ashleyd /

Katie’s Nine Month Update

I can’t believe that Katie is already nine months old. The past few months have flown by faster than I could have ever imagined. Between going back to work and the holiday season I feel like the past few months have been a blur. I want to do a better job of capturing these memories so these monthly updates are going to be a priority.

So much changed this month as she mastered the art of crawling and has become fearless. I remember when we used to be able to set her down on her activity mat while she laid there, barely moving.  These days, we can’t take our eyes off of her or she’ll quickly move off the activity mat to the curtains, stairs, or other tempting area of the house. Luckily, my parents are here this weekend and are going to help us quickly childproof the home since she has started moving faster than we expected! You can imagine my face when I saw her suddenly go from crawling to climbing the stairs.

So, looking back, what transpired last month?

  • Moving EVERYWHERE – During February she started rocking back and forth, showing us that she was interested in crawling. But, the evolution from rocking to army crawl took a while and then, overnight she went from army crawl to actual crawling. She moves very quickly, especially when she’s barefoot or not on a slippery surface like her activity mat.
  • Standing – She is happiest when she is standing, slowly experimenting with walking. She has learned to pull herself up using either us, the sofa or our new ottoman as a brace. Once she is standing she bravely moves side to side, constantly looking up at whoever is in the room with a huge smile. She is so proud of herself.
  • Flu and croup – We thought we had escaped flu season and winter without any serious illnesses in our family. While she’d had a few minor colds which each lasted a few days, last month she suffered from the flu for six days. When she was up during the night coughing constantly and having difficulty breathing, we took her to urgent care after a number of recommended actions didn’t help her symptoms such as elevating the crib, steam shower, rubbing her chest and bottoms of her feet with Zarbee’s Naturals Baby Chest Rub.  Based on symptoms, on Sunday morning they diagnosed her with croup and gave her a steroid to avoid further complications. But, on Tuesday afternoon when she had a high grade fever, we went back and her pediatrician immediately recognized the symptoms as flu – high fever, congestion, glassy eyes, lethargic, and fussy disposition.  Luckily a few days of rest, cuddles, extra hydration and Tamiflu helped her feel better within a few days.
  • Kisses – While Katie hasn’t said any words yet or mastered the art of waving, she did give me the most amazing kiss on the lips the other night. She’s done at a few times since then it and make my heart melt every time!

Schedule 

As I mentioned in a previous post, we have introduced solids over the past few months and now Katie is enjoying solids three times per day.

  • 7:15 AM Wake Up and cuddles
  • 7:20 AM Bottle #1 (7 ounces of Similac Sensitive OptiGRO formula)
  • 7:30 AM Upstairs playtime while we get ready for work
  • 8 AM Solids + Water in Sippy Cup (Usually yogurt, fruit, cheese, avocado, or eggs)
  • 8:25 AM Leave house for nanny share
  • 8:30 AM Playtime at nanny share
  • 9:15 -9:30 AM Nap #1
  • 11:15 AM Wake up and Bottle #2 (7-8 ounces)
  • 12 PM Solids + Water in Sippy Cup (Usually a mix of proteins and vegetables such as Edamame, Broccoli & Avocado or Green Chicken Quinoa followed by some fruit)
  • 12:15 PM Playtime/Park/Walk
  • 1:15-1:30 PM Nap #2
  • 3:15 PM Wake up and Bottle #3 (7-8 ounces)
  • 4 PM Solids + Water in Sippy Cup (Usually very similar to the 12PM meal)
  • 4:15 PM Playtime/Park/Walk
  • 5:00 PM Catnap if needed (Typically less than once a week does Katie show signs of needing a 20-30 minute catnap)
  • 5:30 PM Pickup from nanny share and walk home
  • 5:45 PM Playtime at home with lots of reading, crawling and standing practice, dancing and playing downstairs
  • 6:45 PM Naked Baby Time (We have programmed our Google Home device so that when we say Hey Google It’s Naked Baby Time it says “Sleep well Katie” and then dims the lights and turns on the sound machine in her nursery. We walk her upstairs and undress her and transition into a soft, quiet mode ensuring that we help set the mode for sleep.)
  • 6:50 PM Bath Time (Katie absolutely loves her nightly bath and is in love with these bath toys which she plays with in the tub and we use to continue teaching her colors, textures and animals. We put this bath mat in the bottom of the tub this month which allows her to sit and play more securely without the risk of slipping.  We are currently using and loving Burt’s Bees Baby Shampoo and Body Wash.)
  • 7 PM Bottle #4 (7-8 ounces)
  • 7:10 PM Rocking and reading 1-2 books before putting Katie in her crib with 2 of her Wubbanub pacifiers as she now sucks on one and cuddles the other

