two in one: august and september monthly reviews

august review

so i'll just jump right in and start this update with what most people want to hear about first - our baby! although i don't feel like she is much of a baby anymore. in august she turned six months old. and since month five was such a big month for her developmentally-two teeth, crawling, pulling to stand-the only really interesting thing month six brought was the introduction of solid food.

currently i am making all of her food, and so far she has had chicken broth, carrots, cauliflower, chicken, avocado, banana, apples and pears. of course it is quite messy and makes diaper changing pretty interesting.

by the end of month six, she was making progress in sitting up completely by herself.

over the summer i tried do a lot of shopping at the farmers' market. i love buying our produce, meats and eggs there, but it can get expensive. so i need to do better about prioritizing what we really need to buy there. i racked up a bill during the shopping trip i posted below, where i purchased eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes, basil, green beans, garlic, bacon and grass-fed beef.

september review

in september V turned seven months old, and in the middle of the month, she started cutting her two top teeth. so far her teeth are coming in in pairs. i discovered that she really does like to watch veggie tales and will indiscriminately laugh at the tv. she has also started babbling just a bit more. sometimes it sounds like she is saying the word "bye."

we spent labor day at the creek. i convinced mr. price to take an extra day off of work so he could scratch some things off his to-do list. one being to restore my car's headlights. look at the superb job he did!

it was a rainy weekend, and the rain sounded wonderful on the tin roof.

v had a visit from her great aunt ana beatriz who traveled all the way from colombia, south america. and since it is apple season in these parts, we took a trip out to ikenberry orchards to grab some apples and see some pumpkins.

i traveled to lynchburg one day for the kidz kraze consignment sale, and spent about $50 on some second hand clothing.

this month i started participating in two bible studies. i signed up for a saturday bible study at panera bread, thinking that i was not going to be able to participate in the community bible study (cbs) that meets on tuesday mornings. but at the last minute, a spot in the cbs nursery opened up allowing us to attend.

we are traveling to georgia the last day of the month. mr. price hasn't been home in one year! i can't believe its been that long. we will be spending about eight days there, and this will be our daughter's second long-distance trip.  on previous trips down south, mr. price and i usually had our car packed (the trunk and back seat) when it was just the two of us. now that we have a baby i am determined to pack as lightly as possible. if our belongings don't fit into the trunk of the car, it's not coming...not sure i can do it. can't wait to update you about our trip on the october monthly review.

tres anos

We're celebrating three years of marriage this week! 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO MY LOVING HUSBAND

there's no one I'd rather do life with than you

How I long to be this woman...

¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

(from Proverbs 31, emphasis mine)

I LOVE

Everyday Food videos with Sarah Carey.



Mr. Price and I have been receiving a gift subscription to Everyday Food. Most issues contain a grocery shopping list for five days of recipes. Normally I don't utitilize this feature, but in the current issue, all five recipes were easy and appealing. What a score! It allowed me to procrastinate just a bit more with my regular menu planning.

Sarah Carey is editor of Everday Food (EDF) and she features daily cooking videos on marthastewart.com. One day I decided to watch one of the videos. But once I watched one, I couldn't stop. Sarah's upbeat personality combined with great video editing makes these recipe tutorials very entertaining. They definitely make me itchin' to get in the kitchen. I wonder if I could make whipping up baby food look so fun and desirable!?

Check out the videos here. But be warned you may get hooked!