Six Years

This weekend Eric and I celebrated our 6th year wedding anniversary.  Friday night we actually watched a movie-- Crazy, Stupid, Love, which we really enjoyed.  Saturday morning we had a great conversation with Grandma June, and Jan and Jean on Skype.  It was gorgeous weather; 70s and sunny with minimal wind.  We took advantage and went for a picnic and a walk in the woods and along the lake at a provincial park outside of the city.  Saturday was a day of firsts for Annabel as she laughed for the first time when I was changing her clothes to go to the park.  There was nothing funny occurring, but she let out a clear laugh....but we haven't heard it since.  I can't wait for her to do it again!  She also rode for the first time in her carrier and feel asleep on Eric's chest.  It worked so well as the stroller would have been tough to push in the woods with the wooden stairs and tiny bridges.  It must be common for people to feed the birds on the trail, as we had four chickadees lead us on the trail.  They jumped from tree limb to tree limb really close to our heads the entire trail.  I felt like I was in a Disney movie....but we couldn't decide if it was like a scene from Cinderella, Bambi, or Alice in Wonderland.  I guess we need to get caught on our Disney stories.  

This adorable hat was made by Annabel's Great Aunt Janice.  On a different day when she was wearing it she started crying in her car seat and then fell asleep.  When I stopped the car and came to get her, this hat had fallen over her eyes.  No wonder she was crying.  And then, maybe in the darkness, she thought her only choice was to fall asleep!

Cool shadow shot.

Thinking back on our wedding day, we remembered how much it poured!!  We also remembered how wonderful it was to spend the weekend with so many friends and family.  It was an excellent day and really fun night.  We loved having a live band.  Eric loved having pie.

We were giggling about how we had to go to Walmart after the dance because Eric forgot contact solution.  I stayed in the car because I really had zero interest wandering around Walmart in a wedding dress in the middle of the night.  (although I would have really thrown that "people from Walmart" thing for a loop)  Eric was walking through in his tux thinking he would be the oddest dressed person there, but then he passed a man in a inflatable sumo wrestling costume with an attached air motor.  The checkout lady said "you must have been at a wedding."  Eric responded. "yep." The lady asked, "who's wedding?"  Eric said "mine."  We then continued on to the Super 8 (yep, you read that correctly).

In the past six years, we have moved from Urbana to Savoy to Saskatoon, been fortunate to travel quite a bit, and as you may or may not have gathered from reading this blog, we now have a little baby girl who we are quite smitten over.   

Playing in the nursery

We were laughing about the way she was lying with her hands and legs straight down, so Eric tried to imitate her but then she moved.

I set her down here and she stayed like this for a long, long, time.

Skyping in the am, but once again I think her eyes are on the t.v.!

Update:  Tonight, despite having a tough day (was more fussy than usual most of the day/too tired), she laughed for Eric a couple of times! 

   

3 Months!!

Last weekend, Annabel turned 3 months old. We have been busy with a Eric's work picnic, meeting other moms and their babies for walks, and Skyping with family.  She is so much fun!!!

It got a bit chilly the night of Eric's work picnic. She received that adorable knitted hat from our friend Betsy.  Annabel likes to hang onto the strings.

Her hair is now about 2 in. long, grown an inch since birth.

Just chillin' with my hands in my pockets. 

She loves batting and kicking at the animals on her play mat and likes to stare at the turtle on her bouncer.  Her ability to now entertain herself for 10-30 min. with these toys has helped me when I need to take a shower, make supper, or fold some laundry with two hands.  She is a much more content baby these days who loves to suck on her hands.  The other night I heard her over the monitor sucking on her hands and then she must have fallen back to sleep, so I love that she is soothed by them.  She is slowly starting to take interest in rattles and toys.  This morning Eric got her out of bed and propped her up on his pillow while he was getting ready for work.  I woke up, looked over and she was laying there with the blankets tucked tightly at her waist, shaking a rattle in each hand.  So cute!!  She also started grasping toys this week and mouthing them.  I like how she is becoming more content and can sit in my lap and look at a book or just be content in our arms.  And, she now cuddles more by putting her head on our chest....so wonderful!!  When we don't figure out her need fast enough, however, does she ever know how to let us know.  She goes from 0 to 90 in the scream category.

She has been working hard on getting all five fingers plus part of her fist into her mouth.  I think she has further mastered it since this picture.

