Playing in the Leaves

Liam and Mommy played in the leaves the other day.

Don't you just love the smell of freshly fallen leaves on a warm autumn day?

You Know It's a Bad Day When...

... the baby's diaper change includes a bath.

And midway through the bath you realize there are no towels in the bathroom.

And you hear Snickers clicking around in the nursery, where you remember you left the terrifyingly messy diaper. (Incidentally, if you come to visit, don't let Snickers lick you on the mouth. Just in case.)

And trying to re-diaper the baby is like trying to wrangle a greased pig. Did you know that even if you are holding the baby's pelvis down, he can turn the rest of his body around 360 degrees? It is a fact. And he is strong. We've started doing diaper changes on the floor. Because he can't fall off the floor.

Question of the Day: Finish this sentence. "I know it's a bad day when..."

It's Fall

Pulling Up

We had some great suggestions of new baby foods to try. Liam couldn't decide which he liked best, so he wants to give each of you 10 baby hugs and 10 baby kisses!
Grandma J, would you bring some leeks with you when you come IN A WEEK AND A HALF(!!)?
Peggy and Scott, we're going to watch for Brussels sprouts at the Farmer's Market. Roasted sprouts are sounding pretty good right now!
Daddy, should we make some broccoli and baked salmon and share with the baby?
Grandpa Peeber, we'll have to be sure to take a deer next month, so that Liam can eat lots of venison in the coming year.

We did cook up some lentils and some chicken for Liam a couple days ago. Yesterday he tried the chicken. Even though it was pureed with a little broth, it still seemed a bit dry. Maybe that is just the nature of white meat chicken. Anyway, once it was mixed with peaches, that kid ate it up without breathing between bites! We have not yet tried the lentils.

Liam still likes gumming apple slices. Last night he was gumming one so enthusiastically that he was taking chunks off of it! After Daddy took the baby for his bath, Snickers and Bounder got leftover gummed apple in their dinner bowls. These dogs are going to be so spoiled (more).

In the last couple days Liam has been very hungry (eating every two hours) and very clingy. Does this mean he is having a growth spurt? He is about due for one. He will be 7 months next week - can you believe it? Mommy refuses to believe it.

OH! BIG NEWS! The baby can pull himself up to standing now! He has done so once on the open oven drawer and several times on Mommy's knees, when she lays on the ground with him. It is a good thing Liam wears such soft, padded diapers; he sometimes lets go of his support and lands on his fat bottom. We are trying to get a photo of him standing, but he is tricky and only does it when the camera is not around.

Yay for frost! There are no more bugs outside to bite us, so playing out in the grass has become fun. Too bad the grass is all brown and dead and crunchy. But Liam doesn't care - he can eat it just as easily as he eats green grass. We have been sitting outside in the afternoons to watch the dogs play. Liam likes it when they wrestle and chase each other, even though Snickers sometimes runs him over. One of these days, before all the leaves fall, Mommy would like to take Liam for a hike at McCormick's Creek Park. Perhaps she can convince Daddy to take a day off and join them.

Daddy is trying to come up with Halloween costumes we could wear to an upcoming party. His ideas for him and Liam include:
-Ghostbusters and Slimer
-Pirates and parrot (or monkey)
Do you have any costume ideas?

No pictures today, but there will be more soon. Promise!

An Ode to Housework

The laundry waits, the dishes sit.
The dust - it just won't quit.

The kitchen table doubles as
A shelf; there's too much clutter!

And though the baby sleeps like a log,
Mommy's gonna sit and blog.

Food Inspiration, Please

Dear People of the Internetz,

We need some inspiration. Liam has tried several foods and has liked each one. Our freezer is stocked with purees (see list below), but it is a limited menu. There are some dry lentils languishing in the cupboard which will get cooked up, and some dried apricots as well. But we need YOUR HELP in thinking of new and yummy foods to try.

Now, keep in mind that he is 6 (and a half) months old, and we should probably start introducing a little bit of texture besides "pureed." And meat. He should probably start eating a little meat, right?

We have several baby food books with good ideas, but what are your suggestions? Ten baby hugs and ten baby kisses to the most inspiring commenter... On your mark, get set, comment!

Sweet Potatoes
Bananas
Avocado
Pumpkin
Pears
Apples
Peas
Peaches
Squash
-
Rice Cereal
Oatmeal Cereal
Barley Cereal
-
Great Northern Beans

Six-Month Check-Up... and Mommy-(Deer)-Milk

Liam had his six-month check-up today. (NOW - WITH MORE SHOTS!) Here are the official numbers:

Weight: 19 lbs - 11 oz (75.90%)
Head: 45 cm (75%)
Length: 27 in (50.75%)

This weekend Mommy saw three deer outside, down at the turn in the creek. Two were smaller, maybe this year's fawns? As Mommy watched, the two little ones walked over to Mama-Deer and started nursing. Liam is not the only one who likes Mommy-Milk! That was pretty durn cool.

And some more pictures:

Gumming an apple slice.

So happy in his bouncy seat!

Fun-time with Daddy!