Box wine

So, there seems to be this new thing about box wine. The whole time I was pregnant I was hearing about the changes in box wine and how good it is now. That they are making higher quality wines in boxes, because the packaging has been improved and it is a fine way to store good wine. I was excited and anxious to be back in the wine drinking scene to try these out. Well, I really haven't been all that impressed. Shortly after Lauren was born I bought a box of the Black Box brand Chardonnay. I thought it was OK, but not really my thing. It really could have been because it was so soon after the birth- it has taken me some time to get my taste back for things- I still am kinda weird about beer (hard to believe I know...). Recently I tried the Black box brand of pinot grigio, and did not like it that much either. Has anyone else tried the wine in a box? I like the concept, but still need to find a wine that tastes good- please share any recommendations.

Born Free!

Free at last!! Ha ha! Today Lauren had a breakthrough. For whatever reason, today was the day she learned to take a bottle. Her choice? The glass Born Free bottle that I had originally chosen and registered for. Forget all of the platex nursers and specialty bottles I bought because people told me they were good for stubborn nusing babies like Lauren- she was happy with the good old-fashioned glass bottle. Just had to be when she was ready, I guess. Hmmmm- first on my list of things to do with my new freedom?? Snowboarding?? A Massage? A pedicure? Happy hour with the girls?? I think it will be snowboarding this weekend, FINALLY I can get a bit of time on my own and not worry about my perfect little angel starving while I enjoy myself. VICTORY!! FREE AT LAST!

Daddy Time

Some cute pictures of Lauren and Jeff.

Lauren's Valentine outfits!

Both of L's grandmas bought her a Valentine's outfit. It is a lucky thing, too- because we don't have any clothes for the poor baby- she usually runs around naked! Ha Ha! Anyway, lucky girl because she looks great in the color red. She is a bit too small for the bumbo seat- she needs a bit of head support, but seems to like the change of pace.

Lauren loves her Grandma

Here are a few more photos of Lauren's visit with her Grandma last week.

Rock Lullaby CD

You have to check out this website: http://www.rockabyebabymusic.com/ They have lullaby renditions of rock albums- it is cool. You can listen to different albums- there are about 25 different albums. I bought the Smashing Pumpkins version at a little boutique by my house- they are really Smashing Pumpkins songs performed in a sing-song, lullaby version. Lauren and I are kinda hooked. It makes us both pretty sleepy. I am thinking about getting the Beatles and maybe even surprising Jeff with Metallica. These are pretty neat- certainly worth listening online for a quick laugh.

Obama smokes?

I must have been living under a rock ( or pregnant and preoccupied??) during the election campaigns. I just found out this weekend from my mom that President Obama smokes. Huh? That is very interesting, surprising to me. Well, the guy is human, and I guess subject to all of the bad habits everyone else has. Lucky for him, sounds like it is getting enough press to maybe lead him to quit, and I think that the White House is officially non-smoking. Check out this youtube video- Jimmy Kimmel has a funny take on it.

Girl's Weekend

My mom was in town to visit this weekend, since wednesday. Jeff was in Florida on a business meeting, so it was just the girls. It was so nice- I really enjoy having her around, and it is really helpful with Lauren, because I need the guidance/ advice of someone who knows what they are doing. But it was a chill weekend- friday night was spent eating free samples at Sam's Club, and Saturday night we hung out with two young Russian men until 8:30 pm (they were delivering my new washer and dryer...) Gone are the days of sneaking shots into the Sing Sing. What has become of me? I will tell you- I am a mom! Damn proud of it! I wipe puke off my chest and shirt, and am likely to do errands in the same puke- stained clothes if the stain doesn't show when it dries. When she is puking, I aim the vomit at me- because I am easier to clean up. Thursday night, I experienced poop on more laundry items (and my arm) than I thought possible. The craziest part of all of this? Right now I wouldn't trade my 10pm dinner, puke stained t-shirt, slipper socks and elastic waistband pants for any night on the town in heals. Am I crazy? Probably. I still need Lauren to take a bottle so I can leave for more than an hour- but lucky for us both, I am so in love with this little cutie, that she makes my time enjoyable, even if it is at Sam's club....

