To the Zoo!

Today we traveled to the Milwaukee Zoo for my company picnic. The weather was wonderful, not too hot, not too cold, little windy. Samara had a great time sleeping through most of it, but was able to pose for some good pics with various animals. We tried to visit with my cousin Amanda, who works with the birds and penguins, but alas, we had to go home before we could. Sorry Amanda!!


Here is Trav on our way in to the Zoo.

Here I am feeding Samara after we stuffed our faces with buffet food.

Trav and Samara in front of hippo butts.

OOHH, how cute!

Samara, meet Mr. Giraffe.

Samara with some birdies in the Aviary.

Strawberry Fields Forever

I am not a Beatles fan, but I thought that this outfit was sooo cute!! So we had a photo shoot today of Samara in her strawberry outfit! Enjoy!

Reflux- YUCK!

Samara has been having a hard time with spitting up, so we visited the Dr. today. Unfortunately she has reflux and is on medication. Thankfully we know what it is and can treat it, though. She also has clogged tear ducts. Lastly, we are changing her formula to Nutrimagen (the expensive, non-cows milk one) to hopefully help with the congestion after a formula feeding. What a day for her! No wonder she wouldn't go to sleep for Daddy when I went to workout. Yes, that is right, I am back to working out and it feels great! I am hoping to do the Danskin Triathlon in July and maybe a few others, one in July, one in August in MN and one in September. I figure I can go as slow as I want to in July and by Aug/Sept I will be in shape again! Here's to hopin'!

On an exciting note, we are anticipating Samara's first trip to the Zoo this weekend for my company picnic. We also have a block party on Sunday so it will be quite busy!! Can't wait for pictures!

Daycare? Say it isn't so!!

So I really should be in bed now, but I can't sleep. Anyway, we had our first tour of an area daycare today and it makes me so sad to think that we may have to put Samara in daycare. Needless to say she was a hit, even asleep! Everyone loved her name (Well done Trav!). Not entirely sold on the daycare, but I am extremely picky, having worked at one before. We have another tour at another place tomorrow. Even though she won't start for another 6 weeks, it pains me to think about that first day of dropping her off...=(

PS: Samar also had her first trip to the dentist today. No, she is not THAT advanced. I had a check-up and needless to say, it didn't go well. Samara was a hit again, but Mommy has cavaties...

We cracked 8 lbs!!

Samara cracked 8 lbs., weighing in on Saturday at 8 lbs. 1.5 oz!! She is doing great feeding, up to 3 oz. at a feeding. She is also sleeping 4 hours at a time at night before she wakes, usually around 2am, to eat. She goes back to sleep until around 6am. What a great baby! Best news of all, she is finally sleeping in her crib! Last Saturday we tried it before we went to MN and she slept in it like it was no big deal!

More visitors!!

Auntie Tanya, Uncle Andy and cousin Kameron came to visit while Daddy was home all day with Samara last weekend. Sorry it took so long to post these! Samara has asked me to say that she really wants Auntie Tanya to visit again soon so she can get her fingernails and toenails painted! (I did not say that!)

Random pictures

My baby's got sauce

Yes, it is true. Samara rolled over many times Tuesday and we have video to prove it. Turn on your speakers for our (My sister Rachel and I) wonderful commentary! ENJOY!!

Back home at last!

And this is what Daddy did to me when I got home! That crazy Daddy!! (Notice the shirt!)

Family pictures

Here are the promised pictures from our trip to visit my family in MN. The first one is Samara's cousin, Michael, 10 months. The second is my grandma, Lilly, who Samara is named after. The third is Samara with her grandpa Archie. The fourth is me in our backseat at a reststop after feeding Samara, goofing around with the camera. The fifth is grandpa Archie, grandma Judy and great grandma Lilly with Samara. The sixth is great grandpa Darrell and great grandma June meeting Samara. The seventh is my sister Shelle meeting Samara for the first time. The last one is me goofing around with Samara at my mom's house.

