No One

Not one single person has noticed that I chopped over three inches off my hair...

I give Phil a pass, because he was with me when it happened.

auf wiedersehen

Yes, Tim and Heidi are back for another season of Runway, finally a reason to watch Lifetime TV. I just finished the first episode and was happy that Ari was kicked off. I actually like some of the contestants this season and I’m excited to watch this week!

Ugg..seafood pasta was a bad decision

I've been up most of the night dealing with food poisoning - what a nightmare!

While, I'm out of commission, please enjoy a wonderful You Tube video of my baby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wj6lSgf3Xv0. Her dada posted these, tech wizard that he is.

Food, Farm, Concert Fun

Tuesday night I whipped up a tasty dinner using gifts from my garden and a few gifts from the store. Behold, pasta with fresh tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, onion, & garlic. And, for added flavor, fresh basil, parsley and oregano!

Phil thought it was strange I didn't add any meat, but really...it didn't need it.

Wednesday afternoon, Natalie traveled to Wheeler Farm to see the animals and spend the day outside. She loved seeing the animals - especially the cows and pigs. She has a "farm animal friend" book that makes noises when you push on the animals. Well, when the cow says "Moo" Natalie moo's along with the book. So, when she saw the cow in real life she was very excited.

I love how she leans forward in the stroller to see things

Wednesday night we traveled to Deer Valley to enjoy a free concert. My brother was playing with his band and we couldn't miss the show. Natalie enjoyed every minute of the concert, all the people, the endless supply of fruit to munch on and family to hold her. She started to bounce up and down and kick her legs to the music...which everyone thought was "so cute".

Plus, I was able to use my picnic basket again. We had little roast beef and pastrami sandwiches, garden tomatoes and mozzarella cheese in balsamic vinaigrette, feta cheese with olive oil and oregano, farm fresh peaches, blueberries and apples and wine! Yum

One little tooth

I've thought Natalie was getting a tooth since she was about 4 months old and started chewing on her hands and anything else she could get into her mouth. Every night I'd wash her gums with a washcloth and find no teeth...

Then around the 8 month mark, she started drooling more and more while chewing on everything. I said, "She is getting a tooth". But again, I was wrong. Which, because I'm still nursing, was just fine with me.

At the 9 month visit with the doctor, we asked if it was "OK" that she didn't have any teeth, and the doctor confirmed what we had read on the Internet, it is okay that she doesn't have teeth, the longer she goes without them, the better, and not to worry. (See everything on the Internet is true.)

Phil even had people say things like, "Natalie doesn't have any teeth yet?" followed by "Well, she needs teeth soon or she won't ever learn how to chew". Generally said with a disapproving tone - like it is something we control. Flip a switch and your kid will get teeth?

Well, disapproving people, Natalie got her first tooth. Most of her first tooth, that is - it is still working its way out.

True to form, there was no fussing, no crying, no real sign she was teething - except the aforementioned drooling and chewing that has been going on for five months.

This is going to be a long post

Natalie had her first visit to Tracy Aviary, which she loved! She particularly liked the "weird" looking birds - the vulchers were most interesting to her. After the aviary she spent some time at the park. She was able to sit by the pond and watch the ducks. Natalie loves watching birds and it isn't surprising to me that she would like the vulchers best.

The same week Natalie visited the aviary, she went to Hogle Zoo. She was very interested in the animals and the giraffe was one of her favorites. In fact after seeing the giraffe in real life, she saw a stuffed animal in a gift shop and with her cat like reflexes, had it in the stroller, in essence forcing her nanny to buy it for her.

How could you say no to that face?

Sunday afternoon, my mom, Natalie and I travelled up to Stein Eriksen lodge for Brunch. It was very nice and I ate TOO much! Even though Natalie hadn't had more than a 20 minute nap, she cooperated and had a great time crawling all over the lobby of the lodge.

She was exhausted by the end of brunch and fell asleep before we got to the car, and stayed asleep while I belted her in!

We have been having wonderfully cool weather, which means I don't burst into flames while playing with Natalie in the back yard. She doesn't really like to crawl on the grass, but she likes to pick at it - and hold the grass in her hands.

Last Friday we took Natalie in for her 9 month (gasp!) check up! She had to get one shot while we were there, but she didn't even cry! The nurse said that she hasn't ever had a baby not cry when she gave them a shot. She is such a trooper!

We were very surprised when Natalie was put on the scale. Our little string bean is still a string bean! She weighs in at 16 pounds 4 ounces (11%) and 27.5 inches long (50%). For her length she should weigh 2 more pounds! I guess it is a good thing, because it makes carrying her around a lot easier.

