Our first cold...

Raychel got her first cold last Thursday. She is trying to play Saturday morning but that darn cough is getting in the way! Poor girl! (edit: the video won't post....I will try another time!) She is getting used to saline drops, the aspirator, and baby vicks! Notice, I didn't say she LIKES these things! LOL She doesn't complain, get cranky, or seem to be bothered too much by the cold...YEAH!

Sunday night, she started running a very small fever. Thanks to advice from Aunt Linda, we let her burn away those germs and her fever disappeared before bed time! Good thing, because Mommy had LOTS of work to do on Monday at school! =)

New area rug, growing soo fast!

Mommy and Daddy got a new area rug in the living room....its fluffy and soft! I like to feel it on my skin and stretch out on it after a long day!

Hi Mommy! I'm playing on my play mat...What are you doing??

She loves her Daddy...but look how much she has grown!!!!!!! In the first picture she is 2.5 months old...the second picture she is 5 days old!

I will pull the blue horse!

Raychel never ceases to amaze me! Later, Monday evening (Labor Day), she was playing on her mat while I was working on school work. Two times this weekend Raychel made this toy make noise by pulling the blue horse in the middle. Daddy heard it both times but neither one of us has seen her do it.

When I put her down to play, she instantly started working on making this toy work! It is very difficult to pull as you have to pull hard and it gets tangled up with the two other animals hanging on either side of the horse.

I noticed her trying to pull the horse and started watching her closely ( somehow I never get my work done, not sure who causes that!) She worked for 40 minutes to make that toy make noise! I COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE WORKED THAT LONG!!! She was intent on making it work, only pausing to rest her arm. While her arm would rest she would stare at the toy, sticking her tongue out, and trying to figure out how to make it work! Daddy sticks his tongue out when he thinks too! (hmm....like Daddy, like Daughter)

She only got frustrated one time, yelling at the toy for a brief second, before starting all over again! Sadly, she never made the toy make noise! Mommy tried to help her and "trick" her into thinking she had done it but Raychel is smarter then that...she yelled at Mommy for trying to help her (literally)!

BUSY Labor Day Weekend!

Wow, Raychel and her Mommy and Daddy had a very busy labor day weekend! We may have been busy, but Raychel was busy learning to give us squeals of delight! We were surprised at all the new sounds she has started making! She is one happy little girl! =) One day we will catch them on video, but for now they are fun to hear on the monitor or from the other room! She seems to entertain herself and make herself laugh at this point! LOL Who needs a Mommy and Daddy to make them squeal??

Saturday, Daddy helped Uncle Gene with his car and Raychel and Mommy played with cousin Michaela. Uncle Gene and Michaela met Raychel for the first time!

Sunday, we celebrated cousin Katie and cousin Riley's Birthday! Katie turned 7 and Riley turned 9! As you can see, Raychel was SUPER thrilled! I think she slept through most of the party, maybe next year she will have more fun!

After the party, Raychel spent time with Grandma Sandy, Great-Grandma Roberta, and cousin Maggie! She was making faces and cooing at her cousin!

After the sun went down, Raychel was still out on the porch relaxing. She was playing with her favorite rattle! Earlier this weekend she learned to pick it up and shake it! The first time she shook it, she looked at it in shock, and quickly dropped it! Now, she reaches for it all the time!

On Monday, Raychel's (and Mommy and Daddy's) friends came to Clay Center. Nick, Crystal, Holly, Ryan, and Kyra came for a BBQ! We had fun together, but it all ended too soon! We did go to the Clay Center Zoo, but Raychel fell asleep on the way there! Maybe another time!

Before we left for the zoo, Raychel was busy laughing and playing! Raychel loves to play Peek-A-Boo with her Daddy, he is just SOOOO funny!

SMILING

Mommy tried allllll day to get a good SMILE in her SMILE shirt! She has almost outgrown it... These were the BEST of the day! Just had to share!!! =)

Watching TV

Confession: Raychel watches TV! Here she is in front of the TV and totally entranced by the closing ceremony of the Olympics! Lots of bright lights and movement!
When she sees something she REALLY likes, she coos at it and her arms and legs are BUSY with excitement!

Are you ready for some football?

KSU cheerleading outfits are a BIT too expensive for a fast-growing baby like Raychel...but this onsie with football patch is the perfect solution! Unfortunately it is WAY too small! This outfit belongs to her MUCH shorter cousins, oh and it may be that it is for a younger child as well! LOL Today is her first KSU football game...no we aren't going, but she'll listen to it with Mommy!! GO KSU!!!

