Dear Siena – 7 Months Old

Dear Siena,

WOW you changed a lot this month. Your dad and I can’t stop talking about how much you grew up in the last few weeks. It’s hard to precisely explain the change, but you just seem more with it. You seem to understand what is going on around you so much better and your personality is really starting to shine. You’re using your voice to communicate a lot more – usually in the form of little screeches and whines but also some babbling. You also use your body to communicate via kicks and arm movements.

A big part of the change is that you are able to sit up really well which means we can use the high chairs at restaurants and even the shopping cart at the grocery store! And you shocked us all when you started (army) crawling. On a Saturday morning (April 23), we were playing on the ground and you army crawled about three steps. Your dad saw it too and we were in shock! We kept trying to get you to repeat it but you mostly just turned in circles (something you’d been doing for a while but were getting better at). The next day you really started to crawl all over the place and we lured you to various places using your favorite toys (which are currently a simple set of wood blocks in various shapes and colors). Now we can’t leave you unattended at all unless you’re siting in your chair or bouncer for fear that you’ll crawl to something dangerous! Lucky for us, you’re not that fast yet but I know one day you’re going to crawl off faster than I can catch you. We’re in the process of babyproofing the house to keep you safe!

You’re really starting to love food now. We’re still following the baby led weaning approach but we usually only give you food at dinner time on week days. Once you’re better (and less messy) at it, we’ll send food to daycare. You are actually swallowing quite a bit of food now, despite the fact that you have no teeth. Your favorite foods are avocado, sweet potato (especially when I make them with coconut oil and cinnamon), yellow squash, strawberries and broccoli. Besides those foods, we’ve given you carrots, banana, zucchini, raspberries, bananas, tempeh, salmon, mahi mahi (you didn’t like it), eggs, butternut squash, and green beans. 

We’ve started using some basic sign language with you but pretty much just do it at meal times. We use the signs for “food,” “more” and “all done.” the one you like the most is all done (which is waving both hands) and give us a HUGE grin every time we do it, even if you’re in the middle of being fussy because you’re sick of being stuck in the high chair.

Although I still don’t like being away from you every day, we are starting to settle into a routine. You seem to like daycare and every time I pick you up you are being well attended to. You give me a big smile and sometimes a laugh when I get there to pick you up. Usually you dad does drop off and I do the pick up but it changes occasionally depending on our schedules. I try to make the most of the time I do get with you, but sadly during the week most of the time we spend together is focused on feeding or dressing you or you watching me cook or get ready for work. We usually get a few minutes to play in the evenings but not much since we usually have only 2-2.5 hours between when we get home and bedtime and you get a bottle right away, then solid food for dinner and nurse before bed so we are busy! I try to talk, sing and engage with you as much as possible while I cook and you sit in your chair on the counter watching me (or you play with your dad).

You started sleeping “through the night” pretty consistently this month (8-7 a.m. ish without a wake-up) but recently have been waking sometime in the 5 a.m. hour to eat (and usually go back to sleep). It actually works out well since I get up pretty much every morning to exercise around that time so I’m able to nurse you and put you back to bed before I start my workout (which means I don’t have to pump). I’m pretty sure you went through a growth spurt this month because when we weighed you (using the weigh ourselves, then weigh ourselves holding you technique) you were over 1 1/2 pounds heavier than at your 6 month appointment! You’re stretching the limits of your 3-6 clothes now (especially in length – your legs are so long!) and I’m considering moving up to size 3 diapers in our next monthly shipment.

This month is significant for me because I achieved my goal of 7 months of breastfeeding. Before you were born I assumed I’d breastfeed for a year minimum but the reality is, our journey was a lot harder than I thought and I still battle with low supply. I told myself that I would give myself at least a month of pumping after I returned to work and then I’d reassess. Although I’m not able to make enough milk for all your bottles, I’m still pumping at work 3 times and nursing you 2-3 times a day. I am taking it month by month at this point but plan to continue until it doesn’t make sense anymore. Despite the fact that the bottles give you a lot more milk (and faster) than I can, you still seem to prefer nursing and I’m thankful that I can still do it.

You felt the ocean for the first time this month (we’ve taken you to the beach before but not into the water) – we’re pretty sure you didn’t like it because it was too cold. I think when the water is warmer this summer you’ll like it better. You also got to see your Grandpa Woyski a couple times because he has been working in Orange County and comes down to visit. You also got to see Grandma Christy, Nana and Boo and Aunt and Uncle Claire and Josh. Everyone loves you and although sometimes it takes you a few minutes of checking people out  before you smile, you warm up quickly. You also got to meet one of your future friends, Jack, who is my close friend Shahara’s son. He was born only 6 months after you – right now you seem so different but before we know it, you’ll be playing together!

Some things about you right now that I want to remember: you wake up happy and smiling, I sing you the “good morning” song while I change your diaper (which I made up), you love to try to bite my cheek or chin when I hold you, you need a toy to be kept busy with during diaper changes and right now that is your yellow ducky stuffed animal, when we go grocery shopping and you sit in the cart you try to eat grab my shopping list out of my hands and eat it, you’ve started pounding your feet while sitting in your sit me up chair, you are starting to figure our your sippy cup and are curious to drink water but seem confused when you taste it, you like looking at yourself in the mirror a lot and I think you actually recognize yourself now, the surest way to make you giggle is to blow bubbles on your belly, and when you see me across the room or coming down the stairs, you always smile. Another thing that makes me really happy is that I can tell that you are so excited to see your dad when you see him at the end of the day. I know you love him as much as I do.

I love you!

Love,

Mom