Dang...

Tried to post new pics, but blogger isn't cooperating....maybe tomorrow!

Daycare started on Monday. Vivian loves it, we're having a much harder time....although it helps that she is so smiley everyday when we drop her off and pick her up.

She is so worn out from all the activity all day, that she is knocked out by 8:00/8:15 or so and is sleeping through the night again. This is in addition to TWO, yes, TWO naps that she takes at daycare everyday!

More pics....

What's that smell?


Doesn't my new brown knit hat look cute? Thanks grandma and grandpa! It matches my winter coat perfectly!

Laughin' with mom....

Watching football with daddy....with me around, daddy is a lot calmer during the games! Grandma and Grandpa from Minnesota made sure I have a Vikings outfit to cheer on the best team! I'll have to get a little Twins outfit for next summer....I hope mom and dad take me to some games.

When grandma came to visit, she bought me this really fun balloon. Good thing mommy cut my fingernails because I love to grab on to it!

Carrots, "The Office", and the Best Invention!

I've promised pictures, and pictures you will receive!

Vivian has been busy this past week. Today she tried carrots for the first time and seemed to like them! She has started waking up at night again for food, so we've introduced rice cereal and carrots to hopefully have a little more lasting power.

My mom was here visiting---had a great time and definitely some quality grandma time! I started back to work on Thursday---it went fine, the kids are great, I just missed Vivian terribly all day long. Vivian did a little trial run at daycare last week. She was only there for a couple of hours, but did great and Stephanie (the daycare provider) really enjoys her.

Adam and I bought Viv an early Christmas present....Meg and Joel fondly term it, "The Office", aka Evenflo Exersaucer. It is GREAT! Vivian can spin herself around and play with a gajillion toys. The best part for her is that she can sit up by herself. Apparantly, laying down is for babies!

Lastly, the best invention ever! Some of you know that Vivi HATES riding in the car. We're not sure if it is riding backwards, not being able to see out the windows or what, but we have a solution....sorta. I found a REMOTE CONTROL operated mirror that lights up and plays songs, the whole 9 yards. I can control it from a garage door-like remote in the front seat. This keeps her highly entertained for about a half hour, which makes trips to the mall and Target (and school) much more enjoyable!

Oh, What A Night!!!

It was late (at night) September back in '06....


As most of you know, Adam plays softball on Wed. nights....this weekwas no different...except that he had to go to the ER because he popped his shoulder out. No worries, it is back where it belongs. Unfortunately, it is also in a sling and out of commision for two weeks, at least. Kinda puts a damper on his parenting skills---no lifting! no diaper changing (which I'm sure he's sad about!) No bath-giving...etc...etc...

In Vivi-land, you'll be happy to know that she likes food....so far she has managed to put a piece of prime rib from brunch in her mouth and on Wed. she grabbed my (sugar-free) jello and got a taste....little stinker!

New pictures will be posted this weekend!

4 Month Checkup

Yesterday Vivian had her 4 month checkup....all is well!

Stats:

14 lbs. 14 oz.-----75th percentile
Head is 42 cm---75th percentile
Length is 25 3/4 in.---90th percentile

Daddy's stats when he was 4 months:

13lbs. 7 oz.
26 inches

Developmentally she is right on track (if not a little ahead).
She can hold her bottle now if it is light enough.
She has found her toes and puts them into her mouth (Thanks, Peg, for teaching her this! :)
I gave her a little rice cereal today. The Drs. were on the fence about it but I thought it was rather successful. She gobbled down all of it with little problem (it was VERY soupy). I think I'll continue giving it to her once a day. I'll post pics of her first tastings soon.

