Jonah & Etta sitting in a tree...

While Noah was way more interested in my belly while I was pregnant, Jonah is way more interested in Etta now that he can actually interact with her on a more personal level. Not to say that all three boys don't love her, it just seems as if Jonah likes her the best. Christine and I are already working on wedding plans. :) [Disclaimer: we are both totally aware that you can't pick a betrothed for your child. It's just fun to talk like we can.]

Peeking in the crib at our first visit.



"Will you still need me, will you still *feed* me, when I'm 64?"

One month - really?

Wednesday was Etta's first month birthday. We celebrated by going to the Jenifer band concert and bbq at Pioneer Park. It was pretty hard for me to watch my bands being directed by somebody else.



Yesterday we got a weight check and she is up to 6 lbs. 15 1/2 oz. Almost to 7 lbs! She is being a pretty good baby. She looks way bigger in this picture although I think it is just because she is stretching her legs out.

Thursday we had our first official time apart and Grandma Cathy babysat for an hour while Bob and I went to a baby shower for someone else for a change! We all did ok. I didn't even cry, although I had this constant nagging feeling that I was forgetting something!

My Favorite Things

Here are some of Etta's favorite things...

Hanging in the swing


Sleeping in the car seat (but not in the car) with the soothie

DNA

Ok, maybe I should have checked a little closer to the family tree before making any wide sweeping assumptions on who Etta looks like. Found this picture of Bob's today when we were visiting Grandma and Grandpa. Don't have any really good close up pictures of Etta with her eyes open yet, but she looks just like her daddy!

Twins?

So the question always is, "Who does she look like?" Well, it depends on the day and the facial expression. I think that she looks like Uncle Erik and Bob's family thinks that she looks like Aunt Molly. Again, it just depends. The hair is definitely Aunt Mollyish, but the forehead wrinkles I think she gets from my side of the fam. What do you think?


Uncle Erik



Etta Grace

Beginnings and well...beginnings

Last Friday (the 16th) Bob dropped Tubs and Lena off at the kennel, I fed Etta one last time and we loaded up in to the car and hit the road for Montana. Everyone says that this age is the best to travel. They are small and they sleep a lot. Well, both of those statements are true, but after almost 12 hours in the car, more specifically - strapped in the car seat, Etta was ready to be there. The drive wasn't bad at all. Beautiful weather, light traffic, just the very beginnings of road construction. All perfect conditions for the 500 mile drive to my home. But when it takes 40-60 minutes everytime you stop, the hours quickly add up.

But it was worth it...





(Sorry Grandma, didn't think to grab my camera until after you had already given her to the next person.)

Saturday we went to Erik's divisional track meet in Great Falls. No pictures of that glorious event because we were trying to find shade, stay cool and running shots don't turn out well with my camera anyway.

Sunday brought a different kind of beginnings. The beginning of the next stage of Erik's life. Grandma Cynthia was the commencement speaker and she did a fabulous job. We are all very proud of her poise and knowledge of each of the kids.



It was an emotional day for all. Bob said that he even teared up. Quite the feat. And Erik was showing his emotion as he gave all of his girls flowers and hugs.





But it was smiles all around after the ceremony was over. No matter how "normal" and expected it is for most people to graduate from high school these days, it is still a major stepping stone in life.







Erik will be off to Montana State University (MSU in Bozeman) in the fall to study music education. I have already looked at the football schedule and believe that we will be able to go to two football games to watch him march in the band. I think that it is the least that I can do since he came to so many of my games. It is quite a drive to Bozeman, but Interstate most of the way, and Etta will get used to it quickly, right?!

The whole weekend tired baby and daddy out. But they were able to get some shut eye together...

Two weeks - Where does the time go?

For as long as each day seems (at about 6:30 p.m.) the weeks are already passing quickly. Everyone has warned us that the time does fly by, but when you are in the middle of it it doesn't really seem like it. But then looking back - what did we do last Wednesday? Oh yeah, eat and sleep! And maybe some poop too...

Wednesday was Mommy's 29th birthday. This birthday has bothered me the least since 22. What's up with that? But since I was officially old at 22 I guess there is not really anywhere to go from there. We enjoyed a nice day at home and then went up to Grandma and Grandpa's for dinner. Either Cathy did a great job with the cooking or just anything that I don't have to make tastes delicious! (I think that she probably did a pretty good job!)

We have somehow developed the (nasty) little habit of having to be held to go to sleep. Thank goodness that is mainly during the day. She went down at 12:30 and 3:30 last night with the minimum of comforting. I do put her down and let her cry a bit, but when she starts coughing I figure that's been enough. And she is still nursing, taking a bottle and using a soothie. From what I hear we are really lucky with things. Any sleep advice from you moms out there would be appreciated. I'm all about trying different things to find something that works!

Mommy and Etta on the big 2-9 birthday.


Taking a bath on the bathroom floor.


Getting in the sling. Sometimes she likes it and sometimes she doesn't. Once we get walking she usually calms down! (And check ou mommy's double chin. Sorry Etta!)

One Week (and two days) Old

Ok, so the weekend was a little rough. Nothing really seemed to be working with the feeding and mommy was about to have a nervous break down. But we went to the doctor for a follow up appointment on Monday morning and Etta was back up to 5 lbs. 11 oz. Yeah!! Next we headed to the hospital to meet with the lactation consultant. Got yet another feeding strategy and a new breast pump. MUCH BETTER! And now we have settled into somewhat of a routine that does not include waking her up every two hours. Bonus for mommy and daddy. She is a good little sleeper. Bob practiced his trumpet during her morning nap yesterday. Not a peep. Maybe all of that junior high band music did something good for her!

I am trying to take a lot of pictures - but then have problems deciding which ones I should put on the blog. Some people would probably prefer that I put them ALL on the blog, but am not going to do that. So here are a few more...

One week old on Monday. Some people use a stuffed animal to chart growth, I'm going to use the foot rug. =)


Daddy OFFICIALLY turning in his thesis. That means that he is DONE! What is he going to do with all of his spare time...


First visit to the music building. Where it all began.

A few more pics

We are currently on a two-hour feeding schedule as Etta lost over 9 oz in her first five days. Pretty hard for mommy to hear that news. But now we have her on a supplement feeding three times in a 24-hour period. We go back in tomorrow to see if it is helping. But it makes it hard for mommy to get much done after breast feeding for 20 minutes and then pumping for 20 minutes. Good thing that daddy is such a wonderful guy!

Grandma Cynthia's favorite picture. Etta says, "Look at my beautiful red hair!"



Daddy's big hand, Etta's little hand.



Proud mommy coming home.



Proud daddy coming home.



Initial reaction upon being squished into the car seat. Now she likes it though!