While I was digging around in Mia’s mouth to show a friend of ours her two little teeth under the surface, I felt a sharp point. Tooth #1 has arrived! I think #2 will be right behind it. It occurred to me that tomorrow she will be 7 months old. The time is already slipping away so quickly and she is growing into a tiny person more and more each day. Part of me is excited to see who she will be and part of me wants to keep her little forever 
The sun came out and I couldn’t resist an outdoor project. We had a porch swing in our yard for the last two years that finally bit the dust. The frame, however, was still in good shape. Just some minor rusting. I knew that could be fixed. Off to Wal-Mart! Mia and I bought 2 cans of red spray paint for $.96 each, two bolts with eyes for $1.12 each and a swing for $23.97. Mia took a nap and I got to work. First I painted the frame, then drilled the holes, inserted the bolts and hung the swing. For $28.13 and a frame destined for the garbage, Mia has her first swing set (sort of). She likes to swing and laughed a lot. This swing is rated up to 48 months (4 years) so I think our dollar will go pretty far.
So Mia has a new favorite toy… A Quaker Oats box. If she keeps this up we might actually save a lot of money
So my wonderful little sleeper has turned into a demon this week. She has decided that now that she is 29 weeks old she can dictate when she will sleep. The fighting naps has been one thing, but now bedtime?! Not only that, but waking up in the middle of the night as well?! What has happened to my sleeping beauty? I hope this is only temporary. We have been so lucky over the last 28 weeks to have such a great sleeper, that I fear our luck has run out. Maybe it is her teeth… Yeah… her teeth
I don’t know if any of you mommies know, but there is a program that most optometrists participate in called Infant See. The program is for infants over the age of 6 months. They check their vision, check for lazy eye, and things of that nature. It is TOTALLY free and so important to do. As an added perk, Mia got a free pair of Baby Banz to protect her eyes after they dilated them. She does have an astigmatism (thanks daddy ) so instead of going back when she is 5 like most kids, we will take her back when she is 2, 2 1/2 to make sure it hasn’t progressed. Dr. Lisa Mackey (who is awesome) said she might need glasses sometime around 1st grade. I am glad we are on top of it. So many kids do poorly early in school because they have trouble seeing. Hopefully that won’t ever be a problem for Mia.
Mia has her own pair of sunglasses now.
We set up a photo shoot for Mia and Bryce (neighbor boy) to have their 6-Month photos taken. We decided to warm up with this picture for you all to say “Happy Valentine’s Day” from Mia with love 
St. Louisans don’t realize how lucky we are to have all of these attractions at no charge. I would hate to see them become paid attractions. I do, however, agree that it is not fair for only Saint Louis residents to bare the cost for these through their property taxes. Instead of punishing everyone, why not allow Saint Louis County residents to still use for free and charge non residents a fee? Surrounding counties have long enjoyed the benefits of this park, and now more than ever as the counties grow in population and the city shrinks. I fear that if this is allowed to pass, all of these attractions will suffer as will our children. Think of all of the kids who have been inspired to learn about new and amazing things at the History Museum, the Art Museum, the Zoo, the Science Center and so on. I think that parents will be less likely to frequent these attractions if the fees are that of other cities. These attractions in Saint Louis are, in my opinion, some of the best in the country. Don’t let them become memories.
http://www.fox2now.com/news/ktvi-forest-park-fees-zoo-021110,0,5116394.story
This afternoon I put Mia on her blanket in the living room next to the recliner and went into the kitchen to do some dishes. A few minutes later I heard her laughing and realized that the laugh was coming from the wrong direction. I walked toward the living room to find her next to the front door on her back laughing. For those of you who haven’t been to our house, that is about 15 feet from where she started. She didn’t crawl, but she did roll. I can’t believe how fast it happened. She will be running marathons before we know it.
We drove through Lone Elk Park today. Since the speed limit was 10 mph Mia got to sit in the front seat like back in the “good old” days.
So… I have been sewing, somewhat in secret and now a little less so. I am considering making some goods to sell on Etsy.com, but I worry that people have a lot to sell on that site, but nothing ever sells. I fear that Etsy has become a wonderful place to troll for good ideas. Another option is to sell at the O’Fallon Farmers/Craft Market this year. If I did that I would get a booth once a month. Last year’s fee was $15. I figured I could try to hock my crafts as well as any surplus goods from our garden as well as the neighbor’s. Last year we had an abundant bounty and this year should be even better since we are bit seasoned now. Here is a picture of one of the blankets I made last night:
