Help Wanted!

Unfortunately, it is time where we must start thinking about childcare options for Ms. Kaitlyn. Ideally we are looking for someone to come into our home two days a week to care for our cutie pie. So we are appealing to friends and family...if you or anyone you know might be interested in hanging out with an absolutely adorable, amazing, little bundle of joy please let us know. We are flexible on times and days. And of course, although we think kisses and smiles from Kaitlyn are pay enough, we realize that others probably want a more spendable currency and we're willing to accommodate. Any ideas/suggestions/recommendations for childcare are greatly appreciated. Many thanks!

Does life get any better?

Ahhhhh, what a wonderful day! Hanging with some of my favorite girls...Emily, Kaitlyn, and Jennifer (the photographer here).

Happy Birthday, Jennifer!

Although we celebrated with a lovely gathering on Sunday, today is the official day...the day when Jennifer graced the world with her presence. Ryan found a card once that for some reason comes to mind. It said "they broke the mold when you were born...and then they beat the crap out of the mold maker!" LOL. Oh, and Jen of course that simply means that the mold maker got you too perfect and that's not fair to the rest of us. :)

Jen, enjoy your special day!

Philosophy

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu
Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)

I certainly am not well versed in ancient Chinese Philosophy, however, I think it is safe to say that this quote is all about taking a different perspective when faced with a big task. Instead of looking at the big picture and trying to go from A to Z in a single step, the task gets easier by taking time to complete the incremental steps.

For instance, the marathon runner who tricks them self into forgetting the finish line is a grueling 26+ miles away and focuses on the mile posts along the way.

In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it.
Robert Heinlein (1907 - 1988)

And then there is the more Western view of setting goals, and however many incremental steps along the way it takes to achieve those goals, that you should continue to focus on that finish line despite how far off those goals may seem.

Philosophy (continued)

Either way you look at it, you can wipe a lot of **** with a Costco size box of baby wipes.

Good Morning

Good Morning, Mommy!

Baby rolls...

Check out the cutie chubby cheeks and her arms and legs that are getting the great baby rolls!

Hanging with the girls

So I use to somewhat dread Mondays. The weekend was over, another work week would begin, and the next weekend seemed so far away. But Jen, Emily, Kaitlyn and I have now started doing a weekly Monday play date and I am soooo loving it! It makes it a bit easier to say goodbye to Ryan as he heads off to work knowing that the Mosers are headed over to hang out. Although every Monday Emily asks where Uncle Ryan is and wishes that he was hanging out with us, too.

Emily is such a great big help and a wonderful big cousin. It's been so sweet to watch our two little girls getting to know each other. We always take a little field trip to get out of the house. It just melts your heart to look in the backseat and see the two car seats next to each other as Emily plays and talks to Kaitlyn. Plus, we get the updates from Emily. Such as "We've got a tired baby back here." (my favorite) or "She's fussing a little" or "Her eyes are open and she's just thinking." LOL!

Celebrating Papa Dirt's B-day!

A happy birthday shout out to Papa Dirt! We all had a great time on Sunday - from the all family walk/park trip to the great food and gifts...good times had by all!

Also, a thank you shout out to the Mosers who watched Kaitlyn for us on Sunday night for a little bit so Ryan and I could get out of the house together. And I'm sure you're wondering, what did we do with our time out? Did we go for a nice dinner together? Head over to makeout point? Nope...we went to Kohls and shopped their clearance sale. Aren't we the romantics. We got some good deals and then raced home because we were missing our little peanut!

4 weeks old today!

Happy 4 weeks old to Ms. Kaitlyn! And yipee for Ryan and I that we have been able to make it through these first weeks without breaking her, starving her, or overall damaging her for life. OK, perhaps that last one is still yet to be seen...I'm sure some psychologist 15 years from now will blame something on us and our first few months with her. LOL!

We weighed her earlier this week and she's coming in around 8 lbs, 4 oz...our little bowling ball! It's so cute because she's getting the chubby baby rolls.

