Sprinkling Fun

These pictures are from July! Sorting pictures takes a long time - I guess I've been procrastinating!

Swimming Wrap Up

We've been busy. And sick. And a little crazy. Swimming lessons have been over for a few weeks now and I'm finally going through the pictures and video. I'll let the pictures/video do most of the talking...

Summer Checklist

Someone asked me about my summer checklist. Every summer, there are some things that just need to be done. It isn't summer if you don't. We don't always get everything on the list completed, but the best summers have it all. So here is my list, off the top of my head:

1. Watch fireworks outside
2. Go to the zoo
3. Take swimming lessons
4. Go to North Dakota
5. Play in the sprinkler
6. Eat a tomato you grew yourself
7. Eat corn on the cob from a farm stand or you grew yourself (we don't have space for corn, sadly)
8. Grill. A lot.
9. Eat a popsicle/ice cream cone outside
10. Ride the Tilt-a-whirl
11. Eat molasses cake
12. Eat watermelon outside on a hot day
13. Swim at a beach with sand
14. Have a picnic. The kind where you bring a blanket to sit on.
15. Ride bikes until the bugs come out
16. Go barefoot. All the time.
17. Make strawberry jam with berries you picked yourself.
18. S'mores, over a real fire. Need I say s'more?
19. Camping in a tent.
20. Hiking a trail.


What makes your summer?

*PS I'm noticing a lot of mine are food related. Hmm...

Amelia's 4 month Appointment

We had Amelia's 4 month appointment with our pediatrician today. It went very well, so I won't bore you with all the details. Amelia is doing what she is supposed to be doing and a little ahead, especially in the physical motor skills area.

Her growth is also right on track as well:

Weight: 16 lbs 7.75 oz (90th percentile)
Up almost 8 pounds since birth 4 months ago!

Height: 26.5 inches (100th percentile)
Up 5 inches since birth!

Head Circumference: 43.5 cm (95th percentile)
Up 6 cm (roughly 2.5 inches) since birth!

We also got the go ahead to start out with the cereal, although right now we are planning to wait awhile before starting this. I was anticipating some disagreement with our doctor on this point and was shocked when she told me it was fine to start when I thought she was ready. For the record, I think Amelia is ready. However, I've done a lot of reading lately regarding the health benefits of delaying the start of solid food for babies. So, we're going to wait for awhile.

Another battle I thought we were going to fight was in regard to Amelia's shots. At this particular appointment, Amelia was scheduled to receive 6 different immunizations. She was scheduled for the same number at her 2 month appointment as well. Although the research is showing that immunizations are not the cause of autism, 6 different ones on one day is too many in my mind. So, we split it up. Amelia received 2 shots and one oral vaccine at this appointment and we'll return for a "quick stick" appointment in another month for the rest of them. We requested the same thing at our 2 month appointment and met a lot of resistance from our doctor. I'm not sure what changed her mind, but this time she actually offered to do shots the same as last time without us having to request it. I have several theories, but none of them are really that interesting (unless your name is Jenn Hawn, and then I think you'll want to hear this).

The News

I'm sick with a summer cold. We're busy with end of summer parties and WAIT! how can summer be almost over? We had things to do this summer! I'll be back with more later. When my nose stops running all over the place without me and my TO DO list for the summer has been completed.

Amelia's First Three Month Slideshow

I made slide shows for William's first year every three months. Oops. After further investigation, it appears that I made a slide show for William's first three months for the first nine months. Turns out I didn't get that one done. Anyway, I wanted to do the same thing for Amelia, but I wanted to do it a little differently. So, here it is! Enjoy!


PS It is a little long at 7 minutes.

PPS The music is so special. John and I used to take a yoga class together a couple nights a week. At the end of the class, this song would always play while we were supposed to be relaxing and focusing on breathing*. My mind would always wander and for some reason this music always painted a picture in my head of a barefoot little girl running/dancing in a big open field with a smile on her face. At the end of the song, I always found myself hoping/wishing/praying that we would someday have our own little girl to run/dance/smile our way through life with.


