6-9 month activities

Baby activities! Wheeeee!

This is a really fun age for Ben. He very recently turned 8 months and it made me reflect on how much change you can truly see each month with infants. He is practically crawling at this point, and he loves to play - all of the time. I love it because I think he's pretty fun, but it can also be tough because sometimes mama needs to clean the kitchen or eat a snack and Ben doesn't really get that yet! So here is a list of some different activities - some of them are those really good hands-on play, and some are for the times when you can't be right in front of baby but they are still getting playtime.  

Hands-on playtime:

• Nature play! It is currently warm and balmy in Michigan, which is a breath of fresh air after many long months of barely any sunshine or heat. (Newborn baby + subzero temperatures + snow +harsh winds = Lots of time indoors!) I love taking Ben outside. Sometimes I just sit him up in the grass so he can grab the grass and sort of check it out for himself - just being outdoors calms him down if he's upset because it's a change in scenery. I will also carry him around our backyard so he can grab flowers and such. I also love taking him for walks around our downtown area, it's a small but busy little downtown area with coffee shops and some cute little stores! I love walking him by all of the homes because they are colorful, unique and give me garden inspiration. For especially hot days, I break out our little $7 plastic kiddie pool. I sit him up in there (for babies that can't sit up yet, just sit them in your lap and stick their feet in so they can kick the water and splash!) with some toys and splash a little water on him to make him laugh! He loves it and it's always fun for me too. 
• Highchair games. Ben's highchair is awesome - it's just a simple one from IKEA, but it cleans up easily and he loves sitting in there while I clean the kitchen or get food ready because it's a comfy spot where he feels like he's part of the action! I chit chat with him and play with him. One of our favorite games is highchair peekaboo, which is where he will sit in his highchair and I will go under the high chair to where he can't see me and jump out and surprise him! I always think it's so cute because I can see his little head trying to look for me down on the floor, yet it always surprises him when I pop up! I also think him trying different foods in his highchair is always fun, breakfast is our little mealtime where I feed him his breakfast and I eat mine right next to him. 
• Shopping fun! I almost always enjoy shopping with Ben - he loves to see all of the stuff and the lights and people, and we usually have a pretty good time. I generally just talk to him or bring a little toy for him to play with, but depending on the store, you may find some things for your little one to play with or spot right in the store! I was playing the shopping cart like a drum with two short pieces of PVC pipe at Lowe's (I don't find hardware stores quite as intriguing as my amazing fiancé, so I like to have fun with Ben) and then giving Ben the pieces to try it himself! He loves to mimic. I also like to push the cart around in a circle if there's room in the store, and make it fun for him. 
• Floor toys and fun. Ben loves the floor. I always spread out a bunch of toys and books for him to play with, and I will just have him pick up different ones and chit chat with him!
• Reading time! I think anywhere from 4 to 7 months, babies start to figure out what you're doing when you're reading them a book. Ben loves when I read to him - he will look at the page, then glance at me and smile! I think reading to babies and kids is really important, so I try to make a habit of it.
• Walking practice - Ben loves when I "walk" him around the house! He will kick his feet and stumble over his toes as I hold his hands and bend over to help him walk around. It's really cute to see his little feet bop around the floor quickly.
• Tickles! Ben has been ticklish ever since he was a wee little baby. He loves belly kisses and being tickled! It always makes him laugh and I think it's pretty stinking cute!

"Mama Needs to Clean or Eat" Playtime

• If your baby can sit up, set them on a playmat or clean carpet and disperse some various toys around them - Ever since Ben was able to start sitting up on his own, I do this often because he loves sitting up! Our living room is connected to the kitchen, so I just have him chill on the soft carpet in the living room and he will reach for toys and shake them around while I clean. 
• Get yourself a bouncy play chair. You can find variations of these everywhere, and our Ben LOVES to bounce, but my arms are not strong enough to bounce him up and down a hundred times. He just bops around in there and it gives him a chance to reach and get some energy out while he's a'bouncing!
• A walk can be nice for you, too. If we spend the morning cooped up in the house, taking a walk is nice for both you and baby. It's relaxing and Ben stays occupied checking out all of the cool sights or napping, and I get a breath of fresh air and sunshine. (Also coffee is almost always a necessary stop when we go out and about. Mama needs her caffeine, honey!)
• Tummy time! Ben is almost getting to crawling and he's pretty mobile, so tummy time is important for him to get to the crawling stage. He gets around pretty well, so I have to keep an eye on him, but going around and checking out the furniture and playing with our rug or toys on the floor can be entertaining for him. 

