On to new things

You might be wondering who these people are and why they are dressed up like this? Ask Matt. It is all part of his new job,. No, he doesn't have to dress up like this. I mentioned last post that he was starting a new work schedule. He is also doing something completely different. He is working events and sets up the Verizon FIOS stuff at events for people to play video games, watch movies, etc. This past week, he was at the Medieval Fair in Sarasota. Today, he is in Largo at an event for senior citizens. Good thing they have the large screen TV's. This weekend, he is supposed to be working the Ybor Cigar Festival. Seems to be liking it so far. Rachel and I are enjoying having him off on Sundays and Mondays. He is working 10 hour shifts again, but goes in the extra day to get overtime.

I have been wanting a new stroller. There is nothing wrong with the other one we have, it is just big and takes up our entire trunk. Now that she pretty much won't stay asleep in the carseat, I decided to look for one. Britax is a great brand for carseats, but didn't know they made strollers. I saw the demo on their website and loved it. It is easy to use, light, but really nice. I ordered it on Friday, ran to meet the UPS people on Monday evening, and had her on a walk in it about 30 minutes later. When we got it together, I was so excited to get her up from her nap to put her in it and push her around. I know, silly me! Thankfully, she was just waking up from the nap which is why she looks not thrilled in these pictures. I would recommend this stroller for a lightweight, nice umbrella stroller. Isn't the pattern adorable? And of course, gender neutral!

I don't know why (wait, he is a guy) but Matt thought is would be awesome if the stroller could balance on just the back wheels. Our friend, DJ, was over and encouraged him to try. He finally succeeded. Britax never told me the stroller could do this! Poor Rachel.

She loves bathtime. The only problem is that our house is kind of cold so she gets cold somewhat easily. She doesn't get to play as long as I am sure she would like.

Splish Splash!

Dressed kind of warm (for Florida) on one of our chillier days.

This was something new she started doing recently. I think she is getting tired of just laying in one spot, so this is her way of squirming to a new location. However after observing her new trick of rolling from back to tummy, I realize this helps her get started on it.

Her Daddy is already teaching her how to play the piano. We'll see if she likes Elton John as much as Daddy does.

I tried to upload a video of her rolling, but it is taking forever. Maybe next time.

Haircuts and Swings and Dachsunds, oh my!

Haircuts!

Rachel has really been needing a haircut, so we finally got her one. We have known Kela for a while and Matt has recently started getting his haircut by her. I got mine cut by her, so she offered to do Rachel's. I was able to go because we got it done just before I had to head off to HCC. She was great for it and was just interested in everything else going on. She really didn't have that much hair that needed to be trimmed, just a little on the back and sides. I did keep a little bit.

Prep Time

Action!

Results: A beautiful baby with a clean neck line

Kela and Rachel

SWINGS!

Matt took off a few days before he starts a new work schedule. Lauren and I had already talked about taking the girls to the park and it was a great day. Matt came with us and we had fun! All we could do with the girls was swing, although Kate was somewhat forced down the slide once or twice. She enjoyed swinging a lot and just likes being outside in the nice weather.

WHEEEEEE!

She found a comfortable swinging position with her little arm hanging over the side.

Kate
Hannah kept making her Popeye face! We had a great time with Lauren, Kate and Hannah!

Dachsunds!

DARE is a dachsund rescue organization that my parents adopted their last dog from. They have an annual fundraiser called Doxapalooza and we have gone the past two years because it is 5 minutes from their house. Here are some pictures from that.

This was during the costume contest. She didn't win, but I thought she was very cute! The winner was a little dog with an American flag print shirt and beer cans hanging over both sides of his belly. He called the all American dog: a hot dog and beer.

Osh Kosh Baby

We had a good time in Orlando for about 5 hours. Got off to a late start, but still managed to get to an outlet mall. Katie and I went to the Carter's store first and I got her a fleece outfit for those colder days (still not here) and some adorable jeans. We then ventured to Old Navy where I must have tried on 8 things, but of course, nothing looked good. After that, I wanted to spend some money on someone who always looks good because fat rolls are cool. We went to the Osh Kosh B Gosh store and I only wanted one thing: a pair of girly overalls. She is too cute in overalls and I figured this store was the place to find some. You can't really see the design on them in the pictures, but it has some flowers on the bib part and then some more flowers and a bird on her right leg. I love the pink fleece at the bottom too. We went out to eat, which is getting more difficult as she wants to grab at everything and then left all the kids with some responsible students of Josiah. The best we could do without kids was go to the Babies R Us store and buy a few things and boxes of diapers (they were on sale). We are so lame. So lame in fact, that we got back to the hotel room by 9:00. We headed home because Matt was not able to get the next day off of work.

I gave my midterm at recently, so that means I only have about 5 weeks until winter break! I am also picking up another class in the spring semester, so I will be teaching on Tuesday/Thursday from 5:30 to 7:20 and then 7:30 to 9:20. I will also be teaching the next class up, but it works out because I will now have all planning done for both classes that I can teach.

Matt is still busy working on another house, but we are looking forward to the extra money. Rachel accompanies him to the house when she is under Dad's time.

I switched back to Lifestyles gym recently and am really trying to lose that baby weight. So, I have been working out and decided to try this Bootcamp class. I picked the one that starts at 5:15 in the morning. Crazy, yes I know, but Rachel is still sleeping and I don't have to deal with messing up her naps and bringing her to the gym. It really does take much longer to go anywhere with her. It was my first class today and we did an assessment: 1 mile run, push-ups, sit-ups, plank, wall sit, tons of shoulder work with dumbbells. I am going to feel it tomorrow. I liked it a lot and there is only a small group of women that go. I get out just in time to head home and kiss Matt goodbye before he leaves for work. Perfect! I will probably start taking a nap thos days. My next one is Thursday, so we will see what is to come. (Hopefully a skinnier me!)

Rachel isn't really doing much new. She babbles a lot and can say many consonant sounds. She also rolled from back to tummy, but when no one could see her. I had her sleeping on the pack n play pad on the floor at Lauren's. She was fussing on and off for awhile and I went in to get her and she was on her tummy and a little under the bed. She was right up against the leg to the bedframe, so she couldn't roll over. So, I know she can do it. She has also beed napping terribly lately. She wakes up at the first sleep transition and cries for awhile before going back to sleep. She does this for almost every nap. Ugh. I also finally found a food that she didn't like. I bought some apples and blueberries baby food and she took like two bites and wouldn't open up. I kept giving them to her at other meals and pretty much the same thing. To avoid wasting them, I mixed them with avocado and she stomached them. She likes applesauce, so maybe it was the blueberries.

I am tired from class this morning, so I am taking a nap, even if Rachel doesn't go back to sleep.


Trying to entice her to roll over with the camera.

She loves this little birdbath toy and enjoys hitting the two birds because they bounce.

75% of the family.

Rachel and I just before church. Headbands look so funny because her hair is crazy behind it. We took it off.

Her ballerina outfit wasn't much, but it was given to us, so it was free! It was a dress with a light, flowy skirt. Above the heart says Baby Ballerina.

Grandma Schaefer and the Baby Ballerina

The lion cousins in their cute little chairs at the Trunk or Treat.

I love this one!

This picture is slightly deceiving in that she cannot stand while just leaning up against something.