late again, but here is my big baby girl, who turned 7 months old on Thursday:

and last month:

I don’t think she is much bigger, but she sure looks older.

Talking about getting older, the girl has finally learned to swim, without water wings!!! She was making some progress in the shallow end a few weeks ago, and today she just went for it. She was even jumping into the deep end of the pool (with me or her father right there in the water, of course) and then swimming to the shallow end! Sniff, my big girl is growing up. I am so proudof her though!!! Too bad we did not have the camera.  She is sure ot get some practice on our little trip next week though, and I`ll get some pictures then!

Like me, her swimming is not the most aesthetically appealing, not much style there, but she stays afloat and has fun and that is what matters!!!

As for Charlotte, not so much is new. She is eating solids now, but does not touch baby-food.  It is sorta funny…baby-led weaning was my original plan for Charlotte (basically giving her a bit of whatever age-appropriate foods we are eating, and letting her eat what she can or wants to eat) but then because of her (dairy and soy) allergies, I decided to go the traditional route of starting with pureed foods at 6 months.

These are things I found worked with the girl and seem to be working with Charlotte, so I decided to post for anyone that googles their way here!

1) If your baby is fussy and wont sleep or settle down during the day, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE. I know it is scary to do with a fussy baby…but a lot of fussy babies do better “on the go” than at home. Even my “not too fussy” babies tend to be more content (and nap more) when we are out and about than at home–maybe partly because I am more relaxed when I am just focussing on strolling in the mall or supermarket than when I am looking at the laundry and dirty dishes I cannot get to!!!

2) Wear your baby if they like to be held a lot. Try different carriers or holds (with a sling or wrap) until you find one that works-many newborns (especially bf ones) prefer upright carries to the cradle hold everyone assumes they’ll like.  Having one of those “always needs to be held” babies seems so much more managable when you have free hands and your back is not aching all day!

3) If you need to shower and baby is fussing, put them in the car-seat/bouncy seat and bring them in the bathroom with you. At the very least, the screaming wont bug you as much when you are in the shower (I am not a fan of letting my babies cry, but 5 minutes in the shower wont kill them and will make YOU feel so much better). For my babies though…the white noise of the water and steamy room often lulled them to sleep. This is how I usually get Charlotte  down for the first nap of the day, around 2 hours after waking when she starts to get fussy. Then I leave her there while I do my stuff. Unfortunately, 2 days a week I have to be out of the house before her nap time and cannot use this trick. But when I can, it is a great one that worked with the girl as well.

4) When your bf baby wants to nurse non-stop, let them. It is frustrating, but the sooner you give into it and stop trying to get it to end by handing them off, or with pacifiers, or bottles, or whatever…the sooner your milk will increase (which is why the babies are doing it, to bring in more milk and prepare for a growth spurt) and it will end. They often sleep better after a growth spurt as well! This is easier said than done…but really is best. Get some DVDs, settle on the bed, and just do it!

Pretending that yoga pants are dress pants.

Don’t go there! I know the Yoga pants today are darker and nicer than ever before, and certainly wearable out of the gym or yoga studio…but they are still casual sporty pants THAT ONLY LOOK LIKE DRESSY BLACK PANTS FROM A DISTANCE, meant to be worn with casual sporty accompaniments, whether working out or at the mall.

Shoes: If you are not into running shoes type shoes (and really, I don’t get why anyone that doesnt own at least one pair of sporty shoes would be into sporty pants, but whatever) then yoga pants also work fine (for summer) with casual flip flops. But please, noplatforms, loafers, pumps, dressy boots, strappy sandals or heels of any style with yoga pants. It just looks wrong and I cannot take it.

Tops: T-shirts (long and short sleeve), tank tops, hoodies, and casual sweaters work well with yoga pants. Blouses, business type shirts and dressy tops do not. Don’t do it. You are the only one that thinks your yoga pants are passing for actual dress pants.

I have an annoying rule in my car; I do not move the car until everyone is wearing a seat-belt. I mean adults as well as kids. Many times, adults have complained about my rule. They state that they are more comfortable without seat-belts, that they never wear them, that they’ll pay for a ticket, that they’ll be fine, and that they are adults and it is up to them if they want to take the risk.

Well, not quite. Firstly, I don’t want anyone to die in my car, adult or not. If that ever happened, I would never be able to drive again. I am not sure I would be able to live with myself. So someone risking thier life by not wearing a seat-belt in my car is also putting my mental health, and my livelihood (as I cannot do my job without driving) at risk. Secondly, when someone is not wearing a seat-belt it is not only themselves they are putting at risk, but everyone in the car. If they become dislodged from the seat (and in an accident, they will if they are not restrained), they can become projectile; banging around the car injuring or even killing those of us that are in seat-belts, and possibly hitting the driver who could lose control of the car even more as a result.

Here is a video that perfectly displays this concern. Buckle up!

The problem: My cell phone took a little swim in the bottom of my handbag Sunday evening. After doing everything I could think of (taking the battery out, opening all the little input thingamajigs, shaking it madly, drying it with paper towel and then a blow dryer on low heat) it was still not working. It looked dry, and turned on, but the buttons would not work and when I called it did not ring. So, off to google I went.

The solution: Rice. Yup, dry uncooked rice. If you leave a wet cell phone it it, it sucks out the water. I left the phone in a bowl of dry rice all Sunday night. Amazingly, the next morning it worked almost perfectly. I could see some moisure  in the display window though, and the back-light never turned off after I closed the phone. So back to the rice it went for the day. When I came home, perfect phone

Who knew?

P.S. I am very lucky I did not ruin the phone permanently because I kept putting the battery in and checking it before I was sure it was dry. If you do this, take out the battery and SIM card immediately, dry the phone with a towel as best you can, than leave it in the rice for a full day before attempting to use it again.

I got this in an e-mail from sisterwoman, and I really like it, so I am sharing. Cheesy, but oh so true:

I Believe

That no matter how good a friend is, she is going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive her for that.

That because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.

That it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

That you should always leave loved ones with kind words. It may be the last time you see them.

That money is a lousy way to keep score.

That you either control your anger or it controls you.

That sometimes I have the right to be angry, but I never have the right to be cruel.

That it always isn’t enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself.

That no matter how bad your heart is broken, the world won’t stop for you.

That to love others with my whole heart I must first love myself.

That the people you care most about in life are often taken from you too soon.

That life is more precious than money will ever be.

That it really is better to give than to receive.

Stop coping with big problems by avoiding them or stressing out. Deal with them head on, and they just might go away.

Get a bandeau!! I recently got a very stretchy cotton one at Urban Planet for $10, and love it. I tend to wear a lot of v-neck and scoop neck tops, that leave the girls a little exposed. In the winter/fall/spring I just wear tank-tops under them, but I hate that in the summer. They are so hot, and add bulk and lines under smooth fitting summer fabrics. Sports bras are also a little hot and heavy under clothes (my super duty ones anyways).  The bandeau is perfect. I wear it right over my bra (as it has NO support) and it provides enough coverage to not be obscene, while I get to remain cool and comfortable! No more pulling at my top every 10 minutes and hoping no one notices.

Here’s what one looks like (though not on me!):