This has been a full month for us. Between people coming and going to work on the basement, Daddy being away for a week for work and traveling to Cincinnati for Christmas, we’ve been a bit all over the place. I wish I could bottle up your energy because I am tired! That could be because I’m growing your little brother or sister inside of me, too. Which, by the way, we think you’re excited about. When we ask you where the baby is, you try to lift Mama’s shirt up to see my belly and often offer a kiss. You are going to be a very sweet big sister.

While Daddy was away, I whisked you away to do something very fun and exciting…

your first haircut! { Please, contain the joy. }

Really, though, you did great, babe.

You probably enjoyed our trip to the mall play area with your friend, A, the day before more. You had so much fun running around, climbing, sliding, hiding…it was a fun day for you.

You love your puppy dog! Parker makes you giggle out of no where. You love retrieving his toys when they get stuck somewhere and he usually has a very willing little person to throw his toys for him to fetch. He’s very appreciative that you now know his name, too!

You stay on guard when there’s food involved, though. Smart girl.

Christmas in Cincinnati was a treat for you. You woke up ready for whatever the day held and greeted everyone by name each morning.

We ate a lot of good food all week long and decorated Nana and Poppa’s Christmas tree.

You went to the grocery store with Nana where you put a smile on everyone’s face when you greeted them up and down the aisles.

You went to the bookstore with Poppa where you “organized” the shelves.

We slowly unwrapped gifts throughout the day so you could enjoy what you had been gifted.

Thank you, Uncle Erik, for the colored bubble launcher. It’s bound to be a favorite. However, it’s hiding until summer.

On our last full day, we went to see the trains at the Museum Center…

…made a gingerbread man with Nana…

…and in the evening took a drive with Nana to see the lights at Sharon Woods in our pj’s. What a fun and festive day that was!

When we returned home, we took advantage of having no plans and hung out with Daddy for the rest of the week. We wore our pj’s a lot. You played with all of your new toys quite contentedly. Some days you entertain yourself so well.

Other days require a project like painting { so focused! } or playing with water at the sink { messier than you may think }.

But you still love to color in your coloring books and are even trying to color specific areas instead of just all over the page. Nana would be proud.

In fact, most evenings before bed, this is what you’re doing:

Butt up. Tongue out.

Love you, Analiese!
Mama & Daddy

The theme is “Sugar and Spice” and I have had way too much fun with the details. The other two ladies who are planning the shower with me now think I am CRAZY.

K is expecting a girl in December. The invitations are blue because K is not a pink kind of gal.

 The stamps are from my stamp collection. (NERD!) I can’t think of a better use for them.

Fonts used: Copper Alt Caps Expert and MrsEaves (Small Caps and Roman Italics)

These invitations were designed by me and printed by a professional printing lab that I adore. They are wonderful to work with, their products are beautiful, and their prices are reasonable. Printing on the back is free. I didn’t have any need to use the back, but I never like to pass up the opportunity to do something back there, so I used the same vertical stripe pattern on the back as well. Envelopes are also included at no additional charge. For a small extra fee, I chose the watercolor paper, which has a slight texture. I snipped the corners with a rounded corner hole punch.

Address and return address labels were designed using the same stripe pattern and fonts, and printed on standard Avery labels.

Please contact me if you are interested in custom invitation design and printing. I’d love to work with you!

As promised, here’s my list of pregnancy, nursing and baby recommendations. Keep in mind, that we did all of our research on all-things-baby in 2009 when we found out we were expecting Analiese. Most of these items were purchased or gifted to us during that year or in early 2010 before Analiese was born. The baby world is always changing, so I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these items have already been trumped.

As with anything, we put a lot of time into researching what would be best for us and our Baby Girl without breaking the bank. I read books and blogs as well as consulted with friends and family to figure out how to make pregnancy as comfortable as possible, labor as natural as possible, nursing as convenient and efficient as possible, and living life with a baby as easy as possible.

The following is a list of items that I purchased (or received as a gift), used and would recommend to others.

PREGNANGY

1. The Business of Being Born – Watching this solidified my decision to plan (and pray) for a natural birth experience. It’s graphic and powerful.

