Oatmeal with Bananas

I've been thinking all day about what I could share with my four loyal subscribers. :) What's been exciting in the world of Katherine? Then I remembered, I didn't tell you about Katherine's first bowl of cereal. No, despite what you're thinking it wasn't frosted flakes, cocoa pebbles or fruity pebbles. We think she would have preferred that to the rice cereal she tried. Plain ole rice cereal didn't seem to make the cut with Katherine. We know the faces she makes when she likes something. Take for example Baby Tylenol. She likes it. Slurps it right down. (Grape flavored) Chocolate ice cream. Yum. Opens her mouth nice and wide for that. Rice cereal... You'd think you stuck a lemon in her mouth for the puckered face you get. You be the judge. (There are some pictures at the beginning of the album where she was playing in her "saucer"... She loves it!!)

http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/MyFirstBowlOfCereal#

After that event, we figured, well, we'll try again next week. She wasn't a fan this week but maybe next weekend she'll be luvin the cereal. Saturday we did some Babies R Us shopping and we bought a box of Oatmeal with Bananas. Now this has got to taste better than rice cereal, right? We figured we'd try that on Sunday.

Saturday Katherine, Stephen and I headed to the mall to shop, err, I mean, vote. :) We spent some time Saturday morning going through the "misc" candidate positions and picking who we'd vote for. Some just came down to pure age. I mean do you really put a 90+ person in office? Is it a 6 month term??? Some were easy picks... Others were really an enie meanie test. I've determined my political affiliation may be incorrect. I'll ponder this for the next few years and maybe make a change. Maybe I'll just go with "unaffiliated". We hope all of our friends voted the way we did. We did a write in. Andrew Krieman, you may be the next President of the United States. :)

Sunday, I'm not sure what happened. Well, I know what happened, I'm just not sure HOW it happened. Katherine went down for her morning nap and I decided I would do a little cleaning. Somehow that turned into taking every piece of furniture out of the kitchen, book cases included, moving the refrigerator and scrubbing the kitchen floor on my hands and knees. "Playing the part of Cinderella..." Again, no idea what happened. In the midst of this, dear god what have I done, event, Stephen came down to ask whether we should wake Katherine to feed her. It was noon. Sure! He decided it was high time to try the oatmeal with bananas too. Off he went with his bottle and cereal. I really didn't know the cereal went upstairs with him. I heard him talking a little while later and decided to investigate. Katherine was still swaddled and Stephen was feeding her the cereal. He thought she'd get too "handsy" if she was unswaddled. Katherine ate down the cereal.... Of course, Im not sure she had much choice given the situation she was in. On Daddy's lap, swaddled. We'll see if the next time in her high chair we get the same result. Sorry folks, no pictures of the event. I was shooed out of the bedroom because Katherine wouldn't stop turning to look at me while Stephen was feeding her. Next time... Promise!!!

Today Katherine was sent home with her first school take home. It's not her first art project, that one's coming!!!! This was something from when she started "school" that has her name and birthdate on it. Her art project is a pumpkin that she finger painted. I can't wait to get my hands on it and bring it home!! I promise to share... I'll scan it so you can all see it too. Yes, yes... I'm a few french fries short of a happy meal. But you didn't just realize that did you?

We're getting excited for Friday. Okay. I am. Katherine even had a fashion show for us on Sunday. We tried on her costumes (yes plural) to make sure they fit. I told you way back when that I was undecided. We had a 50/50 vote for the costumes. What was I to do? Ignore 50% of the vote? You understand. Aunt Pat said pumpkin and Jacki said bumble bee.... I had to do it!! Check out our fashion show:

http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/HalloweenFashionShow#

We'll be sure to take pictures of the "real deal" on Friday. Her teachers voted for her to be a bumble bee. I was thinking of the pumpkin costume for school but the bee might be better. What do you think? Which for school and which for "trick or treat"? No, we're not really taking her trick or treating... We're giving candy out!!! K has to at least be able to SAY trick or treat before we go gather candy. Otherwise it just looks like Mommy and Daddy are desperate for chocolate. I don't need to share that with the neighborhood... I'll just go buy candy and fulfill my desperation!! :)

Some other pictures I uploaded just for all of you:

Katherine's Baptism

http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/KatherineSBaptism#

Our 5th Anniversary Trip to Playa

http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/5thAnniversaryTripToPlaya

2008 NC State Fair

Tonight we took Katherine to her first state fair. How exciting!!! The state fair is a combination of food that will take (easily) 5-10 years off your life expectancy and pretty awesome people watching. Typically we avoid the really interesting people watching days/evenings, such as "Can night" where you can get into the fair if you bring some cans to donate. Great cause.... Great community event... amazing people watching. :) I mean folks, we live in NC. We're not known for being the metropolis state. Down here we say "HEHAW!!!"... Okay, maybe not all of us. Some of us still can't pull that off but never the less, you go to the fair to eat food that's terrible for you and watch the scenery. (Carnies are pretty interesting folks too.)

This year the new item on the "fried menu" was fried pecan pie. Rave reviews in the newspaper. (Yes, folks the fried fair food is rated in the paper.) I'm not a big pie eater, let alone a pie with nuts (yick) but Stephen loves him some pecan pie. (See I dropped to southern there for a moment.) Last year for those keeping track the new item on the menu was fried reeses, which I'll say were good, but I'm still reeling from eating them. I couldn't even comtemplate eating any of the "fried X" foods tonight. The pie got Stephens vote of approval.

The roasted corn on the cob... As usual: Amazing. I limited my chunky self to only one ear of corn however. (Discipline and self control.... Or saving room for funnel cake?!) The funnel cake wasn't really my idea. Katherine suggested it. (See pics) Honestly. The girl wouldn't let up... Mommy, are we going to have funnel cake? Mommy, is it time for funnel cake? Mommy, they sell funnel cake.... Alright already, let's have funnel cake!!! :P

The game(rs) at the fair were out in force. We watched a few and Stephen took a couple of pictures of Katherine and I near all of the people losing their money while trying to win ginormous stuffed "things". We did not attempt to win anything. We'll buy K a stuffed animal instead. It was a little chilly hence the bundling. Katherine was toasty warm in her fleece outfit and big fleece blanket that she was wrapped in, with the exception of the 30 seconds or so of picture time! (Ya had to see the cute pink outfit.)

You might notice our vote for Steve Troxler stickers. (Katherine's is on her leg because she was trying to eat it.) He's the current NC Commissioner of Agriculture. (Again I say HEHAW.) Our friend Meredith and her boyfriend were "working the booth" at the fair for his campaign. We love Merry, so we're voting Troxler. Yes, very scientific. We don't think she'd steer us wrong... Plus we know even less about the "other guy". Mr Troxler did have tractor stickers that they were giving out that apparently are a big hit. I, personally, didn't need a tractor sticker, but hey - there were lots of people there that felt the need. You go with your bad selves!!! Some even placed them on their backs. Creative folk. Others commented that they would have preferred magnets over stickers. As Merry says... so noted, so noted. Vote Troxler!!! :)

Pictures from our visit at the fair: http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/2008StateFair#

Punkin Pictures!

We took our little punkin to have pumpkin pictures taken this weekend. Below is a link to the fruit of our photo shoot. :) It was quite chilly but she was a trooper!!! Ya just want to eat her up!!! http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/KatherineSFirstPumpkinPictures#5259804709300083538

Katherine's 4mo Checkup

This morning we took Katherine to see Dr Hewitt. She woke up all smiles and happy, as is typical for baby girl. She was so happy I felt guilty taking her to get poked!!

Dr Hewitt said she's doing GREAT! She's happy, growing well and has great muscles (and rolls). :) Her position on the growth charts has changed a bit though! So here are the vital stats as of 4mo:

- Length: 23 3/4 inches (grew one inch since her last visit at 2 months old)
- Weight: 13lbs 9.5oz (Up about 2lbs since her post ER visit in August)
- Head: 40cm (I don't remember what this was last time... I need to look when I get home.)

She's in the 25 percentile for length (no shock there); 45th percentile for weight and 20th percentile for her head size. She's still got a nugget noggin. :)

She took her shots like a CHAMP!! She was all smiles before and only as Dr Hewitt was giving the shots did she scream. Immediately after I picked her up and she was smiling again. I have pre and post shot pictures that I took this time... She was smiling in both! Yay!! (Picture above was moments after the shot... after I of course picked her up for a minute or so.) And might I say that Dr Hewitt is AMAZING at giving shots. It was over in literally 15 seconds it seemed like. I barely had time to register they were hitting her leg.

She's received her dose of tylenol and she's at daycare now. I'll be checking on her in a little while to see how she's doing. I might go over at lunch time to give her some more tylenol if she needs it.

As of 4mo you can start to try baby cereal, which we did this Saturday. Katherine wasn't so game for it. We're going to try again this weekend. Dr Hewitt thinks it might have been too thick. We didn't make it really thick but it wasn't formula thin either. He suggested we make it really watery and see if she'll try it. If not, try every once in a while. Anytime between now and 6 months she'll start eating.

In other news... Toys aren't as good as Mommy & Daddy talking and making eye contact with baby!! Dr Hewitt made an analogy regarding babies that are living in orphanages in less fortunate countries... Those babies don't grow at the same rate, meet the same milestones in the same period of time, etc. It's not because they aren't watching Baby Einstein! It's because they aren't getting the human contact that babies thrive on. We have lots of face time with Katherine. More of that than with toys actually. Whew. We're doing something right!

Our little girl is growing up!! Next scheduled ped appointment... 6 months old!!! Yay!!!!!

Pictures from our visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/daleksza/My4moCheckup#

Has it been 3 weeks?

I know. I know. It’s been weeks since I’ve updated everyone. But I swear, it’s been busy!!! We had FOUR firsts over the last few weeks that contributed to some of the craziness. (More on that later.)

Stephen told me that I need to make sure I keep up the blog. He claims it’s the only way he knows what’s going on in the family. I’m thinking maybe I can make a honey-do list here…. He reads it, so maybe he’ll do it?! What do you think?? Honey, the garage could really use a cleaning. I’m happy to help – supervise. Just let me know when. Oh, and I think the diaper genie could use a bag change. Xoxo :)

So are you ready to find out what three of Katherine’s firsts were??? She had her first cold, first left eye infection and first right eye infection. Isn’t that special?! I think they came courtesy of daycare, but who really knows. Stephen or I could have given it to her from ickiness we brought home from work. Daycare is a slobberfest though so if I were a betting woman (which you know I’m not) I’d go with daycare.

The implementation of the snot sucker (yes, I know it has a real name but snot sucker is so much more descriptive) did not prove to be an enjoyable event for Katherine. All in all – not a fan. Even when I try to distract her, she gets quite irritated with me. I think she recognizes the SS because when she sees it she looks at me like “really Mommy??? Again???” Oh, and I now totally understand why there’s the “protective ridge” around the end of the tube. When you see a little booger and it’s just beyond your reach I can see how an overzealous Mommy (or Daddy) might get caught up in the moment. Thankfully Katherine is protected by the Red Cross and their safety measures.

Recently we started to give Katherine some teethers that can be frozen. She gets a kick out of them. She doesn’t quite understand that the whole thing can’t go into her mouth. Fortunately the heart, square and various other shapes prevent her from getting the whole thing in her mouth – but she’s a go-getter and gives it a shot every time.

On the 12th Stephen and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. Hard to believe it's been five years since the wedding. To celebrate Stephen and I took a trip back to the area where we went on our honeymoon. We said way back when that for our 5th anniversary we really wanted to go back - so we did. Sans Katherine. YIKES!!!! This was our fourth first. Our first time leaving Katherine overnight... actually for SEVERAL nights. We had a wonderful trip. I know I really enjoyed having some time alone with Stephen where we weren't focusing on work, home stuff, baby care, etc. It was time just for us.

To keep with the theme of our traditional wedding presents we exchanged "wood" presents this year. Stephen bought me a BEAUTIFUL sculpture from an artist in Butan. It came from one of the organizations that helps artists in third, fourth, etc. world countries earn money and share their talents across the globe. I love love love it. I bought Stephen a hand made orthodox cross. The gentleman that made it (Reader Seraphim) made it out of a black cherry tree that had some fallen limbs, etc. during a storm. He made the cross from the damaged tree parts and if I do say so myself it's quite lovely. I was rather pleased with the purchase - and hope Stephen was too!!! (He said he was.)

While Stephen and I were away for our anniversary trip Tootsie and Pop came to stay with Katherine. As you might imagine, I typed up a whole series of things they, of course, needed to know. I know Tootsie read through them - Pop, I don't think so much so. It at least made me feel better that they were read... as for using them (or as Stephen says following them...) Not so sure that happened!! It was Tootsie Pop and Katherine spoil time!!!! Weeeeee.... If the pictures are any indication, she had a TERRIFIC time with Tootsie & Pop. So much so I think she wanted them to pack her in their suitcase and take her to FL with them. No worries though... Stephen checked their luggage as they were leaving to make sure Katherine didn't get smuggled in there somehow. (Aunt Jacki recommended the smuggling and suggested Tootsie poke airholes in the suitcase so she could breathe.)

While Katherine only made it to daycare one day while Tootsie & Pop were here :-/ it was a very important day for her to go. Last Monday she has her first “school picture day”. Isn’t that exciting???? I really hope there’s a class picture. How neat would that be?? Eight babies!! Oh so cute! She’s making lots of friends in school. She’s quite the social butterfly.

In other news....

Katherine also learned how to use Daddy’s credit card. My wonderful and amazing daughter sent me flowers to welcome me back to work. She also wrote a beautiful card that made me cry. Again I say, Mensa application??? I am a wee bit concerned that she figured out how to use the credit card at the young age of four months old. Imagine her at 15? Daddy’s wallet will not be safe. We know what kind of genetics run in the Aleksza family – Justin (sorry Jus) was using his Mom’s credit card to pay for things until oh two years ago. I’m not sure that’s going to work out for little miss Katherine!!

The weekend before last we participated for the first time in our neighborhood yardsale. It was a gorgeous day to be outside. Stephen was able to sit and read a book while enjoying the weather (his family) :) and relaxing a bit. Katherine stayed outside with us for much of the time checking out the scenery. She really likes people watching. I won’t say we made a boatload of money… but we at least made enough that it was okay to have gathered the “stuff” and again, it was a really nice day to be outside.

After our yard sale we had a visit from Aunt Nikki and Sofi. Sofi, for those that don’t know, has been called back to Active Duty. She is scheduled to report on October 26th. Her orders are for up to 400 days. She’s serving with the Mississippi National Guard. From what we understand, she won’t be airborne. :( We’re not sure where she’ll be heading yet (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc.). Please keep her in your prayers. As for Nicole, she’s still home and I believe the plan is for her to be home for the next few months at least. We’re looking forward to her spending Thanksgiving with us!

Finally, the company that Stephen and I work for has finally completed the merger. We are officially "merged". :P As for us... Yesterday was payday and the check cleared so we're running with it. It's always sad when there are those that don't become part of the new organization. When you're one of those people it doesn't matter whether it's 1, 100 or 1000... We're blessed that we have the jobs that we have and work with the people that we do. I've said many times that a job is a job... You need one to pay the bills. What makes one place different from another to work, is the people you work with. We're fortunate that the people we work with are more like an extended family than just co-workers. Whether it's moving :), a bad day, a shoulder when something personal is going on, or hanging out to celebrate holidays, birthdays or special events, like a baby being born... we're there for each other. So that makes me grateful for not only having a job, but having one with so many people that I care about and who care about me and my family. Enough of the kool-aid for this post!

I promise I'll try to post more often going forward! xoxo to all!!

And since you're reading and captive... I love you Stephen, with all my heart!! Thank you for the most wonderful 5 years of my life.