some days...

Michaela gets really wrapped up in her work.

family time

I know it's been a while since we've put up a post on the ol' blog. So hopefully today we can make up for some of that. Over the past several weeks we have been blessed to have family and friends come visit us. It's pretty necessary for them to come to us, because during busy tax season, we really don't go anywhere too far away. [For those of you keeping track, there are less than 3 weeks left of tax season, also meaning you have less than 3 weeks to file your taxes!]

Several weeks ago, we were visited by Abbey and Dave and their little baby-yet-to-be-named. He is also a little-baby-yet-to-be-born, so it's all right that he doesn't have a name yet, I guess. Coinciding with their visit, Michaela was going through a little stage of not wanting to eat any solid food. After mama took a shot at feeding Michaela, Aunt Abbey and Uncle Dave gathered 'round to try their hand. In spite of all the tricks in the book, Michaela would not be fooled into eating her peas... or anything else for that matter.

I mean, really, look at that face - nothing's going to get by her!

During this spring break week, my cousin Chari came to visit from the east coast, and a variety of female cousins and aunts got together for a fun afternoon and evening. One of the highlights of the day was watching Nadine and Chari herd sheep. The dog Chari was using to assist in herding I swear had to weigh as much as she did. (Below: Nadine, Chari, Michaela, Brook, Elise, Janae, Karen)

What you won't see from the pictures is that they live on a kind of farm, complete with a flock of sheep and newly born lambs. I am a little embarrassed to admit I had never (in recent memory, at least) held or petted an actual lamb. With Chari's help corralling the poor defenseless creatures, I got to do both. They are really adorable, if a little bit smelly. A little tangent about the mama sheep - it seemed at least 3/4 of the sheep had no mothering instincts at all! Those little lambs we corralled and held? No mama came looking for them, or baaahed for them. In fact, when we got several all stuck in a corner of the fence, the ewes jumped over their young to get away from us scary people, and left the babies to fend for themselves. The social worker in me really wanted to have a sit down conversation with these mothers and develop a plan for better parenting!

When we weren't with family, Michaela and I also hung out with friends. Michaela is checking out her friend Lily's cool blanket. At this age I think she appreciates it much more than Lily does. Thanks for sharing, Lily!

And lastly, what is our favorite family activity on a nice spring day? Going for a walk wearing a cute sun hat, of course! We took this photo to document for Grammy, who purchased the hat for Michaela quite some time ago.

Happy Friday All!!!

Seven is the perfect number

As Michaela turns 7 months old today, I am nearly too tired to write this. As perfect as the number 7 is referenced in the Bible, Michaela finds herself in more of a perfect storm - teething, becoming increasingly mobile (no, not crawling yet, but she does roll into the walls - no matter how far away they are originally), and the dirty diapers that accompany the onset of solid foods.

Every day is an adventure, and we're loving it. She is sitting up on her own (and tumbling over on her own), saying "dadadada," and sports a little tooth nub on her bottom gum. We've added a couple more foods to her diet, and Adam is proud that she ate an entire baby-size serving the first time she tried applesauce. He's the one who fed her, and assumes he now holds a household record. Showing true maturity, Michaela now also enjoys a good bath, splashing around and gamely trying to eat the washcloth. Lastly, Kenji and Michaela are starting to play together (a bit more than I'd like, honestly). While Michaela plays on the floor, Kenji licks her toes, legs, hands, and gets in a good face-lick, too, usually before I can scold her. Michaela laughs hilariously. It's going to be great watching them grow up together.

sunny days

With this being busy season for Adam at work, we try to take advantage of the time we do get to spend together. We were blessed this last weekend with some absolutely gorgeous, sunny days that are rather elusive this time of year. On Saturday afternoon we packed a picnic lunch and headed to the wildlife refuge just down the road, I think it's technically in Tualatin. If we were real "birders" I'm sure I'd be able to tell you what kinds of birds we saw. Unfortunately, to me they are merely big birds, little birds, big-beaked birds, etc. Kenji was sad that she couldn't come, as she definitely would have disturbed the wildlife.

On Sunday, we took an excursion that Kenji was also allowed to come along on. (In case you were wondering, the cat never comes on trips - she hates the car. She also prefers having the house to herself, we're pretty sure.) We explored Lee Falls, apparently an infrequently trafficked attraction, considering there were no signs anywhere and we had to rely on an older guide book and some locals to point us in the right direction. But it was a great day and was worth the trip. Credit for the beautiful photos goes to my talented husband.

Food, glorious food!

We continue this adventure that is food. We've told Michaela that if she's her mother's daughter, she will love to eat. I think the jury is still out on this. As of today, she has now tasted rice cereal, sweet potatoes, and avocado. I think her favorite is sweet potato, for now.

How come it's not polite for us to look like this when we eat?

Half-Year Birthday

Yes, can you believe it?! Michaela turned 6 months old on Monday. Adam and I certainly have a hard time believing Michaela is that old, and yet on the other hand, it is hard to imagine our lives without her in our family. We have been greatly blessed through her.

Michaela's physical revealed all systems are go. She weighs 14 pounds, 12 ounces (25th percentile) and is 26 inches tall (55th percentile). She demonstrated for the doctor her ability to "fake cough" and tried to listen to her own heart with the stethoscope. The doctor gave us the go-ahead to start feeding Michaela solid foods. Rice cereal, here we come! Michaela later showed us the face of shock, pain and betrayal when she received her next round of vaccinations. Poor thing. Adam always makes me hold her hands and console her because he doesn't want to be associated anywhere near the scene of the crime. Thankfully, though, she didn't seem adversely affected by the shots (emotionally or otherwise) and behaved normally the rest of the day.

To celebrate her six-month-a-versary, we went to visit her new friend Lillian (pictured above with her proud mommy Sarah). Lillian was so excited to meet Michaela that she entered the world a few weeks early. She was four days old when we got to see her and I got to hold her. Weighing in at not quite six pounds, baby Lily made Michaela feel like a heavyweight champ! I will narrate the photos in case they don't speak for themselves.

#1 - Michaela thinks - Oh, how fun! A playmate! Lillian thinks - Hungry!!!

#2 - Michaela thinks - I can almost reach her... there, got her! Victory!

#3 - Lillian thinks - Owie! Where's my mommy?!? Michaela ponders the satisfaction of a job well done.

Michaela's First Food

New photos

The Great Sock Houdini

For many months now Michaela has been amazing us with her ability to extract her feet from any type of sock we see fit to put on her. This was funnier in the summer when the weather was warm. Now, however, at the end of January, it's becoming one of the first Mommy v. Michaela showdowns. We have been taking some walks on these past days when it hasn't been raining, though it has been overcast and chilly, or sometimes sunny and chilly. Either way, I put Michaela in a hat or jacket with a hood, cozy clothes, and fuzzy socks for her feet. And off we go. The trouble with the way the stroller is set up is that I can be walking merrily along and not see Michaela's feet, because they are tucked up under the edge of the stroller canopy. When I stop to check and see, though, there her feet are - bare and cold. She still seems to be a happy camper! Perhaps what makes this so thrilling to Michaela and aggravating to me is that a baby is like a magnet for adult women of any age - and sometimes men. So anyone we pass on our walk has to stop and coo. Then they are exposed to my bad parenting as they see Michaela wiggling her bare toes in greeting - and me apparently completely oblivious. Please don't call children's services. It is for all these reasons above that I am a big fan of footed pajamas. It's really tough to get bare feet in those!

Mommy is afraid I might get cold...

All ready for a winter's day walk