I'm back....until I'm not again

Our laptop has been out of commission for a few months now. My desktop is upstairs in my study, which I do not get to retreat to very often. Needless to say this blog has been sorely neglected due to my lack of free computer time. Right now Archie is sleeping in his swing and I am ignoring the messy house and updating all of you instead.

Archer is 7 1/2 months old now and he changes every day. He can now sit up on his own although he would rather be standing. Every time I try to get him to sit he stretches out his legs and arches his back. I think he will be walking before he ever crawls, which he shows desire in doing. He loves to laugh and squeal. In our Gymboree class right now we are working on communication and he is the most vocal kid there. Dave and I still think he is the coolest and love every second we spend with him. Not that every second is easy, but most aren't too bad!

Since I have last posted we have taken two trips, one to Michigan and one camping in Colorado. In late March we all flew back to MI, but Dave only stayed the long weekend. Archie and I spent an additional week. We went to a Piston's game because my Dad had one a box in an auction. It was so much fun! Becky's baby shower was also that week and she made out like a bandit! Her little girl (BORN YESTERDAY!!!!!!) has enough clothes for the entire first year I think. I flew back to CO with Archer. It was my first time flying solo with him and I think we did great! He cried at the very beginning, but then slept for the rest of the trip. We encountered the worst turbulence I had ever experienced on that flight. I was holding onto Archie for dear life, but thankfully he slept right through it. I was definitely ready for a break once we got back to CO though.

This past weekend we went camping at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. We stayed in a cabin with a propane heater, which was a blessing since it got below freezing at night and we had Archie and the dogs! It was a lot of fun to get away for a bit and be in a forest. We don't have clusters of trees in Colorado Springs so I need my fix every now and again. Archer did fine on this trip and the dogs loved sleeping on the bed with their Daddy. This summer we are planning on taking lots of long weekend trips around the state of CO. We have lived here almost 3 years and haven't really explored our own backyard.

This really isn't a comprehensive update, but it's all I have time for right now. I will leave you with some pictures and hopefully try to update this blog at least 3-4 times a month for the time being. We'll see.

My new favorite photo

Solid Foods A-Go-Go

Archer had his 4 month check-up last week. Where does the time go? Sometimes it seems like he was just born, but then I remember what it felt like that first month. Definitely a huge improvement at 4 months! Anyhow, he now weighs almost 15 lbs, is 25.5" long and his head seems to be catching up b/c now it is in the 20th percentile as opposed to the 10th.

At the appointment our Dr. discussed teething and eating solid foods with us. Is he really already at these huge milestones? Apparently so, because that night we were all geared up for his foray into solid foods. I had read many different things about how and when to feed baby his first foods. Some sources said that he will give you cues, some said that most babies hate it at first, but to be persistent and some said don't even try until he is 6 months. As with everything else with this kid, feeding was super easy. Is there anything he doesn't make easy? He smiled, laughed and managed to keep some of his rice cereal in his mouth. He opens his mouth up wide when he sees the spoon and even tries to feed himself.

He has been on rice cereal for a week now. Today I am going to introduce oatmeal cereal and then next week we might try sweet potatoes or prunes. This is so much fun! Other than eating, Archie is showing so much interest in the world around him. He goes to Gymboree twice a week, I can put on his play mat for 20-30 minutes and he keeps himself entertained, and when in his carrier he just soaks it all up. We took a walk with the dogs the other day and Archie was enthralled. Fortunately our winters have plenty of 40+ degree, sunny days so we can take more walks. I do wish I had an extra $140 laying around for the Beco Butterfly II carrier (fabric: Grace) though. Our current carrier is nice, but it hurts my back after awhile. Oh well!

Later this month Grandma and Grandpa R. are coming for a visit and we are very excited! In less than 2 months we are traveling to MI and I cannot wait for my family to meet Archie! So far only my Mom and sister Marlene have seen him. It'll be weird not having Dave around for a week though. Let's hope Archie is good for Mommy that week!

Here is a video of Archer eating. Enjoy!

Visitors

Last week we were fortunate enough to have 3 of our very good friends come visit. Jen came via Montana after moving Heather into her new place. A day later Natalie and Andy came via D.C. for a long weekend. It was nice to get out, see the sights and have normal adult conversation!

Jen, Archie and I went to the Air Force Academy before heading to the airport. Despite having done a training camp there in high school, Jen had never seen the chapel on the premises. We also looked out over the quad and I got a lesson in airplanes! At the airport we managed to squeeze 4 adults, 1 infant, 2 suitcases and skis into the Jeep. Who says you can't have fuel efficiency and space?

The next day Jen left and the rest of us drove to Cheyenne Park and Gold Camp Road. On Saturday Natalie and I headed to Boulder with the kid while Dave and Andy went skiing. We visited the Celestial Seasons headquarters and sampled a bunch of tea. The Sugar Cookie tea was surprisingly good and now I am wishing I had bought more than the one box. Afterwards we wanted to eat at Natalie's favorite restaurant in Boulder, but Kansas State alum had taken over the place. Oh well! On our way home we stopped at Crate and Barrel so I could get the other baking pan that I had registered for our wedding.

On Sunday we lounged around the house and Natalie made dinner and dessert! It was the best meal we had eaten probably since my mother-in-law was here. Now, however, it is back to the daily grind and meals that take less than 20 minutes to make.

Later today we are taking Archie to his first class at Gymboree. They are offering free classes this month and if we like it then we will sign up for weekly classes. It will be nice to meet other parents with children Archie's age.

Sorry I have been lax in my blog upkeep. Our laptop is on its way out and I rarely have time to sit at my desktop. There is also the matter of the almost 4 month old kid....

Tummy Time

In the past week Archer has gotten to be a tummy time pro. Here is a minute long video of him rockin' his neck muscles. One of these days I will have time to write more than a few sentences. In the meantime enjoy!

Video for the Grandmas

Below is a rather uneventful, but absolutely adorable video of Archie. He starts off grumpy, but then gets super cute and happy. Please forgive the camera women's lack of skill!

10 1/2 weeks!

Right now Archie is cooing and keeping himself entertained in his crib. The sounds that come out of his mouth are hilarious. The faces that go along with them are pretty entertaining too. He is perfecting the art of the sad lower lip. I don't know how Dave will resist that as Archie gets older.

We have been taking him out quite a bit this past week. He has been to 3 holiday parties and dinner out with neighbors. I barely got to hold him during these events and he did really well with being handed from person to person. I cannot wait until all his relatives get to see him at Christmas! I am not so much looking forward to packing or flying with him though. Hopefully he will be one of those babies that sleeps the entire flight (fingers crossed).

Other than being new parents, life has been fairly uneventful lately. We stay in most nights catching up on our television programs, having tummy time marathons and giving baths. During the day if he is being fussy I will go out and run errands because he always sleeps during car rides. Sometimes he will will fuss when I have to stop at a light, but as soon as we get going again he is fine.

He is a great sleeper at night. He goes anywhere from 5 1/2 to 8 hours in a row. His naps during the day aren't nearly as long though. Sometimes he only needs 15 minutes and then will be up for 3 hours. Oh well!