5 Things

A couple of my friends do '5 Things' segments in their blogs. Just 5 random things that I want to mention or that are interesting me at the time. I think it's a good way to get me back into the blog so that it's not all Hattie all the time, so here goes...

1) My good friend Nuelsi and her husband have started a design business. Check out their Etsy.com shop, Big Boss Design.  Two of the print designs hang in frames in Hattie's room. I love them.

2) Shows I watch: Orange is the New Black, Downton Abbey, Orphan Black,  Scandal, Suits, The Mindy Project, New Girl, Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine (It went from bad to sooo funny), Chicago PD, White Collar. I feel like I'm forgetting some.

Shows I watch and love, but that everyone hates: Dads (It's hilarious!)

Shows I gave up on either because of lack of time or because they got ridiculous: The Bachelor, American Idol, all of the Real Housewives shows, Rookie Blue

Shows I SHOULD give up on: HIMYM. Seeing it through to the end though, despite a ridiculously bad current/last season.

3) I need ideas for inexpensive, 5 ingredients or less, healthy dinner meals. Anyone? Bonus points if they don't include any crumbly white cheeses. Or peppers. I'm trying to get our dollar to stretch more and also feed a very picky toddler and somewhat picky husband. I already do lasagna and enchiladas.

4) I need ideas for easy workouts for someone with hardly any time, little energy, and very sore knees and a sore back. Bonus points if it's not Sit and Be Fit.

5) I'm trying to read more at night. I was going to start up my evening reading again with the second to the last Harry Potter book, but thought I'd start smaller and read the 19th Stephanie Plum book. I'm on page 20. It's been a month. Sigh. It's so much easier to watch TV when I'm tired.

Hattie has been changing in leaps and bounds lately. I really have to keep up with blogging the latest. It's such a fun age and I feel like it's FLYING by.

She loves to look for deer in the hillside by her child care center. She calls to them in the cutest little voice. :) 

(Don't worry. I was driving extremely slow in the parking lot.)

She has also taken to throwing things away in the garbage can, or "circle" as she calls it. This could come in handy!

Hattie has also been going through a stage wherein she only wants Mama. Dada tries to hold her and play with her, but she ONLY wants Mama. It's a tricky time because I'm not able to get as much done around the house or cook dinner without holding her, but it's also a wonderful time of many warm snuggles. Hattie did find two things that she loves for Dada to do in the past couple of days though. Read her one specific Elmo book and to take rides on Dada's "solders."  It's great to see her spending time with him again. :)

She's very into oranges right now. Calls them "ornages."  I never correct her. I know I should, but how cute is that mispronunciation? I'll correct her soon enough. 

One of Hattie's favorite phrases is "Get down!"   She likes to say it when she's perched on places where she thinks she shouldn't be. She also likes to run. :)

She also likes to yell "'prise!" (surprise), but I couldn't get her to do it for the camera.

Dada draws a meow upon request and Hattie spots some cookies

Things Hattie loves right now:

Drawing - On the sliding glass doors with window crayons, on her easel, on paper. Anywhere. And she wants me to draw a cat whenever we draw together. She points and says, "Meow meow." until I draw one.

Cookies - And also Cookie Monster. She sees him on Sesame Street and says, "Num!" 

Elmo Christmas DVD - We watched it every day over the Christmas holiday. We walk into the family  room and she looks at the TV and says, "Elmo."  It's a great DVD though, so we don't mind. At least she doesn't want to watch Barney and his 'rapping' elves anymore.

Cows - "Moo! Moooo!"

Walking her babydoll in her stroller - She says, "Go walk." and she's on her way. 

Asking "Wazzat?" over and over and over. And over.

Saying "Baby" and giving me my cell phone - She says baby because there's a picture of her on the phone. She wants me to show her pictures and videos of herself all the time.

Things Hattie does not love:

Touching snow with any part of her body. She still looooooves talking about " 'now" and pointing out " 'now", but if I try to get her to stand on it or touch it, she cries and runs away. 

Me trying to get her to use a sippy cup instead of a bottle for her morning milk.

Anyone wiping her nose. Shocker... she has had a cold for basically three months now. 

