bathtime fun

While we were visiting the Gurleys, we fell in love with Hudson's duck tub! With Hartley sitting up more, we thought it would be a good investment for her. Picked it up at Wal-mart for only $12 a few days after arriving home..

And well... see for yourself.

Sorry about the poor lighting.

She absolutely loves splashing and kicking. And chewing on her foam letters (that stick to the tub!).

I get a little excited about new toys.

pooping

Since Hartley has started solids her poop hasn't been the sweet smelling mustard poops. :(

Sometimes they're green. Orange. Greenish-orange. Orangish-green.

Solid. Thick.

Is this too much?

Maybs.

"loving" on Anna Kate

We like her pooping, though. It's a good thing! It's like when we came home from the hospital after Hartley was born and we were thrilled whenever she peed. And when there wasn't any more meconium in her stools. The more she "went" the healthier she was doing. It meant she was nursing well and whatever jaundice she had was diminishing.

Anyway. Poop.

She's been making "pooping faces" lately.

She stops whatever she's doing and becomes still. Her face sometimes turns red. Today I saw her fist clinched. She holds her breath while she's.. forcing it.

Brows furrowed, fist clinched. Focused.

And then she continues playing.

eating puffs

Hartley has started eating some finger foods.. rather she's just been sticking them to her face and hands. We thought it was cute!

seven months

Hartley Caroline, you are seven months old today!

What are you up to?

• You are back to sleeping through the night, finally. You wake up between 6 and 7am (which is way too early for me!), but we can usually get you to go back to sleep for a little bit. The swing works (occasionally).

• You nurse for about 15 minutes, 5 times a day and eat 3 meals. Breakfast usually includes pears or peaches. Lunch is green beans or peas. Dinner is either sweet potatoes or carrots, with pears for dessert. You would probably eat pear sauce all day long, but we want them to last a little longer! You are still eating every 3 hours, sometimes going 3.5 hours.

• At your 6 month checkup you weighed 12lb 13oz and were 25.5 inches long. We think you've grown a good bit already. You absolutely love eating! You managed to have a breath-holding spell when you received your shots.. fortunately you haven't repeated that. You almost did last week when you and Maddie bumped heads.. but I blew in your face and it caught you off guard.

• You mainly wear 3-6 month clothes, with a few 6-9 month outfits thrown in. Your torso is so long.. that's the only reason you wear the 6-9 month size. Size 1/2 diapers are getting too small, so we're moving to size 2.. especially after the most recent blowouts.

• Your eyes are slowly changing colors. I think will eventually be green with some brown- like Daddy's. And your hair is light brown, also like Daddy's. I can tell that it's starting to grow!

• You love playing with toys now. Sometimes you would rather play than take naps. I often find you playing with a kicking toy in your crib. But instead of kicking it, you have spun around and are hitting it with your hands. Silly girl. You love scooting around in your walker. You learned how to scoot from the living room, around the couch, and into the foyer. You also try to scoot to me.. and then give me zerberts on my knees. You love playing in the exersaucer and laughing at Baby Einstein videos or the dogs. And you will roll all around the living room.. making sure to visit Sassy and play with her collar. I don't let you chew on it though.

• You don't like it when I take things away from you. Mainly things you shouldn't play with (like Sassy's collar, my glasses, cameras).
• You're getting much better at sitting up. You still need assistance, but I can tell you are almost ready.

• You laugh a lot these days. Sometimes it's a little giggle, others are full out chuckles. They are sooo cute. Daddy loves making you laugh. He has a way with tickling you and throwing you around that Momma just can't do! Whenever we get you up from naps you smile and giggle, too. Always a happy baby!

• You don't say any consonants yet. Except when you're in the crib and want to get out. I can hear "maaamaa" but I don't think you realize what you're saying. You kinda have a ppp and bbb sound going- except it's when you blow raspberries or motorboat. You still squeal. A lot.
• No teeth yet. :( Teething has been better though.

