Lydia's First Parade

Norseland Celebrated 150 years this past weekend with a wonderful celebration. Our family spent Saturday afternoon watching the parade, eating pork chops, and enjoying great entertainment. The events started when Lydia and I picked up Caitlin, Emily, and Rachel. Who says having a big family is hard? They are Lydia's God Sisters. We crowded three car seats across the back seat of the Pacifica and Caitlin rode in the front with the airbag turned off. Safety first :) Charlie met us in Norseland and we were off to the parade route. Rachel and Lydia strolled nicely together in the Schwinn, Emily enjoyed a ride a top Charlie's shoulders and Caitlin walked like the big sister should or as you can see in the picture enjoyed her own piggy back ride. We got the foursome settled and ready to enjoy the parade. Although the girls we in high anticipation for all the candy they would receive, I on the other hand was a little nervous because lets be honest this is Norseland we are talking about. To my amazement we left with probably more than a gallon of candy, some Got Milk? pencils, a couple freeze pops, two can coolers, and the must have, 4-H stickers. The girls, even Lydia, did great at the parade and to be honest, Charlie and I did a good job corralling three girls a little older that what we are used to. At the pork chop feed we enjoyed our dinner on a blanket while Lydia cooed and eat with Grandma Yost. She really did a great job while being passed from relative to relative. I was even able to enjoy visions of what our family could be like if God blesses us with a few more munchkins :)






Well the fun has to stop somewhere doesn't it? Sunday brought a fussy eater to our house. As you may recall we took the pacifier away a couple weeks ago, but I brought it back just for sleeping last week because I was becoming her human pacifier. Now the opposite was occurring gradually as we got to the weekend and then on Sunday it seemed like she never wanted to nurse. Cross our fingers, I think she has gotten that out of her system. Although, I am quickly learning that once I think that I have her figured out, everything changes and we are back to the beginning. In thinking about it, I definitely have been trying to find the answers in books, online, or in talking to friends, but maybe I just need to pray about it more. Last week I ordered some books from the library, one called The Power of a Praying Parent. Maybe by offering my worries to our Creator, He won't so much tell me the answers, but calm my anxiety.

In between her fussy eating, screaming tiredness, and wonderful gift of peeing for the billionth time on the changing table she has also enjoyed playing in her exersaucer, taking a couple stroller rides, going to the park with Amy, Abby, Katie, and Anna for lunch, and today we enjoyed a visit to my old stomping grounds (GAC). Brenda, a friend and fellow alumna, and her son, Malcolm, joined us for a treat from the Caf. and a little walk around campus. I am really enjoying my time with Lydia at home, but also the ability to go out and see friends.

Happy Father's Day

Since our update last week, the days have gone by FAST!

Lydia had her 4 month check-up which went well, until the shots. She has now discovered that she has a powerful voice due to screaming after the shots and has been using it to express her frustrations in the days since. She also had a fever and seemed more tired in the days following. This isn't unusual, but after her 2 month shots she didn't seem to have any side-effects.

This weekend was busy with Carissa and Ike home. YEAH, we always like when they visit!! My dad had colleagues in town too so, Friday night, we went to a vineyard for brick oven pizza's and as I have been told, "delicious wine". Saturday Lydia and I enjoyed a baby shower for my friend Ann. I got to hold a little 3 week old baby and oh how they grow up fast. It is even hard for me to imagine Lydia that small.

Sunday brought Father's Day! The day started out with church and a yummy brunch. Charlie opened his Father's Day present; a bib that says "I love daddy" and a new softball glove. Can you believe that Charlie has never had a brand new glove? The one he has been using for years is a hand-me-down, but who can complain because it has made it through many games. In the afternoon Carissa and some of her fellow classmates visited Charlie's farm, so Ike and I were hanging out at my parents cleaning up from the weekend. Lydia was in her swing when she made a juicy noise, if you get what I am saying, but not becoming fussy I decided to leave her in there. In the next 30 mins. she was very content babbling and playing with her feet. When she started to get fussy I picked her up only to realize that the juicy sound had produced quite a mess. She was luckly only in her diaper, but the seat of the swing has been bleached in a succussful attempt to get it clean. Now for some you must be thinking, "Why is Jessica obsessed with Lydia's bowl movements?" but the real kicker is the fact that while staying at Amy's for 5 weeks, Lydia only had one poopy diaper on the last day. She always went a week in between filling her diaper. Well let me tell you that since being home with me she has been filling them every other day if not more. So back to Sunday because the stories not over yet, as I was trying to get things cleaned up Ike decided to hold Lydia and she blessed him with a shower of spit up down the front of his shirt. After finally getting things cleaned up or soaking, I was holding Lydia as she stood on the counter and she proceeded to fill her diaper for a second time. Ike said the whole thing was kind of comical, but did also ask how many diapers she usually goes through in a day. Let me assure you that she is not usually that "explosive".

This week has brought lots of walks to the library, softball fields, and friends. I am really loving our stroller. Because it is a double I have been able to bring the car seat along and have Charlie drive us home after the softball game instead of walking the 45 mins. back home. I am also finding that it is a great incentive to motivate me to take walks because I want to get lots of use out of it. Charlie has been working hard on the farm getting up the first cutting of hay and even got home the other night at 2 a.m. In the world of farming you got to do what can while the weather is cooperating.

Besides the events of the week Lydia has also been starting to play with her feet a lot and even sucking on them. What I wouldn't give for flexibility like that! She has also really been watching us as we eat, so we are contemplating starting solids. I have read and heard so many different opinions of when you should start solids that we are still weighing all the information. Either way feeding is still going well and she is still gaining. Last week she weighed in at 13lbs. and 1oz.

"How Do You Feel About Taking The Nuk Away Now?"

This weekend brought lots of fun adventures! Lydia and I traveled with my parents to the Cities for a graduation. Lydia did relatively well with the traveling especially since we took her nuk away last Monday, but in the last 10 minutes before arriving hunger struck and we all had to endure some major crying. In the middle of her crying session Carissa looked at me like what are you going to do to stop her crying and said "How do you feel about taking the nuk away now? My answer to the question is great! Lydia in most cases if doing just fine without the nuk. Our decision to take it away is based on a couple of sleepless nights where we were continuously woken up because she had lost her nuk. When we put it back in her mouth she would promptly fall back to sleep, so we decided that with me being home now for the summer that this was the best time to have some sleepless nights due to taking it away, instead when I am back to school. Simultaniously we have been tranitioning her to the crib. She starts out there each night and then after her feedings she mysteriously never ends up going back to her crib :). Both Charlie and I fully admit that we enjoy having her sleep with us, but truely the hope is that by the end of summer she will be in her crib.

So after a fun afternoon and evening on Saturday, we didn't want to stop there with the fun. Sunday brought St. Paul's Church Festival and Rock'n in the Quarry. We enjoyed a wonderful Country Music Mass and a great pork & chicken dinner. They sure know how to make you come back year after year for the excellent food. After visiting with family and friends we decided to make our way to the SMC Quarry with Carissa and Bridget joining in the fun. It was a beautiful afternoon for relaxing with family and great music. For those that don't know what Rock'n in the Quarry is; each year the Orchastra and a couple other music groups do a free concert down in the Quarry. People just bring their lawn chairs, munchies, and plenty of beverages. We have gone a couple other times, but it was fun to share with Lydia for the first time. We decided once we arrived that the volume level was a bit loud, so Auntie Carissa asked the EMTs for some gauze to decrease the volume. We tied it under her bonnet and it work really well. She enjoyed being held by Michelle, Dale, Bridget, and Carissa. With all the people holding her over the weekend, I actually started to miss having her in my arms. She does such a good job of hanging out with anyone. I wonder if she will be as social as her daddy?

Carissa at the Church festival holding the two cousins;

Lydia (4 mon.) and Kyla (51/2 mon.)

Great Aunt Bridget Mommy and Daddy Gr. Aunt Michelle and Gr. Uncle Dale

Schools Out for Summer!

YEAH!! I am done teaching for the year and my room is all cleaned for summer. It is such a sweet feeling knowing that I can stay home all day with Lydia.

It has been a while since an update so here it goes...

Memorial Weekend we traveled to SD for a friend's wedding. It was great to see our long time family friends and their new little one. Lydia and Alivia are just 2 weeks apart. Alivia also has lots more hair than Lydia!! Aren't they cute hanging out with the Grandmas?









Last week I finished up my third year of teaching and Lydia spent her final week with Amy. I think Amy is missing Lydia now :) (We are still trying to conivince her to be our full time daycare provider).












This weekend Paige, our God Daughter, came for a visit. She spent most of her time at the farm with Charlie. Paige loves the 4 wheeler and couldn't get enough of it. She was also a good helper with Lydia and even read her a story. Our bedtime routine with Paige for the longest time has been reading the book Pajama Time, so this morning she decided to read the book to Lydia. Enjoy the clip!