Seven Months

 

This month brought so many new milestones! Lark has been a very busy little girl. I have also been focusing a lot on my own health this month, which has meant better outcomes for everyone!

Likes: 
Soft toys, any and all. She loves rattles and teethers, too. She pretty much just wants to grab and hold things.

Bouncing HARD in her recliner chair. We're pretty sure she's going to launch herself out of it soon.

Attention from big sister.

Teether snacks.

A big fresh bottle and clean clothes

Coming very close to crawling and she loves to try!

Dislikes:

Being late on bedtime

The car seat, although she is getting a lot better

Being hungry in the middle of the night

Being on the floor for tummy time one minute longer than she wants to be

Schedule:

We're all awake right at 6 or 6:30 these days. Sometimes, Lark wakes up about an hour earlier than that, but I let her hang out in her crib and she usually falls back asleep for a few more minutes. Its then a mad dash to get everyone ready for work, school, nanny, whatever. Dogs get fed, coffee gets made, we get the girls out the door on the weekdays. Lark goes to her nanny's or to Susan's until 4 while we work and then I go grab her and her sister. We start daycare this next month and we are VERY excited to have both girls at the same location on the same schedule. After work and school, we eat dinner and play until bed time for Lark. She has started dropping her third evening nap and has fallen very solidly into two big naps, which means that she is grumpy by 7 pm. We can usually tell if it's going to be one of those early bed time days.

On the weekends, we are trying to be better about being home for at least one of Lark's nap times. It can be tricky, with just one car, for us to accommodate her with such an active big sister. We are finally looking into a second car purchase so that we can be more flexible with Frankie and more rigid with Lark's naps on the weekend.

We pretty much slept through the night every night this month with just a few exceptions.

Features:

The chunkiest thighs! I LOVE them! In this summer heat, we have noticed she does have the little birthmark between her eyebrows like Frankie did, although hers is much lighter. She was 16lbs and 10 oz at her doctor's appointment this month and is middle of the road for all developmental size requirements. She's in 6-9 month clothing and I am literally squishing her into size 2 diapers because I hate wasting them! Size 3 at nap and bed time, though.

Her brown fuzzy hair and dimples haven't gone anywhere and her eyes have settled into hazel, like mine. We get tons of comments and compliments on her lashes, brows, and hair.... her hairline matches Daniel's exactly. It is adorable.

She has a very chill personality, but is very excited to crawl and be a part of the action.

Firsts:

Teeth! Lark got her first two bottom teeth during the first week of this month, when my sister was here visiting. 

Up on all fours, rocking back and forth

Sitting unsupported for 30+ seconds

Holding her big 8oz bottles alone

Teething snacks

Fourth of July party

Challenges:

We have had a LOT of guests this summer. I love hosting and having people in the house, genuinely. I always look forward to showing off Asheville and big group dinners. However, it is really hard to host guests in the house that aren't a fan of kids. Obviously, this is Lark and Frankie's home. They should always feel comfortable here. We will make it more of a point next summer to make sure visitors are VERY aware that we have kids, our kids wake up early, our kids are affectionate, you cannot avoid kids in my house. Sorry.

Thoughts: 

Every day gets better and better with Lark. I've done a few solo nights and outings with the girls now and my confidence grows daily. I'm feeling more ready to get out there with them more, especially as Lark becomes mobile and more self sufficient with feeding, freeing my hands up to help Frankie when needed. I'm looking forward to having a second vehicle, having both girls in daycare, and the stress relief both of those things will bring us.