Vacationing

The lapse in postings is due to Samara and I being in MN for the week visiting relatives. We have been busy introducing her to her great grandma Lilly, great grandparents Darrell and June, and her aunt Shelle and cousin Michael. Of course grandma and grandpa Swanson had to have lots of time with her as did Grandma and Grandpa Vickerman! Unfortunately, I came down with some kind of virus Wednesday and have been sick since then, but auntie Rachel is helping out. We are heading back to MKE tomorrow and will post many, many pictures from our travels. I have to say, Samara is wonderful; she slept the whole ride up here! She also performed some amazing feats while here, but I can't tell you yet....!!

When Polish/Mexican Eyes are Smilin'!

Samara smiled!!! No really, it wasn't gas! Yesterday, before Trav came home, we were playing and talking and she smiled at my goofy face. I made the face again and she smiled again! I was so excited I cried (it was not the hormones, really!). She is interacting more and more with her envionment every day, I am worried she will be 16, driving and attempting to date next week! Alas, I couldn't get any pics of this, but will keep trying!

PS: The title gives homage to Trav's Polish heritage and my Mexican heritage, if you didn't know=)

Infant Massage

When I was pregnant I decided to sign up for every baby class offered. I am a social worker who has the ever long list of continuing education credits I have to complete every year, but also I am a forever student. Been going to school consistently since I was five and am not done yet! Anyway, we went to our second massage class last night and Samara did wonderful! She really loves getting her arms and head massaged. So tonight we tried it again at home, since she was unusually calm (this is her usual fussy time) and she was amazing! She was awake and enjoying it for most of the time, but once I started on her head massage, it was lights out! What a good baby, I have to brag!

In other news, Trav called me this morning to inform that he will be on the 7pm plane to San Francisco tonight, at the request of his boss, coming home Friday. That sucks! So Samara and I are alone till then, pining away until Daddy comes back. But we have lots of errands to run that will hopefully help the days go quick! I am also hoping that my Dr. will release me to start playing in my softball league(s) on Friday, so cross your fingers!!

Happy Mother's Day!

What a great day! Thank you to all who made my day wonderful with your phone calls, cards, text messages and gifts (Rachel, Jen, Felicia, Sara, Amber, Danielle, Mom, Dad, Shelle, Beth and Grant, etc...) but most of all, thank you to Trav and Samara! They made my day wonderful (and a bit emotional). Things are going well for us and we are glad to have Daddy home! Not much to report, just having fun with Samara (even having fun with her newfound fussiness after 6pm) and Trav and getting amazed daily that I am a MOM!!

PS: What a Twins game last night! Tune in tonight at 6pm on ESPN as Livan Hernandez goes for his 6th win! (I should have stayed with the sports journalist career!!)

Got a Chip on My Shoulder

Last night, while Trav was eating tortilla chips, one fell on Samara, so we had to take a pic with the caption, 'Got a chip on my shoulder.' HA HA HA HA!

Rubber Duckie

Trav is a sucker. Whenever he goes out to run errands, he inevitably ends up picking up a toy for Samara. So today, she got a duckie and obviously loves it, even though she is asleep!

On another note, the wonderful ladies from my bible study threw us a baby shower today! Thank you ladies!! We had a great time and Samara slept through most of it. Amazing, considering she is battling constipation and has been fussy and uncomfortable, no matter what we do for her (massaging, Karo syrup, rectal temps). Any ideas, please pass them on!

Visitors!

Grandpa Archie and Grandma Judy made it and boy, are we having fun! Samara is again a hit and has stolen Grandpa's heart! She has also made off with two awesome Twin's onesies and some outfits after our first visit to Kenosha's Prime Outlets. And she just had to get a dress for the Vickerman (Christi) Family Reunion in July! The picture of Samara alone is one of the outfits Grandpa bought her, isn't she adorable!!

