Baby girl is seven months today and what a way to welcome in it with a fever. Stupid flu shot. 
She will not get another flu shot at all. Poor thing is just miserable. She woke up at 6:15 this morning, babbling quietly, then went to sleep for an hour, then woke up for the day when I got her up at 7:30. An hour later, all hell broke loose - screaming, crying and nothing seemed to comfort her. I wound up having to pick her up and she eventually stopped sobbing and just fell asleep on my shoulder. She's been asleep now for almost and hour and a half now. Poor thing. 
She's beginning to stir, so I think she'll be waking up soon for good. I was hoping she'd sleep a little bit more, but it doesn't look like it. How much you want to bet, she pooped 
Good thing is, I got my exercise in while she slept, so I'm feeling refreshed, but OH so tired. I weighed myself this morning and I've lost at total of 8.2 poinds since I've started exercising and watching my calories. WTG Me!!
I'll have some pictures of Zoe later on today. Not sure how receptive she'll be since she's cranky, but we'll get what we can.
Zoe's Monthly Forecast: Your baby now actively engages in hiding games. Place one of her favorite toys on the floor and cover it with a napkin. Pull the napkin off and say, "There it is!" Cover it again and repeat.
For more fun, hide an object under something and wait for her to discover it. It's one of the easiest ways to keep your baby occupied!
Your baby can remember that the jack-in-the-box pops up at the end of the song — yet she'll still laugh every time. She's also able to recognize different tones and inflections and may burst into tears if you speak harshly.
Because she likes predictability, your baby enjoys playing the same game or reading the same book over and over. In addition to patty-cake, try adding classics such as "If You're Happy and You Know It" and "This Little Piggy" to your repertoire.
Your baby may have already started feeding himself finger foods, although this can begin as late as 10 months. Once she reaches this stage, you can introduce a sippy cup.
Try giving her a cup with a spout and two handles. If your baby's getting frustrated that she can't get more liquid out of the sippy cup, remove the valve in the top of the cup. If your baby's having trouble figuring out how to suck through the spout, take the lid off the sippy cup and let her first drink straight from the cup (show her how to tip it back so the drink flows into her mouth).
Switching your baby to a cup sooner rather than later might make it easier for her to give up the bottle. If you're breastfeeding, you can even bypass the bottle altogether and go straight to a cup.
By now, you may have already told your baby that the telephone is not a toy, or that rattles are not for throwing, or that her sister's hair is not for pulling. At this age your baby may begin testing your authority by refusing to follow your simple directions. She's not really being disobedient or willful — just curious.
Keep in mind that she also simply can't remember things you tell her for more than a couple of seconds at a time. The best tactic is to use a simple "no" and then distract her.
Your baby's beginning to understand how objects relate to one another in three-dimensional space. She may be able to sort toys, grouping smaller items by size. Babies instinctively combine objects by stacking them and, as they get older, trying to fit them inside one another.
If your baby admires her reflection in a mirror and you suddenly appear behind her image, she's likely to turn and look for you instead of believing that you're in the mirror itself.
A simple game of peek-a-boo might be absolutely fascinating to your baby. That's because she's starting to understand object permanence (that an object she can't see can still exist) and loves games in which people or things appear and disappear.
Your baby can now straighten her back and twist her trunk as she sits. This ability enables her to sit for longer periods of play.
If your baby is like most at this age, she's showing signs of separation anxiety. Far from being a cause for concern, stranger anxiety is a sign of your baby's growing understanding of the world around her.
Earlier, when you left the room, your baby was hardly phased. Now she knows that you're gone — and she's able to picture you and miss you — and may begin to cry as soon as you're out of her sight.
Your baby's reluctance to be separated from you may delight you or just plain frustrate you at times. If you head out to do an errand and your baby's staying home, shower her with loads of hugs and kisses before you head out the door and tell her you'll be back shortly. She won't understand that you'll be returning in an hour, but the love and affection might comfort her and tide her over until she sees you again.
Also, try to have a ritual of leaving that she can rely on each time you go and leave her with someone she's familiar with. That way, if she can't have Mom or Dad, at least she'll feel happy with her temporary caretaker.
Note: Even if your baby has been sleeping soundly through the night, she may now wake up periodically if she's experiencing separation anxiety — the two seem to be connected.
Teething can start as early as 3 months or as late as 12 months, but most babies sprout their first white caps (typically the two middle teeth on the bottom) between 4 and 7 months of age. Don't be alarmed if your baby has gaps between her pearly whites. Teeth often come up through the gums at odd angles, and spaces commonly disappear by age 3, after all 20 baby teeth have broken through.
Once your baby starts teething, you can expect more drooling and experimenting with sounds as she adjusts to having these strange new things in her mouth.
To ease your baby's discomfort, give her something to chew on, such as a firm rubber teething ring or a cold washcloth. She may also get some relief from eating cold foods such as applesauce or yogurt (if she's eating solids) as the cold may temporarily numb the pain. Giving a baby a hard, unsweetened teething cracker to gnaw on is another time-honored trick. You can also try rubbing your finger over his sore gums or applying an oral pain relief gel.
By now your baby's emotions are becoming more obvious. She may throw a kiss to familiar people, and even repeat it if you clap in appreciation.
Over the next few months, your baby may learn to assess and imitate moods and might show the first stirrings of empathy. For instance, if she hears someone crying, she may start crying, too. And even though your baby's just beginning to learn about her emotions, she's picking things up from you. Over the many months (and years) to come, your baby will likely copy the way she sees you treat people.
If your baby sleeps in a separate room and gets anxious about nighttime separations, spend some extra cuddle time reading, snuggling, and playing mellow music with her before you put her to bed. Having a regular bedtime routine she can count on will give her the security she needs to make falling asleep easier.
Your baby will appreciate the consistency and predictability of a set pattern every night, and even better, she'll be more relaxed and more likely to go to bed easily. Just make sure you choose something that helps calm your baby instead of riling her up.
While you can certainly start your ritual in the bathroom or the living room, it should end in your baby's bedroom or wherever she sleeps. It's important to teach your baby that her sleeping area is a nice place to be, not just where she's "banished" at bedtime.
If your baby gets upset as she sees you walk out the door after you tuck her in, tell her you'll be back to check on her in a few minutes. In all likelihood, she'll be fast asleep by the time you return.
Even when you're away from home, stick to your routine as much as possible. It can make it easier for your baby to settle down in an unfamiliar environment.
