Happy Baby

When you have a happy baby you know you're doing something right.

As a new parent, and I'm sure all you other new parents agree, you feel somewhat insecure on a daily basis. Am I feeding them enough? Are they getting the right nutrients? Are they too hot/cold? Do they have enough toys, are they fun toys? Am I reading to them as much as I should? The list goes on and on. You'd think that once your child is eight months old you would have some things down, but I am constantly learning about how to be a better more patient parent. I try not to say "NO" as much and say things like "danger" (thanks Katie), or "please don't put that cord in your mouth because it may electrocute you". Instead of using one word phrases with her I always try to use full sentences and have conversations with her so that one day she will hopefully be that kid that loves to talk. As parents we are the most important teachers in their lives and she will never have a teacher more important than Troy and I. Such a HUGE responsibility but so well worth it.

Westyn these days....

1. She is only content when she is able to crawl around and pull herself up on EVERYTHING.

2. She loves to climb the stairs

3. Bathtime is now a zoo and she crawls all around the bath and splashes like I've never seen any baby make a mess.

4. Her and my niece (her cousin) Campbell LOVE to hold hands, and sort of talk in their own language.

5. Her top two teeth are coming through the gums and she is beginning to look like a vampire...but a cute vampire... like Renesmee .

I'm sure there are a million things I am missing but she just woke from a nap and I'm sure chewing on the crib rail, so have a great weekend.

trying to grab more toys even though there are about 20 scattered across the family room

Halloween Surprise

This is how Troy and I found Westyn Saturday morning...

Happy Halloween Mommy & Daddy!

Oh and by the way I figured out how to stand up in my crib.

So needless to say Troy moved the crib matress to the last notch last night before we put her to bed.

Each day is a new surprise with this little girl - she is the hammiest of all hams. But so so fun. Dinner time is especially crazy as she puts on a show each time we put her in her highchair. Whether it be screaming at the top of her lungs or making the funniest 'mouth-fart' noises and spitting all over herself. She gets us laughing which is exactly what she hopes to do.

She has also learned how to pull herself up on anything and everything and has started climbing the stairs. She gets into drawers now and pulls out all of Kenai's toys from his basket... AND enjoys taking a quick chew on his bulley stick (bull penis/bone) when I'm not looking. Nice.

All in all she is growing up SO fast and we are enjoying every moment of it. We are experiencing her little personality each day and are blown away by our little girl.

Bath time

As I've mentioned in prior posts, Westyn LOVES her baths. If she is fussy or whiny, the moment Troy says it's bath-time she starts smiling and jumping all around. My bath experience is minimal as Troy decided from the get go that he was in charge of baths, which I think is so cute. Last night she was just too cute to pass up a photo-op, especially with her little plumbers' crack.

Look at that little crack... and her tails of hair, should I try a ponytail?? I thought for a moment last night I saw some curls but I think I was making it up.

This little girl sure does melt my heart

Westyn is becoming a little girl more and more every day. She is so so crazy but I love it! She has such a little personality and is such a happy baby. Sunday was her 7 month "birthday", and daily I can see changes in her with how she plays with toys or her looks that she gives me or how she is becoming so aware of her surroundings.... This whole motherhood gig is amazing and I wouldn't give it up for the world.

HELP Mommies!!!

This may be a very strange post to many of you but I really need some suggestions for my poor boobies. Westyn has her two front bottom teeth and she has been biting me lately while nursing. While it is impossible to bite down while sucking as their tongue covers their bottom teeth, she will every now and then stop, pull her tounge away and BITE ME! This is posing quite a problem for her and I as I'm very committed to nursing for the first year.

Any suggestions would be great!

Jubilee Farms

Yesterday afternoon Troy and I took Westyn to Jubilee Farm to pick some pumpkins and grab my bother & sil's share of fruit and veggies for the week (they were to busy so they offered it to us). Jubilee Farm is a wonderful place out in Carnation where they grow nothing but organic fruits and vegetables and have the option of buying your produce on a seasonal/weekly basis through their family share program. We had gone before when they were out of town in July but that was nothing compared to a Fall Saturday afternoon. After we grabbed our share of the carrots, mixed greens, leeks, kale, heirloom tomatoes, the list goes on and on, we jumped on the hay ride with all the other millions of young family's and went to the pumpkin patch and picked our pumpkins. We usually go to Remlinger Farms but after trying out Jubilee we are hooked. I HIGHLY recommend checking it out as it may have been the best Saturday we have ever had.

To make the night even better, the Vergheses came over for dinner and a bit of play time with Calum & Westyn. I'm sure going to miss them when they leave, especially that beautiful little guy of theirs.

Ohh - one more thing, Westyn is crawling.. CRAZY FUN!

Here are a few pictures from this past week...

She loves her sippy cup

Katie's birthday lunch at Barking Frog (thank you Jerame!)

Happy Birthday to my Troy!!

Happy 33rd Birthday to the best Daddy, husband and best friend in the world!

The stars were aligned when you came into this world. I'm so proud of the person you are and the roles that you take on - you take very good care of us. We are all very lucky that you are you.
We love you very much and hope you have a wonderful Birthday

Ashley, Westyn & Kenai