A bad sign

For those of you who know me from my childhood, you might remember that I am NOT, I REPEAT NOT athletic. In high school I actually played some sports though -- I started with field hockey which I loved but was horrible at and quit after one year because I knew I would be a senior on the junior varsity team. SO then I ran cross-country and track and I wasn't bad but, mind you, all I did was run. I did not do hurdles, jumping, anything involving any apparatus. I HATE sports with balls -- especially volleyball. HATE HATE HATE. They hurt me!

Regardless, I keep up with a couple sites online that have good ideas of games to play because the same old get really boring for me. Not for Megan of course. And I've been reading that now is a good time to start with balls -- rolling, kicking, etc. And Megan does like to kick.

So we're at Walmart and they have no small balls but a ball is a ball right? So I bought her one of those $1 bouncy balls that they always have a huge bin of every summer. We get home and start rolling and . . . Megan starts crying. I am not kidding. But she is tired so she goes down for a nap and while she's sleeping I sew her a ball and then stuff it. Maybe she wants something smaller and softer. After the nap, we play with ball #2 . . . and she starts crying.

My poor baby! I'm so sorry I gave you my genes! At least she got my good looks -- oh wait, they're Chopper's!

The Stats are in!

You know, it's a shame that even having exposure to my genes will render Megan unathletic. She's going to be a tall one! If the stats for 6 months are any indication:

Length: 27" (75%)
Weight: 17# (50%)
Head: 17 1/8" (I have no idea)

Teeth are Bustin' Out All Over!

Remember that nursing strike? Well, it seems that teethin' is the reason! Can you blame me for not realizing? Overall Megan has not been a drool machine (she was worse at 3 months) and she hasn't been too cranky except for the eating thing. But yesterday she was sitting with Chop and started chewing on his arm (she has been chewing quite a bit) and he says it feels different. Lo and behold, you can feel some little points on her bottom gum and if you can manage to get a look, you can see 2, count them TWO little white teeth coming through. I can't believe it! I'll post a picture when I can. Right now if you pull her lower lip down she sticks her tongue out so you can't see anything anyway.

By the way, it's the bottom two front, not the top. Does anyone have a nickname for that? Bucky and Beaverface just won't work!

Blog Stalker

I admit that I have become somewhat of a stalker. In addition to keeping up with friends and family, I've started fandomly clicking on other people's blogs. Is that weird? I don't spend a ton of time doing that because I don't know anyone but I have to say that I have found through other people lots of crafty and mom-ish blogs that are really interesting. It's fun too to check on other family that I don't really keep up with but just to see every once in a while.

Then I realized that I'm the only one in my family who does this. I know my friends who check probably don't really care but I thought it might be interesting for aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. to know what's going on with all of them. So I'm going to post a sidebar that kind've keeps up on what my brothers and parents are doing I think. Because I do think it's great what they're all doing with their lives.

Plus, I feel kind've like it's my responsibility. It seems like women are the ones who keep families close. I apologize if there are men out there who really work at it but that just hasn't been my experience. Boys just don't connect as much in my opinion. And since I'm the only girl (yes that's a complaint), I kind've feel like it's up to me. Mom and I talked about this while she was here and she kind've agrees. Now don't get me wrong, Denise I love you dearly!! And I hope that all of my sister's-in-laws are like her (in the wonderful, open, family respect -- then they can be whatever they want) but they have their own families to keep up with too. And I love Chopper's family too, but I don't feel quite so much like it's my place to keep everyone together. Does any of this make sense? Am I just overbearing and family deprived??

Babbling Baby

It's amazing how quickly things change. Just in the past few days, Megan has moved from screaming and vocalizing in very high pitches to actual babble and using her mouth when she talks. It's fun to hear her and she does it wherever she feels like it. She talks at home, during our errands, in the bathtub, wherever! But once again, it's difficult to get it on camera because she likes the camera and is too preoccupied with grabbing and examing it. Oh, that's the other thing -- she has really started reaching and grabbing for what she wants. I used to be able to set her on my lap and check email or whatever for a few minutes. Today when I did that, everything on the desk ended up on the floor within the first 2 minutes. Sometimes she face plants herself because she's reaching and grabbing at her toys that are too far away.

