I've moved....

Friends

Starting today (September 10, 2007), this blog has joined forces with its brother-blog and moved to http://21monthsapart.blogspot.com/ or you may CLICK HERE.

If you arrived here by using a "favorite" in your browser, please update it to point to the new location. If you arrived here by clicking on a link on a webpage or blog, please ask the owner to update their link.

All posts made to this blog have been copied to the new location. This archive will continue to exist for as long as the generous folks at blogger.com provide it for free (currently "forever").

We hope you'll join us at our new home online.

Love, R.

7 months old...

Friends!

You simply wouldn't believe how much I've changed in the last month. In the last month, I've gained over 2 pounds, which has bounced me back to the 25th percentile weight-wise. I've started babbling continuously, and also playing with toys. There's nothing more fun than playing with my brother's toys, but he doesn't like that so much. Actually, there's no-one that is quite as much fun and can make me laugh as hard as he can.

I almost titled this posting "Back to the future", because I've been scootching myself backwards for the last couple of days. Oh, I want to go forward, but I end up pushing myself back, and you wouldn't believe how frustrating it is that I get further and further away from my goal. I'm experimenting with pulling my legs under me, so it's just a question of time before I crawl.

I like standing up. I can't get there myself yet, but with a little help, I can pull up to standing, and that's where the fun starts, I can tell. I want to be like Daniel.

I do have my first battle scar. During this particular photo session, I dove forward and bumped my noggin and scratched my nose. Nothing to ruin my modelling career, just a little bruise and scratch.


Still no teeth. Still amazing amounts of drool. I frequently have to change outfits during the day because I'm soaked. Still, I'm expanding my food repertoire, and today I had animal crackers (which I gummed up) and pasta for dinner. So I'm getting there, but a couple of teeth would be handy.

Oh, I might have forgotten that I roll both ways now, and I may be sleeping through the night again. It's too early to call definitely, but last night I gave Mama a solid 8 hours, which was much appreciated.

My most striking feature? Well, thanks for asking - it would have to be my eyes. They are big, blue and beautiful.

That's about it for now.

Love, R.

Sitting Pretty!

Folks



I've learned this new skill called "sitting". It's fun, and I'm really good at it. I can sit for as long as I want to. I actually taught Sean how to sit on our vacation. He knows a lot of tricks that I don't, but he didn't really teach me anything back.

I have been drooling like you wouldn't believe for weeks now, but no teeth yet. Can't really explain that one, but I have to wear bibs at all times or I soak my clothes.

So I've been travelling too, and I got to be part of all of the same adventures that my brother did - but it was all new for me. My favorite part might have been going to the blue lagoon in Iceland - basically an outdoors pool with bright blue water that they keep at body temperature. I loved it.

I did well on all of the travels - slept for large chunks of the long flights, and at no point did I behave in a way that made the other passengers wish they were sitting elsewhere on the plane. That's pretty good for a 6-and-a-little month old.

On the trip, I got to spend lots of time with my new buddy Sean. Sure I'd seen pictures, but it was fun to just hang out together.

I got to hang out with the cousins and their neighbors - the only girl in a house of 4 boys. Give me a little while and I'll get them eating out of my hand. For this trip, it was more a case of being held a lot - though Jacob took his turns feeding me too.

I ate a lot of new things on this trip - almost to the point now where keeping track makes less sense. Apples, pears, raspberries are all good. So is the Norwegian porridge I got, but I'm less fond of apricots and pasta with broccoli.

I'm now old enough that Mama could take me to the daycare at the gym, but I was having none of that. Pretty much as soon as I couldn't see her anymore, I let the staff know of my unhappiness. So no workout for mama.

That's about it for now. I have lots of pictures, and I'll try to get those posted soon. Also, I actually turned 6 months old, and there are official "me" pictures that look frighteningly like Papa did at the same age (please, let me not get his hair).

