Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Bathtime
Caroline has moved to the larger section of the baby tub now that she can sit up. She has so much fun playing with her toys and looking at the cute baby in the mirror. I am so glad that she loves her baths. 
Farewell
Tonight our community group came over for dinner and to say farewell to one family who is moving to China on Saturday. Our group has been together for 2.5 years. We had a great evening eating pizza, hearing about what they are up to and praying for them. We realized that this was the largest group we had ever had as all 11 kids were there and all but one adult was there as well. Joshua, Tracey and their 4 kids will be missed greatly.
Back Row: Liz, Zach and Randy, Shawn and Cassie, Kaila, Christy, Caroline and Sam, Chelle, Emory and Grant, Joshua, Tracy and Annelise.
Front Row: Nick, Braden and Bri, Andrew, Jina, Katherine, Elise, Jaden and Caleb.
Back Row: Liz, Zach and Randy, Shawn and Cassie, Kaila, Christy, Caroline and Sam, Chelle, Emory and Grant, Joshua, Tracy and Annelise.Front Row: Nick, Braden and Bri, Andrew, Jina, Katherine, Elise, Jaden and Caleb.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Time to eat
Well, it is time to start feeding Caroline solid foods. She is 6 months old now. I really do not enjoy the process of teaching her to eat. It was not a fun process with Katherine. I know I have to do it because I can't breastfeed her forever. It is just takes so much more time and effort at our already crazy dinner time to feed her.
With Katherine I intended to make my own baby food but I lost my steam and ended up buying a lot of jarred food. I really want to try to do better with making my own baby food for Caroline. It is cheaper and tastes better. Madi came over and we spent a morning puree-ing vegetables.
Katherine enjoyed helping by filling ice cube trays Every time we have fed Caroline she reminds us that she helped make Caroline's baby food.
We filled ice cube trays of pureed sweet potato, butternut squash, broccoli, green beans, peas, and carrots. One shelf of our freezer is full of the colorful food cubes.
Saturday was the day I had decided to start feeding her. We ended up at Nana and Pop's house because we had not seen them all week. They enjoyed being a part of the occasion. Caroline sat on the table, playing with her silver cup and silver spoon, while we ate dinner. She won't always eat from such finery but it is a great photo prop.
The first bite was received pretty well.
She actually wanted more.
Hey, this isn't so bad.
Let me chew on that cup again mom.
I can't say she loves eating her sweet potatoes but she does ok. Of course a lot of it get spit back out and in all she only eats a few spoonfuls but she is learning.
With Katherine I intended to make my own baby food but I lost my steam and ended up buying a lot of jarred food. I really want to try to do better with making my own baby food for Caroline. It is cheaper and tastes better. Madi came over and we spent a morning puree-ing vegetables.
Katherine enjoyed helping by filling ice cube trays Every time we have fed Caroline she reminds us that she helped make Caroline's baby food.
We filled ice cube trays of pureed sweet potato, butternut squash, broccoli, green beans, peas, and carrots. One shelf of our freezer is full of the colorful food cubes.
Saturday was the day I had decided to start feeding her. We ended up at Nana and Pop's house because we had not seen them all week. They enjoyed being a part of the occasion. Caroline sat on the table, playing with her silver cup and silver spoon, while we ate dinner. She won't always eat from such finery but it is a great photo prop.
The first bite was received pretty well.
She actually wanted more.
Hey, this isn't so bad.
Let me chew on that cup again mom.
I can't say she loves eating her sweet potatoes but she does ok. Of course a lot of it get spit back out and in all she only eats a few spoonfuls but she is learning.
500
Can you believe that this is my 500th post on this blog? I guess if you are a consistent reader you can because you are used to seeing a post from me almost every day. So, here is a cute photo of my girls. They sure are becoming great friends. It is wonderful.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Where is Katherine?
We knew that Katherine liked to be Houdini, even as a baby she would get out of her swaddle blanket. Then it was getting out of high chairs, strollers, basically anything. Now she is trying her hand at contortionist. She figured out that she can fit into her play kitchen refrigerator.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Girls Day Out
Monday we planned to meet a friend at the science and children's museum. She ended up having to cancel because her daughter's dentist appointment went late but we decided to go ahead and go by ourselves. We had a great time.
