My sweet man is 11 months old! Here is how month 10 went for us.
This month he officially started crawling properly and fast at that! He also enjoys mimicking us and playing games like “shhh the baby is sleeping” where he lays his head down and pretends to sleep. He is still a HUGE fan of Ms Rachel and loves all her songs on repeat.
This month, this little learned to talk! He said mama first, then dada, and then bubba though its arguable that his first word was “yum” while eating boiled peanuts a month or two ago or so. He also loves to say “WOW!” Especially when he looks at Christmas decor-so fitting for our Christmas Eve baby. Speaking of Christmas, here is one of our Christmas photos for this year.
We celebrated his first Halloween and he was the joker, I was catwoman and his dad was batman.
He sprouted two teeth though he wont let us see long enough to grab a photo. I think he has an aversion to things poking and prodding around in his mouth due to the tongue tie and lip tie revisions early on.
He also learned how to point at objects. He likes to point at our outside basketball hoop. We got him his own little hoop for Christmas that we gave to him early so he could play with. He loves throwing the balls in the hoop! He also loves throwing the ball back and forth to us.
This man is growing so fast! He still is not sleeping well at times but I am hoping it will soon pass lol. He is worth every sleepless night though. I have planned his first birthday party to be early January and its going to be a Rubble and Crew/construction theme party. So bittersweet!
My baby is officially 10 months old and I have to tell you, the last month of his life (9 months) has been so magical with all the milestones that you can imagine. Its hard to realize that we no longer have a tiny little baby anymore.
Here are a few:
He learned to clap.
He learned to wave hi or bye
He got his first tooth
Started crawling about more-army crawling
Got to experience rainfall off the porch and he loved it
Said “YUM!” after eating boiled peanuts
Started playing games with us
Fave songs are Ms Rachel-Icky Sticky Bubble Gum, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Hop Little Bunny
Asks for food by smacking his lips or tongue
Waves at cars
Ate his first Tomahawk steak
Loves Walmart trips
His personality is just the best and we are having so much fun with him! He still is not fully sleeping through the night and we are tired but our hearts are full. We are gearing up for his first visit to Kentucky this November to meet the rest of his family and we are thrilled to spend Thanksgiving there and let him experience new faces.
Kaden is officially 3/4 of a year old! 9 months! The last month was so wild. It was almost as if when he turned 8 months, the milestones started rolling and I cant wait to share them with you.
Some of his milestones for 8 months old include:
He started crawling….. backwards!
Then he began slight army crawling forwards.
He loved to fake cough to get our attention and laughed when we did it back.
He started turning himself around while being held, to face outward and see the world.
He started mimicking his sign language back. Everything is “milk”. He also tried “more”.
He started copying things we did.
He learned to wave.
He learned to clap.
He started sticking out his tongue to be silly.
He loves cereal milk at night (he eats his dad’s leftover milk when he finished the cereal)
He has tolerated solids a lot more without gagging!
Discovered his love for balloons
Loves daily walks with mommy
We did not really go anywhere this month although we had a ton of beach days. We did go to the waterpark in Panama City Beach which was fun. But since his older siblings are back in school, we enjoyed being around here. He did go to the zoo, saw his sister’s beauty pageant, watched his brothers basketball games, and went to the chiropactor.
I am now planning his one year birthday and it pains me a little to know how fast the last 9 months have gone but I am sooooo proud of him. We love having our little Kaden.
Kaden is now 8 months old! Month 7 was a very fun month and I felt that he was on the verge of a ton of different milestones but not a whole lot happened as far as progress and thats ok!
Something that is new and super cute is that Kaden learned how to play Peek a Boo with his blanket at sleep time and its the cutest thing ever. We will hide under the blanket together and throw it off of our heads and yell “Peek a boo!”
This month he really started eating solids a lot better than he has before. I made a him a chicken puree and a beef puree that he absolutely loves. He is not too big on veggies and most fruits-he is a very meat, cheese, and potatoes kind of man. But he does love pear!
Right after he turned 7 months, we flew to NYC for the first time and he attended his first concert-BLACKPINK. We had a great trip as a family of 5 and got to see so many views. Kaden ate pancakes for the first time at the Golden Diner.
