Holidays on Ice?

Okay. Maybe not on ice, but it was definitely on the cool side here in Jacksonville for Christmas. Today, the last of our family left to go back home. We had a week of nine people at our house. It was so much fun, but logistics can be a nightmare with nine people! Scott and I even got to go out on a date! We are so blessed to have family who get along - even when Scott and I aren't there!

After her nap, Shelby was looking around the house. I think she was looking for all the relatives who have been doting on her (Note to concerned family members: She has not forgotten how to walk after being carried around for a week).

We took Shelby to Jarboe Park at Neptune Beach. She had so much fun! There were about a thousand sea gulls and ducks. Shelby pointed at them, uttered an unintelligible "Dohslkdgh!," and chased after them. After getting dangerously close to the pond, we managed to steer her toward the swings. She loved them, too!

Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner was a success! It was my first experience with a beef roast. I followed the Ina Garten (AKA Barefoot Contessa) technique for the Perfect Rib Roast. If I say so myself, it was pretty darn good!! I was a little nervous that I'd screw up a big, expensive piece of meat with a room full of hungry people, but I would definitely make one again!

Also on the menu:
Brussel Sprout Hash - A Doctor, Uncle Mikey recipe
We are not a brussel sprout family, but this was fantastic!!
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle Butter
Cranberries - Homemade as per Benjamin family tradition
Pumpkin Pie
Swedish Yule Glug - A Hagstrand tradition

We had two tables going. No "kids table." Just a "sit where you want." It was a very good time! With another week of family at the house, I can see a lot more epicurean adventures in our future!

Christmas Newsletter 2009

The theme for the past year has been, “Who knew something so small could rule the roost?” Shelby gives us new examples everyday of her mighty presence!

Shelby was baptized this summer, and we started attending Beach United Methodist Church. It’s a very contemporary church with very gifted pastors, and we just love it there! It is a huge church (1500 come to worship each week!), and we got involved in a small Bible Study group this fall with other couples our age. It has been a great way for us to make new friends and grow our relationship.

Shelby has spent the past year at New Dimensions Learning Center. She became very attached to her teachers right away! There were 8 babies in that room, and it was surprisingly serene. When she turned one in October, she moved to the “Great Ones” Room (AKA the three-ring circus). There are 18 one-year olds in her room! It is a zoo each and every day! Shelby has really held her own. Within two weeks her development really took off. She is now walking everywhere. Shelby loves climbing on top of the ottoman, reading “Goodnight Moon,” and eating raisins!

Scott made a few trips out to California for work (at Kemper) this year. He also went to another photography conference in Orlando. He shot several portraits and events this year. The equipment is getting more sophisticated, but the end results are even better!
Bonnie went back to work in January. She returned to her old job at Anheuser-Busch. The work culture is evolving quickly since the merger last year! At home, she has been knitting up a storm making socks and baby gear. She also follows her favorite chefs on the Food Network and attempts to copy them in the kitchen!

Next year, we plan on making our pilgrimages to Ohio and Illinois. We hope to see you soon!

Love,
Scott, Bonnie & Shelby Lawrence

Mistaken Identity

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You Learn Something New...

Things I learned this week:

1. The Salvation Army does not take encyclopedias.
2. The stamp machine at the Post Office has a 3 book limit per credit card per day.
I really can't imagine when one steals an identity, one is likely to go on a stamp shopping spree. Unless they're buying the stamps to mail people notices that a Nigerian prince wants to give them money?

War Wounds

I got a call at work today from Shelby's school.....never good. They told me she was pushing a toy bus across the floor, tripped, and bashed her face on the toy. :( She got a bloody nose, and a tiny cut on her lip. Her teacher said, "She shook it off like a big girl. She's doing fine...in fact she's tearing up a book right now!" She's a trooper!

She's officially walking now. She does the funny, 1-year old walking where both arms are above her head. She's surprisingly stable, but I think we're in store for more trips and falls while she she perfects her gait!

More videos to come of the ambulatory Pumpkin!

