Eight Months

So, I'm really late with this post.  I took the pic when he was eight months, but things have been so busy, I didn't get a chance to post it in April.  Anyway, here he is!

Cheers!

Stats:

- He's CRAWLING!!  No way was he sitting still for a pic!

- Lifts arms up to be picked up

- Very clingy

- We kinda went backwards on our sleeping progress.

- Eats a lot more now and we're having cereal for breakfast and fruits and veggies for lunch and dinner

- First road trip up I-75!

- Moved to his second state

- First time in the RV

- First overnight stay in a hotel

- Said goodbye to daycare

- First picture day at school

- "Talks" all the time now.  Likes the "d" and "g" sounds

- Grabs EVERYTHING within reach

- Got diaper rash for the first time (I think that's pretty good seeing as though he's 8 months old...)

- Loves shoes

- Sits in a highchair now!

#tbt Hippie Chic

April 14, 2013

Found this gorgeous, vintage leather tooled bag sitting on a shelf all alone last weekend. I knew if I took it home, it would be fast friends with my other purses. It clearly wanted to go home with me with a price of $15. :)

Holla!

The caftan I'm wearing is from Ross and was $10. I get all my caftans/ coverups from Ross. :)

The Bear Den #3

A lot has been going on over here.  The biggest being I got a job in MI!  We moved at the end of April.  My dad came down with the RV so Gunnar wouldn't have to make that long drive up 75 in his car seat.  We were able to pack our clothes and Gunnar's things in the RV so we would have them right when we got home.  All our other stuff wouldn't be arriving until a few days later.  Gunnar said goodbye to all his daycare friends.  I actually cried when we said goodbye to his teachers.  Then we said goodbye to all my new lab friends with a trip to the bowling ally.  Gunnar was a big hit with everyone and he loved watching his daddy throwing strikes.

Now that we're a little more settled into MI, Gunnar is going to be starting swim class!  I'm so very excited about that.  He's going to do one lesson with Kevin and one with me.  I really wanted to participate and we were able to find a school that offers classes on the weekends.  Yay!

I'm also hoping to get him into a music class.  Trying to find things that will be as exciting as daycare and break up his day at home with daddy.  I feel kinda guilty for taking him away from all the excitement of daycare, but I'm not sorry he won't be sick any more.  We all got really sick the week before we moved.  Gunnar stayed sick and Kevin had a relapse while the movers were loading up the truck.  When it rains, it pours!  (Which it also did while we were trying to load the trailer...)  Now that Gunnar is out of daycare, I've noticed a HUGE difference in his health.  The pesky cough that he got two weeks after starting is finally gone.  And Kevin and I are feeling much better too.  I'm not sure if it was daycare or Florida that was making us sick.  But I'm sure glad to be back in my state.  I'm still an advocate of daycare, don't get me wrong, but with all the health issues we had while he was in it, and this stupid anti-vaccine movement, I just got more and more uncomfortable with him being around other kids.  I'll feel much better after he turns one.  

Speaking of turning one, I've started planning Gunnar's first birthday!  I'm so excited.  I have the cake booked and the theme picked out.  I found invites, favors and decorations.  I figured out the food and overall layout I want, plus came up with activities for the kids.  Now, I'm looking for a location to make my vision come true.  I can't wait to August...

Cheers!

Ironic that this is my last view of Florida

We're outta here!

First road trip and this is how he travels

Best seat in the "house"

Papa really isn't that bad of a driver!

First meal in MI.  Hitting up old favorites, Los Tres!

Adventures with Flat Stanley

Before we left Florida, Kevin volunteered to do "Flat Stanley" for one of his grad school friends son. Now, I had no idea what Flat Stanley was.  Turns out, I'm one of the few people that didn't know.  Flat Stanley is a book about a kid named Stanley that gets flattened in a mishap.  His parents then mail him to California and wackiness ensues.  Teachers are using Flat Stanley as a geography lesson.  Basically, the child sends Flat Stanley to someone in a state other than their own.  You show Flat Stanley what it's like to live where you live and you send him back with a letter, pics or souvenirs showing off you town.  Pretty fun, right?!

