:: 2 SHORT MONTHS ::

2 months and 4 days old
13 lbs 5 oz
24 inches long
16.25 inch head
That's my 95% gal!

:: LAZY SUMMER DAYS ARE ALREADY HERE ::

Now that Cohen has finished preschool (a post on that is coming soon...maybe...I did make teacher gifts and they were well received.), we're sitting in our PJs a little longer in the morning. Our air conditioning is not working so we're hot. Cohen has taken to wearing no shirt. He doesn't understand why I don't. I'm not about to explain it to him either. I'm not quite into the routine of having two kids yet. I feel like I do a lot of laundry and dishes. Not much else. We'll get there.

:: TEACHER GIFTS ::


Cohen's last day of preschool is May 20th. That is only three more days to figure out how we're going to spend our summer vacation. But first things first...teacher gifts. Give me your opinion on this topic. Are they necessary? I don't remember giving my teacher anything at the end of the year. I mean, my presence was a gift within itself. :-) I don't know what to do. I made them market bags for Christmas. What have you done for your children's teachers? Maybe some of my jam stash?

:: MY BIKE GOT STOLEN LAST YEAR ::

So I need a new one... Wouldn't you love to have one of these? Enter this contest and you just might get one.

:: A SMILE & A GREAT MAN ::


I am not writing this post so that you'll feel sorry for me, or be jealous of my patient and caring husband. I am mostly writing it for my own records. I've mentioned in the past few weeks that Piper has been SUPER cranky. Nothing would soothe her. I would feed her, then change her, then leave the house because she'd fall asleep in the car. It was getting old and Mike and I were waring down quickly. On Wednesday Piper's cry changed for the worst. At first I was so annoyed, but then I began getting concern. On Thursday I woke up with a horrible sore throat. At my 6-week postpartum visit I had my doctor do a strep test mostly because I was 100% sure it wasn't. Of all of the sore throats I've had in my 30 years, never has it been strep. I was correct. The test came back negative.

Later in the day I was really tired and starting to feel cruddy. Late that night, my temperature was over 104 degrees to I took myself to a walk-in. Again they conducted a strep test and it came back positive. Booooooooooooo! I had exposed myself to all sorts of folks that day and I felt really bad about it. When I got home Piper was screaming in agony (one point for Mike). It was horrible but I was so sick that I just took an Ibuprofen and headed for a nap. Finally Mike patiently got her to go to sleep and then put Cohen to bed (two points for Mike). Then he went to see Star Trek with his brothers. Not 10 minutes after he walked in the door (at 1:30 am) Piper started screaming again and my fever was back up. He paced the floor with her until 8:00 am until I was feeling better enough to get myself up (three points). He called in sick to work so he could stay home and take Cohen to his Kindergarten orientation (four and five points). Good man!

Piper screamed between 20 minute cat naps. I made an appointment for her to see her pediatrician at 2:10 pm. Mike took her (six points). He poked and prodded and tested and could tell something was definitely wrong, but he couldn't determine what. The doctor sent them to the hospital for blood work (7 points). While we waited for the results, Mike made dinner (8 points) and then took Cohen to the park (9 points), but not before calming Piper down and putting her to sleep (10 points). The doctor called and said the blood work came back fine but that if her temperature went over 100.4 degrees we needed to call him.

Friday night I was feeling a bit better so I let Mike sleep the first half of the night. At 3:00 am I had not been able to get much sleep and started getting a fever again, so Mike woke up (11 points) and stayed up with Piper until 7:00 am (12 points). He took her temperature and it was over the point so I called the doctor. He told us to take her to Primary Children's Hospital to get a spinal tap and some other respiratory tests to rule out meningitis and RSV. Sick kids go to PCH so I was a nervous wreck. Mike took her again (13 points) because I didn't know if I was contagious or what. He watched her get the same tests again (14 points) and waited patiently in the hospital room holding her and waited for the results. Luckily, she just has a bacterial infection was was treated with antibiotics and was then released. She has slept most of the afternoon, but woke up for about 2 hours and didn't cry once. She did have a fever so Mike went to the store to get some Ibuprofen (15 points) but she was smiley and happy.

