Four Months

 

I really wanted a big grin for this picture, but she is so interested in what I'm doing with that funny little box thing (aka camera) that she just stares and follows it. Since it took me so long to get this post up I have the stats from her four month doctor's appointment! She weighs 14lbs 10oz which is 75th percentile and she is over 100% for height! She giggles now and its awesome... can't get enough of it! She loves it when we blow raspberries on her belly and laughs hard when I get real deep in her neck and smooch her over and over. As you saw, she LOOVES the baby in the mirror and is also digging her toys these days. Sophie seems to be her fav - I think she likes the shape of her head to chew on. We borrowed one of these jumpers from a friend and she digs it - gives me 5 or 10 minutes to fix some food or clean which is awesome! She is pretty close to sitting up by herself, but still isn't rolling over much. She's done it once or twice, but never consistently. I should probably get her on her tummy more, but she doesn't tolerate it for long. She still loves the doggies - the 'talks' to them whenever they are near and blows raspberries which is another new skill. Miss E thinks she is pretty clever that she figured it out and now does it all the time! She also learned to fake cough and its hilarious! She choked on her drool one night while we were eating dinner and started coughing. I coughed back at her and she grinned and did it back to me. We went back and forth a few times and she thought it was sooo funny! Now coughing is one of her noises and she does it all the time. So silly! Her newfound interested in toys is slowly improving the car situation, which is SO nice! 

Such a big, sweet girl you are Edrie! Love you to pieces!

outtakes...

We got keys!

I'm always so behind on blogging these days! We closed on our house on Tuesday...it seemed to be a miracle after all the ups and downs! We met at the house after Grant got off work to revel in our own space!

So funny! Trying to figure out what the heck we are doing...

LOVE them! And can I just comment on that romper...it was a salvation army find and I want 100 more. I'm in love with rompers and I feel like they don't make them like that anymore!

She loooves her papa!

Intrigued by the camera flash!

We set right to work tearing up the carpet so we can get the hardwoods refinished and move in!

They looked pretty good overall. Definitely some stains and a few hiccups, but I think we are on the right track. Grant and many helpers spent the week pulling up tack strips and staples and then he and Tim have spent innumerable hours this weekend sanding the floors. 

 

It is so weird for me to not be intimately involved like the last time we fixed up a house. I'm a mama now and since this kid is still not on the bottle we've been in a supporting role. We are so grateful to Grant and Tim! 

Can't wait to see how they will look refinished!!

January Randoms (so far...)

Loving her new mittens!

Still lives in the moby and sometimes she'll nap out of it...its so rare I took a picture... 

bein' a big girl playin' with her rad toys

she LOOOVES the baby in the mirror! It is too funny how she flirts with herself!

demonstrating her new-found grabbing skills

being a happy baby in the car...these are the kinds of car rides I dream about happening consistently!

December Randoms

love watching her sleep!

   

Getting to meet Porticia for the first time!! So exciting!

 

More quality time with Patty and Carol!

 

Sleeping in the car... love when this happens!

Digging all her toys

 

Came to bed one night and found them sleeping in identical positions side by side. *love!*

Edrie's First Christmas

This Christmas was weird for me. I usually spend the whole month of December immersed in decorating, crafting, and celebrating. This year I've been generally distracted (by the most amazing little being) and we also spent December trying to buy a house. I didn't have any Christmas parties/festivities to attend. There was no house of ours to decorate, our ornaments are all in storage and I didn't finish Edrie's stocking until Christmas Eve. It was just weird and snuck up on me. Next year will be more relaxed - I'll have a bit more of this parent thing under my belt and we'll be in our house so hopefully we can have everyone over!

In addition to feeling like I was in La La Land we did FOUR! Christmases in TWO days. I said I'd NEVER do that, but there I was shuttling my kid who hates the car to the far corners of Portland to see our family. We had a lot of fun in each place, but it was absolutely exhausting. I'm glad Grant agrees that something has to change for next year because there is no way we can keep that act up!

Though Edrie was oblivious to what was going on, she loved seeing all her family and most of all enjoyed staring at the Christmas lights!

