Madison Splash Park

On Monday we went with my nieces to the new splash pad at Madison Park. Makenzie loved it after she got used to the water. Karley is a mature going to be 5th grader so she had to play cool but she liked it too. Josie slept for the majority of our hour and a half there and got out for about 3 minutes before eating. We dipped her toes into the sprinkler and her legs came springing back up...too cold for her!

My Uncle Paul by Josie

Josie met her uncle Paul for the first time this past weekend. Because she is 11 weeks old she wanted to come up with eleven reasons why she loves her Uncle Paul.

1. He came all the way from Florida to meet me and to be my godfather.
2. He looks like my daddy so I don't get scared looking at him.

3. He laughs a lot.

4. He lives in Florida so I have somewhere fun to go on vacation.

5. He calls me cute!

6. He likes the zoo just like me!

7. He has cool plaid shorts.

8. He has a nice friendly smile.

9. He does a good job holding and snuggling me.

10. He has a swimming pool.

11. He loves me!

11 Week Social Butterfly

This week I couldn't honestly tell you any milestones about Josie because we were busy all week at get togethers! From Sunday to Monday of the following week we went to a baby shower, went to school to clean, went to a picnic at the park with my students, went to an end of year party at a friend's house, went to a friend's house for the day to visit her twins, went to Mt.Mary meeting, went to Johnson creek shopping, went to Texas Roadhouse, went to the zoo, was baptized, celebrated Father's Day, and went to a splash pad! Whew we were busy but lucky to have so many friends and family members to spend time with!

This week for sure she has gotten much more smiley and talkative which has been a blast! But she's camera shy because everytime I pull it out her smiles go away. I'll get it one of these days!

Curt's First Father's Day

On Sunday in addition to Josie's baptism we celebrated Curt's first Father's Day. However, more of the attention went to Josie that day but Curt was able to spend a lot of time with his brother this weekend and other family members on Sunday because of the baptism so I know that made his weekend even more special. Josie suprised him with a chocolate chip cookie cake! Curt's been a hands-on Dad with Josie and learning and doing all that is needed as we figure out being first time parents! Both Josie and I are lucky to have him in our lives!

Josie's Baptism

Make a Smilebox greeting

Our Watchdog

Bogey has attached himself to Josie quite well. Since we've brought Josie home Bogey has kept an eye on her. If she fusses, Bogey looks to us like do something. If I leave her in her crib to do a chore he lays there and waits until I come back. If I carry her to the changing table he follows. He is quite the watchdog for us! Mulligan on the other hand, ignores her but doesn't mind that she's here because she doesn't take up pillow space for napping through the day!

Josie's TV

Well it is no suprise...Curt and I are both TV fans....and we've passed that on to Josie!

Here she is trying out her Bumpo chair in her crib and watching the crib motion toy; it plays music and there is a monkey and fish that moves around. She was entranced by it!

To us it looks like she's watching TV and relaxing in her own EZ-chair with her arm propped up! Josie lasts only about 5 minutes before her neck muscles get too tired and her head dips down. She looked so cute that we wanted to share.

*Note that the crib looks like a toy box, we keep things up so the dogs don't play with them too!*

Double Digits Baby! Josie is 10 weeks old!

Josie is 10 weeks old and doing some new things. She has rolled over once...it was a total fluke but it happened and we both were startled. I think she got so frustrated and mad about being on her tummy that it just happened with all her squirming and wiggling! She also has started using her hand as her pacifier...which is nice at night because once she spits it out she uses her hand to comfort her...hopefully she doesn't figure out that she has a thumb though!

Another thing she does that I love is when she puts her hands together; it looks like she's praying. I like that notion. We have a book of prayers for children that my sister gave her when she was born and we try to read one to her every night.

Josie also has been putting herself to sleep for a week now. Usually at about 9:30 we lay her down in the pack in play while she is awake and she'll settle herself down to sleep. It has taken anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes for her to fall asleep but she has not cried or been upset about it...that's our first step to sleep training. I'm proud of her but sad because it's less snuggle time with me but I know it's good for her and lucky for me that she doesn't 'need' to be rocked to sleep.

Finishing Touches

You all have seen the "tree" that my mother painted for us! Here are the finishing touches to Josie's room. The final touch...Josie, she's yet to sleep in there! Soon...

Our neighbor Rachel made this sign for us. It hangs above the changing table and Josie just loves it! She will stare at the sign, coo at it, laugh at it, smile at it...we've laid her there on a few fussy nights and it's like a magic cure! Thanks Rachel!

Rachel's sister n'law Julie made these for us. This picture does not do them justice. They are adorable and hang just above a rocking chair that you don't see in the picture.

Check out her frames at www.bluebirdframe.blogspot.com

This scale was the scale my grandmother used when my mother was a child. Then my mother used it with us. It's now sitting in Josie's room. We put her on there every week and a half or so.

I love the history of the scale.

