Free Activities for Babies

It's no secret that having a baby costs major bucks.  Whether it's medical bills for labor and delivery, formula and diapers, or a crib, some things just can't be avoided.  Living on one income, I try to be extra savvy in finding free and cheap activities for Sarah.  Here are some things she's enjoyed over the last year:

There are the old standbys: playing in a cardboard box, digging through a cabinet full of something safe like towels, and putting clothes in and out of a laundry basket.

Story time at the public library - This is awesome!  For us, we go every Monday morning from 9:30-10:00 and attend a class for birth through 18 months old.  The time includes songs with actions, rhymes, stories, activities like bubbles or rattles and some free play.  It's a nice way to promote early literacy and socialization for your baby.  Sarah really does recognize some of the songs now and starts reaching for the shakers when it's time for Shaky Shaky.

Sitting on the front porch - We're fortunate to have a porch swing, but a chair or the ground would work just fine.  We can enjoy listening to the birds, inspect leaves and twigs, wave at the cars as they go by, and say hi to walkers.  Fresh air and sunshine instantly get Sarah and me into a better mood.

Ties in tissue box - I tied together three of Robert's old neck ties and put them in a tissue box.  Sarah loves pulling and pulling until they all come out.  It has helped with her pincer grasp, and she' thinks it's pretty funny.

Get a regular walking buddy - During the school year Sarah and I walked with my friend Becky and her dog, Lucy, on Thursday mornings from 9:00-10:00.  Sarah enjoys watching Lucy, and I enjoy getting to talk to Becky.  It's been too hot and busy this summer, but I hope we can pick this up again soon.  For me, having a set guaranteed time to do something is really key to making it happen.  We know to not plan anything else for Thursdays at 9:00, and we're able to make it happen almost every week.

Make bath time last as long as possible - In the summer, you can even take it out side!  Sarah enjoys playing with her rubber duck, foam letters, and bubble wand in the tub.  Playing peekaboo with the shower curtain is definitely a favorite.

Check out board books from your church library - Reading the same books over and over again doesn't bore Sarah yet, but it gets old to me quickly.  Our church has a good selection of wholesome books that I feel good about Sarah reading.

Sarah At Twelve Months

Stats
Weight: 23lbs 0.5oz
Height: 29 7/8"
Head circumference: 17 5/8"

Sleeping
Sleeping has been so much better after last month seemed rough.  Sarah has gone back to napping an hour each morning from around 9:30-10:30 and one or two hours in the afternoon from 2:00-4:00.  She keeps geeting better at falling asleep on her own.  A few times this month she played, rolled around, and babbled happily for over an hour before she finally collapsed.  Fine by me!  It was pretty cute to watch on the video monitor.  Sarah still falls asleep in the carseat, but it's gotten easily to transition her to the crib so we don't have to sit in the car until she wakes up.  She's started sleeping with one of my old blankets and Lamb Chop.

She managed to get her left arm out of her pajamas!

Eating
She's been naturally consuming less from bottles and more from table food.  I'm excited to start whole milk and ditch the hefty price tag of formula!  When I think of Sarah's favorite foods this month I think of peanut butter, bread and tortillas, spaghetti, garlic parmesan butternut squash, watermelon, yogurt, strawberries, cheddar and colby cheese, and water from her sippy cup.  She loses it and gets so focused when you bring out the jar of peanut butter - a girl after my own heart.  Just wait until you try PBJ, Sarah!  She drinks at least 10 ounces of water a day now, too.  She's probably thirsty from all that peanut butter!

Personality
Sarah has a new scrunchy face that she makes whenever somebody looks at her or talks to her.  It's become a crowd pleaser which has made her start doing it even more.  She's also started raising her right shoulder and tucking her head into it when smiling - also a crowd pleaser.

Sarah got moved to the toddler room at church on July 30.  I thanked the baby teacher for her time with Sarah, and she said that Sarah had been the leader of the classroom, tried to involve the other children in whatever she was doing, and enjoys sharing her toys with others.  It was really sweet and made me so proud of the person that Sarah is becoming.

Speaking of sharing, Sarah really learned how to share this month.  Sure, she might want the item back after two seconds, but it seems like a big milestone that she's noticed that we share with her so she wants to share with us.

Health and Physical Ability
Nothing tops Sarah's first solo steps this month!  She took two steps by herself on Friday, July 22 in Kansas City when we were in town to celebrate her Nana's birthday.  It was so exciting!  Unfortunatley, Robert missed it and has somehow missed every time since then.  She's taking steps every day now, and her personally record is seven steps in a row.  She also likes pushing her walker and anything else (boxes, chairs, etc.).  She still enjoys crawling, but I think walking will be her preferred mode of transportation very soon.

