4 months!

Baby J is 4 months old! She is the joy in our day and a very happy, chatty baby girl. Mommy suffered though another "well baby visit" where the poked my baby again making her face bright red as she screamed. I guess that will never get easy. But Baby J is in great health (after a week of her first cold/ear infection a week earlier). Here's the stats:

Weight: 17lbs 14oz (>97%)
Length: 28in (>97%)
Head Cir: 17in (95%)

She's growing fast!

Splish Splash!

Our first attempt in the water was quite a bust. We were at a friends backyard party. Baby J was on the brink of tired and we decided to try the pool anyway. As you can imagine, it didn't go well and she was out of the pool within 2 min.

THIS TIME, we went on Saturday evening around 5:30. This is a good time for her because #1, it's not an oven outside and I don't have to worry about sweet baby getting a sunburn #2, she gets bored/fussy in the apartment at this time anyway, so we are usually out for a walk if not in the pool. It went great! We got there. Put baby in the stiff swim diaper. Daddy hopped in the pool and baby was passed off! She didn't quite know what to do with the pool. I can't tell if she loved it or hated it but I do know this: she didn't scream, and she didn't laugh. What she did do is try to drink the water. Her little face was all squished together from the way Daddy was holding her, and every so often, you'd see a little tongue come out.

I'd say our entire adventure lasted about 20 min. (including travel to and from apartment). This wins as the shortest pool visit I have ever made. But I think it's a good start toward turning Baby J into a little fish like her mom.

Happy Summer

So I'm not very good at keeping up with Summer Activities on the blog. We've had quite the summer. July 4, Grandma and Grandpa Walker came over with Uncle Matt and Aunt Susanna. The grandparents played with baby while the rest of us had some r&r by the pool. Then it was a wonderful dinner of fried chicken and such and some board games by the glow of the NY fireworks on the TV. :-)

The following weekend Grandpa Douglass and Grandma Eva stopped by to meet Baby J. We had a great time hiking at Great Falls and drinking some Starbucks. Baby J did great in her Baby Bjorn as we meandered though the trails... she had so much fun she fell asleep half way through. We even got a show! There was a kayaking competition down the falls.

So now we're on weekend #3 in July. Our biggest achievements: Mommy and Daddy found a new house to rent for the next year. Complete with a big fenced in yard for Baby J to run around in. Baby J is also rolling more easily, holding her own bottle, and in general a very chatty little girl. She really is quite a joy in our lives and gets cuter and more fun every day (and I thought all of you parents were just full of it when you said that) :-)

Say Cheese!

Last Saturday Baby J had her first party to attend. Miss Janet (her daycare provider) was having a "picture party." This was a time for all the children and their parents (both old and new) to come, socialize, eat yummy Sri Lankan food, and let Miss Janet and Claire-Louis have pictures with all the babies. It was quite the gathering.

I must say, the interaction with other parents was a bit odd. First, it's the first time I've ever met a person through or because of my child. Second, I know all their kids, and I've seen some of the parents, but during the week we don't exactly talk to each other. Usually it's: drop off the baby, quick smile to the other parent, and rush to get to work in time. Third, Jim and I are pretty young parents for the DC area. I'd say the other parents were at least 7 years older, most more like 10-15.

Overall things went well. We were able to take some pictures. (I think we even got one where all the children are looking in the general direction of the camera and not screaming. Quite an accomplishment with so many children under the age of 3) And James and I were able to make a few grown-up friends as well.