(6 months 1 week)

Linda had told me about the weekly "Community Photo Contest" that is in the Akron Beacon Journal. It had kept slipping my mind to enter a photo of Reese... and well.... the daunting task of choosing ONE photo to enter. After much deliberation and asking which one people thought.... I submitted the photo below this morning while waiting for my breakfast to finish heating up... and low and behold of not by 12:15 did I get a call asking me to verify my information and spelling of Reese's name and my last name (this got me a little excited... but I sure wasn't "sure" if we had won or not) then he asked "Did you take this photo?" I chuckled and said "Yes! along with about 1,000 others!" He laughed and said "Did you have to run and get the camera or did you stalk your daughter to get this perfect shot?" I laughed a little louder and said... "I admit it, I stalked her." He laughed.

The photo will be either in THIS Sunday's or next Sunday's paper!

(6 months 6 days)

Reese is now officially on the Tooth Fairies future watch list!!! Poor kiddo, I was wondering why she kept wincing every time she ate something but continued to eat something…. While we were running an errand, I was talking with someone and she clamped down on my hand and I FELT SOMETHING HARD! IT WAS A TOOTH! I can’t believe it… at 6 months 6 days, Reese has her first tooth breaking through. It sort of makes me sick to my stomach looking at it and thinking about it. It’s like she has a canker sore on her gum with the slightest bit of tooth coming through… I can only imagine what it feels like with peaches, plums and other food having to touch it with every bite….. POOR BABE.

Her left bottom central incisor.


See where it's all red there on the right side? That's where the tooth is starting to come through on top of the gum... her tongue obviously in the way. I'll take more as the tooth comes through more.

Reese is still doing really well after teething and getting shots on Friday. Saturday, Scott woke up SUPER early to head off to his tee-time while Reese and I putz around the house until he got home and we went to the park! We had a nice walk before heading over to the Potter’s for Aiden’s 2nd birthday! Scott was so funny he said “Sue, this is our first birthday party as parents!” He was so funny. The party was a BLAST. And it was great to see Angie, Richard, Aiden and for the first time, Olivia! She is exactly 1 month and 1 day older than Reese. It was cute to see how much they were different and the same…. Very inquisitive about each other and definitely fell asleep at the same time!

SCOOBYDOO BALLOON! (Sorry for the crappy shot, had my camera set to the wrong setting...)


First reactions to bubbles. I blew some in her face and she started smacking them! haha


Why I have "moxy" or as mommy says "I'm fearless and worries that I'll be the child that jumps off the roof of buildings." AND IT'S SCOTT'S FAULT SHE'S THIS WAY... I HAVE PROOF!


BIG WEEEEEEEEEEEEE! You do see Reese is giggling uncontrolably right?


Ohhhh, I like Aiden's lawnmower!


Oliva, come on... you've got one of your own, leave mine alone! hehe (Olivia is Aiden's little sister.... 1 month 1 day older than Reese)


Olivia keeps wanting to steel my bib.... wait until after the party... it'll be a smackdown in the playpen later.

(All photos can be seen here)

These next set of photos are some of my most favorite photos taken to date. Scott was across the room. The light was JUST right and...well... you'll see, he did a FANTASTIC job! Btw, have I mentioned I love our CyberShot DSC-F717?

After the party, Reese was all tuckered out. I fed her a bit but she passed out so hard that we just put her straight to bed… she woke up about 2 hours later to be changed, but within 10 minutes she was back out until 8:30AM.

We all slept in and I got some cleaning done around the house, along with making Reese “Super Porridge” and she had it for the first time today. (Powdered brown rice and breast milk.... pretty much grind up 1/4 cup brown rice for 2 minutes in blender, add to 1 cup boiled water, whisk for 10 minutes, refrigerate for 2-3 days... mix with ebm when ready to eat, tasty right? WRONG... I tried it. )

UHHGGGG.... This Super Porridge is awful! (Brown Rice and breast milk)... come to find out, it was because of her tooth!


I can give this a try again! (You can't see it in this photo, but in the original, you can see the rice in her hair!)


OH, the texture.... I'm not digging this.


MY GUMS.....MY GUMS!! (She had been wincing like this all day, and we figured out why, her first tooth!)


Dad, help me here! UGGGG... It's hurting, good, gross all at the same time.


OH MY GUMS...MY GUMS!

Yeah, she made some pretty terrible faces, but she kept eating it and ate everything else today with that same terrible face.. because of the pain on her gums…. Her “open wound”… I feel so so so bad for her.

