She's Three Months Old!

Lucy is officially three months old today! She is really becoming increasingly alert and interested in her surroundings, and she is gaining more control over her hands, which is fun to see! It is so amazing to watch a child grow and learn. She weighs in at 13 lb, 7 oz and 24 inches, so she is certainly growing! The first photos are of her in an outfit my Mom saved from when I was an infant. Wow! She looks so cute in it to me. We went to a friend's house for a BBQ the other weekend, and our friend's daughter Evangeline has the cutest cheeks! I thought Lucy had chubby cheeks, but she has nothing on Eva! Marc loves the front baby carrier, it is just right for Daddy time, which she is getting a lot of lately, as I went back to work. I only am doing about one shift (12 hrs) a week, and we are able to share childcare as I work nights. I was sad to leave her the first night I went (I cried just after the above photo was taken), but she is in great hands with Daddy to take care of her, and it was good for me to keep some part of my "professional" life alive. Many of you know that I am a nurse on a pediatric hematology/oncology unit, and I just love our families and my coworkers. For all of the sadness that we see there, there really is a lot of joy, hope and love which is amazing to be around. I do wish that there was no such thing as cancer though, it SUCKS!
Well, Lucy is fabulous and we thank you all for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers and for checking in on us!

Sweet Lucy!

We have been having a wonderful April. Some of you may be able to tell from the first photo that our kitchen is torn up. We decided to go for it and update our kitchen. When we are done, the counter top will go all along the wall and under the window, and the rest of the kitchen will be nice and open. We will be re-finishing our cabinets and adding a pantry. The floors will be tile. We are lucky to have the help of our friend Arnie, who worked very hard to finish our floors in the rest of our house and the skylights before Baby Lucy arrived. It is exciting, but at the same time it will be an adventure getting it all done. Lucy has been so active lately. She is really getting better control of her hands, playing with my bracelet, and her shirt (or sweater, like in one of the above pics). She is transitioning into sleeping in her crib, which has gone well. We love her little sleep sack that my GranDad Earl picked out for her...it is great for our chilly nights and she is so cute in it. It is special that she has something from her Great-GranDad. She does still sleep in her bassinet at times, as evidenced by the above pic of her and Marc sleeping...so sweet! Lucy loves to look at interesting things, and one of the most interesting things that she has to look at is the beautiful quilt that our Sister-in-law Stephanie's Mom made for her. It really is a work of art, which she is sure to treasure! Thanks, Sheryl! We were lucky to get a quick visit from Auntie Colleen last week...too bad we have to share her with so many folks here in Oregon! But, we will take what time we can get! I hope that everyone is doing well and loving life! Love, Koree

Auntie Time!

This past week and a half we have been lucky to get two visits with special Aunties. First my sister Katie came up from Oceanside for a relaxing week. I did not think we would be getting to see Katie for several months, and it was fun getting to share Lucy with her, and have her see all of the new things that she can do. Also, after Lucy's birth, Katie was here during our most stressful time, so it was good to see her and not be worrying about surgery. The weather was pretty rainy, so we mostly stayed at home playing with Baby Lucy. After she left, Marc's Aunt Ronda came up from Garden Grove. It was special having her here, especially as Grandma Randy is in Morrocco. She always brings the sun with her, and we enjoyed a BBQ at the farm (Rose and Robin's house), a long hike at 1000 acres wilderness, and a trip to downtown Portland's Pioneer Square. For those of you who don't know, Pioneer Square is considered Portland's "living room" and great for people watching. Lucy was entranced by all of the activity there! Aunt Ronda also helped me with some weeding, which was awesome! Thanks! Needless to say, Aunt Ronda left and the rain returned. That's OK, summer will be here soon! Lucy is doing wonderfully and is super smiley! We love her so much, and are so lucky to have so many people that love her as well. Her Great Aunite Colleen gets to meet her tomorrow...this really is Auntie time! Love, Koree

Ps. Today is Lucy's Uncle Nick's 30th birthday, and my old friend Karen's birthday. Happy Birthday to you both!

Two months old!

Baby Lucy is two months old. Her Auntie Katie is visiting and it is so nice to have her here. The video is of Lucy smiling and cooing at her dangling toys. She loves those toys, and another new love is her binky (pacifier). Yesterday it started to slip out of her mouth and she used her hand to push it back in. I was amazed, of course at this accomplishment. Imagine what I will do the first time she talks! Each step of learning is so fun to watch...she is beginning to figure out her world.

Papa's Milk and Smiles!

Lucy has been enjoying the beginning of Spring. She has been smiling a lot and really interacting, studying our faces, batting at her toys, and even paying attention to the pictures in a book! She is a happy, happy girl. The above pic of her smiling is from a video I shot. For some reason when the video was transferred to our computer, it was really dark and you could not see her face. Bummer, as the video was cute, but the doctored still shot will have to do. One new thing in the past couple of weeks is that she has been starting to take a bottle once every couple of days, so that when I go back to work, it won't be so traumatic. Of course, Marc loves this as he gets to feed her the bottle. He says, "Time for Papa's milk!" My milk, in a bottle. Lucy has done pretty well with this. At first I thought, "Oh, I am so easily replaced!" but I know it is not that simple. It will be nice for her to not be freaked out by a bottle when I go back to the night shift. I am glad I am only working once a week or so. Lucy will be 8 weeks old on Tuesday, and what a wonderful 8 weeks it has been! Love, Koree

Getting Bigger!

Lucy is well! She is hanging out with me so this will be short. She is growing so fast! She loves the floortime mat that AeSoon let us borrow...it was Stella's (in above pic, with Kaylee and Samantha, Tom and Sarah's daughters). Samantha is about 7 months, and Lucy is not much different in size, though Sam has alot more in the skill department! It is so cute to see how babies are so interested in other babies! Lucy has been out on the town with me a few times, and she has so much fun! It is nice for me, too, to have such a mellow and adaptable baby. She is squaking at me, saying it is time to eat, so unitl next time...love, Koree

March already?

I can't believe that it is March! Spring is on its way in and it is nice to feel the weather getting warmer. Spring flowers are popping up and it will be so beautiful when everything is blooming. Lucy is doing great! She started to smile last week and it is so much fun to interact with her and get a response. She will just gaze up at me with interest and smile the cutest smile. Her eyes get all crinkly and everything. I was trying to get a photo, but it is difficult with the delay on my camera. The above blurry shot was the closest that I could get. I love the middle pic, where she is ready to cry..."Momma, I don't want to be here! Pic me up!" She is growing so quickly and is such a joy to be around. She really is a mellow, sweet baby. I have been having her do floor time and tummy time and she is so strong. She loves to look at the black, white and red geometric and animal prints that I have for her, as well as a few of her rattles. On a health note, she is doing fine, and does not have cystic fibrosis, the other serious thing that could have caused her problems. Her pediatrician thought it would be good to have it ruled out. I am so happy that it seems as though her issues were just temporary. I hope that everyone is doing well and loving life. She is squirming upstairs, so I better sign off. Love, Koree