Sneak Attack

Get Every Last Drop

Thanksgiving

Last Thursday, Shelby had a dry run for Thanksgiving. Her school had a Thanksgiving dinner (well, lunch) where each family brought in a dish. And, the parents were invited to have lunch with their children. Shelby's regular lunch time is 10:30 AM. We, of course, brought cranberries. When I arrived, Shelby was sitting in her chair at the table stuffing her face with cornbread, turkey, and green beans. Her back was to me. So, I got to observe her for a few minutes. As soon as she saw me, she wanted to sit with me (i.e. get mashed potatoes on Mom's dress pants). Her table mates are the other young kids in her classroom. Shelby was very well-behaved. Her friends picked off each others' plates, and one girl dumped the contents of her plate on her head. It was insane. Shelby and all the other kids were very sad to see their parents leave them after lunch. But, the teachers assured us they all cried themselves to sleep and had a good nap.

For the real Thanksgiving, we had a small turkey, cranberries, stuffing, rolls, and pumpkin pie. We ate early. So, Shelby wasn't too into dinner. But, she loved the crescent rolls! We went on a walk afterward. And, when we got back, we tried Thanksgiving dinner again. Shelby devoured the white meat and a bit of stuffing. She didn't like the cranberries, but ate Craisins by the handful (still Thanksgiving-y!). We got a total rejection and return of the pumpkin pie.

Christmas should be a blast!!

Big Girl Bed

Shelby continues to do well napping on her mat at school. We received an LL Bean catalog the other day while talking about when we should transition her to a toddler bed (too soon now, but sometime in the next year, year and a half). Then, we flipped to the dog bed section in the catalog, and saw these. Is it criminal to have your child sleep on a dog bed? It looks really comfortable! Just look at the fleece top! And, the funniest part is that Shelby would only need the medium size! These suckers go up to 42" x 52" (insert Benjamin/Lawrence family short joke now)!!

New Blog Reading

Mom and Dad can now be tracked on the blogosphere!

Busy, Busy

One of Shelby's new tricks is drinking her own bottle. We put one out on the table so she can visit it and take a swig while playing. The problem is that she wants to hang onto her bottle while playing. It proved to be a challenge to do both. Now, she's learned to multi-task.***

***Please note the bottle is bone dry! The girl doesn't give up!

Pumpkin Pancakes

I've really gotten into reading some blogs. One really cute one is This Week for Dinner. On Sunday she posts her menu for the coming week, and invites you to do the same. Then, during the week, she posts different recipes. My favorite is pumpkin pancakes. Oh. My. Gosh. They're so yummy!

I've heard through the Inter-web that there's a pumpkin shortage! Perish the thought! I'm going to have to buy a cartful to get through the holidays.

The Great Ones

Shelby has spent a week and a half in her new classroom. The Wobblers. The Great Ones.

There are 18 12-24 months old in this room! It's a veritable zoo! Shelby is, by far, the littlest one there! She's also the only one not walking.

But, after one week, we noticed how her development has picked up dramatically with the older kids around. She decided to feed herself her own bottle. She flung her whole torso back. It was pretty funny. On her first day, she laid right down on her mat to sleep. We were impressed.

Over the weekend, she stacked her blocks herself. And, in big news, she took 3 steps!!!

Now, this week, her bottle-drinking is much more controlled (i.e. she doesn't have to fling her body backward now). I came to pick her up today, and she was sitting at the table in a chair!!! And, she was playing with a puzzle (Nancy: I think she'll love the puzzles you're going to bring down!)!! Her teacher told me she was so tired 20min before nap time. They had to keep her moving. She crawled over to the cubby where they keep the stuffed animals and tried to go to sleep in there! At nap time they set up her mat quickly, she crawled over, and was asleep before they could get the blanket on her! The poor thing! They wear her out!!

Her teachers are trying like crazy to get her to walk. They say she's so close! They've seen her take a few steps, but they try at every opportunity.

Stand By Me

Shelby is getting pretty confident in her standing skills. In fact, she has been documented standing by herself!! She is very proud of herself and excited when she stands there. She can even wave and play with a toy while on her own. The problem is that this is as far as it goes. Once she decides she wants to go somewhere, it's either a full-body lunge toward the nearest person or a matter-of-fact PLOP onto her bottom.

