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Monday, August 17, 2009

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...











Friday, August 14, 2009

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...

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

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.

Monday, August 10, 2009

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.

Monday, August 3, 2009

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.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Boy

What a beautiful day for a beautiful boy.



*and yes, I'm terribly behind*