A real dinner: Salmon, potato and corn (7 months)

I read that in the USA parents are nervous to feed their children and babies fish. Being a big fish lover I found this interesting, experts say babies need more vitamins and nutrients only found in fish and they say depending on your baby can start on certain fish by 6 months old.

I got some delicious wild caught salmon and blended up some organic corn and potato with her multigrain organic cereal and formula. It was delicious even I thought so!

First Procedure - 7 Months Old

Friday: September 24, 2010

8:00am
6oz formula.

11:00am
4oz pear juice.

12:00pm
We checked into Rady's children hospital mentally but not completely emotionally prepared. I could not feed my daughter for 6 hours. This was the most disturbing part of the whole ordeal because I felt like I was being cruel, even though I know it was to prevent choking with vomiting under anesthesia.


1:00pm
Initially there was allot of confusion, one administrative personal had Franki scheduled with the wrong surgeon. Another thought we were in for some sort of dental surgery. Another said it was a CT scan and we would be in and out the same day. This did not help our anxiety in the least. We requested a meeting with her specialist Dr. Anthony Magit and he confirmed what we thought we were there for all along so our minds were put at rest.

2:00pm
A nurse came to get us and we were escorted into radiology. We chose to carry Franki over having her on a gurney. She was so alert looking at the cartoon stickers and smiling at everyone. She never cried once, instead she had a peace about her even though she had not eaten in 6 hours. A very nice nurse introduced herself and offered some words of comfort. We met the anesthesiologist and radiologist and they explained the procedure in detail. Dr. Dory injected (we counted the piercings) her 8 times through the throat and Dr. Magic injected her under the tongue.

Originally it was suggested we get the OK432 but her cysts were considered "micro" so a better choice would be an alcohol/detergent substance but after further inspection of the MRI and ultrasound, the doctors decided on an antibiotic fluid to avoid a three day draining period and excessive pain.

Her cysts were drained and then the antibiotic was injected into the areas and left in there to dissolve on its own.

3:00pm
One parent was called into recovery. I could not believe my eyes when I walked in. She was looking around, still not crying, she just seemed a bit ired but not nearly as horrified as she was when she came out of the MRI Anesthesia back in May. As soon as I picked her up and cuddled her she fell asleep on my chest. They monitored her for an hour and she drank a few sips of pedialite here and there.

4:10pm
We were escorted by a wonderful nurse to Franki's very own hospital room. She even had her name on the board and a sweet little crib bed. We brought her own blanket and pj's but I couldn't use them because they had attached feet and she had an oxygen monitor on her big toe (which fascinated her, she kept wanting to put the glowing red toe in her mouth) She felt allot better after she guzzled 6oz of formula.

7:00pm
Gigi and papa came to visit. Franki got plenty of hugs and kisses and gigi even bought her some pjs...without feet! So or precious little girl got cozy and out of the embarrassing backless hospital gown. We had to call the nurse in to see how active our little bug is, turning left then right, flipping onto her belly then back onto her back, doing 360 degree break dance moves. We requested the IV tubing be disconnected. If it wasn't disconnected we would have been watching her all night consistently untangeling her for fear of being strangled. Dr. Magic and the nurse agreed.

8:00pm
Exhausted, yet still completed unaffected by the days events, I curled into Franki's crib and she fell asleep on my chest. She slept well all night, only waking intermittently because of the strange lights and sounds of the hospital. I slept a bit here and there on the foldout chair but Franki's dad was up all night, without a wink of sleep watching her breathing and oxygen levels. He even posted on his Facebook account status: "...is sitting awake at 3:45 am in a hospital room watching his baby girl sleeping. There is no where I would rather be and nothing I would rather be doing."I decided that Saturday night I would let him sleep and I would stay up and watch her.

Saturday: September 25, 2010
9:00am
The nurses and doctors came into Franki's room and agreed she was doing well and cleared to go home. We couldn't believe how fortunate we were to be taking her home when we thought we would only be home by Monday! All prayers were answered!

7 Months

Its about this time I understand why moms start thinking about the next pregnancy and baby. You have grown from being a wriggly little infant to a beautiful healthy chubby baby girl. You smile all the time, and every now and then let go a little giggle, half the time I am unsure what you are giggling about which makes me giggle myself. I am content just knowing you are happy and becoming more and more yourself.

I am sorry we had to put you through that terrifying hospital experience, but please know it is for your own good. Mommy and daddy will ALWAYS have your best interests at heart and as much as you may argue with us one day about, we absolutely know what is best for you. Your healthy and happiness are our priority.

I have so much fun watching you sit and play with your favorite teddy that talks and sings. Dressing you has become a bit of a challenge not only because you are wearing size 18 months but because you role and squirm as much as you can. Bath time is still my favorite time of day, although I have to do it earlier in the day because it gets you awake and excited, you know no different. I always wonder if you get bored with the same yellow rubber ducky you play with every day but you never cease to amaze me when I look at your bright smile as you scan around the bathroom to see where "he" may be sitting.

I don't know why, I'm still trying to make sure its not because you are hurting but in the last two weeks you wake up around 11pm and scream until about 3am. You arent cold/hot/wet/hungry and seem very tired but just wont sleep. I worry about you. Your dad HATES to hear you cry, he jumps out of bed to hold you and talks to you telling you that "dadda" is right there to protect you. Boy are you a lucky girl!

So...Monday October 11, 2010 on your Gigi and Aunties wedding anniversary, you scooted for the first time!!! Sadly I missed it as I had to work but dad was quick enough to grab it on camera. Gigi put the remote just out of reach and you used your knees and toes to push yourself like an inch worm toward your goal and hey presto you did it!

Can we find a Pause button? I want to slow you down. You're growing to fast "bugsy"

"Pop goes the weasel"

6 months: During playtime today I wanted Franki to learn the concept of knowing what to expect next, my hope is this little game helps her creativity and patterns in sound. With repetition, she starts to understand when I get to a certain sound or inflection in the rhyme that's when she jumps.

I put her on my lap and sing, "All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel, the monkey thought it was all in fun…pop goes the weasel." As I chant the last line, I pop the baby up in the air by lifting my knees.

Soon she was popping up on her own!

Sitting Up unassisted! (6 months old)

September 14 - one week away from turning 7 months old I noticed that Franki wasn't leaning up against her boppi cushion, I had noticed she would lean and then move away and lean and move away for the las week but this particular day that wasn't the case. I moved it away from her back, and never needed to use it again :-)

Asparagus & Ricotta cheese (7months)

This is a delicious and quick dinner for baby. I had leftover organic green spears of asparagus and low fat ricotta cheese, I added just one teaspoon to the bland green mixture and WHAM - flavor!

Its Franki's first shot of cheese and she had no qualms!

Avocado, applesauce and yogurt (6 months)

I grew up mixing condensed mill with mushy avocado and loved it - I thought Franki might like to taste a sweetened avocado - WELL SHE DID - boy she lapped it.

Half a Mashed Avocado
1 teaspoon unsweetened applesauce
1 teaspoon whole milk plain greek yogurt
multigrain baby cereal
leftover formula

Color Scheme for toddler room

My initial inspiration for color was from a tiny door handle hanging art I saw on Etsy, then I found the perfect bedding (waiting for it to go on sale) from pottery barn kids. The main colors will be sage, beige, salmon, brown and baby blue. I will probably keep with the green polka dot pattern that I have now in the nursery as its followed through on the quilt and its easy enough to find in fabric stores so I can sew a toy hammock like the one made by bananafish.