Ruby's new favorite game is Peek A Boo.
We cover our faces with a towel and she takes the towel away .. she now understands that we are actually behind the towel rather than simply letting the towel sit there. She also loves Peek A Boo books... I recommend.. Bedtime Peek A Boo. She loves opening and closing the pages.
Last week when we attended our BookBug Story time.. we played Peek A Boo with some scarves. Ruby LOVED it.
Here is the Mall Atrium where we attend BookBug - which is an initiative by Scotland's Book Trust to get kids interested in reading.. we sing songs, read a book together, participate in activities.. it's really fun. We sit on the little book rugs.
Where's Ruby?
Peek a Boo! We love our Bookbug group!
ps: it also isn't bad that the mall has loads of cafes inside it.. perfect for a post-BookBug coffee.
What a fab trip!
After a week in Paris, I feel wonderful. Even though Ruby will not remember this trip, she was a perfect travel companion..and it was simply amazing to share all the sights with her.. oh, and with Brent too! ;-)
We stayed in the 15th district and spent loads of time in the Left Bank, Montparnasse, St. Germain de Pres, Marais, The Latin Quarter, Invalides and Montmarte.
Here is Brent getting his daily breakfast of Croque Mondieur (delish ham and cheese toasty goodness) from a patisserie on the corner of our hotel (founded in 1947!).
Ruby loved the "bohemian" St. Germain de Pres neighborhood - we had a coffee in Le Deux Magots together and were haunted by all the famous writers and poets.
A caramel eclair for lunch in the hilltop village of Montmarte - we took a little tram to get to the top.
Ruby's first view of the Eifel Tower.. and what a view!
Brent views the lights of Paris at night at the top of the Eifel Tower (FYI.. there were hardly any baby diaper change places in Paris.. but the top of the Eifel Tower had a great one!).
Walking the streets of Montparnasse.. with a baguette Ruby's new fav food. The crusty bread was perfect for teething (on that note, she now has a tooth! - lower right). NO more gummy smiles for Ruby. We explored Montparnasse Cemetary, the oldest in Paris. Brent paid his respects to the Surrealist artist, Man Ray.
Inside the magical Luxembourg Gardens.
A Halloween pumpkin visits the Centre de Georges Pompidou (the modern art museum) - this is the crazy fun looking fountain outside the museum square... reminds me of a Tim Burton film.
Inside the Centre de Georges Pompidou cafe. A chic rooftop cafe.. Ruby and I enjoyed the sunshine.
Inside Notre Dame.. can you believe the window behind us is 60 feet tall?
At the entrance of the Louve Museum... we enjoyed the Muse de Orsay too!
Those that know me know I am a yoga person. I love yoga. I have been practicing for 12 years. I love the way it makes me feel inside and out. I love challenging poses and the way you see yourself improve your practice by continuing classes. I even worked at one of the largest yoga brands in the USA. Therefore, I was excited to have a baby and finally try baby and mummy yoga. Needless to say, I've always been a bit disappointed.. not that the instructors are bad .. not at all... I guess I simply find integrating the baby, not stimulating enough for myself. I like the socialization aspect for Ruby and other babies but, I think for fitness, I'll stick to buggyfit (which I am still going to around twice a week). Last week, I decided to give baby and mummy yoga another try. They were having free classes in the local Hamleys (UK equivalent of FAO Schwartz). The class was in the special birthday party room which had loads of disco special lights and things to look at.. needless to say, Ruby loved it! So, I guess we can try again sometime.. but probably not sometime too soon.
The yoga room at Hamleys.
Ruby had fun in the toy store!
However, the REAL highlight was the baby changing room... check it out!
Ruby enjoyed the massive changing room for herself.
Here's a little update on my chatty and happy Ruby baby. First off, her size... officially OFF THE CHART for her length. I had thoughts she was taller than other babies as I look around and see babies her size, walking, eating full meals, full mouths of teeth.. so I took her to be measured and weighed... and boy, was I suprised. Her weight is a healthy 21.5 lbs (in the 94th percentile) and her length a whopping 76cm - off the chart in the 102nd percentile!