So now Grandpa is baking a great cake for us and then going to cook chicken fajitas for dinner. I love it when Grandma and Grandpa visit!!

Fussy Baby!

Oh Man! What a day we are having waiting for Grandpa Archie and Grandma Judy to come! First Samara had a mid-morning blowout. Up her stomach, up her back, down her legs. Bath time! Then we went on a nice long walk and she was great and asleep. As soon as we step in the door, 'I am hungry!' And let me tell you, she is not patient! So we had to feed early and here I am, with her in my lap. She screams when I put her down and isn't sleepy! Tonight we have our first infant massage class and if today is any indicator, it is going to be interesting!

Catching up

Here are some pics from this weekend for your enjoyment!

Our day today

We had a busy morning and Samara is all tired out and sleeping! We had a Dr. check-up and she weighed in at 7lbs. 7 oz., 19 1/2 in. She is doing well and doesn't have to go back until her 2 month check-up (where she will get shots!!!). I finally finished my final paper so school is over for the semester until next fall! Oh man it feels good to have that done!

So now I finally get to read books I want to, nap without feeling guilty I should be studying, and get lots of stuff off of my 'To Do' list including fixing Trav's tore up jeans! Sad, but I really can't wait!

We did some picture taking for Daddy to see while he is hard at work in New York. We miss you Daddy!!

Baby Bjorn saved me!

No not really, but, man! Lovin' it! Samara is asleep in our newest purchase while I am typing! She has been more fussy this week, refusing to sleep unless she is held or in a deep sleep. So today, with numerous things on our To Do list, she is following us around so we can actually get things done!

Her breathing has been going much better, thankfully. She slept very well last night, so that means mom and dad did, too! Cool thing she did this morning. We put her in her crib as part of our never-ending battle to get her to sleep in her crib. Anyway, when I turned on her mobile, she was able to actually see it and track it a bit! Great signs! She had a good time watching her mobile, but soon was tired of it and back to crying! Baby Bjorn to the rescue!

I know you all are wondering about the big RUGBY game yesterday. It was too cold for Samara and I to go, but Trav did not disappoint! He scored twice, was named team captain and MVP. I guess that is a good game. Needless to say (he would not like me divulging this), he is extremely sore today, with lots of battle wounds. His ear looks like Tyson took a bite out of it, his shoulder has road rash all over it, bruises all over mixed in with scratches. But he is happy about all of that! Can't wait for next year when Samara can watch and ask 'Mom, why is Daddy getting up so slow from the ground?' =)

Prayer Request

No we didn't forget about updating our blog. We have had a rough week... Tuesday night Samara was admitted into the Pediatric unit at the hospital for breathing problems. Tuesday night she stopped breathing two different times and we took her to the ER and she was admitted for monitoring for a day. She would get so congested that she couldn't even gasp for air, just wave her arms wildly and look frightened. Thankfully we were awake and right by her when this happened and were able to bulb suction her and get her breathing again. So we had some long nights in the hospital, I cried endlessly when they were trying to find a vein to start an IV on and when they drew blood. The nurses were great, though, and she was a hit. They didn't find anything wrong with her and we were discharged Thursday morning. But, of course, it happened again this morning at 5am. I woke up to her choking and spit flying. Thankfully she was fine, but again, extremely scary! So we are taking it easy, doing lots of extra burping, changing nipples on her bottle to slow down her feeding (she eats like she is starving) so she can swallow better, and sitting her upright after she feeds. Right now she is actually sleeping in her crib! I can't believe it!

So please send out prayers for her health, specifically her breathing and swallowing. We know that this is just a bump in the road and she will be healed, but it is very scary to live through! THANK YOU!!

On another note, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Grandpa Archie and Grandma Judy, Christi's parents, next Tuesday while Daddy is in New York. We can't wait to see what great pies/cakes and assorted yummy baked items Grandpa will cook up for us!