Pretty sure I've said this every single month so far, but SEVEN MONTHS is the best month!!! For real this time. :)
J-Bear, you are A DREAM! This month was a big turning point for you as you've totally mastered rolling over [back-to-tummy and tummy-to-back; there's no stopping you now!] and sitting up like a big girl! You seem much more content now that you can sit up in a pile of toys and play the day away. Harper and Scarlett love to build you a little fort to sit in, and you absolutely love chewing on every bone toy they throw your way while always whipping your head back and forth on a 180* range to catch every glimpse of action going on. You love to have a [large] bowl of Gerber oatmeal for breakfast and aren't shy to indulge in pureed green beans, peas, or sweet potatoes for lunch! At dinner we've been repeating the veggies and/or mushing up a [sort of rotting] soft banana. You love Ritz/club crackers and Gerber Puffs as well! The pediatrician instructed us the day of your 6-month visit to feed you peanut butter that afternoon and then eggs the next day [apparently new research is showing that early and frequent exposure to high-allergen foods decreases chance of food allergy?], and you nailed it with both. The only foods we've found so far that you repeatedly shudder at are applesauce [too tart?] and fruit popsicles [too cold?], but we'll give ya another shot to acquire those tastes!
We've had a horrible time with patchy/dry skin for the past 1.5 months. It weirdly started right around 6 months when you first had the baby oatmeal, but the pediatrician reassured me that it was probably just dry skin from the dry, cold winter air and/or eczema [?] and nothing rash-wise related to grain/gluten/foods. We limit your baths to every 4-5 days and rub you down with Aquaphor or coconut oil a couple times a day! Most recently I've had great luck with Young Living Kidscents lotion and Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy [some sort of thick night time balm that Aunt Hollie recommended!], and -- PRAISE THE GOOD LORD -- your skin is like 90% baby soft again! I am so happy to find two lotions/balms that work, because you are really enjoying bath time lately and totally loved your first swim at the YMCA... So if we get your dry skin under control, I see lots more water time in your future! :)
The beginning of this month started out a little rough as you slipped down a deep, dark hole of being SO SPOILED with always wanting to be held and only being able to nap in someone's arms! I hit my breaking point with all of it a few weeks back and decided it was time to sleep train! After just a week of riding the struggle bus, you and I got it all figured out. I AM SO PROUD OF US! You are napping multiple times a day in your crib like a champ and waking up happier than ever. Go girl, go!
No teeth yet, but you continue to gnaw and chew on literally EVERYTHING you can get up to your mouth! You found your tongue this month and have it stuck out most of the day. :) When your tongue isn't out, you're babbling constantly and making all kinds of new sounds! You take bottles without a problem these days, but you still 100% prefer to nurse if mommy's kitchen is open for business [which, conveniently for you, it is open 24/7 other than on Mondays/Thursdays when I go to work!].
This month, you celebrated Harper's 7th birthday, Mommy's 33rd birthday, and your very first St. Patrick's Day! We are so very lucky in love with you!!!
On to another month of growing and changing and hitting new milestones! Thanks for bringing all of us along for the ride... We are enamored by you, Juli Muffin!!!
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