I'm going to get the mommy hair cut today...short and easy/quick to do. I'll post pictures soon of the new 'do' and Kaitlyn's new baby rolls.

Success, redefined

Who would've thought that I would be defining a successful day as one in which I actually get a shower in and one other 'to-do' done?! I remember the days of long to-do lists and loving going through and checking off the items as I completed them. And the more items I completed, the better I felt. But that's just not my reality anymore.

Today I got a shower in AND got my eye brows waxed and so I sit here this evening quite pleased with myself and say to myself, 'well done!' LOL. Hmmm...what will success look like tomorrow? :)

Bag o'tricks

Okay so our bag of tricks is growing...you know, all those things that you go through as you are trying to appease a fussy baby. You start down the list with the basics first - wet diaper, hungry, cold, hot, gassy....ect. But when you reach the end of that list, what's next?

Well over the last week we've been building our arsenal of weapons against the fussy baby syndrome. So far we've added a vibrating chair, a swing, a peanut shell (sling), and a Baby Bjorn. All seem to work at different times in different ways. The funny thing though is that often the best solution is the one that cost us nothing....Daddy's shoulder. Check out Kaitlyn here, she's just zonked to the world!

P.S. A shout out to GAN and GUD (aka great aunt nancy and great uncle dan)...sorry no blog posting this weekend but we were just hanging on. But thanks for the incentive to get back on here and update! :)

Hanging out with the Krauses

Summer Olympics are starting!

In honor of the Olympics starting, Kaitlyn says "Peace and let's all get along!" We're looking forward to the opening ceremonies tonight.

Many thanks to Karen for the cute onesie and promoting a Zen feel in our house. :)

So far from the truth

Reality: Kaitlyn runs the show these days. Notice that Kaitlyn is totally laughing/smirking as she knows it too.

(Note: for those of you who can't see it, her onesie reads, 'Mommy thinks she's in charge')

My dirty, little secret

Ok, so not only am I addicted to reading people's blogs but I'm also quite addicted to internet shopping. And it's become much worse now that I'm not working. Today I popped on several online stores (none to be named as I ordered b-day gifts for family from them) and shopped away. Now I console myself with the thought that I'm just being really efficient and organized with my time. But you know you have a problem when there are several, several stores out there that have all your credit card and shipping info stored and make it a bit too easy with the 'instant purchase' button. Oh, and yeah...Safeway online grocery shopping and delivery is in there as well. The Safeway delivery guy has actually come to know us and last time after I opened the door he said, "Ah, you had the baby!" Soon he'll be on our Christmas card list. LOL!

Happiness is...

fitting into my pre-preggo clothes again - yipeee!!!! It feels like I've got a brand new wardrobe again. Although Ryan, don't get too excited because I still feel that a shopping spree is in order to celebrate! LOL!

Daddy's first day back at work

Well today started off a bit sad as Daddy had to head off to work today. No more hanging out all day with Daddy. :(

On a happy note though, cousin Emily and Auntie Jen came over and spent the day with Mommy and me. We had lots of play time, sleep time, and of course, the nonstop eating that Mommy wishes wasn't so nonstop. We also went for a walk as it was beautiful outside. And Grammy Jill stopped by on her way back from her weekend in Spokane so that was fun.

I decided to greet Daddy with my new onesie (see picture above) and show him how much I missed him. I also gave Mommy and Daddy a break and sat in my vibrating chair long enough for them to have their first dinner together since I was born. But in exchange, I decided to then give my lungs a good exercise by really fussing up a storm. It's my usual later evening event that Mommy calls the 'witching hour'. If they only knew that I just do it for fun...I like to see what silly and stupid things I can get Mommy and Daddy to do to try and get me to stop crying. I won't embarrass them and tell you, but let's just say I definitely have the control in this household. :)

Now I understand...

Sleep deprivation as a form of torture. Enough said!