Summer-lovin

I love the summer. Not because I love heat – I hate the heat. But it seems like summer is the time when we get to see family the most, and boy do I love family! Jer and I always try to do our best to make it to every family gathering that we know about (think hitting 4 different Christmas gatherings in less than 2 days!) and we love being able to see all our cousins and friends.

This weekend, like all my favorite summer weekends, was filled with family! We had Kamie’s baby shower on Saturday and it was fan-freakin-tastic! We also got to see ALL of my cousins who I never get to see because they scattered to the wind and moved away. I LOVE the Wood family and it was fun to celebrate birthdays with them. Sorry, I was lame and didn’t take any pictures the whole weekend!

In other news, Kaiah is getting entirely too big! She moved to her big-girl tub and loved loved loved it! She splashed and laughed and just had a fantastic time. She is definitely our little water baby and loves to go swimming, too!

She is so alert and focused – I can never have to t.v. on if I want her to do anything, like eat or something, because she gets way too distracted. If “Man vs Wild” comes one, oh boy, there is no way to get her to look at anything else! I don’t know if she has a secret little baby crush on Bear or if she is just super in love with the outdoors, but she freaking LOVES that show. Her favorite parts are when he eats something disgusting – she laughs and flails her arms and everything! I am thinking that we have a little adventurer on our hands!

And  . . . guess what? I finally found out what classes I will be teaching in the fall! I have 3 classes on
Honors 9th grade English!
I couldn’t be more thrilled! I taught Honors 10th grade for my student teaching, so I feel right at home with this assignment. Now to get preparing!

Here’s to another fun-filled week of summer family events! Jer’s got a camping trip coming up and I have a bridal shower and then a yard sale in Tooele! Yay for summer!

Homemakin my baby food with love!

The past month or so I have been doing a ton of research, and I have decided to feed Kaiah only homemade baby food. Did you know that most packaged baby foods contain artificial sweetener? I don’t put sugar on my bananas or sweet potatoes, so I have no idea why my baby would need that. Plus, baby food is expensive! Why should I pay so much money for food stuffed with things my baby doesn’t need when I can have total control over what goes into her body?

Both Jer and I know how difficult it is to try and break terrible eating habits that started as children, and we both want to make that part of life easier on Kaiah. It is already getting tough, though! Well meaning friends and family push sweets on kids like crazy without even thinking about it! I was motivated recently by a Jer’s cousin-in-law who, without hesitation, said “no” multiple times to distant relatives who offered sweets to her toddler. It is hard telling people you don’t know very well “no,” especially when they offer the food straight to the kid instead of the parent. But if she can do it, then I can do it, too!

Anywho, I don’t personally know anyone who has homemade their baby food, so I am starting this journey from scratch and just using the internet as my best friend. Do you know anyone who makes homemade baby food? Any suggestions on a good food processor?

And if you are interested, check out these two websites with all the how-to’s of making baby food!

http://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/index.html

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/index.htm

4 months, recovering bellies, and becoming a grown-up

4 months old today.
Wowzeers. My little baby girl is a growin and a changin and a movin and a shakin and I just can’t seem to ever quite get enough of her. She is my joy and my life and my complete and utter everything. She is spoiled beyond comparison and worth every single bit of it.

Her 4 month appointment was yesterday, and boy is she growing!
14 lbs 10 ounces (75th percentile)
25 inches long (80th percentile)
At her 2 week appointment, she was only in the 6th percentile for her height – can you say growth spurt? She is super healthy and happy and everything looks great!

Kaiah, thanks for giving me four wonderful months of you.

 

In other news, our bout with some nasty tummy sickness is on the downswing and things are looking much brighter at the Payne residence. I must say, throwing up is possibly the worst feeling in the universe.

And, (da-da-da-DAAAAA) I GOT A JOB!

Like, a real job – no a career (as Jer puts it) - as opposed to the fake college jobs I have previously held where they don’t expect you to stick around for much longer than a year. I will start teaching English at Wasatch High School in August! It is just a 1/2 contract position, which bodes well with me since then I will still be home with my baby every other day. And no, I don’t have any clue what grade I am teaching yet! I feel really blessed to have found a job in this market and I am excited, yet terrified, to get started.

Does this mean that I am really, truly a grown-up now?

Sickie

The whole family is sick - and I mean sick. Jer, Kaiah, and I are a pretty pitiful sight. Good thing I have my mommy close by - she's on her way down to watch the Bug for us while we rest. Thank heavens for family!

Happy Daddy Day!

 

Dear Jer,

I thought I loved you before. But now, seeing you as a daddy, now I really know what love means. I cannot even begin to say how grateful I am to have you as a husband and father. You are so amazing with Kaiah – she is a total daddy’s girl. I never see her smile bigger or cuddle closer than when she is with you. You have shown me what it really means to be a Father – and a father in every situation. No diaper is too smelly or cry too loud for you. You are caring and nurturing and playful and, most of all, attentive. I know that you are involved in every single aspect of our little girl’s life and that she will always, always, know that her daddy loves her. And that makes me love you all the more.

Love, Kasie.

Today my baby fell asleep in my arms

and it made me realize just how much that doesn't happen anymore.

My little girl is getting bigger and bigger
and learning and growing and changing and exploring
and holding her own head and grabbing her own toys
and putting herself to sleep.

And I love those things about her,

But I miss the cuddles, too!