Vegas Baby!

We did it! We scoured travel websites for weeks looking for the cheapest hotel we could get, we stalked Southwest to find cheap flights, and we crammed 4 adults and 2 babies in car seats into a Honda Pilot to drive from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas. It took a lot of effort, but we made it. 

Our first family vacation with our very good friends, Daniel and Jess, and their hunky little man! We for sure won't plan a road trip like that again- next time we'll just rent a minivan or a suburban. The two tall men got to drive and ride shotgun while Jess and I traded sitting in the middle between the two babies, and sitting in the back with the luggage and strollers. But we made it, and it was fun!

We were all trying to make this trip happen on a budget, so we stayed in the Freemont on the Old Strip. We figured since we weren't spending any money drinking or gambling, we could get away with being pretty cheap. It worked, but in terms of accommodations it is true what they say- you get what you pay for. It wasn't as bad as the Motel 8 -or whatever it was in Des Moines, Iowa that we had to stay in- but it sure wasn't Caesar's Palace either. 

We spent a lot of time walking that first day. We started out at the Fashion Show Mall and meandered over to M&M world (yesssss...) On walkjogrun.net it was well over 5 miles that we pounded the pavement. The babes were fantastic. Little Miss had a great time looking at everything. She was happy in her stroller, happy to be carried- she was just happy. She even napped when she was supposed to. It was fantastic. Jess's Little Man was great too. He is still little enough that he can sleep whenever he wants to. I must say though that she and I are the most impressive ones by far. We are veteran nursing Mamas now. We fed those babies in the atrium of the shops at Caesar's Palace, in restaurants, and on a bench outside M&M world. We got a kick out of it, because while we were inside no even looked our way, but outside (we were sitting near a sidewalk) people were staring at us even though we both used nursing covers. The irony was not lost on us. 

The boys in front of a fountain of Apollo 

Little Miss's first movie! It was a 10 min movie at M&M world. Don't worry the 3D glasses are sanitized

We stayed for 3 nights, and decided that the second and third nights we would trade babysitting and each couple would go see a show. I wish I had a picture to commemorate it, but it was our first date with just me and Alex since Little Miss was born! We saw Cirque du Soleil's Mystere, and it was a-maze-ing. I spent the majority of the show with my mouth hanging open. It was the cheapest Cirque show, but man it was fabulous. What a fun way to start dating my husband again!

Day two was more walking, but not as far, and at a much slower pace. 

Outside the Venetian

The buffet at The Paris

A major part of our trip centered around the ability to purchase a pass that would let us into buffets all over the strip for 24 hours. We planned it so we had a later dinner one evening when we purchased the pass, then we were able to eat breakfast, lunch and an early dinner the next day, all for one price. The mistake that we made was going for the closest buffet the afternoon of the second day. While it was fun to take pictures of the flamingos at The Flamingo, it was a costly mistake for me. It was a good thing we went out for our date the night before because I got si-i-i-ick. Fortunately it didn't affect Daniel and Jess's  date night. 

The Fateful Flamingo

By the next morning I was feeling well enough to curl up in the back of the car and go home back to SLC, and we left without much of a delay. 

We had a great time -food poisoning notwithstanding- and loved being with friends and family. 

Great-Grandparents

I was lucky enough to know some of my great-grandparents. My maternal grandmother's mother lived until I was 19, and her father until I was 23. We visited them each summer for many years and I well remember walking through their gardens and pastures. I love the pictures that I have with them, and of them. 

Little Miss is lucky enough to have six of her eight great-grandparents living, and I'm so glad that I get to take pictures of them with her. On a recent trip, we got to meet up with both sets of Alex's grandparents for pictures. 

Little Miss already met my grandmother and her husband, and I can't wait to introduce her to my grandfather  and his wife too. 

7 Months

It's getting harder to get a picture of this little gal just smiling these days. She is so curious and expressive. It is so fun to watch her go through so many ranges of emotion and watcher her consider new things.

