Seven Quick Takes: IV {Happy Little Things Edition}

-One- 

Jessie (dear college friend) and Sam (her boyfriend whom I hadn't met but definitely approve of after meeting) visited.

-Two-

Our new house... inspection: check.  Wish we were already in!

-Three-

That Daniel sends me photos of Anni's swim lessons when I can't come.

-Four-

Lettie's frequent smiling breaks while nursing... sure, it takes longer, but my heart is a puddle and I don't really care.

-Five-

Celebrating Anni's Baptism day with her.  She got to choose lunch ("Dimmy Dohn's"), we lit her Baptismal Candle and looked at pictures from her baptism.  I love that it made her feel so special!

-Six-

 Taking Lettie swimming for the first time (she cried right when we got in the water and then immediately calmed down and just chilled the rest of the time as she floated around).

-Seven-

My sister and her family are here for family meetings (my brother-in-law's family), which means we get to see cousins (and I get to spend time with my sister)!  

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Summer Bucket List: #8 Completed

Gymnastics!  We've gone the last couple of week... it's so fun to see the ways Anni has grown and gotten more confident since we began going (as long as no one is looking at her!)  I suppose this isn't technically complete as we'll keep going, but we have gone several time and are definitely enjoying it.  Today was a sad day at gymnastics; though, as it was the last time we got to see our friends before they move off to North Dakota.  It's a great move for them (nearer to home and family!), but Anni is definitely going to miss her friend (they are only a month apart and have had a blast playing over the last year) and I'm going to miss mine!  I may have sniffled a little as I watched our girls hold hands and say good-bye one last time after class today.

On a happier note, this also happened today:

I had been trying to convince her to try it out, and our friend and a few little girls showed her how, but she steadfastly lowered her head and refused to try.  I reminded myself to step back and let her figure things out for herself, and a few minutes later when we weren't really watching, she went straight to the bar and started swinging like a little monkey. 

Celebration dancing followed:

Check out the rest of our Summer 2013 Bucket List here.

Happy 4 months, Lettie Lou*!

My sweet Colette.  You are truly the light of all of our lives (including your darling sister's!)  When you smile, all your little dimples (including one over your eye!) show up: your entire face just exudes joy and we can't help but just grin back!     

You have given up sleeping quite as long as you used to at night, but, let's be honest, you're a growing girl with some serious teething... I can't deny your sweet self your comfort and nourishment!  Luckily, you are pretty good about going back to sleep after eating in the middle of the night.  Naps are hit and miss, but I always know that snuggling you into the sling will relax you into sleep almost immediately when things get desperate. 

You are loving your voice these days.  When you start to get tired, you start to talk more, beginning with a happy growl and, if we don't take the hint fast enough, ending with a not-so-happy cry.  Still no laugh, but you'll do that when you're ready!

Your hair has gotten so long that it's starting to get in your eyes if I forget to clip it back!  Not only has your hair grown, but you grew three pounds to 11 lbs and three inches to nearly 25 in the last two months!  The doctor had to double check your length, he was so surprised.  He was very impressed with how strong you are when he had you stand for him.  You're just trying to keep up with that big sister of yours!  You desperately want to roll over by yourself but haven't quite figured it out yet... any day now, is my guess!

We will always love you, sweet baby, always and forever!

*Lettie's middle name is not Lou... I just can't resist calling her that!

Happy Birthday, Mama!

My mom turned 65 today (and oh, my, do I hope I am as beautiful, amazing and active as she is when I am 65)!  Last Saturday, my Dad let my sister know he wanted to throw her a surprise birthday party, and, despite being in the midst of a move, my sister made it happen.  I'm bummed I had to miss the actual party (being over 500 miles away), but I am so glad that I was asked to help with the video (it helps that I have the big box of family photos).  I got to spend a couple of hours sorting and scanning last night and Daniel put together the video today, just in time for the family to watch it during their party.  Enjoy!