2. Baby Bargains – My cousin sent this to us immediately after hearing the news that we were expecting. It was such a helpful reference as we registered for some of the bigger, more expensive items. It also served as a real check list when it came to determining what was really necessary and what we could do without. (i.e. does anyone use those diaper stacker things?)

3. Exercise Ball – It was really hard for me to only sleep on my side every night. I tried to favor my left side (like you’re supposed to), but would go on my right side from time to time to change it up. However, I still craved the option to lay on my back. (I think it was more of a mental thing where I knew I couldn’t do it, so I wanted it even more! Pure torture!) I used the exercise ball to stretch my back: kneel on the floor and lay over the ball with your arms and head the way you would if you were laying on your stomach…and stretch! This is also a great position for a massage!

4. Bellaband – There are other brands out there that probably work just as well. Sometimes, I’m just a sucker for a label. I had a deep love for my bellaband…

5. Maternity Underwear – I have no idea why I waited so long to purchase these. Once I did, I didn’t even think about wearing regular underwear for the rest of my pregnancy. They were SO much more comfortable.

Not Pictured:

• Chiropractor – Mine treats tons and tons of pregnant ladies. She has a special table that accommodates the baby belly. Your body moves so much differently when you’re pregnant, so it would be a great time to go on a regular basis throughout your pregnancy if you’re not already.
• Magnesium – My midwife suggested taking magnesium to help with the headaches I started to get.
• Vitamin D – Ask your doctor how much she would recommend you taking. I started taking a lot more than I usually did because I was so deficient and planned to breastfeed.
• Homeopathic supplements: Arnica - to avoid physical trauma associated with childbirth; prevents excess blood loss, shock, and trauma to soft tissues; Caulophyllum – natural source of oxylocin; helps produce effective contractions; can be used to initiate or enhance labor; will not bring on contractions if the woman is not ready to go into labor and may relieve excess pre-labor toning contractions; Cimicifuga – to ease fear of giving birth; aids the uterus to contract in a coordinated and effective way; Red Raspberry Leaf Tea – to tone my uterus; Black Currant Oil – to soften the cervix. You can read more about these items here.
• Thank you cards – My mother-in-law stock piled me with cute packs of thank you note card sets from TJ Maxx and I pretty much used them all between showers and gifts after the baby was born.
• Prenatal yoga – I went to one class and wished I could have made time for more. I did not do a very good job at exercising throughout my pregnancy and it probably would have paid off during labor if I had.

NURSING

6. Lily Padz – I always felt limited with what I could wear from my wardrobe that was nursing friendly. I had two nursing bras and two nursing camisoles that I had to wear under everything. I also have washable nursing pads that get inserted into either the bras or camisoles. They are totally necessary to avoid leaks showing through, but tend to make your chest look lumpy. The disposable pads are thinner and a little smoother looking under clothing, but I don’t find them as comfortable. Lily Padz stick to your breasts and are silicon, so they are lump-free. I got them to wear under a dress with a stretchy knit top for a wedding. You can wear them under anything without a bra or camisole. Works like a charm.

7. Medela Swing Pump – I’m so glad I got this one. Medela is the leading brand for breast pumps. I was tempted to get the more expensive option with two pumps, but opted for the single, electric pump since Iwasn’t going back to work and wouldn’t be as pressed for time to pump throughout the day.

Not Pictured:

• Breakfast items you can eat with one hand – I started baking scones once a week. I’m was typically very hungry when I fed Analiese first thing in the morning (mind you, I’ve never been a big breakfast eater). I needed something to grab quickly and eat while I was feeding her. Breakfast bars are good, too. I had a basket next to the chair in her room that I usually kept stocked with snacks and stuff, too. (Thanks for that, Pamela!)

BABY

8. Uniden Video Monitor – We should really be getting some sort of commission from Uniden for our consistent endorsement of the “Wireless Video Surveillance Portable Security System” monitor. It’s not advertised as a baby monitor, but we LOVE ours and have recommended it to anyone who is in the market. We can count at least four couples who have taken our recommendation and have not been disappointed.

