Happy Family

I was thrilled with how this family photo turned out. We are going to go for a professional photo when she is three months.

Gretchen started smiling about a week ago! We were thrilled to see that little face get even cuter with a big smile. As you can see from these photos we are still working on our timing with the camera trying to catch the smiles.

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.