Seven Quick Takes: Volume IV

-One-

This picture has almost nothing to do with the story.  Enjoy!

Every once in awhile I have a supermom morning... at the end of which I feel a little crazy but accomplished.  On Wednesday, we made it to gymnastics and had a *blast* and then, I figured, since we were already out, we could run by the store to pick up some tomato sauce for our pizza sauce tonight and maybe something for lunch.  As we walked in the store, I saw they had pool noodles, and, feeling like a good mommy and remember that Tara had mentioned it would be good for her lessons, I grabbed one.  Then, making a less than wise decision, I grabbed a basket rather than a cart (thinking it would be hard to lift Anni into the cart with Lettie in the sling).  So, here we are, Anni walking, me carrying a basket with noodle hanging out the sides crazily and trying my best not to knock everything and every one over as... Lettie starts to cry.  I give her her pacifier, crossing my finger that she isn't hungry and can make it through the five minutes to grab tomato sauce, fruit and something for lunch.  whew.

She couldn't.  This is mad Lettie.  You give her what she needs (really not an unreasonable request at three months old) or you get screaming.

Except... I had never breastfed in a sling, and as far as I knew, there was no place in the store to try to sit and get ourselves situated.  This was a "do it now or leave your basket on the floor as you tail it out to the car" situation... obviously it was time to learn how to breastfeed in a sling.  So, there, in front of the Annie's Mac n Cheese and Quinoia selections, I pulled Lettie's legs up into the sling, slid my shirt down and let her latch on.  The sling has a nice long tail, so I used that to give myself a little more coverage as I swayed in the aisle and crossed my fingers that this would calm poor Lettie down.  While there was really no reason to worry (just feedin' my baby here, people), every time someone passed through the aisle I just focused on making sure everyone was happy, and checking out the various kinds of Annie's Mac n Cheese and quinoa available (I bought Annie's Mac n Cheese, just to be clear).  She ate for maybe a minute and I swung her back up, pulled my top up, tightened the sling, and we moved on our way (with Anni carrying the pool noodle, because, really, what was I thinking?!)  As I ushered us to the checkout, I gave myself a little inner high-five for making it through the store, figuring out breastfeeding in the sling, and exiting the store with everyone happy(-er than we entered, even).  

The end.

-Two-

Lettie learned how to pull the little bug that plays music on her bouncer this week, and Anni was SO excited.  Like thrilled, giggling, hugging me like a proud mommy excited.  I love both of these girls so much!

-Three-

Sleeeeeeepy little girl.  I love how babywearing is almost always a guaranteed way
to get this baby to take a nap... even more guaranteed than just holding her and
waaaay more guaranteed than nursing her, as much as she loves that.

I love proud babywearing moments.  I was wearing Lettie at the zoo last weekend and a lovely woman from Africa (most beautiful accent ever!) came up and told me that she doesn't see a lot of women doing this in the US, but it's how everyone carries their baby in her country.

And, speaking of babywearing... a certain little girl loves wearing her own babies.  Here's hoping that this or this go on sale sometime before Christmas and maybe I can get her own little carrier... though maybe I could figure out how make her a ring sling myself?

-Four-

If you haven't seen the Colbert Report where he talks about his mama, watch.  Prepare for tears.  I showed it to Daniel when he got home from work and we both agreed that we hope we are such parents that our babies talk about us like this when we die.

-Five-

"Mommy, wook at my awmpits.  Dey wook so beautiful!"

-Six-

Miss Anni is starting to get curious during naptime and bedtime.  Before now, at three years old, she had only left her room once or twice ever when she was supposed to be sleeping.  If she cried or yelled because she needed something, she did it from her bed, or on the body pillow on the floor next to her bed (where she often ends up in the middle of the night).  It kind of cracks me up... but I'm hoping it doesn't become a crazy new escape routine.  

-Seven-

Happy Summer!  We're celebrating by heading to the bank, on to a house inspection and then to a splash park!  Life is good.

Find more Seven Quick Takes at Conversion Diary.