We're not using the bumper on the crib so my mother turned them into valances for Josie's windown. And the sign above is just how we feel about her, God blessed us with a beautiful, healthy baby girl that just fills our hearts with love. This was not made, well by someone we know anyways!

9 Weeks Old = Drooling Baby

Josie has become a drooling queen in the past week...one afternoon she drooled so much that her shirt down to her belly button was wet! We tried to get a pic but that doesn't show up well.

Besides that; it's the same o, same o...holding her head up more and more, not having a bobble head as much but there are still times when it comes swooping down, smiling and cooing more everyday (I just haven't been able to get it on camera), and playing on the activity mat. Josie is an all formula bottle baby now and has been starting to put her hands like she's holding the bottle...that bottle is way to big for her to do on her own though!

Playing with Cousin Mimi

Yesterday Josie had a play date with my 4 year old nicece Makenzie. We went to the mall to walk around a bit; Makenzie did a great job stearing and taking care of Josie in the back seat. Back at the house they played on the activity mat for 30 minutes and then had every book in her basket read to her; there's like 15 of them...she fell asleep after 4 or so.

The Pinkest Brewer Fan

Curt doesn't show too much interest (or any really) in Josie's clothes but when he saw this at the store he put it into the cart right away! She may be a good luck charm for the Brewers because they won 3-0 on Saturday when she wore her outfit!

Happy Two Months Today and Swollen Lymphnodes

Today is Josie's two month birthday...too bad she's too young for cake or we could have one everymonth! I guess we still could but I don't think I could justify that even to myself who loves cake!

Yesterday we had an impromptu doctor's visit; while holding Josie Friday morning and rubbing/massaging her head I came across a lump in the back of her neck. I had felt it a week ago but then could never find it again so I thought it was my overactive mind but then Friday I felt it again and larger than I remembered so I called the doctor. On the phone the nurse said it sounded like a swollen lymphnode but had us come in for the doctor to check out. He was very confident that it was a swollen lymphnode, he actually found two others too that are smaller. Dr. S said that lymphnodes are located regionally all around the body and "flare" up when fighting something in the body that is not supposed to be there; in this case her awful case of cradle cap. He said that they could get larger as we are taking care of the cradle cap, she could get more possibly, that they would shrink after the cradle cap was done, but never really 'go away' because lymphnodes wait around for the next time they are needed in the body to help fight infection. Needless to say I was worried before our appointment and relieved after our appointment but still anxious as all the emotions of relief, fear, nervousness, love for Josie, worry, and gratefulness for her and her health all came crashing into one crescendo. I guess that's called being a mom...

Here's a few cute pics from the week; Josie Rose who is in love with the pacifier keeping it close (she's done this a couple times this week; still don't know how purposeful it is though) and wrapped up like a baby burrito; she loves to be swaddled and sleeps more soundly; us too!

2 month Wellness Check

Well...Josie is growing! She is up to 9 lbs 6.5 oz (18 to 25%) and 22.5 inches long (60%) with a head circumference that falls in the the 25%. She has gained over 2 pounds since birth when she was in the 13% percentile; but her head and height percentiles have pretty much stayed the same. Dr. S said she is growing very well, was developmentally on track, and seems very strong. Dr. S also showed us lots of patience for all of our questions! I really like him because he explains why things happen or what the reasoning is behind beliefs; he teaches not just tells.

Josie also had 4 vaccines today, 3 shots into her thighs and 1 orally. She did great with the first one with just a bunch of squawking but for the 2nd one she got red and just screamed. She calmed down as they were cleaning her other leg before the 3rd shot so I think the last one startled her a lot because she instantly went bright red and did a loud screech that turned silent as she held her breath. Josie did so well and calmed down pretty quickly. She's been pretty quiet tonight and has been sleeping a bit more than normal as she's getting over the "trauma".

However, Josie has really bad cradle cap so we are going to be using olive oil and a toothbrush to soften and rub it off for the next two-three weeks. She also has an infection in her eye duct so she has to take eye drops three times a day for that along with some duct massaging to help work it out. Finally, she has a yeast infection on her skin so we need to apply an ointment with every diaper change. Dr. S said to make sure to give her time without a diaper so things don't get too warm and damp; wonder how that will go with a diaperless baby laying around! That should make for a few good laughs as I'm sure we'll have some accidents!

I'm very proud of how Josie did today!

8 Weeks and Making us Laugh

Josie has really started talking alot to us, to her sign, to the walls, whoever is listening! She also makes quite a many facial expressions...these are her happy ones; she has some sad ones too with quivering lips and a pouty face. Josie also likes to blow bubbles and smack her lips; a firend told me that's her blowing us kisses! These expressions and smiles are making us laugh. She is moving her legs alot like she's riding a bicycle and "stands' up on her legs too. When she is awake she loves to be sitting up and lets you know with a squawk if she is reclining too much. Wednesday we go in for the dreaded 2 month checkup with shots!