Favorite Things

  • Teething Toy and Medicine – It seems odd to call this a favorite thing but this all-natural teething relief has helped with teething pain tremendously as Katie now has four teeth and has found great relief from just 1 dose of this before bed. While we introduced the Munch Mit originally back in December, she had very little interest in it. These days, she will happily gnaw on it while she’s in the stroller as we walk to and from nanny share.
  • V-Tech Busy Learners Activity Cube – We have tried to only introduce a new toy to Katie every other week or so which has allowed her Christmas gifts to bring continuous joy and surprise to her for months afterwards. This week we introduced this fun activity cube as a way to keep her occupied and entertained in the morning while Bo and I both try and get ready for work. She has enjoyed using it to push herself up to standing, play with the moving pieces and push the different buttons.
  • Puppets –  Soft, cuddly and creative creatures provide easy interaction for adult and infant anywhere and any time! While we only have two so far (Peter Rabbit and a bear) I am sure we will be buying more soon as playing and watching puppets is one of her favorite pastimes.
  • Pout Pout Fish – I discovered this book when searching for a few new books on Amazon and I can understand why it is rated so high. The colorful illustrations, sweet lesson and gentle rhyming has made it a favorite book for during the day or calming down before bed.
  • Carters – While we have a few special outfits from Jacadi, Lilly Pulitzer and Smocking Hot Mommas resale site on Facebook, 90% of the time Katie is wearing cotton basics from Carters.com or the Carter’s outlets. You can’t beat their prices for the quality especially when you consider how quickly Katie is growing. She is currently wearing 12M clothing but based on her height, she’ll soon be in 18M! These outfits have been our favorite so far – bears, hearts, and polka dots!

 

Share Button
Follow:
ashleyd /

Introducing Solids and Katie’s Favorite Foods

Katie Babybjorn Bib

These days, one of the most frequent questions I receive via email and Instagram stories, is how we introduced Katie to food and how she enjoys it.  Please keep in mind, what I’m sharing here is what worked for us but there are many different perspectives and options. Similar to starting a new exercise routine, it’s important to consult your child’s pediatrician before starting solid foods.

Introducing Katie to solid foods has been easier and more fun than Bo and I expected.

As you may recall, when Katie turned three months old, I stopped pumping and since then she has exclusively eaten Similac Sensitive.  She has thrived on this formula, which we order once a month from either Walmart or Amazon, depending on the price.  Around the time Katie was four months old, we realized that we should start doing research on solid foods. Every book, article or person that we spoke with recommended introducing babies to solid foods between the age of four and six months.  Some methods recommended starting with a pureed fruit or vegetable, while other sources suggested adding baby cereal or other grain to formula or breast milk. Neither Bo nor I wanted to start with baby cereal or fruit, instead choosing a vegetable. After both our pediatrician and a few friends recommended sweet potatoes as a first food, we decided that Thanksgiving weekend would be the perfect opportunity.

I remember the moment as if it was yesterday. An hour after her afternoon bottle was done, Bo and I held Katie in my lap and gave her a small spoonful of sweet potato. We’d roasted the sweet potato in preparation for making sweet potato casserole, one of my favorite Thanksgiving side dishes.  We both waited with baited breath, hoping she wouldn’t have any adverse reactions and would somehow signal that she wanted another bite. I was surprised by the fact that I actually got emotional. I remember tearing up because this was just one more signal that our little girl was growing up faster than I ever imagined.  After three small spoonfuls, Katie was giggling and smiling, loving every bit. We kept an eye on her that evening but luckily she didn’t have any negative reactions.

We introduced new foods very slowly in the beginning, following the baby feeding guide in Beaba Baby Cookbook. Between Thanksgiving and New Years, we tried each of the below foods, always allowing 2-3 days before introducing the next one.

