The ever so popular battle of FOOD.

I have been told my many "experienced mothers" that if they could do it all over again, they would have lightened up A LOT when it came to battling with food and their children. I found myself agreeing, and trying to remember that in my own life. However, as a mom, I think most of us have a sense of obligation to ensure your child is getting a well balanced, nutritious diet. 

 My sweet spirited little daughter is also very strong willed, and to this day I absolutely cannot figure out where she got that! ;)

Saying "NO" to noodles. 

It took her a few weeks to stomach baby cereal…so at about 7 months, after weeks of spitting, sloppiness, and denial, she finally decided she would eat oats. AWESOME! I then slowly started making different fruit and veggie purees, which she surprisingly did not mind most of them. At about 10 months, I decided…hey…I think its time you start trying to eat some mashed/ table foods. And from my understanding, this is a very normal time to do this. Well…Addie thought otherwise. The only things she will eat are simple carbs and cheese. Almost Everything else doesn't even make it in the mouth, or touch her without tears. And we all know that a diet of formula, bread, and cheese does not quite cut it. And don't even get me started on her lack of desire in drinking from anything but her bottle. 

So the question…do I battle with her and keep trying the big girl foods, or go back to making pureed fruit/ veggie mixes? Well, fighting with a kid gets old real quick, and I myself don't desire to spend the time I have with her doing that…and being that she is in the 1st percentile for weight, she's not exactly at a point where nutrition can be skimped on. Thus, today, I found myself back at the blender, making some new creations. And what do you know, she ate them just fine! No questions asked.

Apple/Spinach!

I guess we won't be where we had thought, sharing meals with Addie by the time she is one. And I guess that is okay. Just another one of our "parenting expectations" that is inaccurate!

I know these things are all SO SMALL in the grand scheme of things, but they are still big in the sense that it DOES fill up much of days'  of efforts, thoughts, and worries. So they are important to process though and learn. And as mom with my first kid, hey, I'm just trying to figure it out! Aren't we all?!

So, if you don't know where to find me, just look by the blender, I'll be there…but my child will be well fed and happy :)

What we like to call the "Grandma without teeth- silly pucker- lip smack!"

In the midst of it all...

Its been almost a month since I have posted anything…OOPS! We have just been having too much fun in this beautiful, hot, summer weather! Where has the month gone?!?! So here is a sincere apology in advance for the long post!

Well…after Sam's birthday/ our stay-cation, came fathers day! I was super excited to celebrate this day because I truly am SO grateful to have such a loving, fun, and involved dad for our little girl! She is so blessed :) As much hype as mothers day gets, I feel like fathers day should get the same. These days, as most moms have to work, parents are forced to split the parenting load and REALLY work as a team to get everything done and be there for your child. Its neat, and special for the whole family :) Sams family came up to visit that weekend as well!

BLT's for lunch, compliments of chef Sam!

Loving play time with Auntie Haley!

So intrigued with Godfather/ uncle Josh!

Boche ball on a gorgeous night!!

We have enjoyed many trips to the park in our neighborhood as well as the family favorite: walks :)

Sam was gone for a week at jr. high camp, so Addie and I decided to head down to lakeville for a two days to enjoy the company of others! We had so much fun with Grandma and Grandpa (even though big boys currently scare her) and also made another trip to the zoo!! Addie also enjoyed a night with her godmother/ auntie Tiff as mom worked! oh the fun yet to come with the relationship between those two ;)

Addie is 7 months already! I cannot believe it!!! Here are some updates:

-She has been 'almost

 crawling' for about 3 weeks now… and at any moment I feel like she is just going to zoom away! 

How she spends most of her time!

-After 2 1/2 weeks of trying to get her to eat solids, she took to it! So she is now loving to eat all sorts of fruits and veggies! (which by the way are SO fun to make!)

-She has been able to sit for about 30 seconds or so at a time for the last month, but just recently can sit for much longer!!!

-She is so full of laughter, little girl screeches and thoughtful stares (so much fun!)

-She is still proving herself to be very content and calm baby girl!

-She is completely obsessed with her pup theo! He steals her attention 9 times out of 10

-She doesn't cry unless she's scared or overly tired!

-Sleeping 12 hours at night and is finally down to 2 naps a day!! YAY!

We also had a very fun 4th of july! Due to the heat we couldn't go out much with Addie, but we had lots of fun here in hudson with my family! Sam also got the birthday celebration he's been begging for with my family, little did he know we would REALLY bring it this time :)

happy 4th!!

Happy late birthday celebration Sam!

I also got to get away with my friends twice…which was a lot of fun. However, the more I am gone, the more I am realizing I just want to be at home with my family! That is where my heart is, and that is what makes me the happiest... the simple things we do together! Wow, its crazy how much that has changed! For a second I feel boring saying/ feeling that way, but 5 seconds later I'm over it and just wanting to embrace what I have been so blessed with!! I cant wait until some of my good friends start poppin' out little ones so they can truly understand what I am feeling!