Musical Baby

True story, I swear. I set the Euphonium down and placed Gretchen next to it to take the picture. She instinctively turned her head and placed her lips right on the mouthpiece! She is a natural brass player.

Obviously we have to wait a little while before she can begin lessons. She should probably be bigger than the instrument before we start.

She pinches her own cheeks all the time.

I just love the sight of my baby napping. I wish I could see it more often than I do.

Such a big girl

Gretchen is officially 1 month old. We celebrated by attending our first party at Julie's House. On Monday we had our official 1 month check up, where we learned she is in the 95% for height and weight. Even the doctor commented on how fast she is growing. Yesterday we went back to James Hart to visit the kids. Gretchen was very well behaved and really seemed to recognize all the sounds she was hearing.

Almost 1 month

Everything is going great with Gretchen. She is a very alert little one. She is up for long periods of time, last Tuesday she was up from 7am to 10 pm with only 2 hours worth of cat naps throughout the day! This is our record so far. However, it is not uncommon for her to be up for 5-6hours at a time. My mom said I was never a napper as a kid and I fear Gretchen is taking after me. However, I wish she would take after me now, because I love naps as an adult.

She is gaining head control and she likes tummy time a lot. She is even starting to scoot herself around a little bit. She started to cry yesterday in her crib and when we walked in she had scooted herself up against the side of the crib and banged her head. I wonder if that means she will crawl at an early age.

She is a big eater as well. If she is fussy you can bet she is hungry. I am curious to find out how much she weighs when we go in for our one month doctors appointment on Monday. Last visit she was in the 75% for height and the 50% for weight.

Earth Day

In honor of Earth Day I thought I would spread the word about an eco-friendly diaper, Nature Babycare. Nathan and I were hoping to use a cloth diaper service, but that did not work out. However we found these diapers and they are the next best thing. Use following link to learn more about them:

http://www.diapers.com/Shop/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=5985&From=Brand

As far as a first hand endorsement they work just as well as name brand diapers. They are a little more expensive, however I believe the environmental trade off is worth a few more cents. So if you know of anyone having a baby or your kids need diapers please check out this product.

Cubs vs. Cards and other pics

The battle for Gretchen's baseball soul has begun. Please notice how much more alert she is for her Cubs blanket than for her Red Bird. It may be an early sign of her loyalty.

Oskee Wow Wow

She does love to yawn.

A complaint

Well at least I have labeled this post appropriately so you can skip it if you are not in the mood to here me complain. I have been using Walgreens for years to develop film. In recent years it has been very convenient to upload my pics online and pick them up at the store the next time I ran out. Two weeks ago I decided to try the mail feature, since it is only 12 cent a print rather than 19 cents and it said one to two business days for delivery. However I soon found out that the delivery charge kind of takes away the 12 cent advantage. However I still ordered two sets of prints for the convenience of not running out to the store. I also ordered a second set to be sent to my mother-in-law in St. Louis. I thought it would be a fun surprise in the mail.

I just got my pictures in the mail yesterday, well over the 1-2 days they said and my mother in law still has not gotten her pictures. I am never using this feature again. It would have been much faster for me to just pick them up and then send them in the mail to her myself.

Speaking of pictures, I will post more soon.

Funny Faces

Gretchen makes the best funny faces, here are a few of my favorites.

Kung Fu Baby!

Peek a boo

Desperation!

One eyed Gretchen

Gretchen's take on Auguste Rodin's "The Thinker"

Good Friends

Ever since high school, I have been fortunate to have the common sense to surround myself with good people. Since the birth of Gretchen this has become abundantly clear. We have been overwhelmed, in the best possible way, with calls, cards, and visitors. Everyone has brought food and/or a little gift for Gretchen and it has meant so much to Nathan and I. The food has been very helpful but even more than that it has been wonderful to share our joy with so many who care for us and for Gretchen. Becoming a mom has been such an indescribable experience filled with loving emotions. I am just so thrilled I have been able to share this special time with so many wonderful people.

Being this cute requires lots of sleep

We just had our two week check up and we are already 9lbs 4 oz...she is growing too fast!

