Moving into my own place :)

I have made the jump to hosting my blog.
I am not really sure anyone reads this, but if you do and you want to keep up with what is going in you can find me at:
www.blueginghamjumpers.com.

I also imported all my old posts from unsimpleprocreation. It was sooooo easy to convert to wordpress. Now I just need to come up with a new look for the blog.

Also, I have launched www.bethkyle.com as a gateway to me on the web.
I am using it as a mechanism to learn more regarding web development and design.
Tootles!

we can do anything

I think because I am the youngest of nine children I have always felt like the young one. From birth to now I had been in situations where I was the younger person around. Even after I graduated from school I lived in a convent where most of the nuns were over the age of 60. And then I moved in with my sister Barbie, of course I was the baby again. And at work for a long time I was one of the younger workers.

Then Nadie and I tied the knot. And, we bought a house, and all that adult stuff.

And, at work there are younger ones filtering in. It is interesting to be in the process of becoming one of the older ones.

And I don't think I ever felt older than when Zoe was born. I don't mean physically. I am still young and able and fit. I just mean these new roles - this new person - this whole darn thing called life - sometimes it just takes your breath away. It is scary and exciting and sad and fun all at once.

A co-worker has said a few times that I seem like I have finally found peace and security in myself. I don't know if that is true - but I am content.

It is hard not to be completely in awe of the life that grows and changes every day. I suppose it is my life as well as Ms. Zerker. It is Nadie's life too. We three are growing and changing every day. We can do anything if we want to....

We are growing and changing every day too....
this is my favorite song right now - and it is Nadie's new ring tone...

Random Tidbits

• I have yet to mention (over three months ago) I got an iPhone for Mothers Day. It very quickly became a part of me. I dropped my work blackberry like last weeks girlfriend. So anyways - the coolest part? Nadie bought it the day before mothers day. OK, Mr. McCrastinater...but yet....they came out with a new model around a month later. And LOW AND BEHOLD they allowed anyone who bought the 3G from May 9th on to upgrade for a $20 fee. So yeah...I got the 3GS - it is most excellent. Videos on the fly uploaded to Youtube - not getting shafted by the big fruit company with a newer model right after purchase...oh the delight! And now I really have gotten rid of my work cell and my work is gonna chip in on the bill. Oh the glory!
  



• We have been talking about getting rid of cable tv for a long time. We finally did it. We are now watching TV via a digital antenna. We only have one. It is actually kind of nice. There was one day when the clouds were interferring, but for the most part it is very hard to tell any difference. And it is FREE! Woo hoo!I have watched a few shows on hulu. We did NOT get rid of the broadband. We are thinking of switching to a DSL provider. We haven't figured out what we need to do to get our projector up and running on HD from the airways without a cable box, something we must do before the NFL season starts. And we will miss Monday Night Football, the swammie on ESPN. I will also miss Top Chef, Project Runway and various other cable shows. In the long run, though, I am so glad. I am tired of always having the media guide me on how to live my life. At least with the internet I am able to choose my own adventure more freely. I guess. Anyways we got rid of cable



• Zoe is growing so big. OMG - she is getting so big. So long. So strong. So blessed.




• Work is going ok. I have impossible deadlines, but on the other hand I help determine what is 'ready' so if the date comes too soon, whatever is complete is complete. My boss has said a few times, 'Are you stressed?' Personally...I find it a bit more stressful just being all the roles I am to be, than just this one aspect. I have resigned to a Zen feeling about it, and I know there is no reason to be freaked out. I will have the project at the best point that I can get it to and the rest is out of my control. Sometimes I think the business world thinks it controls much more of what actually happens than it does. What I mean by that is that you can make a project plan and assign hours and priorities and goals, but there is always the unforeseen, and then again there are the ridiculous goals that would never have been met in the first place...God made the world in seven days - but it takes more than three months to build a new, way cool, totally awesome product....oh but we try! and how cool it is to build new, way cool, totally awesome products...

