Out West

Baby "K" has embarqed on his first traveling venture - a trip out west to visit my family!  We started off on a good note.  Baby "K" slept most of the way.  He, however, refused to nap in the afternoon - which did make for a long evening!

Baby "K" did sleep really well his first night though.  He woke up for a feeding at 5:30 a.m. after eating last at 9:30 p.m.  That was wonderful!  He also enjoyed a nice morning nap, and he met one of his second cousins that afternoon too!

More cousin activity was featured at a family BBQ, as my Dad -- Grillin Grandpa -- tried out his new grill!  We had some tasty eats!  Hope your weekend is filled with delicious bites too!

It's Bath Time, Baby

A bath used to translate into lots of screaming and back-arching on behalf of the baby.  Now a bath translates into wide-eyed silence.  Baby "K" actually really concentrates during his baths too.  He looks around and you can see his little mind working!

I snapped a few shots of last night's bath experience.  He likes to kick his feet at the washcloth, and really likes lifting his hands in and out of the water.  It is as if he is thinking, "Hey, what is this wet stuff?  What am I supposed to be doing here?"  Again, highly entertaining to the bystander =).

Mr. Fixit says, "Someday he will figure it out."  So, in the meantime, we are enjoying Baby "K's" process of discovery!

Puff the Playground Dragon

Mr. Fixit and I both have jobs that have some out-of-the-ordinariness to them.  I am not sure if "ordinariness" is really a word, but I really think it is the perfect descriptor for this post!  On this fine, cold day (back in January) Mr. Fixit was about to move this sleeping dragon to his new home - the park!

Some of the parks in the county were in certain need of equipment updates.  So, this fine climbing dragon fit that bill.  Mr. Fixit and co-workers had just unboxed the creature, and were getting set to load him up, haul him to the park, and set him in a bed of sand.  All before the children were even dreaming of outdoor, summer park adventures!

Needless to say, the dragon has been a popular friend to many eager climbers.  I predict that he will have lots of repeat visitors over the next warm outdoor months!

Daily Report Card

Baby "K" has been spending his day time with Sweet "J," and gave her some smiles this morning when I dropped him off!  I think he is starting to take notice of his new daytime cuddler!

Typically, there are 4 or 5 other charges hanging out at Sweet "J's" Daycare too.  These young-ins are a bit older:  2, 3 and several 4 year olds.  Let me tell you - they miss nothing!  Each day, I get a full report from each of the chattering charges.  Here are some information pieces that they have shared:

• "Baby K's Mommy?" (Me) "Yes?"  "Baby K cried today a lot when you were gone."
• "Baby K's Mommy?" (Me) "Yes?"  "Baby K is in another clothes because he peed in the other one."
• "Baby K's Mommy?" (Me)  "Yes?"  "Baby K is sleeping right now."
• "Baby K's Mommy?" (Me) "Yes?"  "Baby K can't eat any of my cake, because he is too little!"

So, as you can see, I have a new first name!  Sweet "J" tells them my name each time, but I will forever be known by this group of little people as "Baby K's Mommy!"

Enlisted Help

Aunt A.R. came over for a visit after her military training ended for the weekend.  She came at the perfect time -- just as I was preparing lunch!  So, I thought if she wanted to eat, she could help me out by holding a baby.  This arrangement worked out quite well!

We had a delicious lunch of meatloaf, baked potatoes and mixed veggies.  I believe there were some cookies for dessert.  They disappeared rather quickly that day. =)

We have been having a busy week.  Mr. Fixit is on his four 10 hour work day schedule now.  This schedule happens for the summer months.  I headed back to the office full time this week.  Baby "K" is now hanging out with Sweet "J."  We are getting settled.  This mom is tired though!  I need to get used to a full schedule again on about 5 to 6 hours of sleep.

Meanwhile, Baby "K" is starting to enjoy some outdoor time at Sweet "J's" and at home.  He loves to be outside!

Baby "K" Update

Yesterday we visited our doctor for a two month check up.  We have some new stats to report:

• Weight - 12 pounds 7 ounces (75 percentile)
• Length - 23 inches (27 percentile)
• Head Circumference - 15 3/4 inches (75 percentile)

He received four vaccination series yesterday.  This translated into one oral dose and three shots.  Let's just say the remainder of the afternoon and evening with quite rough.

Baby "K" will still be taking acid reflux medicine, and will hopefully continue to grow stronger.  His first week at daycare was tough -- even though he visited part time.  Next week the full time adventures begin.  Our daycare provider said that he cried for a good portion of the time he was there.  So, he is not happy, at the moment, with his new schedule.

Our next appointment is in July.  That will be the four month appointment, and will also feature more shots!

Seven Summer Guests

The guest "house" has been prepared - and our long awaited guests arrived, Tuesday night.  Mr. Fixit prepped the pasture by chopping cedar trees, burning the grass and beefing up (no pun intended) the fence. We were ready for our four legged guests!

Mr. Fixit's brother, Mr. F, brought the load with his youngest assistant.  Cousin "K" chatted with and held Baby "K" as we watched the heifers check out their new summer digs.  Baby "K" didn't quite know what to think of the guest move-in excitement, but he sure was not liking the wind!

