Baby + Mama: Ninth Month Update

Mama update: I took the plunge and started going to Soul Cycle classes! I was a spinner at LA fitness for over ten years and I was just tired of going to classes where I felt like everything was dirty and the music was the same for every class. It served me well in my 20s, but I want to spend money at a place I like to go that will inspire me to work my ass off.  As for my hair, I have a bird's nest of tiny baby hairs. It is annoying to see, but at least my hair is growing back! Next month, I plan on focusing on my skin care. I've always been good about moisturizing my face, but I am aiming to keep a somewhat consistent regimen.

Juniper update:

1. She stands with support: At the tail end of the month, she used the ottoman at my mom's house and showed us that she could stand. It was such a sweet moment. I was afraid I would miss that milestone because of work, but she did it in front of me!

2. She loves dancing: She particularly likes dancing to this melody from a Jordache commercial I stumbled upon on the Neontalk instagram account that I follow.  She goes crazy over this tune and loves it. 

3. She loves books: She likes any books with peek-a-boo element, a baby face, texture, or some sort of tangible. 

4. She is a chatterbox: I love hearing her gibberish and scream "mamamama" in delight.

5. She like giving besos and hugs: Whenever I say the word "beso," she bows down and puts her head on my lips. My mom taught her how to do this in order to avoid people kissing her cheeks.

Baby + Mama: Eight Month Update

Mama update: The struggle is real! Both staying and home and going back to work are definitely challenging. Nevertheless, I think going back to work is, even more, a delicate juggling act.  I have to plan my day more than I did before I had Juniper.  On another note, my lost hair is growing back and I have a bad case of baby hairs sprouting up. It's super annoying to see all of my tiny hairs pop up; however, I am glad it is growing back.  I am going through a strange hair phase right now. I am not sure what to do with it as I transition into a new head of hair. Also, I am struggling to find the time and write lately. I've been so busy that I would rather catch some zzz's; even though I am behind, I am making an effort to document tidbits of each month for myself and for Juniper.

Juniper update:

1. She's a crawler: She finally made her frog hops into actual crawling.  It took a span of about two weeks for her to fully understand how to crawl. It was so magical seeing her become mobile.  On the other hand, it made me feel heartbroken because she was starting a new phase and I selfishly want her to remain tiny forever.  All in all, she is a fast and efficient crawler.

2. She has more hair on her head: Juniper has been pretty bald up until now. She is still on the bald side, but has more hair. I could probably make a tiny ponytail with the mini-mullet in the back of her head. Just kidding. Her eyebrows are more full and she has the most desirable eyelashes.

3. Juniper has been more picky about foods: Initially, she loved eating beans; however, now she doesn't want anything to do with them.  She prefers fruits, squashes, and potatoes. She really likes snacks too. We are feeding her Happy Baby Organic Superfood Puffs for snacks and I like how they dissolve in her mouth.

4. Juniper has become quite the giggler: Juniper loves to laugh and finds me particularly funny. She especially thinks Herbie (our bichonpoo) is hilarious when he goes spastic and runs around like a madman.  It is such a joy to hear her laugh and it completely makes my day.

5. Juniper went hiking and went on a trampoline for the first time: We took her to Eaton Canyon for her first hike and she loved it. I was really paranoid about her getting too much sun, but luckily she had a sun hat.  She also attended her niece's birthday party and we jumped on the trampoline with her. It was my first time on a huge trampoline since tearing my ACL in 2012.

Baby + Mama: Seven Month Update

Mama update: I made the plunge and went back to work in January. Sure, I miss Juniper during the day, but I have to just let go.  After returning back to work, it seems like people are judgemental whatever decision I've made whether it's going back to work or staying home. Everyone has opinions and I think every mom and family make that decision to see what works best for their family.  As for taking care of myself, I've been keeping up with my daily ritual of waking up at 5 am. I've been doing Kayla Itsines BBG and yoga.  I've been using the YogaGlo app. Eventually, I would like to work spin classes in my schedule.  So, I work out six to seven days a week. I wish I had more time to go to classes, but for right now, this works for me.  Also, I'm following Kelly Leveque's Body Love book for food consumption.  It stresses the importance of incorporating fat, fiber, greens, and protein with every meal. I know it sounds basic, but in the past, I never thought about consuming protein when I ate a meal.  So far, so good. I really like her approach to eating. The reason I am so focused on taking care of myself is that I can't afford to get sick.

Juniper update:

1. When she is lying down, she can sit up.  When she tries sitting up from lying down, she grunts and tries really hard. It is so cute.

2. She makes a gummy smile. She started doing this thing where she exposes all of her gums. It's kind of a scary scene from a horror flick, but because she is my baby, it's adorable.

3.  She refuses to lie down on the Keekaroo when being changed.  This is kind of problematic for me, especially when I have to change her out of a #2 diaper. So, I give her toys while she is lying to down to keep her preoccupied. At first, I wasn't sure how to tackle this issue because she would get so mad and make angry raspberry sounds.  However, I just learned she is really intrigued by the hairbrush that lives near her body oils, so I give her her brush to keep her happy.

4. She dances in her high chair for food. This happens on occasion, but if she really likes what she is eating, she will move her head from side to side in delight over what she is tasting. So far, she gets really excited from papaya, beans (any kind), banana, guava, and any kind of potato.  She does not like spinach, kale, or kiwi.  We are still using Yumi and are getting it delivered once a month. It's organic baby food without added sugar. It's awesome because I can just freeze what Juniper doesn't eat immediately.  You can get $50 off your first purchase with them. In addition, we have been using the Stokke high chair due to its flexibility with growing with the baby. Justin and I love it. It's easy to clean and made of wood. 

5. She tries to clap. Instead of actually clapping, she bangs her hands against her chest like King Kong.  She does this when she is excited about something.