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Zoey is officially 7 months old!

I realized that after her birth announcement, I have not updated you guys on how she is doing. Fair warning, this is going to be a long post!

Personality

Zoey is such a sweetheart and has been from day one. She rarely cries unless she is hungry or has been put down. Her dream in life is to never be put down, but to be touching someone at all times. One of our nurses when she was born called her Love Bug exclusively throughout our six day stay and it seems to have come true!

Zoey is very curious about what is going on around her and has a little trouble sleeping if there is too much to look at. She wants to touch everything and her favorite toys are things that are not really toys, but rather what you are holding (cups, pens, tags, mail, pizza, etc.). She rarely blinks since she is always looking around and is very deliberate in what she reaches for. Rob and I love watching her think through what she is going to reach out and touch before she actually does!

Giggles are rare, but guaranteed if you kiss her belly. Zoey also loves being down to a diaper! This has to stem from the hot summer months when she rarely had on more than just a diaper and swaddle. Now, she starts chatting and playing whenever we change her clothes.

Daycare

Rob and I are so fortunate to have found a daycare that Zoey loves. The women who run the place, and those in Zoey’s room, are knowledgeable, kind, happy, and so willing to work with Zoey on all her developmental needs. Since Rob and I are teaching at the same school this year, we drop Zoey off when the doors open at daycare at 6:30. Zoey doesn’t cry when we drop her off and I think that is a true testament to what a wonderful job they are doing and how happy she is there. We pick her up around 4-4:30 and are always greeted with a giant smile. The best part of my day is a smiley, happy baby after working with moody teenagers for 9 hours.

Formula

I was very fortunate that breastfeeding seemed to come naturally and was able to breastfeed for the 4 months of my maternity leave. Thank you teaching and a summer baby! Our struggles involved latching and marathon eating sessions (an hour average) every time she ate.

When I was preparing to go back to work, I knew pumping at work was not going to be a reality for me and I went on the hunt for formula. I was shocked to learn that many formulas have corn syrup as their first ingredient. Knowing her dad’s sweet tooth, I did not want to go down that path this early. It bodes well for Rob that the formula we buy at Safeway is directly across from the cookies. Something for Zoey, something for Rob.

Plum Organics® Grow Well® Infant Formula has no added corn syrup solids. Their carbohydrate source is from cow’s milk lactose only and lactose is the most abundant carbohydrate found in breast milk. Their milk comes from cows that are not treated with the hormone rBST.* The formula also contains DHA and ARA, which is ideal for Zoey’s brain and eye development.

Another huge perk of Plum Organics Grow Well Infant Formula is that it’s organic and non-GMO. While I know eating organic everything is not financially realistic for Rob and I, milk and chicken are two priorities for me when it comes to Zoey’s nutrition. My mom switched to organic milk when my youngest sister and I were about 15 and 11. As a result, Margot and I are about 4 inches taller than our two older sisters. She and I are close to 6’ with our older sisters being 5’8’’. While organic milk may not be the only factor here, it must have had a little part in it.

While I know Zoey is going to be tall regardless (Rob is 6’5’’), I want to give her the best possible start to reach that towering height.

You can learn more about Plum Organics at their website. Also, if you sign into your Safeway or Albertson’s account (or create one!), you can receive a $5 off coupon. Just click the image to head to the coupon redemption website!

Food

Our girl is champion eater! A little before her 6 month mark, we started experimenting with purees and Zoey has quickly learned how delicious all kinds of foods are. She typically eats a breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a high chair and is learning how to hold her spoon and make it into her mouth. Rob and I crack up watching her smack her hand on the table when she has, or wants, more to eat. She gets so excited and loves everything she has tried. She makes a face with pears and Greek yogurt, but will eat it anyway. We also gave her a piece of spaghetti to play with, not to eat, and she was entertained for about half an hour. Talk about the best toy ever!

Usually, I make Zoey’s food, puree it with a hand blender and then freeze it in ice cube trays. It works wonderfully, but I haven’t figured out how to take those frozen cubes with us when we are out and about. The meal prep for both her day and mine is legit though.

Plum Organics also makes mealtime products, which Zoey loves! We brought a few pouches to the boys basketball game last Friday and to the zoo. They were the perfect on the go option from the nation’s #1 organic baby food brand.

My Adjustments

Being a working mom is tough! I have so much respect for everyone who does this with more than one child (Kate, I’m looking at you). I’ve talked with a lot of my working mom friends who have older children and they all have acknowledged the difficulty and given me some wisdom into how to make things a little easier mentally and emotionally. Whatever time I get with Zoey – a few hours after school, weekends, and vacations – I try to make sure I am 100% engaged.

Physically, things are going well. I was actually below my pre-pregnancy weight a few weeks after having Zoey simply because I stopped lifting around 7 months pregnant, so I lost a lot of muscle weight. I never really stopped moving – walking and running – during pregnancy and through those initial postpartum weeks. Now, I am trying to workout a minimum of three days a week to build my strength and endurance back up. So far so good!

*No significant difference has been shown between milk derived from rBST-treated and non-rBST treated cows.

RQ: What is your favorite formula or on-the-go food for babies?

Brooke Selb

I’m Brooke Selb, a Personal Trainer and Health Coach specializing in helping busy moms and moms to be to easily juggle mom life with family friendly recipes, and easy exercise routines to help you achieve your fitness goals that fit in with your already busy life with sound nutritional advice.