She's a champ at rolling, she's still working on getting her teeth in, and she's doing great with solid foods. Pears and prunes have been her favorite so far, with green beans being tolerable and rice and oatmeal cereal being simply unbearable, even when mixed with delicious things. She had learned to stick her tongue out, she can use a straw to get a drink (but not a sippy cup...) and she loves to try to feed herself. 

She loves:

bathtime, as always

watching Luna run around

chewing on everything

sitting up

peek-a-boo

walks in the stroller

being tossed in the air

teething crackers

She laughs at:

Daddy's duck noises

being tickled

Luna running around

bouncing, jumping tossing her around

She hates:

baby cereals

being sleepy

being left out of sight

She is also getting a little shy these days. When someone new talks to her she'll turn her head and put her hand in front of her face, or she'll turn her head into my shoulder and peek around a them. It is very coy and very cute!

Getting the Word Out

I am excited to announce that some good friends of mine are starting the road to adoption. They were some of the best next-door neighbors we could have asked for, and not bad cooks either. No seriously, we did a dinner group with them and we ate together once a week, with each couple trading who made dinner. It was awesome! They have started a blog, and are looking for a way to contact a possible birth mother, so I'm doing my best to get the word out!

So if you know of anyone, there is a fantastic couple (actually, there are so very many) who are unable to have their own biological children that would make dedicated and loving parents.

Friends, keep your ears open, and pass the word along if you can.

Meet Walt and Tiffany at their blog: http://waltandtiff.blogspot.com/

And take a look at those gorgeous faces!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

From our home to Yours!

4 months

Here is my happy camper! She had her 4 month check up yesterday and did great. She's definitely NOT following my growth pattern, but is just like her daddy! She's 97th percentile for height and 46th percentile for weight. She's grown 5 1/2 inches since she was born! Holy Buckets!

She LOVES:
blowing spit bubbles
smiling
laughing
"The Wheels on the Bus"
playing with her winkle ball toy
shrieking
cooing
'talking'
watching me make dinner
chewing on EVERYTHING
bath time!
attention of all kinds

She does NOT love:
having her face wiped
having her fingernails clipped
waiting for a meal

We borrowed a bumbo seat from a friend this week in the hopes that it will help her learn to sit up on her own. She seems pretty confused when we put her in it, like she may be wondering why she is sitting up but we are so far away. It was the same look that she got when she took a bottle the first couple of times. She isn't rolling over yet, but she's getting pretty close. She tends to spit up every time she's on her tummy, so her tummy time sessions are short. I wouldn't like having puke so close to my face either!

She has been chewing and sucking on her fingers regularly and with gusto for the last few weeks, so I suspect she may have a tooth coming up. She recently discovered the joys of a thumb though. For the past 2 or 3 days she has been going to her thumb when she's tired (not just to chew on it, she still chews on her fingers and fist). Maybe that will help prevent the middle-of-the-night games of binky fetch?

In other news-- SHE SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT! I know the definition is 6 hours- which she has been doing regularly for months now (for her first sleep, during which time I sleep maybe one or two of those hours), but last night was 12 hours of uninterrupted sleep. I know it was a fleeting night, and that it may be weeks before she does it again, but I tell you it felt good. Even though I woke up twice to check on her it felt gooooood. Now the reasons she slept 12 hours: she completely missed her morning hour and a half nap yesterday, she got a round of vaccinations, and she had a half dose of baby Tylenol to help her feel better. I wouldn't care to repeat those reasons to recreate the night sleep, but hey. It gives me hope for a bright future.

Basically I love my little dimpled smiling Little Miss.

My Chatty Girl

She dropped her ring toy on her nose and couldn't figure out how to get it off. I was just cracking up, then I remembered to run and grab the camera! But unfortunately she had figured out how to remove the offending object. I re-created the event, and this smart cookie didn't take long to figure it out again. Her 'commentary' on the situation is my favorite.

Love this girl!

