Linnea's 184th Day of Life in Pictures (and Video)

I had to add these...M eating his "picnic" lunch on the floor next to L.

SHE'S ROLLING!!! I LOVE it!

How L falls asleep most nights.

6 Months Old!!!

Post Garage Sale Snoozes

L and I spent the day with Tia Em and M. It was a busy morning as we set up our sale. Kids did fabulous considering all the commotion and short naps for L.

After bath...my back has been hurting so Linnea is still sleeping on the floor until her Daddy can put her to bed. It didn't take long for that sweetie to start dozing off.
And she gets to do it ALL again tomorrow!

Fort EJM

The "secret" fort underneath the stairs in G and G's basement has been enjoyed by 2 generations and a 3rd will delight in it in just a few years, I'm sure.

To get into the fort you open a cabinet door under Grandpa's work bench and crawl through to the left. I haven't been back there in years, but was curious what it looks like now. I guess Sean took it as a dare when I said he might just stick his head in with a flashlight for a look. He made it in!

Notice on the wall to the right of S "Fort EJM." (Me, Cousin M, and sister E)



I welcome comments from others who have memories of the fort!:)

Linnea's Weekend with her Mom and Dad

As Sean has every weekend off now, we've kept busy the last couple days. Friday was a trip to G'G R's for dinner. Sean helped Grandpa put up the gutters and while Linnea dished with her mom and Great Grandma.



L in the wooden highchair that many little R's have sat in.






Saturday we spent the morning at Aunt Beth's, helping to move out boxes and pack up her moving truck. Linnea was very helpful, napping for over an hour and then just being her cute little self while she and I watched the truck fill up.

Later that night, Linnea made some new friends but was not impressed. We went to the house of a guy Sean knows through work. Lots of people to meet...wife, kids, some friends and a big, old German Shepard. L did well, smiling at the kids and watching the dog intently. As it got closer to bedtime, though, Lil'L did NOT want to be held by strangers! I've NEVER seen her get so worked up. She cried her first tear. Super Dad to the rescue... While I made her a bottle (even though she'd had her last meal of the evening, I was desperate to comfort!) Sean took her into the bathroom. She was calm by the time I finished preparing the bottle, smiling at herself in the mirror. After 3/4 of a bottle, she was fast asleep, tacoed on a blanket in the gated off living room.

Sunday was a lazy day. My back has been hurting on and off and got worse by Sunday. Did some housework, played with Linnea....ohhh, and tried to recreate a dish, Eggs Casino, I had in Moralia last year. I'll post a pic of it later and maybe Em can help me critique the ingredients.

Anyway...L had a lot of belly time Sunday. She's still not rolling much, but just in the last few days is pivoting on her belly and working on getting her knees under her!

Thanks and Thinking of You FOUR

I've spent the last hour reading Uncle Bills family blog about little A's adoption...no comment box so here goes...

Many thanks for letting us all in on so many current details as we count down the days until we greet you at GRR! (Hopefully... but will completely understand if a big overwhelming welcome might be too much for A and her new family) My family have witnessed many (refugee/MEETINGMARCOS/L-R homecoming) exciting and emotional arrivals there. While A's homecoming doesn't involve our fam's household like the others, I imagine it will compare (tissue factor) to seeing 5 month old M for the first time.

S-You are going to be an excellent big brother. I really enjoyed what little time we spent together last week at the zoo. You are a mature young man and I'm lucky to have you for a cousin.

I love the photo of Bill pointing to his nose and A studying intently. Reminds me of looks I've seen on M's face...everything new...so much to learn.

So...Happy Birthday to S!
All my love!
Jill

Sitting

This is one for the babybook! She sat for about 2 minutes. Linnea...after evening bottle and cereal, before bath and pjs!

Baptism in E's Lansing

Grandma, L and I headed east today to attend cousin E's baptism.


Little E with her family and priest.




L with G'ma and G'G'ma.

If you zoom in on the picture below you can read the history (partial...Uncle Paul and Bill's dates are listed on the back) of E's baptismal gown.

Note to Self...

After an hour's car ride, always check/change diaper so as not to spring leak/wear pee shirt(mom not babe) and always have spare/everything in case of such accident.

My Sweet

Linnea, captured prenap, after tossing her pacifier...it usually lands NEXT to her cranium...not ON it.

Saturday night after Mom put L's hair up in a piggy tail for the first time.

Today...

Happy Anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa R! We love you both!

Spring is Blooming Babies!

Babies are suddenly everywhere! It was so much fun to see so many out of winter hibernation and bundles. And Linnea was one of them. She had a very active weekend: Meijer, Grandma and Grandpa's, and Applebees. Lots of floor time, too. SO nice not to have to have her buried under a pile of blankets everytime she's outside. She took a nap on Grandma and Grandpa's front porch and played in the exersaucer, too.



L was sleepy when we got to Applebees today, but she sat in a chair for about 10 minutes. There was a cute 3 month old at the next table over...hopefully they didn't hear L's grunting and straining just before we left. It was so funny watching her red face (you know what she was doing) watching her dad eat.


A little formula before her first taste...

....of banana!

Just ah Moment...

As I fed L her last bottle of the evening, Sean sat down next to us, tying shoes, minutes from leaving for work. Crazyhungrysleepy L, noticing that Dad was in the close by but couldn't see him, pushed bottle from mouth and shifted to see around Mom and flash Dad milky smile. Repeated 3 times before being handed over for goodnight hugs-and-kisses. Good L...didn't spit up on work clothes!

The Wide World of Solids and a Note to Self

Linnea will be trying REAL food tommorrow. Sean has the night off and I want him to enjoy this "first."

I've been reading up on feeding solids and going mad by all the theories...when to start, what to offer first. The more I read, the more I worry.

Dr. M's office got a call from me today with a question about L's lack of interest/talent at rolling. Nurse T said not to worry, but she'd run it by the doc. Mary, my visiting nurse also got a call....she reassured me that all is fine, some skills are learned before others and don't last long before working on the next skill. Dad...knows all...that Linnea is her own little person who knows herself!

Note to Self: Stop reading baby care books, magazines...milestone carts. Rely on momstincts (ew...that doesn't work, does it? Mom...stinks...momINstincts). Rely on observations of family, friends, and care providers who know and love L, but can see things that I cannot. (ie...too small socks...THATs why they kept falling off)

A Brief Sit While Getting Dressed

NOT...All Thumbs

Linnea eats her cereal a couple times a day now. We start with half a bottle or more and then she's taking around 2 tablespoons of cereal. She had barley cereal for the first time a few days ago and chows on it the same as the rice. It is MUCH harder to clean up, though. Eww. I tried it today...not bad.

After cereal Linnea finishes her bottle. While I'M not ready for her to be feeding herself yet, I've been encouraging her to hold the bottle after her cereal. Oh, thumbs. For now, they are mostly for sucking!

While Linnea is still lazy with the rolling thing (has to get really upset on her belly before she'll do it), those chubby little arms are beginning to support her. The bathtub seems to be the most interesting place for her to sit up. Her hands go right down in the water and she's sat pretty steady for 45 seconds. Yes, I DID count.