33 Weeks - Happy Fall!

It's been a fun past few weeks.  We're feeling slightly more settled (still not fully unpacked), but are trying to enjoy our time here before the weather gets too cold to do much else.  I'm guessing we'll have plenty of time to complete the unpacking, hanging of pictures on the walls, and organizing once the temperature drops and the snow starts flying. 

Mike and Maude started their ECFE class last week.  It looked like Mike was the lone dad in the bunch, but the teacher called him this week to let him know a dad had joined their group.     It doesn't sound like they've hung out or bonded or anything like that yet, but I think Mike is glad to not be the only dad there!

The week before last, we went with a group of five couples to the Pizza Farm in Wisconsin.  The farm grows almost all the ingredients for the pizzas right there.  We set up a huge picnic area, ordered lots of different pizzas and had an amazing time.   There were two other babies and a two year old so Maude loved having others there close to her size. 

Yesterday we went to an apple orchard and a pumpkin patch.  I'm not sure Maude thought it was as fun as we did, but we loved showing her all the apples, pumpkins and other squashes.  She found a few that were just her size.  We also got lots of cute pictures!

In other news, Maude is really into clapping and is just starting to figure out waving.  The first time we noticed her waving was to the nurse that had just given her two shots.  I think she was waving goodbye, letting her know she'd had enough of her.  Her appointment went well. She's now in the 50th percentile for height, weight, and head size. She's 17lbs, 1oz and 26 inches long.  I think she also picked up a cold while at the doctor's office.  It's her first real cold and I hate watching her struggle to breath.  Poor gal.  She's handling it fairly well and I hope it's short lived.

Enjoy the photos from the past few weeks.  As I look at them and compare to photos from just a few months ago, I'm amazed at how much she's changed.

Pizza Farm!

She loves showing off her tongue!

Apple Orchard

An apple just her size.

Hanging with the pumpkins (with mom ready to catch her if she fell!).

Not sure why, but love this photo!

The Overmans.

Mini indian corn and pumpkin.

Our pumpkin in a patch of pumpkins.

31 Weeks / 7 months old!!

Maude turned 7 months old this week.  How is it that saying "7 months old" seems like I'm talking about a much, much older baby?  For as much reading as I did on child development prior to Maude's birth and in the months following, I somehow wasn't quite prepared for how quickly she was going to grow up,  change, learn new skills, become more independent, and begin developing her own little personality.  I think I somehow thought that for the entire first year she would still be very much a baby.  Not our kid.  I'm not sure how, but I swear to you she is stronger than me.  If I'm in her way or she doesn't want me doing something to her, she lets me know and moves me out of her way.  She's a determined and stubborn little gal.  And we love that about her.  I could use a little more of the snuggly baby she was in the beginning, but I'm enjoying the little girl she's becoming. 

The past few weeks have been as busy as ever.  We're still not unpacked and other, more appealing plans seem to surface so they take precedence over hanging out inside, organizing and unpacking our house.  We also realize that in a few short months, we're going to have no desire to be outside so I assume our full unpacking will happen then. 

We've fully immersed ourselves in the Minnesota experience over the past two weeks.  We attended the great Minnesota get together (the State Fair) and Maude got to see lots of animals, large and small.  They have a barn with lots of baby animals - some born just that day.  That was my favorite part, showing Maude the lambs, piglets, and baby cows (there were twin cows born the morning we were there!). 

Over Labor Day weekend, we spent some time at our friends' cabin a few hours north of here.  Maude enjoyed all the activity and she made friends with Olivia, who is about 6 months older than her.  They even gave each other goodbye kisses when we left.  Her favorite part of the weekend was a sunset boat ride on the lake.  She even got to drive the boat!

Maude is getting the hang of food.  I'm not sure if it was watching Olivia eat real food all weekend or if the apples we were feeding her were just that much more appealing than the veggies she had been eating, but she started gobbling up her food about a week ago.  We even got her some little baby crackers that she loves to hold and suck on while we are feeding her whatever the puree of the day is. 

Mike and Maude are starting an ECFE (Early Childhood Family Education) class this week.  I'm excited (and a little jealous) of all the fun they're going to have together.  We went to the open house this week and the teacher seems great, she even told Mike they usually have other dads in the class.  A friend of mine from work told me that his wife had a retired NFL player in one of her ECFE classes.  I shared that with Mike and I think he's holding out hope that will be the case in his class, too.

That's the quick summary of the past few weeks.  Lots of pictures are below - enjoy!!

Hi.  I'm Maude.  I look like my daddy.

Sweet potato!!

Why is Mom petting that massive animal?

This one's more my size!!

Driving the boat with Jeff.

Loving the cool air and the beautiful sunset while on the boat.

First time in the big bath all on my own!

Hair washing!

I'm 7 months old!

MOVE and Photo Catch Up

Long time, no write.  We haven't had the time recently to even shower some days so the blog has obviously taken a back seat to things more necessary.  Moving across the country,  for example.  Or unpacking a house with a 6 month old who doesn't allow us much time to really plow through a bunch of boxes at once.  Or the two business trips I've been on since we moved in less than two weeks ago.  It's been an intense few weeks and we still have lots of boxes to unpack, but we can at least function in our house.  Not every meal has to be take out from one of the many restaurants in our neighborhood, although it's still our default way to get dinner as we're working on getting settled.  I finally found my shoes last night so that's a win! 

Maude was a different kid for a week or so during and after the move.  Our normally very happy and great sleeper was a crabby, fussy, non-sleeping baby.  We've worked pretty hard on the sleep which has automatically helped the other issues as well.  We also started solids last week.  As you'll see from the photos I'll post, Maude is not yet a fan.  We waited on the longer side of when most start solids with their babies so I assumed she'd be near ravenous for something other than my milk.  Turns out, my kid loves her milk and could really care less for other food.  She seems to becoming very slightly more interested than she was a week ago, so hopefully she's coming around on the food thing.  I'm afraid I'll be exclusively nursing this little gal until she's 5!

There are many stories to tell and rather than trying to document them here, I'll post some photos and along with some captioning, let them speak for our moving adventure!

Reflecting on her last day in LA.

She's decided she's over it.  LA is so boring to her now.

Soaking up some last minute LA sunshine!

We celebrated her 6 month birthday in our hotel room the day before leaving for Minnesota.

Being 6 months old is pretty cool!

Ewww!  Avocados?!  Are you kidding me, this is awful!!

Maude has gotten very good at zerberting her food.  It makes a wonderful mess.

New friends.  I think they've bonded over the fact that they have no idea what happened to their peaceful little world.

True love.  Stella doesn't let anyone mess with her paws.

Enjoying our new backyard!

Concentrating on a squirrel or bunny or other critter in our backyard.

Motorin'

by Mike

Our little Sister Christian has figured out how to scoot! She'd been inching around - mostly skilled at pivoting - but now it's full tilt forward and she can't get enough. Literally. It's all she wants to do to the point she doesn't want to sleep or take naps... and then when she does finally sleep she's pushing her bottom into the air getting her practice reps in.

It's been a blast watching her get mobile - we just set her toys around and she picks one and starts making a bee-line for it. On the flip side her diligence has made for a challenging little Maude from time to time this weekend (see the previous reference to not wanting to sleep).

The good news (in a glass-half-full kind of way) is we don't have to worry about baby-proofing for a couple more weeks - since we'll be nomads while we're en route across the country next week and then a few more days as we wait for the movers with all our stuff. Then we'll have to think about how we're going to settle in to make sure those little hands can't get into too much mischief.

What's been the most surprising (to me, at least) is the relentless determination in a little gal who's not even 6 months old. She's been cranking along across hardwood, rugs, shag carpet - and I can already see this Energizer Bunny state of mind isn't a trait that will go away in life (probably to my occasional chagrin) - which is exciting and even inspiring - a reminder in a world of distraction that sometimes you have to point your head at what you want and start scooting.

That's all for this week - the blog may be a little sporadic over the next couple of weeks since the Overmans will be in roaming mode. And now on to the pictures!

It's Maude in a basket!

The tongue.

Just plain happy.

The 'Walter Matthau'.

Indie rock label.

Week 23 - Our baby has teeth!

Special thanks to Mike for filling in last week and for writing a much more interesting blog post than I ever could.  I loved his post so much, I've read it a few times over the past week.  Maybe once we've moved, we'll be hearing from Mike more often.

As Mike mentioned, we've been a bit busy lately. We wrapped up the last of our travel prior to our move last week.  Let me tell you, we went out with a bang.  Maude and I were in Iowa visiting my family and for a business meeting in Davenport, IA on Tuesday.  Our flight back connected through Minneapolis and we were supposed to land in LA at 9:30 PM.  A bit late, but doable.  Well, our flight from the Quad Cities to Minneapolis was delayed (as we sat on the tarmac in the heat for an hour and a half while Maude melted down).  We landed 5 minutes before our flight to LAX and after sprinting through the airport pushing a stroller, then catching an electric cart, we got to the gate as they were closing the door  They wouldn't let us on.  We were then booked on the next flight which was delayed nearly 3 hours.  After trying to sleep on a cot in the airport, then getting on our late flight, we got home and to bed at 4 AM.  It took a few days for Maude to get back to normal, but we're all good now and happy to have another week at home before our move.

On top of the crazy schedule and very very late night, Maude was apparently teething.  She didn't seem herself last week and around Friday evening, it dawned on me that it was probably teething and not just the after effects of her jetsetting lifestyle.  I knew teeth were on the horizon because I noticed some white bumps right before her last doctor's appointment.  The doctor confirmed that teeth were indeed on the way.  Less than two weeks later, Maude's first tooth popped out.  We noticed it yesterday and the second one came up today.  I truly can't believe how quickly she's growing.  I didn't really know when these things started happening and I'm shocked at how quickly she's growing. 

In the whole scheme of parenting, I feel like I'm more the mom that mourns the departure of each stage of my baby's life than the one who's anxiously waiting for the next step.  I do look forward to what's to come and I obviously want Maude to continue to grow and develop, but I get a little sad with each major development, whenever she outgrows her clothes, and as she loses her distinct baby ways.  From now on, my baby has teeth.  I'll never have that all gum baby back.  From now on, she'll continue to become more and more independent.  She'll never again need me to delicately cradle her little head because she can't hold it up.  I absolutely want her to grow up strong and healthy and I desperately want her to be independent, free thinking, and confident.  But is it bad that I wouldn't mind it if my baby wasn't reaching the new stages so darn fast??

As Maude was working on her teeth this past weekend, we spent time enjoying our last days in LA.  We headed to Beverly Hills on Saturday to take in the extravagant shops, beautiful homes, and lovely streets.  The weather was amazing and we leisurely strolled around with our baby girl.  We took a few pictures to show her some day.  I know that as a kid if I knew I was born in LA and lived so close to Beverly Hills, Hollywood and the ocean, I'd want to see pictures of me there!

Beverly Hills!  Beautiful skies and huge palm trees.  Note Maude is sucking her thumb.  She started this in the past few days - not sure if it's just teething related or something she's started permanently.

Rodeo Drive.  We took her into Tiffany's.  No gifts were purchased. Bummer.  =)

She's also been enjoying sticking her tongue out.  I think she likes feeling her new teeth!

Budding artist.  Her technique includes painting with her face.

Maude Overman: Jetsetter

Welcome back good & faithful readers! I'm filling in for the prolific Marnie this week while she's on the road again (she truly can wait to get on the road again - but hasn't had much choice lately, it's been a busy summer). Maude has taken her 24th & 25th flights this week!

Okay, maybe that's a tad high. But she's been in the air a lot for someone under 180 days old - unfortunately they don't spot babies any frequent flyer miles. I think she'd be closing in on silver status (she's been to more fancy Sky Clubs in her life than I have).

For those of you who mostly tune in for the pictures - not to worry - there have been no photo sessions around the house but I've been getting snapshots from life on the road which I can share - Seattle this week for a couple days then back to LA for a couple nights then out to Iowa where she's getting to hang with Nama & Grandpa this weekend.

So, on to the vitals:

Maude had her 5 month doctor's appointment on Monday - everything is good and she hit the 15 pound mark! Of course then Tuesday she woke up with pinkeye - and was due on a flight in 3 hours so I booked it back to the pediatrician then swung by the pharmacy while Marnie got ready and got to the airport - we made the baby handoff with a little time to spare but was quite the adventure.

As for the theoretical, I've spent some time this weekend thinking about the evolution of the female role model. Even as we're continually dunked in a tank of talentless reality stars - the Kardashians, Hiltons, Lohans, Real Housewives - I've spent the past few days taking in the greatness that is out there. I don't know if having a daughter has simply made me more aware of the surroundings or if the surroundings are evolving - I have a feeling it's a little of each - they're both for the better.

This afternoon I watched our US women compete for the World Cup championship - competitive as any men and likely classier in defeat - and it felt like a big event, worthy of national attention - those ladies are stars (and I don't know that any human on the planet can execute a header like Abby Wambach).

I caught a matinee of Harry Potter 7.5 on Friday - a lot of the ass-kicking was doled out by the female characters. Bridesmaids has grossed over $200MM at the box office and received more attention than any other comedy this summer. I've got Michael Jackson's This is It on in the background right now and his lead guitarist was a rockin' female. Michelle Obama is hardly just the wife of the President - she's a figure all her own. Tina Fey runs one of the most successful (and funny) shows on television.

I'm sure there are still ceilings (the White House awaits). I'm sure there are inequalities (I like to think they're fading). But we tell our kids that they can do anything they want and it makes me happy it's becoming easier to point and say "see, there... you want it, go get it".

As Marnie mentioned in her last post we're heading for a shift that's going to have Marnie heading to the office and me staying home to handle the day-to-day around the house - flipping the "traditional roles" on their ear. While I'll try to provide my own example I'll certainly guide Maude to the influence of whoever the Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Kristin Wiig, Orianthi (MJ's guitarist), Michelle Obama, Tina Fey or Hermione Granger's of the future will be - we can all learn a thing or two.

Now, enough blabbering - on to the photos!

Maude hanging at Pike Place Market

I don't know what was going on here.

They just told me what happens on the road stays on the road.

First class!

Maude & Bailey at Nama & Grandpa's

(Bailey turns out to be a little more tolerant than Stella)

Put object on baby's head. Take picture. Laugh. Repeat.

Week 21 - 5 Months!!

5 months old!  This has been the fastest month yet.  I really have no idea how we went from 4 months to 5 months so quickly.  I love watching Maude get bigger and start to be able to do more, but I also desperately want it all to slow down so I can enjoy it all.  This has been one crazy and hectic summer and I get sad when I think about how it's going by too quickly.

Life now with being back to work is busier than I imagined and we have a little something more going on.  We're moving.  We're leaving California in a little less than a month and moving to Minnesota.  I was promoted within my department which means I'll be working again from our home office in St. Paul.  Taking on a new job, a newborn and a move halfway across the country is a lot.  The past few months have been a blur.  I'm thankful to at least have this blog where I've documented what's going on in Maude's life.  Without it, I think these early months of her life might have been forgotten in the stress that creeps up on us every day.  We have a lot we want to do before we leave LA and friends we want to see - I'm having a much harder time leaving here than I thought I would.  We're in the home stretch, though and I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  Soon our lives will be our new normal and I am looking forward to that.

Mike is leaving his job at NBC.  I want to take this opportunity to brag about him a bit.  He received a pretty impressive promotion just a few weeks ago.  The people at NBC recognized what an important member of their team he is and what an amazing job he does.  He's a much bigger big shot than I will be for some time, maybe even ever.  We know, though, that in the end, this move is what's best for our family.  When we move, Mike is planning to stay home with Maude and Stella and work on building his own business.  He's had the opportunity to film friends' weddings and create some pretty impressive wedding videos for them.  Through that, he's realized it's something he really enjoys doing so is going to start his own business doing wedding videography and other video work in Minnesota.  This will hopefully allow him to spend weekdays taking care of Maude and do work on the weekends.  He's excited for the change and Maude and Stella are pretty stoked to have their dad at home with them every day.

In Maude news this week, she turned 5 months old!  The day before the special occasion, she sat up unassisted for the first time!  Just 5 days later, and she's an old pro at that.  She still rolls from her back to her front as soon as you lay her down, but she hasn't again rolled from front to back.  I'm sure she'll master that very soon.  I've also noticed that when she's on her tummy, she is getting herself pretty high with her arms.  I'm sure soon, she'll be able to also get up on her knees...  and then comes crawling...  Yikes!  I'm not ready for all of this.  She continues to be a jabbermouth and is incredibly interested in everything we're doing. 

Our day care situation this summer has been a bit of a hodge podge.  Mike's company has a great back up day care system.  They provide 20 days each year of care at an incredible day care center.  With all of our travels since I've been back to work, we've been able to stretch that 20 days out and our time there had to end on Friday.  It was a sad day for me.  As much as I was anxious about taking Maude to day care at first, I quickly saw how much she loved it there and how much the teachers there loved her.  She was frequently the only baby they'd have each day and got lots and lots of love and attention.  There were some tears shed by me and her teachers on Friday but we promised to come back and visit.  A few of the teachers are even going to come to our house for the rest of this month to watch Maude.  We needed some additional help and since they all adore her, a few agreed to help us out for the next few weeks.

Maude is going on her third trip this week.  I have a business trip to Seattle so my friend Amy is flying in from Austin to meet us and help out with Maude while I'm at meetings.  I haven't' seen Amy in 3-4 years (she and I were trying to remember how long it's been - way too long!!) and I'm beyond excited to see her again and introduce her to Maude. We're gone Tuesday through Thursday, then fly out again Saturday morning to go to Iowa.  I have a meeting in Iowa on Tuesday of next week so Maude and I will be going to my hometown to see family and friends for a few days before my meeting.  Maybe Mike will take the reins of the blog next week. 

Enjoy the many 5 month photos we took.  We have these super clever month stickers we put on the front of a onesie each month when it's Maude's birthday.  She now will only hang out on her tummy so getting a shot of the sticker on her front side is a bit difficult.  We compromised and just propped the sticker up next to her while she played on her tummy.  Once she tired out, we did get a few shots of her lying on her back with the sticker on.

Her daycare also sent home a CD of all the pictures they took of her during her time there.  I posted a few of our favorites.

Lastly, there is a video of Maude and her "scream" I mentioned in last week's post.  I love her little voice!!

Such an adorable expression.

Loving being the center of attention.

Subdued.

Showing love for her future home.  And showing off her new sitting up skills.

Painting with Teacher Zuzi.

Fun at daycare

A daycare friend.

Cuddling with a little bear at daycare.

Maude and Teacher Irma on Maude's last day at daycare.

She's gonna be a reader!