Small Victories

Every woman has their fat jeans. You know the ones you wear when you’re bloated or right after the holidays because you ate too many Christmas cookies. Well, today I tried on my fat jeans with no expectations. I mean it has been less than two weeks since I gave birth, and I have not worn pants without elastic in months so I was not expecting much. However, my jeans fit!!! Not the suck your gut in fit but they actually fit comfortably. I am so happy it does not even matter that they are my fat jeans. Now if the swelling in my fingers would go down so I could wear my wedding rings again, I would be all set.

pretty in pink and just one week

I know all babies are beautiful... but I think Gretchen takes the cake.

I do not know if one week counts as a milestone, but we wanted to document it anyways.

Daddy and Super Girl have already been watching Justice League Cartoons. I can not say much though since I have already played the Euphonium for her... she seemed to enjoy both.

Mommy and Gretchen

One of our first family photos.

The new addition.

Gretchen Barbara Haselhorst
March 26 at 3:16pm
8lbs 7oz
Mommy and Daddy could not be more in love with this little one.

Progression of a belly

Here I am at 20 weeks. I thought I was big them, I had no idea.

Here I am just a few days shy of 40 weeks. Yes I can rest a can of soda on my stomach when I sit down.

My last day

This past week at work I took the kids to two contests and on tour. I am exhausted to say the least. Today was my last day at work before the baby arrives. We officially start our spring break tomorrow and I am due next week on Thursday. Although I do really need some down time, sleep has been allusive at best and my feet are swollen.

I have mixed feelings about leaving work and my students. I guess I just realize how much teaching defines me as a person. I am worried about setting that part of me aside for a while. I am sure that once I meet my little one, this worry will become a distant memory. But it was definitely an issue I was dealing with today and the interaction with my kids only heightened this feeling.

After coming back from tour (we played for the little ones at the elementary building) I ordered pizza for the kids. I sent the kids down to the band room while I paid for the pizza. When I walked into the room their was a huge gift bag for them and the kids were cheering and clapping for me. We got to spend the next hour eating and saying our goodbyes. I really though I was going to begin to cry at several points and I gave more hugs today than any other day of my life. After school many of them came back and just wanted to spend some more time with me. I do have great students and I am going to miss them.

Cute

So. two weeks ago one of the beginners in band was leaving the band room at the same time I was. Normally the little ones just stare at me because I am the big kid band director (also it looks like I am smuggling a watermelon under my shirt.) However, this little one struck up a conversation. She told me how her expository essay for the ISAT test was about what she wanted to be when she grew up. She then went on to proudly announce that she wrote all about how she wants to be a magician because she love playing in band so much!

Well, I am glad she loves band. I am curious as to her expository essay score however.

new found food favorites

I have a few new found food favorites. If you have not tried dried cranberries, I would highly recommend them. I added some to salad and coleslaw and it added a really great sweet/tangy extra layer of flavor. The coleslaw was homemade, I do not know if I would add them to store bought coleslaw the dressing might not work. We also bought some Total cereal with cranberries and it was equally delicious. Cranberries are really good for you, so give it a try.

My next new food favorite is not nearly as good for you as cranberries, but it is still delicious. I have recently discovered a new ice cream flavor. If you have not tried Ben and Jerry’s Banana Split, you are missing out. It is banana ice cream with strawberries and swirls of chocolate, enough said.

People will try and sell anything!

http://www.amazon.com/Peepee-Teepee-Sprinkling-WeeWee-Airplanes

Welcome Amaya!

Tiff had a little girl yesterday, Amaya Welsh. She weighs 6lb and 15 oz and is 20 inches long. Everyone is doing wonderfully.

Star Wars according to a 3 year old

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBM854BTGL0

This is ridiculous.

Please learn from my mistake. We registered at Target and Babies R Us. Luckily most gifts we received were off of our registry, however a certain percentage of items were not or we got duplicates of certain items. People who bought off our registry usually did not include a gift receipt. So I figured I will only get store credit, no big deal, when I went to return the duplicate items. At Target you can only return two items without a gift receipt in a 12 month period!!! That is utter bull. So I have several nice things in multiples that I am stuck with. Your little one can only use so many sleepers, bottles, and crib sheets.