We're in! -Angels on Earth

Last weekend we moved the last of our stuff into the new place. We (meaning me and several other angels-on-earth) spent the weekend previous painting the bedrooms and the living space- someday I'll show you why- and we got all of our stuff packed and moved last weekend. 

During the past couple of weeks involving the move, i decided that there are times in life when you are able to give help, and times when you need to be gracious about receiving it. This move was one of those times when I gratefully accepted a lot of help from many friends at church. I ended up getting a blocked duct the day before we moved and felt feverish as we packed the last of our stuff and loaded the truck. Our first night here I was BURNING up, and by the next morning I felt weak, but better. We still had some packing and cleaning to do at our old apartment, and my wonderful friends at church told me they were coming over to pack up the kitchen, move it, unpack it, and then help clean the old apartment. They realized how sick I was when I didn't even know it myself. I didn't know how much help I needed, and they came anyway. 

Folks, there are angels here on earth. You just might be someone else's angel at sometime. 

Also, my Mom, photographer extraordinaire, sent along this picture from when Little Miss was 5 weeks old. it makes me smile. 

The stuffed animals are watching us creepily, and my nose is all smooshed. Love it!

 

One week and Good News!

Little Miss is a week old! 

She hates to be changed. 

She has a great accidental smile. 

First family walk!

She looks just like her Daddy!

At the hospital when the doctor checker her out, he found out that her hips were loose in the sockets and dislocatable. He had a pediatric orthopedist come check her out and she was diagnosed with Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip (DDH). It can cause a limp and a swaying walk in children and adolescents, and painful arthritis in adults. Fortunately though, since we caught it so early she can wear a harness that will help keep her femur head in the socket and let the joint develop properly so that she won't have any problems as she grows. So she gets to wear a Pavlik Harness to help her hips develop normally. The harness looks a bit like lederhosen to me... She is in the harness full time for the next 6 weeks, and then she'll wear it when she sleeps for the next 6 weeks after that. We were thinking that she would have to wear it full time for 12 weeks, then at night until she was 6 months. We got the good news today that her femur is already staying in the socket, and that her treatment plan can be shortened. So though the harness is a bit of a hassle, I'll happily make it work. 

In short, we are a bit sleep deprived, but happily getting to know our sweet Little Miss!

Introducing...

 Our newest little Miss! We are absolutely smitten, and I now understand why first time parents are so obnoxious about their kids. I'm proud when she eats well, proud when she screams, proud when she poops a good one, and proud when she accidentally smiles at me.

Welcome to the world little one, we are so glad you are finally here!

Watch Me Grow!

I love it when other people post pictures of their pregnancy growth, but now that its my turn, I'm not so pleased. But ah well, puffy faces happen. Don't judge too harshly. :)

12 weeks- Was I ever so petite??

19 weeks

23 weeks

26 weeks

29 1/2 weeks

35 weeks

35 weeks at Alex's Commissioning

38 1/2 weeks. Thats as good as it get for now I'm afraid. :)

Define: Nesting

According to Merriam-Webster: 

(of a bird or other animal) Use or build a nest: "the owls often nest in barns"; "do not disturb nesting birds".

Fit (an object or objects) inside a larger one: "the town is nested inside a large crater on the flanks of a volcano".  

According to Laura: 
The desire and or attempts of an expectant mother to achieve and/or maintain a level of cleanliness that is unattainable, unreasonable, or unhealthy. Also the desire to finish all partially completed projects regardless of feasibility. 


Alex is studying furiously for his finals next week. It is rather hard to believe that we're already 1/4th of the way through medical school! It seems to have  gone by at hyper speed, but then things tend to to that when you're busy. After that he'll have 10 weeks off for the summer to help me attain and maintain a perfectly spotless home 100% of the time put a crib together, and maybe even go golfing with some friends. He has worked so hard this year, and it will be a much deserved break (though he will be doing research part time with a professor). Not to mention it will be the last summer he has off, um, ever. So we're going to live it up! (Ha)


