Bumbo: "WARNING -- Prevent Falls; Never use on any elevated surface."

There is a voluntary recall of Bumbo Seats.

Info here.

Almost Seven Months

We went to the doctor today for our belated six month checkup (Yes yes yes, we cleared a late check up with the doctor and we were told it would be fine). She's doing great, growing and progressing just as she should.

She was a major trooper with her shots. She cried just a little bit right when they happened, and then moved on to more happy chuckles. She did put on a serious face in the elevator, and when another lady in the elevator suggested maybe she needed a big pink bow on her head to look more cheery, she gave her a look which I voiced as "Hey lady, I just had shots, what do you want from me?" But then, that was me speaking for her. Bald is beautiful, and I'm not a pink bow mommy. If Sophie is a pink bow child that will be fine, she can wear them when she can ask for them herself.

I know that there will be several lovely ages but this age is just wonderful. She knows her name and responds to it, and seems to understand a lot of communication. She's almost always happy. She can entertain herself but would rather be social. She's babbling enough and moving enough to keep things interesting, but isn't really mobile or vocal, which means she can't run into the street or crawl over to the light socket or yell "BUT I WANT THE CANDY I WANT IT GIVE ME THE CANDY" in the grocery aisle. As I said before, there are wonderful discoveries every day to be made, a new taste or new words or new textures, oh my goodness, the textures! Sophie is such a tactile baby, always reaching out to see how fabrics feel, or to play with a button on my shirt. Paper is the best thing ever, although it really must be kept away from her or else she will destroy it and then try to eat it.

Watching her I feel like I get daily lessons on resilience and renewal. Every time she makes a new discovery I realize how different she is now from just a month or a week or a day ago. In about six months she's grown this much! Amazing!

My show is going on hiatus soon, and while the goal is to find something else to work on, I'm looking forward to spending a little more time with Sophie. She's going to keep working on crawling and babbling, and I'm going to work on going through the mail and throwing it away/recycling it right away and pureeing meals.

Stats for the month:
W. 17lbs 9 oz. H. 27" HC. 44cm

Onslaught, A Dove Film and More

Looking past the fact that Dove is still trying to sell us skincare products, I appreciate the effort in a "drop in the bucket" kind of way. And also, wow.

***

Part of my parenting experience, besides counting Sophie's eyelashes and fretting over toy recalls and trying to find my balance on the tightrope known as "working mom" has included millions of moments of hopes for my child. Things I want to show her, places I want to take her, music I want her to hear, food I want her to eventually taste. Some of the best moments of parenting are being able to show the world to this being that I love so dearly. With that come hopes for her character: how I hope she will be confident, and laugh often, not worry too much over the small petty things, believe in herself enough to discount the noise of the world but not so closed minded that she can't hear the voices that matter. Sometimes, in my better days, I take a deep breath and wish these things for myself, so that she may see them in me.

***

In other news...

We inherited a walker. You know, it's like an exersaucer, but it moves. The baby bargains book calls it a deathtrap, but I had one when I was young and so did most (now grown) babies of my age, and since our apartment has only one step we've been able to handle her safety in it so far. We don't let her stay in it for too long, but she loves the mobility. She's not quite crawling yet, lifting up and rolling and changing directions, but not too terribly mobile. In the walker she can really go though, it's incredible. Vroom...and she's off!

For months she's been standing on our laps. She hates lying on her back and is starting to dislike sitting, even though she can sit up without support. She still needs our help getting into the seated position, and lately when I try to sit her up, she plants her feet, insisting on standing.

We're eating, and it is going better and better. I hope to make it to Whole Foods this week to see what we can add to our solid repertoire.

I think she can see pretty far now. She tracks me from across the room. Maybe this has been going on for some time, but it's pretty amazing. On the other hand she has realized that we're separate from her and is not cool with being left alone, even for a second. I used to be able to put her in her chair or her crib and run to the other room for a moment. No longer.

We've traveled a lot this past month. Sophie has become quite the frequent flyer. She almost always does well on the planes, which I think is a magic combination of white noise and her age. Still, I'm looking forward to a few weekends at home. (Although I'm hoping for a day trip to Sleepy Hollow for some Halloween fun!)

Eric's birthday is tomorrow. Wish a fantastic father a happy day!