Germ Factory

I think we're back to normal.....I think. Shelby got send home from school last week with a 102-degree temperature that didn't break for 3 days. She was pretty pathetic - a little rag doll who exuding a tremendous amount of heat! We flew in reinforcements on Friday. Nancy was SO kind to take care of Shelby on Friday and even give Scott and I a date night on Saturday! Saturday was when the rash broke out all over her. Through the power of the Internet, 2 baby books, and 1 Grandma, we self-diagnosed Shelby with roseola.

It took her most of this past week to get her appetite back. By Saturday, she was back to PB&J and cornbread!

Bottomless Pit

Shelby eats like a horse. She's really embraced table food, but this is getting ridiculous. Let's take today for example:

Breakfast: 1 packet of oatmeal.

Lunch: Meatloaf, green beans, and mashed potatoes (it's as though it's Sunday dinner at Grandma's!).

Dinner: More meatloaf, cheese, ham, tortilla, applesauce, and Cheerios.

In addition, she had 16 oz of milk!

She likes to feed herself off her highchair tray, but also likes to be fed. We're trying to figure out just the right bib position so the offcasts from the feeding frenzy don't get smooshed into her clothes or the floor. We've adopted the "slide" set-up. It just rolls down the bib, and back onto the tray. We only have to monitor for banana bits getting lodged in the neck folds.

Hey! With her eating everything in sight, at least it's a lot easier to prepare dinner for the family!

Swimming - Session 2

This morning we began Shelby's second session of swimming lessons. I think it was the first sessions for the other 4 or 5 kids. And Shelby was showing off! She's comfortable in the water in all positions - tummy or back. She practiced a front crawl type movement toward a rubber duck (for inspiration). Floating on her back is easy and of course since she's been kicking her feet since birth, she really looks like she knows what she's doing. And we also practiced jumping in (from a seated position) and climbing out (with assistance) - anything to catch the rubber ducky!

Look for some pictures or video next week. I think Bonnie will be joining us in the pool!

Housing Options

So we've been looking at some houses the last couple weekends. We're thinking about moving to the beach. For us, the beach is kind of like our 'third place'. After looking, it's clear we have two options. First, we could go to Neptune or Atlantic Beach, which are generally older neighborhoods. The houses are 20 or 30 years old with larger lots (more grass to cut). Jacksonville Beach is the other option with a considerably newer housing stock. Since the lots are smaller, you typically get 2 stories (which reminds us of home). Jax Beach also has much better access to the freeway system. Schools are pretty good in either location. At this point, we're leaning towards something in Jax Beach with a significant increase in size over what we have now.

The down side is the large mortgage. For not that much more, we figure it's worth looking for a larger house. And of course, we'd have to sell our current house. Our realtor claims there's plenty of activity in our neighborhood, but I'm just not that assured. We've been fortunate enough to dodge the economic downturn. So jumping into a big house seems kind of crazy on one hand. But on the other hand, we could get a great house at the beach for a reasonable price. Living just a short bike ride from the Atlantic Ocean has it's appeal. Oh yeah, and the hurricanes.

So we're curious to hear what you think. Please vote in the anonymous poll along the side of the page.

Self-Feeder

Shelby has decided she doesn't like baby food in jars anymore - it's for babies. She has really taken a liking to her Cheerios and graham crackers. Upon consultation with the teachers at school, we decided to try table food with her for lunch. She will get the fruits and veggies the big kids eat at school. The first day was a success - butternut squash! The next day: green beans!

This week, she has fully embraced the table food. Here is what she ate for lunch at school this week:

Monday: Pasta, chicken, and corn
Tuesday: Chicken nugget
Wednesday: Beef stew & bread
Thursday: Green beans and pears
Friday: Bologna, bread, applesauce, & mixed vegetables

For dinner, she's had squash, spaghetti, chicken, cheese, bananas, and, of course, Cheerios!

Craig's List

I just "discovered" Craig's List this weekend. It's a new thing...you may not have heard of it. :) Of course you've heard of it, but this was my first experience using it.

We bought a new entertainment center, and needed to get rid of our our old one. Friday night I posted in the classified section. I even posted a picture - just an average shot from the point-and-shoot that I took (not a studio shot Scott would be capable of). Within 36 hours, we had 4 people inquire over email. And, within 48 hours, it was sold and out of our house!

