Friday: Our Week In Fabulous Photos

Wore a warm, fleecy, one-piece on a cold, rainy day

Standing at the coffee table, eating puffs

Tried some raspberries. And made a mess

Had quinoa and broccoli for supper outside on one of the last summer days.

Turned 8 months old

Practiced standing some more. 

Made stew

More standing

More food: ground turkey, quinoa, broccoli

Snuggled with mommy on a windy day

Fell asleep playing.

Watching the tub fill | standing on tippy toes | playing in the bath

Played with Leaf

Rockin' the Band

Playing on the putting green

At the new park

Cool Fall walk

Sleeping.... (not sure how this is comfy...)

5 on Friday

Palmer started swimming lessons this week. We really don't do much in them, but it's a good way to get out of the house, meet new babies, and plus, Palmer LOVES the water! I think Palmer was the splashiest little fish in the water on Monday!

 I had to go through Palmer's clothes yet again! She is now wearing clothes ranging from 6 months to 12-18 months, depending on the brand! I cannot believe how much stuff doesn't fit her anymore!!! And, I can't believe how fast she is growing out of all her clothes! Good thing a trip to Whitefish is in our near future - SHOPPING!!!!

Palmer got her new Starband helmet on Tuesday. You can read about it here.

I am going to Calgary on Monday to go wedding dress shopping with my sister-in-law! I've only ever been once before and that was for my own wedding! I can't wait to see her in some dresses!!!

Its starting to get pretty cool outside these days, and after working all week, I'd love to just spend a day in my PJ's, curled up on the couch with Mitchell, Palmer and Leaf, sipping a hot drink, and watching a movie!

Positional Plagiocephaly: Part V - Rockin' the Band

Part I | Part 1.5 | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part VI


So, yesterday was the day.

Yesterday, Palmer got her helmet.

Now, it really doesn't look as terrible as I thought it was going to, but it isn't the most attractive thing to say the least.

Surprisingly, she is warming up to it quite well, although tomorrow will be the real test. Tomorrow will be the first day of wearing the helmet for naps and bedtime.

They have a schedule set up for the first 5 days of having the Starband Helmet to ease the baby into wearing the helmet. Day one was 1 hour on, 1 hour off, no naps, no bedtime. Today was 2 hours on, 1 off, again, not on for naps or bedtime. Tomorrow gets bumped up to 4 hours and we start to include sleeping, then 8 hours, then 23 hours.

Mitch found a website that we can order some decals and stickers for her helmet to "bling" it up and add some personalization. Since this thing is going to be a huge part of Palmer for the next few months, we might as well make it look pretty, right?

There is a girl I have been in touch with who has a little boy the same age as Palmer who go fit for his Starband helmet the same day as us. We have been messaging back and forth about the helmets. It's nice to have someone going through the same situation as you; a good place to bounce thoughts and feelings off of, because likely, that family is feeling similar things.

I was most worried about the helmet being uncomfortable for her, but since it hasn't really seemed to bother her thus far, I think we may be OK. Once you put the helmet on, it really seems like Palmer doesn't even notice it.I had read on different websites that it takes a lot of getting use to and that baby's sleep habits will change for the first little while after getting the helmet. Here's to hoping that isn't (too much) the case for us.

I'll keep you updated....

8 months: Palmer's Life

Sleep:

Sleep has basically been the same, with one minor hiccup. Palmer was an hour late for bedtime one night last week, which threw her off course for a couple nights. Needless to say, that won't be happening again! We now know even better, the importance of a schedule and routine!

New Skills and Developments:

1. We officially had a crawler on our hands September 3rd (the day I returned to work). Every day she gets a little better. It started as a slither across the floor to a toy and has developed into a push-from-one-knee, pull-with-her-arms kind of crawl.

2. Waving. Palmer is starting to get the hang of it. Sometimes she will do it, other times she won't, but nonetheless, she knows how to (sometimes with lots of encouragement) and its really cute when she does it!

3. Eating whole foods. We have started weaning out the purees and introducing more and more whole foods. Palmer likes muffins, cheese, fruits, pancakes, baby puffs, etc etc. Yesterday she tried steamed broccoli for the first time too!

4. Palmer can now nearly pull herself up. I put a toy on the coffee table and she tries her hardest to get up. Sometimes she can get to standing by herself by using me as a jungle gym. 

5. Palmer was fitted for her Starband helmet this month (read it here), so starting Tuesday, she will be wearing her cranial remolding helmet 23 hours a day. Hopefully she warms up to it quickly and we don't have too many sleepless nights!

6. Palmer now has 2 teeth and took it like a champ! I thought for awhile we were maybe working on the top ones, but it seems to have been put on hold for a while?
7. Starting yesterday, Palmer can get from her tummy to sitting up all by herself! Its funny how all her milestones happen the day before the next month starts!

Palmer's Likes:

1. Eating. Palmer loves to eat. It really doesn't matter what it is, as long as it gets in her mouth, she's happy!

2. Sophie the Giraffe. I don't know what it is about this toy that kids love so much, but whatever it is, Palmer likes it.  

3. Moving. We can't keep this girl still! She is always on the move. She wants to be jumping, crawling to the toy across the floor, rolling around, anything to keep from being still. Palmer met my Grandma for the first time last week, and she kept commenting on how busy Palmer was. 

4. The tickle monster. We use to get tickled by the tickle monster when we were kids, and now with Palmer, I just have to hold up my hand and say "here comes the tickle monster" and she laughs, even before I start to tickle!

Everything Else:
- Palmer is starting to really dislike diaper changes
- Palmer wears clothes ranging from pants at 3-6 months to tops at 12-18 months and everything in between
- She hates having her nose wiped
- She is starting to get cranky with getting dressed...
- Palmer is usually full of smiles, but when meeting someone new, she takes plenty of time to examine them before flashing a smile.


Our Thoughts:
I am really starting to see Palmer's little personality shine though. Now that she is becoming much more independent and interactive, it is easier to see her little characteristics. I can see bits and pieces of Mitchell and I in her, but she is mostly just Palmer. She has little temper tantrums when she wants something. She has the cutest little laugh you'll ever hear. And her little chicklet smile is the most adorable ting I've ever seen. For the most part, Palmer is a happy little girl. We can count ourselves pretty lucky so far. I can count the number of major meltdowns in the last 8 months on one hand (knock on wood). Here's to hoping the next month goes as smoothly as that last 8!

Weekend Wrap-Up (in Photos)

We spent the weekend away in Saskatchewan, camping with my parents. We got there Friday to some gorgeous 30+ degree weather. Saturday was kind of a bummer because it was a little windy, too windy to go to the beach, but Leaf still had fun swimming in the River. The weekend ended today with us getting home around 4:30pm. Just in time to make supper, go for a family walk, pack lunch for tomorrow, and will be catching up on our usual Sunday TV (breaking bad and Big Brother).

Here are some pictures to recap our weekend:

The Saskatchewan Landing.. This is where we went camping

Walking with Leaf and Uncle Troy

Leaf after swimming | Mitch hiding from the camera and/or mosquitos | Uncle Troy

We use to bath in this tub while camping when we were kids!

Palmer also met Great Grandma Baldwin for the first time!!