Sarah had her appointment with the urologist this month.  We've decided to postpone surgery in hopes that her ureters will straighten and strengthen as she grows.  She will have the renal ultrasound and VCUG performed again next year to see if they are getting better.  If they aren't getting better then we will do open surgery.  If they seem to be progressing and getting healthier then we will decide to do a robotic surgery or to continue to wait.  While waiting she is on a daily antibiotic to prevent infections while she still has VUR.

Sarah's new words this month were Hat and Woof Woof, and she's really been enjoying blowing raspberries again and clicking her tongue.  She's also good and mimicking vocalizations that we make.

Superficial
Sarah's curls pretty much go around the entire back and sides of her hair now.  She's gotten tanner than me.  She still has the cutest nose, eyes, and eyelashes.  Her skin is so soft, and it's sad to think about her feet getting calluses as she starts to walk and wear shoes.  She's become ticklish under her neck this month and can't help but giggle uncontrollably when you tickle her.  She also thinks it's hilarious when other people get hurt - again, just like her mom.

Highlights of the month
July 9-16 - Robert was in Omaha for a mission trip.  This was a really long week, and I don't think I could have made it without the help of family.  Again, so thankful to live close to them.

July 22-23 - Trip to Kansas City to celebrate Nana's birthday

July 24 - First trip to Silver Dollar City.  Sarah road the frogs, butterflies, carousel, hot air balloons, and puppies.

July 25-26 - Memaw came for an overnight visit.  She and Sarah are great playmates!

July 29-30 - Kansas City for Aunt Bethany's baby shower.  Sarah is excited to meet her first cousin!

August 1 - First birthday photos!

August 2-7 - Aunt Cathy and cousin Christine in from Pennsylvania to celebrate Sarah's birthday (their first time to see Sarah since October).

Dear Sarah,
You're a whole year old!  This has been a season of growing, learning, and changing for you.  In your life you will go through many seasons: childhood and adulthood, sickness and health, easy times and times in a figurative desert, just to name a few.  I hope you always remember that God is with you in every season, whether it feels like an easy time or Satan tempts you to believe that God has left your side.  That is a lie, and you can always trust that God has you in His hand.  He's been with you this year when you slept, ate, played, crawled, walked, and everything in between.  God has great plans for you future.  I hope and pray that the most important thing that will happen in His plan is that you will become a born again believer who seeks to please and honor God in all that you do.  Sarah, I look back on this year and can't believe how much you and I have changed.  Thank you for the privilege of being your mother.  I hope I can set a good example for you.  You are a precious gift from God.  Now let's party!

Sarah At Eleven Months

Stats 
Guessing...
Weight: 22lbs
Height: 30"
Head circumference: 17.75"

Sleeping
Sarah had a really rough week of sleep while Robert was away at summer camp.  I could blame it on several things: teething two molars which caused a stuffy/runny nose and a cough, unusual routine while Robert was gone, missing her Daddy.  It was tough, and any time something like this happens I am definitely reminded to be thankful that this isn't the norm.  She started each day between 5:00-6:00am and took very short 30 minute naps.  However, since that week she's been back on track.  Unfortunately, long naps aren't her thing right now, and she takes two naps a day that are about 45 minutes long.  I had a friend suggest going down to one nap a day, but she really is genuinly tired when she goes down for that first nap.  It just doesn't last very long.  Thankfully, she still sleeps about 12 hours straight at night, so she gets about 13.5 hours of sleep a day.

We're working on her putting herself to sleep a bit more still.  I usually try to sing three songs while rocking her and then put her in the crib.  One night this month she played quietly and happily for an hour before conking out.  It was the cutest thing!  It's become a lot easier to transfer her from the car seat to the crib when we get home if she's fallen asleep in the car which is awesome.

Eating
Sarah still eats an 8 ounce bottle every four hours four times a day.  Some of her favorite foods this month were raspberries, scrambled eggs, broccoli, yogurt, peas, cheese, peanut butter, watermelon, strawberries, and dark meat chicken.  Pretty much the only two things we spoon feed her are yogurt and apple sauce.  She feeds herself everything else.  She's way better at this than I had ever imagined she would be at this age.  Obviously, we're many years away from her being a 100% independent eater, but she's doing great!

When she doesn't like something she's eating she spits it out and blows a raspberry.  It's cute for now.  Let's just hope she isn't doing it in three years!

Personality
Sarah's never lacked a personality.  She loves dancing, bobs up and down, and waves her arms around when she likes a song.  Her favorite word is uh-oh.  She uses it when she drops something, but she also repeats it over and over again until you get her what she wants.  When there's a big uh-oh she adds extra uh's like uh-uh-uh-oh.  Sarah loves being chased while crawling.  She crawls do her bedroom doorway, turns back to look at me, I declare, "I'm gonna get you!" and she takes off into the hallway.  Sarah is independent and doesn't want you to move her if she isn't finishing what she was working on.  She hates sitting still for diaper and outfit changes.  She loves playing peekaboo!