There was one false alarm. A woman was supposed to come over Saturday, but never showed. The people that ended up buying it came to the house this afternoon. Scott answered the door with me behind him with Shelby on my hip. We opened the door to a young couple - complete with the wife carrying their 7-month old on her hip! I think both families were a little surprised we looked so similar! Of course there was some negotiation about the price. Shoot! We didn't care! We just wanted the furniture out of the house!

I must say, I'm believer in Craig's List now! I will certainly look there first when we need to make another furiture purchase/sale.

Police Blotter: Furry Friend Dismembered

Last Sunday afternoon, the happy, ever-smiling seahorse (AKA "Glow Friend") was found with the stuffing heartlessly pulled from his satiny, green dorsal fin. The Glow Friend was found in Shelby Lawrence's crib. When questioned, Ms. Lawrence gave a toothy grin (with her one tooth), and said she didn't know anything about it. The crib is now considered a crime scene. If you have any information leading to the arrest of the deranged criminal who committed this heinous act, please contact the Lawrence family. A memorial service is planned for the Glow Friend. The crinkly chicken and Lion scooter are scheduled to eulogize their departed friend. The memorial service is closed to furry friends only.

To the left is a picture of the crime scene. It may not be suitable for all viewers. Please use discretion.

Pumpkin, Bar the Door!

Shelby has been showing off her skills at crawling backward for a month now. When it comes to crawling forward, she couldn't quite get it together. So, she'd just sit up. When I picked her up from school today, and crawled toward me! Ms. Jerri said she's mastered that skill now! She has to put up the baby gate at the door because Shelby can escape now! She's also quite good at pulling herself up, and side-stepping along the couch.



In other news, Tooth #2 is starting to peek through!

Sandy Shelby

Tonight we decided to take a quick trip to the beach before settling in for the evening. We thought Shelby might want to dip her feet in the water. Well, as you can see, she got a little carried away. She loved the sand, she even tried to eat some. So unprepared for a swim, but we needed some spontaneity this weekend! Rest assured, I did have my camera (photos to follow), and iPhone.

Shelby's Baptism

Shelby was baptized this morning at Victory Lutheran Church, the same church we were married in. Sporting the same gown her grandpa Randy wore, Shelby really turned on the charm. Pastor Phil called her one of the most attentive babies he's baptized. Thanks to Anne for snapping most of the pictures!

Bath Video

Shelby does some odd things in the bath these days... And I needed to test out the video uploading function on my new iPhone.

Gone Swimming

Shelby went swimming with her buddy Harry yesterday at our neighborhood pool. We later in the afternoon, which offered some nice shade (and good light for photos). The pool water felt more like a bath, it must've been in the 90's. Harry is more of a splasher and liked to drink the water. Shelby kept her mouth closed and her feet kicking...

Baby's First Water Spout

I was coming home from work on the way to the daycare, and I saw a giant funnel cloud coming down from the sky! Whoa! I went on an overpass, and a couple dozen numskulls were pulled over taking pictures of it on their cell phones.

When I got to daycare, all the kids were in tornado drill mode in the hallway. There were 4 babies left, and they were all in the same crib - it was so sad! The 2 and 3 year olds were a little upset - especially when the lights flickered. The babies were not really that phased. We waited in the hallway for 20 minutes during the tornado warning.

The funnel cloud broke up, the rain subsided, and we headed home safely.

One good thing did come out of it. While waiting in the hallway with the other parents, I found out one of the girls in Shelby's class lives in the same neighborhood as us! Go figure! So, we've set up a pool date for a weekend when a natural disaster isn't looming.

Swing

In Shelby's first month of school, we had to bring more D-batteries because Shelby wore out the swing!

Well, now Shelby and her friends broke two of the swings! They won't swing on their own! We felt bad. So, this time we brought in our swing that Shelby doesn't use anymore.

They are getting a six-week old baby next month. So, the swing is going to be a necessity.

Busy Sunday

We had an action filled day!  It started with a trip to the beach for some coffee and the Times.  Shelby found a few articles worth digesting.  And then after some lunch we headed over to the pool in our neighborhood.  Actually it was the kiddie pool, but it met our needs.   

