Scottums, Big Bottoms

The title of this post is just to inform you of the name by which Scott was know by his older brother every now and then. I don't really use it, but it seemed appropriate for this post about diapers.

We're crossin' our fingers hoping to win some all in one (AIO) diapers on this blog known as The Cloth Diaper Whisperer. By posting about it, I am getting another entry. You might consider posting there, too. If not for you, then do it for me!

I'm actually enjoying this cloth diaper business. Scott is fabulous about washing them out. He's a lot quicker than I am, and most of the free moments in which I might scrub-a-dub-dub those things are moments when Anne suddenly is starving for some reason. :) But seriously, it's going well. We are always on the lookout for a new and better diaper cover pattern. I'm getting pretty good at sewing those things and we are to the point of wanting to try making an AIO diaper ourselves. Some might call it a quest, but I was feeling even a bit obsessed by this diaper pattern thing lately. In the middle of the night feedings I was dreaming up better materials, better form, better coverage and leak protection. I think Freud had a term for that particular preoccupation with poo. Anyway, I'm getting some good sewing experience and saving the world all at once. If anyone wonders what they could get us for Christmas, though, it would be g-diapers which we haven't tried yet or bum genius which we have a few of and love.

Immunology & Tears

Anne had some shots today.

I very nearly missed her appointment cause she was going to sleep and I thought I'd join her when Scott called to find out what time her appointment was. Quick, throw on some clothes, grab the diaper bag, and drive the 2 minute drive to our pediatrician. I called them on the way there to let them know we were on our way. Apparently, I was so lighting quick (and safe) that the woman who answered the phone didn't even get the chance to pass the message along by the time I got there. Of course, we still had to wait. And, of course, it was a resident that we saw first. I am glad that we are helping people learn things and stuff, but it really makes doctor visits extra long when you have two people do a complete check up in addition to all the waiting for nurse #1 to do the weights and measures and nurse #2 to show up with all the partially destroyed bugs to be poked into my baby's little thighs. Anne was asleep when they showed up for that nurse #2 part. She thankfully went back to sleep right away following some blood-curdling, ear-rattling, tear-jerking screams (and a little bit of rocking in her mama's arms).

She's still slightly miserable but is taking her second nap since we've been home. What a sweetheart. I'm amazed at how much I love this little person of mine. It makes me so sad to see her in pain and know that I can't take it away from her.

On a happier note, she is growing just fine! She weighs 10.95 pounds and is 23.5 inches long. And now, she's waking up. Off I go to be her mom some more. :)

Anne's having a great time

Anne has been smiling for the last while. She also learned a new game. You'll have to watch these ones because they are great.

Rickett's Glen

So being the scout master has it's rewards. Like being able to go to places like this. This was about an 8 mile hike (or so) and we got to see about 22 waterfalls. That's right, 22. We would hike another 200 feet and see another breathtaking waterfall. It was green and beautiful and the boys were really great too. It was great to go and see how beautiful PA is. I also got to try out my $1 garage sale army backpack (which is the most comfortable bag that I have ever had). Enjoy the multitude of pictures. Another super fun thing is being able to climb on rocks with them.

Bath Time!

Anne likes to take baths. She is fascinated by the warm water (and probably by our strange hovering faces as we rub her all over with a wash cloth). The part she doesn't like as much is getting out.

She has had cradle cap this last week. Very strange scaly scalp. We got some tips on how to remove it, and it's looking a lot better. Anne is like her dad—she really enjoys a good head massage!

Sleeping Beauties

My sweet little pucker-lipped sleepers.

Learning to Smile

It's so fascinating and exciting to watch Anne learn how to smile. I can tell when she's content and even happy, but a smile is the best way to show that and this girl is getting so so close!

Her favorite place (and thus the most likely to smile place) seems to be the changing table. When she's not concentrating on the messy task for which the changing table is needed, Anne just kicks her little legs in happiness and practices the cutest looks and sounds. We've gotten a few videos of her attempts at smiling and laughing. It's adorable.

Anne has mastered the art of looking me in the eye. I love it when she stares at me while she's eating. It's very cool.

Also in her new repertoire of cuteness is the lower lip pucker. Man, that's a heart breaker, there. Used with or without sobs or tears, that lower lip is a powerful tool for sympathy.

Yesterday was the ward picnic and 6 weeks since Anne was born. It was extremely hot outside and muggy beyond the threshold of my toleration for mugginess. I would have preferred to crank it up a few degrees and just go with some nice ol' dry heat. It was fun to be with the ward friends, but it really took it all out of us. Anne was asleep for most of it:


Except for when she was kickin' it up on the picnic blanket. The better video was too long, so this will have to do.

Anne Sees Rain

We had a MASSIVE downpour on Sunday evening. First, we heard loud, rolling thunder. Then, the skies let loose. It didn't even bother to start with a few drops then move to a few more, just straight to buckets. It startled Anne a bit. She was tired anyway, but then the thunder would boom again and it would wake her and upset her. She didn't mind looking at it though. Scott held her on the front step to look at the rain. She loves being outside. And yes, I did glue a bow to my baby's head. I felt ridiculous doing it, but it was very fun and she looked adorable.

She weighs at least 10 pounds now, and that little extra on her body really makes a difference for our sleep. Last night she gave us a 4 HOUR NAP!!! Wahoo! I feel like a new woman.

We had a little family photo shoot after church before the rain. Still need to grab someone to take a picture of all three of us.

This is the week that I must finish my independent study paper. I must I must I must. You see, school starts in like 3 weeks, and I've already been assigned two books to have read by the first day of class. I'm jazzed and freaked out at the same time. I have a feeling it's going to be quite difficult to do all this with Anne. I think it's going to be even harder because Scott and I will only have 4 nights a week when we're not scheduled to be at school (me) or scouts (Scott). I'm so looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas though, so that will keep me on track as the weather gets lousy and the reading gets harder!

You ever wondered how much a birth costs?

You ever wondered how much a baby costs to come out? I sure did and I never heard from anybody about the actual price, always just ranges. Well the total for us was:

$10,372.20

I'm glad that we have insurance, because we only have to pay $162.40 for our little wonder.

Deathly Hallows

Scott and I are finally giving in and reading a Harry Potter book. The last one, in fact.

No, we will not be starting from the beginning this time. We have watched all the movies and loved them because we didn't have any expectations. No expectations = no disappointments.

With this 6th movie, however, we were disappointed—disappointed because it didn't finish telling the story. Scott said on the way home that he wanted to just go get the last book so he didn't have to wait for two more movies to know what happens. So, we did.

We've been reading at a snail's pace, though, to keep it fair. Fair, you ask? Fair? Well, if we both were trying to read the same book we'd get frustrated cause it would be hard to share one copy. If we had two copies, I'd read all day, then Scott would read all night, and we'd never spend time with each other. When we read it out loud to one another we can spend time together and enjoy the book.

So there.

4 Weeks Old

Anne is 4 weeks old. Some people call this a month. I'm thinking I'll call it 4 weeks and then go with calling it a month once she makes it to August 4th (which is on Monday). This will be fun and confusing, but mostly it will change the way I archive pictures of the gal. So far it's been by the week, so now maybe I'll chuck this idea and chronicle by the month. We'll see.


This girl has enjoyed her playtime (slash screaming-inconsolably time) from 2-4 a.m. the past two nights. It's a habit we hope she can break tonight. However, after she slept from 6:30–9:30 p.m. this evening, Anne may convince us of the joys of the late night party after all.


My birthday was great, by the way. Scott made me breakfast in bed, planned a tasty dinner (cheese fondue, yum!), and got me the first two seasons of Seinfeld on DVD. We've been plowing through them already because it's more fun to laugh at that sitcom while Anne takes her luxurious mealtimes rather than try to read and nurse at the same time. I forgot how funny that show is.


Tonight we went out to dinner at Houlihan's where they always give you a free meal around your birthday. So, really, it worked out great that Anne slept as long as she did. Something about bustling ambient noise really zonks her out. Scott suggested that we record some people talking and hook her up to baby ear phones or something to help her stay asleep at night. Ha!


I can't believe it's August already. Only a little more left of this official Summer-without-school business. Let's enjoy every minute!