVE!)

and this is the pattern. 

It is rated "easy" and I think I can do it. (Fingers crossed). 

 And then, in five years, when I finish the above quilt, this is next on my list,

with this fabric. 

 Also, I am 3/4 of the way finished with my winter rag quilt... that one is actually only about 6 nap sessions away.  (Nap sessions is how a mother measures time). Here's the rag pattern.

And this is my winter fabric:

So those are my sewing machine endeavors.

That's the two percent these days!  Yay, me!

Tripp: Nine Months

Here we go, nine month recap!

Favorite Foods: graham crackers and mangos

Favorite toys: First Puzzle, Little People, ABC 123 Puppy, and Play House. (Fisher Price, for the win!)

Favorite books: "Garden Animals" by Lucy Cousins. 

New tricks: sitting (confidently, and able to withstand bumps and nudges with out tipping over from an eager sister) waving (a lot!), pointing (a little) and scream squealing (too much!) 

New Sizes: 9-12 months in all clothes, size 2 diapers and size 3 shoes. Weight, unofficial from my own scale: 18lbs. Height, unofficial from my own tape measure, 28in. 

New solid foods: yellow lentils, carrots, almond butter, sunflower seed butter, spinach, cantaloupe, graham crackers, cinnamon, watermelon, pumpkin and chicken. 

Unfortunately, he has his mom's sweet tooth--so I am mixing most things with applesauce :/ He is very much into solid food now and eats lunch and dinner meals regularly.

Sleeping: this kid! It seems as though everytime I feel like we make forward progress in sleep routines, it barely lasts a few days before teeth, travels or a cold interrupts our progress. HOWEVER, the last four days have gone, on the whole, very well! As in 12 hour night sleep (with no mommy visits) and two 1-2 hour naps at 9am & 1pm. Maybe it's a new corner?? Hoping it lasts!!

Nursing: we are still going full steam ahead with the breast feeding. I have managed to cut it to 5-6 feedings in a 24 hour period. Tripp still does not do a bottle. While I'm very thankful for the ample supply and a good nurser, I am ready to have a little distance with this kiddo! 

Firsts: first trip to the beach! 

First double bath!

First playground!

First hike!

Sure love this boy!

Tripp: Eight Months

Eight months, Little Dude.  Eight months. 

Likes: toys!, Charlie Ann entertainment, knee bounces, outside, fresh fruit, Mommy, loud toy banging, tasting and biting all things in arm's reach, being held and exploring under couches, changing tables and cribs when Mommy isn't looking. 

Dislikes: the outside baby pool, staying on the blanket on the wooden floors, veggies--especially sweet potatoes, waiting, diaper changes in the middle of the night and the baby swing. 

Size: Tripp is in 9-12mon clothes, size 2 diapers and size 3 shoes. He is a LONG and SKINNY boy-- no more baby rolls for this guy. 

New food: egg yolks, nectarines, plums, rice, peas, applesauce and 1 lentil tortilla chip (oops). 

In general, he is improving with the solid food love. It's still unpredictable as to how much he'll eat, but he is eating a regular two meals (lunch-ish and dinner-ish) a day. He still makes miserable faces with most food, and can scope out those terrible sweet potatoes in an instant. But, on the whole, this past month is MUCH better than last month's appeals to solids. 

Nursing: On average, Tripp still nurses about 6-7 times in a 24 hour period- upon waking up, before naps/bedtime and twice in the night. I know that nursing is a wonderful, beautiful and amazing thing, but I'm over the awe of it. Perhaps it is because Tripp refuses a bottle and I am so, so tired of being on demand-- it is exhausting. Kinda like motherhood in general.. Ha. 

Sleep: Tripp is officially a twice a day napper. His morning nap is super reliable, you could set your watch by it. If this little guy isn't sawing logs by 9:15am, look out! His afternoon nap depends on the end of his morning nap, but generally it's 1pm. Bedtime is 6:30pm and wake up time is 6:15am. I am so thankful the sleep has shook out successfully. Of course not all days are text book, but I'd say 80% percent of the time, sleep happens successfully.  

New tricks: maneuvering everywhere. He twists, wiggles, rolls, pushes and spins his way from Point A to Point B with no problems. Waving (!) it's so sweet. Saying "dih, dih, dih, dih" when he is happy and excited about something. I love how he says his little "dih" phrase with such certainty and authority. Almost sitting! It's not quite there, but at least he's now bending at the waist. Riding in the stroller sans car seat! Like a pro. 

In other news, Tripp is very much the happiest baby on the block.. Or all of Rochester. He is one smiley and cuddly little guy. I can't imagine our life without him.