Life on Pioneer Trail

7.29.2013

7-8 month schedule

Since I missed posting Luke's 7 month schedule, I'm going to do months 7 and 8 together. They are pretty much the same, with a few differences I've put in parenthesis. I know these schedules will come in handy with Baby #2 someday!

7:30 a.m.: Wake up and Nurse

8:30 a.m.: Breakfast (usually cereal with bananas; moved to finger foods in the middle of month 8)

9:30-11:15 a.m.: Nap

11:15 a.m.: Nurse

12:30 p.m.: Lunch (usually 1 vegetable, 1 fruit, and yogurt; moved to eating what Mom eats in the middle of month 8)

1:30-3:00 p.m.: Nap

3:00 p.m.: Bottle (8-9 ounces)

5:30 p.m.: Dinner (usually 2 vegetables, 1 fruit; moved to eating what Mom and Dad eat in the middle of month 8)

7:15 p.m.: Bedtime routine (bath, pjs, story)

7:30 p.m.: Bottle (8-9 ounces) and Bed

Here are some random phone pics!

he loves toast!

he was trying to get abel to come back

air vents are one of his favorite things

the awesomeness of finger food

7.28.2013

Baby Play: Sound Treasure Box

Luke has been growing, moving, and changing like crazy. I'm sure all you Mommys, Daddys, and caregivers out there understand this when I say...he does something new everyday.

This sound treasure box was inspired by a xylophone that was given to us by my friend, Paige, who acquired it from one of her friends. I love hand-me-downs!

So, I started with the xylophone, but what else could I use? I didn't go out and buy anything, I just scoured the house and Luke's room for some toys and everyday items that make some kind of sound. It wasn't as hard as I thought and I was pleasantly surprised by what I found.

Luke was pretty into this sound treasure box. Many of the items are toys he has played with before, but they haven't been out for him to play with in awhile. It's funny how toys put away for awhile can seem 'new'. I love that.

His favorite items were the cardboard square with tissue paper and one of the rattles. He threw the rattle over and over again (throwing is his new thing) and played fetch with himself. He then found the cardboard square and turned it over and over in his hand like it was gold. I love how his little eyes light up with wonder at a simple piece of cardboard. Here is the link for the tactile boards.

I observed during most of this playtime, but I also sang with him and talked about the items he was exploring. We sang Shake, Shake, Shake and Do, Re, Me with the xylophone. Although, I didn't remember all the words, but I am really, really good (haha)at making up my own words to songs I don't know. (That is an entirely different post.) I also clapped and tried to see if he would clap with me, but that's not happening just yet. I used words like: sound, clap, music, and made lots of sounds (swish, tick tock, knock knock, shhhhh, boom boom).

I am planning on getting out the sound treasure box every once in awhile to mix things up again and work on some sound vocabulary. I don't think Luke will mind.

this was the rattle he threw over and over

luke exploring the bottle

moving around the piece of cardboard

7.26.2013

Pinterest Love: Christmas Cookies in July

This month for cooking club the theme was 'Christmas in July'. It was such a fun theme and nice to eat some home cooked, savory yumminess that did not get cooked on the grill. Don't get me wrong, I could eat a cheeseburger every night, but it was a welcome change. One of my friends in cooking club, Lydia, made some aaaa-mazing, decadent desserts. She is the inspiration to my Pinterest love this week! It's been unusually cool the last five days on the Trail....perfect for a 'Christmas Cookies in July' weekend!

click here to pin...all time favorite christmas cookie recipes

click here to pin...as most of you know we love peanut butter on the trail, enough said

click to pin...lydia made these for cooking club and they were ridiculous

click here to pin...i made these for the cookies exchange last year and they. were. perfect.

7.23.2013

Wedding Season: Shelby's Wedding

One of my best girlfriends is a married woman! She married her super sweet husband, Jeff, a few weeks ago at a beautiful ceremony surrounded by family and friends.

Shelby is the most laid back, cool lady I know. She is a go-with-the-flow, 'whatever', 'sounds good' kind of person and I just love that about her. She was not one bit anxious or nervous during her big day. She was exactly how I thought she would be...beautiful and relaxed. She knew she was about to marry the man of her dreams and that's all that mattered to her.

I was lucky to be a part of Shelby's wedding and I was so honored to observe their love and commitment to each other. They are such a beautiful couple...inside and out...and Kevin, Luke and I are blessed to be a part of their lives. Congratulations Jeff and Shelby!

finishing touches on shelby's hair!

shelby dressing her daughter, scarlet

the reveal...so sweet

the happy couple

kevin, luke, and i

the bridesmaids

shelby and jeff were able to take a picture in a corvette...so cool!

so sweet!

7.19.2013

Pinterest Love: Baby Resources

This fall Kevin and I have around 15 friends that are having babies. Madness. Pure baby madness. Being a baby lover, I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to hold, cuddle, squeeze and kiss each and every last one of them.

During my pregnancy I pinned lots, lots of 'baby stuff'. Today I'm going to share the pins I have gone back to over and over again during Luke's little life. I hope these are helpful to some of you new-mommys-to-be! Love you all!