The Joy of Grace

Bouncy Seats, Popcorn & 3 Projects Oct 25

Although I'm a bit late on this announcement (no, I'm not pregnant...isn't that what everyone thinks at this stage in our lives when you say that word announcement?),  Savannah turned 7 months last Saturday!  So, as I ponder over the last 7 months, the best way I can describe them as an absolute and abundantly precious blessing straight from the Father's lap!  Yes, I believe that my Father knit my sweet baby right in His lap (Psalms 139)!  As I watched The Rachel Ray Show the other day, she was interviewing 2 baby planners.  First, let me just say if you have got the money to hire baby planners, please go spend the money elsewhere like on a really cute, expensive pair of maternity jeans.  Of course, if you have the money to hire baby planners, then you probably already have not just one, but at least 2 pair of those cute, expensive maternity jeans. Second, can people not just ask friends and family what to do to prepare for a baby??  I am very much digressing.  Back to my bundle of blessing...so these planners were talking about bouncy seats.  And, oh my!  How the tears started rolling as I thought:  Savannah used to LOVE her bouncy seat when she was teeny-tiny!  She's not teeny-tiny anymore, is she?  Where have the days gone???  If these first 7 months have flown by, I'm sure 7 years will go by entirely too fast!  What is a mother to do?  A sane mother is to breath and instead of tears of freaking-out, shed tears of thankfulness.  So I tried to be sane and do just that.  It worked...for a second.  

Anyways, truly these past 7 months have been really wonderful.  As I have said before, not perfect, but wonderful.  No, I really cannot remember the first 2 months of Savannah's life.  They were a blur of sleeplessness, never-ending feedings, and more sleeplessness.  During month 3, I became very serious about sleeping, and thanks to Baby Wise, so did Savannah.  At 4 months came bananas and rolling over, though the rolling over part was not fully conquered until month 5.   When Savannah turned 6 months, she discovered a whole new world by sitting up!  And, now at 7 months, we're pretty convinced she has learned that Aaron is da-da!(??)  She also broadened her repertoire of food-likings.  I, the very industrious mom, started out making her food.  She, the very picky baby, seemed to want no part in my endeavors.  Gerber's is now very yummy to her tummy.  I'm trying to work up the discipline to get out the old food processor and make the food again.  Hmm...not sure about that one.  We shall see...

About the popcorn.  Charley had her 4th birthday a week ago today.  Unfortunately, due to a very busy day, Maggie did not get to stay all the way until the popcorn was popped.  Charley enjoyed it nonetheless.   I do predict Charley and Savannah will be the best of friends.  We are having a licking problem with Charley though.  As much as we say NO, she goes straight for Savannah's face...and mouth...and hands.  Of course it does not help that S has her mouth wide open, tongue out, and hands grasping Charley's face.  This is all too much for our undisciplined beagle.  

 And now, the worst part.  Projects.  I can have my house spotless every day with dinner on the table when Aaron gets home all the while having done 3 loads of laundry and traveled across the city running  errands.  It is the fun stuff that I have trouble doing!  Like scrapbooks and smocking a dress.  By November 30th, I will have all of Savannah's scrapbooks finished through 8 months and her Christmas dress will be finished ready to wear every day during the month of December if need be.  And, I will keep you updated on these 2 projects through this blog.  You, my reader, are a bit like an accountability partner.  The most horrible thing about the first project is that one scrapbook (the pregnancy one) has like 2 pages to be completed, the 2nd book has already been done for me...I just have to get the pictures developed and put them in there, and the 3rd book (okay, maybe I have too many books) is much like the 2nd one or rather I am making it like that one.  It's not a full-blown scrapbook, just a very pretty album and I'm going to add the pics and a few embellishments to make it more "Savannah". So simple, yet I've procrastinated for over 7 months! Now the smocking the dress project is a bit more complicated because I don't know how to smock!  MamaBoe (Aaron's mom) does however and has graciously taught me a simple stitch.  This weekend I plan to actually do that stitch on the dress.  I must tell you that she will probably end up doing a lot more on the dress than I will.  Oh!  I forgot another project, which will not be accomplished by November 30th, but I do want to keep you updated.  I am teaching Savannah sign language!  You can laugh.  My husband and mom already have.  We'll see how it goes.  Ever since college I thought baby signing was the neatest thing ever, and since I am a Baby Wise advocate (this is a bit of a secret...it's a pretty extreme philosophy) and the book endorses it, I'm going for it!  We're trying to learn all done presently.  It's not going so well...

 The picture of Savannah with no arms is her in  a kimono (or is it called yukata?).  Anyways, Aaron's parents just got back from Japan and got it for her.  It's a little big yet, but I thought it made for a cutie-pie picture.