Well Baby??

Today was Bear's six month "well baby" check-up.  Feeling oh so proud of our little toothy daughter (yes, getting two teeth IS an achievement!) you can imagine the feelings of careless, irresponsible failure upon hearing that she has not one, but two ear infections.  How can this be?   She has been so happy!  No fevers since sprouting the teeth!

Waiting for papa to get home in the morning

She is now a whopping 15 pounds, 15 ounces -- leveling out at the 50th percentile -- and 26 1/4 inches long (tall? almost) -- which is the 60th percentile.

As for those ears?  We'll keep an eye out for intensifying symptoms and hope that this is not a recurring issue for the poor dear.  Our (new) pediatrician is not an automatic pharm pusher, so we are waiting to start any antibiotics.  I feel exceptionally proud that so far she's only had vitamin supplements for vaccines and probiotics in her little system.  We will see if this round requires anything stronger.  And sadly, no swimming for a week or two.

Six Months!

Trying to get a visual on how long she is -- this kid cannot hold still!

Everything goes into the mouth and has been for over two months.  Last month she started getting very interested in our food, putting her hand in soup bowls, causing huge reactions from her parents and some very optimistic puppies!

Berit:
- sits up very steadily until she doesn't...
- still loves movement like no other
- sleeps with us for much longer stretches -- yay!
- has regular lunch dates with momma
- continues to shower every other morning with momma
- seems to enjoy "school" (daycare) a great deal, and even recognized a classmate at the pool!
- giggles A LOT.  Who is this happy creature we are blessed with?
- but does have a temper.  And not a lot of patience.  Is this a wicked combination of her parents or what!
- loves Lingo the most (we think) but grabs Yukon's hair and Sitka's muzzle.  All dogs makes her happy.
- talks NON-STOP.  No comment.  ("Da" is most frequent.)
- loves to kick (Pete calls it Riverdance and brings us all to hysterical laughing)
- got her first tooth, and her second just six days later!
- eats banana and mum-mums; bananas cause a shot of whiskey shudder to run through her.  Very entertaining for us!
- continues to love the swimming pool and even walks on the treadmill strapped to momma

First solid food!

Chewing with Lingo

Yukon took his turn

After school snack of mum-mums

I am still pumping, now three times during work, after a long illness caused my resources to drain (if you don't eat, your body goes into conserve mode and doesn't make as much milk!)

Berit has started really eating for everyone -- maybe a growth spurt -- or may she just realized that the good stuff originates from the ta tas but can be delivered in many forms.

This month Berit went to her first labor rally where Pete spoke.  The moment his speech started, she wailed, then promptly fell asleep behind her sunglasses.  She might have been the youngest DFLer in the crowd.

We had a family hike to the cabin to see how it weathered the end of winter -- amazing.

Bundling up for the hike

The human family members at the cabin

Beautiful blue

When papa works, we walk the dogs and sing and Bear falls asleep

A hug from Ceili after the neighborhood St. Patty's Day parade

Berit - Month FIVE

"Jogging" in the saucer

She really holds on and gets those legs going!

Posing with Wolfie

so many giggles, more and more squirmy too!

In Berit's fifth month she got to meet her momma's crazy (but beloved) surrogate lesbian mothers whose claim to fame is teaching me to put mint in my G & Ts and not causing me to fail the Bar Exam.  Ann and Pam stopped by one snowy Friday afternoon when I was working from home...many hours of debauchery and baby loving ensued.  Not surprisingly, they are convinced that Berit should be joining MENSA any day now.

Berit also did some civic service by volunteering with momma at Hartley's annual candlelight ski.  She was amazingly calm while passed from board member to co-worker and back.  I couldn't have been prouder!

Airplane with papa requires a streamlined physique!

Yes, momma knit this damn sweater...

In month five Berit also:

- Watched her first Super Bowl (go Packers!)
- Stayed home with Grandma Debbie all day (so momma doesn't lose her job!)
- Got her first fever (101.3! We thought it was teeth in progress...)
- Slept in a crib for three hours (at daycare -- they teach all the hard lessons.)
- Got her first Valentine (from a boy!) Papa said "Where's my gun?"
- Went swimming at the YMCA (and loved it!)
- Grandma Val babysat for date night
- Visited with Uncle Woody and Aunt Rae.

Papa took part two of his captain test and did absurdly well
Grandpa Dougie turned 60
Momma got a beautiful ring!

Serious baby getting ready for the pool.

After swim...just about napping

We did not join the circus...

Well I certainly blew it when I promised to stay on top of blogging.  I will resolve (again) to be more attentive to our followers.  Maybe brief weekly statistics?  I will try, I promise.  

We are all still here, gutting out the long, cold Duluth winter, even though running away is appealing from time to time.  I always wanted to try the flying trapeze (sweetheart, if you are reading this that might make a very good experience gift!)

So here goes 33 days wrapped up fast!

Just Pictures

Working from home one Friday

Too cute sweater from the Boyle Girls

After walking the dogs (thanks Adam + Mica for the baselayer!)

Fresh out of the shower

Finding her feet - she now sucks her big toe!! 

a big girl

but not that big when put into dog perspective

Fryberger, Berit and Johnson

Berit is a regular at the law office.  She comes for lunch and often makes a "deposit" --- I try not to take it personally but I'm convinced she is expressing her opinion about attorneys at a very young age.  Something tells me her Grandpa Seim is whispering bad lawyer jokes in her ears.

Post deposit!

Just another lunch hour feeding

 Bear and Grandpa

So expressive!

Reading Betsy Bowen with Papa

Too cool johnny jumper, grooving to Mr. Cash 

Four Months and Growing STRONG

Well, Berit has made it four months without being eaten by German Shepherds or abandoned on the side of the road by her parents.  We are both very glad about this since she's become a lot of fun.  It is hard to remember when she didn't have a very demanding opinion on something.  I can already see what her teen years will be like...


She is in the 75th percentile for her height and weight: proof that exclusively breastfed babies don't starve!  I am pretty darn proud of myself for that.  Actually proud of all of us.  She is a stupendous eater, although the reverse cycling can be exhausting, and Pete is a saint for packing her up for downtown field trips every day he is off work.  We expect we are looking at a future basketball, rock climbing, muy thai fighting, running superstar.  Certainly she will love snow, the outdoors and her GSDs.  She now regularly works out in her johnny jump up and einstein saucer, growing those porkpie thighs into legs of steel.  If only I could say the same about myself...

She has found her hands, sometimes just a thumb but usually more and she has "floating" teeth which are causing her some discomfort as they rise and sink without cracking through her gums.  

Lately her favorite thing is upside down. I can't blame her as the change of perspective would do us all good.  It's particularly entertaining when she whips her head back to expose me while nursing.  What a kid!

Good chubby thighs on those strong legs.  We think she will walk without crawling:
why waste time when there are things to explore?

Berit does a superb job of getting ready with momma in the morning. The typical routine is to start with the bouncy chair in the bathroom while I shower, then the Bear showers, then I get her dressed, then I get dressed and she eats and off we go.  Here she is with Auntie Bre Bre's wonderful blanket, waiting to go to nursery school.

She loves her johnny jump up so much!  Lingo appreciates the convenience for diaper checks.

Could she be any cuter??

Oh wait, yes she could!