I had a Dr's appointment today.
It went well, all things considering. Dr. Napolitano answered a lot of my questions...she is changing my medication from Zoloft to Cymbalta....since there is a withdrawal period I am doing what is called a crossover. I take less of one, more of the other in 7 day increments until I have completely switched meds. Cymbalta deals more with the anxiety, rather than focusing solely on the depression. I also have Ambien CR to help me sleep (even though Viv sleeps through the night, I don't!) She also ordered up another Thyroid test---she thinks it is a continuing cause of the depression.
Otherwise, she cleared me to start working again on Sept. 21, 3 days later than originally expected. Oh....so sad....like I'm really in a hurry to go back....sheah...right.

Quick update...

Viv and I spent another week in Chicago...had another fantastic time! We stayed with the grandparents in Crystal Lake, went to Septemberfest out in Schaumburg with grandma, visited with the great-grandparents, and went to brunch at the fabulous Port Edwards (yum!!) amongst other things!

Vivian is mastering the art of chubbiness. She is so cute with those thighs and cheeks!

She has recently found her toes--I'm sure it won't be too long before the toes find the mouth. She continues rolling and can stay propped up on her tummy for longer periods of time. Laughing has become a daily thing now, but she mostly laughs at daddy. (Who doesn't?!?!)

We will go to the doctor for her 4 month checkup and shots tomorrow morning. Maybe he'll recommend some rice cereal for the big eater!

She's still sleeping!

Viv went to bed last night at 8:30...woke up at 6:00, Adam fed her....went back to sleep.... it is now 8:15 and the little bugger is still sleeping! It would be great except I have a doctor's appt. at 9:00.

She's such a little cutie patootie!

Long Time..No Post...

It's been awhile since the last post. We've been extremely busy lately....

Let's see...Adam started back up at school this month. He says the classes are fairly large and he doesn't like the new start time (8:30 instead of 7:30), but other than that, he likes his job!

Viv and I went to Crystal Lake, IL to visit my dad, Rose, Laura, Olivia and Marc...oh, Lizzy too! We had a great time and enjoyed catching up/reminiscing/shopping/eating/swimming. Yep, Vivian LOVES the water---she kicks and wiggles like crazy in her little floatie and doesn't mind (much) if water gets in her face.

Milestones this month: She likes her nuk a little more now and is starting to eat more at a crack. Smiling is a way of life. She likes TV and peoples' faces. She knows how to blow bubbles and yesterday learned how to spit. No, not spit up, just spit. She thinks it is hilarious. Vivian is growing like a weed....somewhere around 15 lbs and 26 inches long. We'll find out for sure when we go to see the doctor for her 4 month checkup.

Other than that, we're finally settling into somewhat of a routine and I'm really starting to enjoy my mommy status. Adam is an amazing father and husband--I couldn't have gone through these last few months without him....love you, Adam!

XOXO to all! Call/write and let me know what's new with you!

She ROLLS!

The Vivster rolled over! Ahh! So big!

Fun at Gatorland!

If you are a grandma or grandpa....DON'T freak! But.....your little granddaughter sat on a REAL LIVE 8 foot gator today!!

Another Crocodile Hunter in the making?!?!?!

True Love...

When you find true love, your life is complete. All the hard stuff becomes easier, all the fun stuff becomes more fun, food tastes better, nature is prettier and the "mountains" of life seem easier to climb. When you find the love of your life, hold on tight and don't let go!

Congratulations to MY BROTHER and his new FIANCEE as they prepare to exchange marriage vows!

Marc, Adam and I couldn't be happier for you! We're so excited for Melanie and Jacqueline (sp?) to join our family and to get to know them better. When it's right, it's right... and we could hear it in your voice 2,000 miles away---you've never been happier, grinned larger from ear to ear or been more at peace in your life.

God bless you both as you plan your day and begin the wonderful journey of marriage together! We love you!

We're Baaacccck!

