Thanksgiving

We went down to Auntie Amanda's and Uncle Patrick's for Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa were there too. We had a good weekend eating leftovers, playing with cousins Drew and Allen, going hiking, going to the UT game, seeing James Bond, and passing around various viruses to the different families in attendance. Somehow, everyone has ended up with an upper respiratory infection or fever or vomiting. Awesome.

This past week Elizabeth attended the final 3 days of my lactation course with me. She was an angel and the presenters actually took her picture to use in the future to show developmental stages because she is such a good sitter (I know it is because she has a large platform!). She has started scooting across the room on her bottom and generally gets around by flapping her arms and bouncing. But she has also discovered in the last two days that she can crawl backwards. Mostly, she still screams when she is on her tummy until someone rescues her.

Salt Lake City, UT

Just to record a few milestones in case I don't ever get them in the baby book:

First wave: October 28, 2008

Started saying "baba" on November 1, 2008

First word: "Mama" on November 13, 2008

We went to Salt Lake City, UT this past weekend to visit friends, Nicol and Craig. They live in the canyon on the way to Alta Ski Resort.

We got on the flights on the way out and Mommy even had an empty seat next to her so Lizzie got to sit in the seat and play.

The views of the city are gorgeous and they are 20 minutes from the mountain for great skiing. We got out there on Friday night and ate at one of the local taco joints and enjoyed our Utah 3.2% beer. On Saturday, we went for a walk in the field near their house and Lizzie took a nap in the carrier. Nicol watched Elizabeth while Mommy and Daddy went for a run up the canyon. It was supposed to be 1.5 hours, but ended up being an hour and 45 minutes and Mommy was complaining by the end, despite the gorgeous scenery and sunny skies.


















That afternoon, we decided to take advantage of ski for free after 3. We all headed up to Alta, dressed in Craig and Nicol's extra ski gear. We borrowed new gear from the shop and Craig wore Elizabeth for her first skiing ever. She seemed interested, but fell asleep on the second run because she was so cozy in the wrap and inside Craig's coat!

Halloween

A little late on these photos, but they were cute so we had to get them up. Elizabeth had her 6 month appointment on October 31st, so I took her in her costume. The nurses said she had great legs for shots!! She weighed 20# 4 oz and was 27" long. She continues to cough occasionally, but the pediatrician listened to her chest and said she was clear.


We finally made it to Connor Prairie for the Headless Horseman. The weather was much better and we said the Headless Horseman twice. Elizabeth just looked around wide-eyed. She didn't cry or scream and neither did Mommy.

I decided that I didn't need to take Elizabeth around the neighborhood to collect candy (I just buy it the day after at 50% off), so we took a walk before it got dark to see the decorated houses. Elizabeth had her picture taken with our Jack-O-Lantern on the front lawn.

Today, we took her 6 month photos (okay, nearly 7 months, but I have been waiting for the cold to pass so she didn't have a runny nose in the photos). I ended up choosing just a head shot with her hat on (and no top) because she had such a nice smile in the picture. I'm going to actually try to give them out this time!

Preparation for Halloween

Today, we carved our first pumpkin with Elizabeth. I did all the dirty work while Elizabeth slept (cut off the lid and scooped out the innards) and Daddy carved the pumpkin in about 5 minutes. I feel like it used to take me at least 2 hours to get a toothy grin (which we usually had to repair with a toothpick when I accidentally cut the tooth off!).
After the carving, we headed to Connor Prairie to go on the Headless Horseman Hay Ride. On Thursday night, we got there at about 7:30 and the hayride ticket was for 10:45 so we bagged it. Tonight, we got in line before the gates opened and when we went in, we got tickets for the 9:30. We were advised to try to get on earlier because we had a little one. The queue manager let us in the 7:30 boarding. Elizabeth was cozy in the wrap and the man rolled our stroller off to the parking to be picked up afterwards.
But wait... then they got the call that all hayrides were cancelled because it was too dangerous for the horses and riders. I really did think they were kidding because the people just in front of us( literally, we were the next to get on board) were pulling away in their tractor. But they were serious. Luckily, we could get a rain check, except that didn't matter because we are members and we get in for free and the rain check did not guarantee any hayride boarding time. As we left Connor Prairie, Mommy complained a lot and stated that it reminded her of the two times! that New Year's celebrations in Edinburgh have ever been cancelled and we were there both times. Daddy agreed. Mommy is bitter.

We're back!