• You took your first trip to Athens. We stayed with our friends the Gurleys and you met the Bates and people from our old church. Everyone thought you're so cute and tiny. You and Hudson didn't play much, but you enjoyed hanging out with Scarlett (their dog).
• You are so interested in what your cousins are doing now and you want to get in on the fun! You just need to learn how to crawl and you'll be good to go.
• You've been trying to catch water when you take baths. I pour water on you and you put out your hands trying to grasp it. We can't wait to move you to the big tub so you can play.

• You have also been using yours hands a lot more! You pat my shoulder, bang on your highchair tray, and some version of clapping (I think). You were really sweet about twirling my hair while you nursed, but lately you've been yanking it! No thanks.
• Naps have gotten much better. You still take a 45 minute nap every now and then, but not as often. Morning naps are the longest, at about 1.5 hours. Sometimes you go longer! Other naps average an hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. I read awhile back that some babies just learn how to sleep longer eventually. Something about cognitive development between 4 and 6 months. We tried everything, but you decided on your own you were ready.

Being your momma has been the most wonderful experience. I never would have imagined loving someone so much, but that's how I feel about you! Everyday I learn something new about you. And I love watching you learn about the world around you. I catch myself just smiling at you all the time. Every smile, coo, giggle- I love them all!

You surprise me and Daddy all the time with something new. And we dread/anticipate what will come next. You'll be crawling before we know it and getting into all kinds of mess with the dogs. But we can't wait!

they say it's my birthday!

Well, it was. A few days ago.

I'm such a good aunt I wanted to share my birthday with my niece, Anna!

Anna showing everything the Shoney's Strawberry Pie (homemade)

Anna had her birthday party Saturday, so we celebrated my party Monday night. Marshall's family is the best about celebrating birthdays (no offense.. Daddy.. I don't have issues I just would like a phone call).

Mrs. Jean and Rebecca made a fabulous dinner with all that I requested! Ham, green bean casserole, pineapple casserole, mashed potatoes, biscuits, and pie!

I also got some fabulous presents! I wanted to take a picture of everything together, but it would look slightly ridiculous. So let me describe my idea of the picture to you...

First, I would be wearing the NON-maternity jeans my mother got me. I would be laying in the hammock that Hartley got me. With the wreath Rebecca made me around my neck. Reading a cookbook that Janna gave me. All on top of a scale that weighs how much fun I had this birthday. With an Athens postcard somewhere in there too.

But I guess this picture will have to do.

Hartley has been "attacking" us lately.. and she attacked Caleb the other night, too. It's mainly just heads and faces. I wonder if she's trying to give kisses.

And she's sitting up as well!

I had a wonderful birthday!

weekend of faces

We headed up north to visit our friends the Gurleys and Bates for my birthday weekend. It was my gift from Marshall- and exactly what I wanted!

The Gurleys visited us about 4 months ago. I only took pictures of Hudson during that visit, so it figures we only got pictures of Hartley for this trip. Actually- Marshall took the pictures.. I didn't take any this weekend! You can read Mollyanne's take on our weekend here. She actually has pictures of Hudson and Hartley together!

Hartley had her first exersaucer experience and LOVED it! We're on the search for one now. Preferably free.. or really cheap.

Hartley has been making some funny faces lately. One good thing about that is we're now getting smiles for the camera! But mostly we get the open-mouth, shocked expression.

Or this.. whatever that is..
Oh, there's that shocked look!
We had a good time- eating, playing games, debating do-marry-bury. Eating more. Staying up too late. Catching up. Everything that we should do more often...

I realized Hartley is a little flirt.. She smiled a lot for Jonathon and Matt.. and then other men at church. What have we gotten ourselves into?

Marshall got this picture this weekend. It's very flattering...

And Rebecca got this picture a month ago (on vacation). I see some chunking up going on, especially in the double chin area. Yay! Solids are working!

