Character Trait #98: Determination

Lauren has two little birdies that she got in an activity center from her Great Aunt Angie. We have named them 'peeps' after the disgusting marshmallow treat and because they are her 'peeps'/friends. I decided to play a little game with her today and see if she would crawl...here is how it went:

Lauren...do you want to play a game?

I love games!
I am going to dominate!

I see you...

I'm moving...here I come!

This game seemed a lot cooler 5 minutes ago...

I am getting frustrated!

Really not happy now

Oh that stupid pump!

Wow this is pretty cool...I don't think I am supposed to be over here

I think I know what I am going to do! (Character Trait #56: Problem-Solver)

Beep Beep Beep...back it up!

This really is not making me happy... (Character Trait #37: Evil)

Oh my gosh...oh my gosh! (Character Trait #45: Elated)

Ok, ok...now collect yourself and think of your plan of action (Character Trait #19: Contemplative)

Think hard...

Maybe if I pucker my mouth it will help...

Almost there...if I just use my toes to get me closer...

Got it Mom!

Kiss that Dad! (Character Trait #27: Full of Self)

I gotcha where I want ya...now I'm gonna eat'cha!

Lip-Smakin', Tongue-Clickin' Good!

We have added quite the assortment to Lauren's menu and she is LOVING it! It takes awhile to add new things to her diet with the '3 day rule' (3 days before introducing a new food to make sure that they are not allergic). So far she has enjoyed everything but isn't quite so excited about carrots...I think it is the chunky texture since I haven't been able to puree them as smooth. Here is what is on her current menu: bananas, pears (made into 'pearsauce'), avocados, butternut squash, carrots, and...

Can you guess what her new favorite is??

Speaking of deliciousness. Kyle's favorite 'comfort food' is homemade biscuits and gravy. So easy to make fresh without the added sodium that pre-packaged biscuits and sausage gravy contain. The other night I realized I didn't have any butter...no sticks or tub! I had Kyle run to the European Deli just down the street since it would be quicker and he came back with this: Polish Butter=HEAVEN!!! Our gravy has never been more smooth and creamy. Does anyone have some great fresh recipes for what I can use this butter with (he bought 2 bricks)?? Do you think I could make apple or pear butter with it? Absolutely divine...now I understand where Paula Deen is coming from!

Sunday Morning...

We were able to accomplish a lot before church on Sunday:

Lounging on the couch...

Working on CRAWLING...

A Greener Lifestyle...

I know I have mentioned before how Kyle and I don't really eat much processed food. Since having Lauren...I have had this strange feeling inside of me that I need to be more aware of what I put into my body as well as into the environment.

Look at tiny little 2 mo. old Lolo!

We made the switch from disposable diapers to cloth diapers when she was about 2 months old primarily for economic reasons and to 'eliminate' her nasty blow-outs (like my choice of word there?? hehe). After making the switch, I realized just how much we disposable diapers add to the landfills and create a lot unnecessary waste. Plus she doesn't have that yucky gel and chemicals near her bottom.Around the same time, I realized how much crap I was putting into my body with my choice of food and body care products. If I wasn't going to eat processed food, I decided I wouldn't feed it to Lauren as well and make her purees from scratch. I feel so much better, my skin looks healthier, and I am even below pre-pregnancy weight (although I am nowhere near looking the same).Slowly I can tell that we becoming more conscience of how we are contributing to the environment and making different changes in our household. Our most recent change has been with our laundry detergent...oh those nasty and pesky little chemicals. We started using 'soap nuts' a natural laundry product and it has helped drastically with sensitive skin and helping our clothes not deteriorate as fast. I have a giveaway going on for Yoreganics Laundry Products on my other blog that you should definitely come and check out and enter. It is such a small way to reduce your carbon footprint. My favorite feature of using soap nuts is that we don't have to buy Dreft and our adult detergent anymore and can use the soap nuts on all of it! If you do coin laundry these would be perfect since you can throw everything in together!!!

Busy...Busy...Busy

We have been running around lately like chickens with our heads cut off! House hunting, a mini-trip back to Iowa for Ethan and Olivia's b-day parties, trying to enjoy the nice weather, and catching up with school work. The one REALLY positive thing about this past week has been the amazing time change and Lauren finally sleeping in until 7!!

When have been telling people for a long time...but Lauren is crazy...for real! She has SO MUCH energy and is completely full of life. Constantly moving, touching, exercising her vocal cords: this little chica never stops! Poor little calm Olivia didn't know what to think of her rambunctious cousin.

Who is this crazy girl trying to attack me?

I wonder what is down there??

The birthday boy...3 years old!!!

The birthday girl...one year old!

26 Weeks Old

Lauren tried sweet potatoes for the first time. She is now eating rice cereal, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and bananas. I roasted half of a butternut squash just for her that will last about 5 days and each morning she gets about 3-4 slices of banana mashed up. This week we are going to try carrots too!

I was eating an apple that she kept staring at so I gave her a slice to chew/suck on, she loved it!

Taking a little snoozer. We are going to have to invest in a side rail on our bed pretty soon.

So happy when she wakes up! Notice her fingers...hehe

Since she never sleeps in her crib...she uses it as a play-pen when I am spraying off her diaper!

We have been house hunting lately and hopefully will get good news soon! So far we have looked at about 10 houses and are going to put an offer on one (a low one though so we probably won't get it). We are looking forward to our own place and a KING SIZE bed for us all to sleep in!!!

Now Imagine This in Your Belly...

6 MONTHS Old!

How can my little baby be 6 months old? That my friends...is HALF a year old!!

Look at those chubby little cheekers!

Lauren went in for her 6 month check-up today. She weighs 16 lbs. 1 1/2 oz., head circumference of 17 in. and 25 inches long. She eats 1 tbsp. rice cereal mixed with about 1.5 oz. in the morning and 1 tbsp. oatmeal mixed with breastmilk at night. Last night she had her first taste of squash with her oats( only 1/2 tbsp)! I nurse her before she eats. She practiced a little with a sippy cup since she refuses to take a bottle. Hopefully she will have the sippy or cup mastered by this summer when my class is longer and she will have to eat while I am gone.Waiting patiently for her food to come. We started baby sign language and she recognizes what 'eat' is when we do it to her. She loves when we place her in the chair and get her food ready and do the 'eat' sign.

Caught off guard, hehe!