Adventures in Tight Spaces

I should have posted this forever ago, but time got away from me. Here is a look at Sloan's little spot in our tiny NYC 1 BR apartment. There is a small space between our bathroom and bedroom, underneath the stairs to the roof...it is all Sloan's!

The Sloan banner was a decoration at my NY shower, and it matched the poster so well I asked for the extra fabric. My mom was able to make a bedskirt, changer cover and skirt to pull it all together!

Peekaboo!

Just Because

I ordered the cutest little outfit from Gap, but unfortunately it fits her now so I don't think she'll be able to wear it this summer. I kept it on her long enough to take a few photos though!

Hi world!

And finally, I couldn't resist including this one. This is her favorite hobby.

7 to 8 Months

Happy 8 months to this cute little face!

This is a big milestone for me because it also marks 6 months, adjusted.

A few fun facts about Sloan's development:

• We think she is almost 14 lbs, and is finally in her 6 month clothes though some of her footies are still 3m.
• She is so happy when she wakes up! Always has a big smile for us when we go to her crib. It makes getting up early pretty easy. 
• She is rolling around like a champ. I can no longer leave her lying on the floor by herself for a short amount of time - she'll roll off the mat and across the floor in no time! 
• Sitting up really well for long amounts of time. Can even lift herself to a sitting position from about a 45 degree angle. Still loves to be stood up too, but she's been doing that since around 4 months or so. (Her legs are super strong!)
• Reaching and playing with both hands. She loves her Sophie and the brightly colored set of rings.  Anything she touches goes straight to her mouth.  
• She seems to know her name and will look up when you call her (when she wants to!)
• Starting to make B sounds
• She is still mostly on breast milk, but usually has at least one formula bottle a day. Five, 5 oz bottles a day. 
• I'm still pumping a fair amount (morning, night, twice/day at work), and have reached my initial long term goal of 6 months, adjusted. It has really been a challenge to keep at it, especially since we are 'on the go' so much. I don't know how much longer I'll keep at it, but it really has been such a roller coaster and I'm proud of how long I've managed. 
• We are working to perfect the art of eating...so far she's had rice cereal, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, carrots, butternut squash, peas and mangos. Hated the apples and carrots. Hated. She likes to eat, then suck her thumb to get it down. 

Now, two quick albums to show how much she is growing:

This one has her laying on a sheep for a point of reference.

Big Weekend

We had a jam packed couple of days this past weekend. Keep in mind this was all during Barry's first Wrestlemania - he had work events Thurs-Sun and somehow managed to be out and about with us most of the weekend.

Our first big event was Sloan's first swim class at the local Y.  She is by far the smallest one in the class (but not the youngest), but seemed to enjoy it as much - if not more - than most of the kids. She wasn't an expert splasher, but she was really great at going with the flow. 'Soaking it all in', if you will.

"All right, Sloan. This is what you're going to do..."

learning how to kick

Success! 

After a quick lunch of milk and delicious rice cereal (during which, she reached for her own spoon!), it was time for G-Day! She was absolutely exhausted from class, but I was able to snap a few pictures before she conked out.

posting this picture so people know I'm trying with the headbands...I really am!

Uga! 

On Sunday we wrapped up the weekend with a trip to the West Village. It is finally sort of warm in New York this weekend, so we took another trip to the play ground. This visit was even more successful than the first!

Finally, if you didn't see the best video of the weekend got its own post. Seriously, I can't watch it enough!

America's Funniest Home Videos

This is too funny and too cute to not get its own post. Sloan and I went to visit my friend Cecilia who has a little dog named Sophie. This was Sloan's first real experience up close and personal to a dog...what comes next is pretty awesome. I cannot stop watching!

Moving About

This post is from the archives, but I wanted to share some recent cuteness. Sloan has really started to come into her own the last couple of months, and is showing lots of personality. She is quite the busy body; always on the move and loves to be active. I'm sure all babies show similar tendencies around this age, but nothing makes her happier than just looking at new things!

One of her favorite new things is her jumper. We picked it up a few weeks ago, and as soon as we started putting it together Sloan knew it was for her. She could not stop staring at it! She was not disappointed when we finally put her in it either...

Thanks for my new toy, Mom & Dad! 

Her feet did not touch then, but they do now!

One last smile for good measure

She is also rolling around like a rock star. Just in the last two weeks, she has become a champion roller. You used to be able to leave her on her play mat, and get a few things done. That is no longer the case! If you plop her on the mat now, she will roll over twice and be across the floor in 15 seconds flat. No idea how she does it...

Finally, a few pictures from her first park adventure. My NICU friends Sam (daughter. Oli) and Suzette (daughter, Lucia) and I went to Union Square play ground a few weeks ago. All three girls took turns on the swings, and Sloan absolutely loved it! 

Easter

Just a few pictures from Sloan's first Easter.

All dressed and ready to go!
She's become a really good sitter lately. 

Hanging out with Dad before the service starts

Rings to the rescue

Not everyone can say they had an Oscar winner read during their Easter service.

Her eyes are a mix of colors - some blue remains, but you can see green and brown depending on where and how you look at them. 

A few more for good measure -