9. UPPAbaby Vista Stroller - We were blessed to have our stroller purchased for us by some very generous family members. But we still did a fair amount of research and visited Buy Buy Baby multiple times to try them all out. There are so many different kinds of strollers–umbrellas, travel systems that accommodate an infant car seat, joggers. Ultimately, we wanted a versatile stroller that wasn’t super bulky to lug around. The UPPAbaby Vista is pricey, but we absolutely love it. It comes with a bassinet (for when they’re itty bitty–you can swaddle them up and lay them right down without having to buckle anything) as well as a reversible (can face you or out) and adjustable (can sit straight up or recline in a few different positions) stroller seat. The front wheels can lock so you could use it as a jogger, but it’s not really meant for that. The foam wheels are also so much better on rougher ground than the typical plastic ones. Another reason we really liked this one is because by the time baby #2 comes along, we can still use it with the rumble seat for A. Really, the only thing I don’t like is that it doesn’t have a “tray” of sorts at the handle bar for carrying cups or water bottles. However, they recently came out with a snack tray attachment for baby which has come in quite handy. The storage underneath is awesome and so much more practical than the ever-popular Bugaboo.

While most travel system strollers can be used with a specific, matching infant car seat, the Vista works with three different infant car seat brands as long as you have the right adapter.

Note: The Baby Jogger City Stroller has recently entered the stroller scene and it seems to have the same versatile features as the UPPAbaby Vista. It’s also a little cheaper, but the bassinet kit is sold separately. Of all of the features of the Vista, the bassinet is probably the one thing we could have done without.

10. Chicco Key Fit 30 Infant Car Seat – Of the three infant car seats that work with the Vista–Chicco, Graco and Peg Perego–we chose the Chicco Key Fit 30. Compared to the other two from a cost perspective, it was right in the middle. It ranked high in our Baby Bargains book and we found a pattern–”cubes”–that was gender neutral and wouldn’t show stains too easily.

11. Chicco Ct. 0.6 Ultra Light Umbrella Stroller – My mom and I took a trip to Florida with Analiese when she was about 10 months old, and we decided to invest in a cheaper, light weight umbrella stroller that would make walking through the airport a little easier.  There are definitely cheaper options out there when it comes to umbrella strollers, but we wanted it to last a while without having to be replaced when future kids enter the picture. Chicco has become a brand we like and trust given our experience with the infant car seat. Although we don’t use it day-to-day, having the smaller option has been helpful when we need to pack a stroller with us for a car trip.

12. Ergo Carrier – This carrier came highly recommended by many baby-wearing friends at church. I would not call us baby-wearing parents at all. Ross always opted to carry Analiese when we were out together. I, on the other hand, liked giving my arms a break and would use the Ergo on walks with the dog or when she was very little and I felt empowered to attempt a “nap on the go” so I could be social during her nap time. Eventually, I committed pretty hardcore to a crib-only nap routine, so my baby-wearing days were short. When I did wear it, I always comfortable and felt that Analiese was very secure.

13. Miracle Blanket – If you plan to swaddle your baby at sleep time, this is the blanket to use! It’s awesome.

14. Comfort Blanket – Pick one style and get 3 or more of them. We introduced a “lovie” when Analiese was around 10 months old. She always has it when she sleeps and it’s a source of comfort when we’re in a new place. Regardless of how often a baby uses a lovie, it is bound to get pretty gross after a while and will need a washing. But what happens when you take the comfort blanket away…or, gasp! it gets misplaced or forgottten? You get a clean one out that looks exactly like the other one!

15. IKEA Gulliver Crib – It’s safe and cheap.

AND FINALLY…

There are just a few things that I wish I would have known beforehand or put a little more thought into before the arrival of Miss Analiese:

• Choosing a pediatrician – All of a sudden it was on our to-do list (along with ten thousand other things) and I felt rushed to figure something out.

• How babies sleep – Around week 3 I decided I wanted to have Analiese on a sleeping/eating schedule versus on-demand feeding and sleeping. You may have a different approach, which is totally fine. Ultimately, our method came from a variety of sources: friends, family and a few books: the baby whisperer and it’s counterpart, healthy sleep habits, happy baby and the happiest baby on the block (dvd). I felt like once we decided to do sleep training with Analiese, we were in a rush to figure out exactly what would be best for her. It was super stressful and I started doubting myself a lot. If I had known what a challenge it was going to be, I would have read some of these books while I was pregnant so that I was more prepared and had an idea about what approach I wanted to take. I think I would have felt more confident during the first few weeks of sleep training if I had put more time into the research beforehand. You can read about A’s sleep journey here, here and here.