Even though she is a string bean, she is meeting and exceeding her developmental goals. The doctor said, "You sure do make it easy on me". The best thing is that Natalie hasn't ever been sick. (knock on wood) Hopefully we can keep her healthy for a while longer. It seems a lot easier to deal with a sick baby, who can say, "Mom, my belly hurts" rather than just cry.

She is starting to walk more and more while holding on to things. On Saturday afternoon I was folding laundry and she grabbed the laundry basket, stood up, and started to push it around the room. It won't be long before she is taking those first steps and I'll be chasing her even more! Who needs exercise? I have a baby to chase after.

Where did the time go?

Natalie has been outside of me almost as long and she was cooking inside of me. I just received my "Your Baby is 40 weeks old" email. We have her 9 month check up on Friday, so I'll update with weight/length information then.

Natalie is such a happy and healthy baby (knocking on wood as I type). She is growing and developing and changing every day. We can't wait for what is ahead.

Boobs

I've been out and about in the blog world, blog stalking as some might call it. I've come across a bunch of blogs that are talking about breastfeeding. I guess it was national breastfeeding week a little while ago? Not sure the exact date, but it happened. Here are two that I found this morning:

http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1501574/Breastfeeding_is_Offensive

http://kbhotmama.blogspot.com/2009/08/enticing-men-to-fornicate.html

I think breastfeeding is best; however, after the battle I had trying to teach Natalie how to eat and teach myself how to feed her, I don't judge any women who don't want to go through that. Now that I have a baby who only wants to drink milk that comes from her mom, I realize I will be nursing her until she naturally weans. Which I figure will be around the 13 month mark? (fingers crossed) I often think of how easy it would be if Natalie would take a bottle, and then I think of how much money I'm saving on formula...I found the silver lining, because there isn't a bottle/cup to look at half full.

Kitchen Floor

This post is about more than just the kitchen floor, but I'll start there.

My kitchen floor is d.i.r.t.y! It is yucky - I need to vacuum and mop - but who has the time, not me. If it were just Phil and me walking around on the floor, the dirtiness wouldn't bother me at all. In fact, I wouldn't even notice it. The tile in our kitchen is that great natural tile that hides most signs of dirt, which is great, because it allows me to totally ignore that it has been a month (yes, I'm admitting that I haven't mopped the floor in a month) since I have mopped. I mean, spot cleaning here and there, yes, full on mopping - NO.

Now that Phil is back from and extended trip to Houston, maybe I'll get a chance to do the cleaning I so desperately long to do. (do you hear the sarcasm, blog world)

Speaking of cleaning, I mentioned to Phil that we needed to hire a housekeeper. I had a housekeeper before we had Natalie, but truth be told it seemed like a huge (unnecessary) indulgence. Because of that, we let her go about a month before I gave birth. I mean, why after having a baby would I not be able to clean - they don't create any messes...right? WRONG Now I'm seeing that working full time and cleaning the house isn't as easy as it used to be. When I explained this to Phil, he said, "Why, I help out. What am I not helping enough with?". He does help, but seriously, we pay someone to mow our grass and take care of our baby - we can't hire someone to clean our toilets? In these hard economic times, shouldn't we be spending our money on housekeepers rather than saving it for a rainy day? (again, hearing the sarcasm) I haven't fully decided if I will hire someone, but I'm leaning toward yes, most days. Especially when I look at my floor.

As previously mentioned, Phil is back from Houston. He was there for a training class, and was supposed to be home late last night. Due to a flight delay, he missed his connection and didn't make it home until today. Glad he is home. This single parent business isn't easy. Like last night when Natalie climbed into the shower before I could get her diaper off and the water sprayed her and then me in the face and got her diaper all wet. Ahh the joys of having an 8-month old who crawls.

One great thing that has happened while Phil has been gone is that Natalie is again sleeping through the night! 8:30 pm - 7:30 am every night this week (hope I didn't just jinx it).

Friday night we are going to the Symphony at Deer Valley with god-father and auntie. I've already planned the menu and I'm looking forward to using my picnic supplies. Natalie is going with us, so I hope her early bed time doesn't interfere with our symphony enjoyment. (I realize that we are going to be "those" parents who bring their kid to an adult activity - but get over it)

Saturday I'll be going on a walk, to the farmers market and to the swimming pool...we are also planning to host family for dinner - the first time that has happened since before Natalie was born.