Luca at 9 Months

Bad me... I'm writing Luca's update 2 days late this time. I know it's no big deal, but OCD me MUST do it on the 12th and now that I'm not I feel like a failure! But the truth is, life has been crazy and I just haven't had a moment to stop and write lately. I'm lucky I got his pictures taken on the actual day, but I'm almost regretting that decision, because it was the hottest, muggiest day ever and we both got bit by mosquitos... I'm already planning on doing his 10 month photos indoors unless it so happens to be a perfect 70 degree day, but were talking August soooo probably not.

So, Luca is now 9 months old! He's as mobile as ever and can crawl across the house in the blink of an eye. Hence, I'm writing this while he's taking a nap because when he's awake I can forget about accomplishing ANYTHING! John has actually come home from work a couple times and been like "Wow, you vaccumed!" It's sad that is an accomplishment at this point in my life... But for real, if I can vaccum, or cook a decent dinner I feel on top of the world! Because trying to get anything done with a crawling baby, who eats everything, and loves electrical sockets, and thinks climbing our hardwood stairs is the coolest thing since sliced bread, is literally impossible! So props to all you moms who have 10 kids and manage to clean, cook, and keep up with the laundry... You're my hero.

Unlike last month, where I felt like I was writing in Luca's baby calendar every day because he was doing something new, this month was pretty low key. Basically everything he learned how to do last month he just got better and quicker at this month. He can stand for a few seconds on his own now and took 1 step a couple weeks ago, but I'm not counting that as walking... that was just random luck on his part I think.

His eating schedule changed a lot this month. He is only nursing 3 times a day (and he's actually doing better with it! For a couple weeks there I thought we might be done already, but I think that just had something to do with teething.) He is now eating breakfast, lunch and dinner. John and I try to include him at dinner time now. We put him in his high chair and give him some puffs or a taste of whatever were eating. It's so much fun being able to eat together as a family! Luca started eating meats this month. Only chicken and turkey blended up... nastiest stuff ever, but he likes it. Were also still working on drinking juice and water. For some reason he just hates it and will only drink milk! Everyday I try putting the bottle in his mouth with the juice and once he gets one drop in his mouth he flings his head to the side and wants nothing to do with it... His favorite foods are puffs, and puffs, and umm, puffs. Those things, I swear he could sit in his high chair all day and never stop eating them. He does not like, well juice and water and real bananas... Strangest thing! He loves the gerber bananas, but I've tried multiple times giving him pieces of real banana... nope!

He still only has 2 teeth... I thought for sure his top 2 were coming in for a few days there, but I was el wrongo. This month, Luca also started waking up with the sun... It was June. Longest days of the year, meant I'm waking up at 5-5:30 in the morning. Not cool. Separation anxiety is still a big issue for us. It started around 4/5 months and has not gotten better! This kid does not like being away from his mommy unless he's with daddy or grandma. It's bad! Just yesterday he finally stayed in the nursery at the ice rink so I could work, for an entire hour! (but I'm not counting that for his 9 month update, because that was after the 12th ;) ) So I can see the light, but man it has been a rough road! *A special thank you to all the nursery workers who have had to listen to him cry for hours!

I think that about covers Luca's 9th month. As much as I jokingly complain about him being mobile and my life being over, I still absolutely love this stage. Seeing his personality come through more and more each day is so much fun! He is such an inquisitive baby, always analyzing everything, but at the same time he's a complete daredevil (that's John's fault, definitely not mine). This month I also started noticing how loving he is. He already gives me hugs and started giving kisses. And even though he is becoming more independent, he still has moments where he crawls up my leg and cuddles right into me. He's so tender and loving about it and when he does that I cannot help but feel like I'm in heaven. He is my heaven.

 

Our Baby Free, Used Furniture, Target Accessorized Bedroom

Well, it's official. The house has been baby proofed. We're down to the bare essentials. Couch, coffee table, end table, TV, TV stand, kitchen table, oh and a book shelf that only has books on the top shelf because, well you know... It is attractive, let me tell you. At least I get to keep my cute rug, because, hardwood floors... not the best place for a baby to learn to crawl! I waited as long as I possibly could to get rid of my vases, and flowers, and pictures, and trays, and every other home accessory that made its way into my cart while shopping at Target...

