Blow-outs

Colette,

There was a time in your infancy where you were pooping daily. Then it became every other day. And now we have progressed to the fateful every five days. I will never understand it as I try to be a relatively healthy eater, and you're breastfed, but your poop schedule is what it is. We have had four poops according to this new schedule. Here is how they have ensued.

1. I calle the MD because I was worried, you hadn't pooped in almost a week. You were fussy and I knew you had to go. Before I had even heard back from the doc that day, we were visiting your meema and beeba, and thats when it happened. Beeba was holding you in his lap, and you started to look very serious; eyebrows draw down, you were strainging, your face getting red...and thats when we saw a stream of mustard creep across your onesie. Beeba lifted you up to find both him and you covered in poop. From your belly button to your toes you were covered. We had to use towels to clean you since we ran out of wipes, then had to throw away your clothes. But you were happy.

2. We had changed your diaper and your dad was putting you to bed. You had been gassy all night and it had been awhile since you'd pooped last. Due to the gas, your dad decided to check your diaper one last time. Diaper, onesie, sleeper and swaddle had been marked by your explosion. Not only did we have to throw your onesie away, we had to cut it off of you so as to spare you getting your poop all over your face!

3. Your dad was the victim here. You had been up since early that day and he was exhausted but you just wouldn't nap. He fell asleep on the bed finally, holding you sitting up in the crook of his arm. I was picking up the house and was in the bathroom when I heard it! I came back into the bedroom and you were smiling ear to ear, your dad still sleeping. I picked you up to change you, and still don't know how it happened, but somehow the poop by-passed your clothes but got on your dad and the bed! I woke up your dad to quite the pleasant surprise! Poop was dripping from his shirt onto his pants!

4. This just happened today. It has only been four days so I wasn't expecting a blow-out until tomorrow at least. We were out of the house and I had just changed you before taking you into Eucharistic adoration. Fr. James came in as well and stopped to say a quick hi and give you a blessing. It was barely a moment after he sat down that you blew. It was loud and it was long. James and I attempted to stifle our laughter for the sake of the other parishioners in the chapel. Of course I had just used our last diaper so we had to cut the holy hour short so I could take you home. All clothes were spared!

Little Talker

Since she hit the three month mark, Colette has become a little chatterbox! From morning to night she graces us with her precious voice!

Sailing

Today we took Colette sailing for the first time! It was also daddy's first time on a big sail boat. I came home from work and snuck a three hour nap before we left. We got to pick up Nana on the way and met up with Aunt Lori, Uncle Jim and Joseph at the Jefferson Beach Marina at noon. It was a perfect day for sailing; not a cloud in the sky but plenty of wind. Sadly poor Cole hadn't developed her sea legs yet and was getting sick. I felt terrible- I had never even thought that a baby could get seasick. I took her downstairs to change her diaper, and things got worse! She was not a happy girl. I normally don't get sick on boats but found even myself having to snack on lemon drops and gingersnaps. The windy day made for quite a bumpy ride. Eventually once the sails were up, things settled down. After spending some intense moments sticking her cheeks to the wind, Colette fell asleep on me. Upon our return to the marina, Meema and Beeba joined us for Uncle Jim's annual "turkey cruise". He began cooking the turkey while we were out on the water, and now that we were back on land, the aroma was intoxicating! We sat on the boat, sipping wine and hearing my Aunt Lori's stories of she and my mom growing up. No leftovers were left after that dinner. We even enjoyed a special chocolate bar "experience". Overall a great trip. Adam wants to buy a saillboat now. I slept on the way home and at home and was well-rested for work. Colette experienced her first time at sea!

Just like mommy

Over the past few weeks, Colette has discovered a wonderful friend in the mirror! It is fascinating to bring her up to one of the many mirrors and see what ensues. Whether she is happy or crying, seeing herself in the mirror puts a smile on her face! She could be about on the verge of her "death cry" and as soon as she sees herself there is a total transformation. I thought that she would react to babies in real life the way that she does to herself, but I was wrong. She has very minimal interest in other children but delights heartily in herself! I swear she flirts with her reflection: giggling, cooing, smirking and the like! Oh baby girl!

Daddy-Daughter Time!

