Seven Months (4/23) and Mother's Day Hike (5/8)

"Oh my, I'm Seven Months Old!!!" 

Berit rolls from front to back and back to front. She has a preference to go to the right on the roll, but can reverse if tempted with toys.

Berit eats with the family, but is still working on root vegetables and finger foods.  Black beans and peas are next on the menu!

She loves to stand and jump.  She got a walker but can't quite touch the ground yet. She has pulled herself up to standing a few times now, with the help of her monkey machine (see prior post.)

She sits on her own but cannot sit up from laying flat on her back.  

She can scoot and roll into strange positions when left unobserved.

Petting Wolfie

Berit laughs if momma tries to play papa's harmonica.  Apparently he is much better at it.

She nurses regularly, but can't always be bothered with taking the quiet time to sit still and eat --- there is simply too much to do.  She makes up for those missed feedings at night, where she still sleeps with us.

I don't see her as often mid-day, although the accident at daycare means that I go up to see how she is doing or at least call.  I hope to outgrow the helicopter mommy stage before she gets to college!

Sitting still is hard these days

Just how much taller is Bear than Wolfie?

"Hurry up, mom, I've got things to do today"

"That's it..."

"I'm leaving!"

Bare toes baby!  

We hiked up to the cabin; it is still standing and smells amazing.  If civilization crumbles, we will retreat happily!

Berit's faithful boy-dogs...she pays them handsomely 

Yukon is a little jealous of the attention Bear gets, especially from Pat and the grandparents.  He loves the baby, but likes being the baby just as much.  All three are realizing that the baby has the ability to propel food from the table to their mouths with great ease -- and she doesn't get in trouble for it!  Here they are "helping" Pete airplane sweet potato to Bear's little bird mouth.

Trying the outdoors

I feel like I've been cooped up since she was born, so the sooner she starts appreciating the fresh air, the better.  We are looking forward to a summer outside: building the cabin, walking the dogs, digging in the dirt (gardening) and swinging.  There will be swimming too!

The German mafia guard their girl in the front yard (Sitka has the pine tree and driveway covered)

Our amazing herding dogs love their kid.  They seem particularly anxious for her to learn how to throw the ball.  Soon, I tell them!

Bear at play

Berit continues to delight her parents.  She is making up for those hours and days and weeks of crying.  She is a very opinionated and demanding little one, but gets away with it because she is so darn entertaining.

I can only guess what she is thinking.  I am working on learning signs so we can communicate, although they don't tell you how hard it can be for the parents to learn sign language!  Especially when one parent is laughing at the other...

I really will try to post more frequently~

Ah Berit

This was written May 1st  -- a week ago already! -- and it follows the first accident post...

This last week was pretty eventful.  Pete started his first tour as Captain and on that same day, I got a dreaded call from day care telling me that there had been an "incident" -- Berit had been bleeding a lot and was very upset but had calmed down.  It was an accident certainly, but the sort of moment when you feel like nothing else can ever be as important as raising your baby and protecting her from the dangers of the world.  Working mothers have guilt all the time; this is the exact kind of moment when that guilt feels justified.  It was awful.

We are again falling way behind on photos and updates.  Seven months has come and gone!

Bear laughs when I wear hats..then she pulls them off

What a sweetie

Our little liberal in training -- off to help Papa plan council campaigns!

It is May but we are still wearing our winter earflaps!

She LOVES this monkey.  Sometimes we have to take a break while getting dressed to be sure he is still there

Fortunately she has recovered from her latest injury very quickly and with great spirits.

A few scrapes remaining on the upper lip -- we don't think there will be a scar

Uncle Woody is off to Alaska and Aunt Krista is arriving from San Francisco in two days!

Seeing Woody off to the airport shuttle

Berit plans to be driving by the time he returns...

Here she is getting tips from papa

She figures if she eats the camera, I will stop taking photos of her

Berit the Bruiser

Today Berit had her first spill that left a mark.  There were some giant tears and a loud sob or two but now (eight hours later) the evidence is nearly gone.

Here she is a few minutes after the tears have dried...

She is getting more mobile and the world is more hazardous. I ordered a gate for the stairs.  Last week she started rolling (back to front) deliberately to cover ground, reach toys and get your attention.  Her crawling is more like a scoot backwards, having not mastered pulling up her knees under her belly.  She grabs ankles when she wants to nurse or get picked up -- pretty cute.  She has been practicing standing and is pulling herself up a lot.  Her daddy walked at nine months -- so it may be closer than we think!  I am watching her roll across the living room as I type...