We are eating solids now... I have purchased a copy of 'Great Expectations: Best food for your baby and toddler' and am following their guidelines on when to introduce what. It's a very informative book. I highly recommend it - the book is full of recipes, ideas and nutrition charts. It is cautious on what foods to introduce when - as here in the UK, babies jump right into all sorts of foods at 6 months. Also, 1 out of every 3 mums I meet follow 'baby-led weaning' or BLW. This is at 6 months, putting basically anything (excluding foods with bones) in front of your baby and letting them eat it. As someone who taught infant and child CPR for years, I cannot comprehend the numerous choking hazards that the BLW philosophy represents by not pureeing foods for your baby.. but, when people tell me about it, they rave about it so I just nod my head and say, we're using spoons for now. :-)
Since I have the time, I make everything that Ruby eats except for when we are on the go. When we are on the go, we've been eating Ella's Organics. Big Fan! I find it really simple to integrate making her meals into my schedule. We have an organic fruit and veg grocery around the corner so weekly, I do my grocery online order for Brent and myself then just pick up some fruit and veg from the grocer when we need it. I puree and steam different things and when it's time to eat, I just mix together whatever looks good... So far, so good!
Ruby eats:
Apples: Thumbs UP!
Pears: Thumbs Up!
Plumb: Thumbs WAY UP! (surprisingly)
Spinach (mixed with sweet potato): Thumbs UP - or anything mixed with sweet potato.. thumbs up!
Carrots - so/so - I've tried mixing with apples and other things but still so, so..
Yellow Squash- Thumps Up.
Green Beans: Thumbs Up
Red Lentils: Tolerable
Avocado: Tolerable
Peas: Yuck (I tried a few times with this one) - oh well, I didn't like them either as a child.
Banana: Thumbs Down (I'm not giving up) but I've tried all sorts of ways... she is slightly interested as a finger food.
For finger foods:
Raisins: THUMBS, FINGERS, everything WAY UP!
Rice Cakes: Ok, fun to eat..
Whole wheat pasta: Yuck!
Boiled Carrots and other veggies: Yuck! -- but I guess no one really eats bland boiled veg anyways, so I can understand that one. I am very skeptical of the snacks for babies they sell in the store so we are taking the finger foods slow until Ruby grows her teeth.
Happy 8 month birthday Ruby! You are adventurous, fun, smiley, chatty, coy, and cuddly. I cannot wait for what's to come.. or maybe, I can.. you are perfect at 8 months.
ps: at 3.95, this is the most expensive cupcake I have EVER bought - that's 6 dollars for you USA people. Not the best either. Oh well. It's for her birthday. :-)
Fall in Glasgow is wet... like every other season in Glasgow.. however, if you manage to bring your head up from looking at the wet ground.. you can see the changes in the leaves... not New England, or Central Park .. but still colorful.
Here is a lovely fall photo for you...
Soon after we took this photo Ruby went for another ride on the swings!
After that, we went to my friend Kim mum's house where she was hosting a Christening Party for her son Finlay. It was a lot of fun.. just going to a party at someone's house is a rarity for me, as I do not know too many people, so I appreciated meeting new people, good food, and a glass of champagne for the afternoon. Ruby is fast asleep in this photo with Kim and Finlay (who wore a kilt to the church - however, as with most fasionable items, he changed into something more comfortable for this shot). Ruby was a star at the party.. socalized with everyone!
I especially enjoyed the super sugary cake! Here are Brent and Ruby chilling out in the sunroom as I present myself with a fantastic piece of cake with loads of frosting!
I cannot believe we are going to spend a whole week in Paris very soon! I know, I know.. I am very fortunate to have been 4 times already to Paris however... each was for 3, 4, maybe 5 days (including departure day). I am absolutely thrilled!
Been listening to a lot of this...