Colette, If you are ever in doubt of your father's love for you read this post. Your dad amazes me. When we first found out we were pregnant, your dad was so afraid. He didn't know how to be a dad, he thought. I have often heard that women take to motherhood naturally, whereas men take time to transition into fatherhood. Well your dad, lept into fatherhood beautifully! I remember the first few weeks after you were born, you were waking up a lot during the night and I would just get so frustrated because I wanted to sleep. Your dad would calm me down, say that it wasn't your fault, and teach me how to love you more. Father's Day came a few short days after your birth. I got you a onesie as a surprise for him that said: "I love daddy" and he got a shirt that said "Daddy Established 2012". He was so excited to take you to mass and show you off to anyone and everyone. The homily was about fatherhood (obviously) and spoke of how true fatherhood is being the spiritual head and protector of your family. Your dad had tears in his eyes as realized the seriousness of his vocation. He is so excited to be your dad! Father's Day was a tough day for both of us. We ran ourselves ragged trying to get to early mass and then going to Uncle Glenn's for dinner. At the end of the day your dad had a breakdown...his worry? He was afraid that you didn't like him! Anyway, as the months have gone by he has gotten so much more comfortable with being a dad. When I returned to work last week there was one thing I was confident in, and that was your dad's ability to take care of you. He is so on top of all the little things he has to do for you. This past weekend I worked three nights in a row so he was pretty much a single dad with you! He was so excited and proud to take you on your first big outing together-his favorite place; the zoo. He met up with Meema, Beeba & Joe there and as Meema recalls, becoming a parent ages you. She was amazed at how well your daddy took care of you. There was a point when my mom thought had to poop, but dad said that you had already had your poop for the day! It is scary for daddy right now because he wants to provide for you but is struggling to do that financially. He was just turned down for a job and will only be working a few hours a week until he finds the right job. I know he will, but until then we are embracing the blessing that is him getting to spend so much time with you. This evening I watched as he danced with you in the living room, complementing you on your dip! The two of you then proceeded to sit mesmerized in front of the computer watching the abstract shapes go along with the music. He is such an incredible dad and loves you so much.

Family Stay-cation!

Labor day weekend. We had planned on trying to take Colette camping for the first time, but had no idea how quickly campsites fill up over the holidays! Even the rustic campsites that you have to hike to were full! And lets be honest, were they available, I never really saw myself trecking along with a baby and camping supplies on my back into the backwoods. So, in response to this, we decided to have our own little stay-at-home family vacation. I had gotten Thursday through Tuesday off in anticipication of a possible trip to Nebraska which ended up falling through. It was Adam's last week of daycamp and he had Saturday through Tuesday off! Honestly, we live on a lake with a state park within walking distance-why do we need to leave? So, Adam came home on Friday and initiated the weekend by setting up the tent in the yard! We began the weekend with a pizza dinner Friday evening and a viewing of our wedding video for the first time. We were blown away by the talent of our friend Angela Keller, who created the video for us. We watched it in the tent, along with glasses of wine and popcorn and m&ms (our nightly staple as of late). We spent an interesting night in the tent. Colette slept in her baby tent and due to her being swaddled coupled with the uneven ground, I woke up several times to find that she had slid into the corner! Also, who knew there were so many sounds outside! Adam was so patient with me as I was convinced that the bark falling off our oak tree was a man walking VERY slowly in flip flops outside our tent! Saturday morn began with yogurt parfaits and poptarts on the fire. Afterwards we took a family trip to Costco for some samples. One of the women handing out samples turned out to be a mom of FUS grads and we ended up chatting with her for quite some time! We took a quick trip to Aldi then headed home for a mac n' cheese with roast beef lunch on the deck. We cleaned up the house, made a scrumptious dinner of polish sausage with saurkraut over the fire and then had some household sisters over for a game night. Sunday morn we had a breakfast of chocolate chip and strawberry pancakes with whipped cream and then headed to mass at CTK to receive our Lord! After mass we went to the Miles Christi Family Picnic in South Lyon where we had a very pleasant time with many old friends. This was Uncle Dan's birthday and Uncle Glenn and Aunt Jane were hosting a party for him so we left the picnic with full bellies to attend the dinner party! It was an enjoyable time, celebrating the life of the man who has given us so much-providing for my college education, even the house we live in. After dinner we went to my parents for a fireworks show and then went to the Ford-Wyoming Drive-In (Colette and Adam's first time!) Monday morning my dad made us all blueberry pancakes and we had the Everts all over for a bacon-cheeseburger grill-out! Wow, it appears that our whole vacation revolves around food. We left my parents that afternoon and came home for a relaxing evening in. Tuesday morning we had smoothies and fruity pebbles before leaving for Howell Nature Center. Adam had some cleaning up to do there so Colette and I joined and I took her around to meet all the animals. We came home and picked up a pineapple, ham and bacon pizza which we ate on the deck while reading "The Mockingjay". Afterwards we went to Barnes & Noble to peruse the books and enjoy a beverage and then went for a sunny walk around Green Oaks Mall. I made a yummy beef stew for dinner while Adam and Colette took a nap. We ended the evening with a bonfire and s'mores before Adam left for men's group. We decided we weren't ready to give up our vacation just yet, so when Adam got home we took a trip on the wild side and stayed up til midnight watching house! Then we finally had to say good-bye to our family vacation. It can be so easy to fall into comparisons and envy, I told Adam. So many of our friends are blessed with great jobs, and little financial trouble. However, which of our friends can boast of spending a random Tuesday as a family. Thank you Lord for the life you have blessed us with. You always provide albeit in mysterious ways.