• Nursing takes a while to get the hang of – Don’t be discouraged! It’s ok that this is ALL you will be doing for the first few weeks…it’s all you’re supposed to be doing during that time. It took me a while to accept that and to stay focused on both teaching Analiese and learning from her.

• Freezer meals are a Godsend – I recommend doing a mega cook session. It was so nice to have homemade meals ready to go in the freezer…that ross could prepare instead of me. If doing a mega cook session seems overwhelming, you could start doubling recipes that freeze well.

I know this is long and opinionated, but I hope it’s helpful to someone!

And while I’m ecstatic for those who are blessed to experience their belly growing as their child develops, I’m more aware then ever before of just how blessed they are. Oh, how blessed I am! Because it’s not as easy to get pregnant as I once thought. Many little girls dream of their lives unfolding over the years ahead of them. For most it almost always involves the man of their dreams, a fabulous wedding, and having babies. And most of the time that dream is never questioned. Because our bodies were created in a miraculous way to produce and carry babies. I never thought about all that could go wrong in our complex bodies to make that dream not come true. Sadly, there’s a lot of heartache out there due to infertility.

I’ve learned that this is a reality for a lot of women. But as someone who hasn’t had to go through the pain myself, it’s been hard to relate to and grieve alongside women who I care deeply about. A friend referred me to this post written by Molly Piper and I decided that it was a great place to start–I needed to educate myself. After some research, I purchased Hannah’s Hope. I don’t claim to be an expert on the subject, but I do know that my heart has been changed by this book and I hope my actions and words are more sensitive to those who are hurting. (In other words, I hope I never ask any married couple when they are going to start a family again. Because the truth is, they ARE a family…just the two of them. And if they haven’t started having kids yet, there’s probably a very good reason why. They may be hurting and my ignorance of that weighty question will likely crush them. I would hate that.)

Friends and strangers who are going through infertility…I am so sorry you are in pain. Your hope and dreams are in my prayers.

I’m not sure where to go from here as this post took a different twist than I was originally planning. You see, as friends have shared their news, I’ve forwarded them an email that has made it’s way to a number of people over the past year. It includes a list of pregnancy and baby “must-haves”…in my 2010 opinion, at least. From a design perspective, the formatting of the email is horrific and I’ve been meaning to make it pretty so that I don’t twinge the next time I forward it. So, that’s what I was planning to do here. It seemed like a logical place to put it.

I think I’ll save it for another time. It just doesn’t seem like a proper ending to this post. If you’ve taken the time to read this, know that there is probably someone in your life who is hurting with this incomparable pain and it would be worth your time to educate yourself.

P.S. Molly Piper put together a series of posts relating to helping grieving friends. I haven’t made my way through all of them, but her insight and wisdom into the grieving process and how to support others who are grieving is admirable.

I mentioned that Analiese hasn’t ventured to take her first solo steps yet. But it’s fun to watch her practice:

Analiese Pushing Shopping Cart from Ross & Heather Chasey on Vimeo.

The event planner, perfectionist and task master in me LOVES to see months of brainstorming, planning and creating finally come together. It’s like a mini-wedding of sorts. When we began planning, we threw out a lot of ideas and eventually came up with an ABC theme with a vintage/modern feel. I think we accomplished what we had envisioned and Katie loved it which is what was most important.