A Day of Firsts

Today Shelby had her first taste of solid food - mashed banana in milk to be exact. And it was nothing more than a taste because for whatever reason it's the only thing she hasn't wanted to put in her mouth. Feet, fingers, paper, toys, shirts, spoons, napkins, wrappers etc. have all been subject to some oral exploration over the past few weeks. But not the actual food.... 

This evening, following dinner at beach with friends we dipped Shelby's feet in the ocean for the first time. she wasn't so crazy about the water either. The rushing water or its temperature may have lead to the dissatisfaction. But it's a first nonetheless. And we will be back. 

Doctor Update

Last Friday, Scott took Shelby in for her 5-month Well Child visit. She weighed in at 14 lbs, 10oz and measures 25 in. That puts her in the 45th and 50th percentiles, respectively.

Dr. Ceron gave us a plan for starting solid foods. She told us to forgo the cereal, and chomp right into bananas, sweet potatoes, and peas! We have company the next two weekends, but we're going to muster up our courage to try in 3 weeks.

They sent home a letter with a recap of the visit. We hadn't gotten one of them before. We wondered if the doctor saw Dad bringing the baby by himself and figured he needed some help relaying the meat of the visit. :) Scott stayed "on message" even without referring to the letter!

Bath time!

Shelby has discovered splashing in the tub! First it was just kicking her feet under the water. Now she hold her leg above the water and comes down with a big KERSPLASH!!!!! She gets her arms into the game, but just ends up hitting herself in the tummy. When all four limbs get going, she furrows her brow and has a very concentrated look....there is work to be done here!!!

Shelby developed some pretty yucky dry skin. We lotion-ed her up every night with no improvement. We found out we were giving her a bath wrong. Apparently some of the simplest tasks need to be explained to people.....and we even took the clas!! Instead of putting the soap into the water, we should be adding the soap to the washcloth. It's cleared up pretty well!

Homework

Today, Scott and I had our first set of Parent/Teacher conferences! Yes, at 5 months, her progress is being measured! Ms. Maria, the lead teacher in her room, rated her developmental progress, and came up with some goals:



1. Nap in her bed....not the swing.
2. Hold onto her bottle....better yet, drink a bottle.
3. Sit up unsupported....Gotta get rid of the bald spot somehow.
4. Roll all the way over....tackle tummy time!!

We is smart

I saw this sign on the way to pick up Shelby from school. I don't know what they are, but I understand they are adorable!

It's like Chanukah meets Chihuahua? Multi-ethnic puppies?

Mr. Mom

I stayed home with Shelby today.  Until she's had eye drops for 24 hours, she's still contagious.   So we took the germs to the beach to help pass the day.  For whatever reason Shelby always fights the nap.  But eventually we both caught an afternoon snooze in the glider.  She's so much happier post nap.  

The plan was to get some work in at some point, but that didn't happen.  So I'll be putting in for the day off.  It was a nice change of pace.   It'll be so much fun when she can actually walk around the beach with me.  Dragging the stroller through the sand gets old.  

Tomorrow it's back to work and school for everyone!

Rose Colored Glasses

No wait! That's just the pink eye! Yes, Shelby has pink eye....in both eyes. But, no ear infection and her lungs sound good. So, the doctor is confident we can treat with antibiotics. No school for the baby today or tomorrow. Oh, and FYI: her weight is 13 lbs, 14 oz now! She's putting the weight back on!

I saw an ad today (appropriately enough) for Clorox. They're reminding us that bleach, diluted to the proper proportions, is perfect for sanitizing baby toys and disinfecting our houses. Back to basics, I guess!

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

In commemoration of Dr. Seuss' birthday, the whole daycare center celebrated. All the children wore their pajamas. It's kind of hard to differentiate "jammie day" with every other day in the Infant Room!

All the babies painted pictures today, too! They dipped their palms in red paint, and they pressed them onto a cut-out of a Cat-in-the-Hat hat. Her teacher said Shelby was hilarious. They put the paint on her hand, and she just looked at her hand incredulously. After making her palm prints, she continued to look at her hand. They said she did a lot better with it than the older babies, and had fun!