Okay...you didn't even notice the football did you???? NAAAaaaa...she is WAY TOO CUTE!!!

Fun with Daddy!

Somehow we always have "fun" pictures with Daddy! =) Do you think he might be a little bit of a trouble-maker?? She loved it though, a huge smile streaming across her face when he flipped her upside down! (of course the camera came in a few minutes later!)

"Daddy, your boots are BIG!!!!!!! I have a lot of growing to do to fit into your shoes!" (Yes, she is standing in the bottom of the boots!)

She definitely loves her Daddy though, look at that smile! =)

Grandma's Quilt

Last Friday (8-22-08) Raychel received Grandma Sherry's quilt. It is beautiful and something that Raychel will treasure as she grows up! Currently she thinks it is great for stretching out on and this winter I'm sure she will love its warmth too!

Inscription: For you created my in most being...I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139: 13,14 To: Raychel Joy Deines From: With love, Grandma Sherry (Osland) 2008

Grandma Sherry's explanation/description:

The bird in the center is a dove (Holy Spirit - watching over her) I've always liked butterflies (sign of rebirth). The dragonflies I came to like around ponds - w/their brilliant metallic blue/green colors-when fishing with Aunt Bernice (Don and you (Derek) - once or twice) AND those at the pond in the pasture at the trailer.


The design/picture is quilted with variegated thread in pastel colors and the rest of the quilting matches the fabric. It is hard to capture on screen, so you will just have to come see it in person...and Raychel too! =)

All Smiles and Playtime

Raychel was all smiles today (well except for when those darn teeth were bothering her)! Daddy filmed Mommy and Raychel having a good "talk"! Now you all know what we do on Saturdays! LOL She is ADDICTING!!!

Shots and Dr. appointments today...

Today Raychel had her 2 month shots and Dr. appointment! She did sooooo well with her shots! She was sound asleep when she started. She screamed one big, long scream during all 3 shots and before I could turn her around to hold her tight she was asleep again! She had Tylenol before the shots but was a very happy baby all evening until about 8:00 when she fussed for a while and got a little more Tylenol! She wanted to be held for about an hour after getting the medicine, but she is resting peacefully now! Her legs don't seem to hurt her as of now. They are not red or hard either. YEAH!!! We have a strong, brave girl!!!

At the Doctor's we found out that she is growing, growing, and growing! She weighed in at 12.5 lbs (87% percentile) and 23" long (76% percentile). He said she is doing great! He put her on her stomach to see how she holds her head up and she held it up higher then I had ever seen before...he was impressed! He actually spent most of the time talking to an intern, shadowing him for the day, and telling her about my diapers. He was unsnapping them and showing her how they adjust for the waist and thighs. Then he talked about the inserts and how you wash them! He LOVES our diapers! I didn't get a word in edge-wise to talk about them, it was pretty funny! =)

2 months old!!!!

Peek-a-boo!

Wow...well it has been 2 months today (almost exactly as I'm writing this at 11:00 pm, just after she fell asleep)! It seems like she has been in our family forever, she just fit right in and made herself comfortable here! I complain about something from pregnancy and I am quickly reminded that it hasn't been THAT long since I had a baby...but I forget that since my baby seems to have been here forever! We can't really remember our lives without her, even this soon...except a few rainy mornings where sleeping in would have been much preferred to getting up with her! Although, now, she seems to sleep longer on rainy days! AWESOME!!!

She is talking more and more, playing, stretching, staring, seeing further, laughing, cooing, developing personality, sleeping better (avg. 6 hours), and GROWING!!!! =)

Coming home outfit....

Just 2 MONTHS later...

Just thought I would post some more pictures taken this weekend! =)

This is her nursery, well one wall. I realized today that I hadn't posted the new pictures! Can you see the stars in the corner? Her name looks great too!

I'm a LONG girl!!! (cute too!)

Mommy, Daddy, and I went for a walk on Saturday! It was a great day for a walk!

HOLY COW!!!! 2 MONTHS OLD SUNDAY!

YEAH, I'M LAYING DOWN ON MY PLAY MAT! I LOVE TO KICK AND PLAY!


Okay, I needed to find something else to say to post the pictures I took of her tonight! She is getting SOOOO long! I go to the Dr. with her on Tuesday! So, we shall see how much she has grown! She also gets her 2 month shots! I hope we don't see the same face we saw with teething....I don't want to take her in for shots!

