gretchen is six months

My little baby isn't such a baby anymore. Today Gretchen Elaina turned six months old. Yes, in that same amount of time we'll be celebrating a 1st birthday. Really, where has the time gone? I remember thinking how sleep-deprived I was just about six months ago and now I can hardly remember those nights. Gretchen doesn't sleep through every night, but enough of them that things are good around here.

My cheerful little girl is still as wonderful as she was the first day. Unless you take food away or catch her overtired, Gretchen smiles at everybody and can always warm your heart. It's easy to make her smile and her belly laughs can light up a room.

To date:

• Rolls over to tummy all the time and sleeps on her tummy
• Can roll from tummy-to-back but doesn't do it all the time
• Can sit up assisted but not on her own yet
• Plays with her toes all the time
• Chews on everything, but no teeth yet
• Started solid foods and by the way she eats, you'd think I don't feed her. Favorite: blueberries/peaches, peas, bananas and sweet potatoes
• Takes a bottle from anybody at anytime
• Makes lots of verbal noises and will mimic what you do
• Watches and observes everybody and everything 
• Doesn't fall asleep in public as well as she used to, there are just too many things going on
• Still very easy to cart around
• Falls asleep on her own for naps and bedtime

When days are long I just tickle my little girl, grab that smile and store it in my heart. We love Gretchen, she's the perfect addition to our family.

summer swimming

Yesterday was so much fun! We had a pool party at a friend's house in order to escape this heat. Pool party, toddler style. Yes, this was a party with all of Charlotte's friends and families. Six toddlers, an almost equal amount of babies, and there really weren't too many melt downs.

When we got there I put the lifejacket on Charlotte and she got right in the pool and sat on a floaty thing the whole time. She was a little timid of the water so we were careful not to scare her. I started to think that my swim lessons last summer scared her for life. Another little girl had water wings and was swimming and diving under water and just having a blast. Charlotte was just the opposite and it was driving me nuts. After dinner we all went swimming again and this time I put some Nemo water wings on Charlotte-- well, she was a totally different kid!! Can you believe she was swimming on her own! Jumping off the side of the pool and did I mention, swimming on her own! We'll be purchasing Nemo water wings ASAP.

Gretchen got to go in the water for a little bit too. She loved it! The water was warm and she hung on in the a floaty thing. Since we are around water all the time with both Grandparents, liking water is a real necessity in this house. I'm so happy it was a fun pool party for the girls.

video: gretchen

video: my gretchen a video by [griff] [griff] 'n [chuck] on Flickr.

Seriously, this hot weather and somebody still has something to always laugh and smile about. Gretchen sure is taking a liking to food, especially sweet potatoes. Charlotte is a great big sister and has been very helpful lately-- looking out for Gretchen when she cries.

I gave them a bath together too, it was fun!! Can't wait until Gretchen can sit up and they can really have a blast.

urban lattice quilt completed

urban lattice quilt, a photo by [griff] [griff] 'n [chuck] on Flickr.

My 6th quilt for the cabin completed. This is the last for the bunk room. This is Cara's Urban Lattice Quilt Along, manly size. However, unintentionally, I place a row of blocks on the long side so this is longer rather than the manly pattern is wider. It works good for me because it's for a twin bed. I love how it turned out! Kona Navy with Joel Dewberry's Modern Meadow.

gretchen's first eats

Update: Charlotte has not sat on the potty since Grandma came over. The cake has been staring at me. The potty chart isn't working. Neither are the stickers.

Update: I lost my phone. Don't call me.

Gretchen. She's hungry, I know it! She'll be 6 months in just a week or so and I decided it was time to start food. Last night at dinner I got the highchair out and some rice cereal made. I've also been hyping this up by telling Charlotte that she gets to teach Gretchen how to eat. The second kid around, I made the rice cereal much thicker than when Char had it for the first time.

Gretchen was all about the food! She was grabbing the spoon and trying to shove it in her mouth. The tongue was a little iffy about the new texture but soon enough it was going down the trap. I plan on trying sweet potatoes very soon as the rice cereal is so bland!

Here's the fun story...everything was ready and on the table. Kevin and I both turned around for something or another. We look back at Gretchen and she has rice cereal all over her mouth and face. Yep, Charlotte gave her her first bites!! Charlotte was being a big sister and feeding Gretchen. No worries, no children were injured during this trial. Gretchen seemed happy and so did Charlotte.

Update: We also found out how to get Charlotte to sleep at an early bedtime; let her chase Griffin after dinner in the backyard until she collapses!

she did it!

She did it!! Yesterday, as I mentioned, Charlotte tinkled on the sidewalk for a popsicle. I didn't intend for her to do that, but bad habbits from the country came with us. Today the kids were with Grandma Horstmeyer all day becuase I had to work 11 hours!! But, they had an exciting day, especially Charlotte...

Charlotte tinkled on the sidewalk again so my mom decided to get out the frog potty.

Charlotte went tinkle on the fog potty...a first! This was after watching the Elmo Potty movie. I guess she was paying attention. She has been watching that a lot lately and maybe, it finally made sense. Then, my mom said if she went poop on the potty she would get a cake. Well...my child loves cake. Actually, the frosting. After sitting there for while, she made it happen! Now Grandma was in a bind. Charlotte wanted cake and a promise is a promise. So, she had to pack the kids up and take them to the store so Charlotte could pick out a cake. A little one with a HUGE buttercream flower on top. And to put a cherry on top, she told everybody at the store that she went poop on the potty and was getting cake.

potty cake

So, on my way home I picked up some stickers. Charlotte and I made a sticker chart and she will get a sticker for evey time she uses the potty and then a prize for every 5 times. She totally gets it. This will be fun....as fun as potty training gets...



settled in

Ah..... We are getting settled in. Tonight will be our third night in the house and it already feels like home. I've been working at slowly unpacking boxes so that things are put away right the first time. Charlotte's room was first to be unpacked and she absolutely loves it. All the excitement has been a damper on our nap schedule, but I think we'll get back into the swing shortly.

The heat...I haven't been able to handle! It's just been too hot for all the work I've been doing. I can't seem to get the A/C cranked high enough to cool down. Dare I say I can't wait for fall??

Gretchen is doing good. She had a rough first night in the house. Sleeping in the pack 'n play didn't fare well with her. She was waking up all night long. On the other hand, napping in the pack 'n play in the warm, cozy sunroom in the afternoon is her favorite thing to do. Still rolling over all over the place. Grabbing for toys and putting the nookie in her mouth all by herself. I'm very happy to announce she is taking a bottle...so much that I think she is getting annoyed with nursing (it takes longer).

Charlotte is busy, busy, busy. It is nice being so much closer to our friends. The house is definitely home to my little girl. Today she went potty on the sidewalk for a popsicle. Now I just need to figure out how to make her pee on the potty. At least it's still a start...

Kevin is working hard on projects around the house; getting things into tip-top shape around here. He had a wonderful trip to Alaska, filled with rain and mosquitoes. It's always nice for him to see his buddy.

solo canoeist for the week

sunset

Charlotte's new room

Charlotte in her NEW bedroom, a photo by [griff] [griff] 'n [chuck] on Flickr.

Her room is finally finished! I am so happy with how it turned out. The curtains are green/white gingham and will look super cute hanging. Just wait until we get all her furniture and her new and improved big girl bed!