Also this month, Kaden made his first zoo visit at our local zoo. He seemed to really like it although it was super hot. His Mimi came to visit and we went to our first baseball game. That was pretty much it for this month!
My baby is officially 7 months old now and I cannot believe it. Here’s how month 6 went for us.
This month, Kaden found his voice by making a ton of sqealing sounds. He loves to be loud! No words or babbles much yet, but we know its to come. Still no teethies.
Another milestone is that Kaden can hold himself up somewhat while sitting. Sitting still isnt 100% dependent but we will get there. He is still not crawling, but I expected that as a baby who hates/hated tummy time. He does manage to go in circles around the floor a bit which is cute. I feel like the rocking stage is near because he will inch his little booty up and plant his face into the ground-not realizing he also has to push his arms up!
This month, we celebrated July 4th with our family and we also went to New York City for the first time. Kaden got to see the city lights, Statue of Liberty, tone of museums, and see the tops of the Rockafeller Center and Empire State Building. I think my personal favorite part about NYC with kids was the Sloomoo Institute which was a slime museum! We had so much fun and got to make slime to take home with us.
We also went on a carriage ride through central park and saw a BLACKPINK concert-his first concert ever. He did pretty well although it took him a moment of getting used to it all.
That is really all for month 6! It was a great month and I cannot believe we are over the 1/2 year hump. His little personality is beaming and getting brighter and brighter each day. We are so in love with his smile and everything about him!
Kaden is officially 6 months old! Here is how month 5 went for us! He is beginning to look more and more like his dad by the way and I am not sad about it!
We started off the last month by going to Tennessee to our yearly tradition-staying in the Smokey Mountains and enjoying the Wilderness at the Smokies waterpark resort as well as Soaky Mountain waterpark. We stayed in a fun treehouse cabin and the kid’s Mimi, my MIL, came to visit. It was still a bit cold for the end of May in TN for the water, but we had a great time. Kaden did great on the 8 hour car ride! We saw the Smokey Mountains and explored Gatlinburg for a day, going to the Skywalk, Anakeesta, doing an escape room at Breakout Games, and the Ripleys Aquarium
Speaking of trips, it was also Kaden’s first time out of the USA and on a plane as we ventured to the Bahamas. In the Bahamas we went on an excursion and saw the swimming pigs and enjoyed some white sand. We also had plenty of time at the pool. Little man is working on his tan already! It was also Kaden’s first time on a boat. He was not a fan of it to be honest but then again it was a speed boat and raining on us here and there.
For milestones, this month held plenty! We officially began solids towards the end of month 5 and discovered that he loves whipped bone marrow and pear. He does not like peaches for some reason-odd being that I craved them early into my pregnancy. He does like sweets as we will give him a little ice cream here and there. He also seems to love licking steak.
Kaden finally learned to roll over from back to front which is a big step. He looks like he tries to crawl by scrunching up his butt while on his tummy, but of course is not successful just yet. We began trying to sit up which he can hold himself for just a few short seconds. He also responds to his name so we do feel like he knows his name is Kaden. His personality has really started to shine and I cannot wait to see this beautiful little boy grow!
Our little Kaden is now 5 months old and here is how month 4 went for us. It was by far the most fun month so far! He truly has been learning so much and although we still dont get much sleep, we are having a good time seeing his little personality shine though. He is definitely the cutest third wheel on our dates these days and we dont mind!
This month was filled with a ton of firsts. This is the true month where Kaden started becoming super interested in foods and also trying to steal our drinks and meals. He seems to constantly be reaching for things with his little tiny hands. He tried puree pear, mashed potatoes, and queso. He still does not sit up on his own yet, so I will wait for that to happen before officially allowing him to eat solids. For now though, I still combo feed using my own breastmilk and formula. I have gotten over the fact that he will never eat from the breast and that ship has sailed.