Last Thursday we moved her to her crib, as her bassinet quarters were getting tight.  She slept in only 1-2 hour chunks for the first 3 nights in her crib.  It may have been in combo with her supposed 3 mo. growth spurt; we are not sure.  The road noise is louder by the nursery and it is cooler.  A noise machine with the ocean waves and an extra blanket may have helped the fourth and fifth night, as she was back to sleeping 5 hours, then another 3 hours.  I hope that continues and lengthens in time.  It was sad moving her across the hall, but she looks so cute in her big crib.

Most of the time, she doesn't mind being on her tummy.  She has surprised us with her ability to roll from her stomach to her back and, other day, she rolled from her back to her belly, but neither of us saw it happen.  We were talking to each other and Eric looked down and saw her on her stomach.  Her latest thing is putting both legs really high in the air, so we think she got them so high she flipped over to her side and then to her stomach.  I love watching her entertain herself by staring at her feet.  She studies them daily possibly thinking "what they heck are these things?"

Out for a walk by the river with a friend and her baby.

I've heard to avoid or at least limit t.v. for a child's first two years.  I see this is going to be a challenge, because whenever Eric is watching football, Annabel's eyes are glued to the screen.  I think it might be the moving colors that is attractive.  She took a swipe at my cell phone the other day and moved the screen, so I guess we can say she is already using a smartphone. ha!

Sporting handmade sweater and booties from Eric's relative Marlene

Actually taking a nap in her crib, although I believe this one lasted less than 10 min.

So far she does not love baths, although there were no tears on her most recent one.  We are starting to think it's a matter of timing: not to late.  She doesn't mind, however, getting her pants changed or getting dressed.  And she is not demanding such an immediate diaper change anymore, which was great as she was just ultra sensitive to wet pants.

Micheels' Funny Reel

We made the most of our couple days in Grand Forks.  The day we thought our car was going to be fixed, we shopped in the morning at Target.  Saskatoon does not have a Target, so it was somewhat fun (if we had rested, it would have been more fun).  We filled a cart with a couple big boxes of diapers, wipes, some iced tea, notebooks..etc.  After we had checked out, we received a call from the mechanic saying they needed a few more hours.  We had already checked out of our hotel, so we had nowhere to go.  Guess who pushed a Target cart and a stroller back to the hotel lobby to hang out and watch the Olympics? The folks at the front desk asked if we were checking in.  We said nope, just hanging out waiting for our car to get fixed. Classy!

Annabel has been quite the boisterous tooter since birth.  Almost unreal.  When we were stuck in Grand Forks, ND on our trip to WI, we wondered around Kohl's some, since it was across the parking lot from our hotel.  We had separated for awhile in the store and when we reunited, Eric said "Annabel farted a couple times."  I believe I responded, "whoopdi doo, she does that all that time."  He looked at me and said, "no, you don't understand, I got blamed for it."  Annabel had tooted loudly and two (good-looking, Eric points out) women shot him confused scowls like "you born in a barn."  He just didn't think they would believe him if he pointed to little 9 lb Annabel and said "actually, it was her."

Annabel recently pulled a similar stunt on me.  We attended a free trial Mommy and Me Pilates class last week and as she was relaxing, laying on the mat, she let one out.  I know if others in the class knew it was her they would have looked my way or smiled  "oh, cute."  But everyone continued, straight-faced, trying to not embarrass the mom in the corner who supposedly passed gas during her pose. 

Mind you, in Wisconsin Eric and I were perceptually exhausted.  We arrived tired from the drive and then with the excitement of family and events, we continued on.  Annabel was then also sleeping anywhere from 3-5 hour stretches, but nothing consistent.  Anyway, this hilarious conversation occurred in Kmart as we were standing at the check out:

Heather:  "Wow, look at how big those are."  (referring to really large cans of Mt. Dew...24 oz cans....in a glass cooler by the exit)

Eric:  "Wow, yeah, they are huge." (referring to a huge pair of UWEC sweatpants, not knowing I was talking about Mt. Dew)

Heather:  "I think the big writing makes them look even bigger."

Eric:  "yeah."

Heather:  "I'd have to use two hands." (Eric said he was thinking..."okay, weird")

Lady in front of us in line: "yeah, you would have to pick me off the floor after one of those." (Eric was then further thinking, "ok, also weird. What is wrong with that lady?")

Eric: "Heather, you wouldn't even have to wear a shirt."  (at this point, I was thinking "okay, Eric, usually you are pretty witty, but that didn't make any sense at all).

Heather: "What?"

Eric:  "Those sweat pants; they are so big you wouldn't have to wear a shirt."  "Why, what were you talking about?"