Brushing her teeth. Will.not.let.me.  No matter what. That one makes me scared and I wish I could get her to change, but she's sticking to her guns on that one. 

Development:

She has an amazing vocabulary. I lost count of the words she says on her own. It's well over 50. It's wonderful. And also means that we for sure have to be very careful of everything that we say now. Haha. 

Some of Hattie's favorite words:

Hi

Bye bye

Puppy

Draw

Book

Cookie
Milk

Tunnel ("Nunnel")

Cereal ("Eeweoo")

Raisin  ("Raiyeen")
Pretzel ("Petedow")

Random pics from recent times:

 (She still loooves tutus)

 Giggles with Grandma

 Mama attempted to put a ponytail in her hair. ;p

Hattie's favorite video to watch of herself. She smiles so wide when she watches. :) ...

Repurposing

Oh hi.

So, Hattie isn't 9 months anymore. I have been slacking with this blog. These things happen. But I think it's time to pick it back up. A friend mentioned yesterday that I should be jotting down things that Hattie is doing these days so that I remember them when she's a teenager and I'm 127. She didn't say that last part, but it's a true story. It may not be exciting to read, but hopefully some things that girl does will make you smile or laugh.

Occasionally when I put her in her crib after I rock her in the glider at night, if she's not ready to sleep, she pops back up and stands there and says, "Hi."   ... "Hi."   ...."Hiiii!!!"  Then she'll lay down for a couple of minutes. Just when I think she's asleep, she pops back up and says, "Hi!"  That little voice slays me.

She also loves to sweep. Whenever we get the broom and dustpan out to clean up after dinner, she HAS to help. Train 'em early! (Oh and the shirt was off because dinnertime is much less stain-filled without a shirt on. ;p )

Some random pics:

 "Melmo!"

"Ooooooh!"

9 months

Fashion: She's in 12 month clothes now for sure. No more squeezing her in to 9 month things. It feels like I buy her new clothes that should fit and then three seconds later, there is no way I'm getting her in to them. 

Health: Hattie had a sinus infection this month. Runny runny nose and junky cough. She's responding well to the antibiotic and sucks it down like a baby bird. thank God. Her ears have remained clear though. WOOHOO!

Zzzz: She usually wakes up for one bottle every 2-3 nights. I love the snuggles so I'm ok with it for now. 

She used to nap 2 times at Tender Care, but lately it has been one 2 hour nap in the late morning. Makes the evening tricky because she's usually really tired when we get home and I have to keep her up until after I feed her something and give her a bath.

Nicknames: Hattie Boo - this one seems to be sticking around much longer than I thought

Fitness: Taking steps. Not really walking but getting there. It's all she wants to do. She looks like a drunk person most of the time when she's trying. She's determined and I have no doubt she'll be full on walking within 2 weeks. 

Eats: Still the same amount of formula per day, although she doesn't seem to want as much. She leaves 1-2 bottles half full. She's eating 2 level 2 baby foods at Tender Care each day and sometimes one at night. She  has no problem with her pincer grasp, but still no luck in having her hold a sippy cup or her bottles. She LOVES pouches of food. It's all she wants. 

The spoken word: Calls me "Ma" or "Mama", Mike is still "Dadada", and now she says "Baby"! I also swear I heard her repeat Violet to me after I said it.

Things Hattie loves: Doing downward facing dog, balloons, Noodle & Doodle show on PBS, flowers, hardwood floors, 

Things Hattie doesn't love: Being on her back during diaper changes (two person job) or for clothing changes, having jackets put on her, having her face wiped (two person job) - basically having anything done to her that stops her from standing or moving (haha). - Still all true. Add in the car seat. HATES it. Challenge of the century to get her in it. Usually takes 4-5 tries. Also add in being away from her Mom for more than 3 seconds if I'm in the same place she is. Cries and pulls on my leg until I pick her up. 

Pictures from the past month:

Curious but being cautious when she saw Aunt Kimmy's dogs

Let me in, Mama!!!!! 

Pretty little sleeper 

Curious cat with her Daddy

First time having yogurt