Monthly Archive

Kivrin tried out the big girl bathtub (aka bean bag like supported bath gizmo) at Grandpa’s house and she LOVED it!!! Finally she can kick her feet, spash water, and reach for toys! She isn’t used to sitting up during bath time so she kept reclining back in it, but she still basically got clean. She only fussed a bit when we got her out and dried her off, because she clearly wanted to keep splashing!

Lissa loves going back to visit the Collinsville Memorial Public Library, partially because of fond memories from childhood but also because professionally they are an admirable small town library.

In the basement, we discovered a Programming Resource Center with diecut machines, plus checkoutable readalongs, models, storytime-sized picture books, Leappad games, CD ROM games,  teacher resources and tons of Delta Scientific stuff. Kivrin liked the puppets the best.

Apparently in the children’s area, the only thing I took a picture of was this inspirational poster….

For lunch, we went Alfonzo’s pizza in Maryville. Afterwards, we spent some time (and tokens) in the arcade next door.

Kivrin showed off her rolling skills for Grandpa, and all of her best giggles.

Kivrin won some tickets, but we gave them to some bigger kids to redeem, since none of the prizes were infant-friendly.

Dan and Lissa played skee ball –Kivrin just watched, although she liked the flashing lights.

Kivrin loved sitting like a big girl on the cars (Notice Mommy’s hand providing some safety/security).

15.5 more years and she’ll be ready for the real thing.

Did Lissa lose at Swamp Stomp because she is uncoordinated, or just because she was holding the baby? Hmmm. I think the answer is obvious 🙂

Here is how it’s done, Kivrin style. The head turns, the shoulder goes back, and over she goes!

Kivrin started in her new class at school this Monday, and had a pretty good first day. I admit that I was more anxious about her first day than she was. Kivrin is very curious, so she likes watching all of the action with her 7 new friends, most of whom can crawl already!

Today she is staying home sick with Daddy (I will spare you the photo of baby projectile vomiting on mom and dad’s bed this morning…) but once she’s feeling better,she’ll be back to having fun again!

Psychologically, dressing the baby in an “I love daddy” sleeper offers constant reassurance while you spend the day trying not to get puked on…and Dan did was successful – when I came home from work Kivrin was still that same sleeper!

In her new needy, crabby, teething mood, Kivrin likes to play independently, as long as at least one other person is devoting their attention to appreciating her cuteness. (Not talking to her, or playing with her, just not doing anything else either, and especially not leaving the room.) If I put her on the bed, I can update this blog from a few feet away, as long as she thinks I am mostly watching her….

Dan worked hard to set up this cool photo of Kivrin and Ella (the cat), which unfortunately turned out sort of creepy…

Kivrin discovered the car seat strap. And by discovered, I mean tasted. At least it’s winter, so the strap is tucked inside the BundleMe and not dragging on the ground as often…

A combination of favorites here — standing tall above mom’s head, and looking at herself in the mirror.

Dan is practicing putting Kivrin up on his shoulders, that classic “daddy” maneuver. This time, she mostly played with his hair, and then kept turning to look at the camera!

I know this is the most anti-climactic photo ever, but those childhood firsts make better stories than photographs anyway. This afternoon, Dan and I were both in the living room watching Kivrin play on her belly. All of the sudden, she looked over her shoulder and sort of reached with her arms for a toy, and she ended up on her back! As far as we know, this is her first solo front-to-back roll! We clapped and cheered for her and laid her on her belly to try again, but it was a one-time performance today (hence the photo of Kivrin laying face-down on the floor, not rolling over.)

Kivrin survived her second round of immunizations today at Dr.Iliff’s office, with a few minutes of cries and a few more minutes of comfort nursing right after the three shots and three tiny band-aids. She loved playing on the examination table while we waited — the paper makes a very satisfying noise when you kick it, apparently.

At 4 1/2 months, she weighs 15 pounds (she was 8 pounds 5 ounces at birth) and measures 24 1/4 inches long (she was 20 3/4 at birth). She is around the 50th percentile for height and above the 75th percentile for weight–a nice normal sized baby! Dr. Iliff put her through the paces and pronounced her healthy.

Kivrin loves being up high lately, whether it is playing “airplane” or just being slightly above whoever she is watching.  It’s the most reliable way to get a laugh out of her (this week anyway). The picture can’t do it justice, so Dan shot a short video.

Kivrin doesn’t sit in the Bumbo chair for very long, unless she is really interested in something. I got out the camera after 10 minutes because she had been concentrating on the same thing for so long.

After the big cat left, Kivrin found her socks, and then the textures of the couch cover!