Anywayrz. We miss our friends up north. We really enjoyed our visit and look forward to future visits both there and here. And maybe a wedding about 20 years from now. :)

Random Highlights from this Weekend:

• I woke up Marshall by singing "Where is Hudson, where is Hudson?" And then I woke myself up.. but pretended I was still sleeping while Marshall kept asking "what?"
• Hartley absolutely loved Scarlett (the Gurley's dog). And when we got home she got really hyper when she saw Maddie and Sassy.
• Matt's awkwardness during Quelf.
• Blowout on the way home. Hartley pooped up the front of her romper. This is new. It was a carrot poop.
• Hartley stayed in the nursery for the first time. She did great. I didn't.

sitting up

I've tried documenting Hartley sitting up on camera- but I'm embarrassed to show it. Why?

Well, it includes Hartley falling over. Her head landing on our hard floors. The camera being thrown to the ground, too. For two minutes you see Sassy sleeping and hear Hartley crying.

Let's just say filming and propping up a baby should not be done simultaneously.

But- Hartley is doing pretty well sitting up. She still needs a hand so she doesn't topple over. The longest I've counted is 16 mississippes. I'm not sure how much longer it will be before she masters it by herself.

I did get teary-eyed as I was watching her sit and read her book. She's such a big girl. :(

a busy girl

It's hard to believe that Hartley will be 7 months old next Friday. She's keeping us busy already! She loves rolling around in the living room (and her crib... which.. hold on lemme go roll her back over). She still hasn't quite realized she can roll back in her crib. And she's rarely in the same position when we get her up from naps.

She's chewing on anything and grabbing at everything (hair, glasses- both eye and drinking, phones, non-baby items mostly).

Her mouth is most likely open.. if she's not chewing on something...

And she's scooting around too well in her walker.

Gosh- lemme go roll her back AGAIN.

Her new-found "toy" is the cords from our blinds. Hazard, I know. She enjoys all things dangling right now.

And she won this staring game with Sassy. They are still best buds. Perhaps a little too close- Sassy likes to join us while nursing. She sits right next to us, or walks on Hartley.. but she lets Hartley kick her in the head so it's fine. :)

This post is being cut short because for the FIFTH time I have to go roll her back over... and no, she doesn't want to sleep on her stomach.

midweek update

We've had a pretty good week! Hartley's naps were a little off Sunday and Monday (thank you church..), but she's gotten back into her groove.

Earlier this week, I thought I noticed some thrush in Hartley's mouth. I always feel like a bad momma when something's wrong. I read all the information, go above and beyond.. and something happens. And it kills me that many parents don't put their kids on schedules, and they just so happen to take great naps and sleep through the night!

Anyway, we got some Nystatin this morning and started treatment promptly! Hartley gets 4 doses a day and I get to rub some on my.. umm.. nursing parts. In case you weren't a good student and checked out the thrush link, I'll explain it to ya.. while we look at cute pictures.

I was cleaning the dining room and pulling out chairs.. and someone decided to make a fort.

She really enjoyed herself. It was cute. :)

Back to the thrush explanation..

I had a UTI a few weeks ago and was placed on a round of antibiotics. This caused our good bacteria to go haywire. Mine messed up my birth control and hormone cycle. And Hartley's good bacteria decreased causing an increase in yeast.

When Hartley nurses, the yeast in her mouth come in contact to my.. nursing parts. And yeast like warm, moist places (her mouth, my milk, milk ducts). So we have to give her medicine and myself medicine so we don't keep passing around the bad guys.

The end.

Marshall is now getting one FULL day off during the week! It was only half a day, but now he gets to spend an entire day at home!

Which means, I have a babysitter and I can go galavanting! I'm in search of some non-maternity jeans. I love my maternity jeans.. but it's been over 6 months...

And apparently skinny jeans are all the rage now. So I came home, knowing my trusty maternity jeans were waiting for me.

We have a new Children's Place in our mall. I walked out disappointed because the only colors they sold were black, purple, and hot pink. Seriously.

But our Kid's Belk is amazing!! I got Hartley an outfit for now and 2 for next summer. Two of the outfits were only $2!! Love it.

Hartley is also enjoying her new foods! She loves green beans and pear sauce! We'll post more on the later..

Enjoy your weekend and our mommy-daughter photo shoot!

Momma, let ME hold the camera!

Why do you have to kiss me so much!?

Pddt! I got feet!