We started in the Natural History Museum side which we usually don't see. Most of it is a little boring. Who really wants to look at rocks and minerals? There was a room with animals from Texas. Katherine liked the log with the monarch life cycle.
I told her the steps one time and she repeated it over and over.
She liked seeing all of the woodland creatures. Almost all of them are in her favorite Franklin stories so she knew all of their names.
One room had the physics experiments that used to be in the other building. Katherine had fun playing with the balls. I did not launch into my speech on potential energy which is what this one was showing.
Our favorite part of the museum is the children's museum. It is perfect for the toddler and preschool age range. There are all kinds of fun activities. Every time we go we try to focus on a different area. Today we went into the area with mats and blocks since Caroline could sit and play. It was a lot of fun to see the girls playing together.
Katherine would build a tower and Caroline would try to knock it over.
Katherine dressed up in the fireman costume and moved the cones. For some reason she things that is great fun.
We also had a picnic but I did not take any photos. It was a great day with the girls.
We started in the Natural History Museum side which we usually don't see. Most of it is a little boring. Who really wants to look at rocks and minerals? There was a room with animals from Texas. Katherine liked the log with the monarch life cycle.
I told her the steps one time and she repeated it over and over.She liked seeing all of the woodland creatures. Almost all of them are in her favorite Franklin stories so she knew all of their names.
One room had the physics experiments that used to be in the other building. Katherine had fun playing with the balls. I did not launch into my speech on potential energy which is what this one was showing.
Our favorite part of the museum is the children's museum. It is perfect for the toddler and preschool age range. There are all kinds of fun activities. Every time we go we try to focus on a different area. Today we went into the area with mats and blocks since Caroline could sit and play. It was a lot of fun to see the girls playing together.
Katherine would build a tower and Caroline would try to knock it over.
Katherine dressed up in the fireman costume and moved the cones. For some reason she things that is great fun.
We also had a picnic but I did not take any photos. It was a great day with the girls.
My new blog
Yes, I am starting a new blog. I have a few, some of which are not active anymore. So, why another blog? Well, almost 2 years ago I took a photography class at a local junior college. I really enjoyed it. I loved the challenge and learning how to take photos in different manual modes. In the last year, as life has become more busy, my photography has become stale and pretty much only about taking photos of the kids, almost always in auto mode. It is hard to do much else when I am always with them and they are always moving making manual settings difficult without blurring things. I really want to work on my skills more and start trying to take better photos again. I am sure many of these photos will still be of the kids but hopefully they will be better quality.
I was inspired to do this and to start a separate blog for this task by my cyber friend "Fire Mom" at "Stop, Drop and Blog". We have never actually met, but we read each other's blogs and have a lot of similarities. She set up a new blog, "Stop, Drop and Photograph" just for her project 365 photos. I am actually not starting this until today, January 10th but I am going to post photos that I actually have taken the last 10 days so that I can have a photo a day . So, the first 10 photos will not be photographically interesting but hopefully they will get better. This first photo is for her since she always posts such great info on fire safety and other fire related information. This is Katherine at the children's museum.
I plan to have shorter posts with just a photo or two and a short description. If you are also an aspiring photographer who would like to try to take better pictures this year, I would love for you to join me in this challenge of taking a photo every day. We can spur one another one, share ideas, have themes to try out and link to one another's blog. Leave a comment on my new blog if you are interested with your blog URL in the comments. It is called Pip and Squeak 7 Photos a Week
I was inspired to do this and to start a separate blog for this task by my cyber friend "Fire Mom" at "Stop, Drop and Blog". We have never actually met, but we read each other's blogs and have a lot of similarities. She set up a new blog, "Stop, Drop and Photograph" just for her project 365 photos. I am actually not starting this until today, January 10th but I am going to post photos that I actually have taken the last 10 days so that I can have a photo a day . So, the first 10 photos will not be photographically interesting but hopefully they will get better. This first photo is for her since she always posts such great info on fire safety and other fire related information. This is Katherine at the children's museum.
