I got a bit bored with the #photoadayapril prompts, but I’m still going to take (at least) a photo a day. Some with the iPhone. Some with the Rebel. Mostly of Sam. Enjoy.

Meatballs are easy to make and easy to freeze (after preparing and before baking). We especially like this version with ground turkey, ginger, garlic, and cilantro. Serve over a bed of fried rice or quinoa with a drizzle of lime sesame sauce for a simple weeknight meal.

Dear Sammy,

Say it ain’t so! You are seven months old. For the past two weeks I’ve been answering the “how old is he?” question with “six months.” And then Daddy corrected me and said “almost seven months.” That means you’re closer to one year old than one week old. How did that happen?

I do believe that you’re beginning to look less like a baby and more like a little boy. Thankfully, you still have leg rolls and elbow dimples, but your face is a bit leaner and, boy, are you strong! You are now sitting completely unassisted and have just started to assume the crawling position. Though you’re quite content just rolling and squirming to get to where you want to go. You still love to bounce in your jumperoo and in our laps and stand (with our help) at your music table. I have a feeling that you’ll be mobile sooner rather than later!

At your six-month doctor’s visit, you weighed 15 pounds 10 ounces and measured almost 26 inches long. But I’m sure you’ve reached the 16-pound mark by now. You are wearing size 3 diapers and mostly 6-9 month clothing, though there are still a few 3-6 month onesies that fit your slender frame. But that belly! I think it gets a bit bigger every day.

You cut your first two teeth this month! They arrived totally unexpectedly, and they’re still just barely visible. This milestone was the first that brought tears to your Mommy’s eyes. I will miss your gummy grin, but your wide smile is sweeter than ever. It’s your big blue eyes, though, that stop strangers. They are still lighter than Daddy’s but darker than Mommy’s. They are uniquely yours, and they are so captivating.

You continue to look a lot like your Daddy, and you’ve adopted some of his mannerisms, too. You tap your right foot against the tray of your highchair between bites of food, and Daddy is constantly bouncing his legs at the dinner table. You scratch your head when you’re sleepy, and Daddy scratches his when he’s stressed. You let out long groans while lulling yourself to sleep, and, well, I’ve heard Daddy do the same. And there’s still such expression in those bushy baby eyebrows of yours.

You’re curious and adventurous inside the comfort of our home or in the safety of my arms. While you’re quiet and observant in large groups. You tend to stretch your arms out and slightly behind you in new environments until you feel confident enough to reach forward and explore your surroundings. Also, we think you might be a lefty like your Opa. You reach for toys and the spoon with your left hand and generally seem to be more coordinated with that side.

Another major milestone this month? You are sleeping through the night! It took just a few nights of letting you whimper through the 4am feeding that you had grown accustomed to, but now you sleep from about 7:30pm until 7:30am and wake up a well rested and happy boy! Your favorite sleep position is on your belly with your arms curled under your chest, your knees bent, and your booty in the air. And when you wake up, you immediately pop up and peer over the crib bumper, waiting for us to come in and scoop you up.

You’re taking 2-3 naps per day, each 1-2 hours long. And you have certainly outgrown the ability to sleep through anything. You have trouble falling asleep in my arms and typically wake up if I try to transition you from the car to your crib. But that doesn’t stop us from running errands and taking road trips. Fortunately, you’re able to adjust and slip back into your routine when we return home.

Perhaps the reason why you’re now able to sleep through the night is because your belly is so full at bedtime! You are now eating three solid meals per day (and nursing five times). Breakfast consists of waffles/muffins/Cheerios, fruit, and sometimes yogurt. Lunch is more fruit, a vegetable, and sometimes meat. And dinner is a mini version of whatever Mommy and Daddy eat. Turkey burgers with avocado and sweet potato fries, chickpea patties and yogurt dip, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, cheese ravioli in tomato sauce. It’s been so incredible to watch you learn to eat. You’ve nearly mastered the pincer grasp, and you’ve become quite adept at chewing and swallowing. Daddy and I are so thankful that you enjoy food as much as we do. We hope that you’re always an adventurous eater!

In addition to mealtime and bath time (which you still love), I think you also look forward to our evening walks. Daddy straps you into the Bjorn, and you’re so content as we walk by Little League baseball games, across the bridge, past neighbors with dogs and strollers, under the shade of blossoming trees and birds soaring overhead. Your eyes are bright and your smile is wide.

You squeak and squeal in delight and have started to imitate our sounds. While playing with a new race track from Nana and Poppy, I made a “vroom” sound and you repeated it at least six times. And one night during dinner, you were fixated on “ga ga ga,” and so Daddy and I said “good good good.” And then, loud and clear, you said, “GOOD.” Obviously, we think you’re a genius.

Gosh, kid, I love you with my whole heart. I’m so proud to call you my son.