On June 11 Sarah was yelling Mama so I'd get her out of the car seat.  Robert came around and said, "Dada," and she said, "No!"  We didn't know she could say no until then.  She's also mastered the art of the head shake and does it furiously.

Sarah has really started enjoying playing with her dolls and stuffed animals.  She meticulously arranged her stuffed animals until they're just how she wants them, and she plays with Raggedy Ann and Andy in her window frame for about 30 minutes at a time.  She definitely has a story line that she is acting out.  She "talks" a lot and moves the dolls around a lot.  It's so stinking cute, and I am crossing my fingers that she becomes a Barbie fanatic like I was.

Health and Physical Ability
Since Sarah got another UTI in May she had to get a VCUG on June 9.  We went to the hospital so a radiologist could insert contrast dye through a catheter to monitor the reflux through an x-ray.  Sarah handled it like such a champ.  It went much better and faster than I had imagined.  On a scale of 0-5 her right ureter is a 2, and her left ureter is a 4.  Sarah's UTI's aren't caused by things like wiping wrong, using bubble bath, or dirty diapers.  Urine should stay in her bladder, but hers refluxes up into the ureters and into the kidneys.  She has an appointment with a pediatric urologist on July 19.  She's taking a prophylactic antibiotic every day until then to prevent another UTI.  Prayers are appreciated regarding this situation!

Sarah's new words this month are no, boom, red (pointed to red SUV and said red), bottle, and you.  Robert likes to get her to say boom when she falls down.  She says it, but it's in the most dainty voice ever.

Sarah walked with a push walker for the first time on June 11 and cruised next to the couch for the first time on the 12th.  She's really enjoying cruising now and does it along the couch, crib, tables, chairs, and anything else she can find.  She only ever walks while holding on to Uncle Jim's hands.  Every time Robert and I have tried it with her she just cries.  Guess he's going to have to be the one to teach her how to walk!

This was another big month for teeth.
June 9 - 8th tooth (lower lateral incisor)
June 11 - 9th tooth (first molar, lower right)
June 17 - 10th tooth (first molar, lower left)
Molars are no joke.  Sarah woke up multiple times writhing in pain.  It was so pitiful!  We made it almost 11 months before breaking down and using Orajel.  It works wonders!  Her poor gums her blistered and bloody looking from the molar.  Thankfully, the fact that she has so many teeth makes me more comfortable with feeding her table food, so that's good.

Superficial
Sarah is quite possibly the cutest sleeper in the history of mankind.  Whether she's sleeping on her side with he knees bent, sleeping on her stomach with her arms and legs tucked under her, or clinging onto you while you hold her this girl never looks anything but angelic while sleeping.

She has little curls going around the whole perimeter of her head.  The top of her head still has straight her, but I'm sure it'll get curly as it gets longer.

Highlights of the month
June 6 - Zoo with Tarah, James, and Asa - This was Asa's first time at the zoo.  We enjoyed watching a little talk about the elephant and watching her get fed.

June 11 - Day trip to KC - Robert had a training meeting for summer camp, and we got to have lunch with Bethany and Jason.

June 12-16 - Vacation Bible School - This wasn't the best week ever for Sarah as she was teething and VBS went way past her bedtime, but it went okay, and she got the smallest VBS shirt ever that is absolutely adorable.

June 14 - My first night away from Sarah - Robert and I went to St. Louis for the night to go to the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting.  Sarah stayed with my parents, and I had no anxiety about leaving her in such capable hands.  I know she had a great time with them.  Robert and I enjoyed going out to eat without little hands reaching out for everything, and I enjoyed sleeping in until 8:30.  I woke up seriously disoriented which is always a sign of a good night's sleep.

June 16 - Zoo with Emily and Waverly - They came over for lunch and play time after the zoo.  Fun!

June 19 - Robert's first Father's Day

June 20-25 - Robert at summer camp - Robert and the students couldn't have had a better time at summer camp.  Unfortunately, as I said earlier, Sarah suffered through teething and trouble sleeping this week, so I was pretty exhausted.  Thankfully, my mom spent a lot of time with us this week.  I don't know what I would have done without her!

June 25 - Day trip to Clinton - We met up with Serina and Mark for a trip to the park, lunch, and a belated birthday celebration for Robert.

July 4 - Sarah's first Independence Day

Dear Sarah,
Thank you for teaching me how to be a more forgiving person.  When I've let you down and can't read your mind, don't feed you fast enough, you have a leaky diaper, or I can't get you to sleep it doesn't take you long before you are smiling again, loving on me, and wanting to follow me around.  As you become older it might become easier to hold a grudge and more difficult to accept an apology or to humble yourself and apologize to someone else, but God wants you to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19).  I hope you always feel comfortable asking for my forgiveness, but even more than that, I pray that you know that God has already forgiven every sin that you will ever commit, and when you run to him and ask for forgiveness he will take you in with loving arms.