He also found his feet while lying on his back. He will bring his legs up and grab his tiny toes which is so cute. Another cute thing he started doing was blowing raspberries and making sounds with his mouth. He is very interactive with us, laughing at little things we do. We went to the movie theater and he saw Lilo and Stich with his big brother and sister-he did a great job! We also have been taking so many beach trips and have been in the pool almost every sunny day, teaching him to swim. He also loves bathtime and laying on my legs, looking up at me which is our bonding time. He is definitely a little water baby.
He learned how to roll from his tummy to back, but still not quite yet from back to tummy. He used to hate tummy time and while he still is not the biggest fan of it, he is getting better with holding his head up longer while on his belly. He still sees the chiropractor once a month to help make sure his body is in check and she said he is doing great.
This month was the first time he got sick when he got his 4 month shots. He developed a cold which led us to the ER with his high fever. Lots and lots of congestion and runny noses-thank goodnesss for the snotsucker machines!
We celebrated Everly’s birthday during this 4 month milestone. I am telling you Kaden has the best older siblings. Both Everly and Greyson love him so much and I am grateful that I was able to give them this precious gift.
Cheers to month 5 and lets see what will happen next as we take Kaden on his first out of country trip! 🙂
In today’s digital world, it can be a real challenge to encourage children to step away from their screens and embrace the great outdoors. However, fostering a love for outdoor play is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your child’s health, well-being, and development. Outdoor activity not only boosts physical fitness but also enhances creativity, reduces stress, and supports social interaction. If you’re wondering how to keep your kids engaged and moving, here are some imaginative and effective ways to make outdoor play an exciting and regular part of their routine.
1. Make Use of Your Garden
Your back garden can be transformed into a vibrant play zone that inspires fitness through fun. Invest in engaging play equipment such as a wooden climbing frame with slide. These structures offer multiple levels of activity in one: climbing boosts upper body strength and coordination, while sliding provides a thrill that children love. Look for climbing frames that include monkey bars or rope ladders to keep things challenging and varied.
Another excellent garden feature is a trampoline. Bouncing is not only exhilarating, but it’s also a brilliant cardiovascular workout that improves balance, coordination, and muscle tone. Trampolines come in various sizes, so whether you have a large garden or a more compact space, there’s usually an option to suit your needs. Remember to ensure safety by using a model with a sturdy enclosure.
2. Organise Backyard Challenges
Children thrive on a sense of accomplishment, so why not turn fitness into a game? Set up obstacle courses using cones, tunnels, the wooden climbing frame with slide, and other garden items. Time your children as they complete the course and encourage them to beat their previous scores. Add different rounds with variations in difficulty to keep them interested and physically challenged.
You can also organise mini sports tournaments—whether it’s football, rounders, or even sack races. These not only improve physical endurance but also teach valuable lessons in teamwork and fair play.
3. Embrace Nature Walks and Treasure Hunts
Walking might seem mundane to a child, but it can be magical with the right twist. Organise nature walks in local parks or woodlands and create themed treasure hunts. Provide a list of things to find—like a feather, a shiny stone, or a specific leaf—and reward them with a small prize upon completion.
These adventures encourage children to observe their surroundings, stay active, and enjoy the beauty of nature. Plus, walking across different terrains is a low-impact way to improve cardiovascular health and endurance.
4. Get Involved in Local Sports Clubs
Sometimes, children need a social component to stay motivated. Joining a local sports club can provide that extra push. Whether it’s football, rugby, gymnastics, or martial arts, regular training sessions improve stamina, strength, and coordination. More importantly, they help your child find their passion and make new friends.
For children who prefer non-competitive environments, consider dance, swimming, or outdoor yoga classes tailored for kids. These can offer the same fitness benefits without the pressure of competition.
5. Encourage Unstructured Play
Not every outdoor session needs to be planned. Unstructured play is vital for developing imagination, problem-solving skills, and resilience. Let your children invent their own games and adventures. Whether they’re pretending the wooden climbing frame with slide is a castle under siege or making up new rules for trampoline tag, these activities offer full-body workouts and mental stimulation in one.
Unstructured play also allows children to explore their limits and build confidence in their physical abilities. The key is to provide a safe environment and the freedom to explore it.