Sunbeams and Roller Coasters

The Zerker has decided that rolling is way cooler than the Segue as a mode of transportation.



She also spent a good five minutes staring at patterns the sun made on the floor of the office on Friday. I thought it was amazing. She was so intrigued by the shadows. I wondered if she understood what was causing them or that she had the ability to manipulate the shadows. It reminded me of a For Better or Worse column where the little baby is staring at a sunbeam and the Mom says 'And I thought it was just dust.'

She sat on the grass while we threw the ball into the pond for the dogs. She managed to get scratches on her face. Lets just say she won't sit directly on the grass very often. She was just fine, really, it was just a little scratch from the grass. Who gets scratched by grass anyways? What a dork! Why do babies mark so easily? Oh maybe it has something to do with the fact that SHE WAS JUST BORN THIS YEAR! It will be gone by tomorrow. I did get some adorable pictures though....

Perfect Moment Monday - Sleep and Green Tomatoes

I haven't done this in a while....work and life with an infant and husband have swallowed me up! But here goes....

Perfect Moment Monday isn't about creating perfect moments, but about noticing them. Head over to Weebles Wobble to see more perfect moments.

Saturday morning I had fed the zerker at 3am and 6am. By 7am I pulled her into our bed. She always falls right back to sleep if she is touching some part of me. So we went back to sleep and the next I knew it was 9am.

The Zerker and Nadie were still peacefully snoozing, so I crept downstairs, let the dogs out, fed the cats, made some coffee and fixed up my first batch of fried green tomatoes of the season....yum!


(This is a picture I found - not one I took - they weren't THAT pretty - but I forgot to take a picture and they were soooooo good!)

Of course, I got the oil a little too hot and smoked out the house - but it was a really cool day so I could air it out pretty quickly...and by the time I got done making them, Nadie was trotting downstairs with the Zerker.

It was perfect.

Growth Charts

Zoe is right on track, hovering in the 50th percentile in weight....



And 75th percentile in length....



Her head is in the 50th percentile too, but I don't have a visualization for that....

She got her 6mos shots today. She is on antibiotics again, her ear is infected again and she has a lingering cough. The good thing is that she is such a trouper. She really doesn't act that much different when she is sick. I wish all the people I am around were so congenial when they were sick! :)

At least she has normal poo now, and she is allowed to move to solid foods!

These graphs were done for free on a birthcare website I found....
Have a fantastic day, y'all!

Zerker Quarterly Review Q2 - 6 Months

This is a little late - but I think it is pretty normal for a quarterly review to take some time to prepare....
Zerker was born on 01/09...

Age: 6 Months

Physical Output:
Still smiles all the time - but only if her belly is full :)
Sits up all by herself
Rolls over front to back and back to front
Picks out her toys purposefully
Especially enjoys Flutter her butterfly and Jangles the Giraffe
Loves to stand with support

Verbal Output:
but now is a crazy giggler when tickled
even laughs at Mommy when Mommy dances in the store or makes funny faces
babbles on and on
we think she is ready to say Ohma and Ahda (momma and daddy)

Notable Events:
her bff DeLaney was born
Went to Cubs game in Chicago
Had her first ear infection
first round of antibiotics
first projectile vomitting
first flu
went to daycare
flew on an airplane
went to Florida
played on the beach
swam in a pool
was in the newspaper

Sleep Progression:
Still wants one bottle a night - ugh
Just moved to her crib - but slept in the bassinet most nights before
Prefers sleeping on her side

Edible Input:
eats 4 - 6 ozs at a time - but just at 6 mos is wanting 6 oz all the time
has solid food for dinner - likes peas, carrots, sweet potatos, not as fond of bananas or sweeter foods


Diaper Size: 2

Length: will find out this friday at the docs
Weight: around 16 lbs
# Teeth - Two!!!!!!!!!!!

We are so blessed to have her, it is so wonderful to watch her grow....