We've been in Bordeaux, France for the past ten days. I am planning to post a slideshow of our travels, including the visit from Granny, Grandad and Auntie Rosie. We stayed in an aparthotel, which was somewhat like a Residence Inn. It was great to have the extra space and to be able to cook a few times and eat breakfast at "home." Even so, we still managed to eat plenty of French food, chocolate, cheese and wine. We travelled a bit into the wine country and while Daddy was working, I walked tons around the city and got a chance to run and swim while Granny and Grandad watched Elizabeth. The flights were not bad at all-we have relatively short layovers, which made the overall time tolerable. Elizabeth slept in the bassinet (actually a cardboard box lined with airplane pillows and a scratchy airplane blanket, set inside a cloth and steel bassinet and attached to the bulkhead) for quite a lot of the flights, despite the assertion from the flight attendant that infants hate them and never sleep in them. I thought she was like a baby chick in a box with holes, except she barely fit in the box and we have to push the ends out so she fit!! Not sure what will happen on the next overseas journey in a couple months... This picture is from Poloumy Vineyard in the Medoc Region, just north of Bordeaux. Elizabeth's first vineyard tour. More photos later!

GRRRR!!

Daddy just finished giving Elizabeth a bath.

Elizabeth shows off

Elizabeth shows off her new skill-independent sitting.

First Table Food

Elizabeth proved during the week that she can take a spoon without a tongue thrust. In addition, she is now sitting unsupported. So, although Mommy would have liked to wait, Elizabeth was developmentally ready for table foods. I cooked some of Daddy's organic beef (opening the door and using the fan for ventilation) and pureed it with some breastmilk. It ended up more like meaty breast soup, but Elizabeth didn't complain. She had a couple tiny spoonfuls and is looking forward to more tonight!

Milestones

Elizabeth seems to have been growing and developing very quickly over the past few weeks. Yesterday, she rolled over several times from her back to her front. Now she can roll both ways with ease. She is a supported sitter and she can sit for a while without any help and will also reach for toys. Both parents are so proud!! She slept last night without the assistance of her Miracle Blanket (a.k.a. straitjacket) and she seems to be waking from naps and sleep to play in her crib for a bit without screaming out, " Where is everybody?" She is falling in love with her Berea blanket, just like Jay, Amelia, Drew and Allen. However, last night there was much screaming for unknown reasons. We went through the checklist and eventually decided she must be teething, or in some other sort of pain. Daddy administered some Tylenol and Elizabeth fell asleep soon thereafter. No teeth sprouted overnight.

Yesterday, Elizabeth and Daddy came to watch me do my first race since delivery. It was a trail run on the local mountain bike trail (where I crashed on Labor Day and currently have a cracked rib...self-diagnosis). I finished 2nd in my age group, with a very good time for a 5K because they altered the course and it was actually shorter than 3.1 miles!! Daddy finished a 7 mile mountain bike race in the torrential downpour today. He entered in the intro/beginner category and came in first place by several minutes! His time will be difficult to compare to the sport and elite categories as they competed earlier with very little rain on their first 2 laps. Elizabeth was snug in the Moby Wrap while Daddy cruised through mud puddles. Another relaxing weekend in the Towe Multisport household.

Caught in the Act

Two firsts for today:

• Elizabeth discovers how to get her feet in her mouth for some much-enjoyable toe-sucking.


• Elizabeth figures out how to take off her hat; thereby rendering the hat as a sun shield, extinct.

Week of fun

Elizabeth has had a little cold the past week, so Mommy has been up at night a lot, worrying about whether she can breathe well enough through her nose. We have been squirting Little Noses Saline up her nose, which of course, she really enjoys!! I tried to upgrade her from the Miracle Blanket (aka straightjacket) to the Kiwi sleepsack this week, but as you can see in this photo, she continues to hit herself in the face and take out her dummy. So we are back to swaddling.

She really enjoys her new exersaucer and she has mastered pushing the buttons and eating the green dragon and yellow star. We went to the park with a friend today and tried out the swing for the first time. Elizabeth was very excited and we will undoubtedly be spending a lot of time at the park over the next few years!

Weekend at the cousins

Elizabeth went to visit Drew, Allen, Aunt Amanda and Uncle Patrick this weekend. We went to the crunchy farmer's market downtown and saw the extended family on Saturday night. Elizabeth hung out with her cousins, extended "cousins" and was lucky enough to get a bunch of new clothes, toys and Raggedy Ann! Here she is happily enjoying her new swing.

We stopped at Ikea on the way home and bought some new decorations for Elizabeth's bathroom. My friend suggested some finger puppets in addition to the wall art and bathmat. Daddy showed Elizabeth the animals and made some fun elephant and tiger noises.

Overcome by her toys

Elizabeth passes out after much energetic playing with her Elephant and cow lovey.