I will have to get pictures of her all stretched out, so you can see how much longer she has gotten! She is really filling out the length of 3 month onsies...her torso is just LONG!!! She even feels lighter, I think, because she has spread her weight out a little more! I'll get those pictures this weekend!!! Check back!! =)

I CAUGHT ANOTHER SMILE IN PROGRESS WHEN SHE DISCOVERED THE FAN WHILE SITTING IN HER SWING!

WOW...THAT IS THE COOLEST THING TO STARE AT...YOU SHOULD CHECK IT OUT!

What a week!

Well, sorry no posts this week! School started... I've been working about 13-14 hours a day, most of those at school, trying to get everything done! Our school's technology has had all kinds of problems, which is my job to fix, and it just takes FOREVER to get a classroom put together and lessons made for the kids! Thank goodness for Derek's flexibility to pick up Raychel and take care of her until past his bedtime, so I can get some things done! I hope, with some extra work this weekend, I can get a little ahead and can work less next week!

What has Raychel been up to? Not much...sleeping and eating mainly! I think she is hitting another growth spurt! Thursday night she came home at 5 with Daddy, slept in her car seat until 8 (when Mommy got home), woke up to eat 4 oz. and about an hour later she went back to sleep. I woke her up at 10:45 to change her into PJ's and give her a bottle...she slept from 11-5:45! The day before day care said she was sleeping most of the day and she has been giving me about 6.5 hours each night this week! My sister in law's daycare provider told her that my day care provider was telling her what a good baby Raychel was, apparently she does not give out complements too often...so it was a major statement for her! I said I don't think I can take any credit for it, as she was just born GOOD, but I was told to take credit for the good stuff...it is more fun then HAVING to take credit if there is bad stuff! LOL

Anyways...better attach a few pictures! Hard to get pictures when you BARELY see her and when you are there, she is sleeping! Anyways!!! =) These are from last week!

I CAUGHT A SMILE....YEP! TOOK FOREVER...BUT THERE IS ONE OF THE MANY SMILES SHE HAS FOR ME EVERYDAY!!!

SHE IS A "COOL CAT" IN HER SHADES!

REMEMBER THE TEETHING PICTURE I PROMISED? THIS WAS THE "LOOK" WE GOT JUST SECONDS BEFORE SHE WAS SCREAMING IN PAIN! POOR GIRL...

DADDY/DAUGHTER DANCE AT MY COUSIN'S WEDDING! SHE WAS DIGGING IT, RIGHT?

Teething?!?!?!

Two times today Raychel let us know that teething hurts. That's right, I said teething....our little one is teething! Grandma said that I had 2 teeth at 2 months and 6 at 6 months, if she remembers right...so it is possible that she is teething this early!

This morning she was happily playing, cooing, and making faces...then, she was screaming! She got a terrified, lip curled out look, and then she burst into tears! (I happened to be taking pictures of her during this time...I'll upload the really really sad face we got 2 seconds before screaming commenced!) Nothing seemed to calm her down and nothing seemed to be wrong. Moments before I had noticed increased saliva in her mouth and her hands were rubbing her mouth, but no other sign of distress!

Tonight, while at Pizza Hut with one of Derek's friends, she was happily sitting in my lap kicking and tossing her arms around, and then......shrieking!!!! Derek had just wiped off drool from her chin, but no other signs of distress were present. I took her outside and walked with her, which calmed her for a moment, we offered her a bottle (NOPE!), and I checked her diaper! I told Derek it was time to go, no one at Pizza Hut wanted to eat with a baby shrieking that loud! They could all tell she was in pain and sympathized with us...one lady even stopped to talk to us in the parking lot before she left! When we got home she calmed down and fell asleep for a few minutes before starting all over again. This time I got a wash cloth, ran it under COLD water, and the chomped on it until it got warm. We continued re-cooling the wash cloth until she calmed down. Then she had a bottle and took a nap!

So at 1 month, 3 weeks, and 3 days old......all I can say is...I guess she is teething! Poor baby!!!
=(

8.5 hours....

Yep 8.5 hours, that is how much sleep I got (err, Raychel got) Friday night!!!!!!!!! I woke up at 3, but Raychel was sleeping. I woke up at 6, but Raychel was sleeping. Raychel woke up at 8:10! Maybe day care is a good thing, completely wore her out and she slept! Hmm....Mommy can handle this!!!