I understand a large store having policy to keep them from getting scammed. However, it is ridiculous that someone who has a registry with them and is trying to return duplicates off that registry or other unopened items cannot do so. I was going to turn around and use the credit to buy the remaining items off the registry. So if you are registering at Target please be aware of this outrageously strict policy. I would recommend not registering there or making everyone around you aware of that policy, so they make sure to include a gift receipt.

Thank You Julie!!!

So this past Sunday was my second baby shower. Despite the dismal forecast predicted by the weatherman, everything was wonderful. The weather cooperated, we had a great turnout of friends and family, and the restaurant looked great thanks to Julie. It was wonderful to see everyone and to just have a chance to relax, eat some deep dish pizza, and celebrate the arrival of our baby.

We did have one moment of panic however; I lost my engagement ring in the garbage bag for the wrapping paper. I have been wearing my rings on a chain for the last few weeks, because my fingers are too swollen to wear them. I wanted to wear them for the shower, however, so I decided to put them on my pinky instead... well my hands are not that swollen it seems. So we had an impromptu game of Find Jen's Ring! My friend Lyndsay won, we all had a good laugh, and then went back to present opening. I have listed a few pictures below from the shower.

I do have to take one more moment and sing the praises of my friend Julie. She spent so much time and energy planning this shower and I am so appreciative. Everything was perfect from the invitations, to the goodie bags, to the little baby socks she used to decorate with. I consider myself a lucky person to have a friend like Julie.

Here is a group shot. Can you find all five pregnate ladies?
Julie and Jen
Me with my mom and Tiff, I can not believe we got my mom to take a picture, she always says no.
The high school gang.
A very artistic shot of the party through the baby socks.

Cutest Nursery Ever!!!

The glider finally came in this weekend and now we have all of the furniture in the baby's room.

It took us four hours to tape off the room in order to get the strip effect. We are so happy with the outcome though it was worth the effort. Nathan did a great job with the painting.
Another shot of the crib wall with the wall art and the quilt I made for the baby.
Here is a close up of the wall art.
A close up shot of the quilt I made.
I am thrilled with how the room turned out. I just think it is unique and has a very happy feel to it. Now all we need is our little one and the room, as well as our hearts, will be complete.

Are you kidding me?

I am not the biggest fan of United Airlines to begin with. They never seem very organized and the leg room is nonexistant. This might be the final straw:

Big announcement from United Airlines this morning: Domestic passengers will have to pony up $25 to check a second piece of luggage. The policy change applies to travel on or after May 5, and to tickets purchased today or later.
The new policy appears targeted at the occasional leisure traveler: It applies to customers purchasing nonrefundable domestic economy tickets who do not have either at least premier status in United's Mileage Plus programs, or silver status in a Star Alliance program.
About 25 percent of its travelers check a second bag, according to United, and the airline believes its new surcharge will generate $100 million in revenue a year. The company faced bankruptcy just a few years ago, but in 2007, it earned a net income of $403 million (its first year of profit since 2000).

I never have more than one checked bag. However we were talking about taking the little one on the road this summer, so for the first time every I would have a second bag. Besides you know this is just going to lead to more and more jerks bringing rediculously large carry ons.

Correction to previous post

Snow Day Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

What to do with my snow day? Not sure yet but I will think of something.

Things I dislike about winter:

1) Bitter Cold …the kind you just cannot shake. When the wind blows you think to yourself, “I should have worn two pairs of pants.” Once you finally get inside, the cold goes right down to your bones so you still shiver.
2) Driving in snowy/icy conditions… it is not just the bad weather that bothers me but the hoards of morons on the road who do not seem to notice the snowy conditions. I never feel bad when they get in an accident but what about the one or two innocent people they take with them?
3) Snow is pretty for three days then it turns grey and stays that way until it melts.
4) Static cling
5) Chapped lips…I swear I have gone through three tube of Chap Stick this winter alone.
6) Shocking myself every time I go to turn a damn light on! (This one actual inspired my little rant.)
7) I know it is going to be a long time before summer break.
8) Not being able to go on walks on the trails near my house. I guess I could but then again we have dislike number one.
9) Winter clothing is more expensive
10) Cold feet in the bed with me, warming themselves on my already warm feet.

