Coast Trip

We spent last weekend at the Oregon coast with our friends Rachel and Randy and their daughter Ireland.  We had a great time playing on the beach (very different from the east coast as it is pretty cold most of the time--thankfully we had fairly good weather), eating good food and and resting. We've found an inexpensive place to stay there that comes with two bedrooms and a small kitchen,  It was great for our families, and on Saturday night Rachel made the best clam chowder I've ever tasted using fresh clams. I'm not even that big of a clam chowder fan, but it was amazing!  AnnCarter had a great time too. She just went with the flow of whatever we were doing.  The last picture is her intently watching the seals we came across :-)

We have some great videos to post too, but I've been having trouble getting it to work.  I'm not sure if it's an internet problem or youtube deal, but we'll try to get them up soon.

First Airplane Trip

Here is AnnCarter with my Dad in the Philedelphia airport.  We flew to Pennsylvania to surprise my Mom for her 60th birthday.  (We knew we wouldn't think of a better present than her getting to see her first and--for right now--only grandchild!)  So at 13 weeks, AnnCarter took her first airplane trip.  She did phenomenally!!!  Taking off and landing did not seem to hurt her ears. Often when we landed passengers seated near us would exclaim that they had no idea a baby was even on board--they were impressed. And I was amazed at how easy it was for me--traveling by myself.  I just wore my Beco so I could be hands free most of the time.  During layovers we would just walk and play. And on the flights we'd play and then she would sleep.  She never cried once except for as we boarded our flight to Philly in San Fransisco.  We had just ended a 4 or 5 hour layover, and literally, right as we were on the jetway, a huge mess shot up the back of her diaper soaking a good portion of her outfit.  So as soon as we got on the plane I had to ask the flight attendant if we could use the bathroom before we even made it to our seat.  AnnCarter was a bit disgruntled during the changing, but as soon as she had new clothes on, she was happy again--thankfully!  I was nervous though that I had only brought one change of clothes for her on the plane--we still had over 5 hours to go.  On the way home, I brought two :-)

All to say, we had a great trip!  We tried to keep pacific time as much as possible while there and she adapted to everything so well.  I'm glad because we have a lot of travel ahead of us this summer with so many weddings and things going on back home.  We're planning on being in Chattanooga in August for Michael Pepper and Griffin's wedding, and in North Carolina  in July to visit family.

Trip to Portland

Return from Portland

At work with Dad

So the other week at work, I was interviewing Marshall for a Newsletter project we're doing.  He was holding the baby while answering questions.  One minute she was quietly watching and looking around, and the next minute she was asleep.  So cute.

AnnCarter Pictures

Some of our kind friends have offered to babysit so Marshall and I can go out on a date just the two of us from time to time.  The other week we dropped AnnCarter off at the house of our friends Katie and Tiffany while we went out for dinner. These incredible photos were an unexpected by-product of her time there.  Tiffany took them, and she has so, so kindly offered to take some more.  I'm excited.  I love these shots of her!

Can't decide

AnnCarter was having a bit of a rough day going from happy to sad rather suddenly.  This particular day we were working on her learning to fall asleep on her own for naps.  She's great about sleeping at bedtime but has a harder time during the day (that is falling asleep without a little help).  I think she was extra tired from avoiding falling asleep, but we were successful at achieving naptime later that day. 

I've had a difficult time deciding how I've wanted to approach this whole issue.  I've been able to avoid it for the most part up until now because she would typically fall asleep at appropriate times and get the rest she needed during the day, but last week that started to change and so I knew it was time to work on a more defined schedule.  I have a bit of a hard time with the cry-it-out approach...mainly because it makes me so sad, but after talking to another mom of three young kids at church I decided to try it out.  I think it's working, and I feel like AnnCarter is to the point where she can make the connection.  The next few days will really tell.  Any thoughts or advice I'd gladly accept :-)