Tummy time isn't so bad when you get rolling!

Blowing out the candles on Papa's carrot cake

Momma and her Bear on the way to work and "school"

Berit has now eaten bananas, sweet potato (loves! especially warm), butternut squash, acorn squash, mum mums, pears (especially frozen), avocado (not a fan -- yet!) and sips waters like a big kid.

She still fights sleep but does a great job of letting herself stay asleep once she gets there -- especially at night.  We've had numerous nights of 8:30 or 9 pm sleeps until 3 am.  Pretty crazy to think how far we have come (and what seems "great" these days!)

Last weekend the family traveled up the shore, except for Pete who was working three in a row.  We missed him, but it was time to visit friends and family and the fur kids really needed a big woods outing. We stayed with our friends Dan, Bre and Zoe.

Dan was coaching Berit in crawling, but Yukon the protector has to be sure to stay close by - just in case!

Best friend Lingo stayed within close proximity too

Again, I am amazed that the most fun toy is the $4 bag of diaper wipes

Sylvie, the forlorn little giraffe - and the boy dogs.

We got to do a site visit of the latest Arktikos Custom Builders project and see the fine handiwork of Grandpa Doug, Nama Debbie and Uncle Woody.

Bear and Grand-nama Debbie -- she did the American clay walls throughout the cabins

Woody, Rae, Debbie and Berit

Uncle Woody shows Berit the view

She approves!

Woody's beautiful railings

Grandpa Doug's beautiful railings

And there's the bath!

After months of showers, Berit is getting some tub time and enjoying it.  It isn't convenient for the morning routine but is a worthy daytime pursuit.  It also works just before nap time or bed.  We haven't been back to the swimming pool since the double ear infection diagnosis, but soon.  If only it would stop snowing!

Snowy Sunday Hike

As promised, we woke up to pouring snow.  We are all very ready for this long winter to end.  Having Bear in the house means we have had some cabin fever -- much, much harder to get out and take advantage of a good ski when you've got a little peanut to worry about.

But now, at six plus months and balmy April snowfall, we are ready to get out and enjoy it.

The fur kids could not be happier!

Berit sings along

Hartley pond -- dangerous and nerve-wracking ice

The regal matriarch

And she's out...

When we got home, papa was baking birthday cake and listening to prairie home companion.  How's that for a wonderful Minnesota family moment?

The Bear, still in her baselayers

Showing off her little teeth

And coming for her momma and that damn camera

Growing Girl

Dinner for the Bear, mum mum, banana and water (that she just pretends to drink so far)

Well Berit's two little teeth are really showing these days.  She nibbles just like Lingo's little love-bites and the serrated edges really hurt.  Luckily for me she knows better than to nibble during nursing!

Baby-led solids!

Mulling over the taste and texture

Not yet, Pa!  

Berit adores her papa

Now she's ready for more

She continues to explore real foods with zeal.  She can easily gobble down a rice mum mum (the best for her to hold onto herself) and seems to enjoy it when Papa smears it with sweet potato.  She eats mashed bananas, as long as they are not too ripe and sweet.  This shows a series of her eating banana mash from Papa's fingers.

Today we tried a chunk of banana with a "handle" rolled in cheerio dust.  It seemed to feel great in the hand but proved to slippery to hit the mouth more than a few times.

The youngest WTipper in Duluth!

She also loves loves loves to jump.  Her saucer had to be raised a notch as her legs are longer -- we used to slide books under her feet so she could jump!  She goes crazy in her johnny jump-up -- like it is a little trampoline.  We try to take video but so far haven't been able to upload it anywhere.  It is highly entertaining.

She has also been talking a lot more -- a lot of "da ta da dah da" making papa think he should be going by dad instead, ha!

another satisfied eater!

Bear reaches when she wants to move now -- pretty darn cute!

Wearing her adorably soft Bunny shirt (thanks Annie!)

With cousin Elizabeth.  

 The necklace is genuine Baltic amber.  This is another one of my hippie parenting concepts.  It is a teething necklace.  Amber allegedly has some pain-relieving elements.  Since amber is not a stone, it warms and softens when against the skin and the natural pain relief helps with the unpleasantries of teething.  Or so they say.  And so I believe.  The necklace isn't worn at night or in the shower and is knotted to avoid choking hazards.

Pete thought it was meant to be worn like a horse bridle --- not so.

Does it work?  I have no idea.

April Fool's!  Notice the snow out the window -- this was our Friday morning.

Berit gives a giant grin when Papa walks in the door from work

Later in the morning, she has lost her stylish jeans...

But is quite happy!