After we had some lunch we headed over to Sand Run! WOO HOO! I got up to 77 DEGREES TODAY! Scott “promised” Oreo that we’d take her too, so off all 4 of us went and we had a blast!

Pooped baby... I figured out how to recline her seat, she was so pooped. First time to Sand Run, 77 degrees!!! FINALLY.... and we hadn't even started walking yet!


"Sue, put the camera down and hold this dog so I can put the flea meds on her please." (Watching Scott trying to wrangle a HYPER dog and trying to put on Frontline from the nap of her neck to her tail was PRETTY HYSTERICAL.... why did we wait until now to put on the flea meds? Technically not nessassary here in Ohio until May due to temps, however, Scott wanted to be EXTRA cautious... he's a good fur and human daddy)


CAUUUTEEEEE chubby faced baby! (Notice the crazy lady in her sunglass reflection teehehe)


Mom, my gums hurt.... take note of where her finger is in relation to where her tooth broke through today. Poor baby. But my piggies feel good in the sun!


First family photo... hurm, can you tell we haven't been out in the sun much yet? LOL



Look at that silly puppy in the creek. Guess she was wanting to cool off. Reese thought it was the funniest thing ever!


Tired, no-napping baby... we were heading on the way back because she was getting fussy.


"One more time mom.... ONE MORE TIME... I promise, I'll be dried off by the time we get back to the car."


FIRST TIME IN THE GRASS!!! How cute is she?


Reese was so trying to EAT the grass... Oreo was just pooped.



Ahhhhhh GRASS.


2 lil' devils! No, Reese isn't flicking off the camera... but it sure does look like it!

(All photos can be seen here)

That’s about it for our weekend! Hope you all had a great one!

(6 months 5 days)

Reese is still a “big healthy baby!” We went for Reese’s 6 month shots/check-up yesterday afternoon. How’s that for adding insult to injury? Reesinator is teething AND had to go in for shots. It wasn’t as traumatic as it could have been… I “technically” hadn’t been admitted as a permanent patient of Dr. Keith’s… only the rest of my family, so I did my whole “new patient check-up” so I went first. We went through all my medical history, showed him all the photos from my various knee surgeries and appendage surgery… then we got to talking about my knee more, and how it’s impacting my hip still… so, guess who got a prescription to go see a physical therapist next week? Yeah… you got it… me. BLEH.

The ENTIRE time Dr. Keith and I were talking, Scott was wrangling Reese. AND NO, I’m NOT being funny. Reese was ALL OVER the place… and doing ANYTHING and EVERYTHING to get to the paper that lines the table…. The mat that they know to put under her ever since she “christened” the patient table and weigh station. Gotta love when we call in we say “This is Reese’s mother, you know, the little girl that we have to clean up after all the time?’ and the nurses on the other end howl with laughter and always say “Oh yes! WE KNOW MISS REESE!”… anyway…. She’s start squealing with delight, then tear up the paper some more… Dr. Keith was chuckling and made wise cracks like “I’m glad to see you two have a lethargic baby.” Have I mentioned how much our family ADORES Dr. Keith? : Scott was literally in a sweat trying to control Reese… but it was so darn cute we were all laughing.

After my “consultation” it was Reese’s turn. After hearing about my issues from my back to my ankles he joked “Reese, let’s make sure that you haven’t inherited any of your mom’s issues.” OH IF HE ONLY KNEW! He tested out her hips, muscle tone and everything else and said “Perfectly healthy baby!” He also asked about how the baby food making was going and was THRILLED to hear that I was doing it and loved it! YAY!!! We also talked about her teething, he said that it would be fine that if she’s having a rough day of hurting gums to go ahead and give her some Infant’s Tylenol. PHEW! At least it’s something!

He left the room, then the dreaded time came….. more shots. Thank GOD Dr. Keith does Pediatrix, instead of 5 shots… only 3. Every time Reese gets stuck, I always tear up, and I teared up a little bit more this time because by the time we were done talking with me and checking Reese out, you could really tell that her teeth were bothering her... she was doing the eyes clothes, faced crinkled and whimpering. When the first shot went in, she was REALLY upset, but no where near the VERY first shot at 2 months…. But after the 3rd shot she was still so upset and her gums her that she didn’t even want to nurse…. But within 3 minutes she was fine again… even laughing with the nurse that gave her the shots.