  • Sweet potato
  • Peach
  • Banana
  • Apple
  • Pear
  • Carrot
  • Broccoli
  • Green Beans
  • AvocadoBeaba Baby Food

For the first month, we only gave her solids after her 4pm bottle as a way to get her accustomed to sitting in a high chair and eating from a spoon. By mid-December, the schedule we’ve followed, Mom’s On Call, recommended that she have solid foods three times per day (8 AM, 12PM and 4PM) so by this point we were laughing and making a mess with her three times a day on the weekends and our nanny gives her solids at 12pm and 4pm.  We also tended to only give her one or two types of food at a time. For example, she may have a small portion of peas and then have a small portion of avocado. We also started reducing her formula to 7 ounces instead of 8 ounces during the day.

Now that she is 8 months old, we’ve had a great time making her recipes from the cookbook which combine multiple foods. For example, she loves eating Autumn Chicken (chicken, potato, butternut squash & olive oil), carrot apple and potato soup, and Mini Mama’s Meatballs (turkey meatballs from the Beaba cookbook).  We also allow her to try small pieces of whatever we are eating, making sure that it is soft enough for her to gum and that it is cut into pea-size piece.

In order to take the guess work out of giving her solids, each Sunday I take 30-45 minutes to organize her food for the week.  In addition to the food I prepare in the Beaba, we also always keep YoBaby Plain yogurt, shredded cheddar cheese, eggs and avocado in the house for easy, last minute food options. Here is a glimpse at what she ate today:

  • 8am – 3 ounces scrambled eggs with salt & pepper and 1 Sweet Potato Chicken Meatball (Moving forward, per all the great info I received from you all, I will not add salt to season her food.)
  • 12pm – 3 ounces scrambled eggs with salt & pepper and 3 ounces of pureed pears (Moving forward, per all the great info I received from you all, I will not add salt to season her food.)
  • 4pm – 3 ounces of sweet potatoes and cinnamon and 3 ounces of pureed banana and apples

Here is a list of the things we’ve loved during this journey:

Your turn: If you’ve been through this process before, any tips or tricks? Favorite food that your baby loved?

Thank you to Beaba Babycook for sending us your amazing products. As always, all opinions our my own and we’ve loved their products so much that we’ve bought accessories and even given two friends a Beabacook for their shower! 

Share Button
Follow:
ashleyd /

A Day In The Life With a 3-Month-Old

This post is sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company, but as always, the opinions are my own.

It has been 2.5 months since my last Day in The Life post and recently many of you have asked for an update on what my life looks like during maternity leave. Schedules and life change so quickly with a child, but here is a glimpse into what my day looks like now that Katie is 3 months old.

6:45 AM – My alarm goes off and I quickly head downstairs to prepare Katie’s morning bottle. I use a little tray to bring her bottle back upstairs as well as our morning cup of coffee.

7:00 AM – 7:45 AM Bo and I wake Katie up together each morning. After waking her and changing her diaper, I breastfeed her before handing her to Bo. As I’ve mentioned before, due to his work schedule, the only guaranteed feed that Bo is home for is the morning or “breakfast” feed so this is the one that he does. While he gives her a bottle, I typically either hang out with them or do some things around the house such as fold laundry. Right now her bottles consist of an average 4-5 ounces of formula for a total of 6 ounces per feed. After Katie is done eating we enjoy playtime in bed which includes cuddles, resting in her favorite spot or even some tummy time.

clip_image002

7:45 When Bo hops in the shower I head downstairs with Katie for more coffee, breakfast and catching up on social media and the news. I bring the activity mat into the kitchen so Katie can play while I eat breakfast. As a new mom, I rarely have more than five minutes to eat. Therefore, Quaker Overnight Oats have been a welcome breakfast option during these busy days. A convenient, nutritious and hearty option that can be prepared ahead so it is ready and waiting in the fridge for the morning.  Over the past month I’ve had the opportunity to try all the flavors (Blueberry Banana & Vanilla Bliss, Toasted Coconut & Almond Crunch, Orchard Peach Pecan Perfection and Raisin Walnut & Honey Heaven) and my favorite is still Toasted Coconut & Almond Crunch. I make it with 1% milk and a spoonful of Greek yogurt. Stirring in Greek yogurt gives you a creamy texture. I enjoy the Quaker Overnight Oats with a banana for a quick and easy breakfast.

clip_image004

8:30 – 10 AM While Katie naps I typically try to do a few things around the house. Today this means washing bottles, unloading the dishwasher, folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, and making the bed.

