I Climb Now!

Audrey Climbs Mountains Now...She Just lets her Dad do all the work! We had a busy but fun weekend. John has really gotten his Dad and me into the hiking spirit and we decided that at seven weeks old, it was high time for Little A to climb Badger Mountain too. She slept most of the way up, insisted on a meal break half way down and when she got back to the car, was wide-eyed and looked like she knew something really cool had just happened. She also actually needed a bath after we came home--I can foresee a future of playing in the dirt for this kid.







Hiking must have worn both of us out today, because it's past 10am and Audrey's still sleeping...Don't get me wrong, this is FANTASTIC! We're planning on spending the day in today anyway. As some of you know, I've been working on getting my milk supply up (for almost two months now). We've been giving Audrey Breast Milk in the bottle and Supplementing with formula, but today I'm devoting entirely to staying home and breastfeeding to see how much more efficient she is than pumping and how much formula we really need to be supplementing with. If all goes well, I may decide to start Breastfeeding more exclusively, if not, it's back to the pump...gahh! It hasn't been easy by any means, but knowing how important breastmilk is for her development is what keeps me at it. That, and the fact that I'm a stay-at-home mom, makes me feel like it's just part of the job.

Well, the Dragon is awaking! Look out peasants!

...In the red corner

Weighing in at 11 lbs. 4 oz., we have....AUDREY ANN SCHWEIGHARDT!!!! Audrey had her one month check up Thursday, and she is a porker! She's in the 90th percentile for her height and weight...let's just say we're not starving her. She also grew an inch, so she's now 22.5 in. long and the doctor says she's looking great...she even commented on what a good baby she is. (That's right, mom--she's been diagnosed by a medical professional as a "good girl") Now all of your exclamations of "What a good girl!!!" are justified. This checkup was relatively painless since it was mostly a height and weight checkup...next time we get to deal with shots and I'm pretty sure I'll have a harder time dealing with that than Audrey.


True to form, we've been doing a lot of celebrating in the Schweighardt house this week. Not only was it Grandma Gamelin's birthday Thursday, but John also officially got his security clearance as well. We celebrated with cheesecake and champagne (why not?)


Grandma S. also treated us to some delicious fruit tart on Saturday because John, Grandpa S. and I CLIMBED BADGER MOUNTAIN! This might not seem like a major accomplishment to most since John does it pretty frequently by himself, but it marked the first official hike for me after having Audrey. My hips have been pretty out of whack for the past 6 weeks and I was worried that I was getting out of shape. Touche!! Now I'm actually flirting with the idea of training to hike to Camp Muir on Mount Rainier with John and Grandpa G. next summer. If you're thinking of taking bets, it's more likely that I will stay at camp and try to figure out how to make cinnamon rolls in a dutch oven or something.



As of September 1st, John and I have officially been in the Tri-Cities for a year. It's crazy to think how much has happened since then and a little daunting to think of what our lives will be like one year from now. The beginning of September officially marks the start of my favorite time of year in the Tri-Cities. Since we technically live in the desert, the nights have started to cool off enough to make the room feel cold if we sleep with the window open and the scent of grapes from our neighbor's yard drifts into the room during the night. Football season is starting, which means lazy Sundays spent with John and Audrey, watching the games and eating wings. I can't help but feel warm and fuzzy knowing that pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving and even Christmas are right around the corner too. Getting to experience it with Audrey for the first time is going to make it all the more fun. Really, John and I can't believe how blessed our lives are right now and can't wait to see what else God has in store for us.

For the Addicts

Just for the members of AAAA, there's yet another album of Audrey...she's beginning to know what celebrity life feels like. She might as well soak it up now before she has any siblings to steal the limelight!

http://picasaweb.google.com/GGamelin/AudreyAdventures

One Month Old!!

Audrey has been doing quite a bit of celebrating lately! We couldn't decide whether to have a party for her 4 week birthday or one month, so we compromised and did both. Much cake was had by all! Aunt Emily is in town for the week and we've been having a ton of fun. Mostly, staring at Audrey, eating ice cream whenever possible and creating ridiculous pies. She's leaving tonight and Audrey and I are both going to miss her. You would never know my sister and I spent 17 years of our lives hating each other with a passion. Turns out we just needed to live in separate houses!

Life is starting to get into more of a routine. Audrey sleeps for 3 or 4 hours at a time (most nights) and she really only cries when she wants something. She can hold her head up like nobody's business and has already tried to give most members of the family concussions while she's been practicing this feat. She can also recognize her dad's voice and will look for him when he's in the room (guess all that talking to the belly paid off!) She's getting better at following things with her eyes too, which is a welcome change from staring into space or at bright lights.

Have I mentioned that she is turning into a CHUNKY MONKEY? This kid has wrinkles and dimples in places I've never heard of. She's already grown out of the newborn and most of her 0-3 month outfits. I'm guessing she'll be in 12 month clothes next month. She's growing like a weed! For now, we're sticking to several wardrobe changes a day so we can get through the rotation of onesies she's got stockpiled.