Sophisticated Music Taste?

The first month I brought Shelby home from school, she was pretty fussy in the car. I put on some music - a Starbucks mix. The first song is a Lilly Allen song - which is fast and has a good bass line. Within 30 seconds, she was calm! The next song came on, and was a bit slower. She started fussing again. So, back to Lilly Allen. We listened to that song 4 times in a row! For the next couple weeks, I played the song to calm her down on the way home. and, it worked everytime!

We watched "Mama Mia" a couple weeks ago. So, I've been listening to the soundtrack in the car. And, it has the same effect as the Starbucks songs! "Super Trooper" is her favorite!! She even talks when it comes on!

Baby Fat

I've heard a rumor that a certain Grandpa has called a certain Granddaughter a "Chub!" Well! I will have you know that, at her check-up last week, she weighed in at 12 lbs, 14 oz. And, that puts her in the 25th percentile!

A Long Week

We're winding down the end of a long week.   Hopefully Shelby will migrate back to sleeping at night and eating during the day.  She's fighting a runny nose, making it tough to eat.    And she's been spitting up a lot this weekend.  Bonnie has gone through 4 t-shirts in 2 days.  

Yesterday we enjoyed the sun with a walk on the beach.  And then Shelby got to see her friend Harry for dinner.    

Shelby-vision

In case you were in withdrawl from Shelby, here's some footage!

Shots

Shelby went back to the doctor today for a second round of shots. She did much better than last time! I was ready with a rattle to distract her. The nurses double-teamed her, and stuck her in each leg. Her eyes got very large, then she made a frowny face pushing her lower lip out. It was almost cute! Once I put her sleeper back on and picked her up, she was fine all the way back to school. She was a very brave girl.

What DID Become of the Monk?

Shelby has a Fisher Price gym that she plays in (see the video of Shelby rolling). And, it plays some very catchy little melodies. "Skip to my Lou," "Twinkle, Twinkle," "Where is Thumbkin," and, our favorite, "Animal Fair."

When Grandma Nancy was here, she knew the words to "Animal Fair!" It brought back some old memories. We thought there should surely be more verses. Search on the internet long enough, and you can find anything! Here is the full version!

There is some controversy about what happened to the monk. "You ought to have seen the monk?" Or did "the monkey he [get] drunk?" I seem to remember a monkey who liked the adult beverages....

Pumpkin's First Physics Lesson

Shelby was playing in her gym today, and rolled toward one of her toys. It's pretty cute: she brings her legs up and uses them to roll herself from side to side. She can't quite roll over, but I think it won't be long! A Pumpkin in motion has a tendency to stay in motion!

Too Lazy

I picked Shelby up from school this week, and Ms. Jerri said Shelby doesn't suck her thumb much anymore....she sucks her bottom lip! Ms. Jerri said she hasn't seen that before. Now, this is coming from a woman who has seen hundreds of infants! Our little girl is too lazy to bring her thumb to her mouth now .

Pumpkin Roll

This morning I was summoned by Shelby that breakfast should begin...immediately...at 3:30am! When I got into her room, she was sideways in her bed - rotated 90 degrees from how I put her down. Needless to say, I was mightily confused. Then, at 5am (her normal breakfast time), she had already started to rotate - maybe 30 degrees this time.

In case you were wondering the rotation was clockwise.

Swinging to Sleep

Shelby enjoys the swings at school so much (especially for napping) that we decided to pick one up.   As you can see it's well worth the $50 and batteries.    I edited the clips in iMovie 09.

Recession

The poor economy has hit us at Anheuser-Busch. In the past two weeks, 7 people have gotten laid off. One person in my department. We were already down a person. Now, 4 people will (permanently) being doing the work of 6. I know that is the case all over the country in many, many companies. My "development plan" for 2009 included cross-training in materials & shipment planning. Now, it will be a necessity! My training has been ramped up, and I'll take over some of those duties in the next couple weeks! I'd better learn fast! Yikes!