I hope you loved this! I know that I used to love watching videos or reading blogs when I was pregnant or when Ben was a newborn to get some ideas and inspiration for fun activities I can do with him when he gets a little older. Just have fun with it! If you have any creative ideas for baby interaction, comment below!

Megan

mama media

Hey all! I told you I wouldn't take long - I feel like I bob quickly between writing and painting, and when I am focused on one category, it's hard for me to want to pay attention to the other. The worst is when I can't come up with any fresh ideas for either - helloooo, creative rut! Hello, frustration and rage! Haha, just kidding.. sort of. Creative ruts are so frustrating!
I wanted to post a little article about my favorite "mama media" - podcasts, TV shows, books, and blogs! I figured I would just go category by category and give a little description. (Not all of these are totally motherhood-based - they may just be feel-good things that make me feel refreshed and ready to be my best self.) I hope some of them do the same for you! I love listening to podcasts while I'm cleaning or driving for inspiration and community, I love reading books and blog posts when I have time, and the TV shows I'm posting are great for watching during those loooong newborn nights of waking up every half an hour to feed your little cutie.

Podcasts:

- Coffee + Crumbs

Visit their podcast page here! I have written about this podcast before, and I will reference some of their works later on in this article as well, because I draw a lot of inspiration from their mission and community. They have so many amazing guest speakers and writers on their staff. When I discovered this podcast, I was hooked and began exploring more podcasts! Now, I am a podcast LOVAH.
-The Mom Hour

Find them here! I have been loving The Mom Hour - these ladies are totally real and always speak about relatable and funny topics. It's similar to C+C but more of just a relaxed conversation between two friends!

-Oprah's SuperSoul Conversations

Oprah is love. Oprah is life. I love listening to her conversations with amazing people - some of my favorites have been Dr. Phil, Maya Angelou, and Gretchen Rubin! Give her a listen. You will leave feeling inspired!

-Elise Gets Crafty

I love this podcast! It's all about creative small business - she has so many awesome guests on the show that do anything from blogging to owning small stores to creating metal pieces and beyond! It's great for ideas for expanding your own creative mindset and tips for expanding business! Love! Find it right here!

TV Shows:

The Let Down

I found this show on Netflix - it's an Australian show, and it's about the struggles of a new mom who is finding her mom tribe and dealing with family issues, her old friends not having children yet, and just the hilariously frustrating trials and tribulations of dealing with a newborn. It is a must-watch for those late, newborn nights filled with nursing and tired eyes. 

Big Little Lies

You can watch this show on HBO, or through Amazon Prime if you have an HBO subscription. YOU GUYS. This show had me hooked from Episode 1! So good - it shows the secret difficulties and lies woven throughout a close-knit group of wealthy mom friends living in Monterey. With the combination of the beautiful setting - made me reminisce over my trip to Big Sur with Chris last year - the amazing actresses, engaging soundtrack and mysterious storyline, you will love this one!

Queer Eye

Sigh. I love this show. It's not mom-related, but if you're looking for something uplifting and amazing and you have a Netflix account, give this a try. SO GOOD. Makes me want to polish up my life!

Also, Fixer Upper. We don't have HGTV so I watched a ton of it at our hotel while Chris was sleeping when we stayed in Morro Bay, and man... that show is good. Also, Joanna Gaines is amazing.

Books:

The Magic of Motherhood

This book is beautiful! It's written by the ladies of Coffee + Crumbs, and it's just beautiful. It made me cry and laugh, and remember to value the time with Ben as much as I can. You can find it at Target like I did, or here on Amazon!

-Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Richard Carlson

This book is so good! I'm not posting a photo because they have a bajillion different editions of this book and I think many of them could be helpful and useful. (Think Chicken Soup for the Soul/Teen/Mother/Father/Couch Potato/Hoarder/etc.) 

-Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines

Ever since we moved into our home, I've been cooking almost every night now. I love cooking meals and trying new recipes, but I tend to get stuck in a rut with what I make - I make a lot of sausage pasta, tacos, chicken, and baked asparagus. (I seriously bake asparagus at least twice a week with olive oil and sea salt. It's my favorite but Chris definitely wishes I switched up the veggies!) I had been eyeing this cookbook and finally decided to get it because I felt like I needed a real cookbook to come up with some simple staples that were high quality and nutritious - so far, I'm loving this! I might actually do a full week with their recipes and write some sort of review post just to see how I do. I'm so excited to use some of Joanna's recipes! 