I started and finished a pair of Christmas Big Butt Baby Pants on the morning of Christmas Eve (seen in the first picture). I really wanted her to have them to wear that day. Apparently I tried to get them done a bit too fast because one of the butt seams came out after I washed them =(. Oh well - they were cute while they lasted!

OH! The best part of Christmas was having my brother in town - he is so much fun and so funny! And he got to meet Edrie for the first time! Of course he fell in love! He was so cute playing with her! Loved that!

Joel, Grant, Edrie and I met my dad at Henry's downtown for lunch on Christmas Eve. It was a beautiful day and the city was bustling!

She is getting so smiley these days!

After lunch we walked to Jamison Square to see the Christmas tree...

The family who took this picture may or may not have had a six month old who was smaller than Edrie... She is such a chunk!

Next up was Grant's dad... this is where Edrie started to lose it. She doesn't do as well in the car in the evening (not that she ever does THAT well). We had to pull over on the way to dinner and then again for thirty minutes on the way to a 10pm church service. Have I mentioned I haven't had a full night's sleep since September 10th?? Staying up until midnight was a true feat!

Grandparents love their pictures! This was so cute - the scene was the same with each set of grandparents...clamoring for time with the little lady and as many pictures as possible!

Christmas morning we woke up at home and had breakfast. It was a nice low-key pajama clad morning...












Edrie LOVES 'super baby'!



Christmas evening we headed to Grant's mom's for dinner. Edrie wore her reindeer onesie one last time!

We opened presents with my mom and step-dad the morning after Christmas...

Edrie was enthralled with these mini stuffed animals!

The doggies fighting over a new toy

Edrie LOVES LOVES LOVES Olive and tries to watch her every move

Later that day we took the max downtown to walk around the city and have lunch. We love taking the max places because Edrie doesn't cry like she does in the car. Its heavenly!

The next day (Tuesday) was my brothers last day in town so we headed to HopWorks with him and my dad for lunch. Edrie looked cute playing with her toys... Santa brought her that hippo from Little Sapling

She loves this ball. I went to Babies R Us a few weeks ago to search for a non-obnoxious toy that she could practice her new found grabbing abilities on. I was about to leave and spotted this. It is perfect and she loves it!

All in all a great, family filled holiday! Edrie was spoiled - both in love and gifts and we enjoyed seeing her with all her grandparents and uncle! Can't wait til next year when she will 'get' it a bit more and we'll have our house!

In 2011...

 

:: I found out I was pregnant for the very first time.

:: I loved loved loved having that dream come true.

:: I quit the first job I've ever loved without a second thought so we could move HOME.

:: I drove across the country with my husband, puppy, and a tiny, tucked in my belly Edrie looking forward to another adventure (we seem to have so many of those in this life.)

:: I didn't have to suck it in, but instead proudly displayed my burgeoning belly.

:: I sold our first home, closing a chapter of our life that I loved and sorely miss. 

:: I moved three, yes you read that right, THREE, times.

:: I learned to breathe deeply. I have the cheapest community center prenatal yoga in Portland to thank for that. I am forever grateful.

:: I spent the last lazy weekends of summer with my husband and a quiet anticipation.

:: I experienced natural labor and loved it. I felt powerful. The natural birth was not to be and it broke my heart. Every time I look at that scar I am at once in love with what it brought me and torn by what it took away.

:: I tried to let go of what I can not change and look forward, with hope, to a second chance.

:: I met my daughter. and was shocked that she was, in fact, a daughter.

:: I loved her, but hormones and sadness made me question and fear. And then she smiled.

:: I loved, more than I ever thought, being a cliche pregnant housewife turned stay-at-home mom. I'm relishing these days with her.

:: I lived with my parents and am grateful for all they have given us.

:: I cursed the cost of medical care, even with insurance.

:: I helped find our second home. The first one we will have as a family.

:: I, for the first time since we married, am looking forward to a time without major upheaval on the horizon. It feels so good.

Goodbye 2011.

Hello 2012!