Hannah is 9 months!



I feel like this month was a big one for Hannah.  She has become so much more engaged, and very deliberate in her actions.  We got her a play yard so she can roll around safely and she loves being in there.  We have put up a mirror for peek-a-boo, and used the bars from her baby gym to hang toys overhead. When she gets cranky we just put her down amongst her toys and she is usually happy again.  Her biggest frustration is when something is out of reach - she hasn't figured out that crawling is an option yet.  Penny the cat is her best friend (at least as far as she is concerned!) and they are getting more comfortable together.  Hannah loves it when Penny is close enough to touch! 

We continue to work on crib sleeping.  Hannah is now sleeping pretty well in her crib with an occasional waking around 10 PM for milk, sometimes another one later on just for soothing, milk again around either 2 or 4 AM and then it can get a little tricky until morning.  One night I got her back down after a 4 AM feed and she slept in her crib until 7 - that was a big milestone for us!

Even though Halloween was basically canceled due to power outages from the freak snow storm (Hannah was a champ through 28 hours of no heat, including some 56 degree diaper changes) we had a little celebration at home with Abuelita, Uncle John, Aunt Angela, and cousin Sara the bee.

Hannah also celebrated her first Thanksgiving - with a plate of sweet potatoes, squash, green beans, and a little turkey. 

She enjoyed the day even though there was a shortage of naps.  She also did really well Black Friday shopping, although she got a bit tuckered at the end.

Hannah got three more teeth this month (those uppers were brutal!) and I think she just started working on some more.  Next month she hits double digits - yikes!

Hannah is 8 months!

Oh gosh this month really flew by!  I don't have too much share, but as you can see Hannah did, as I predicted, cut her first tooth.  The second one is very, very, close behind.  That little thing is so cute and very sharp!

Hannah continues to explore solids - she has tried a number of fruits and veggies, plus Greek yogurt.  Peas are her favorite.  In a addition to purees, she is trying some finger foods - roasted carrots and parsnips and steamed peas.  She seems to like them although she doesn't get a whole lot into her mouth.  Hannah is also experimenting with drinking water out of an open cup.

We started music class and Hannah really loves it.  Her favorite part is the autoharp that Miss Gen plays at the beginning of class. Hannah is fascinated by it and often smiles and even giggles during class.  She also likes sitting on the drum while we sing and play.

We also started Swedish class this week.  Hannah is too little for a lot of the activities but it's great for her to hear the language and soon enough she will be walking and better able to join in.

We did the obligatory pumpkin patch visit last weekend and it was a lot of fun.  I had to hold her not because she can't sit, but because Hannah tried to eat the grass, leaves, and pumpkin stems!  We had a good time and Hannah saw a lot of new sights.

Physically, Hannah has become a champion roller, very strong and push-ups, and finally found her toes. 

We are working on transitioning to the crib for nighttime and it's going OK, if you consider 45 or 90-minute stretches in the evening and maybe as long as 3 hours overnight OK...but she's getting it.  The crib is a safe and pleasant place to sleep and there is no need to worry.  She still winds up in our bed in the wee hours and I enjoy the snuggles.

Can't wait to see what the next month brings!

Hannah is 7 months!

Isn't she adorable?  We are more smitten every day!  I predicted this would be a big month, and I was right - Hannah had a lot of firsts this month.

Hannah had food for the first time - avocado.  She thought it was...interesting.  Since that first bite she has had banana, oatmeal, prunes, pears, and squash.  Unfortunately she seems to be sensitive to bananas - she got a rash on her face and threw up several hours later the two times she tried it.  It's too bad since she seemed to like them the best of all the foods she has tried.

A week later Hannah took her first flight, to see her Auntie Kat.  She was a real trooper on the plane despite having trouble napping.

It was good practice for us to take a short flight - those seats are pretty cramped for three people even when one is small.  I think when we go to Sweden next summer we will get her her own seat.  I can't imagine an 8 hour overnight flight with an 18-month old on my lap.

Auntie Kat was so happy to see Hannah!

Hannah enjoyed her time in North Carolina despite getting very little sleep.  There were so many new things to look at and she didn't want to miss anything.  She saw her first waterfall and and was really interested in it.

Hannah watched her first football game (our one exception to our general no TV policy, and it won't be every week) and celebrated her dad's birthday in her Eagle's onesie.  She cheered the first touchdown of the season and started learning about all the regulations.

Last weekend we started music class.  Hannah was fascinated by the autoharp at the beginning.

Later in the class there was some interaction with the other babies, which Hannah really could use.  It was a very stimulating class and Hannah took a good nap that afternoon!



Physically, Hannah continues to get stronger at sitting while showing no interest in rolling over.  She can now sit for a good while with just something behind her to catch should she decide to lie back.

Out to lunch in NC.

Ready for bed!

This morning we saw two teeth just below the surface!   I'm pretty sure they will be out next month.

Hannah is 6 months!

Where oh where has the time gone?  I cannot believe my tiny baby is six months old already.  We were talking about her winter wardrobe and I was wondering aloud what size shirts she will wearing, and Steve pointed out she will be one in the winter.  It did not even occur to me.