The editors are considering merging the two family blogs - it sometimes seems that this one gets the short end of the stick, because stories are already told in the other one. Feedback? Is there anyone who reads this blog that doesn't also read the other one?

That's the family, by the way. You too could look like this.

Love, R.

Six months old!

Friends

As of Monday, I'm six months old. That means that I get to round up to one... I'll be in Norway by then, so I thought I'd post a little early.

There's a visit to the pediatrician at six months, and it's not one of the fun ones. Four big needles rammed into my tender little thighs. I did not like that one bit. Got a little bit of a fever that evening, and was tired from all the activity, but I'm my normal cheery self now.

I'm 13lbs 10 oz. That makes me a lightweight for my age at the 10th percentile. I'm 26 and 7/8th inches long which places me in the 90th percentile, and my head is in the 45th percentile. So I'm still tall and skinny, but with a bigger head than last time. Dr. Matt says I'm doing great, but that I could perhaps be eating a little more. So I'll probably get a little formula going forward. I've added sweet potatoes to my list, and they are starch-y.

The video, you ask? Not terribly exciting, but it's me coo-ing a lot.

I rake items toward me. I can just about hold a bottle, I juggle pacifiers. I'm cute as all heck, and hopefully everyone still things so after a 15 hour flight to Norway.

Until next time.

R.

Flying....

People

Welcome to my new little corner of the web. For those of you who linked into the old site, nothing has changed except the name - we thought it'd be a good idea to make it a *little* more anonymous than before.

I've got some moves since last time. I will roll over from front to back, but not the other way. Oh, I get so close, so close. I'll teeter on my side - and then roll back.

I can "scootch" along on my back, I can spin around the axis defined by the back of my head. These two tricks allow me to get from place A to place B - as effectively (if not as gracefully) as crawling or rolling would.

I've started to hold long monologues with coos and squacks, and I'll even give an "early warning" if my feeding needs are not being met.

I'm ticklish, and if I'm not already in a foul mood, I break out into the biggest smiles if someone tickles my neck or feet.

Peas and Corn are not as popular as carrots were, but are still OK. I really want more colorful food. The other day I just about launched myself out of the bumbo in order to get my hands on some pizza.

Friday I get on a long, long set of flights. Everyone is nervous about that.

That's about it for now.

Love, R.

Biker Chick, or aunt jemima?

People!

So I have this new bandanna, and depending on how I wear it, I can look like a biker-chick or aunt jemima. Cool, no?

I have some neat new skills, really I do, but first of all, the editors would like to apologize for the short "nothing new" posts of late. For an embarrassing contrast, check out the beautiful 5-month post that Claire's parents wrote for her.

Now, the editors could hide behind the fact that this first-person style is a little harder to write than the third-person style, but that doesn't really make up for all the things they forgot to talk about. Like the fact that I've started liking Papa after several months of only liking Mama. Or how my big smile and beautiful blue eyes can really cheer up the room. Or that I have outstanding head control, or that I blow the best raspberries. It's not fair that the second child should get compared to her brother, but that's the way it is sometimes. I'm pretty amazing for my age. The one thing I've gotten too little credit for is how "easy" of a baby I've been - no colic, no tummy-aches, very little stress, really.

I like baths, I like being bounced around a little. I LOVE my brother. Yes - it will probably be embarrassing to find this in a few years, but there's just nothing that makes me smile more than if Daniel does something funny. And if he cries, I cry too.

Skills -well, the big one is that I can now transfer an item from one hand to the other. I also stand up more, can *almost* sit stably, and we're not going to focus on the whole rolling over thing - which I could probably do, but I don't see the point in yet. I have done a full 360-degree rotation on the back of my head, and yes, I'm losing a little hair because of it.

I have slept through the night, just to prove that I can, but that's not always what I feel like doing. Sometimes I might wake up and want to use Mama as a pacifier -> the parents think I'm literally milking their affection. I can get SO MAD if they try to let me "cry it out", so I usually win that battle.

