Before getting your baby set up, this activity requires a little prep work. Get your white piece of paper and cut it into the shape of a fish. I just did an easy design and made a triangle tail and circle top. I cut out a little mouth, too. I used my black sharpie to draw an eye on each side of the paper, and then put it into a large ziplock bag with orange washable paint. 

I gave the bag to Layla and let her explore it first. She of course wanted to eat it, so with my hand over hers, I helped her spread the paint all around and squish and mash it. This helps her see how to play with it. And then I let her do more. 

Take it out of the bag to let dry otherwise it will stick. 

I called this level one because I will show a few ways we can alter to activity for older children. This is the most basic way to use straws and sorting. I started by making the container. I peeled the puffs container, took the lid off and snapped the top so it was open but still sealed. I used a thick piece of cardboard and poked holes in it using a pencil. Then I grabbed a handful of different colored straws. 

All I did was tell Lincoln to put the straws inside. They fit perfectly and this kept him busy for a good 20 minutes of putting them in, taking them out, and trying again! 

Lincoln's back with more of his favorite books! This month he has been very into animals and repetition. He's become obsessed with Brown Bear Brown Bear despite hearing it most of his life. We also added to his collection of Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site with ABCs and Colors. Definitely recommend for those with truck/construction-obsessed kids! 

6/6:30 am : Wake up & Breastfeed
7:30 am : Breakfast
  +Yogurt and teether bar
8:30/9 am : Nap #1
10:30/11 am : Wake & Breastfeed
11:30 am : Lunch
  + Applesauce or pancakes with puffs
1/1:30 pm : Nap #2
2/2:30 pm : Wake & Breastfeed
4:15 pm : Catnap #3
If she refuses this nap, bedtime is 6 pm. If it's less than 30 mins, bedtime is 6:45 pm.
5:00 pm : Wake and Breastfeed
5:30 pm : Dinner
  +Puree with a solid
7:00 pm : Bath, book, jammies, lotion
7:30 pm : Bedtime

6:30 am : Wake up
He gets to watch TV and play while he wakes up and I feed Layla
7:30 am : Breakfast 
  +Yogurt, bowl of fruit, piece of toast/half bagel/breakfast bar
Structured activities, outside time, playroom time until lunch
9:00 am : Snack
  +Applesauce/rice cake/pretzels (easy to eat from snack cup)
11:30 am : Lunch
  +Changes on day but usually consists of a veggie, cottage cheese, and sandwich
12:00-2:00 pm : Nap/Quiet time
He gets TV while he wakes up and eats snack
3:00 pm : Snack
  +Cheese stick/fruit/pouch/smoothie (easy to sit with and eat)
Free time to do whatever he asks for. Often we do cooking for dinnertime!
5:30 pm : Dinner
​  +Changes, but big on protein and foods I know he likes and will fill him up for the night
6:30 pm : Bath, reading, jammies, lotion
7:00 pm : Bedtime

The biggest variable in his schedule is his nap. Lincoln usually does a solid two hours, but if he wakes anytime before 1:30 pm, then I push his bedtime a bit earlier to 6:30 (and trust me, he needs it!). The boy LOVES and NEEDS his sleep and mealtimes. 

Now that both of my kids are over 6 months, I'm excited to share my favorite first foods list! With Lincoln, I was a little more cautious in the sense that I had no idea what I was doing. I was very fortunate to have a pediatrician with an open mind and who, because he had 4 kids of his own, understood parenthood at that level as well. 

Lincoln started purees at 5 months, and Layla was nearly 5 months as well. I started Lincoln with rice cereal that lasted all of 2 days because after doing some research, I realized that it really contributed nothing to his pallet or diet, and I moved right into veggie and fruit purees (which he instantly LOVED). With Layla, her first food was sweet potato. 

I love the "rule" of introducing ingredients every 3 days. This is set to give the child enough time to show a reaction if allergic and it's easier to determine the cause. I did this with both of my children until they were about 6 months. After that I gave them whatever, just cut up small. I also introduced peanut butter, egg, and yogurt all around 6 months of age.