Blogs:

The Barefoot Blonde by Amber Fillerup

Okay... so Amber Fillerup is one of those magical people that you see photos of her and her kids and just think, "Life like that CANNOT exist. Why does she look like a worldly beautiful Barbie combined with the essence of an A+ Mother and I feel like I'm barely a B mom who looks like a stain? I'm always covered in stains - poo, a little baby food, plus I'm not the neatest eater myself!" Or maybe that's just me? #whoknows That being said, I wouldn't delve too deep into her photos - they are beautiful, but keep in mind that no one is perfect. I do like her posts though - she has a few contributors and guest writers and there's everything from traveling with kids tips, nighttime rituals, beauty and hair tips and tricks, and playlist inspiration! She has a fun website. Check it out at www.barefootblonde.com!

Coffee + Crumbs

Okay... So... yeah. I love Coffee + Crumbs! This blog post has been the trifecta - the podcast, book and blog! I just love their content - it's real. It's not glossed over or perfect, it's just really beautiful writing that is true and genuine about the real struggles and joys of being a mom. I would recommend reading some of their articles to any new mama! (Or seasoned mama! Or someone who loves a mom! Or WHOEVER!)

That's all, folks! That is my personal recommendations for some great mom-related media I love. I hope you guys find some of these things to be useful and helpful in your life and give you some entertainment and enjoyment. 

Megan

updates & bullet points?!

You guys! I seriously have not written on this bad boy in probably around a month. How embarrassing. (I am guessing no one has noticed but if you have, good on you! Thank you for caring and reading!) We've been so busy fully settling in this new-ish area, going on a little weekend trip, I was spending a lot of my spare time outside of taking care of Ben and the house painting, planning our trip to California and going to California, which was wonderful and much needed. I feel like I could go into depth on many of these topics, and I will most likely be making a separate post about our first real trip and plane ride with Ben - I have no tips except for the obvious ones because we tried everything and our flight home was a literal disaster. I have no words. Actually, I have a lot  of words, but I will probably use them later in a travel post.
I just figured I would write some little bullet points to give you general facts/tips/updates/whatever that I have picked up in the last month or so! Just to say hello again and let y'all know that it won't take as long for me to post again this time!

• Ben has been NOT napping at home. Any other mamas experience this? He napped for about 40 minutes all day today, then for a little while after Chris got home when we were driving. I just feel like he's not getting enough rest during the day. I do all the normal things - darken the room, give him a bottle, turn on the fan, play lullabies, snuggle... nothing. If anything, he just gets more mad at me! Even though I know he's tired, naps ain't happening. #help #sendmecoffee #andalsopatience 
• At the same time, he has been SO smiley and playful. I feel like he's always peeking at me, waiting to make some weird noise and then he cracks up. I feel like he and I are best buds, always together and always laughing at each other being silly, which I love.
• Chris and I really miss California already. There are many wonderful things about Michigan, but we both feel like our hearts belong there right now. We are hoping to look at moving out to Chris' family's area, in Santa Barbara County, in mid autumn of this year.
• Eating healthier is becoming more of a priority for me. One of our loved ones is having some serious health issues, and in encouraging them to eat a better, more plant-filled diet, I want to begin doing the same thing for myself. I am no pro!
• Hair tips?? I need some?? I have thin hair and Ben has seriously pulled out so many strands, not to mention the color I got last late fall officially looks strange when combined with the new growth. Helloooo, brown/orange/damaged blonde ombre THING! We are trying to save for moving now and I always have a hard time justifying spending over 100 on my hair, even though I know it will make me feel better and that's probably what the cost will be. Humph.
• All of the horrible news from our US-Mexico border has really been making me feel both terrible for those poor children and families who are separated, and also grateful that I get to be near Ben all day. I can't imagine their pain, and it helps me put my struggles in perspective. I don't care what side of the political spectrum you stand on, separating children from their family is cruelty at its finest. 
• I hope you are all having a wonderful early summer! For you mamas with babies in preschool or normal school, I hope that you are having a great summer hanging with your babes and that it's been wonderful, not stressful! Enjoy the sunshine, mamas! You are all doing AMAZING.

I will be posting a few posts in the next couple of days - my traveling with baby tips and stories, my favorite mom media (books, podcasts, and blogs!) and why having mom friends feels amazing. 

Megan