Adjustment Period

Shelby seems to have turned the corner with adjusting to daycare. Everyday this week I picked her up, the teachers comment that she did really well. They even suggested bringing in another bottle each day because she's taking almost all of the 3-5oz bottles we send in! They can't get over how much she loves sucking her thumb! And, in a huge development, she took a nap in her crib at school!! I think this is the first documented nap-in-a-crib in her life! We brought the mobile in from her "home bed," and they tell us she enjoys looking at it.

Her homework for the weekend is working on playing on the floor. She isn't that excited about it at school, apparently. Tummy time is still detested, but she is holding her head up longer than last weekend!

Tummy Time - Trials and Tribulations

Try as she might, Shelby just isn't taking to tummy time as we hope.  Today however, we made some progress!   Her neck has been getting stronger and she was able to hold her head up for a minute or two.    An exciting milestone.  And then she resorted to burying her face in the mat and screaming, and screaming.

It was interesting though tonight as we visited Shelby's friend Harry.  He's just a week or so younger but they have such different skills and personalities.  Shelby sleeps through the night, Harry, not so much.  Shelby sucks her thumb while Harry likes the pacifier.  Harry is rather content on his tummy and has a lot more strength in his neck.  But it appears that Shelby has a little sharper visual acuity.  

First Week of School

Well, Pumpkin/Sweet Pea/The Princess (whatever you'd like to call her) survived her first week of school! She spends most of her time in a swing or bouncy chair. Ms. Karen asked Scott if she napped in her crib at home. Scott said, "Uhhh....no." They've gone through a set of batteries for the swings that she and her friend Mason spend their time in.

She seems to be getting acclimated to taking bottles. She'll do 3 bottles - finishing them mostly. She even takes two 1-hour to 2-hour naps during the day!

The rest of the children in her class are all 6+ months old (crawling or walking). It's amazing to see what Shelby will be doing in only a couple more months!! The teachers have been great in keeping us informed and helping get Shelby comfortable at school.

It wasn't as hard to be at work without her as I thought it would be. It is hard when I go to pick her up and she's fussy. Then I'm sad that I had to leave her there all day. But, it is nice that I have a job that keeps me busy enough that I don't worry about her all day.

First Day

Shelby made it through her first day at 'school' today.  I dropped her off around 7:30 and Bonnie picked her up.  All reports indicate she did ok.    Each day Shelby will get a daily report. It's actually a better record than we keep. 

Naps:

1. 9:20 - 11:40 (yeah, we're not so sure about that either)  Shelby has never slept that long during the day.   So I'll double check tomorrow.
2. 12:15 - 12:35
3. 3:05 - 3:30

Bottles:

1. 9:00
2. 10:45
3. 2:30

Diapers: I'll spare you those details.

It was tough to leave her.  But we know she's in very good hands!

New Style...

Look who got a new haircut!

Anniversary

Tuesday was our two-year wedding anniversary! It's so hard to believe how much has changed in such a short amount of time! We celebrated with a very yummy fillet. Shelby behaved herself and let us have a nice dinner. She was planted on my lap during the meal at eye level with the steak.....that Scott had to cut up since I was eating one-armed. Yes, how things have changed!

We didn't exchange presents. You might say Shelby is a gift in herself (Awwww.....) :). Our combined Christmas/Anniversary present was the fancy, new refrigerator. But, in case you were wondering, the traditional 2nd anniversary gift is cotton (the modern gift is china).

Smiley Shelby

Shelby is now smiling quite often! She likes her chin tickled and any of Dad's funny faces! Even in the evening (the fussiness witching hours), we can get a few smiles!

You can see her tricks, too!

Holidays

We had such a great Christmas and New Years! All the Benjamins and Lawrences were able to make it in for a couple days of holiday fun!

Jamie and Mike took over the kitchen and whipped up some great meals for 8! I felt bad that I didn't help more. But, I was awesome at finding the needed kitchen utensil!

New Year's Eve consisted of Scott, Mike, Dave, Nancy, and I...and, of course, Shelby! Nancy and Shelby turned in early. Scott and Mike played Wii. And, at 11, we watched CNN for the awkward Times Square coverage of Anderson Cooper and Kathie Griffin. Kathie was really excited to be with Anderson. Every time Kathie caught Anderson off guard (which was often), Anderson would giggle like a girl. It was hysterical!!