Our first major outing with Audrey was to the county fair with Auntie Em last weekend. We went to see the bunnies and eat funnel cake; both were awesome and Audrey has already added a pet bunny to her Christmas wish list.

Getting out of the house has actually proved to be pretty easy. I wear my Moby wrap everywhere we go and Audrey tends to zonk out after a few minutes in it. It's also incredibly effective when trying to avoid baby grabbers in public--luckily, I'm tall enough that most people have to stand on their tip toes to see her face in it. (Tall people: 347, Shorties: 0) and it puts their hands withing easy slapping distance...when I say slapping, I'm talking Audrey here--she's vicious! We've nicknamed her The Green Dragon for the crazy squawking noises she makes and the fact that she often looks like she wants to destroy anyone inferior to her...namely: everyone (especially peasants) Her dad has also introduced her to the wonders of flying...so she's really the whole package.

Well, I'm off to feed the dragon. (milk, not peasants) I've been working on getting pictures developed to send out with thank you notes, so if you've sent Audrey a package and haven't heard from us, that's why...God knows when they'll actually be in the mail! But, I'll try to keep the needs of the Audrey addicts in mind and get them out as soon as I can. Until Then!

Even more Pictures!!!

I know it doesn't seem possible, but I've added even more pictures to my Picasa site. There's a new album so you don't have to look through hundreds of them to get to the new stuff...yet.

http://picasaweb.google.com/GGamelin/MoreAudrey

(Sorry I don't know how to make links clicky...maybe my awesome brother will enlighten me...*wink, wink*)

Eeek..a girly girl!

So, today was Audrey's first trip to Badger Mountain and to commemorate the trip, we (meaning me and Grandma G.) got her all dolled up for the occasion. She was officially a girly girl: complete with frills on her fluffy butt and a flowery bonnet. Her father was less than pleased, seeing the time he will be scaring boys away with a shot gun inching closer and closer. Luckily, there were no eligible bachelors at the park. I have to say that even though I am firmly against all things frilly...she's so stinkin' cute I couldn't help but laugh and let her leave the house in that outfit.

After our trip to the park, we also hit up a local gardening store, went out to lunch, picked up some treats at the bakery and swung by the Fiero show in town this weekend. Audrey slept through most of it, but she's still exhausted. Life is rough.

The reason we've been out on the town so much is that Grandma & Grandpa G. and Uncle Joe are all in town visiting until next Wednesday. We're also looking forward to a visit from Auntie Em in a little over a week. She has already firmly established "Operation Extreme Baby Spoilage". It involves a campaign of cute onesies, handmade blankets and promises to play with the seals when we visit her on the east coast. Anyone interested in oneupmanship has their work cut out for them.

As far as Audrey's parents go (It's no longer allowed for us to be identified by our given names), we are dealing surprisingly well. We're getting into somewhat of a routine for the nights and I'm learning that the phrase: "she couldn't possibly need *blank*" is completely irrelevant in baby world. She will eat, sleep and poo as much and as often as she sees fit--there are no rules.

I've uploaded even more pictures to the existing Picasa site and Grandma G. has also created a web album that you can access at: http://picasaweb.google.com/lizgamelin/AudreyAnn

I'll post a new link when I create a new album...which should be soon since the existing one is getting pretty huge. Lots of love to everyone and smooches from Audrey!

We're alive!

Do I look sleep deprived or what?! Life is awesome...and exhausting. I thought I would post a quick update while I have two free hands (thanks to my awesome Moby Wrap). Audrey is 10 days old today and has already accomplished so much! Her resume is starting to look really good. Among these many achievements, just a few are: overcoming jaundice with daily sunbathing (like mother, like daughter), slapping her Aunt Kathryn repeatedly (she deserved it), managing to produce poo that resembles French's Mustard (goo!), and eating at EVERY possible moment. (We're legally changing her name to "Tank")

John and I are incredibly in love with Audrey and, true to form, I have already blocked out any negative memories of childbirth and declared it to be: "not so bad". For anyone who's interested, I am working on my birth story, but it might take a while to get finished. I'll post it when it's done. Long story short: I woke up to contractions at 4:30am on the 25th, chilled out in bed until John woke up and then declared it to be "Spumoni time" (Anyone who doesn't know, that was our code word for "it's go time" ) I labored at home until about 1:30 when we decided to head to the hospital. The Birthing Center was completely full and while we were waiting for them to get a room clean for us, I went from 5 to 7 cm dilated. After we got settled into our room, Audrey's heart rate started dropping dramatically and they were having trouble finding her heartbeat. That meant I got strapped to oxygen and the doctor declared it was time to get her out of there...to which I replied: "You can just do that?!?!" I don't know why no one told me sooner. Half an hour later, Audrey made her appearance and life has been a blur since then.

Make sure you check the Picasa Album we posted in the last Blog post. We try to update it as often as possible so Grandma Gamelin can get her daily Audrey fix. She has started an Audrey Ann Addicts Anonymous (AAAA) group for anyone interested. Their motto is: "Admitting you have a problem is not the first step if you don't have a problem."

Hope this finds everyone happy and healthy! John and I feel so blessed to have so many caring friends and family keeping us in their thoughts.