We headed over the Quizno’s for a bite to eat and picked up Reese some Infant Tynol, but had to call Dr. Keith’s office for him to reassure us about how much to give her… because she needs more than .8 but not more than a .8 + .4… yeah, dumb kids droppers only have a line for .4ml or .8ml… wish they would put something in between… she got hungry as soon as I finished my sandwich, so I nursed her so that Scott could finish his meal and then we headed home.

Reese’s 6 month stats were as follows:

Length/Height = 27.17 inches (approx .2 ft 3 1/3 inches )
Weight = 17 lb 1.2 oz
Head Circumference = 18 inches

AND… in other news…

For the first time since New Orleans…. Scott locked himself out of the house! He called me around noon Friday to say that he went to get gas and realized he picked up the wrong set of keys (don’t ask my why there isn’t a house key on each set… ). I died laughing because it’s usually ME that’s locking MYSELF out of places! He had to come to my work and pick up a spare set and head home, but not before seeing my boss walking back from the PO Box who also gave him a hard time… he looked at me and said “It must be hard keeping up with 2 kids!”

AND… have to share some photos of course:




Hey cute banana / rice cereal face! What is that? You want some teethers? Coming right up!


Multitasker


2 IS better than 1.


UGG… These teething biscuits aren’t very good! (Though Oreo likes them… Reese threw it across the room, and Oreo thought it was for her!)

January's uncle was involved in a fatal accident today in a terrible accident outside of Columbus. Please keep she and her family in your thoughts and prayers.  

http://www.nbc4i.com/traffic/4356306/detail.html

1 Dead After Tanker, Pickup Truck Collide
2 People Transported To Hospital

(6 months 2 days)

Poor Reesinator. She’s in some SERIOUS discomfort. We have about 10 teethers that she’s been rotating through… but the only thing that she seems to like is the remote…. Or using her tongue to rub the top and lower gums…. But NO TEETH… yet.

I feel so badly for her because she’ll sit there with pursed lips and whimper…. And she’ll reach for me to pick her up with this sad little monkey eyes. Breaks my heart. I try to massage her gums, but she clamps her lips shut, guess even THAT hurts. I did pick up a few more water teethers, a monkey teether that consists of washcloth material and the “feet” are rubber and a massaging gum teether that Mrs. Bulgrin had told me about 2 ½ months ago (only took me 4 stores and a phone call to find one, guess there are a TON of teething babies right now hahaha)… the thing she reaches for the most is…. Get ready for this, her own personal REMOTE. Guess the smoothness, rounded edges and soft buttons feel better than anything. My poor baby… I knew this day would come, but was hoping for another month or so, but 6 months ain’t too shabby either.


Sucking gums after messy messy eating episode.... poor baby


Mom, this does make it feel better...


Well... now my gums are starting to hurt again, teethers not helping.


Mom, TEETHERS ARE NOT HELPING..... HOLD ME HOLD ME HOLD ME!


Whoa is me..... *sigh*


My gums hurt so bad.... I jus want out of here, now please.


So excited to FINALLY being able to gnaw on the remote... she was blowing bubbles! You can see em pooling on her chin!


Ahhh.... this is heaven. (Notice all the drool on the back of the remote)


Oh my gawd that feels sooo good... hold it right there... a little to the left..... you got it sister.... keep it going!


Don't you DARE move that out of my mouth... I will scream bloody murder, but you need to bring it down a bit, I can't reach my toys...







And sorry to lump this bit of info into the teething update…. but needed to post a funny update on the “Saga of Sue.” (Mom, everything is fine, no need to send frantic emails or calls! LOVE YOU!) Akron General called me today to get me all set up in the system before I got there. GET THIS, they still had me in their system from 2001!!! I had Scott listed as “friend.” The woman said “I am guessing he’s now your husband.” I died laughing and said “Nothing like a life threatening situation with 2 months of meeting each other to really seal the deal on whether he’s the one or not!” Scott was the man that fateful day… he slept in the smallest chair in the world ALL night right beside me and made sure to keep my family up to date on my appendix, not my appendix ordeal. I remember mom’s words exactly “Sue, he’s a good man.” BOY DO I KNOW IT.









Not part of the original update, but some added thoughts that escaped me over the past few days, but that I’ve had recollected after having to calm down family members that “skim” through the updates….


I was also recounting my office visit I failed to mention a few oddities that came up. I so wish that there was a way to have taped the entire “interview” before I was led to the examining room.