Lauren's 2 month well baby visit

Lauren had her 2 month well-baby visit today. She passed with flying colors! She did get checked out a little more closely because she is just getting over her cold- and they are concerned about RSV in such a little baby, but her pulse-ox (oxygen in her blood) was fine and so were her little ears. She had to get 5 shots and 1 oral vaccine- poor baby. I didn't know she could cry so hard! Both of the nurses teared up, too- it really must be hard to know you are causing a baby to cry that hard. But within 5 minutes, Lauren was smiling and giggling at the nurse- nice to know she does not hold a grudge.
So, her growth continues to be stellar- she is 12 lbs and 11.5 oz- up over 4 lbs from birth! That is the 90th percentile. But the more striking is her height- she is 24 inches (2 FEET!) tall, which is the 95th percentile. That was the comment everyone had- was her height and her pretty blue eyes. I of course cannot claim credit for either of these attributes- she is lucky to have a tall slim daddy to give her good genes. And the nurse was confident that her eyes are likely to stay blue, she said they dont look like they will change to brown. Not sure I believe her just yet, but I am hopeful that Lauren will keep the blue eyes or change to green like her daddy.
In summary, Lauren is the love of my life- most beautiful, talented young lady I have ever met, and I could brag, and brag all night about her. But, will stop for now, only to gush on about her another day...

Winter Park Weekend

We were up in Winter Park this weekend, here are a few pictures.

Kaiser family visit

Last weekend Jeff's parents and sister and her family came to visit us. We spent a long weekend up in Winter Park- it was very nice. Our nephew Jacob took his first try at skiing, and both Alex and Jacob went sledding. I kind of missed out on all of the outdoor activities, because I was with Lauren. She still will not take a bottle, so many of the meals were spent with Lauren and I in private nursing- she is a little more high-maintenance than I would like. Check out all of the cute pictures.

Alex

Lauren the snowbunny

Lauren and I spent the day at the resort hanging out with Grandpa Bob. Check out our great view.

Uncle Jeff swiming with Jacob

Grandma Karen and Grandpa Bob and all the grandchildren.

Driver travels on wrong side of I-80 for 40 miles

Check out this story in the Kearny Hub. Last week when Jeff's sister and brother-in-law were driving out to visit us, the saw a strange "high-speed chase" on I-80. They were not sure what was going on, but clearly there was a major police presence. When they got home, they found this story- follow the link, it is a funny read. An 88 year-old man was driving into oncoming traffic in the fast lane on interstate 80 for 40 MILES! The quotes from the story are hilarious- "As state troopers tried frantically to get him to pull over, he smiled and waved at them, ignoring the spotlight they shone into his minivan and twice driving over stop sticks that flattened his tires. "
What a crazy experience! The best part is that no one was hurt at all- how lucky!!

RSV scares me...

I hate RSV. It is a cold, most grown-up just tough it out, but it is dangerous and scary in little babies. This was one of my first fears when I found out I was due at the beggining of winter, keeping the baby safe from RSV and out of the hospital. The hospital I work at is filled in the winter with many RSV patients, some of which end up very, very sick.
Our close friends in SLC who had baby Ella 7 weeks prior to Lauren's birth- are in the hospital right now with Ella who has RSV. Poor baby, she is on oxygen and doing well it sounds, but has no business in the hospital this young. :( She just caught a cold at daycare and it got this bad... makes me so afraid for miss Lauren who is duking out a cold right now. How am I ever going to be able to leave her at daycare?? Prayers to Ella and family- you are in good hands and will be out in no time!! XOXO

Coping with a cold...

I have more to post- we just had a nice visit with Jeff's family, and have some nice pictures. Unfortunately along with all of the visitors came a virus, and Lauren and I are under the weather, and Jeff has been sneezing so he is coming along with us I think. Poor Lauren has a pittiful cough, and just cries- big crocodile tears, breaks my heart in two. We aren't resting much, will catch up with some family vacation photos soon. In the meantime, will take advice on managing a cold in a 8 week-old baby, I am kinda worried/ nervous about the whole thing. Good news, she doesn't mind the bulb-suction ( I think this means I am not aggressive enough??).