*I was never very good at that part of the class. The more "relaxed" I was supposed to get, the faster my brain would work. In order to focus on relaxing my breathing I usually had to be making a mental grocery list, picking out the clothes I would wear to work the next day and writing an e mail in my head to a friend. John would be next to me snoring away and I would be solving the world's problems while trying to remember to breathe. I'd like to take yoga again, someday.

Second night in her own room

The big news around here is Amelia has been sleeping in her crib since 8/2/09! I'll even be honest here and say that SHE has been ready for quite some time, I was the one who wasn't ready. It has been going really well...I'll be okay with it soon.

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Boy

What a beautiful day for a beautiful boy.



*and yes, I'm terribly behind*

Tooth #2 for Kid #2

Tooth #2, bottom left, 7/31/09

Amelia is 4 Months Old!

How can our baby be 4 months old? Amelia is turning into quite the big girl. She is now rolling in all directions quite rapidly. Earlier today, she transported herself to the trashcan on the floor of the hall to check out the plastic bag inside and ended up tipping it over on herself. Luckily, I was right there to catch the can before she was covered in 2 days worth of poopy diapers (and yes, the trashcan now has a new, baby friendly location). With all her self propelling these days, we have had to upgrade to a bed sized comforter on the floor to attempt to contain the spit up stains on our carpet. She still manages to get herself to the side and urp over the edge, but it helps. Scooting in the forward direction isn't far off as recently I've watched her work and work to get to toys right in front of her. Legs kicking and arms flailing push her forward at about 2.5 mm per hour, but she is getting there! Or rather, not getting there yet.

Keeping her on her belly for the whole photo shoot was quite the ordeal (and quite the workout!). Thank goodness, my favorite assistant, Daddy was home to help keep me on her belly and get her to smile big!

I'm not sure what is up with her hair...either her head is growing so rapidly, it appears her hair is falling out (my favorite theory) or her hair is falling out. I am so sad to be loosing the wild woman hair.
Looking up at daddy


Checking out her hands...contemplating spitting up on her outfit.
Giggling

Our girl also loves to be upright. I'm not sure if this is related a little to her spitty reflux or just a baby determined to satrt running to catch up with her brother. But, Amelia loves to sit and stand upright. She would do this all day long if I had nothing else to do.

Standing with Daddy's fingers

Standing with Daddy's help - you can see here how nicely his fingers have healed after our December car accident.
Peeking out from under her hat

As you would expect, Amelia is quite interested in her brother's toys and generally whatever he is doing. William is tolerating this new, mobile sister of his. Previously, he could keep both ladies in the house happy by providing his sister with one toy to look at and then playing with the rest of the 857676846354687654654654 toys we have in our house himself. This ploy does not work any longer, as Amelia works and works to get herself over to where William is playing to check the toys out for herself. So far she is happy to just watch him play and isn't demanding an equal share for herself. But, those days are coming.
Our girl has discovered her toes in the last week or two - I love this stage of grabbing their own feet for entertainment.

Fingers and toes
Just the sweet toes

Amelia continues to be quite social. There isn't anyone out there who she won't smile and giggle for. She is quite the flirt and charms people from the other side of the room on a regular basis. We frequently go places with her and have complete strangers approach us after she has worked her magic on them. She is utterly irresistible. We think so too.

Amelia flirting with her Daddy
These cheeks were made for kissing. And that is just what I do. Amelia is also giving kisses back quite deliberately. Although, they are on the messy side (open mouth, drool, occasional spit up), but she makes up for the fact by giggling the whole time she is kissing me. As if she couldn't be more delighted about kissing me.

I'm looking forward to our doctor appointment later this week as I am certain that she has made some big weight/height gains this month. Judging from the size of her jowls, number of chins and the amount of rolls on her thighs, I would say she is now getting enough to eat. She is looooonnnnnng like her brother and is wearing sized 12 month sleepers. Anything that is one piece needs to be sized 12 month. The two piece outfits are somehow more forgiving and she can squeeze her way into some 6-9 month stuff. Although the 3-6 sized pants still fit. in fact, the outfit she is wearing in these pictures is sized 6-9 month. I just bought it last weekend and I thought there would be "room to grow". Turns out I'm going to need to have her wear it a whole bunch here because I don't think it is going to fit much longer.