Oddities:

1. Shaking Dr. Lou’s hand…. Just walking into the doors of the office building reminded me of the Seinfeld episode of “Ass Man.” Reese… one day your daddy will sit you down and make you watch every episode so you too will understand the hilariousness of this. My thought process on shaking Dr. Lou’s hand was the same sort of thing you try not to think about at a restaurant… you know, how many mouths have been on the silverware and glasses…. You get my point.

2. He was going over my medical history, and asked me about my health and things, and during one question (I’ll leave to your imagination) I answered with a number and I asked if it was normal without having his eyes leave the paper he turned up his mouth in a smirk, raised his eyebrow and gave me a thumbs up. I chuckled to myself.

3. I asked about the side effects of any medications I would have to take affecting my milk supply. He was rather take aback that I was still nursing… which shocked me a little bit because he is of Asian decent (heavy heavy accent) as well as a doctor who gets better information that I’m able to find online or in books about the benefits of breastfeeding…. I mean, I’ve only been BFing for 6 months, but after talking to Scott, he said (and this in no way reflects his feelings on the matter, which he admittedly stated before he made the next statement) that most people would think that was a bit odd too, but then I had to counter with the American Academy of Pediatricians and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners recommending breastfeeding for your baby's first year (http://www.virginiahospitalcenter.c...e/002450rec.htm). You THINK that this joker would have known that, but then again… from the diagram he showed me as SOON as I sat down that part of the body is NOT his “specialty.” It was just an odd conversation to have with a doctor of all people.

4. Everything seemed so automated… I guess when you have to deal with that part of the body there’s only so much “new” stuff. From first sitting down to talk with the doctor, to the 10 second exam, to coming back into the office to be handed a brochure dealing only with the big block letters of “Anal Fissure” to the receptionist sitting me down beside her to schedule the procedure on the computer and over the phone with the hospital all the way down to the pamphlet showing me a map and fill in the blank time and what I need to do before surgery. Seemed so mundane to them, but a bit of an uncomfortable situation where you really don’t want to look anyone else in the waiting room in the eye. Oh well… just another thing to add to my wild book of life.

5. That forever and ever when asked about my medical history I will now have to add "Sphincterotomy with multiple bandings" (yes, laugh now…. Episodes of Bevis and Butthead came to mind when the receptionist said it for the first time).

(6 months 1 day)

HOLY COW! MY GOD.... Reese has really been either HOT or COLD when it comes to her mood the last 2 days... there is NO gray area. She's either bubbly and laughing or whimpering and screaming.

Are these signs of impending teething? MORE THAN LIKELY.

She's been gnawing an awful lot on her bibs, drooling like MAD, pushing her tongue out a lot on her upper and lower gums, but there aren't ANY teeth.

I've had to nurse her a lot today and thank goodness that it was nice out today so I could take a walk and let her pass out for about 2 miles. I just feel so bad for her because she’s obviously in some sort of distress during the meltdown times, but only so much I can do to fix it….

TAKE A WALK IN THE PARK! Reese and I went to the park for the first time today… and did the FIRST test drive of our new jogging stroller! WOO HOO! LOVED LOVED IT! And….. Reese sported her FIRST PAIR OF SHADES.

ME TAKING REESE TO THE METROPARK FOR THE FIRST TIME TODAY!! It was 75 DEGREES!!! And Reese was sporting her BRAND SPANKEN NEW LITTLE TIKES SHADES! When I put her sun glasses on in the car she kept holding her hands out infront of her and looking at them as if they were additional appendages.... it was really cute!


THE NEW STROLLER!!! WOO HOOO! It's so great! I loved loved loved it! It was a beautiful day, and Reese had been passed out for the past 1.5 miles


How cute is she sleeping?


FINALLY! Awake and enjoying the warm day and checking out the water


Self Reese portrait, just to show some of the water and her expression the ENTIRE time watching it... the river is REALLY high and it was loud.... Reese was holding onto the back of my hair with a death grip.


"Diaper Diva" I loved how her eyebrows were raised looking over her sunglasses.

ON TO other news….. Reese tried the mesh feeder for the first time tonight!!! Filled with what I was warned was one of the messiest items to use… BANANAS (On the way back from the park I stopped into TRU to pick up some feeders and you know you go to a store a lot when the sales lady says to Reese “Hey cutie! I’ve seen you in here a lot!” ),

FIRST time holding her feeder, she would NOT let me touch it.... Miss Independant.