That is it for now…

Welcome Lauren Christ

Yesterday at 6:53PM a new addition was added to the extended family. Lauren Christ was born weighing a healthy 8 pounds and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well. Big sister Anna goes back and forth between being intersted in her new sibling and not caring all that much. Congrats to the whole family. We can not wait to see the new addition.

Surprise

I had to take a sick day today for a doctor’s appointment. Not really a doctor’s appointment, but I had to go to the hospital for a Rhogam shot. It is not a big deal. They do have to monitor you for a little while afterwards and they only had morning appointments, hence the sick day.

So I got the shot and I was sitting in the waiting room. While flipping through my book of course I have to get up and go to the bathroom. (That is probably the most annoying thing about pregnancy.) As I approach the bathroom I notice it is a unisex bathroom with only one toilet, not a big deal. As I open the door there is an old guy standing there going to the bathroom! He forgot to lock the door, at least I hope he forgot and is not a weirdo. I have never walked in on a man peeing before out in public. I hope that was the last time as well.

Vicks

A few months back I posted an item about Vicks Vapor Rub. It stated that if you had a bad cough put Vicks on the bottom of your feet and put socks over them and with in a few moments your cough should clear up. I had just heard this from a friend and did not try it myself.

Well I have had a cold for a few days now and last night it moved into my chest and I developed a horrific cough. You know the kind of primordial cough where it almost feels like you are scratching your throat you cough so hard. After about an hour of trying to ignore it I decided to give the Vicks thing a try. I am happy to report it worked wonderfully. I guess some of it could be psychosomatic, but I do not care. My cough cleared up and my sinuses did a little as well. Since I can not take any decongestant while I am pregnant it was nice to hit on something safe to use. I will be using Vicks (actually the generic stuff) again tonight.

A Magical Place

As most people know I am a little bit of a neat freak. Well I found a store that definitely plays to my OCD, the Container Store. It is a magical place with row after row of ways to organize every room in you house. I am definitely going to have my closets done there when we move in a few years. Yesterday I bought a bunch of 13x13x13 mess bins to store stuff for my little one. They will fit nicely in the large cube shelving unit that should be arriving in a few days. I am hoping this will be a game plan to help my house stay looking neat. Nathan keeps laughing at me when I say this though.

Also while I was there yesterday I got a device to help organize my spice shelf. I will admit I had more fun than probably the normal person organizing that yesterday. I also bought an organizer for my sock draw. I filled it up and was delighted until I went to put it in and found it was just a little too big, alas. I am going to see if I can use it once we put the baby’s dresser together

Camcorder

Nathan and I are in the market for a camcorder to capture all the firsts of our little one. However, we have no idea what to get. DVD vs. hard drive vs Mini DV? is one better than the other? Right now we have a fuive year old computer that probably couldn't support doing a bunch of video editing, but that will probably change in a year or two. We do have a dvd burner, so the hard drive one might be the way to go. What are good brands for camcorders? We are also not looking to break the bank espicially if we have to buy all the extras like a long life battery, case, and tripod.

Just kickin it

The baby has started to kick hard enough to make my stomach move! It was the strangest thing. I was sitting on the couch reading my lastest baby book. The bottom of the book was resting on my stomach and I was looking down while I was reading. Then BOOM my stomach clearly moved. And just to make sure I did not think I was crazy the baby did it again. I have been feeling the baby for weeks now, but to start seeing the baby's kicks on the outside took me aback.

I know I am having a baby and Nathan and I could not want anything more. However it is still so hard to wrap my mind around the fact that a little baby is actually growing inside of me. And I am blown away by every little or not so little change, because it just continues to reconfirm that pretty soon we will have a little one!

I laughed....

but I felt a little bad about it.

http://www.ifilm.com/video/2922293/subchannel/viralvideo