I plan to have shorter posts with just a photo or two and a short description. If you are also an aspiring photographer who would like to try to take better pictures this year, I would love for you to join me in this challenge of taking a photo every day. We can spur one another one, share ideas, have themes to try out and link to one another's blog. Leave a comment on my new blog if you are interested with your blog URL in the comments. It is called Pip and Squeak 7 Photos a Week
Saturday, January 10, 2009
CPSAI Update
I have been wondering all week what the outcome to the CPSAI law would be as far as reselling children's items as well as the future of handmade items for children. Today I saw an update on the CPSAI guidelines posted on baby cheapskate. It appears that there are some amendments to the issue of reselling children's items so that is good. Still no amendments on handmade items so if you have not taken time to contact your legislators, take a moment to do so now if you could.
Friday, January 9, 2009
A late Christmas
We celebrated Christmas with Sam's family a little late this year by hosting everyone at our house (except for Justin and Leah who live in Hawaii).
When all the cousins are together we always try to get a cousins photo. You can see that it is not easy. Apparently Katherine was not cooperative and had to be held in the picture. I can't believe Emily is big enough to hold Caroline. Of 6 kids only 2 are looking at the camera and 2 are kind of smiling. Hannah gets the award for the most cooperative.
Inside we tried again to get a good picture. Katherine still did not want to cooperate so Sam was added to the picture. 
Opening presents was mass chaos. Everyone was ripping open paper and digging into their presents and no one was really paying attention to what anyone else was doing. I know that I missed people opening presents that I gave them and they missed me opening ones that they gave me. Hopefully as the kids are older and learn a little more patience we can stretch it out a little because I like to see what everyone gets.
Caroline got some a great wooden teether/rattle, a grasping toy and a paci clip from Grammy and Grandad.
Katherine received a tea set from Grammy and Grandad that is made out of recycled milk cartons. She has played with it every day.
Katherine also received a cute Fisher Price Little People scooter and side car from Carissa, Ryan and Ty.
It was a beautiful 80 degree day so the kids spent a lot of the afternoon outside. They enjoyed the sandbox and the new playhouse as well as the yard. Apparently the favorite activity was taking the sand out of the sandbox and putting it on the steps, patio and filling the playhouse about 3 inches deep. I was not too happy about that mess which still has not been cleaned up.
It was so warm outside that the 4 younger kids decided to take off not only shoes and socks but shirts too. They were all a mess by the time it was over but they had fun.
When all the cousins are together we always try to get a cousins photo. You can see that it is not easy. Apparently Katherine was not cooperative and had to be held in the picture. I can't believe Emily is big enough to hold Caroline. Of 6 kids only 2 are looking at the camera and 2 are kind of smiling. Hannah gets the award for the most cooperative.
Inside we tried again to get a good picture. Katherine still did not want to cooperate so Sam was added to the picture. 
Opening presents was mass chaos. Everyone was ripping open paper and digging into their presents and no one was really paying attention to what anyone else was doing. I know that I missed people opening presents that I gave them and they missed me opening ones that they gave me. Hopefully as the kids are older and learn a little more patience we can stretch it out a little because I like to see what everyone gets.
Caroline got some a great wooden teether/rattle, a grasping toy and a paci clip from Grammy and Grandad.
Katherine received a tea set from Grammy and Grandad that is made out of recycled milk cartons. She has played with it every day.
Katherine also received a cute Fisher Price Little People scooter and side car from Carissa, Ryan and Ty.
It was a beautiful 80 degree day so the kids spent a lot of the afternoon outside. They enjoyed the sandbox and the new playhouse as well as the yard. Apparently the favorite activity was taking the sand out of the sandbox and putting it on the steps, patio and filling the playhouse about 3 inches deep. I was not too happy about that mess which still has not been cleaned up.
It was so warm outside that the 4 younger kids decided to take off not only shoes and socks but shirts too. They were all a mess by the time it was over but they had fun.
Child Labor
So, Pops, how much do you want to pay your almost 3 year old granddaughter for working for you this afternoon? 