I have a bit of a rash - probably from the heat. Or the sunscreen. Or possibly the chlorine at the pool. Or maybe a little bit of everything.

And THAT is about it for this time.

Love, R.

Five months old

Friends

I'm five months old today, which means that the paparazzi were out in force. Aren't I cute?

No real updates of significance around here, really.

Love, R.

Thrones

Peoples!

When I sit, I like to do so in comfort - in fact, I'll remind you with great volume if I'm not happy. These are the two favorites right now -> the "bumbo", which basically forces you to sit upright, and the carseat.

I'll hold onto an object, and will even stretch to get one that's out of my range. I still haven't figured out this "rolling over" thing yet, but it's coming. Tummy time is not as annoying as it used to be.





I like making little raspberry noises and squeals. I think "goo'" is for sissies. No hard consonants or complex sounds yet.

I now have my passport, so I'm set for seeing my cousins in about a month.


Until next time.

R.

Ah-Goo!

I have to tell you that I'm particularly fond of this picture of myself - it may look like light reflections off the leather chair, but it's really a Halo...

This is my demeanor most of the time, really -> I'm happier all the time, and rarely require that someone carry me around in "the grip" for a long time before calming down. I'm also starting to understand that a pacifier has calming properties, and for both of these developments, the parents are grateful.

I have a couple of seats of my own now, but my favorite is called a "Bumbo". Very handy device, it is - it causes me to sit upright, and with that, I can participate in the dinner experience.

Yes, I've been eating rice cereal now and then for the last 2 weeks, and all I can say about it is... Yecch! Who came up with the idea of this stuff? It's not tasty. Spoons are messy, and I am in general not a fan of the whole thing. So I'm eating solids now-and-then.















I am most definitely in the oral stage, and I chew on just about everything. Toys, knuckles, whatever. Also I've started laughing a lot. No-one can make me laugh like Daniel can - that boy is funny.

I'm not rolling over quite yet (But I'm SOOO close) nor am I crawling. I can, however, push my butt in the air and rotate around on the back of my head. And that's how I get around. I even managed to launch myself off the bed the other day, which no-one was expecting. I'm ok.

Here's the family. It's not the best shot of me, but it's not a easy to get everyone smiling at the same time. And finally - me and my great-grandmother mormor.

And that's about it for now.

Love. R.

Four Months Old!

Friends!

I'm four months old, and I'm all smiles about it. Yes I am, Yes I am... Lots of spontaneous smiles, and some evidence that I recognize Mama and (sometimes) Papa as people especially deserving of a smile.

At the four-month checkup I registered in at the 25th percentile for weight and head size, and the 80th for length. So again - I'm a tall skinny girl. The modelling career is still intact. That's about where I was at the 2-month mark.

Farmor is visiting, as is my great-grandmother "mormor" and Grandpa. We'll have to get a family shot for the next blog entry. Suffice it to say that I'm enjoying the extra attention.

I've gotten much better with tummy time - I used to scream like I was going to die, but now I tolerate it pretty well. I'm not rolling over, but I'm darned close and it's really just a question of time before I get that right.

I've also been practicing sitting, and I'm pretty goood at it. This is me in my new highchair (yes, it's just like Daniel's) and I also have a "bumbo" chair. So there's a lot of focus on the back and head control. Sitting up means that there are more interesting photos coming up - these "laying around" shots are kind of boring.

I'm grabbing things and holding them now. I'll pick up toys and hold them in both hands. Mostly I like sucking on my knuckles.


I'm still sleeping through the night, and I wake up as content as can be. I eat well, I'm sometimes fussy if I'm tired or hungry, but really I'm a pretty easy baby to deal with. And my personality is becoming more interesting.

And that's about it for this time. Hope all is well with everyone.

Love, R.

I'm more 3-and-a-half months old

Friends!

So this is my second cousin Elaine who got married this weekend. And allthough she's cute and all that, I really just wanted you to know that I can now ride in my Baby Bjorn facing forward.

I went to Chicago this weekend, and there I celebrated my 100th day on this earth. Now, I'm past that and closing in on 4 months old.

In addition to my excellent head control which allows me to face forward, I'm also doing crunches these days. Check out the video.



I "blow raspberries" and bubbles, so I'm figuring out the phbbth sound. I really like nibbling on my knuckles these days, and I'm a pretty mellow kid. I will let you know if I'm not happy.

Sometimes the only way to calm me down is to hold me in a football grip. That means that I'm laying on Papa's forearm with my head towards his elbow. I'm heavyish when carried like that.


OK, it's late and the editor needs sleep. Hope all are well.

Love, R.

It's been a week of being held

Hey there



Now when you're my size, you sort of get passed around and held a lot. I like it, really I do. So in order of appearance, here's me with Jackie, my great-Aunt Molly and Ol Granny.



Let's see. Accomplishments.... Hmm. Well, there are some, actually. I said my first verified two-syllable word last week. Ah-goo.

And I can bring my hands together



And I'm doing crunches



And I turned three months old



And I'm getting the typical baby bald-spot on the back of my head.

If the parents put one arm under me, I can roll over, otherwise I'm "really close", but I get so mad when I'm on my tummy.

And that's the update for this week. Until next time.

Love, R.

I'm a movie star...

Friends

We're breaking out that old crowd favorite - the video clip. See me all dressed up for the premiere?

In other news, I will now roll from front to back if my arm doesn't get in the way. And I've more or less figured out that I can control those "arms" when I feel like it.

I'm losing my hair and I have no teeth - take a good look at me now, because there's a good chance I'll look just like this when I'm 90.



So the video works by clicking on the photo, or by clicking this link. 90 seconds of pure bouncy-chair excitement awaits you...

Tomorrow I get to go on my first airplane ride. That ought to be fun. I'm also leaving the state for the first time - going to Kentucky for a few days to meet great-granny Speck and the rest of the group there.

So there ought to be much to report next week. Until then...

Love, R.

Little miss congeniality

People

You wouldn't believe how much better my disposition has been in the last week. I smile a lot, I cry less, and I don't screem like a banshee if I'm not walked around the house held "just so".

I'm cooing up a storm, and I'll smile for no reason whatsoever other than that I'm happy to see you.

Oh, and I'm sleeping nearly 12 hours straight at night, so everyone's happy.

The balloon? Glad you asked - I wave my arms around, but to say that it's deliberate would be a bit of a an exaggeration. But tie a balloon to my arm, and suddenly cause and effect are magnified. It's fun. My brother did the same thing when he was 2.5 months old...

Speaking of Daniel, here we are. Just hanging out. Notice something different? I'm not wearing pink!

Yes, we've tallied up the various clothes I have from friends and family, and I have nearly 60 outfits - the majority of which are pink. This surplus will last until I'm about 12 months old, I estimate - though there are already clothes I'm too tall for.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that I went off and had an ultrasound of my kidneys, and all is good. Why bother? Most of you probably know that I have a family history of ARPKD, and while the odds are now pretty darned low that I'll ever have polycystic kidneys, there's no actual test.

So all is good. Until next time.

Love. R.

Having all sorts of fun

Hi there, friends.

Happy Easter everyone.

Now, I don't know, but I'd be willing to bet that there's a lot of overlap between the readers of my blog and those who follow my brother Daniel's blog. As such, I'm not crossposting pictures, but there's a really cute brother-sister shot on his blog that you might want to check out.

I don't have complete mastery of my arms yet, but I've realized that I can use them to swat at things - particularly toys hanging over my head. I'm also more awake, more alert and more good-mannered every day.




Eating well. Sleeeping fairly well (have started to skip my 3am feedings occasionally). Growing. Doing the things I ought to be doing.

And that's it for this week's news. Until next time.

Love, R.

I'm two months old!

Hey there, friends

I just turned two months old. Those of you who pay attention to this kind of a thing know that this is when we get our new stats. So here I am, reduced to mere numbers:

• Weight: 10lbs, 1oz (25th percentile)
• Height: 22.25" (50th percentile)
• Head: 14.75" (25th percentile)

I think the height number is understated - but what the heck. You get the idea.

At your 2-month appointment, you also get a bunch of shots. I did really well, but it was still nice to get a little tylenol to kill the pain afterwards.

As you can see - my head control is excellent, and I'm smiling quite frequently. I now make little coo-ing sounds. Not quite "ah-goo", but definitely "goo" now and then. I like to copy the adults, so I'll goo, smile or stick out my tongue in response to them doing the same.

That's all for now.

Love, R.

Rachel and the Parrot

Here's my first blog video: Rachel vs. the Parrot Part 1. For now, I just stalk the parrot and charm him with my smile. Stayed tune for the attack...

Almost 2 months old

Hey there, friends

I have changed a LOT in the last 10 days - everyone says so. I've started smiling a lot more. That, and my features are gradually changing. Dr. McCrann got to see me for the first time in 6 weeks and she says that I have mom's eyes, dad's nose and doesn't know where this cute mouth came from.

I have excellent head control.




My favorite place to be is in mom's arms, but barring that, I really like the baby bjorn carrier too. Today I slept on Grandpa's chest. I slept a LOT today.

Here's me after a bath. I think baths are OK. It's the getting out of them that I don't like much

Last night I stayed at home with Daniel and a babysitter. She was OK.

Sometime this week, I turn 2 months old. That ought to be fun. It comes with all sorts of official statistics - stay tuned.

Until next time, R.

6 Weeks Old (and a day)

I turned 6 weeks old yesterday. I'm alert more and more each day. My eyelashes are growing so fast that if anyone had the time, they could probably see them getting longer. And....I undeniably smiled today. Other than that, I just keep doing my job - eat, sleep, digest, repeat.

Getting around...

[note from the editors: for those regular readers of "the other blog", you may be wondering what's up with the lack of Daniel-related postings. Somehow his account got "locked" under suspicion of spam-links. We're working to resolve the problem, and in the meantime just want you to know that he's doing well and will be back on-blog as soon as possible]

Hey there

Oh yeah - I left you with a cliffhanger last time. Well, the official 1-month weigh-in was 8lbs, 7oz. So I gained a pound in 2 weeks, and everyone's happy about that.

So I'm now heavy enough that I can travel in the Baby Bjorn, which is great, because it means that I can go for walks and to the zoo. I can't say I noticed much about the zoo today. It was nice and warm out - that's all I can tell you.


I am spending longer and longer in an alert state, and there are increasing hints that I'm actually smiling outside of gassiness, but no conclusive proof yet. I'm sleeping pretty well, but have had a couple of not-as-good-as-before nights, so everyone is hopeful that those aren't a sign of things to come.

That's about it for now - I'm sure I'll start bragging about my skills soon, but for now, I'll leave you with a cute picture of me in sweats...

Love, R.

I'm four weeks old..

It's not easy getting old...

So if you're born on January 30th, when are you one month old? It's trickier than you'd think -> february 30th doesn't work... So we'll just go with a celebration of turning 4 weeks old, and leave it at that.

Official weights, sizes and all that jazz will be done tomorrow. The ad-hoc solution at home with the food scale and the fruit basket just doesn't work very well anymore, but I'm betting that I click in around 8lbs, 8oz - which would be a respectable rate of gaining weight.

I'm eating well, and sleeping well still. This is a really good thing. I need to chow once between midnight and morning, but otherwise I sleep. Truth be told, I snore.

I'm increasingly alert, and for longer periods of time. I can focus on faces that are about a foot away from my head, and I'll turn to follow sounds. My eyes will track differences in contrast. I've been to a number of places in the last couple of days. I went to the library, and to the butterfly pavillion, and shopping, but I slept through all of the above.

That's about it for now. Look for a weight/size/official pediatrician report.

Love, R.