A's Antics

Since deciding to view the world from a seated position, Miss Amelia has taken a bit of a pause on her motor skills and has started to focus on her cognitive and social skills. Don't be fooled though, this lil lady continues to be a squirmy wormy and it won't be long before she starts crawling!

As of day one, this girl has never known a stranger; however, she is starting to recognize them! You can see it on her face as new people approach her that she just isn't quite sure. If she is in her Mommy or Daddy's arms, she now hugs in toward us, looks back and usually give a smile, which is pretty sweet.

Amelia is starting to really come into her own personality and sharing her opinion on likes and dislikes.....if you take a toy away from her and she doesn't want you to.....she tells you about it now! And if Amelia wants you, she will reach for us, which its always is fun to be the one she is leaning towards.

Today, Amelia figured out how to break apart her loop tee loos. She was pretty proud of herself and of course, when she would pull with all of her might and they wouldn't break apart - she expressed her frustration! ....but then kept trying :)

Over the past week Amelia has been fighting a cold and has figured out a couple of things....how to rub her eyes and wipe her nose with the back of her hand. And as she was trying to go to sleep, she was gnawing on her thumb.

Play-wise, Amelia has become a pro at peek-a-boo. She will pull a towel away from her face, from my face, and from a toy! She's got it figured out!

And last but not least, the other night Amelia provided me and Daddy too, with her first big, sloppy, open mouth, tongue sticking out, drool pouring out kiss! And it was the most wonderful thing in the world!

Yummy Delicious

An update on Amelia's eating.....

She is getting much better at the whole eating thing. We have also added a meal at daycare! Her food options also continue to grow and for the most part, she likes everything she has eaten - with the exception of avocados and carrots. I think so far her favorites are mangos, applesauce, peas and sweet potatoes.

Yummy delicious sweet potatoes!
I'm also trying to make the majority of Amelia's food; however, we are buying organic food for daycare.

We also discovered....as you will see in the video, that the majority of Amelia's chewing isn't actually on food....it is on her bottom lip! Its pretty funny!

Lovin'

Papa's lovin' is great!

New Ride

When we went to Iowa City a couple weeks ago, we changed Amelia over to the convertible car seat. What a milestone! I must say, we as parents have not mastered the fact that we don't have a built in seat where ever we take Amelia! So we are trying to figure it out - especially in resturants. Her arms seem so much longer there and her reach is amazing!

Tonight (yes, actually posting the same day I took the picture - amazing!) we went grocery shopping and Amelia rode in the shopping cart for the first time! She did so good! Of course, she got a literal taste of the cart - yuck! Thank goodness, I cleaned it before I put her in. I can't believe how big she is getting. So Amelia was able to experience the world from a different view point tonight and I think she liked it!

Grrrrr!

I have no idea when this picture was taken, but I saw it on Daddy's phone and thought it was hilarious!

Grrrrr!

Great Grandpa Irvin

Great Grandpa Irvin was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer at the beginning of January. We planned a trip for the last weekend in January, not thinking there would be any issue. Unfortunately and fortunately (all at the same time), Great Grandpa Irvin declined faster than first predicted and passed away on January 30th. Luckily, we were blessed to be able to visit on January 29th and spend some last precious moments together with him.

Papa and Amelia at Aunt Jan's house

When we got to Aunt Jan's, I went in to say hello to Great Grandpa Irvin. We had a special relationship based mainly on Hand and Foot :) Oh how he loved to play and my most fond memories will be of us playing together. I said my hello and Irvin opened his eyes, looked at me and he gave me a hug! Of course, based on our special relationship I had to give him a bit of a hard time, so I told him I was now convinced that in his weakened state - I would finally be able to beat him! I think he got a kick out of as he started making noises and trying to talk. I know he wasn't offended since his hug came after my ribbing :) I ended up holding his hand and massaging it while Russ held his other hand since he kept reaching toward heaven.

Daddy, Mommy, Amelia and Great Grandpa Irvin

Jenna also came up for the day with Olivia

Amelia provided a great distraction for Great Grandma Betty! They had great fun together with lots of smiles!

Great Grandpa Irvin loved hymns! Jenna and I sang and played hymns for Irvin to help calm his soul.

It also provided a good bonding memory for Jenna and I

Uncle Mike was very fun and entertaining!!! Amelia immensely enjoyed Uncle Mike's entertainment and was full of smiles for him!

Nana loving on Great Grandpa Irvin

Aunt Jan and Amelia! Amelia loves to touch people's faces. I think it is a way for her to relate and explore!

Daddy hugging Great Grandpa Irvin before we left.

Saying some last 'see ya laters' before we left for the day

Uncle Mike, Aunt Jan, Amelia, Mommy and Daddy

It was wonderful to see Aunt Jan and Uncle Mike despite the circumstances.

As mentioned before, Great Grandpa Irvin went to be with Jesus the Sunday night after we left to go back home. He was not in pain, which was a true blessing and he was ready and wanting to go to heaven. His funeral was the following weekend in Manson IA, where he and Great Grandma Betty lived during their younger years. He had a wonderful service honoring his life and one of things he loved which was sing. We will truly miss Great Grandpa Irvin and all that he brought to our lives. A week prior to us visiting Daddy wrote Great Great Grandpa Irvin a message on his Caring Bridge site. I share this so Amelia understands how much her Daddy loved his Grandpa.

Hey Grandpa,
Kathy, Amelia and I have been praying for you. It's hard for us to fathom that our time with you in this place may be coming to an end. However, we know one day we will be playing cards in a better place. Although, Amelia is too young to remember her great grandpa she will be reminded as she gets older the legacy you are leaving and we know that when the time comes we will have another card player you can play with (so keep a spot open at the table for her).
I was looking through my baby book the other night and came across so many pictures where you and grandma were with me during special times in my life (especially my baby dedication). I think that often I took for granted that you were always there because I was spoiled by your presence, but now that we have Amelia I understand how great of a blessing that it is to have grandparents that live so close and are able to attend events and create such great memories. You have touched my family's life and the memories we've created will endure.
Please understand that although we will miss you, we understand your relationship with Christ makes the place you are going to undeniably wonderful and angels are waiting to celebrate your homecoming.

We love you and will continue to pray for your comfort, peace, and journey. I know Jan and Mike are giving you great care. They have gracious and caring hearts which I experienced first hand living with them in high school.

Win a few card games/bingo in heaven so when we get there you can let us win a few.

Cousins and Papa

These are some pictures taken in Iowa City the same weekend we went to visit Great Grandpa Irvin.

Papa, Paige and Amelia. What a sweet picture!

Paige, Amelia and Olivia. Paige was so sweet all weekend, being so helpful and attentive to Amelia and Olivia.

Nana bought the two little ones matching outfits! They looked so cute together!

A picture of all the girls: Paige, Amelia, Olivia and Alaina

Alaina wanted to be like Paige and sit behind Olivia to hold her! A common phrase of the weekend was, "Where's Paige" or "Where's my sister".

Random Pictures from January

Here are some random pictures of Amelia over the past month...

So serious!

Amelia loves to gnaw on her fingers.....and anything else within arms reach!

I think it is so cute how she grabs onto her little car shifter and her little toes!

Daddy and Amelia playing

If you closely, Amelia is actually holding her foot

Throwback to the Days of Paige

This is a picture of Paige (Amelia's cousin) when she was somewhere around a year or so old. Possibly a little younger.

This is Amelia in the same outfit! It was a little big on her, but for the most part fit! How crazy that time flies so fast!