A Catch-Up

We are starting to get invitations to holiday parties, and our weekends are quickly filling up. This weekend we are going to the last farmer's market of the season here, then to the Emma Crawford Casket Races in Manitou. Later on Saturday, your Dad and I are going to have our first date night since June 25th. You are going to hang out with Ed & Libba-our neighbors, while we go out to dinner and to an Avalanche game. I'm excited for a night out.

While our social calendar is starting to heat up, the temperatures outside have crept down to the 40's by day, and the 20's by night. This weekend looks promising with low 70's.

Uncle Carl and Nikki's wedding is next weekend. I can't believe it is nearly here already. The month of November is going to be a very busy one for your Dad. We will be in Appleton from teh 4th-7th, on the 16th he leaves for Chicago and will be there until the 19th. The following week is Thanksgiving. We have one weekend in November and one weekend in December open. I would like to host our own little holiday party early in December, but to take away one free weekend in a very busy month is questionable.

As I look at our calendar and the colder weather coming in (snow in Aspen 1 foot of snow yesterday!) is getting me very excited to be up in the mountains for Christmas this year. I am starting to think about meals and activities. It isn't quite Halloween yet, but as of Monday, I will probably be in full holiday mode.

Bump in the Night

It's creepy, it's spooky, it's Halloween time! On Saturday we are going to our friends Matt & Kelley Schuler's house for a Halloween party. We are going as a family of garden gnomes. Is it the cutest costume idea ever? Probably not. In fact, I stole the idea from a 3 year old we saw last year while handing out candy at JD & Stacey's house. BUT, this is the family version, and I am making most of the costumes.

Anna is teething like crazy lately and a bit crabby for two-three days at a time, then seems happy for a few days before turning into a mini-monster again. Poor kid. I feel so bad for her, but I hope that first tooth starts to show itself soon. I can feel it if Anna lets me.

Anna has also been crying in her sleep. This is an incredibly creepy and eerie thing to watch. It started three nights ago, but when I think back I think it was happening back in WI too. At first I thought it was just her teeth bothering her. Now as I've witnessed it, she will be sleeping fine for a couple of hours. Then she will start to pout or whimper, if I let it go long enough or if something happens in her sleep, it will quickly turn into a full out scream. Two nights ago it was a full out scream and when I picked her up (later found out a HUGE NO NO) she was thrashing in my arms and I had to lay her back down so I wouldn't drop her. These apparently are called night terrors. Babies start to feel seperation anxiety and stranger danger, and have bad dreams about a vision that mommy or dadddy are leaving them. When I look in on her, Anna's eyes are shut but she seems very awake. I thought this was odd, but interesting. Now during the day, if I set Anna down to play and get up and walk away she starts to cry out. Apparently, this is a very real thing, and she doesn't like to be left alone.

I've learned the only way to deal with this is to start to go out once or twice a week for a little while and let her hang out with Jon or a babysitter. I'm hoping to actually implement this next week. We go to the Y 4 times a week with 3 of those days she goes to the child watch area. She doesn't seem to cry when I drop her off, but she does look around frantically. The other day we go swimming. She loves the warm water in the pool.

Late 6mo check-up progress

Since our trip started earlier than planned, we missed your 6 month checkup and went the day after we returned to Colorado.

You are 16 lbs 14.5 oz., 27.75" tall, up from 23.5" the last time we were in Wisconsin. The doctor says you are a tall slender baby like her parents.

You received four vaccines, one oral, and three in your legs. You were very tired and crabby all day, but I don't blame you. I wouldn't have been very cordial either.

Anna, you seem disoriented since we returned. It has felt like we brought you home from the hospital all over again. The first night home was spent with several wakings, and few smiles. You look around like you aren't quite sure about this place, or about your dad. Luckily the second night you seemed to recognize him. This morning you are full of smiles again and seem to remember your play area.

September Blog - A Long Read

At David's enjoying the beautiful fall day.

September we had two weeks here in Colorado, then you and I went to Wisconsin. The original plan was to fly out on the 22nd, but on the 13th Grandma Sanderfoot called me to let me know that my Grandma Mackowiak wasn't doing well, and that she was fadding fast. A few years ago when I received a similar call from my mom encouraging me to call my grandpa because I made excuses not to go back. It's a regret I have to live with, but I knew the next time I got a call like that, I would go. After much frustration with United Airlines (a true love-hate relationship), we were on the next flight out at 6am on the 14th. We arrived in Green Bay around 11, and were at Great-Grandma's bedside that afternoon. It was a shocking difference between your bright lively smile and her dull dying gray face. You cheered up everyone in that room, and the nursing home. The next morning she passed and we went back to meet up with the family. It was a very cold and rainy day, perfectly matching our somber moods. We hung out at the farm cooking and baking for everyone else while they prepared the funeral arrangements. The rest of the week was sad, but finally came to its conclusion on Saturday with the funeral, church services, and the burial. Afterwards we went to Great-Uncle David's and spent the afternoon taking in the beautiful fall sunny weather and enjoying each other's company.

A Five Generation photo. Alice (Great-Grandma), Leone (Great-Great Grandma), Theresa (Mom), Anna (5th generation), Don (Grandpa).The next week was spent at Grandma and Grandpa's house playing, and settling in for our extended stay. Some days we were working on wedding stuff, other days just running errands. On the 25th, you went to stay the night at Great Aunt Jo's and from the sounds of it you had a great time. Grandma and I went to Aunt Nikki's bachelorette party. The next day, we went to your Great-Great Grandma's 100th Birthday! She is an amazing woman, and it was really nice to spend time with the Sanderfoot family.

Tuesday the 28th was your Uncle Carl's birthday and we all went to the Stone Cellar Pub for dinner. That is where their rehearsal dinner will be, so we went to sample different meals so they could choose what to have. A jam band was playing when we were there and Grandpa and you checked them out and danced a bit. You had your first french fries there.

Wednesday we drove down to Madison and visited with your Great-Grandma and Grandpa Schroeder. For lunch we met up with Heidi and walked around the capital before heading back to Grandma and Grandpa's house. That night Carl came over to hang out and we watch Iron Man 2. A decent flick, but a lot of loose ends and possibilities for a trilogy.

Saturday, October 2nd was Nikki's bridal shower. It was a beautiful shower held at the deli. You stayed with Grandpa and had a fun day with him.

Sunday we took a girl road trip with you, me and grandma up to Eagle River. It just happened to be Cranberry Fest. We walked around the crafts but only left with craisins, kettle korn, and maple walnut fudge. :) Yum. You had some of the craisins added to your applesauce. You seemed to really like it.

Tuesday the 5th we flew back to Colorado. Your Daddy really, really missed us and was happy to have us back home. What started out as a two week vacation to spend quality time with family without the rush, and to attend a bridal shower, turned into a three week vacation with quality family time seeing more people than originally expected, and lots of love. You helped so many people during a tough time, and reminded people to smile.