Love you today, tomorrow, and always,

Mommy

Sam and I departed on Friday morning for our first solo road trip. The sunshine glistened off the green landscape and warmed my hands as they rest on the steering wheel. Hot hazelnut coffee sat in the cup holder and Brandi Carlisle streamed from the radio. Occasionally I glanced in the rear view mirror to catch the reflection of my sweet boy as he slept soundly, pacifier dangling from his lips.

And, oh, am I glad that the drive east was a peaceful one because that nap was the only substantial one Sam had all weekend.

Instead of sleeping I taught him to bounce on the trampoline …

… and Uncle Andrew showed him how to pull blades of grass and whistle into them.

We visited family and friends and two of Sam’s favorite girls.

Sam had his first taste of Poppy’s pizza while sitting in a high chair that is older than Nana.

And we attended a bridal shower where Sam was passed from one lady to another. Lucky little man!

But let me tell you. Traveling alone with an almost seven-month-old is no joke. I ordered coffee with him balanced on my hip and used the rest stop bathroom while he stared up at me from his car seat. When he fussed, I reached into the backseat and fumbled to find his pacifier. Or hold his hand. It was up to me to unload the car and assemble the pack n play. When we hit rain, I neglected my own comfort and shielded him from the cold, wet drops instead. Rather than ordering chicken Marsala at the Italian restaurant, I got cheese ravioli so he could enjoy it, too. And by enjoy, I mean make a complete mess with the marinara sauce. When he woke in the middle of the night because we were in a strange place, I moved him into bed with me. Then we stayed up, whispering to each other, for almost an hour. And when we were so close to home and to Daddy, he insisted that we stop for lunch, and I obliged. Because he is my best little buddy.

Guess who cut two itty bitty teeth this week?

And they arrived completely unannounced. Nick spotted one first, and I didn’t believe him until I stuck my finger inside Sam’s mouth and, sure enough, felt the slightly sharp edge.

I was totally unprepared for this milestone and may have wiped away a few tears as we raised a glass in celebration of our big boy.

About an hour later, during dinner, Nick said, “I think I see a second one!” He was right. Two barely visible white edges along smooth pink gums. It was almost too much for this new momma.

But there was no pain. No sleepless nights. No need for Tylenol or cold teething rings. And for that I am thankful.

There were a few extra long snuggles today, though, which I will never, ever turn down.

So continues the ending quest to satisfy my sweet tooth with treats that don’t involve cups of sugar, sticks of butter, and scoops of ice cream. How about chewy granola bars with almonds, pecans, oats, sesame seeds, dried cherries, and dark chocolate chips?

Combine all of the above, then heat honey, coconut oil, salt, vanilla extract, almond extract, and a dash of cinnamon in a saucepan.

Pour the bubbling liquid over the nut mixture and coat thoroughly. Then press the granola into a square pan lined with parchment paper. Refrigerate for at least four hours …

… and voila! A delicious snack that doesn’t leave you feeling guilty. Go ahead. Go back for seconds.

1. Last weekend I visited with a group of girls that I haven’t seen since college. That’s almost eight years. See, I joined a sorority during my sophomore year, but by my senior year, I had distanced myself from the group. I could blame a dysfunctional relationship or a reluctance to conform. But I live life without regret, and I am pleased with the path I chose. (It led to my beautiful family, after all.) With that being said, I’m thankful to have reconnected with most of the girls via Facebook and love that we are, again, in such similar places. And so when my college roommate invited me to a gathering at her parents’ house, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity. Eight years later, we’ve replaced cans of Natty Light with glasses of wine. Black pants and heels with cardigans and flats. A crowded frat party dance floor with a quilt spread on the grass and full of Fisher-Price toys. It was such fun, and I certainly hope that eight more years don’t pass before I see these girls again.

2. Not fun, though? The drive from our house to hers along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. What should have taken 3 1/2 hours took 5 1/2 hours due to an accident that brought us to a complete stop for just over 90 minutes. We were out of our car with hundreds of others wondering when we would move again. But for every ounce of annoyance I felt that afternoon, I was doubly more thankful the next morning when I read about the fatal accident in the newspaper.

3. Following the reunion, we backtracked (but avoided the turnpike this time), and spent the night with Nick’s grandmother. She hadn’t seen Sammy since Christmas and was impressed by his size and strength and big, bright smile. (Of course, we couldn’t get him to flash that smile for the camera.)

4. Sammy has mastered sitting on his own and is now trying to lean forward into a crawling position. Sometimes he looks like a little orangutan with his long arms outstretched and his little legs tucked underneath.

