Snowbird Farewell

By Tuesday of this week Spring Break was all too soon forgotten. Back to the grind stone to do last minute preparations for AIMS testing next week and trying to figure out what to do for the last six weeks of school.

My parents have been here for five months and are leaving in a few days. Today the Arizona family gathered at Piacaho Peaks State Park for a wonderful day of activities. The weather was perfect!


Elizabeth has learned how to pull herself forward with her arms while pushing with her legs. That's just the beginning... she can also get up onto her hands and knees and we believe will crawl very soon. She is also able to sit up for short periods of time on her own, but mostly is a supported sitter. I was really looking forward to the period of time when she could sit, but not crawl. I don't think we'll benefit from that, as I believe she'll crawl before she can sit.

Lisa and I have finalized our travel plans for a trip to Indiana in June with James and Elizabeth. We are looking forward to seeing everyone and meeting the newest members of the family. For a family as large as we've become I'm amazed at how close we all are even as we are spread across the country.

Spring Break - its over!

This week Elizabeth and I were very busy and managed to get a lot done. She did more sleeping than I since she went to Sonia's for three partial days.

Aunt Pat and Uncle Jack sent a postcard to Elizabeth from their travels over the week. Of course we read it to her and even let her see it. As with every thing else it went right to the mouth for identification. She gave it her drool of approval.

Elizabeth practiced quite a few new things this week. One was holding her own juice bottle. When she was sick about two months ago we gave her diluted apple juice and discovered she loves it. So once a day she gets a small bottle of juice, which she can now hold on her own. Next feat... the big bottle and then the sippy cup! Elizabeth had a doctors appointment this week. We suspected she had seasonal allergies and she does. Now we have baby Benadryl to give her as needed and can start on Zyrtec when she's six months. At her appointment she weighted 16 lbs. No other measurements were done since it was a routine appointment, not a Well-Baby check. That appointment is the first week of April.

I'm sad to say that spring break is over for another year. Temps this week were more summer like than spring... in the mid to upper 80's for the most part. Now starts the long haul until summer. No holidays to break up the monotony, but its also one of my favorite times of year... after AIMS testing I get to do all the fun projects in Language Arts that I don't have time for the rest of the year.

To finish out the week another teacher friend and I met at the Tucson Zoo for a quick trip around. We discovered that the time to go is first thing in the morning and say for an hour. I'm thinking of getting a family pass so we can enjoy the zoo more often. I think Elizabeth and Jamie would both love it if we went every week.

Special Edition - Phoenix Zoo

Today Elizabeth and I were up very early to drive to Phoenix to visit the Zoo with James and Lisa. The weather was a bit hot, but we enjoyed seeing the animals. Elizabeth did a lot of people watching and even took a nap for awhile. At each animal exhibit James did a great job of pointing out the animals and demonstrating what sound they make for Little Bits.

I have to say my favorite was the Bengal Tiger that we finally found at the top of a tree.

Spring Break

This week Elizabeth tried many new things and I got a hair cut - a much needed change.

We are in full teething mode. Elizabeth will find a toy that has some texture to it and rub her gums by shaking her head back and forth.

Next, she has decided to get up on her hands and knees at the same time, but has yet to figure out how to go anywhere.

New toys arrived courtesy of cousin James. I finally got them out of the van and let Elizabeth have at them... she likes them all, its hard to tell which one is her favorite.

Today we tried to go hike at the End of Speedway - Douglas Falls Trail in Saguaro National Park but after a short distance on the trail we discovered a flat tire on Elizabeth stroller.

I decided to get a new hair cut on a whim, but am so happy with it. Maybe next week I'll post a photo of me from the front.

I'm on spring break this week - the last vacation until summer. Elizabeth and I have quite a few plans. Included are some doctors appointments, shopping, and a trip to the Phoenix Zoo with James and Lisa.

Side Sleeper

This week we took the 'sleep positioner' out of Elizabeth's crib and discovered shes a side sleeper. She will sleep on her back or tummy to begin with, but shorterly after lying down she rolls to one side.

Elizabeth did not develop any new tricks this week, but we did take her new stroller out several times. Including a nice hike through Saguaro National Park on Sunday afternoon. Grammy, Grandpaw, Elizabeth and I walked the 1.5 miles to the Mica View Picnic area. She enjoyed the outing so much that on the way back she fell asleep.

Elizabeth would love to "play" with Tipper or Emily, however Emily will not get close enough to be touched by Elizabeth. Emily teases her just walking or lying close enough to cause Elizabeth to begin talking and singing loudly. Tipper will lick her, but plays a bit rough for our liking.

We are into teething full time. The drool, chewing, and all other things associated with cutting teeth are upon us. Anything in her reach is game for a good chew.

After over a month of trail and error in making homemade baby cereal with rice and oatmeal, then mixing it with different fruits, juices, etc I gave up. We and tried the Gerber store bought brand, which Elizabeth loves! She now enjoys eating cereal and eats like a champ. I have hopes that when we start veggies and fruits that I'll be able to make food she likes and will try again with the homemade stuff.

Only one more week of school and the 3rd quarter is complete! I'm looking forward to a week off, but my to do list seems quite large as of right now.

Five Months Old

Elizabeth is five months old today! It still seems like only yesterday she was a tiny little 6 lb baby and now she's growing up so fast! Before we know it she'll be crawling, waking, and who knows what else. Is it possible to slow things down?

On Friday Grammy Betsy, Elizabeth, and I went to IKEA in Chandler where we met Lisa and James for lunch and shopping. I'm not much of a shopper but do have to pat myself on the back for not giving in after the first floor. I hung in and saw everything! Elizabeth and James were the most well behaved children we saw. IKEA is very family friendly so that helps with a nearly three year old.

Saturday Jim and I went on our first outing without Elizabeth. We went to Hi Corbett field in Tucson for a spring training baseball game between the Colorado Rockies and LA Dodgers. Grammy and Grandpaw babysat Elizabeth while we enjoyed the over 90* temps. Jim is sunburned after two days in the sun at ball games and I'll be brown by tomorrow since I was smart enough to bathe in sunscreen before going out.

The past four days off were a much needed break from school. The good news is that there are only two full weeks of school before Spring Break (Pat, I have checked and double checked the calendar and know my math is correct). After spring break the long haul begins with no days off until the end of the year.