{ it all started with the invitation i made–masculine, but with a touch of chic. }

{ we used pages from vintage children’s books and different sized white frames to create multiple vignettes around the room. jackie did a great job with picking out the right images to frame. i love the penant garland that she made, too. }

{ i liked the penant banner so much, i decided to create mini ones to decorate the game prize bags. }

{ katie registered for these ABC cards from Abes Market. they are SO adorable and fit into our color scheme perfectly. i ordered the mini clothes pins from Open Stock Party. }

{ i volunteered to make the pom poms. because i loe pom poms. so pretty. }

{ these were part of my gift to katie. the numbers 6:24-26 may look familiar and is also for sale in my Etsy shop, pipe|up. the cards and clips on the table were given to guests when they arrived. the cards asked everyone to share their favorite thing to do with their mom or kids. we used this as an introduction once we were all seated. the clips were part of a game where you couldn’t say the word “baby” or else you had to give away your clip to whoever caught you. katie’s nieces were at the shower and they loved playing this game! we also played a game where you had to match the celebrity to her little one with a crazy name and used yarn to guess the size of katie’s belly…a crowd favorite. }

{ gifts! }

{ jackie made the ABC cupcakes – yum! we cut strips of paper to go around the bottom to match the rest of the decor. }

{ another vignette of framed children’s book pages by the punch bowl. }

{ katie, elisabeth and i have been best friends for a long time. we’ve thrown each other wedding showers and now we’re onto baby showers. it’s so fun to share life with these girls. i miss them and wish we were closer! }

{ this might have been my favorite decor piece. jackie’s mom had these amazing, giant branches that she placed in a large glass vase with some neutral colored potpourri. jackie and elisabeth made the letters as favors–each guest took home their last name initial–and tied them to the branches with twine. we all loved the idea, but once the letters started going up, the branches started falling over. we knew that even if we got it to balance just right, it would be trouble once guests started taking their letters off. so, we had to improvise. jackie called her husband to see what they might have that could weigh the vase and branches down. the solution? grass seed. the color worked perfectly and it held the branches much better. the other thing we didn’t think about was the mirror behind the display. it was reflecting the backs of the letters, which weren’t as pretty as the front. so, we covered the mirror with a patchwork of scrapbook paper. good thing we built in some extra set up time! }

{ guests were asked to replace their letter with a piece of advice to katie. unfortunately, not too many people did this, but it was a nice thought, right? }

{ analiese made a short appearance at the end of the shower. she had been napping in another room for most of it, but woke up in time to see some familiar faces. she’s saying hi to baby z. }

I’m so looking forward to meeting the little guy!

As I write this, you are well into your eight month of being in this world, our lives and our hearts. We are so glad you’re here with us, Babe. You bring a smile to our face every day. Lately, we’ve noticed that you’re copying our smiles and laughter, too. It’s really neat to know that you can recognize when something is funny, or when other people think something is funny, and join in on the fun.

The biggest thing to write about this month is the fact that you are crawling and finding your way into everything!  You started out very slow and cautious, motivated to move toward items we’d prefer you not to touch or put in your mouth (i.e. Parker’s toys and dust). But, you’re now using this new skill to find your way to your toy basket and to move toward people. I had a little celebration with you when you crawled to me, turned around and plopped yourself in my lap. You were so content to sit there, chewing on whatever toy you had in your hand. This was such a great moment for me.

We started going to MOPS this past month. While Mama is spending time with other moms, you’re hanging out with other babies. Unfortunately, the meeting falls right at your first nap time. So, you’ve been pretty sleepy, but have been content to hang out in the swing, watching the other kids move around the room and play. You’re always so mellow when I come to get you. You must really like to sit back and observe what’s going on around you. You’re a very chill little one.

But you have your active moments, too. You’ve always loved your bath time, but recently, you’ve discovered how to splash the water in the tub. You now prefer to sit up rather than recline…maybe it’s time to ditch the baby tub and give you more room to play!

{While you enjoy your bath time, this is usually what happens after you get out and Daddy gets you ready for bed. Yes, you do, in fact cry from time to time…}

Those two little teeth are standing strong in your mouth, but with no other company just yet. You’re becoming more aware of those tiny sharp objects of yours and using them to scrape bananas and chomp on your upper lip. You’re also using your teeth to chew on new foods. Bread is a wonderful distraction for you to play with and eat when we’re out at a restaurant.

As we try new foods, we have to be ready for something to not sit well with you. Such was the case one afternoon after you tried some puffed grain snacks. You got so sick and I felt so bad for you. Thankfully, it got out of your system before bed time. What an awful experience for both of us!

Aside from that, month 8 has been a good one. We love you!

Love, Mama and Daddy

The truth is, I had a list (surprising, right?) of things I wanted to finish before I could say that her room was completely done. One of those said things was to remove those pesky extra slats in her blinds. I know that sounds crazy to some people. But, if I hadn’t done it, they would have driven me absolutely batty. And it seems like something that should be pretty easy to do. It is, but for some reason, it was never a priority. Until I remembered that I had yet to post this post.  And now that the blinds are shortened to the right height I can finally say that our daughter’s room is finished! (Well, at least until she has an opinion and wants to change it. Ross is hoping that isn’t for a very long time.)

My original inspiration for the nursery came from a fabric designer named Heather Bailey. She has a blog and an a very girly studio. Love. I could definitely get lost in a room like that. However, the main piece of inspiration for me was a turquoise mirror featured in her daughter’s room makeover (pictured to the right). Ironically enough, a turquoise mirror never made it to Analiese’s room. Nevertheless, I’m really happy (and proud!) with how everything turned out.

So, without further ado, I present to you…

I might as well start with my favorite part of the room. I purchased the frames for the asymmetrical photo collage long before I had pictures for them. But I had always planned on using them just like this. It’s a perfect wall–centered between two doors–to display our little girl. I’m sure she won’t always want pictures of herself covering an entire wall in her room, however. I envision family photos and favorite pieces of art being switched out over time. Jenn Webber did Analiese’s “newborn” photo shoot when she was 8 weeks old . I just love that she was able to capture Analiese in such a beautiful way. (Those Ribba frames from IKEA are tricky to hang with precision. I have a system that I’ll post at a later time. Works like a charm.)

Hanging from the ceiling is a blue chandelier! I wanted so badly to hang a chandelier in her room, but even the “cheap” ones seemed fairly pricey. My mother-in-law found this one at a garage sale in it’s original, very brown state. The tag said $10, but something tells me she may have paid even less for it. We had it in mind as a possible fixture for somewhere else in our house, but when our search for a new chandelier came up dry, we decided to spray paint this one bright aqua. I think it’s such a playful addition to the room. Ross installed a dimmer, too, which is really nice in the early mornings and evenings.

The curtains, ruffle pillow, pleated dust ruffle, bumper ties, chain cover and mobile were made by me, using Heather Bailey’s Pop Garden fabric line. I never thought I would have been so attracted to such a bright and colorful combination of prints for Analiese’s room, but I feel so happy when I’m in her room and I hope she does, too! I didn’t use any patterns–just made it up as I went along–but found a few tutorials that were helpful in making the ruffles on the pillow and the mobile.

You may recall this extremely boring post discussing our thoughts on cribs at the time. We eventually decided to get the Gulliver crib from IKEA and have been really happy with it. It’s very simple (and cheap!), but works great. However, it posed a few interesting quirks to work with when making the dust ruffle and tying the bumper. (I hope to post tutorials for both of these sewing projects soon.)

We opted for a larger dresser to double as a changing area. The Hemnes dresser from IKEA is taller than most dressers and perfect for two tall parents to change their baby’s diapers. The small drawer to the left houses her diapers and a tub of wipes, making it very convenient for quick and safe changes. There’s also plenty of room to display a few other items like a piggy bank, jewelry stand and art by Analiese’s mama!

We wanted to keep her crib toy-free–for sleeping only. So, I opted to put the mobile in the corner where I nurse her. I made the mobile as well using this as inspiration and this tutorial. Whimsical and pretty!

Confession: I may have posted the fabrics I was going to use so that a very talented nursery boutique artist would make me custom letters. She may have caught on and done just that. Aren’t they great? I was nervous about making 8 holes in the wall to hang the letters, so I used 3M hooks. I’ve already moved them twice, so it’s a good thing I didn’t use nails! The hooks works great and the ribbon hides them fairly well.

We underestimated how long it would take to receive the glider chair. So, for the first few weeks (months?) I nursed Analiese in a chair that I love to look at, but not sit in for hours, hunched over a newborn who is trying to learn how to latch on. I couldn’t wait for this chair to arrive. When it did, nursing became so much more enjoyable. It’s situated in the corner and faces that lovely photo collage wall. The nightstand, lamp, iPod and books are all conveniently nearby. For the most part, the chair is used for nursing. But we’re starting to read books there, too. Analiese has never been one to be “rocked to sleep” in a chair. We learned early on that she prefers to “sway.” We hope, though, that a lot of pre-bedtime cuddling will happen here at some point.

Of course, I can’t forget to mention the crown molding and bead board. The additional wood work adds so much to the room. It makes it feel complete. Ross and my dad worked really hard on this and I think it turned out beautifully. Perfect for a nursery.

So there it is!

And just in case you’re interested, here’s the list of resources (this is why I love blogs!):

• Paint – “Light Yellow” by Benjamin Moore
• Crib – IKEA, Gulliver
• Dresser – IKEA, Hemnes
• Nightstand – IKEA, Hemnes
• Book case  - IKEA, Expedit
• Rug – IKEA – no longer on the website :(
• Frames – IKEA, Ribba in white and beech
• Fabric – Heather Bailey, Pop Garden
• Lamp base – Target – no longer on the website :(
• Clock – Target
• Art (“I am a Child of God” and “Number 6:24-26″ prints) – pipe|up
• “Analiese” painted letters – wessysmom – see email info in the comments
• “A” – Home Goods
• Chair – Little Castle
• iPod speaker – Boston Acoustics
• Chandelier – garage sale via the Garage Sale Queen
• Mirror – garage sale
• Jewelry stand – purchased at Plymouth’s Art in the Park, 2010

Happy seven months to you, Baby Girl (a little belated)!

You are sitting up all on your own now. It’s so fun to see your little body balancing itself  so that you can play independently. You’ve always been a little doll baby, but now you’re actually DOING so much! It’s crazy to think back to the first few weeks of your life when you were a little loaf of bread who didn’t do much of anything. When our days and nights were spent meeting your needs to eat and sleep. That was it.

Those hands. We think you’re so excited to be holding on to something that you don’t realize it’s your own hands!

You have a contagious laugh that make us want to play with you and hold you all the time. Sometimes it’s the anticipation of a sound or game like “peek-a-boo” that gets your giggles going. You have the ability to make us laugh, too. You recently started to scrunch up your face and sniff really loud. You must remember our first reaction to this new quirk and now you love to do it to make us laugh.

They say big things come in small packages. We think your petite frame contains a world of wonder, love and laughter.

We did quite a bit of traveling this month – to visit grandparents and friends. You’re a hit wherever you go.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m not a huge fan of headbands. Now that you’re getting a little more hair, though, I decided to try it out. You’re adorable. No matter what. And there are so many amazing headbands out there for babies these days. Time for Mama to get creative and make you some worthy accessories. The one you have on here is a brown ribbon adorned with a crocheted flower made by your great-grandma, Baba.

Everything continues to go into your mouth – your way of discovering the world around you. You’re very curious to know what’s going on – new sounds and sights always make you turn your head. Keep exploring, Analiese…there’s lots to see and do!

We recently started feeding you dinner at the table when we eat. It’s so fun to have a family meal together and you seem to eat even better when the bites are spread out as we eat our own meal, too. One of my favorite parts about this time is when we hold hands to pray. There’s something about Daddy’s prayer that makes you stop whatever you’re doing (usually trying to drink water out of your cup) and smile  - so big! We pray that God continues to bring you true joy…someday, in Him.

Love, Mama and Daddy

P.s. I almost forgot…you have two little teeth starting to show through! We’ve hardly noticed a chance in your behavior because of this new development. We’ve heard it can be a painful process, but so far you’ve been a trooper!

We’ve tried to keep Parker’s toys separated from Analiese’s as much as possible. In fact, somehow Parker seems to know the difference and steers clear of toys that don’t belong to him. But it’s impossible for him to resist the urge to shake, mangle and de-stuff every single one of his toys. And so far, every single one of Analiese’s stuffed toys has remained in tact and dog-slobber free.

Parker has also sensed that we don’t like his toys to be in reach of our ever-curious, almost seven month old. He’s a very playful dog who loves to play fetch, especially if he finds us on the floor–his playing field. So, what does he do when we place Analiese on the floor to play with her toys? He strategically places his as close to Analiese as possible and then waits for us to throw them away from her. Smarty pants.

P.s. Yes, that is the same frog I vowed to get rid of. It’s still around.