So, here is a snap of our visitors.  I think they are enjoying their accommodations quite nicely!

8:47 p.m. - 6:07 a.m.

This is the time frame that we endured a power outage last night.  Baby "K" had just fallen asleep, and was snug in bed.  I was in the shower, and had plans for some sleep before the next feeding.  The power went out, and I finished my shower with a flashlight.

The wind was whipping around, and rain was falling, so we determined this was the cause.  A quick peek outside, and we discovered that the neighbor's yard light and house were also dark.  So, the area was all without power.  At 9:10 p.m. we headed to bed.

At 11:33 p.m. I awoke - very hot - and Mr. Fixit decided that perhaps he should call the outage in. I decided that it was time to break out some candles.  Thankfully, there were several boxes on hand (wedding decorations re-purposed)!  Power outage called in, and Baby "K" was still peacefully sleeping.  So, back to sleep.

Baby "K" awoke to eat at 1:41 a.m., and we were still without power.  *Sigh*  Mr. Fixit and I both slept fitfully the rest of the night.  We got up at 5:30 a.m. and gathered some refrigerator and freezer items in a cooler.  Mr. Fixit would haul them to some freezers at work.  Then, suddenly, the lights came back on at 6:07 a.m.  Bliss!  The photo is a picture of what our living room looked like last night.  Hopefully, tonight will feature calmer weather -- and a good sleeping baby too!

Stuck Like Glue

Well, here is a little secret about Mr. Fixit -- he absolutely loves to drive his tractor and dig in the dirt.  He loves doing this so much, in fact, that he will dig bucketloads of dirt -- with aforementioned tractor -- and haul them up to the house.  He is currently adding dirt in front of the deck. =)

Sunday struck Mr. Fixit as a perfect dirt-digging day.  It was a warm, windy day.  So, off to the west pond he drove.  Well, he continued to dig ever so closer to the actual pond.  As a result, the little tractor simply was pulled into the muck.  Mr. Fixit worked and worked to unstick it, but with no success.  He had to call in a neighbor, JW, who happens to have a backhoe, for assistance!

Here is a photo that Mr. Fixit took of the tractor in the pond.  The tractor is currently hanging out, in front of the deck, drying out.  Mr. Fixit tells me that the tractor will be ok, and the mud will eventually fall off!  This certainly was not what I expected for my first Mother's Day! =)

Eight Weeks and Growing

Our little man is officially eight weeks old!  He has a doctor's appointment next week to mark the two month date.  He will also receive some vaccinations at this appointment.  I am predicting an unhappy camper after that experience!

Baby "K" is now talking more - well, we really don't know what he is saying yet - but he still talks!  We can tell when he is excited and happy now too.  He really moves his arms and legs in excitement.  He has some periods where he can lay on the floor for a bit and play.  We look forward to more moments like that!

Our little guy is still experiencing tummy troubles.  He is getting better, but it will likely take time for him to grow and be settled.  He also appears to have some spring allergies.  He has been sneezing LOTS and has had trouble with mucous.  Hopefully, this will pass too - because it has definitely not helped him sleep.  The last couple of nights have been tough for him.

Enjoy the photo, and I will give you a weight update next week!

Cousins - On the "S" Side

Rarely is there a time -- it seems -- when all the cousins get together!  As more people get added to the family mix, schedules just seem to get crazier!  This past weekend was a wonderful, rare moment when all of the cousins were together from my side of the family.

This past weekend was a weekend of sacraments.  We celebrated a family First Communion and Baptism.  So, both Saturday and Sunday were days for the kids to gather and play.  We snapped some photos, and I have one for you to enjoy here.

I remember when some of the other nieces and nephews were younger.  I often laughed because some little person would be crying in every picture!  Well, true to the tradition, our little person is crying in this picture =).  I took three photos - because all the other kids kept looking at him instead of the camera!

One Year

May Day marked one year -- one year that Mr. Fixit and I were married!  We simply can not believe all that has happened in our year!

Mr. Fixit constructed an addition to our house.  He did fantastic work!  We have grown into a family, with the birth of our son on March 10.

We have planted lots of flowers, a garden and have simply had fun enjoying the outdoors.  Time has flown by!

I told Mr. Fixit that it feels like I have known him and his wonderful family forever.  I can not imagine life without any of them.  I am truly blessed!

I still need to decide what to give Mr. Fixit for a gift.  So, if you have any ideas for a great one year anniversary gift -- text, email or call them in!  Thank you all for the well wishes you have sent!

Baptismal Blessings

There is just something special about Baptisms.  The blessings and prayers have such spiritual significance, and the traditions just give me goosebumps.  I can't seem to describe the miracle that they convey!

We Baptized our infant this past weekend.  Our church Baptizes mostly infants, but people of all ages still do receive this sacrament.  It was quite special -- as we used the Easter Vigil blessed waters for Baby "K's" Baptism.  We were surrounded by Easter lilies and family and friends.  I could not think of a better way to bring our child into the faith.

We enjoyed celebrating with a meal following the ceremony.  Baby "K's" cousins had fun holding him, and, well, throwing rocks into our pond and exploring the newly greening pasture!  Thank you all for taking part in our special day!!