we're not gone!

well, we were :) we took a trip to pittsburgh and thus, blogging came to a halt. we're back home now but i'm sick. i'm hoping finn doesn't get it because it's pretty bad and i would hate to see him this sick!

he enjoyed lots of fun things while on vacation to visit friends...his first college football game (spent some time with the cheerleaders), a visit to primantis (again!), met a baby bulldog, and had a big boy bath (he did eat some water...).

i'll be back soon to provide more pictures and some recap from the last week or so (things have gotten even more exciting around here!).

first halloween

yep, he was a chubby little pumpkin boy. he didn't seem to mind his costume at all and while we didn't go anywhere special or do any trick or treating, i managed to get his costume on him for pictures and to go out and about three times over the weekend.

his new thing is "dancing" which is jumping wildy while squealing with delight. in pictures:

8 months

 

 

i'm about a week behind and have some cute pictures to share (it's finley's first halloween, so you know i've documented it), but first....he is 8 MONTHS (as of last tuesday). i can't even go into it, detailing months down, months to go until 1. he is so far from newborn right now and i know the gap is only going to get bigger. but lucky for me, life continues to stay exiting.

he continues to rock on his hands and knees but gets frustrated before he'll attempt any crawling motions. he scoots backwards across the wood floor and i can't trust him on beds or the couch. he rarely rolls from belly to back; he can, he just won't. he seems more interested in standing and walking. he pulls up onto everything and tried (just once) cruising from once piece of furniture to another. he wants to move!

he's been extremely fussy lately, very congested and drooly, with rosy cheeks. i can't figure out if he has a cold or if he's teething. i keep thinking i see a bump on his gums but nothing has popped through. we're on tooth watch, though, because this morning i can feel something hard and slightly sharp on his lower gums.

and, as promised, i'll leave you with finn trying to talk:

(you might have to turn the music off at the bottom of my blog)

firsts

finn's been experiencing some fun "firsts" lately. a big one is his first time swinging! the boy loves to swing :) he gripped on tight and spent 15 minutes taking it all in.

a few more? he sat in the front of the grocery cart! he looked so tiny in the store, while he watched everyone smile and coo at his happy face. 

he had his first taste of mangoes and will be trying quinoa, broccoli, and potatoes in the next few days. new food is nothing new to him, but he seems to enjoy the variety of flavors.

but the biggest first from this sweet boy? his first "word"! i've got video proof, too :) he said mama!

homemade baby food

i decided to make finley's food before he was even born. it was (and is) important to me to feed him good food, mostly organic, and to save money where possible. organic jarred food is expensive, not so much that i wouldn't do it, but i've been saving a ton making my own and i enjoy doing it. i make purees for finn, but plan to continue making baby friendly versions of adult food, incorporating herbs and spices and textures through a variety of ethnic fare. here's one way to make baby food:

i took a few pictures (at night) of my latest puree, made from the last few in a box of organic dried apricots. i decided to add a bit of vanilla bean, since he's only had cinnamon so far.

my supplies include (not just for this, but for most every puree):
pot+lid
metal steamer basket
stick blender
bpa free plastic or glass storage containers (i use tommee tippee food pots and beaba portions)

1. add about 1 inch of water to the pot and bring to a boil.
2. drop apricots into water.
3. slice a portion of a vanilla bean and remove meat from pod.
4. cover and simmer on low for 8-10 minutes, until apricots are soft.

5. remove apricots from liquid (reserve) and place in bowl to puree.
6. use stick blender to puree, adding cooking liquid until desired consistency.
7. allow to cool before serving.
(store covered in fridge for 3 days or freezer for 3 months)

i love serving food to finley that i would eat myself. the colors of homemade food are vibrant and the flavors are true to the actual food. aside from plain green bean puree, he has eaten every bite of everything i've given him.

at 7.5 months finn has had: avocado (raw), applesauce, banana (raw), sweet potato, peas, green beans, squash, pears, apricots, cauliflower, peaches, zuchini, rice, and oatmeal. aside from cooking by steaming, boiling, or baking, everything has been pureed and stored the same way. we give him the same new food for 3 days in a row and then mix and match at meals once he's tried everything.

if you're interested in making your own food, here are some resources: i use this cookbook and love how it's laid out, easy to follow by age and lots of good tips. i love smitten kitchen baby and wholesome baby food. while i haven't priced much out, i do try to buy whatever is on sale to save more than i'd pay on jarred food (unless you buy in bulk or something). i typically get 5-8 servings out of one batch (i don't have the storage for larger), which is just enough for the 3 day trial plus a variety of foods frozen for whenever i need them.

if you have more questions, let me know. if you have your own methods, share!

woods baby needs food

my little woods guy has suddenly become a solid food fiend. he's liked it from day one, but in the one and a half months that he's eaten purees, he's gone from one 2 oz serving a day to demanding more food after two 4 oz+ servings.

today my little porker ate 1/4 of an avocado mixed with half a banana and 1 oz breastmilk for lunch at 1:15. at dinner around 6:30, he ate 2 oz sweet potato puree, 1/3 c oatmeal with 2 oz breastmilk, and 2 peach slices in the mesh feeder, plus 1/2 oz of water.

i have a feeling he's going to swing back up the percentile chart at his 9 month check up. i can already see new rolls and an extra large belly. (also, i've got a quick post about basic purees coming up soon, for those interesting in making your own food.)

october??

not exactly sure how it's october. that puts us so much closer to the end of the year...and into 2011...and into february. when i will have a one year old. i try not to get ahead of myself, but can we please slow down?!

in honor of fall, we visited a pumpkin patch, where finn saw a bunch of animals, too a hay ride, and gnawed on some pumpkin stems. he was afraid of goats in september and after only one bout of screaming, touched one at the petting zoo. (i'll have to post the goat screaming video. hilarious!)

he is, quite possibly, the cutest boy alive, and can often be sweet and charming. he usually saves those moments for when we're with friends and makes me look like a liar when i say he's temperamental and needy at home. but it's true. he's in a hold me stage and turns to me to cuddle close and peer at things around my shoulder. it's adorable and i love that he trusts me and wants to be near me. it's also difficult to get anything done.

at the same time, he's becoming more adventurous. he lunges for objects, rolls over (yes, he rolls all of the time now!), pushes up to hands and knees, and has recently started pulling himself up using the edge of his crib (from sitting). he seems to have no fear, which he often regrets when he bumps his chin or head during his gymnastics.

i'm happy to have fall. i look forward to the layers of clothes (my never ending quest to find cute, affordable options for boys without words and puppies/trucks on every shirt), crisp walks with friends , hot cider, and babies in strollers, and watching my peanut experience halloween and thanksgiving for the first time.

 finley is happy to have fall, too. more things to side eye and chew on ;)