A Family Weekend

It is so nice to have Shane home, and this weekend we hung out as a family of four getting into our "regular" routine of life.

Libby is learning how to run, rather than walk. She's a little proud of the road rash she got on Friday night on our walk through campus.

Saturday night we went to Chad and Anna Lisa's house to celebrate Cameron (2) and Carter's (3) birthdays. They rented a bouncy house which was a giant sweatfest! The kids loved it, and Libby was zombie-like on the ride home.

Happy Birthday Cameron and Carter!

On Sunday we took Grunny to get a bath at Salon DeLange where our friend Becky organized a dog wash to benefit Paaws. We had our choice of oatmeal or tea tree. We went with the oatmeal.

My family was in town with tickets to the trials on Sunday. Jamison went to the meet and saw the fastest 100 meter ever recorded. Jayden had a great day at our house watching movies and getting to know Peyton a little better.

Libby got a new hand me down from our friends Shad and Amber this weekend. Their girls Tatum and Lauren are Duck fans too, and I couldn't resist making a cheerleader out of Libby the minute we took this outfit out of the bag.

Peyton is a great baby. So far she's pretty easy going, loves to sleep and was described by one nurse as a baracouda for her appetite. This is such a relief for me, as feeding Libby in the beginning wasn't quite so easy, and she dropped more weight than she should have.

Peyton had her first check up with the pediatrician today. She weighed in at a whopping 7 lbs. 10.5 oz., but I think the visit wore her out!

Track Town, USA

I've been dying to get out of the house and tonight was the perfect opportunity. We parked near the hospital and walked a few blocks to campus. We got dinner and hit the bookstore for some allergy medicine (Shane), and then had a picnic near the EMU. Then, we walked over to the stadium to check out the action of the Olympic Trials. It was a beautiful night. Libby walked some and rode in the jogger some, and we watched a couple running events on the big screen outside Hayward Field. Afterward, we walked back through campus on 13th and headed for home.




This is a picture taken last night after Libby rode with Shane to 7-11 on the cruiser. They went for milk and bread, but came home with a candy necklace too. Daddy claims he's going to be full of tough love, but he's such a softy.

Thank You!

We've been overwhelmed with such nice gifts, not only for Peyton, but also some incredibly thoughtful gifts for Libby. Thank you to all of you who have been so sweet to our family and generous with our girls.

Bev, you won't believe how much fun Libby has "skating" around on her booties. We all laughed so hard.


Greg and Vikki, This is unbelievable. I WISH my family had one of these when I was a little girl. It would have saved me so much embarrassment. I'm still no good at peeing in the woods. Libby is fascinated!

Beeeeeeeebo! You make us so pretty!


Everyone that pitched in for our jogger.....We love it! It has made us mobile, and that means mama has her sanity.....well, most of it. It pushes like a dream, and goes everywhere we go.

Breaking the Rules

Check out these feet!

Before I was a parent I definitely had my ideas about parenting. I generally agreed with and followed guidelines put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics. I watched the Supernanny in judgement of parents without backbones. And I thought things like "my kid would never act like that" at the grocery store......until.....Now I get it. That is, Libby had a jealous (of Peyton) moment last weekend and hit me in the face with a bag of goldfish crackers. When I grabbed her hand she laughed and then hit Peyton in the face with said crackers. This shouldn't surprise me. She had the same moment about a month ago with Grunden, then me, only at the time she was weilding a plastic golf club. So....now I've caved on a few points. For example, Libby is a huge fan of dipping her food. This is a picture of her dipping her toast in her hot chocolate, a favorite breakfast that I grew up on. That's not so unusual I realize, but it doesn't end there. This week she dipped an entire meal in maple syrup. Yesterday she dipped her meatloaf in ketchup. And today, she dipped her crackers, and then her hands, in her soup. I wonder if she'll ever eat another meal without something to dip in.

I've also caved on the t.v. front. It's amazing how 1/2 an hour of Teletubbies makes her happy, and gives me time with Peyton, or time to get something else done. It's a win win. As soon as that baby (in the sun) rises on the t.v. Libby squeals in delight and I know I've got 29 more minutes uninterrupted. The AAP suggests no t.v. until the age of two. Oh well. So I guess I didn't have it all figured out, and we're learning as we go.

Who's Who?

I know I'm going to be one of those parents who looks at baby pictures and can't tell who's who. I can't believe how much the girls look alike. Can you tell who's who?





Answers:
Libby
Peyton
Peyton
Libby

Where Did the Week Go?

I can't believe how this week has flown by. It feels like we were at the hospital yesterday, and it blows my mind that Peyton is already a week old. She is such a good natured baby, and I feel so blessed to have these two little nuggets in our family.

Shane will be home tomorrow night after a busy sturgeon season and we "the girs" can't wait to have him home. Our families have been such great support during the past week grocery shopping, cooking, giving baths, taking walks with Libby, throwing the ball for Grunny and helping organize the girls rooms. Still, our adventure as a family of four feels like it will be starting tomorrow, and I know Libby especially can't wait to have her dad home.

