Sunday, August 31, 2008

Catching Up

My lack of posting in August was due to three things:

  1. We didn't really do many "blog-worthy" activities in August. In fact, we were pretty boring.
  2. My camera is giving me problems. You know how much I like to include photos with my blog posts, so blogging just isn't as fun without pictures.
  3. I am lazy.

Here is a quick synopsis of our August.

On the 9th, Jim and I got to attend Antiques Roadshow when it came to Grand Rapids. We randomly won tickets and Grandma Sheryl came up for the weekend to babysit Lena. While we are glad we went, it wasn't as exciting as we had expected. Our tickets were for the last entry time of the day, and therefore we had to wait in line the longest. We got in line around 4:25 and didn't get into where the appraisers were until almost 7. Once in there, we could tell the appraisers were tired and lacking any enthusiasm they might have had earlier in the day. One man told us he had been there since 5:00 that morning. So we got very short, dismissive appraisals. Nothing we brought was worth much, but that didn't bother us. We went more for the experience than to have our items appraised. One thing we were most looking forward to was doing the Feedback Booth. This is the part at the end of the show where people hold up their items and say things like, "My item wasn't worth anything, but we sure had fun!" When we finally got over there, they had closed the booth down for the day. :( So our only chance of being on tv is if they were indeed filming as we stood in one of the lines. It looked like they were, but hard to tell. They said that Grand Rapids would get three episodes and that they will air sometime between January and May 2009.

Between the 20th and the 25th, Lena mastered first crawling, then sitting up. It seemed to happen so quickly. She had been trying to sit up for a really long time and then one day I see her sitting up on her own. Now diaper and clothes changes are infinitely more difficult as she tries to sit up constantly while being changed. We are learning very quickly how mobile she has become and that we need to be watching all the time. She can crawl across the room to one of our library books and destroy the cover in the blink of an eye! We have also learned that she enjoys eating newspapers (especially crossword puzzles), remote controls, and cordless phones.

Lena turned six months old on the 28th. Wow, it goes fast! Unfortunately, in the middle of the night the night before, it became apparent to me that she had come down with her first cold. She went to the doctor and he confirmed that. Not much you can do, just work on snot control and pray she gets over it soon. Even though she is snotty and coughing, it doesn't seem to be bothering her too much. She is still pretty much her happy, smiley self.

Except, that on the same day, Thursday, she also cut her first tooth. That bothers her sometimes. And now she has a second one coming in as well. All these big things are happening all at once!

Aunt Hilary came to visit Labor Day weekend. We had a nice time. Friday night we went down to the "Music in the Park." It was the last one of the summer. Lena had fun bouncing around on Aunt Hil's lap and about 3 different little girls came up to see Lena (she is a total kid magnet!) On Saturday we went swimming at Gary and Cheryl's, then had dinner at the home of some members. On Sunday Hilary took us out to eat in Caledonia before she headed home. We had lots of fun and can't wait to see her again!


I also took a video of Lena dancing to the music. You will have to bear with me, however, because it is sideways. So tilt your head! Sorry, now I know not to do that! Duh! Oh, and don't worry, this one's only like 30 seconds.

So, that was our August. I think we have the camera issue solved (we think it was the specific batteries we were using.)

I didn't send out an email with August pics because there were only five. Here's the link: http://picasaweb.google.com/aseleener/August2008

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Lena's First Spoon Feeding

Today Lena ate with a spoon for the first time! It was so fun! You have to watch the video; it's about 4 minutes, but it's funny to see her reaction. She wasn't too sure at first. She got the funniest look on her face when I put the first spoonful in her mouth. But then she got the hang of it and was kicking her legs in excitement! She ate a lot; much more than I was expecting her to at her first feeding. I offered her a bottle when she was done, and she only took about an ounce or two. I am so proud of her!

I have decided to make my own baby food and have been hitting the farmers market for butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and even parsnips! I have been making it and will freeze it as her pediatrician wants us to wait until she is six months old before feeding her vegetables. So for now we will stick with the cereal. Looks like that's fine with her!

Enjoy!

Friday, August 1, 2008

German Concert Band

This evening we went to see a German concert band. Every Friday evening in the summer, Middleville has what they call "The Riverbank Music Series." A band plays in Stagecoach Park right next to the river. Free, open to the public, and they even give out free popcorn and bottles of water. This week the band was the Radolfzell German Concert Band. It's a group of young people from Germany who play in a symphonic, orchestra-type band. It was held in the Methodist church tonight because we had rain in the forecast, but it didn't end up raining anyway.

The band was really great. Lena absolutely loved it! During the more upbeat songs she was dancing away! I had her standing up on my lap and she was a movin' and a groovin'! It was so funny to watch. I could tell she really enjoyed the music. I wish I had gotten a pic of that somehow. Then, during the slower pieces she took a little nap in Mama's arms. Then she woke up again for the last two songs. Smiling and happy the whole time.

Unfortunately, Daddy had to go home soon after the concert started because he is in a lot of pain with a kidney stone. Poor guy! Please pray that it passes soon and he is relieved of his pain. If it's still around on Monday, he is going to have a CT scan.

Jim learned that some of the young German musicians are Lutheran so he planned a German service at church tomorrow evening. The liturgy and hymns are going to be in German. It will be neat. Then afterwards we are having ice cream sundaes. Yay! Check back for pics.