I work part time for my dad. Very part time. Actually I figured out that I probably work 60 hours a year doing one specific quarterly billing task. I am not exactly contributing the bread and butter of our family budget but it helps to have a little extra fun money.
Today I was trying to finish my job of stuffing the bills, letters and a newsletter into the client envelopes while Katherine was napping and Caroline was sitting in my lap. Caroline kept spitting up but luckily none of it got on any of the bills. :)
Katherine woke up before I was done and wanted to "help". I actually thought she could help by putting the newsletter into each envelope. She thought it was neat that she was working for Pops and that his picture was on each of these newsletters.
I have worked for my dad for as long as I can remember. I was the best paid kindergartner in my class stuffing envelopes and putting on stamps and mailing labels. In high school I called clients and earned money for my first car. About every third summer I decided I needed money and would work at his office doing various jobs. I worked part time when pregnant with Katherine and I have stayed on the books with this one small, but very important task.
Right now all four members of my family of origin work for the family business in some way, even my brother who lives out of state. It is kind of fun. At times I wish I really enjoyed the financial industry because it would have been a better business move financially to work full time for my dad and have clients of my own to have been a teacher. I am sure that my girls will work for Pops in some way just as I did. It is kind of a fun thought.
I work part time for my dad. Very part time. Actually I figured out that I probably work 60 hours a year doing one specific quarterly billing task. I am not exactly contributing the bread and butter of our family budget but it helps to have a little extra fun money.
Today I was trying to finish my job of stuffing the bills, letters and a newsletter into the client envelopes while Katherine was napping and Caroline was sitting in my lap. Caroline kept spitting up but luckily none of it got on any of the bills. :)
Katherine woke up before I was done and wanted to "help". I actually thought she could help by putting the newsletter into each envelope. She thought it was neat that she was working for Pops and that his picture was on each of these newsletters.
I have worked for my dad for as long as I can remember. I was the best paid kindergartner in my class stuffing envelopes and putting on stamps and mailing labels. In high school I called clients and earned money for my first car. About every third summer I decided I needed money and would work at his office doing various jobs. I worked part time when pregnant with Katherine and I have stayed on the books with this one small, but very important task.
Right now all four members of my family of origin work for the family business in some way, even my brother who lives out of state. It is kind of fun. At times I wish I really enjoyed the financial industry because it would have been a better business move financially to work full time for my dad and have clients of my own to have been a teacher. I am sure that my girls will work for Pops in some way just as I did. It is kind of a fun thought.
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Sitting pretty
As of today I can say that Caroline can sit up. She has spent time in her bumbo seat, the exersaucer and on my lap gradually building up her strength. If you balanced her just right she would sit for up to 5 seconds without falling over. Tonight though she sat on the kitchen floor for over 2 minutes and was reaching for toys. Bummer that I had just taken off her cute shirt to get ready for bath time when we did this exercise. I promise she does not usually go around only wearing her jeans. 
Katherine was playing with her new tea set and Caroline wanted to join in the party. We have already had so much fun playing "tea party". I think both of my girls look so big in this photo. Caroline is sitting on her own and Katherine has her hair in a ponytail bun "just like mommy".
Caroline wonders what all the attention is for.
She would have sat longer but Hooligan decided to come and sniff her. That cold nose to the bare belly startled her into falling over (I caught her).
I have been excited for this phase because I think that Katherine will have even more fun playing and interacting with Caroline. Next phase is mobility. Hopefully I will have a month or two where she is sitting but remaining where I put her.
Katherine was playing with her new tea set and Caroline wanted to join in the party. We have already had so much fun playing "tea party". I think both of my girls look so big in this photo. Caroline is sitting on her own and Katherine has her hair in a ponytail bun "just like mommy".
Caroline wonders what all the attention is for.
She would have sat longer but Hooligan decided to come and sniff her. That cold nose to the bare belly startled her into falling over (I caught her).
I have been excited for this phase because I think that Katherine will have even more fun playing and interacting with Caroline. Next phase is mobility. Hopefully I will have a month or two where she is sitting but remaining where I put her.
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