Reading to the Busy Bee

What do you read a 7 month old? Anything I want to! I want Lukka to like reading, so I let him chew on my books if he's interested, and every day try to pull him into my lap for a 'story time'. He usually likes to sit in the crook of my crossed legs, which to me is strange for how curious and newly-mobile he is (see last post). I love to read him board books, but get so bored (ha, I know) with the same 5 we have. Usually, I just leave those out for play time and let him chew on them, and make 'story time' special with a different book every day. This week has been my favs, the Beatrix Potter set. I wish I had this set in her original, small editions, but I have a big set that I assume was on sale at B&N when I bought them. Also, for Christmas, I 'got' Lukka (ok, this was obviously for me!) the Beatrix Potter journal, i.e. the "Egyptology" of Peter Rabbit's creator. Oh well, still the same whimsy and spirit as Ms Puddleduck would say!

On another note, the family and I went to the library tonight and "The Daring Book for Girls" was one I picked up. I had noted it's brother, "The Dangerous Book for Boys" at B&N earlier last year, and was firmly decided I must have both for our children (ok, so child, but hopefully, someday a girl will be in our future, too!) Here's a look at the two websites: Boys, Girls. Such an awesome idea! Click on over to the Big Kids' Table to check out what us 'big kids' are reading.

Houston, We Have a Crawler

As of this morning, Lukka has become a full-blown crawlin' fool! He practiced for over a month going backwards and even 'monkey crawling' (up on feet) just to make sure his real one would be perfect! Now, how do I get him to slow down...? :)

Bumper in His Fishin' Hat

He's been practicing a few steps this weekend.

Family

Lukka with Arjax ("Bear" laying down) and Atreyu (sitting).

Lukka and me trying to get a good shot together. It only took 5 tries.

Lukka's Scrapbook, Installation #2

These two pages are each "Mom" or "Dad". The left is Dad, complete with all Sepia colored photos, and some odd paper I found in this bag. The "Mom" page is decked out in 1915's-era stickers on "StoryBooks" and "Reading Time". The colored pages behind the pictures are original pages from one of many Beatrix Potter books. My two favorites.

Oma page. This little outfit is one of the first outfits he was to receive as a newborn, and one of my favorites with his cute sailor hat. The bottom left picture is a card from Punch Studio (I LOVE these cards, I have about 5 packs of them, and I can always think of ways to dress up the scrapbook with their 1910-20's era feel) while putting two green heated-wax sealer (star) for a dress up on some old fashioned wall paper. So cute! (Hint: another Punch Studio card is on the "Mom" page.)

Lukka's Scrapbook, Installation #1

Well, I've finally finished it after 7 months (hey, come on, he's only 7 months old!). I spent about an hour a page, so he would love it as much as I do when he inherits it! These are a few of my favorites.

His 'Name' page.

My pregnancy pictures taken by Renee and a few odds n' ends from my doctor appointments (including one ultrasound picture).

Grandma K page decked out in fairy-tale fawns and woodland creatures.

Daddy's pages-- "Snips & Snails & Puppy Dog Tails".

Cute Baby Blog

I love travelling and have been itching the 'bug' for over a year and a half. We didn't do any vacations last year because of Lukka and now, well...it's just too darn cold to go anywhere cheaply! The only thing I can do is hope for a summer vacation this year, and in the meantime, read blogs written by worldly mothers.

Life with Baby Bug

This Just In...

I got an email today about NeatRepeatz and here is the information :
Neat Repeatz Spring/Summer
Children’s Consignment Sale
April 10-13, 2008
Location TBA

So for those of you in the Lincoln and surrounding areas, mark your calendar! ESPECIALLY you new moms! This is an awesome way to get big items like a crib, swing, etc. for a good price. Last fall in the business complex right off of 10th and VanDorn. This is also an open consignment, anyone (only 500 slots) who wants to sell their baby items can sign up and make their own prices.

Chapped Face, Last update

The oil is working great, although I wonder if I used something other than Burt's Beeswax ($8.49 later) it would have the same effect. Hmm.
On another note, we had a busy day including Church + Educational Hour (= 8:30AM-11:15 AM) + Dinner at Oma and Opa's (11:30AM -1:45 PM) + Birthday Party for Relative (2 PM-4:15 PM) = one not so happy and very tired baby! What do you moms do when your child needs a nap but won't fall asleep in a play yard?

Chapped Face, update #3

Here it is, direct from our local organic grocer, when Lukka wakes up from his nap, I'll try it out and tonight post whether it worked or not.

Love the Hat

My mom found this hat, booties, and mittens (not shown) packaged together at NeatRepeatz this last year. They were orignially from Baby Gap and in great condition. All three for about $2.50! So cute!

Update on Chapped Face

Someone from our church recommends Burts' Beeswax apricot (? or peach?) oil for a chapped face. There is no stinging for the child and it isn't 'addictive', i.e. your child always needs to wear it because if they don't...it starts to come back! (This happened to me when I would wear Chapstick on my lips back in elementary school). Thanks for the tip!

Chapped Face

Does anyone have any good remedies for a 'chapped face'? Lukka has been drooling a lot because he's teething and because of the dry weather his two cheeks are very chapped. I've been putting Aquaphor on him to no avail, and keep his room warm and have a humidifier in there already.
Any suggestions would be helpful.

Bumper

Here's the Cutie Bumper just hanging out!

Naptime

Anyone had to have their napper drastically switch their naptimes? Lukka has been crying in his bed for an hour the past week or so and I still think he needs a nap....sometime during the day. Any thoughts, moms? Has anyone had to put their little one to bed at a totally different time? This is the only thing that helps him nap well other than being swaddled.

Best Buds

Puppy + Lukka
Dad + Lukka

Learning to Crawl pt 2.

Vaccine Shortage

This morning we went to the Lincoln Lancaster County Health Department for Lukka's 6 month round of shots. He would normally get two in the leg, and one oral. I was one of the first people there and we were still waiting for over an hour. That has never happened to me before! I guess I should count myself lucky that they are so cheap (each time you go, for 3 vaccs, $15 total). Today the nurse said I would have to come back in a week because there was a shortage of one of his vaccs that he needed. He did great, sucked down the oral vaccine, and only made a frown when he got the shot! The nurse couldn't believe it...makes waiting worth it! To bad it infringed on his one naptime, so he's having trouble falling asleep this morning, but I'll take a short nap over polio.

I Am the King of the Pumpkins!

Swaddled

Lukka is nearing his 6 1/2 month-old mark and the kid still likes to be swaddled. In fact, if we don't wrap him up burrito-style, he can't fall asleep. Example: the last few weeks he has been spoiled with the 'swaddle king', aka Stefan, who was on vacation for Christmas and New Years. Only once was Stefan not the one swaddling him, and that day he rolled around in his crib and cried for over an hour. I just can't pack him in there tight enough! Stefan came home to a teary-eyed, over-tired child, and he swaddled him once and within ten minutes he's out. Does any wife out there know how this makes me feel? Completely unable to do even the simplest thing, that of course, my husband beats me at...and this is MY foray! I stay at home with Lukka...I should know how do to these things just as well, if not, better than, Stefan! I sometimes even get a look like, "So what do you really do all day"?! So as I began to write this blog post, Lukka was crying going down for a nap, and I'm praying he'll sleep. I packed him in as much as my puny-by-comparison arms would allow, and by the end....(sigh)...he's asleep.

(Pic: Lukka at a few weeks)