This first video is another "not worth watching". I put the camera in front of the monitor last night when she was on a babbling streak so all you see is the wall. But you can hear it really good. Oh and it's 9:30 at night.


This one is the babbling baby herself. In the bathtub (which is just cute). Chopper approved it for posting -- he doesn't like naked baby pictures because he says there are too many sickos out there and that's true but this is darn cute!

Megan on Strike

This is probably the only interesting thing that has happened in the past few days. Okay, Michael Phelps and his 8 gold medals in one Olympics is pretty darn exciting -- I mean in our family! And we certainly don't have that going on in our family!

No, our excitement -- or anxiety rather -- is Megan on strike. She apparently likes her thumb more than she likes to eat. She eats when she gets hungry enough but it certainly has been a battle! Thank goodness she has all those wonderful fat rolls to carry her through until she decides she's hungry. Interesting though -- she's not cranky about it AT ALL. She's been her usual happy, wonderful self!
These are just cute.
Megan is a disaster when she eats -- surprise, surprise! She hates having her face washed afterwards but loves having her hands washed. It even gets her laughing which is saying something since it takes a lot to make her laugh.
Chopper took this one and it's blurry but I love the look on her face!

I Made Bread!

This happened today too but I think it's pretty cool so I had to post it separately.

I MADE BREAD!!! I really like carbs and the other day I was remembering how my mom would make homemade bread and we'd eat it warm with butter and honey . . . so I called and got her recipe. It wasn't too hard and it's made with all food storage-able items so it's a good one to know and other than the fact that I didn't let them rise long enough in the pan and they turned out a little runty -- they are good! As you can see, Chop and I have already nearly demolished one loaf.

I Hate the Dentist

It probably doesn't help that I haven't been for a routine cleaning in a LONG LONG time -- after all, when you don't have dental insurance, do you really want to PAY to be tortured?

But I have to say, Dr. Zlock (yes that is his name) reminded me A LOT of my brother Jeff -- the one on a mission in Argentina. He was balding but had a ponytail (ok Jeff does not have a ponytail but I think he would if he could get away with it since he is awfully sensitive about his balding) and when he sat down initially to talk before the torture, he could not sit still! I kept thinking, I don't know if I want this guy to use sharp instruments in my already over-sensitive mouth! He was fine, maybe a little harsh with the scraper, but he talked the entire time and I have to admit I tuned out quite a bit because a lot of it was random dental stuff. I guess you would have to know Jeff and meet Dr. Zlock to think this is interesting . . . I thought it was hilarious.

Why do people become dentists? Is the money really worth working in people's mouths? I mean, seriously, surgery would be better. You might be inside someone but at least it's relatively clean. And no one likes dentists. I like my gynecologist better than the dentist and those appointments not only hurt, they're embarassing!

Go USA!

Chopper and I have been watching the Olympics and we're not doing too bad! USA looked quite dapper (there's really no other word for it) at the opening ceremonies which were AMAZING! I was QUITE impressed.

And I have to say, it is kind've a shame that these games hosted by China are so controversial. The Olympics should be about bringing people together and leaving the politics behind -- at least temporarily.

Now if only there were an Olympics of literature . . .

Picky Eater

Disclaimer: If you tire of my Megan stories, I'm sorry. It's just all so new and fascinating to me!

But this one shouldn't have been new.

Since very early in life, Megan has been a picky eater.

Sorry -- disclaimer #2: If you don't want to read about my nursing experiences, please stop reading now.

So babies who are exclusively breastfed shouldn't be picky right? After all, it's not like they have options. Au contraire mes amis! (How's that for 2 years of college French?) Megan has a very definate side preference. If she isn't settled just so on one side, she refuses to eat. She takes the other side all the time, every time though. Needless to say, this has caused some issues with supply and demand and a "fun" new game I like to call upside-down head.

