Greta: seven months

There were were no official height and weight stats for this month (no pediatrician visit).

Probably the most significant development this past month was that she started pulling up to a stand.  And yes, that's pretty early on average.  I think she's going to do things like this early to make everyone believe she'll be an early walker too but I have a feeling she'll wait on the walking.

I had to order more drool bandannas for this munchkin. I think the teething may have made it worse for a while.  Good thing it's not too hot yet! 

You can see her two bottom chompers so well in this picture.
No longer a toothless grin but still just as cute!

Golf Balling

There are a couple of special things the kids always want to do when we go back to Wisconsin and stay with my mom.  One is going to the farm (Pat is my mom's best friend - her parents still live on a farm just down the street from her house -- they have cows and the kids LOVE to go see them).  The other is looking for golf balls.  Pat's house bumps up to field on one side and golf course on the other.  When the field gets cut, the kids put on their rain boots, take along shovels and a plastic bag and begin hunting in the field for golf balls that have overshot the fairway.

Sometimes the balls get driven into the grass by the tractor wheels
which is why they have to bring a shovel.

Then there's the added bonus of finding
other things in nature.

Our crew today was (from left) Jake, Alissa, Nora, Gram, Rusty, Jenna, and Pat.
I was (obviously) the photographer and Greta was able to come along
all snuggled up in the Ergo.

When Jake is back, he's always Myles' biggest buddy.

This day, the jackpot was pretty decent.  We had found about 30 some golf balls.  There have been times they've found less and other times more.  Even if they only found five golf balls, I think the two of them would be thrilled. They just like running in the field and digging out the balls with the shovel. I'm glad they have these rural-life types of opportunities too.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

"Today is a good day to fly kites." - Nora

The two older kids each got kites in their Easter baskets this year. Late in the afternoon, Nora  had the idea to break open the kites and give it a try.  I had just put Greta down for the night and couldn't resist getting out the camera and taking pictures.  The light was just too good.

After a while, Myles was ready to head inside for a bath but Nora didn't want to quit just yet.

She was enjoying every single minute of flying her princess kite.

She asked me if I wanted to learn how to fly a kite too.  "I'll teach you how, Mom." And she proceeded to tell me I just have to keep walking around while the kite is in the air.  If I want to I can stop for a break but when the kite starts to go down then you have to move again.

She labeled herself a good teacher and said I was just a better picture taker and not a good kite flyer.  She was better.

One of my favorites from the day.  Summer legs. Full of scrapes, bruises,
and dirt. 

We've flown kites numerous times since.  She loves it every time and can outlast everyone. 

He Is Risen!

He Is Risen, Indeed! Hallelujah!

This Easter, we decided to host our family for the first time.  We have hosted more people in our home for birthday parties and baptisms but it was still a holiday.  It was just our family and our parents - a nice, small group to get our holiday hosting toes wet.  

The day was tied for the third hottest Easter Sunday on record.  We topped out at 80 degrees.  Greta spent most of the time in the shade and being passed around from Gram to Grandpa to Grandma.  She can be amazingly stubborn about taking naps (like she was on Easter) and spent nearly the entire time awake.

Reading new Easter books with two of her favorite people.
Or should I say three... Guy.

Nora had a rough day.  There was a small accident opening the door going into church.  It got opened too quickly and her big toe went right underneath the door - of course she had sandals on - immediately turning half of her toenail black.  It was, no doubt, throbbing the remainder of the day.  She snuggled on a lap all day long and limped her way to and from.  She was already doing much, much better today.  

There are some added bonuses about being at your own house on Easter.  One: You can change out of your church clothes and put on camo shorts and a digger shirt.  Two: You can ride your bike all. day. long.  Seriously, this child and his bike.  They'll be inseparable this summer.  More on that for a later post. 

Getting more and more expressive.  Much happier after a full belly and a
small snooze in the stroller.

We all changed so quickly upon coming home from church I realized I never got a picture of all three of the kids in their Easter outfits.  Two out of three isn't bad.  It's still a darn cute picture.

After the grandparents left we all came inside to hunker down for the evening.  We had literally been outside the entire day so we were all ready for a break.  Greta seemed to be fading quickly but it was still too early for bed so I thought I would distract her by showing her her first Easter basket again.  I got more than I bargained for.  She explored her basket for at least 15 minutes.  Her dress was a drool-y, dirty mess (she had sucked on strawberries while we ate) but she was happy as a clam.

Happy First Easter, Greta!

This just might be my favorite from the day.

Greta: six months

Six months.  Say it ain't so.

Happy Half Birthday, Greta Bear. 

This past month has been fun.  I've always said, once babies hit six months their personalities really start to come out and things get fun.  The biggest physical milestone has been her sitting.  She went from almost able to sit on her own to 'this is a piece of pie' in the blink of an eye.  Her world just got significantly better.  Now she really gets a good new view of her brother's and sister's antics.  

My photo shoot helpers gave her this prop.

Another biggie?  She got her first tooth! It somewhat came as a surprise to me.  For a few days I thought I noticed a white spot on her gums but when I'd take a closer look... nada.  Then I checked again when I was sure I saw white and sure enough, I felt a little tooth poking through.  She didn't show any signs of teething (besides excessive drool but that's not so out of the ordinary for her anyway) which is why it was a little surprising.  In the above picture you can even see it -- it's her bottom right, our left.  The one on her left doesn't seem too far behind either.

Greta also had her first "vacation".  Mom and Dad went to Dallas for the Final Four for five days so she stayed with Grandma and Grandpa.  But more on the Dallas trip later.  

Things to look forward to between now and eight months (her next peds appointment): 

* beginning to crawl - or near crawling

* mama, baba, dada type talk 

********

When Greta's pictures were done Myles and Nora wanted me to take pictures of them too.  They took turns hopping onto the chair and posing in their own ways.

"Scary face"

She looks a little too old in this picture.  

And those legs.  Suddenly they go on for days.

Side note - cross tattoo is from the Easter Bunny that visited her classroom.

Reaction to the scary face? I'd like to think so.

Little Mermaid

Nora started swimming lessons a few weeks ago. She was very excited on the first day.

This was a good two hours before we had to leave.  She was more than ready to go.

I was hoping her excitement would continue once we got there.  I was half way expecting her to suddenly get nervous, like she tends to do in new situations and not want to go in.  Thankfully, I was wrong.  She walked away without even looking back.  She even volunteered when her teacher, Chris, asked who wanted to go under first.  "Me!" she yelled with her hand shooting up into the air.  And in she went.

The first week, I didn't bring my real camera (to be honest, I didn't want to be that mom...) but the second week, I got over it.  I wanted good pictures.  I attached my zoom lens and snapped away.

Blowing bubbles while "swimming".

This poor boy has spent every. single. class on the sidelines.
I give his mom credit for continuing to come and put him in.

The last thing they do during the class is crawl on the step
and roar like a lion while they get to the other side. 

Then they jump in.  I'm not being biased
when I say she's the most brave when it
comes to jumping in.  She'll actually jump a
bit while they others just kind of lean in.

And she goes all the way under! 

In the two weeks since I've taken these pictures, they've worked on floating on their backs.  They have floaties around their waist and Chris will help hold them up.  During the last class, Chris let go if they were ready.  She did it!  Her legs stayed up.  Her ears were in (Chris told them to look for Curious George eating a banana in the rafters).  She did absolutely fantastic!  I was one proud mama.