Life with Little Red

Let's see what's been up in our world lately.  A story with photos.

We had a mysterious fever-illness for 4 days. Kept Mommy & Daddy home from work for 3 days last week. Possibly was roseola, there was a slight rash at the end but it never really amounted to anything. Thankfully she was in a good mood for most of the time.

I say "most of the time" because at one point nothing would make her happy and I had to strap her in to the carrier to save my back some (never ending) pain.

On Daddy's day home from work, Anna decided she'd rather nap on his lap than anywhere else. I said to enjoy every peaceful second, cause this won't last forever.

They went to visit Pop at the boatyard and saw Willy the cat, who Anna wanted desperately to get down and touch

We went to the grocery store and Anna got a special Halloween treat.
Here she is waiting for Daddy to get home with her balloon.

Doug and I both got to spend the day in the city last Saturday for our annual bar crawl in memory of our friend Tory/cancer charity. After missing last year due to enormous belly, I made a triumphant return. WithOUT enormous belly.

We hung with Uncle Brian and Kelly!
(And thanks to Grandma and Grandpa D for making a pit stop for babysitting! We really appreciate it!)

Auntie Christina brought us fun presents, including a mustache pacifier that never fails to make us laugh.

We bought a fun new winter hat with cute tassels and velcro under the chin.
We'll see how long it lasts before she rips it off on the first really cold day.

Grandma sent us a Halloween book and Daddy & Anna like to read it before bed!

Like I said in my last post, we picked up my NEW CAR! (Only 5 miles on it when we picked it up. Impressive!)

Everyone had to try out the backseat

Little Miss was impressed with the leg room

We went pumpkin picking & were impressed with the big orange things everywhere

Family picture on a hay bail

We had our first official breakfast at Ikea (Swedish pancakes and potatoes)

Too bad we didn't have ANY fun while shopping.

We went back to Gram and Pop's and got into some unmentionables.

OOOH man they needed to be freed from their prison inside that box!

We watched a great Patriots-Jets game with Daddy

And we had fun hangin together, as always!

6 Years of Memories

This is a different type of post, one basically meant for posterity. Something I can look back on and remember that it did happen.

This Saturday was my last day with my beloved Mazda.  After 10+ months, we finally bit the bullet, made the choice and stuck with it = Carin needs a new car. The extra cargo was just not fitting. I couldn't really have any passengers but my #1 sidekick.  The stroller was struggling to get in and out of the trunk. Or more accurately, I was struggling to get it in and out of the trunk.

On Saturday we officially bought a 2013 GMC Terrain in sexy RED, which I'm hoping negates the mom-mobile vibe. I love the car, do NOT get me wrong. Love it. So happy/excited for all its bells and whistles and leather interior (never have I ever!), and reverse cam and power liftgate and XM Radio (temporarily). It's all just wonderful.

But my Mazda. An ode to my Mazda.

I picked you out brand new in 2006.
I got to get a white car which I really, really wanted.
You smelled so fresh and new had so much pep.
You had that corny 'zoom-zoom' sticker on the back for years (before I scraped you off by accident during a bad ice storm) and it made me smile.
You saw me in my first 'big girl apartment'.
You drove me to Boston, Rhode Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Connecticut.
You saw me get engaged.
You drove me to my bachelorette party in Maryland.
You saw me get married.
You played great music I could sing along to (badly) at the top of my lungs.
You moved to our new house with us.
We traveled around some more.
You only got 1 flat tire and thank God we were already at our destination when it happened. (And thank God for AAA)
You had many oil changes.
You had (not as many as I should have given) car washes.
You got a new set of tires.
You got a few pairs of wipers.
You sat through morning commutes and traffic jams on 95.
You sat in hot summers while I spent hours on the beach.
You sat in quite a few blizzards and snowstorms.
You took me and my big belly to thousands of doctors appointments.
You hung out for a month when I just couldn't really get it together to go anywhere after Anna was born.
You took my baby to numerous doctors appointments and got us there safely.
You took my baby to daycare and helped me to get back to her at the end of the day as quick as I could.
You are a good car & I wish I had named you!


Through 6 years. 58,000 miles (almost!). 2 new residences. 1 new last name. 1 new family member.
I didn't think I'd be so sad to say goodbye!

But thankfully, our newest family member, Ruby, will help ease the pain!

10 Months and counting

We had our 10-month doctor visit on Friday and all was well.  (Well, after almost an hour wait to see the doctor.... with a squirmy, over-tired, in need of nap, naked baby.  FUN)

She is hitting all milestones and is going above and beyond some!  The doctor asked if we were planning to move beyond purees and I had to laugh since I don't think purees lasted more then a week around these parts. She was proud to hear what a good eater Anna is.  We also told her that Anna "says" a couple words - "hi" and "up" and of course Mama and Dada. No words are expected until 1year.

We got a prescription for bloodwork that we must fill before her 1 year visit on Dec 10.  It's a standard procedure, but I am VERY wary of how on earth they are going to draw blood from a squirmy 11+ month old baby (you KNOW I am waiting as long as I can AND bringing Doug with me. And cheerios. And maybe a pony)  We'll see.

We were supposed to get the flu shot and a "PPD" shot - which is like a test and shot in one, testing for TB I think. But once the doctor looked in Anna's ears, her right one seemed "pink" and although she was in a good mood and had no fever, the doctor didn't want to jeopardize that and possibly cause her body to be fighting off 2 things instead of just one. She didn't want to automatically give antibiotics, so we are going back next Monday to get the shots and to check up on the ear. It is probably a side effect of last weekend's cold, so we'll have to wait and see.  So far she seems okay (knock on wood!!)

The BIGGEST news around these parts is that 3 of those 4 top teeth have FINALLY come in!!!! We have the left front & side tooth and the right side tooth (next to the big one), but the right big tooth is still holding out. She is gnawing on everything - I swear she is going to bite through her pacifier at naptime - and GRINDING her teeth. It is absolutely appalling. Maybe it helps the pain? She doesn't like typical teething toys, so maybe it'll help spring Right Biggie from its gum prison.

On to the stats....

At 10 Months, Miss Anna is currently:
21 pounds, 2 ounces (75th percentile)
28.25 inches tall (50th percentile)

Still solidly in Size 3 diapers. So nice she hasn't changed sizes in months after all the rapid changes in the first few months.  These say they go up to 28 pounds, so we'll see how long she's in them!
Wears mostly 12 month clothes. I haven't put anything bigger on her (besides her new raincoat which is 18 months and is just slightly big). Nothing 9 months fits anymore. Well it shouldn't! She's 10 months now! Big girl.

Tooth count:  5 and counting!
Standing up on everything.
Eating a million foods. (although strongly denied cottage cheese this morning!)
A new pair of shoes help her to feel more secure on her feet and she likes trying to stand on her own in them.
New daycare situation is working out really nicely so far (also, again...knock on wood!)
Loves watching all the busy squirrels in the backyard & on the deck preparing for what I am thinking is going to be a bad winter...
Looks ridiculously adorable in sweatpants and long-sleeve shirts.
Still finds ways to get both socks AND shoes off in the car.
Loves waving to little kids.


Without further ado, the 10 month pics...

What a big girl!

This picture was SO hard to get. She looks skeptical.

Outtakes:

tongue out

trying to make a break for it... per usual

Gramie trying to help hold her down

Nice to have a photo assistant, we got to get our own picture taken!

being shy!