Okay, seriously Momma.. that's enough.

today's menu

Today's Menu is for Me!

I've never really been concerned with what I eat. I can't gain weight for the life of me, so I eat whatever I want.

However, I have to watch what I'm eating while nursing.

I have to eat really fatty foods to make sure Hartley is getting enough fat in her diet- and obviously, the bean pole needs it!

I thought I'd give you a glimpse of today's meals, thus far..

For breakfast (or brekdist, however you say it), we had some very delicious bacon and cheeeeesy grits. Along with some coffee (I really need caffeinated.. it's about the only caffeine I get all day) and appa juice.

And now lunch. This may be the highlight of my day. Today we're having fried green tomatoes and fried cheese sticks. I had enough flour to bread some pickles, but I thought that might be too much fried food.

I'll probably have a bowl of ice cream as an afternoon pick me up. Mint chocolate chip. Extra chips. Extra fat.

I highly recommend this diet.

beans and carrots

Hartley has been enjoying new foods a lot this week! I made pear sauce first, she's only had a little bit. We're trying to get her to eat more banana.. but for some reason she won't! I think it's because Grandmommie spoiled her with banana pudding last week..

I've also made green beans, carrots, and sweet potatoes. We've got a few weeks supply of food in the freezer and I'm excited to make more!

First time eating green beans. I like to call them "cream beans."

Just a kickin'! She also does this when she gets sweet tea..

Carrots for the first time. She eats like a cow.

She hasn't had any allergic reactions to her new menu yet, so we'll keep on expanding! We're going to try avocado and peaches next, I think.

I can't remember if I mentioned our recent Cry-It-Out (CIO) experiment. The nurse practitioner we saw at her well-check encouraged us to let her CIO during the night. She had been waking up 3 times during the night, being fussy and I would nurse her back to sleep (sometimes that wouldn't work). We know that she can make it through the night without nursing because she had been for about 2 months. I've read it takes about 3 days for it to work.. and last night was the fourth night. She slept from about 8:30pm to 6:20am. I'm hoping she will get back to her usual schedule (waking up AFTER 7am), but this is much better than waking up multiple times during the night. :)

And surprisingly her naps have lengthened. I shouldn't have to remind you of our 45-minute napper.. but she's been having consistent 1.5 hour naps. The morning one is the best! Her third nap is a short one, which possibly means we're nearing the time to drop it. I'll probably give her another month with 3 naps, at least.

I know as soon as I write about all the wonderful things Hartley is doing, she may quit behaving so well.. but I do want to remember how nice it is now.

Before we say goodbye, I want you to see this new bib I got Hartley. It's plastic coated so it will make cleaning up green beans much easier. It won't arrive for another 2 weeks, but I'm so excited. It was an Etsy purchase- I like the idea of buying handmade, personalized items, rather than store-bought. Plus- this is cuter and cheaper than the ones at Wal-mart.

fathers daughter, take two

It ceases to amaze me how much Hartley is like her Daddy. It's unreal! I'm also getting a taste of what Marshall was like as a child.

I can't possibly tell you all the stories of Marshall.. there are way too many.

I snapped this picture yesterday afternoon. She had been playing on her playmat while I took a break and Facebooked. Not even a minute after turning my back, she had rolled underneath the coffee table.

Then I got the picture that startled me. There are so many pictures of Marshall as a baby with the above expression. If I had one on the computer I would upload it in a heartbeat. It's ridiculous how much they look alike in that picture.

Yesterday's episode wasn't the first. I got these last week. I walk out of the room for a minute and find her hanging out with Sassy.

That's a lot of rolling to do. Marshall is determined Hartley will be crawling in the next month.

And last but not least, our newspaper chewer. You can kinda see black ink around the edge of her mouth. She was very interested in the sound of newspaper, so I let her kick at it last week. I got distracted with the Bi-Lo ad and realized she had been chewing on the paper.

We have a lot to look forward to. She'll be climbing in the dishwasher before we know it. Probably eat dog food. I only hope she doesn't have as many accidents as Marshall- that boy has countless scars and broken bones.