7 Months

Alexander is 7 Months!!!

Wow is time flying by! Alexander is growing and growing.  He is in 6-9 or 9 month clothes.  He still wears size three diapers.

Solids:
 Last month he started solids and is doing well.  Like any child he loves his fruits but doesn't like his vegetables (except sweet potatoes).  So far the only trick I can use to get him to eat his vegetables is alternate every other spoonful with a fruit.  I continue to make my own baby food which I really don't think other moms understand how easy it can be otherwise I think everyone would do it.  My friend Martina and I are getting together on Monday to make our next batch of food.  Every time we make a batch it lasts us about a month and half.  Of course it depends on how much you make.  Honestly, just buy some fruit, blend it, put it in ice cube trays, let it freeze, pop it out and put it in a freezer bags and back into the freezer.  When ready take one cube out (I do about 2-3 cubes now for Alexander), microwave it for about 30 seconds, stir, and then do 10 seconds after until its warm.  Make sure its not too hot before giving it to baby.  Things that don't blend as easily (mostly vegetables) add some water and it will help puree it.  Also, you need to cook the veggies before blending.  I know I am blessed to have a friend to do this with because it cuts the cost and it allows us to socialize while being productive.  The are many books out there about making your own baby food.  I got some of our ideas from Super Baby Food.

Personality:
Alexander is really developing a personality.  He loves to smile and giggle especially with his daddy and mommy.  Eric and Alexander love interacting with each other so much that when Eric comes in the room, Alexander just starts laughing.  I do believe he threw his first fit the other day when I took away a flash card that he wanted to just put in his mouth.

Sitting:

Alexander can now sit on his own!!! Its very exciting and of course makes great pictures.  This also has opened a world to a whole bunch of new toys (which are taking over my living room).  One of his favorites is a Mickey Mouse bobble toy that he got from Aunt Laura and Uncle Lane.  The books also say that this a can be a sign of which they are ready to crawl.  But we as all know, babies will be babies, and Alexander will crawl when he wants too!

Beach Vacation:

Eric and I went on our first vacation with Alexander to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.  There is a saying I have seen that says "You know you are a mom when going to Target by yourself feels like a vacation and going on vacation feels like work."  Well this is partly true.  Luckily we had a fabulous house to stay in.  We rented a big house with three other couples where two of the those couples also had young children.  The house had a pool which I loved the most.  By the end of the week the house finally got into a routine.  Some people went to the beach early and set up "camp".  Eric and I would let Alexander take his two naps while we hanged out by the pool and then after his second nap we would meet up with the crew on the beach.  We then would help take the camp down.  It was a good time but definitely not like the vacations we took before when it was just Eric and I.  My personal opinion is that I don't know if I would take a beach vacation with a baby again.  If you think about it the baby can't do much at the beach so neither can you.  Plus there is the consent worry of too much sun and sand getting everywhere.  Ironically we have two more beach vacations planned this year.  However, both are with Eric's parents which I know I can hand Alexander off too more often and enjoy the water or sun a little more (or at least I hope). 

In the market...
We are in the market for a new umbrella stroller and car seat.  Alexander is getting very close to the height requirement (30inches) for his car seat.  And since he will soon be out of that car seat which snaps into my snap-n-go stroller I will need a new stroller.  Some people will just buy one the cheaper versions of an umbrella stroller from Walmart or Target at this point.  I would probably honestly do this but I have a problem that those strollers' handles come up to about my knees.  Okay mid-thigh.  I'm currently looking a Chicco Liteway stroller.

Things we are looking forward to....
My parents are coming mid July to visit for a week.  We will also be going to the Sand Dunes with them to do our first camping trip with Alexander.  We are also excited to go visit our friends, Paul and Laura Galido, in Durango.  Paul and Laura had a little girl named Alex just five days after we had Alexander.  We are very excited for the two babies to meet.