"John, I'm just running to Target quick to get diapers" #oops

I went to school for interior design. So needless to say having my house look like a barren wasteland covered in baby toys and dog hair was literally killing me.

One room. I needed one room amidst the baby mania.

Hello bedroom makeover.

Flowers, pictures, frames, pillows, clocks, vases, basically every accessory I couldn't have out anymore made its way into my bedroom.

This room is by no means magazine material. Every piece of furniture is used, including our bed frame. (Thanks mom and dad!) But houses are expensive, and the deal was if I wanted a nice house I would have to go without buying nice furniture for awhile. Of course I took the deal, but every so often John gets to hear me whine about that cute couch I want from Ikea or the fact that we don't even have matching nightstands. But I get over it pretty quickly and just remind myself that I'm blessed. I have a roof over my head and that's what matters.

So here is designer me using things I already have to try to make my bedroom the one place in my home that is not completely centered around my kid...

Below I will explain how and/or where I acquired each accessory and piece of furniture. You can read if you want, or if you don't care you can just look at the pictures.

Bed frame: My parent's attic
Side table: My parent's house, but I believe it's originally from an antique shop. (Can you sense a theme already. Thanks mommy ;)
Bedding: Not used and from Pottery Barn. But, only because I worked there and got a 40% employee discount. That throw is my absolute favorite! I love the texture of it and it's super warm! I was so proud when I found this in the back of the basement at Pottery Barn. Originally $130!! It was on sale plus I got my discount... So I got it for 30 bucks! And now Elsie has taken a liking to it and we lay it on the floor for her to sleep on every night... #spoiled

Lamp: Goodwill
Lampshade: Target
And of course I have to wake up every morning to my precious 3 week old baby Luca <3

Frames: When we lived in our last apartment I wanted to do a wedding picture wall, but then I got pregnant and lazy and never finished it. So I had a bunch of these frames in a box in our basement. So hello frames for my bare bedroom wall! The far left and right are our wedding vows that John and I hand wrote on cardstock. So simple to do and now something I will cherish forever! I filled the other frames with wedding pictures, our wedding invitation, and of course a picture with Luca at the hospital!
Clock: Found it in the basement. A random Target purchase.
"G": Was on the end table in our family room... Target 
Flowers: Originally in the family room... Target
Vase: Sister's wedding
Nightstand: Made by my talented husband when he was in high school. I forgot to get a good picture of it, but it's what the flowers are standing on!

This. Chair. *insert heart eyes emoji* From my grandma. It's a Scandinavian design and is something my inner designer has been eyeing for years! She no longer has room for it, and was kind enough to let me have it. Thank you grandma!! I'm in love. It has been sitting in my empty living room, because I figured that's where I would eventually use it. But, light bulb moment! Why leave it in a room that I'm not using when it just so happens to go perfectly in my bedroom!? And now I can stare at it everyday.
Pillow: From Luca's room... oops. Sorry kid, but you won't remember that your rocking chair no longer has a pillow on it. Originally a Target purchase.

Dresser: Originally garage sale. Then used in my childhood bedroom. It was white. Then I painted the nobs black...? (That was also when I painted my bedroom walls orange... I had a brave and kind mother!) When we moved to this house John so kindly refinished it and we bought new knobs. He's a keeper.
Picture: From my grandma's basement.
Vase and flowers: From my sister's wedding reception
Laundry Basket: Target (Can you guess my favorite store yet?)

Another view of my dresser.

So there's the tour!
*John also has a dresser that was his childhood dresser which he refinished to look like mine... But the top of it is usually covered with random stuff that comes from I don't know where. And no matter how many times I move all this "stuff" it always has a way of coming back!

In the end, (if you're still reading), I am very proud of my used furniture, random Target accessory filled bedroom. This is now my safe haven. The place I go when the rest of the house is covered in baby everything.

So, thank you family members and Target for my beautiful bedroom ;)