Last night was a whole different ball game! We were gone for 14 hours on Saturday, traveling to Manhattan and Abilene. We arrived home at midnight and put Raychel in bed. She woke up at 3, 6, and 9. She was so tired she couldn't finish a bottle, so she kept waking up hungry! Hopefully with a more "normal" day today, she will sleep again tonight!

We did have fun on Saturday though! We (Daddy and I) ate at I Hop for the first time with friends. It was very yummy! Raychel was in her car seat, sound asleep, and caught the eye of many patrons and waitresses. One waitress actually ran into another because she was looking at Raychel instead of where she was going! Oooops....but thanks for stopping to admire our little one, we think she is adorable too! LOL After a brief visit to Mommy's classroom, Raychel got dressed up and went to her cousin Danielle's wedding in Abilene. She even enjoyed a little dancing with Daddy after the wedding (pictures to be added soon). Mommy got to dance with Daddy too! =)

Just SMILE...51 days with Mommy!

On day 52...Mommy leaves her at day care! =(

Do you know the song? Smile by Nat King Cole

http://www.last.fm/music/Nat+King+Cole/+videos/+1-4X-lZSaS_QY

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though its breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you'll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time you must keep on trying
Smile, whats the use of crying?
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile...

This was the song and thoughts running through my mind today as I dropped Raychel off at day care! I dressed her in her "SMILE" outfit...you know the one...

Of course, this was not her today...that picture will be posted later! The outfit definitely fits now!

I put on my "war paint" (i.e. makeup) because you CAN'T cry or you would mess up your war paint, I dressed her in one of my favorite outfits, and kept SMILING all day! I made it...I DID NOT CRY ALL DAY!!!!! But it was very hard to leave her! I actually had a super long day and left her for almost 13 hours....but she did get in good Daddy time!

She tried to make me feel better! Just after getting her dressed she gave me a HUGE smile...where is that camera when you need it? Then, I peeked in her car seat before taking her out at day care and she SMILED several times at me! I'll go with Linda's thinking...she was telling me that it was okay Mommy...I'll be fine!!! =) So, I JUST SMILED!!!!!!

Get that toy moving...

Raychel loves to play with her toys now! She loves to hit them and watch them move. When it stops moving, she bats at it again! Well, this time Mommy put her down too far away from the toy, so she couldn't reach the toy. Soon, she found out that if she kicked the contraption the toy would move too! She continued doing this everytime the toy stopped moving! Too fun to watch and listen to her play! She will play several times through the day for up to an hour at a time, it is AMAZING! It seems like something is always moving, whether it is arms, legs, or both! LOL

Raychel and Grandpa Show a Pig

"Look Raychel, this is your pig! Let's get it out of the corner!"

The Central Kansas Free Fair (Dickinson Co. Fair) pig show was Saturday morning in Abilene. It was VERY HOT, the temperature reached 104 with heat indexes much higher! But, Raychel was ready to show her very first pig! She is showing in the Pee Wee class for 0-2 year olds. As you can see, she was SUPER excited about showing! As soon as she was done, she zonked and we stood in front of a fan to watch her cousins show in the 3-4 and 5-6 year old classes. She was not too thrilled at the pigs that "oinked" near her, she would jump and cling tightly to Mommy!



While we waited for her turn to show, we spent time in an air conditioned building. Upon entering this building her eyes would light up, she would sigh, and have a look of pure JOY on her face! I think she likes to be cold!!! =) You should have seen the expression on her face when we went back out into the heat! It was not so joyous! She didn't complain or cry, she just sweat and looked miserable! We were glad when we made it back to the car, we survived the pig show.

Grandpa and Raychel in the ring...where is the pig?

Raychel and all of her cousins!

From left to right (Raychel, Riley (8), Katie (6), Lainie (2), Maggie (4), and Jackie (4)

Sweet, Sweet Sleep

I am soo sooo excited! For 3 days now, Raychel has given Mommy MORE sleep! She had gone 2-3 hours, bottle, 2 hours, bottle, 1 hour (if we were lucky). Startinig Thursday she has only been up once for a bottle! Thursday she went 4 hours, bottle, and then 4 MORE hours! Friday she went 4.75 hours, bottle, and then Mom woke her up to get ready to leave after 3 more hours! Saturday she slept 4, bottle, and 3! I can handle this! LOL I like this transition and hope that it just keeps getting better and better!