We had an absolutely wonderful time in Alaska/Seattle/Vancouver. It was so fun seeing our friends who moved out to Seattle (they also went on the cruise with us). Some other friends and family (John and Peg too...) went as well. My favorite things were seeing Hubbard Glacier and the "To the Summit" excursion in Skagway. We saw a harbor seal, whales, dolphins, mountain goats, a porcupine and an otter. You can view all of the trip pictures on our shutterfly site. (Email me if you don't have that address, but want it!)

Congratulations to Pat, Carol and Josie as they welcomed baby girl Genevieve (Eve) to the world on Monday, July 17 at 9:45 pm. She weighed 7lbs. 5 oz. and is 19.5 inches long! So excited for you and can't wait to meet her!

Vivian is doing well--she's found a voice that does something besides crying and cooing....YELLING! She will randomly yell out...just because she can. She can roll over on her side and back again. She now opens up her hand and sucks on her fingers...what she has yet to realize is that sticking her fingers too far back makes her gag and it is nothing that we have done to her! What a silly girl!

She is officially in all 3-6 month clothes...can't believe we have to pack up the 0-3 mos. already! Daycare is all set up---she'll be in a home daycare with other teachers' kids starting Sept. 25 :(

Hope all are doing well!

If You can Dodge a Wrench...

...You can dodge a ball!

Adam, Kreg, John and Roel's dodgeball team are the ship's champions. They won "gold" medals and everything!

I'm Sailing...Ahoy!

We are sailing along the coast of Alaska right now. It is a bit chilly (60 degrees) and windy because the ship is traveling at a very brisk 23 knots in order to get us to Hubbard Glacier by tomorrow. The food is FANTASTIC--the ship is AMAZING--we're having a great time! I continue to be awed by all of the Earth's wonders.....

Tomorrow-Hubbard Glacier/Glacier Bay
Wed--Skagway
Thurs.--Juneau
Friday--sailing
Sat.--Victoria
Sun--back at port :(

Greetings from Washington!

Hello all! We're here in the BEAUTIFUL Pacific northwest. The weather is great--mid 70s during the day and cool sleeping weather at night. We arrived in Seattle around 3:00pm on Thurs. Vivian was an absolute angel on the flights---2.5 hours to Chicago and then 4 hours to Seattle...whew. Once in the city, we went to the City Center and went up in the Space Needle. It really is a fun city. We had dinner with everyone at a tiny little bistro called Michaelangelos. Yummy! Pike's Fish Market was closed for the day, but we may go next Sunday after we return.

Today, Friday, we all went to see Pirates of the Caribbean for Jeremy's birthday. After that, we went to Deception Pass, which was breathtaking. We had an incredible view of the sound and of Mt. Baker. We continued our journey into Anacortes and onto Washington State Park. We walked down to the beach there where the kids loved exploring. The scenery here is amazing. Just as we were about to leave, we saw a sea lion (seal?--we have to look at the picture more closely) fishing and we also saw a deer and fawn. On the way home, we saw Mt. Rainer---awesome!

Oh, and one more thing....on the flight, I took some incredible pictures of Mt. St. Helen's ABOVE the clouds. Very cool. I'll post when we get back!

You may be subject to some audioblogs with my icky voice....but, I need to remember what we did each day!



Saturday morning we are off to Vancouver...

2 month checkup

Vivian's stats:

weight: 12.5 lbs (80th percentile)
length: 24 in. (95th percentile)
head: 40 cm (80th percentile)

Doc says she is beautiful and healthy and made a good recovery from her rough start, weight wise. He said she's nice and tall (and must take after the husband's side of the family...ha ha). Vivian had her first big round of shots today. I think they hurt me more than her. She got REALLY mad, but settled down fairly quickly. She seems to be in good spirits, so hopefully no major reactions!

She is starting to like her swing a bit more...it went a little fast for her in the beginning so we had to rig some extra weight on it to slow it down. She also likes: Nuks, milk, laying on daddy, going for walks in her stroller, rides in the car (but not stop lights!), her green froggy blanket and her little pink lamb (that appropriately plays Mary Had a Little Lamb).