She kept putting it down between her legs so she could inspect it...


OH YEAH, GOOD STUFF... Bananas my FAVORITE!


I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! (Notice it in her hair, eyebrows, cheeks)


Telling me how she got it in her hair....


Good gawd, she got it EVERYWHERE... it's all over the padding on the chair, you can see all the spots...and it was ALL down her right side because she kept dropping it and then would fish around for it and shove it back in her mouth... sometimes stopping at her forehead first.... but all in all, she had a great time with it!

While we were in clean-up mode, me stripping her down and both of us taking showers 1. to get banana out of Reese’s hair/eyebrows and de-sweatstinking me from our jog earlier.

After I cleaned us both up I dressed Reese and sat her in with Scott while I went downstairs to change out the laundry. Scott brought her downstairs and said “SUE, REESE ROCKED FOR THE FIRST TIME!” I said “Wait, like up on all 4s trying to get somewhere rocked?” He said “YES! 7 TIMES! Then she fell flat on her face.” Scott then put her down on the living room floor to try and get her to do it again for me and so we could get photos of it… it was funny listening to Scott coach her.

Tripod side resting..... she does this A LOT.


Scott talking to Reese to "Do it again so mom can see it... mom doesn't believe me!"


Ball or remote.... decisions decisions! (Scott tried to coax her by putting her favorite items out in front of her hehe)



Guess which item won? Or..... got beaten senselessly!


We have a "toe crawler" .... notice the outstretched legs and cramped toes!!! LOL


Closest thing to up on all 4's that we got after her rocking upstairs.....

We’ve had a busy busy day and it went by too fast because it was one of the most beautiful days so far this spring! Hope the trend continues… but with the 5 inches of snow less than 3 days ago and the weather man saying we may have another nice day tomorrow and then it’s downhill again, it makes me wonder if spring doesn’t need some tuning… seems like it’s backfiring an awful lot.

(6 months)

So I had my doctor's appointment.... surgery set for next Tuesday. Thanks Reese.... oh well, 10 minutes and 4 - 5 weeks later I'll be good as new.

While I was at the doctor's office Scott took Reese to the park AND TOOK THE CAMERA with him! So we have photos of Reese for the first time going to the park.... 6 months on the nose.

Also, before Scott headed to his overnights he also put together the jogging stroller! I just need to pump up the tires and then Reese and I will be heading out to the park tomorrow!

Here are the last bit of photos taken today.... good lord I do take a lot of photos don't I?

Scott taking Reese out to the park for the first time, BY HIMSELF. He even remembered the camera! 6 MONTHS exactly today!


Reese by the END of Scott's and her walk.


3rd and FINAL stroller darnit! Notice Scott's forced smile. LOL


Just like Dad's wonderful Wife and fantastic Daughter, we were supervising Scott putting together the jogging stroller! AND... Reese's first real remote.... good thing Scott keeps all things broken! LOL


Scott putting this thing together like a PRO.... because less than 24 hours ago he was taking the 5K down!


WOOO HOOO! THE FIRST WHEEL! Notice Oreo... making sure she's not missing anything good... like Reese's puke BLEH!


YAY!!! Trails here we come! Yes, I have a sock fettish... instead of shoes, my socks must match my outfit (i probably have a good 50 pairs of socks). LOL


Best friends


MY GOD HOW MUCH DO YOU LOVE THIS FACE?!?!?!


Forget the toys, this security tag is MUCH more interesting..

MMM... the carpet smells and tastes good.... oh well, necessary step to get an end result.... see next photos...


I spy my Incrediblock!.... now how to get over there..


OH YEAH.... SUCESS! "Who's that caauuutie in the mirror?"

I can't believe it.... Reese is already 1/2 a year old... where has the time gone

I was buzzing around the house getting things together while Reese and I did "growling" for about 30 minutes. She just started doing this recently... think it's because it's similar to the sound that Oreo makes when Scott's playing tug of war / fetch with her. Reese DIES laughing when Oreo starts doing the heavy panting/growling... and even when Oreo coughs!  Scott was laughing at the back and forth sounds we were making and when I looked over at her my eyes welled up and I said "OH MY GOODNESS, REESE IS 6 MONTHS OLD TODAY!" Scott looked back and me and said "Sue, I thought something had broken! Don't scare me like that!"  What can I say... I'm emotional.  ... and I love Reese more than life itself.

As a brief look back at how much Reese has changed in the past 6 months:

1 day

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months