While I enjoyed a happy Piper, Mike left again to get his mother's Mothers Day gift (16 points-he gets a point for this because I usually make/buy it instead) and stopped at Arby's to bring home dinner (17 points) on the way home. Now he is playing Zelda with Cohen (18 points) while I sit and type this (19 points) and talk to my sisters (20 points). I feel so lucky to have a happy baby and such a fantastic man. I feel like I need to change the celebration to Mike day tomorrow to make sure he knows how well appreciated he is.

For those of you that hung in there and read this entire post... you get points, too. Troopers!

:: I DON'T THINK I PRODUCED A BECKHAM ::

Cohen finished his first attempt at organized sports this year with indoor soccer. We put him on a team that was coached by his friend's parents. His favorite buddy, Sam, was also on the team, making it easier to talk him into going.


Most of the time he covered his ears because he thought the refs whistle was too loud. It was funny to watch him walk around clueless with his ears covered. I guess every team has to have one of those kids.

While the game was being played, he enjoyed his time on the bench the most. I think his absolute favorite part of the game was doing the cheer, slapping high-5, and then getting a treat. He really just loved being part of the team and he had a good time going out every Saturday. Plus, getting a trophy meant he was the best player right? So, maybe it is a good thing that he can't Bend it Like Beckham... it lessens his chance of being an underwear model. Aye Crarumba!

:: A LITTLE PRAYER ::

For those of you who know our friends, Adam and Lindsey Smyth, please keep them in your prayers. Their twin girls were born 10 weeks early and have to hang out in the NICU for awhile. I know all will be well, but I cannot imagine having to leave my babies at the hospital.

:: A BLESSING ::


We had the opportunity to bless Piper in church on Sunday. She looked so darling wearing her "vintage" dress from 1978. My mom made it for me and I wore it when I was blessed. Mike gave her a beautiful blessing that encouraged her to be courageous and strong and to stand up for what she believes in. His words were beautiful. I especially appreciated that he blessed her to be open-minded and supportive of others. I think when raised in an actively religious environment, one tends to become closed off from other beliefs and look down on others that do not share the same values. I am thankful for my parents who taught me to be understanding yet firm when faced with spiritual challenges, and most importantly to love everyone. And... now I step off my soap box.


These silly little booties were also part of her blessing get up. I guess my Great Aunt Lavera (what a name) started making these booties for the new babies in the family. I don't know if my Grandma Seegmiller (my Mom's mom) made any or not, but she did make these little pom-poms. My Aunt MaryAnn (my Mom's older sister) continued in making a pair of booties for each family. These are the first pair of booties that she made and the last set of pom-poms my Grandmother made. I think it is pretty awesome and was honored to have Piper wearing them (they weren't finished in time for Cohen's blessing).


Now on to the party after church. I think I went a little overboard with the spread, but I couldn't help it. Who knows if I'll ever have another one. I made cookies with "teal" (read: cookie monster blue) frosting and covered them with pink and brown sprinkles.

I pulled out any pink container I could find and turned it into a serving device. I also found the matching plates, forks, and napkins for 25% off at XPEDX.


Adding her birth information to the water bottles and filling little candy cups with pink and aqua Jelly Bellys and mints, added just enough to color to tie the whole thing together.


We had a great time and it was fun to hang out with our family for the afternoon. Piper is a sweet baby... a bit fussy... but so fantastic. We're just so lucky to have her in our family. I hope she can look back at these pictures of her blessing day when she is a teenager and hates me. I'll probably have to look back at them and remember how much I loved her, too.

:: I NEED A NAP ::

Image found here

I wish this was a picture of Piper. She isn't sleeping much. Her little body is having some trouble on the inside. I want to fix her. I think this is the hardest part of being a parent. I am getting ready for weekend company. We are blessing the babe this Sunday and having the family over for dinner after (20+ people crammed in our apartment - reason #750 to get a house). I've gone a little overboard with the pink theme. I can't help it...it is all so cute. I'll try to remember to get some photos of all of my hair-brained ideas. It is the lack of sleep that is making me crazy. Have a nice restful weekend.