We got Flat Stanley and took him to the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center in Stuart.  We wanted to go anyway and Flat Stanley gave us the perfect excuse.  We got to pet stingrays, learn about sea turles, see some sharks and Gunnar made friends with a puffer fish.  It was a great day.  

We still had Flat Stanley for our move home, so we showed him the RV and all the states along I-75.  I think he got a lot out of his trip with the Kendi Haus!  And he recovered well after his little accident with Gunnar...

Cheers!

Gunnar doesn't look that thrilled to be showing Flat Stanley around...

"See the fishy?"

"Of course I see the fishy, Daddy.  He's staring right at me!"

Flat Stanley almost got to touch a sting ray!

Kevin was really good at getting them to come to him

Nice catch!

I took Stanley to the beach really quick.  I think he liked it.

Ready for the RV trip!

Looking at the horses in Kentucky

Seven Months

Later than usual with an update on our little bear cub, but better late than never!  He keeps us really busy these days.  He's always on the move and interested in EVERYTHING.  Sometimes, I just stare at him in amazement that this wonderful little being is my son. 

Cheers!

- Eyes are both blue and brown.  They are very interesting and pretty.

- Weighing in at 19 lbs!

- Everyone says he's the happiest baby.  He smiles all the time at anyone.  Smiling is his favorite.

- Started solids!  So far he likes sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots and peas

- TWO teeth!  They came in together.  Doesn't do anything the easy way, just like his mama.

- Sitting all by himself

- Moves backwards and in a circle like a champ

- Working on crawling and moving forward

- Likes to stand

- Getting better at sleeping through the night.  We've had multiple nights (not in a row) where he's only woken up once before we have to get up

- His bed time is getting later.  Now it's 7pm

- He fights so hard when he's tired and needs a nap

- First St. Patrick's Day and first St. Joseph's Day

- We went to the beach again and this time we were able to play in the water!  Yay!

- Still every one's favorite at daycare

- He hair is getting long, it covers the tops of his ears now.

- He has a lot of personality now

- He's babbling.  He's learned how to say some consonents.  It's pretty much the most adorable sound I've ever heard.

-He loves when you clap

-Finds the tag on everything and chews on it

-He's getting in the crawl position, on his knees, and tries hard to move forward.  Not much longer now until he's mobile...

-He's also pulling himself up to try standing

Mom Hair

There were three things I promised my younger self I would NEVER do when I had kids:

1. Own a mini van
2. Wear mom jeans
3. Have mom hair

We do not own a mini van.  I believe everything can be accomplished by an SUV, specifically a Jeep.  And I do not own a pair of mom jeans, although I now understand the appeal.  And I'm still rocking my long locks.

I had no intention to cut my hair at all (despite warnings from an absolutely horrible pediatrician about it being a problem with Gunnar) until I saw this picture:

Haden Panettiere's haircut here has me seriously considering a major change, and a slide into mom hair territory.  Only problem, my hair is not as thick as hers, so it will never look like this.  But, it is so tempting...

And her outfit is cute too.

Cheers!

Baby's First St. Joseph's Day

Happy St Joseph's Day to all my fellow Polish out there!  For those of you not familiar, it's kinda the Polish equivalent to St Patrick's Day.  It's just not as famous and you wear red!  I think it also has ties to the Feast Day of St Joseph (you know, Mary's husband?  Jesus' earth dad?), but you're going to have to google that one on your own.  My mom (who's 100% Polish) always says wear red on St Joseph's Day, so I do.   Since this little guy is mostly Polish (25%!), it's only fitting that I get him in on the holiday early. 

Cheers!

For Busia (and Grandma C.C. and Grandpa J)