So rice cereal isn't bad. It isn't great either. But then I move to peas. Every mother out there is probably groaning to herself -- I can't believe you started with peas! I read today (after 3 days of peas mind you) that it's better not to start with them because they have a strong flavor. I love peas, it seemed logical at the time.

Day 1 of peas: not bad -- seemed to take to them ok. They really taste like canned peas (which actually I don't like -- I prefer fresh or frozen).
Day 2 of peas (morning): not so interested -- not opening her mouth, pushing it out with tongue, etc. I figure she's tired because it's almost time for her morning nap so I'll try again later.
Day 2 of peas (afternoon): Shoot -- disclaimer: I already know Megan has an amazing gag reflex. She will gag on her fingers too far down her throat, air when she cries hard or gets too excited, etc. So I'm trying to feed her peas and with the ones I'm getting into her mouth she is making that gag face -- you all know the one that I mean -- open mouth, tongue slightly curled, a slight retching noise. This is weird because she's had peas before and I don't think they're too thick and they're definately not chunky. Maybe she's half swallowing and then gagging on it. But the face is really funny so I get the camera.

Megan is in the middle of gagging when I raise the camera to take the picture and this is the shot that comes out:
I'm sorry, what child who is genuinely gagging stops to smile for the camera? Not to mention that I could see the peas still in her mouth. What a little turkey. I think I'm in for a picky eater.

Day 3 of peas: Yes I know, I tried it again. This time I mixed it with rice cereal -- not so much. So I tried cooking up some frozen and blending them really well with a little water and breast milk (which, by the way, is very difficult for me to extract independantly). She did better. Particularly when I let her feed herself.
I think in reality she just wanted to chew on the spoon and the peas happened to be there. But I'm not going to complain.

Western Montana State Fair

You have to love the fair. This one isn't nearly as big as the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot but it wasn't bad. I am glad, however, that we went on "family day" (free admission for all) rather than paying $6 per person!

Look! Llamas! They don't have these in Idaho.
This is Megan's reaction to the chickens after they clucked, crowed, whatever it is that they do . . .
And this is Megan's reaction to her mom . . . apparently I am funnier than the chickens.

Goodbye Grandma :(

Well I guess the vacation is over. Grandma probably just boarded her airplane back to Michigan. It's always nice to get back into the normal routine but it really has been wonderful to be out of it.

You know, Chopper and I are really enjoying Missoula but it has been a difficult transition. I went from full-time job, involved in my ward, hanging out with friends to being a full-time mom (which I love, don't get me wrong -- it's just very different), not really holding a calling, and not having people that I just call up or randomly visit with. Although I am grateful to be home with Megan and enjoying our time together, in many ways I have been lonely. I'm not trying to garner sympathy or anything but I just want to say thank you because blogging has really helped me feel like I'm still a part of everyone's lives and even though it's not direct contact, the involvement and the friendships have been very important to me. I am really glad that I live in an era when we have these technological benefits to keep us connected! Although I suppose that if I were living in the 1800s I'd be at the next farm over, right? :)

First Food!

We decided to have our first taste test while Grandma is still here. Megan was ready! On practice spoon runs she opened her mouth and accepted it willingly. Mom's also been trying to give her a little water from a cup which she likes but doesn't know what to do with.

We prepare ourselves with the cutest bib we own (it's a crab people and it does NOT reflect Megan's personality but I couldn't resist.)
ANd we're off!
Megan did really well -- according to my mom, better than I did the first time. She accepted it, didn't push it out with her tongue, but did get the BEST faces and wasn't sure how to handle this new substance. And I think it was the substance since I tasted it myself and its really bland -- oh yeah, rice cereal of course. After a while she started making faces at me like "you're seriously making me continue?" so we stopped and nursed instead.
I don't know if you can really tell but we're on our way to Stevensville for the Creamery Picnic and Montana State BBQ Championship (something like 6 competitors and no tasting -- what's up with that?) and mom and Megan are both asleep in the back seat as we drive.
Then I started taking pictures of Megan in her mirror (Chopper is driving -- don't worry!) and got a pretty decent one of her stink face. She's not mad, or tired, or whatever. She's just been scrunching up her face lately for the heck of it.