Although she loves eating, her curiosity about the world around her is starting to interfere with this favorite pastime. If there are noises or people talking loudly in the room around her, Amelia often has to stop and check out what is going on. This girl doesn't want to miss anything. Even if it is quiet and the two of us are alone, she frequently has to stop eating to flash her beautiful smile at me...which always makes me laugh. Which in turn, always makes Amelia laugh, which makes me laugh more. It isn't unusual for us to sit on the couch and quietly giggle at each other for several minutes until one of us decides it is time to get back to business.

Curious
What are you doing Mama?
Checking things out...

Speaking of eating, we are breaking ground on teeth. She is on the early side, just as William was with her first tooth breaking through just a few days before she turned four months old and the second tooth close behind. I'm not sure what kind of food she thinks she'll need those teeth for, but I guess she'll be ready when we get there.

Frequently the pose around here: as many fingers in the mouth as will fit. Enough to gag herself on a regular basis. I'd worry about her predisposition towards an eating disorder, but take a look at those chins. I'll worry about that later.

In fact, sometimes more than one hand is even good

Amelia Ann, you are as sweet as can be. You are such a beautiful blessing to our family and we love you to pieces. Your smile lights up our day and I could sit and watch you for hours. In fact, sometimes I do. Just because I can, and you are mine. I love you so much, baby girl.

One out take showing my lovely assistant, Daddy in our photo studio/bathroom. You'll see the toilet directly behind Daddy's head. Nice, huh? Here Daddy is holding Amelia in place so she will QUIT. ROLLING.OVER.ALREADY. so I can take a picture.

Tooth #1 on Kid #2

July 28th. Front lower right. Good bye gummy grins, goodbye.

Amazing Amelia

Amelia sure is growing and learning new things lately! It is definately time to say goodbye to the newborn and hello to our kicking, giggling, rolly polly girl!

Amelia loves to stand. For hours on end it feels like. So, we pulled out the exersaucer to try it out. Amelia loves, loves, loves it! Right away her attention was caught by some spinning wheels shown in the picture above. The interesting thing (maybe only to me) is this particular part of the toy never interested William at all. I don't think he ever played with it. So, it was funny to me that Amelia spent a huge chunk of time playing with it and figuring it out.

One hand is always in the mouth. Poor kiddo with the teeth coming in...

This is fascinating (but not enough to take my hands out of my mouth)

At meal times we've been having some trouble with Amelia wanting to be with us. One of us ends up holding her and doesn't get to eat (or drops food on Amelia's head). So, we pulled out the high chair and now Amelia sits with us in her high chair - what a big girl!

Cars are a great motivation to roll around. My heart stopped the other day when I walked into the room and Amelia wasn't where I left her (about 3 feet south). However, her brother's cars were a great incentive to get moving!
We have discovered our feet! And we take great delight in pulling off whatever socks mom puts on us. Look at my talent!

My talent from another direction

Mom left me playing with blocks in the far left region of this picture. When she came back....Amelia had traveled a pretty big distance! Wow! Time to get out the BIG blanket!

Angels Among Us

I don't have much to say. I'm busy holding on to our kids and being thankful for the blessings we've been given. I've posted a little about our friends, The Hawns. There are no words...no right words to describe the loss our friends have experienced today. If you are the praying kind, I know they would be appreciated.

Amelia and Ryan about 2 weeks ago. Ryan and Amelia enjoyed each other's company for a shart visit. Here is Amelia contemplating how to get the keys away from Ryan.

What a beautiful boy...

William and big sister Charlotte Hawn looking at books together last week when we brought the Hawn's some dinner.

Say this 3 Times Fast!

As seen from the car on our trip home from MN last time: