6 month stats ...

Olive went to her six month appointment with her pediatrician on Monday. I was busy at work, so Kyle manned the outing alone.

Olive weighed in at 13 lbs 6 oz.

She measured 24.5 inches.

Her head circumference was still big. (Kyle told me, but I don't remember the figure.)

Her daycare chums are all out-growing her. Because the doc isn't concerned, I refuse to be. (If I say it often [and emphatically] enough, it will be true. No?!?)

She received two more shots and one oral inoculation; she does not like shots or oral inoculations (and made Kyle and the Doctor [and the whole office, really] WELL aware of her displeasure).

H

Watch Out and Oompgh!

Sweet Olive, posing for a photo to send to Daddy ...



... and again, while Mommy gets it just right ...




... and another ...



... "Oompgh!" ... er, Mommy wasn't keeping a good eye out for Zoe, who loves to give kisses ...

oops.

- H

Because it makes us smile ...

Our new artwork:



Enjoy!

- H

Recent Happenings ...

Winter brought historic lows to St. Louis this week. Oddly, the below-zero windchills were less annoying than I expected. (Don't get me wrong. It was not 'jaunt through the park' weather, and I would really love a jaunt through the Park!)

Our weekend has been blissfully calm. We met friends for dinner on Friday, ran errands yesterday, made it to church this morning and finished a few more errands and chores this afternoon. The highlight was introducing Olive to solid (er, solid-ish) food.



She was a very good sport despite giving us some fabulous "What do you guys think you are doing?" looks.





What DO we think we are doing? We are not entirely sure, but we're figuring it out bit by bit and bringing her along for the ride.

- H

Baby, it is COLD outside!

Our winter started off mild, but the past several days have been cold. There is no way to sugar-coat it. COLD. (While there are locations MUCH colder than the STL, temperatures in the teens and single digits qualify as COLD to me!)

We returned yesterday from our last Christmas excursion. But I will start at the beginning:

We spent Christmas in Houston, having a marvelous time and not taking nearly enough photos! We saw my Dad, my stepmom, my Mom and Tim, Chad, Emily and Kate, my mom's parents, my Uncle Tommy, my Aunt Bonnie, Uncle Bob, Sean, Krissy, Jonathan, Candice and Nyjah, my stepdad's mom, my Aunt Mary and Uncle Steve, and wonderful friends to boot! As always, there were more people we would love to have seen, but our vacation schedules and year-end deadlines did not so permit.

We came home for a few days, rescued Zoe from the kennel (which she actually loves) and got a bit of work done before heading west to Kansas City to celebrate New Years and a belated Christmas with Kyle's side of the family. We saw lots of family there too: Kyle's parents, Liz, Matt, Will and Charlie, Kyle's grandparents Swenson and friends: Andy and Krista and James, Kristie, and Taryn. After a wonderful weekend, we headed east and settled back into our little home.

Even with all of the travel, we managed a little bit of holiday baking (pecan pralines and granola bars) and a little bit of hilarity (If I ever ask for philo dough, check to make sure I don't mean puff pastry. I very well might. And, if you don't think hilarity can ensue from such a mishap, well, your life is probably more exciting than mine.). We opened many wonderful gifts, enjoying the spirit in which each was given even more than the (lovely!) items themselves. We enjoyed watching our family and friends open, and enjoy, the gifts we found to express our love and thoughts towards them.

It was wonderful to sleep in our own beds last night, but it was also a little sad to come home from our travels and find the harsh, grey chill of winter without the merriment of a full house. We are already looking forward to the next time we can share such a full home and open our own doors to the laughter of family and friends.

Much love.

HKO

Merry Christmas!

Get Down Chewie!

Our little one's newest noises remind us of Chewbacca - from the trilogy of our childhood ... which, in turn, has me thinking of Chuy's creamy jalapeno dip ... mmm.



- H

Post Edit - I did employ the Wisdom of the Internet (oooh, aaah) to determine the proper spelling of the short form of Chewbacca. I guessed it was spelled more like Chuy's, and I was wrong. Now, I am thinking about Tex-Mex yumminess again. Drat!

Christmas is coming ...

The goose is getting fat,
Please do put a penny in the old man's cap.

I have recently discovered that many of the songs I remember from my childhood are not actually, well, correct. The monkey did NOT stop running 'round the mulberry bush to tie his shoe. Which is neither here nor there, really ... but may someday explain why Olive sings some of the words that she does, er, will.

Things are going well around here. We all had a busy, but pretty good, week. A matter I've been working on settled, favorably for my client. (Woo Hoo!!!) Kyle's building continues to come into physical being, and his trips to TN are suspended until after the New Year, which has been really nice. The city even got a lovely dusting of snow last night!

We are almost ready for Christmas. Most of our gifts are purchased, but none of them are wrapped. We'll get it done sooner or later! Our travel plans are set, and Zoe is appropriately cared for. We'll spend Christmas first with family and friends in Texas. Over New Year, we'll celebrate with family and friends in Kansas. Then, we'll settle back here for some travel-free and shopping-free weekends. I'm really looking forward to visiting family, but I am also looking forward to the calm, well, after the travel storm.

Today is a typical Saturday - errands, chores, a bit of work for Kyle (tomorrow promises a bit of work for me), and a bit more cooking than we get to do on weekday evenings. We're having pork steaks and turnip gratin for dinner tonight. Maybe, we'll have a salad for some green vegetables. This fall/winter we've gotten quite a few turnips from our CSA. I am not a turnip fan. They do nothing for me - no matter what cooking method I employ. If the cheesy, gratin-y goodness doesn't change my mind, I don't know what will!

This week will be another busy one. Kyle and I both have things to finish up at work before our offices close for the Christmas holiday. And there's packing and wrapping and cleaning ... and sleeping and eating and breathing ... whew!

Have a great week ..

H

Super.

So, in one of my first school photos my hair is visibly tangled, my clothes are rumpled, and my grin is wobbly and unsure. This morning I felt like that little girl.

No matter how much I would love to be the smooth, collected, well-dressed (and well-coiffed!) career girl *slash* wonderful, attentive, loving mom, there are mornings when I feel like a rumpled, tag-a-long little girl—straddling both worlds, barely, and not doing either very well. More often than not, I am the bumbled sidekick and NOT the superhero I aspire to be.

Last night, the cats (we strongly suspect) unplugged our alarm clock. We woke this morning to Olive’s murmurings and realized that it was one hour past our standard alarm ringing time. On any other morning this would be mildly annoying but fine—completely manageable. However, THIS morning I had a conference call scheduled and had planned to be at work bright and early to finish prepping for it. (Bright and Early. Like not too far off from the time Olive woke us up. Fab.)

So, we scurried. Kyle popped in the shower, I fed Olive (who decided she only wanted half of her meal), Kyle took Olive, I popped in the shower … there was more frantic scurrying. My hair was rumpled, my make-up slap-dash, my pants have three safety pins holding them up … and Olive decided she wanted the rest of her meal as we were bundling her up to get out the door. Fab. Fab. Fab.u.lous.

Everything poured out at once. Olive lost it. I lost it. Getting our gear to the car and us out the door just seemed impossible. Thankfully, Zoe and Kyle sprang into action. They wagged and helped and staunched the flow of tears.

And I found myself sitting in the car. Surrounded by people I love and who love me. My tears were no longer flowing, but were not yet dry either. And, while frustrated and embarrassed, I knew that we would make it through the day ... that we may not individually be more than disheveled, well-meaning sidekicks, but together we make a pretty super family … we survived the morning and will go on to fight crime (and morning discombobulation) another day.

- H

P.S. – I got to the office and was able to find the info I needed in plenty of time for my call (that went quite well, thank you very much!).

P.P.S. – I cannot imagine doing this with more than our little Olive in tow or without Kyle. (Some days I CAN imagine it without Zoe, but then I come to my senses.) Whew!

P.P.P.S. – Kyle wanted me to clarify that Zoe was the one wagging (primarily) and he was the one helping. Zoe, much as we love her, is not very good at the helping. She IS a champion wag-er.

We win!

There are two stores we target (neither is Target) when we are out and about running errands ... because they have comfortable nursing areas. Neither is exactly on our way anywhere, but each is near some of the stores we frequent. Having a place to stop where we know Olive can get a meal without doing crazy acrobatics in the car or exposing myself in the mall is really comforting.

One of these stores is the store from which we buy Olive's diapers--Cotton Babies. We were there yesterday to feed Olive, and they were having a special event. We received raffle tickets when we arrived to put in boxes for different prizes. As we were preparing to leave, the designer of our diapers (and owner of the store) drew one of our tickets from a box! We won a package of their new diaper system (Bum Genius 'Flip' - Their promo shirts say "Bum Flipin' Genius.' Cracks me up.) ... We have plenty of diapers already but were excited to win and are excited to try out these new diapers! Maybe we won't be doing diaper laundry quite so frequently ...

And today we did normal things: went to church, went to lunch, did some Christmas shopping ... and some not so normal things: we played with Olive on a highway! The highway near us has been closed for construction for the past *almost* year. Tomorrow it will open again. So, today the road was open for St. Louisans to ride bikes, jog, walk, roller blade, and skateboard. We strapped Olive into her stroller and outfitted Zoe with her leash and walked through the neighborhood to the highway. It was fun and funny to be walking along the paved road and see only people rather than cars.



Also, Olive has finally outgrown the bassinet stage of her crib. So, we Rubix-Cubed the bassinet into the crib and outfitted it with the great bedding Rae made for us. Here's hoping that Olive adjusts well to the change!



Happy Sunday.

H

How is it December already!?

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the holiday with Kyle's family enjoying wonderful food, great company, much hospitality, and tons of hugs and kisses for our little Olive. We had fun seeing Olive and her cousin Charlie playing together. They are two days (and two pounds!) apart, and (we think) they enjoyed chillin' on Olive's fuzzy orange blanket and watchin' the craziness of the weekend pass by.



After the turkey festivities, we pointed the car back to St. Louis. Our first task upon return was dropping Kyle off at the airport. He spent a few days in Tennessee before joining Olive, Zoe and me back at home.

Olive had her four month check up on Tuesday. She weighed in at 12 lbs 3 oz and measured 23.75 in long. Her head circumference is still in the 75th percentile! Her pediatrician is pleased with her development, especially after watching Olive put on her very best wiggling and kicking demonstration. Olive got two more shots and another oral immunization, all of which she took like a champ (a crying, unhappy champ, but my champ nonetheless).

Now we're enjoying the first snap of downright cold weather, finally admitting that December is actually upon us and gearing up for Christmas celebrations with family and friends.

Have a great weekend!

H

Thanks.

We have very much to be thankful for this year.

We are thankful for our little Olive--a true blessing. She is a wonderful, inquisitive little girl. We sometimes find ourselves marveling at our fortune in her arrival.

We are thankful for all of the lessons we have learned in becoming parents - and for the many more that are sure to come. The lesson isn't always fun in the middle - but the results are priceless!

We are thankful for all of our wonderful family and friends. You are an amazing support network for us - whether you are near or far you are much appreciated.

We are thankful to sometimes see life through our puppy's eyes. She is eager to wag her tail and lick our faces. Her joy is contagious and reminds us to wag our own tails too.

We are thankful to sometimes see life through the eyes of our cats - hiding under the bed for a bit, but venturing out when the 'danger' is gone.

We are thankful to be working and thinking and playing and praying and cleaning and cooking and living.

We are thankful to see a rainbow form, to watch the leaves turn colors and to wait for the first snowfall with anticipation and a bit of sadness.

We are thankful also to see the sun after many grey days and to know that tulips and daffodils will decorate the city after the winter is past.

We are thankful.

H

A week of Olive

Last week Olive and I were on our own. Kyle was in Tennessee with his building (impressing people right and left), and Zoe spent a week at doggie sleep away camp (to preserve my sanity). My cold held on with both hands, making daily tasks even more of a challenge.

BUT - we survived our brief foray into single parenthood - or life without a helpful husband like Kyle. We are both very happy to have him back home. Life is much sweeter with him around!

Because we were on our own, Olive and I had a very busy - but relatively boring - week. We made it to work or daycare every day and then made it home safe and sound. Bottles and diapers were washed - although Olive went without a bath for several days in a row. Wrestling a slippery baby single handed seemed a bit dangerous ...

Each day, I snapped a photo of our little one and sent it out to my sweetie. They aren't fancy, but here are few of them:









Post publish edit - OK, she looks very serious in all of these photos. She can smile, but she currently looks intently at my iphone/camera when I hold it in front of her. And - without Kyle - there is no one to distract her from this gaze while I snap the photos! So, it is kind of fun to know that she is concentrating on the strange mechanical device dangled above her, but also it is kind of sad not to catch so many of her smiles!

- H

Olive and the Butterfly

Olive seems to change every time we blink! She has recently started showing much more interest in toys (or any brightly colored object, really). You can see her fascination (ok, fascination might be strong, but she IS interested) with the butterfly on her play mat in the video. And it is really fun see her reach for and bat at toys. Another new skill!

Today in church she was fascinated by a rattle. This was distracting to us, but also helpful--we spent significantly less time walking with her in the foyer during the service and more time in our seats! (I think we will still choose aisle seats near the back for awhile yet.)

This week we noticed a negative impact of daycare. Olive and I both fought colds! (Booo!) And, suspiciously, many of the other small people in her class were also very snotty. I am hopeful that we are both on the mending side of it, but only time will tell. For a little thing, Olive sure does make a lot of snot! And, oh my, has the drool begun! Our stash of drool bibs is coming in very handy.

That is it for now. All in all, we are getting along quite well. We hope that things are going well with all of you too!

- H

Our little skeleton

... ready for her "Orange and Black" party at 'school' (the bones glow in the dark!) ...



- H