In the meantime, work has lightened for me quite a bit. Things were busy through March and most of April, but now that the national April ACT test has past, things have gotten quite a bit quieter. Seems like not as many kids are studying for the June test. Go figure. This has left me with quite a bit of time on my hands. Which  may not be the best thing for a near term pregnant woman. In fact, I am only blogging now to keep myself from going at the baseboards with gloves and a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. In fact, this is how I have been feeling lately:

Excellent Image

This- feeling- has been exaggerated by the fact that it is spring time, and its natural to want to clean all the things in spring time, also it is shedding season for one black Labrador who shall remain nameless; but she wanders and leaves her black shadow all over my floors, wall, couch, and anything that touches her, or anything that touches something that touched her. Ever. We also just had two successive sets of house guests. (Grant, Trevor, Shelley, if you read this I am so glad that we were able to have you over, and that we were able to share our air-mattress with you.)  All of these things are contributing to a building sense of anticipation and mania that will probably only cease when i am too exhausted to continue, or my husband hauls me away in a maternity strait-jacket. Which he may do in the very near future. Like in two weeks when he isn't busy studying. So in the meantime, with my husband distracted by neuroanatomy, I am going to go clean all the things. Probably twice. 


Cheers. 


I also found this article to be entertaining, and also a little too close for comfort. Let the irrationality begin. Err... continue. 

The Best Laid Plans

For those who don't know my birthday is about this time of year... :)

And this year we got lucky! My tutoring center happened to be moving locations yesterday, so I got the afternoon off! And Alex gets out of class at one on Fridays, so even though it wasn't my birthday we decided to make an afternoon of it. He thought it would be fun to take me to the Shedd Aquarium, then wander around town and get some dinner after. Sign me up! I was so excited! Seriously, go look around at the website and check out the exhibits that they have. Not to mention, it was my first time going downtown in the daylight. We've kinda been slacking in the exploration department...

So Friday rolls around, and I spent an hour and fifteen minutes trying to track us down some tickets; which are a good idea to get ahead of time fyi, but are not on sale day-of... Mistake 1. So Alex gets home a little after 1, we eat lunch, do a few things around the apartment, and we're finally ready to leave at 3. Mistake 2. It took us an hour and fifteen to get there when it could have taken 45, so we get to the parking garage at Soldier Field at about 4:15, knowing that the aquarium closes at 5. We rush over and they are no longer selling tickets. Wop, wop......

I guess they weren't the best laid plans, but we had been excited for them. And in our defense, we both grew up in medium-large cities (populations of 608,000, and 600,108 according to the 2010 census), and our plans would have worked there. But we forget that this is Chicago: Population 2,884,382. Sooooo things work a little differently. 

Feeling pretty sorry for ourselves, we decide to walk around the Museum Campus there. For those that haven't been to Chicago, the Museum Campus is pretty awesome. The Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, The Adler Planetarium, and Soldier Field (Da Bears...) are all on the same strip of Lakshore, and there is a pretty neat jetty/peninsula to walk on. It also connects with paved trails to the park along Lakshore Dr. and where Buckingham Fountain are. These are pretty major Chicago-y places. 

So we walk along the peninsula and take some pictures:

Did I mention it was almost 80 degrees and gorgeous? All week? I try not to brag...

Then we walked to a Thai place about a half mile away. Ma & I was good! On the way back to the car we decided to walk through one of the statue parks to play, and take pictures of course... 

Can you see him?

And just then it started to rain. And rain a little more. 

We walked as fast as our full stomachs could to an underpass to ride out the storm. 

The Shedd Aquarium from the underpass. See all that water!? The storm lasted about 20 minutes, and by the time it was done we saw 3 building struck by lightning, including the one next to the Shedd! There was also 3-4 inches of standing water on that pathway...

Then the gutters started to well up with water from below. 

Once the rain quit, it made for an amazing sunset (with clear skies I might add)

And it turned the water the most stunning colors...

All in all, I'm glad we didn't get into the aquarium, because we probably wouldn't have been caught in the rain. :)

....But next time we'll plan better.