Dear Downstairs Neighbors

So, you might not have gotten the memo, but I am sure you are aware that we have a dog and a new small human.  You might have been aware of the dog, but I am sure the new human has just recently made his presence known.

I would like to take this opportunity to apologize.  Seriously, I would have hated to live below me, in fact I have spent the last 15 years angry at my neighbors who lived above me in various apartments.  They have been loud, foot stomping, guitar playing, late night partying, perfectly normal neighbors.

So again, I would like to apologize for the pitter patter of paws running to chase a ball, the stomping of new feet jump-jumping in his crazy jumper contraption, the thud of a plastic toy hitting the floor, repetitively... at all hours of the day and night.  The barking at nothing, the crying at nothing, and all the various noises you must endure.

I can't promise this will improve, in fact I have a funny feeling it is going to get worse.  So I am sorry. I hope you don't approach me in the elevator... I seriously hate conflict, so I will avoid you at all cost, and I know that sucks, but well, I'm tired.....

Oh, and apologies to our next door neighbors too.... you may suffer as well, and I have to run into you a lot more often, so you hear my verbal apologies daily.

Gotta go... the UPS guy is coming, so this house is gonna get loud!

Eatin

We have been working on introducing solid food....  We wanted to wait until the Tot was well into his sixth month, especially since he was a preemie baby (and in fact at about 4 months old, when our doctor said to start with rice cereal, a new study came out saying that parents should wait).... we also read a lot about solids and got a lot of great advice on how to introduce solids... puree vs. chunks of food.  This has not been as easy as everyone says.  We are taking tips from all methods, so the Tot gets some pureed food and some solid chunks and we let him kinda decide.  

A Mom I trust told me about Baby Led Weaning and after reading everything I could get my hands on, decided that I wanted to try that.  I am not opposed to pureed foods, it just didn't make much sense to me.  I also did a lot of research on Rice Cereal and realized I had no interest in that stuff.  So, just like everything else in parenting, there are a lot of opinions, and I am learning that people get quite angry if you don't do it "their" way.... So, we plod along doing some pureed food and give the Tot chunks of food to suck on and we laugh and try to make it fun.  The Mom I trust gave me great advice months ago... she said don't worry so much about it.  Babies get all the nutrition they need from milk for the first year and that solid food is just for fun.  So, we try to make it fun.  

Noodles thinks it is awesome.  She has decided that Butternut Squash and Sweet Potato are DELISH!  So although the Tot doesn't get much food in the mouth, Noodles certainly does.

Eight months old!

This little Spud is 8 months old.  I don't even know what to think about that.  He has started teething and has sprouted two teeth on the bottom as of this week.  He was very uncomfortable, but didn't get very grouchy, so that was great.  

Our sleeping patterns seem to have changed too.... Our amazing sleeper has had a few issues of late.  He no longer wants to go to bed and wakes up a couple of times a night.  It isn't terrible, especially since month 3 he has slept like a champ, I can't really complain.  I know it is just teething and growth and whatnot.  

He really loves Noodles, and Noodles loves the Tot too... from a bit of a distance.  The Tot loves when Noodles sneezes, that's his favorite thing she does.  Noodles loves when the Tot is still and she can get close enough to sniff without fear of grabbing.  

The Husband and I are great, short of being a bit sleep deprived over the past week or so.  We have stories of solid food issues, and that will come in a new post shortly!  Gotta go make baby food..... 

Central Park

This little guy is 8 months old.  I can't even believe it.  He is growing up so fast.  He loves to watch Noodles when she chews on her 'chew-chews' and he especially loves it when she sneezes. He finds that hysterical. The weather is finally nice outside, so we spend time during the weekends in Central Park.  

I am finding blogging to be difficult... working 40 hours a week and then trying to spend every waking second with this little spud has left less time for my writing.   But I am going to plan more posts soon! 

In the meantime, here is a great shot of Noodles and The Tot.