Elizabeth finds her feet

Yesterday Elizabeth found her feet and grabbed her toes. Today I captured her with her legs in the air, reaching for her feet. I thought this was cute, despite the fact that she kept us up all night with the sniffles. She has a little cold, that I suspect she caught from her first visit to the YMCA nursery or from swimming on Tuesday afternoon.

I hope she gets better soon.

Spice Girl

I decided to give Elizabeth a chance to smell some spices today while I was preparing dinner. She liked cinnamon, curry and rosemary. Then I decided she should smell basil as well. The spice seemed a little weak, so I shook the bottle. Here is Elizabeth in her first cooking adventure!

Big Weekend

Elizabeth had a fun-filled weekend, starting off with Symphony on the Prairie at Connor Prairie on Friday night. The theme was New Orleans Jazz and we all enjoyed a picnic, while Elizabeth enjoyed the music and her pacifier.







The next day Elizabeth helped Mommy and Daddy sell some of their old stuff (Mommy's really). We lured in potential buyers with Salsa music and free pedometers. People did not really use them as they drove from house to house with the minivan doors open-ready to pounce on any junk they desperately needed at that moment.







Elizabeth went to a Luau that night, but the music was too loud and she ended up sleeping on Daddy in the MobyWrap. No pictures-sorry.


On Sunday, Elizabeth went to CostCo. She was not very interested in bulk cereal and free samples.

Friends

Elizabeth and Lukas held hands (sort of) between the Lion and the Elephant on the play mat. Cute couple.

Elizabeth applied for her first passport. The red tape was predictable. Both parents and child must attend that bastion of bureaucracy, the US post office. At least she got use a delightful picture that Mummy took. I wonder how different she'll look five years from now, when the passport expires.

Swimming

Elizabeth went to the YMCA to test the waters for the first time. She didn't smile, but she didn't cry either. She just observed everything and enjoyed being wrapped in her hoody.

Steamboat Springs

We had a wonderful 4th of July in Steamboat, including watching fireworks from the restaurant roof. Elizabeth slept through them, with her mummy's hand over her ear. click to see.

Elizabeth went on her first hike. Fish Creek Falls are just above Steamboat Springs, Colorado. We forgot the baby carrier and used a small backpack modified with a rolled up blanket. It worked so well that Elizabeth seemed to prefer it to the Baby-Bjorn.

Elizabeth also crossed the finish line at her first half-ironman, in a very respectable time.

Roly-poly

Elizabeth has rolled a few times now, starting in her 4th week. At first they were strenuous, protracted struggles with flailing legs, rolling eyes and much grunting. Mummy managed to capture a decidedly fluid roll today. Followed by another. Olympic gymnastics 2024 here we come. But which country to represent?

Auntie Rosie came to visit on her way back from Panama.

Elizabeth practices diving volleyball shots during a strenuous tummy-time session.

Late Spring

Mummy has Elizabeth wrapped on top of her dress for a stroll on Sandusky shorefront (Lake Eerie). A friend's wedding reception was held at the yacht club there, with views of Cedar Point amusement park.






Granny Susan helping around the house.













Grandad Derek holding his first grandchild.











Daddy in the garden with Elizabeth, supervising while the Grandparents stain the fence.

Cousin Julie's Wedding in Pensacola

Elizabeth met her Grandpa Dave for the first time. They had lots of fun in the Condo overlooking the intercoastal waterway.

Elizabeth's first journey by aeroplane went well. Several days later she doesn't seem to have caught avian flu or anything else. We don't travel as lightly as we used to!

Cousins Allen (7 months) and Drew (2.5 years) are groing up fast. They've been playing nicely.

Pensalcola is beautiful and we met lots of family at cousin Julie's wedding. The next day we all gathered at cousin Jamie's lovely house for a brunch under the Magnolia tree.

We all posed on a swing seat hanging from the tree.

Two weeks

We've picked a few highlights from week 2...

Elizabeth looks delightful in her matching duck ensemble.

Dad felt like a supehero when feeding Elizabeth her first bottle - who needs boobs? The truimph was short lived as Elizabeth quickly pointed out that while colustrum from day three is loaded with immune boosters and important proteins, it isn't very high in fat or carbs. Mummy had to top her up.

Jim started back at work, partial days so far. He in't missing the early morning commute.

Maggie and Jim had their first date night. Grandma was an excellent babysitter. Both parents were glad to get home to their baby.

Finger painting for the baby book proved to be as difficult as it looks.

Gandma Janet left on Saturday, the same day Jim ran the mini marathon. It was so nice to have her here, being involved, helping with all the baby things and keeping the housework under control. See you at the Beach Grandma!