Wisconsin Visit Summer 2012

First hotel stay

At the end of July, we took off for Wisconsin, a drive that would normally take around 16 hours.  For us, we knew it would take longer with stops to feed Annabel and diaper changes, which we figured was a good way to give her breaks from the car seat.  She rode in the carseat so well, sleeping in 4-5 hours stretches.  We made it to Grand Forks, ND when our vehicle sounded funny and the air conditioning stopped.  Luckily, there was a room at the Holiday Inn Express and it was a short drive to one of the only mechanics open on a Sunday.  It was also a short walk to a Target and restaurants and the Olympics were on.  The part wouldn't arrive until Monday, so we stayed two nights with a possibility of a third, but they got the car fixed.  At one point, they had everything fixed but the AC, but there was no way were going to continue without it when the temps were still 85 plus at night.  We made great use of our stroller over those days.  We arrived at my parent's house very, very exhausted.

"I can't believe we are stuck in Grand Forks, ND"

Meeting Grandma June who sang her some lullabies.  At the start of our visit, she was just starting to show some smile here and there, but by the end she was really kicking and smiling for everyone!  I think she managed to smile for everyone who wanted one from her, even my Uncle Tom who worked on it for multiple visits!

Meeting her namesake and Great Aunt Jean

Great Aunt Janice, the baby whisperer

My Grandma was so excited to have a great-grandchild with red hair, just like her mother.  I never knew Grandma Gessner had red hair because I only knew her in her 80s and 90s when her hair was white.  Grandma was able to visit many days, which was so nice!

Grandma Paula at Music in the Park in Eau Claire.  What a fun night!  Eric, Annabel, and I, along with my parents, joined my Aunt Sue and Uncle Manny, my sister Chelsea and her boyfriend Brandon.   My high school friend Katie also stopped by with her adorable little boy.  I also, later, got to meet her new baby.  So cute!

All dressed up for Uncle Neil and Aunt Jodi's wonderful outdoor wedding.

She sat so calmly during the wedding.  At one point, some people turned their heads to see what the sucking sound was, as she entertained herself with her hand!  She has loved her hands since day one; a self-soothing tool.  She still doesn't care much for a pacifier, although it has helped on a few occasions when she is really tired. 

Annabel seemed to really like Grandpa Terry's deep voice, as she looked so intently at him when he spoke.

My mom helped a lot by rocking her in the evenings some nights.  Annabel is sporting her "grandpa pants," as Eric calls them.  Babies sure do look funny in pants since there is no waist line!  Well, these pants are also way too large.

We spent four nights at Castle Rock Lake in a rental cabin with our friends from IL.  We cooked, watched the Olympics, went for walks, watched sunsets, drank beer, played Farkle and Phase 10, and sat on the porch overlooking a golf course where the guys played one round.  It was a really relaxing time, without any run-around.  Annabel was just starting to sleep some 5 hour stretches at night, so it was great for us to also get some sleep.

This bed was huge!!  Eric and I didn't touch each other all night! 

A relaxing moment during her party with Great Aunt Pam.  Pam said it was "heaven."  My Aunt Linda said she couldn't wait to smell her at the shower!!  Annabel managed to throw her experience for a loop by pooping while she was holding her.  We asked Linda how she smelled then and Linda responded, "still wonderful!"

Nice to relax in Grandpa's arms

All tired out after her welcoming party.  Forty some women came to the house and showered her with amazing gifts.  We also had a shower on the Micheels' side.  She meet a lot of people in a short amount of time.  We found out that she is VERY loved!  She is wearing hand-made booties from my Great Aunt Doodie; booties just like my Great Grandma used to make for all the babies.

Clean, comfy, and full of cuddles!

Aunt Chelsea and Annabel

She continues to love to fall asleep on our chests.  Sometimes it's the only way we can get her to go to sleep in the evenings now too.  Her favorite place is Eric's chest. 

We were able to eat lunch at the delicious Farm House in town and Buffalo Wild Wings, enjoyed Mexican food with a group of high school friends, had a campfire in my parent's back yard, and joined Eric's family for Sunday Supper.  Eric traveled to Seattle for work for a few days, which worked well with Annabel and me being with family.

Great Aunt Jean sure has a way with babies.

She was so tired, but still had a few smiles left.  The afghan was a gift from my Grandma, handmade by her friend Marilyn.

The drive back on August 21/22nd was thankfully uneventful.  We drove North to Bayfield area and continued on through MN and ND.  Hours from home, we didn't know if we would ever make it.  In one hour we stopped four times; we think Annabel was protesting the drive.  All in all, a great trip!