5. Nick left for an overnight work trip early yesterday morning. As in he was out the door before I was out of bed. It was only the second night that Daddy has spent away from Sam since he was born, and the first night just the two of us — me and my Sammy boy. I’m used to holding down the fort during the day, but I tend to count down the minutes until Nick gets home at night. Because I/we miss him. And because I sometimes need a break — even if it’s just a 10-minute break. But last night I managed to make dinner with Sam on my hip. We ate together, and we went for a walk, and I gave him a bath. I put him in his PJs and read him a story and nursed him until he fell asleep in my arms. Oh, how I love my little buddy.

6. And, oh, how I loved my quiet evening. Just me, a beautiful book, and a mug brownie.

7. Have I mentioned that it was 85 degrees yesterday? Such a beautiful day called for a picnic in the park.

8. Rosy cheeks. Dimpled elbows. Leg rolls. I could seriously eat him up.

9. But I resisted and settled for a turkey sandwich instead.

Three months have passed since my last favorite baby products post, and we have a new list of must-haves to share.

First up — Sammy’s most significant development since three months old and possibly his current favorite activity — eating.

EAT

The space saver high chair from Fisher-Price is convenient if you have a small kitchen and dining room like we do. It has a five-point harness system to keep our squirmy guy safe, and it converts into a toddler booster seat to use later. The cover is removable and washable, and the tray stands up well to multiple cleanings per day. Because, well, kids are messy eaters.

Sam started purees at four months, and we found the soft spoons from Munchkin to be best for his small mouth and gums. And when we introduced the sippy cup at five months, the Nuby cups were easiest for him to hold.

We do like Bjorn bibs, but in the beginning, they were too wide and stiff for Sam to really move his arms and reach for food. So we bought a few easy wipe bibs from Target, and they’re great. Apparently they’re tasty, too.

Speaking of bibs … Green Sprouts waterproof bibs are the best we’ve found. They really are waterproof — a necessary feature if you have a drooler like we do.

Finally, a few weeks ago we introduced Sam to the Baby-Led Weaning approach, and we haven’t looked back since. But before we placed an apple slice and cucumber spear on his tray, I read the Baby-Led Weaning Guide, which introduces the concept and provides instruction, encouragement, and recipes. If you’re looking for more food suggestions, I also recommend the cookbook.

PLAY

As I said in Sammy’s six-month letter, his play has become more deliberate and interactive. He loves to bounce in his rainforest jumperoo, hit the keys on his musical table, and spin his top.

Before he was able to sit on his own, he spent playtime rolling around and reaching for the O ball or Sophie — still two of his favorite toys. Also ranking high on his list: the flip phone and the rings that hang from his car seat and stroller.

Oh, and the stroller? Yeah, we have three. One kid, three strollers. That’s how we roll. The Snap N Go, which I still use if Sam falls asleep in the car seat while we’re out running errands. The umbrella stroller, compact and lightweight and perfect for travel. And the BOB. Oh, how we love the BOB. It was certainly an investment, but Sam and I use it every day. It’s easy to push and to steer, and it’s even comfortable on trail runs. Sam approves!

SLEEP

Oh, sleep. We hit a major sleep regression pattern around four months. Sam was up at least four times every night — more often than when he was an itty bitty newborn. After about two weeks of getting up multiple times to re-insert the pacifier and nurse, I was ready to try “sleep training.” Enter Dr. Richard Ferber and his book, Solve Your Child’s Sleep Problems. It’s an interesting read even if you don’t agree with his approach. We ended up doing a modified version of his method, and within just one week, Sam was sleeping soundly from 7:30 pm until about 4:00 am. He’s even made it until sunrise on several occasions. Yes, he’s almost sleeping through the night. Woohoo!

We changed up a few other parts to Sam’s nighttime routine around four months. We still bathe him in the blue tub (though now he sits on the toddler side like a big boy), and the stretchies from The Children’s Place are still his/my favorite jammies.

But he now sleeps every night in the Halo SleepSack with the Conair Sound Machine. This sound machine is amazing! It plugs into the wall, so we run it all night (and during naps, too). Not only is it soothing, but we don’t have to tiptoe around the house for fear of waking the baby.

Another new and necessary addition? Breathable bumpers. Keeps arms and legs inside the crib, provides just enough cushion for our boy who moves a lot in his sleep, and gives this momma peace of mind.

Wonder what we’ll fall in love over the next three months? Something tells me the list will include baby gates and cabinet locks.

If you’re on Pinterest, then I suspect you’ve seen a version of this recipe. Bubble up enchiladas. Bubble up pizza. Bubble up chicken pot pie. The approach is the same, and so easy.

Combine and cook a filling of your choice, i.e. ground turkey with onions, black beans, corn, enchilada sauce, and tomato sauce. Then cut refrigerated biscuits into fourths and add them to the pot.

Spread the mixture into a greased casserole dish, and bake for 30 minutes. Top with shredded cheese, and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Garnish with green onions, and serve with a side of guacamole.

Simple and satisfying weeknight dinner!

Also? The texture is perfect for our big little eater (who always curls his toes while eating).