First Solids

About a week ago we introduced Alaina to the world of solid food.  She seems to like it quite a bit more than Ethan did on the first try.  Although the American Academy of Pediatrics has changed their recommendations for introducing solid food since Ethan was a baby, we decided to introduce solid food around the the same time, and start with rice cereal again.

She is growing up fast!

To Tahoe We Go!

About a week ago, we headed to Lake Tahoe for some summer fun.   Jason grew up spending his summers at Lake Tahoe, and visiting is always very nostalgic for him.  I have to say, he is very lucky to have been able to grow up here, it is so beautiful.  

Even though the water was still a bit cold, we were lucky to have warm weather and Ethan loved swimming in the lake.  Alaina didn't enjoy the trip too much, as she has now settled into a more regular nap schedule and going to the beach didn't really jive with her schedule.  But we did our best!  

5 months

Well, yesterday.   But I didn't get around to posting.  I can't believe next month she is going to be 1/2!

Tomorrow is my first day back at work.  Yuck.  I am sure going to miss this cutie-pie!

Vegetable Attempt

I have never grown a vegetable in my life.   My mom always used to plant flowers, but never vegetables.  But last fall when we had our front yard landscaped, there was a lot of leftover dirt, and we has a small raised vegetable garden built.  Enter spring, and since I was still on maternity leave I decided to plant it.   I bought a few types of tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, strawberries and a watermelon, and planted them.   Also got some seeds for peas, pumpkins, and sunflowers, because why not?

I watered every day, and though we had some early casualties, a lot seemed to take root.  Now several of the tomatoes even have flowers.   It is quite crowded though....oops.

Last week was hot and dry and we were going to be away for a few days, so Jason even set up drip irrigation to the garden.  I was quite impressed.

Just recently, I stumbled across a vegetable gardening book in the library.  (yes, I probably should have pre-read before planting...sigh).   It warned me that corn needs lots of corn for cross pollination.  So, likely we will not get any ears from the stalks.  I also learned how to properly stake tomatoes (which I definitely didn't do right this year).   So we will see what, if any veggies, we get.   But at least I am learning for next year....

Chupita

About a month ago, we decided to get rid of Alaina's pacifier.   She was waking up at all hours of the night when it fell out of her mouth and that was driving me crazy!  So we went cold turkey.  She had a rough few days, but then things got better.

We also had been swaddling her in a swaddling blanket until about a week or two ago--but I had noticed that she kept breaking out of the swaddle, and seemed much happier if her hands were free.   So I have been wrapping just her legs.

Well, once her hand were free--- she became a thumb sucker,   I guess to make up for the lack of pacifier.  Ethan was a thumb sucker too.  Interestingly, he always sucked his left thumb, and he is now left-handed.  Alaina seems to prefer her right.  Ethan's old nanny used to call him "chupito" which is spanish meaning "little sucker".   I guess that Alaina is our chupita!