10 AM –I wake Katie for her mid-morning feed. Since we have somewhere to be at 11, we head out the door as soon as Katie is finished eating, burping and has a clean diaper.

11:00 – 12pm I head to our local Crossfit box for a workout. While I complete the tough workout Katie plays nearby. Unlike our first visit, this time she entertains herself quietly for half the class, intently watching the large fan and then falls asleep. With just a few minutes left in class she wakes up with a wet diaper but otherwise is a champ. The deadlifts and burpees were especially challenging!

clip_image005

12pm – 1pm Since Katie falls asleep in the stroller on our way home, I keep her in the stroller once we get home. I grab the monitor and dash into the shower to wash off the sweat before quickly eating leftovers for lunch and prepare her next bottle.

1-2:30pm I can’t contain my laughter during this feed session as Katie keeps trying to smile while sipping on the bottle. Now that she’s almost three months old she loves to squirm and try to hold the bottle while feeding. I try to keep Katie upright for 15-20 minutes after each feed as this helps with spit-up and gas. While she bounces in her chair I read three books to her. We spend the next twenty minutes on her activity mat doing back and tummy time. She practices rolling for most of the time, finally giving up in frustration and exhaustion.

2:30 – 4pm During her afternoon nap I focus on blog work and writing thank you notes. While we were traveling I fell behind on thank you notes and now have a long list that I’m trying to get through each day. After writing a few thank you notes I move my focus to the blog. Just as I start to type my blog post I hear Katie on our monitor. After a few cries I head upstairs to change her diaper and try to calm her back to sleep. She isn’t interested in taking the last 15 minutes of her nap so I move her downstairs to the swing.

4pm – 5:30pm This afternoon feed tends to be when Katie is her fussiest so after she finishes her bottle we go on a walk around the neighborhood. It starts to drizzle so we quickly head home. Before going down for her last nap Katie and I play on her activity mat. This time she spends most of the time giggling as she looks at herself in the mirror and squirming around to music. clip_image007

5:30-6:30 The shortest nap of the day is also the most unpredictable. Some days Katie sleeps like a champ during this nap and other days she boycotts the nap. Katie must have been tired as I’m able to spend 45 minutes prepping tonight’s dinner before I hear her stirring in her crib.

6:30 – 7:30 Our hour-long evening routine is all about getting Katie relaxed for a good night’s sleep. Katie loves her evening bath these days, often kicking her feet and then smiling when she’s wrapped in her cozy, hooded towel. Next we change into footed pajamas before heading to the glider for her last bottle of the day. After she is done eating we typically read for 10-15 minutes before I put her in her sleep sack and kiss her goodnight.

clip_image009

7:45 Once Katie is asleep I head downstairs to put the finishing touches on dinner and prep for the next day while enjoying a glass of wine. Once we are done with dinner I like to be “done” for the day so Bo and I can relax together. Therefore, while the chicken is in the oven I take 10 minutes to wash bottles and their parts, grind and program the coffee and prepare my Quaker Overnight Oats for tomorrow morning. In order to prepare the Quaker Overnight Oats, I simply open the individual cup container, pour 1% milk to the fill line, stir and cover with the lid, put in the refrigerator and let the flavors and ingredients cold steep overnight.

8-8:30 We eat dinner together while catching up on each other’s days.

clip_image011

8:30 After dinner Bo suggests that I go upstairs to take a shower and read in bed while he cleans the kitchen. There are few words that sound sweeter after a long day and I so appreciate his willingness to help even though he had a long day at work. I take a luxurious 20-minute shower before heading to bed.

9-10pm My bedtime routine these days includes a candle, sipping tea or sipping wine, and reading a book in bed.

While no day looks the same at this point, I have found that building in some social time during the day really helps me while I’m staying at home with Katie. Whether that is a long walk with a friend or a workout, these dates help me feel less isolated. The other thing that has also helped is talking to Katie throughout the day. Even though she’s only 12 weeks old, I talk to her like an adult and provide a running commentary during the day explaining what we are doing and why we are doing it, even during the simple act of changing the diaper.

As always, if you guys have any questions, please continue to send them my way. I am in no means an expert but happy to do my best to answer your questions or lend support!

Thank you to The Quaker Oats Company for sponsoring this post.

Share Button
Follow: