8 month favorites

1) I bought this at a garage sale when I was still pregnant (it is missing the mat however).  For a while she loved just playing with the shapes, and while she can't get them into the correct spots, she can pull them out of the open side. It makes music and talks as well.





2)  This was another garage sale buy and while she still can't figure it out, she likes to pull the pieces out and play with them.  I have this exact one, but there are other options available.  The normal price is usually around $10 (so the link below is way pricey at $35; fyi)

3) JJ Cole 3 Count Bib Set,

Although the bibs in the link below are the boy version, we do have the girl version (the are available at many other stores) and they are my favorite because they wipe clean easily and have a little pocket which catches the crumbs. They are snap bibs and so she can't pull them off. At least not yet anyway.

To see what some of our favorites have been in other months check out these links. 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites,  5 month favorites, 6 month favorites, 7 month favorites

Our 7 Month Favorites

Here is this months edition!

Bright Starts Teethe and Read Teether Book:  This isn't the exact book, but is very similar (same brand, same design, just different pictures...).  It's a soft book and crinkles and entertains her in the car for a long time.  It's how I know she's awake or sleeping.  If she's sleeping it's quiet. :)

Elmo & Friends (My First Look and Find)

This is one of the books we read the most.  It's a board book but it's over sized and I think that's why she really likes it.

Nuby Super Spout Easy Grip
This is the only sippy cup we've tried so far, and she sometimes has a hard time getting milk or water out (because she gnaws at the nipple) but it's easy for her to hold onto and she's starting to figure out to tip it back.

Mum-Mum's
We just started giving these to her.  The face she first made was totally confusion and I kind of had to show her that she could eat them, but since then she really likes them.  I've only tried the banana flavor, but I did buy the vegetable flavor and are going to try those soon.  I only give her a half of one at a time and usually only once or twice a day, but they are great for keeping her entertained for a few minutes (although still with supervision) while we are out to eat.

See: 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites,  5 month favorites, 6 month favorites

Our Favorite Things: 6 Month Style

These are some of the things that have gotten the most use around here this last month.

1) Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack



This thing has been a huge hit lately.  She loves the top two rings.  It's probably because they are the easiest to get to, but she will play with them and swing her arms around.



2 RaZ-berry Teether

We have a few different teethers (the other ones are the kind that go in the freezer) but she likes this one the best.  I wasn't sure when I bought it if she would, because it's similar in shape to a pacifier and she doesn't like those, but she likes to gnaw on it.  Not just the red part, but the leaves on the side.


3) Fisher-Price Stand-Up Ballcano
 
This was a Christmas gift that we recently pulled out and it catches her attention instantly.  There is a little thing you spin, which raises the center part and then the balls roll down the sides and she likes to watch that.  It plays music too.  Mostly she likes to stand against it and grab at the balls on the top.


4)  When Eleanor was younger she hated diaper changes.  After decorating the Christmas tree I had some leftover silver bulbs I hung over the changing table.  It helped her not freak out but then she kind of didn't care.  In the last few weeks she has really taken a liking to them again.  She likes mirrors and since they reflect it's kind of the same thing I guess.  She will look at herself and smile.

She's sleeping so I don't have a current pic, but here is one  from when I first put them up.  (and how tiny was my little girl).

5) City Mini Stroller:  Now that Eleanor is bigger and it's warmer out, we don't use the keyfit caddy (mentioned in the one month favorites) as much.  I do still use it for quick runs into a store but we use the city mini more.  She can see out out it so much better, and when she does fall asleep it reclines flat so it's comfortable for her.

See: 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites,  5 month favorites

5 month Favorites

1) Bounce Bounce Baby Activity Zone  I actually won this last summer, but even if I had to buy it I think it's worth the price. The model we have actually is slightly different, instead of the monkey toy, ours plays music, but it isn't that different. It's a great toy for the price. It's smaller than a traditional similar toy, but still has a few activities and has places for extra toys to be lopped onto, which we do.

2)  Sophie Teether This is probably one of the most popular baby products and for good reason. It really is awesome. She loves it and has become a fan of squeaky toys lately so this is fantastic! And confession time, but I totally tried to chew on it. I don't get the appeal, but then again I'm a grown up and don't chew on toys. haha.

This picture is actually a few months old, but she really likes it stil.

3) What does the fox say? Not a toy, but this song makes her smile.  I pull it up on youtube and we have a little dance party.

4)Lamaze Inchworm She has a slightly different version, but the same concept, except hers doesn't play music. She loves the squeaker part. I can have it behind my back, but she will still smile it when she hears it.


5) Amber necklace  Recently I was able to review a necklace from Spark of Amber (see review here).  It's made a noticeable difference in the amount the drools and her general mood.  I'm thankful for it.  Rob was skeptical but I think he sees that it does help.

6) Chicco Polly High Chair  This high chair has a lot of great features.  It cleans easy (she had a blowout in the first 5 minutes of sitting in it), it adjusts height and recline, and has a great foot rest among others.  We love that we can roll it around the kitchen.


See: 1 month favorites 2 month favorites, 3 month favorites, 4 month favorites,

The Eleanor Update: 21 Weeks

Breastfeeding: 

Having some latch pain this week. And there have been a few moments where I've lost track of time and it's been close to 3 hours before she's eaten.  I still feed her on demand, but I also feed her when it's convenient.  Like if I'm going to leave and she may have just eaten 45 minutes before,  but I know it would be easier to feed her at home than try in the car I will feed her again.  That probably explains why she's such a big girl. Haha.

Actually I fed her in public twice this week.  I was covered, but I still managed to do it.  I fed her at my nephew's birthday party and then at Outback. 

I'm pretty sure the people behind me may have seen the boob through the top of my cover, but they didn't seem to care.  Our table was right by the door so I had to make sure I was covered, but there was another nursing mom at a table right by us.  

The birthday party was at kids play place and when we left I saw this sign on the door.  It made me happy!

Sleep:
Honestly?  The lack of any routine, consistency or any sort or 'normal' really stresses me out.

She's been waking up by 6:30 every morning. No matter what time she goes to bed, she's still up at that time. 

Naps are still 20-30 minutes.  She did take a 40 minute nap and it was like whoa!

She only wants to comfort nurse to sleep as well.

It makes it really hard to go anywhere.  

Misc: 

The teething as gotten worse this week.  Poor girl.  She's gnawing on those hands and has been so fussy.  I tried these (Teething Tablets ) and they seem to help somewhat.  That plus the Amber necklace (side note: the giveaway ends tomorrow).

We busted out some new toys for her. This one (Stand-Up Ballcano) & This one (Poppity Pop Musical Dino) were hits. She loved them!

Actually she did awesome standing up (See pictures below)

She loves to wake up and claw at my face

My brother's birthday dinner

After church (I loosened the straps when we got home)