6. Make Outdoor Play a Family Affair
Children often model their behaviour on what they see. If you’re active and enthusiastic about outdoor play, your child is more likely to be as well. Plan regular family activities such as cycling in the park, hiking, or garden games. Even simple acts like playing catch or having a water balloon fight can turn into memorable bonding experiences and fitness opportunities.
Your involvement not only makes the activities more enjoyable but also shows your children that staying active is a lifelong habit worth embracing.
7. Adapt Activities to the Seasons
Don’t let the British weather be an excuse to stay indoors. Each season offers unique outdoor experiences. In the spring and summer, you can take full advantage of the longer days for extended outdoor games and sports. During autumn, embrace the crisp air with leaf-collecting walks or woodland adventures.
In winter, bundle up and go for a brisk walk, or have fun with snow-related activities if you’re lucky enough to get some. Just be sure to dress appropriately and ensure surfaces are safe for play.
8. Set Screen-Time Limits
Outdoor play competes with digital distractions, so setting clear limits on screen time can help establish a healthier balance. Create a daily schedule that includes specific times for outdoor play. Consistency is key—once it becomes part of their daily routine, children will begin to look forward to this active time.
You might even tie screen time to outdoor activity, for example: “You can have 30 minutes of TV after an hour of playing outside.” This kind of reward system helps reinforce the value of physical activity.
9. Celebrate Achievements
Recognising your child’s efforts and progress can go a long way in maintaining enthusiasm for outdoor play. Create a fun fitness chart where they can mark off completed activities or earn stickers. Celebrate milestones, such as learning a new skill on the trampoline or climbing higher on their wooden frame, with praise or small rewards.
This not only boosts their self-esteem but also encourages a positive association with staying active.
Conclusion
Keeping your child fit doesn’t require expensive gym memberships or rigid routines. With a bit of creativity and enthusiasm, outdoor play can become the highlight of their day. Whether it’s bouncing on a trampoline, scaling a wooden climbing frame with slide, or going on an imaginative treasure hunt, the key is to make movement fun and varied. Start small, stay consistent, and most importantly, join in the fun whenever you can—because fit kids are, indeed, happy kids.
Kaden is now 4 months old! I like to write the monthly blogs once the full month is over-not as he turns so I am reflecting on the full third month of his little life and it was most certainly the most fun we have had thus far. In the third month, a lot happened it has felt like!
He started babbling like crazy almost as if he was trying to speak to us. He has truly found his voice and loves to coo and talk. One discovery that Kaden had this month was finding his hands! He loves holding his hands together and it is so cute.
He has been tracking us around the room more and more. He can even recognize his brother and sister in our hallway family photos. We tell them good morning every day on the weeks that we do not have them. He is getting better with tummy time and still sees the chiropractor to help with his head/neck as they are tight. He has been trying to sit up a bit more and we even bought him a little inflatable chair to help with that.
Although we are not exclusively breastfeeding, I do still pump most of the time and we have switched to combo feeding with formula since milk supply just has not been the best. We still meet with the lactation consultant but I am starting to accept that maybe breastfeeding the way I envisioned was not meant to be this time around. On a positive note, it has been more convenient! Sleep has been a bit better and I believe there was one night where he actually slept the whole way through, but still averaged waking up 1-2 times nightly.
He also discovered a favorite show called Rubble and Crew. Everytime we turn on the show, he goes crazy. His dad even bought him a little Rubble stuffy that he loves to smile at. Speaking of toys, Kaden is building quite the collection so far. He absolutely LOVE his bath toys and bath time with mommy.
Kaden’s first beach trip happened at 3 months old. The first time around was a little cold and windy but we went a week later with his siblings and it was perfect.
It was also his first trip to our favorite local summer spot in Destin called Big Kahuna’s waterpark. We got season passes so we will be coming here often.
We got Kaden into the pool for the first time but it only lasted a few minutes since its still a bit too cold. We look forward to more and more pool days this summer when it heats up more.
Kaden went to church for the first time and we celebrated Easter Sunday as a family. I dressed him up as a cute little bunny using the bunny hat that was Everly’s.
Kaden also went to his first real movie this month and watched most of it. We saw the new Minecraft film. He did go to a movie before this but was sleeping the whole time so I did not count it! We did go to Build a Bear but it was his second time building a bear.