Hannah hasn't hit any huge milestones this month.  She continues to improve on a lot of her skills, and is sitting well with support.  She has started sitting in her high chair and watching us at meal times so that she can get used to sitting in it and be familiar with what we do at the table.  Her neck is strong but she doesn't like to use her legs.  We are working on that in the jumperoo and doorway jumper.  She has rolled exactly.once more - today.  Rolling does not seem to be a high priority.  Hannah has definitely started some early teething, drooling and gnawing on things, but no signs of any actual teeth yet.  She can grab onto just about anything and bring it to her mouth, but only sometimes actively reaches for toys.  She is still sleeping pretty well (with some exceptions) and has started going to bed at 7:30, minutes after I get home.  I haven't missed bed time yet but I'm sure it's coming and it will be sad.

We had fancy visitors from Sweden again this month.  My mom and Caroline got to spend some more time with Hannah and my dad got to meet her for the first time.  Hannah thought her morfar was hilarious.

The next month should be an exciting one.  We are starting solids soon, and have signed up for a weekly music class.  Hannah will take her first flight on an airplane to visit her Auntie Kat.  And maybe, just maybe we see a tooth!

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You probably haven't noticed the blue button in my right sidebar, but it's been there for a while.  I signed up for this site through another blogger just to check it out.  I have done survey sites before and most of them either have super-long surveys (20 minutes to get a dollar, or worse, a raffle entry) or the topics just don't interest me (just because I have painted my house does not mean I want to evaluate the marketing of 5 different paint companies.)  QuestionMoms pay $1 per survey but they are nice and short and best of all, they are geared towards moms and towards you in particular based on your profile.  I am up to $17 in my account and I have gotten to look at all kinds of interesting new baby products.  I also did a phone interview follow-up for a $20 Amazon gift card!

They will start you out by paying you to fill out your profile, and bloggers, there is a separate "Power Profile" for you as well.

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Hannah is 5 months!

Time continues to fly by.  I really try to soak in the time I have with her while celebrating all of the little milestones.  One night last week she fell asleep on my chest and I literally wanted time to stop.  I thought my heart was going to explode with joy.  I have had a couple of parents this week tell me it gets better and better so I'm trying to not wish her to be a baby forever, even though I know that's not possible in any case!

Hannah decided to celebrate her 5-month birthday one day early by rolling over from tummy to back after practicing with her Abuelita.  We were not home, of course, and she refused to repeat her trick today.  But, it's a milestone we have been waiting for!

She has also gotten pretty good at holding her toys, and bringing them to her mouth.  She sometimes leans forward from a supported seated position to reach for something.  She is super smiley and chatty, especially in the morning.  Her cooing is so adorable.  Sleep is still going well, most nights she goes to bed around 9 and wakes once to eat, and is up for the day around 7, although that varies.  One day last week she slept until 9:15!  I missed seeing her in the morning but that is some good sleeping.  If we throw her off her schedule by taking her out somewhere she adjusts by taking extra naps the next day or sleeping in.  I can't complain.

Friday night we got our niece's jumperoo (thank you!) and decided to try it out Saturday afternoon.  I figured it would be a bit big but we put Hannah in it anyway.  It was a pretty funny sight:

She looked so little suspended off the floor!  We put a box underneath so her feet can reach but her torso isn't really that stable, either.  We figured we should just try again in a couple of weeks when she is 4 months adjusted age, since these are meant for 4 months and up.  She won't be tall enough for a while, though!
Three more days and my family from Sweden comes to visit!  We are all very excited.  Hannah has been keeping up with everyone via Skype but it will be so much better to see each other in person.  Our nanny has the week off so I will be home with Hannah Tuesday and Wednesday and they arrive Wednesday afternoon.  My mom is watching Hannah Thursday and Friday and I bet they will have a great time!

My little girl knows what she wants!

One of the things I have been worrying about lately is transitioning Hannah out of her swing.  She started sleeping part of the night in it pretty early on (she was too small for it at first) and for the past 5 or so weeks since I went back to work she has slept most of the night in it, in our room.  I have been fretting about getting her used to sleeping on her back on a non-moving surface, when the swing is so cozy and relaxing.  (This would be in the co-sleeper, never mind the crib in her room, which I am very much not ready for.)  Honestly, I didn't want to go through the rough nights while she adjusts to the co-sleeper so I have been putting it off.

Well, last night I put Hannah to bed in the swing at 9:20 like every night.  By 9:50 she was crying.  She never does this.  Most nights she sleeps straight through 5:30 if not 6 or even 7.  Once or twice she has been up as early as 12 or 1 but it is very rare.  I walked her around, she snuggled into my neck (God I love when she does that!) and I put her back in the swing.  She cried.  I took her out and nursed her again.  Put her back and she cried.  By now it's after 11 and I need to get to bed myself.  I call Steve upstairs, and ask him to work his magic walking-around powers on her while I get ready for bed.  I'm thinking this is going to be a long night.  A few minutes later he comes downstairs, and announces that she is asleep - in the co-sleeper.  Again, I'm thinking it's going to be a long night.  There is no way she is going to last in there.

I finally go to sleep around 11:30 and when my alarm goes off at 6 I'm amazed to see Hannah snoozing away right next to me.  She eats and goes right back to sleep until after I leave at 7:30.  Nanny reports that she is refusing the swing for naps today, and sleeping in the crib.  I guess that's that!  Her mind is made up and she's not changing it.  Much like her parents, I'm afraid.