10 Reasons Why I Love You: 6 Months

{6 months}

1. Sitting up - I don’t know when this happened exactly, it feels like it was literally overnight.  One minute you were content laying down, the next, you were sitting up, unassisted, happy as a clam playing with your blocks or activity ball.  Occasionally we still put the boppy or a smattering of pillows behind you, just in case, but girlfriend, you’ve got great balance!  


2. Your latest trick is waving at yourself. You turn wrists out, and delicately close and open your fingers in on your palm, admiring this fascinating motion all the while. You do this with such finesse, it’s almost a fanning motion, as if you’re too hot and you’re cooling yourself down for the day.  


3. You have your first two teeth!  The shadow of your two bottom teeth appeared just a few days ago, and then all of a sudden, they were real teeth that broke through!  No more gummy smile!  Whenever we ask you to show us your teeth, you almost immediately stick out your tongue to cover your little chompers.  It’s our own little game of hide and seek teeth.


4. You are a raspberry blowing machine!  You love making noises with your mouth, blowing noises and spit all over the place!


5. How have I not written about this earlier!  Every since you were a tiny babe, you’ve loved to kick your feet.  Whether it be nursing, on the changing pad, dangling off the edge of our lap, or laying back in your stroller, you kick those little toes like it’s your J.O.B. It’s something I’ve come to expect when holding you, or cuddling you.  Kick, kick, kick, we’ve even worked those three little words into some of our silly songs we sing together, mommy’s ever inventive lyrics. :)


6. One of our new favorite games is having you sit up on our bed, and mommy intentionally falls onto the covers around you, sending you into fits of sweet, baby giggles.  You laugh and smile and giggle like it is the most fun you’ve ever had.  It’s the sweetest music, I could listen to you giggle all night long.


7. You’ve went on your first swing!  The bucket swings are quite the ticket at our local park, at peak hours there’s even a line for swings, if you can believe that.  Doting parents that we are, we patiently wait in said lines, and indulge in pure giddiness as you gently swing back and forth, offering up a few smirky smiles, even baring those teeth buds a time or too in enjoyment.  


8. Our solid food journey continues.  You've dabbled with rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, apples, and pears at 5 months.  Ultimately we tried oatmeal and you've never looked back, kid.  Oatmeal makes everything taste better in your eyes, mama might beg to disagree...  


9. I brought you in to school for my “Star of the Week” presentation for my first grade class.  You sat in my lap and cooed and babbled so sweetly, the kids sat there in awe of your little feet kicking, hands waving, and sweet gummy smile.  One of my students even asked so sweetly, “How does she do her hair like that?” referring to how your hair sweeps to one side. I chuckled and smiled, explaining that I brush her hair every night after her bath, but it tends to sweep to the right on its own.  So sweet.

10. Daddy loves to encourage you to crawl.  You sit up with gusto, but you’re not quite ready to turn tummy time into crawling, though you love to watch him crawl around all the furniture, kicking your feet in delight.  Sometimes, he puts you on a blanket and drags you alongside him across the hardwood floors, so you’re “crawling” together.  You love it!

Weeknight Baking: Rhubarb Crisp

I love me some rhubarb.  The tartness of it, the fruity bite it has that can't quite compare to any other fruit.  I only wish its short season lasted a tad bit longer.  Last weekend, I picked up some fresh rhubarb at the Farmer's Market while browsing with my family on Mother's Day, which paired quite nicely with some overripe raspberries for a nice little crisp.  Growing up I always thought crisps, crumbles, and the like were crazy complicated.  Truth - cut up some fruit, toss with cinnamon and sugar, chop up some butter, and top with oats, and voila!  Simple, easy, and delicious.  BAM!

Oil Pulling

Have you ever heard of oil pulling?  I hadn't until recently, though I'm sure like me, you've heard people rave about the wondrous qualities of coconut oil whose many health benefits extend far beyond the world of cooking.  Oil pulling seems to be the next big thing that this bountiful oil can assist with.

Okay - here's how it works. Oil pulling consists of taking a small spoonful of oil (recommended oils include coconut, sunflower, or sesame) and swishing it around ones mouth for 15-20 minutes a day, similar to how you would use mouthwash.  The practice of oil pulling is an ancient Ayurvedic practice to detoxify the teeth. The oil pulls bacteria and toxins from the teeth, which are naturally porous. Countless sources have sung the benefits of this ancient practice which is gaining popularity in the US; citing fresher breath, whiter teeth, decreased tooth sensitivity, overall improved oral health, and even clearer skin!  At the end of each daily oil pull, it is recommended you discard the oil (to avoid drain clogs). 

I was a little skeptical, and of course it is something they recommend in addition to your regular dental maintenance with your dentist.  I've tried it a handful of times, and it isn't my favorite thing (honestly it kind of feels like swishing just your spit around for 15 minutes), but afterward, my breath does feel fresher with a  hint of coconut, and my teeth are smoother and plaque free.  

I'm going to attempt to do this daily for a month, and then I'll report back. If you're still on the fence, here's some literature and testimonials from other sources and bloggers: Huffington Post, Design Mom, Authority Nutrition, Wellness Mama, Trina Holden, among others.  

Quote of the Week

"Joy is what happens to us when we allow ourselves to recognize how good things really are." 
~ Marianne Williamson

image/potterfinch


30/30 Project

Join my blog friends Teresa and Jenny of The Things We Would Blog in raising awareness for this cause.  This story is one of hope, change, and is an inspiring reminder of the changes that people can make together to sustain lives and pave the way for the future.  Start by taking the next 6 minutes of your day to watch this video, just do it!  You will be inspired.

Ikea Hack

Have you heard of an "Ikea Hack?"  This is the new jargon used to describe a piece of Ikea furniture that has been transformed after a little DIY magic (first spotted with this amazing transformation - lounge chair turned baby rocker).  I've always a fan of Ikea, thought admittedly I don't love the everybody-owns-the-same-stuff recognizable quality that some Ikea furniture has.  You know what I mean…when you survey a room and can immediately identify furniture pieces as "Ikea!"  However this website, Ikea Hackers seems like just the ticket - DIY twists on Ikea favorites, but at an affordable price tag.  All you need is a little elbow grease!
{loving this lego table}

Some other favorites: new cabinetry, an updated dresser, nesting table turned ottoman, and driftwood mirror.

via the soho

Dinner Last Night: Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons

Nothing better to beat a rainy day than a steaming bowl of tomato soup and grilled cheese, am I right?  This was my inaugural try at homemade tomato soup.  Thus, I turned to the Barefoot Contessa herself for tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons.  Her recipe calls for gruyere cheese, but who keeps that on hand on a regular basis?  Sharp cheddar substituted just fine!  Putting this recipe in my back pocket for another rainy day.