My mom helped me brave my first trip out with both girls yesterday. We went to Target for some diapers. Cathy, our next door neighbor offered to pick the diapers up for me, but I've been itching to get out of the house, and going it alone for the first trip was a little daunting. We took the new jogging stroller (love the wide isles at Target), and it worked great.

Then, today we picked up a picnic at Burger King and took it took the park along the river trail. Libby's favorites were the chicken nuggets (a first for her), and walking the foot bridge with Grammy Jane. After that, we made another stop at Target and Costco. I ran into Target leaving the kids in the car with Grammy Jane. I can't remember the last time I just ran into the store to grab one or two things without taking anyone in with me. Libby came into Costco with me, and walked herself like such a big girl!

We're looking forward to a great summer. We'll be heading over the mountain some, but staying home more than in the past few years. I'm sure we'll be walking by the river, going for bike rides, and doing a little bit of camping. Mostly, we're just hanging out and enjoying family and friends.

Visits with Grandma Ruby and Aunt Amy

I was too tired to fill LIbby's pool on Friday night so she could splash around, so instead I just turned on the hose and let her go for it. She loved making mud in the back yard and putting rocks in her puddle.

Then, today Aunt Amy and Lucy came from Portland and Grandma Ruby made Spaghetti dinner for all of us. I managed to get a few things done in between feedings while they took care of Libby. This is a picture of Grandma Ruby with all three grandaughters, Libby, Peyton and Lucy.

Houston, We Have a Toddler...

When I went to the hospital on Monday morning I left a baby at home. When I came home on Tuesday I didn't realize my baby had morphed into a toddler. This became clear when compared to Peyton (who is sleeping roughly 22 hours a day) Libby seems a little smarter, louder, crazier, funnier, and definitely stronger willed than the child I said good night to on Sunday. For example, today after Peyton had a total diaper blowout I left her naked on the changing pad for a second. She promptly peed all over the pad which was plastic, and the pee ran all over until it was a pool and she was lying in it. Peyton was screaming. I was frantic, and Libby (who was here just a second ago) was nowhere to be found. As I started mopping up my soggy little critter, I asked Julane, "Do you know where Libby is?" And just as I said it, convinced she'd left to avoid the noise coming from her sister, here came the pitter pat of her heavy little run. And what was she carrying? A Peyton sized diaper to fix the problem. She totally melted my heart!

Being that she was such a mature little helper I thought today would be a great day to try and get some pictures of Libby holding her sister all by herself. I managed to get this first shot right before she tried to push Peyton onto the floor. The second picture is the response I got when I told her she needed to sit down. Like I said, a little stronger willed....

There's No Place Like Home.....

Today's discharge from the hospital topped off an incredible experience.

But, now we're home....

and we're tired.

Thank you for your comments, emails, thoughts and prayers.

Welcome Peyton Shane! 7 lbs. 3 oz., 19.5 inches

Scroll down for today's complete story, but check out the latest pics!

She's Here!

We've had a big day! After a not-so-complete night's sleep we checked into the hospital this morning at about 6:00. As it turns out I was having some contractions even before starting Pitocin (the induction drug). Consequently, with very little drug I was off and running and Peyton Shane Groshong joined our family at 10:45. She was quite the little noise maker right off the bat, but quickly fell asleep (with her daddy) and has been asleep for most of the day. She is just as cute as we imagined she'd be, and both Shane and I think she looks a bit like her big sister. Her big sister, by the way, is totally smitten with her and I wish we'd kept a "kiss count" as the two of them met for the first time. She had to have given her more than 30 kisses. We are doing great. Libby is home napping as she's worn out from a day with Jamison and Jayden, and we've been napping, feeding, and enjoying the newest little Groshong. Thanks for your well wishes and prayers. We can't wait for you to meet our little Peyton!

Happy Fathers' Day!

Happy Fathers' Day Daddy and Grandpa Dad! I love you, Libby

A Great Weekend

Here is Libby's latest attire for eating ice cream cones. What a pretty girl!

On Friday night Becky came over with clothes galore for our girls! Bebo, you're outta control! Here is the dress we put Libby in for a stop at McDonald's and then a picnic in the park. But first, she was looking for a little toe licking from our lab Grunny!

Then, tonight Libby and I went to our dear friends Doug and Judy's house for dinner. We had burgers, fruit and chips, all of which Libby dipped in her glass of water. She loves the idea of dipping her food. Then, we went for a walk with their goats Napoleon and Mr. Darcy. Libby loved most of the walk perched atop Doug's shoulders. She had a few freak out moments when the goats or the neighbors llamas got a little too close. She would reach her hand out to touch them, but when they came close she'd change her mind, scream and cry. Cats seem to have the same effect. Maybe she's just a city girl!

We Have a Plan!

I had an appointment today and things looked about the same as they were a week ago. So....we've scheduled an induction for next Monday, June 16th. Unless she doesn't stick to the plan, our little one should be here in five days! The good news is that we went to Red Robin for dinner tonight and seated next to us were six month old twins. Libby couldn't take her eyes off of them. She was soooo interested in their every move. It's looking promising that she likes the idea of being a big sister :)

Backyard time with Grammy Jane and Grunny

We've got a little green thumb...