Countdown to Baby Harrison!: Seven months old!

Ok so this post is really late but my excuse is that I was on vacation in Arizona. Mairi and I flew there on March 11 to stay 10 days with Gramma Debbie, then Jeff and Grampa Ward joined us on the 22nd for another week. The weather was lovely: sunny but not boiling hot. We enjoyed our visit and did lots of shopping, a bit of walking, went to the pool a couple times and just generally enjoyed having our feet bare and our arms and legs uncovered. While we were there Mairi had a lot more freedom to move around with less restrictive clothing and pampers all the time instead of cloth diapers. She started rolling all around to get places and even started doing it over her right side (both tummy to back and back to tummy) - which had been a challenge because of her neck problems. That was pretty neat to watch. She's not crawling forward yet but can push herself backward and in a circle. Still need to get those knees up under her! She wants to stand up all the time now. I go to put her down sitting and she stiffens her legs so that she stands instead. If I hold her hands she'll take steps now and she will stand and hold onto stools or her little table-toy thingie and play with it for quite a while. Still definitely have to watch her though as she'll suddenly let go and then it's kerplunk!

Her babbling is starting to sound a lot more like words now: lots of "dada"; "baba", "vava", "papa". I even swore I heard her say "grandpa"! Probably not... She also started making a really funny clicking noise - just like my mom does when she disapproves of something racy on tv or a movie. She likes to move her hands up and down - sometimes at the same time - her water pump dance - and sometimes one at a time. We got her a maraca to shake and she keeps very good rhythm! She waved bye bye to Jeff yesterday and today and gave us both a high five.

Mairi still loves sweet potato best, but has now also tried butternut squash, chicken breast, green beans, carrots. She liked it all but the beans. I am still doing purees as I'm too scared she'll choke on pieces. I think I will suck it up and give her finger food soon, sometime when Jeff is home. He is a lot calmer about things like choking. I do think she's ready for it. Especially since she has a big chomper! Mairi got her first tooth a few days after we arrived in Arizona. I was fairly surprised by it, though she did have red cheeks. Went to give her vitamin D and there it was! I called Jeff right away to tell him the news.

All in all life is pretty good. Looks like spring is coming, we are getting ready for a few really exciting weddings, including Mairi's Auntie Janelle and Uncle Scott! They got engaged February 29 and we are so happy and excited for them! Last weight check was about 18 lbs. At her six month check up she was 17.6 lbs. Continuing on that 50th percentile streak. Just perfect!

Started out my 32nd birthday morning with an amazing surprise breakfast made by my sweetie!

Ended my birthday out for a fancy dinner with these lovely friends

Hanging with Grandpa Mark

Loving her sweet potato - definitely her favourite!

Congrats Janelle and Scott! We can't wait for your wedding! SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!

Oops! Puking on Grandma Gail. Don't worry - she thought it was hilarious!

Played right out

Oh that face - so coy! We had just arrived in Arizona after a challenging flight.

Loving the sun in Gramma's backyard - even has two of her own little chairs

Nom nom - love the hairbands Gramma!

Played out after a long day of shopping, bbqs, etc.

Playing with mommy's skirt

What's up? I'm seven months old today!

Love

At Schnepf Farms with Gramma

Swimming with Grampa and Daddy - she loves the water so much. Splashes the whole time!

At the pool with mom

Shopping in Arizona

Most amazingly perfect way to start my day - how lucky am I?

Visiting with the animals at the petting zoo within the Phoenix Zoo

She liked the cow

She does not care for goats so much.

Mairi rides her first horse

My handsome date for the evening

We went for a date night before we flew home - Gramma and Grampa graciously offered to babysit! We had a great meal and an awesome time at the Olive Mill. $10 carafes of sangria? Yes please!