This month was simply fast paced and ever so perfect. We are so proud of our Kaden.
Kaden is now 3 months old and not quite a newborn anymore. Sad face. The newborn stage is so busy, consuming, exhausting, exciting, and exhilarating isnt it? There are so many products I could NOT live without for the third time around, but here are a few that really stuck out to me this time.
Boobcube
If you are a breastfeeding mama, you are going to love Boobcube! Boobcube is a clever way of storing and freezing your breastmilk without using plastic bags that will eventually end up in a landfill. Not only is it ecofriendly, it is also friendly to your wallet as you wont have to purchase milk storage bags any longer with Boobcube. Plus, did you know that chemicals from the plastic milk storage bags can leech into your milk? I had no idea, either! When you are no longer breastfeeding, I can see this being great for freezing smoothie cubes and even more uses so your Boobcube lives on!
I highly recommend theFirst Drop Kitas seen below. Use code SIA10 for 10% off your order.
What’s Included:
The Canteen – Our BPA-free storage jar allows you to safely collect up to 8 oz. of breast milk, sans plastic. 1 count.
The Tray – Complete with 3 pre-measured portion sizes; 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0z, the Tray allows you to freeze milk in increments that work best for your baby, so that none goes to waste. 2 count.
The Pouch – Our durable pinch-seal storage bag lets you transport milk on-the-go and easily thaw just-right servings for your most discerning milk connoisseur. 1 count.
Key features:
100% food grade silicone
Free of: BPAs, phthalates, PVC, and lead
Reusable + Sustainable
Dishwasher, Microwave, Sterilizer and Freezer Safe
NozeBot
Let’s face it-snot happens.
FridaBaby Tub
Doona Stroller and Carseat
Have you ever wished your stroller and carseat were just one big thing? Well, it is with the Doona! Although heavier than most carseats, I love the fact that the stroller is connected to it and never comes apart. The convenience aspect has won us over and we will definitely use it again with our next baby. As I mentioned it is heavy, but since its connected, you wont be carrying it much thanks to its easy 1 second transformation from carseat to stroller. The Doona is simply genius.
NinniCo Pacifier
If your baby has a lip and tongue tie like mine, the NinnoCo pacifier could help with that! It mimics the breast and helps the baby use motions that assist with breastfeeding-think of it like a workout paci that reinforces a proper latch. While it may be difficult to use at first, keep trying and your baby is sure to get the hang of it. Another thing I like about it is that its quite entertaining to watch them use it since its see through silicone for the base! Use code SIAC10 for 10% off your Ninni pacifier.
Halo Bassinest
While trying to find the perfect bedside bassinet, there were so many options ranging from the Snoo and Cadlewise being a break your bank option all the way down to some cheap ones that just did not seem safe enough. I chose the Halo Bassinest that swivels conveniently at my bedside and I could not love it more. It does have options to play light music, light, and vibrations to help soothe your baby to sleep which is also a bonus! The price was also fair, in my opinion. We will definitely save this bassinet for the next baby!
Hatch Rest
Our Hatch Rest has been our nightlight/sound machine of choice since our baby was born. I had a Hatch Restore that I used in my room for the last few years that I absolutely loved so the baby/nursery version was a no brainer. I like the fact that it is app controlled and recommends different settings for different age timeframes. For example, for newborn, it had recommended that we use the red color + heartbeat sound to mimic the womb. I like the fact you can save your sound/color combos to easily turn them on and it has a clock so I can keep up with baby feeding times, etc.
Kyte Baby Sleep Bag Swaddler
I am team swaddle your baby all the way! I cannot imagine NOT swaddling my babies. This time around, I discovered Kyte Baby and not only do they offer the cutest, softest onesies, they offer the best swaddles, too. The swaddle/sleep bags are easy to use thanks to velcro and helps baby sleep better through the night. The bottom unzips conveniently so that you can change baby’s diaper without having to unswaddle or wake them up during the night. At the very bottom, there is an elastic band that allows you to tie it off so baby does not move his or her legs-allowing the ultimate rest.
