15 years...

Ago today, Ken and I were married, the floods in Iowa started, the internet and email were brand new ideas. Tonight we went on a date, dinner and a movie, while my folks watched Violet. It is amazing how quickly life can change and seem normal and right. Both of us agreed that it was difficult to be away from V for a whole night (ok, well afternoon as we had to start by seeing a 4 pm movie so we could get home in time to go to bed- which Ken is already in, Violet is in, my parents are in and I am all hopped up on Coke, the soda, not the illicit drug...I knew it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway.) We saw Hancock, which was surprisingly entertaining and had some good twists, and ate dinner at Mafioso's, an Italian place we like. Then we bought mom and dad some wine to thank them, bought dessert and other provisions on the way home, and were back by 8:30. I don't know if it can still officially be a date if we stopped at the grocery store because we were almost out of milk. I guess that is what 15 years buys you...practical dates ending at the grocery store!
Happy Anniversary everybody...oh, and welcome Elena Piston into the world today...my pal Adrienne Outlaw had her baby, a girl, around noon She is already about the same size as Violet, so we should have some fun play dates in a month or so.

Long overdue

I mentioned all of the decorations in the house when we got home, but I think I lost the photos I had shot. So here are some photos of the decorations Andee, Kelly, Rosemary and Stacey did at the house as well as some photos of the nursery with furniture...thanks Jane and Tom for the comfy blue chair...sooooo cushy... my folks have since got us the matching ottoman, not pictured.
The photo of me at the front door is hideous, but it is the only one Ken took, so I am stuck with it forever. I loved the banners though! We also had a fair amount of pink streamers, which they knew wasn't me, but they had to do anyway they say. And balloons and roses. We felt really loved! Oh, and there was a casserole in the fridge for us to eat. yummy!
Since then we have had a number of friends and neighbors bring us food, which I didn't think we would need, but we have greatly appreciated. I think I will always and forever do that for friends with new babies. It is amazing not to have to think about feeding yourself while you are figuring out feeding a new being.

A mystery at the Rowe compound

Did she or didn't she...
Ken found this in the yard today when he went out to mow.

There was this circle of feathers and close by another pile.
Ruby has been known to catch and play with a live squirrel in the past. It, thankfully, wasn't killed, but it was close to having a heart attack for sure when the neighbor stopped her from throwing it up into the air by its tail. I watched her stalk a bird the other day, which was a new quest. That one got away easily.
When asked, Ruby denied all accusations. She looks guilty to me.

I suppose it could have been one of the neighbor cats.
Ruby does get locked in the house at night after all.

New things this week...

Well, we are at week three tonight...just 18 minutes ago in fact...and there has been a lot of progress made by Violet. She is now way gassier than she was the past two weeks. This really just means that she is much louder and gruntier at night, which doesn't seem to wake her up at all, but keeps me up all night long. Tomorrow we will be putting the blinds up in her room and she will transition into sleeping in her crib. She cries out when she really needs help and is right next door, so I think this will be a great answer to the sleepless nights issue. In the past couple of days she has started cooing a little bit, working up her whole body and then one little coo. Just when we were starting to get bored, she thinks of another way to melt our hearts! She is also now really working on holding up her head a lot of the time. When we hold her on our shoulders we are less scared that she is just going to face plant and suffocate, she now turns her head one way or the other. Tummy time tonight had her really pushing her head up...the first few times, she just laid her head down and looked to the side...lazy. She also kicked the musical foot pad on her play mat on her own tonight...I had to do it for her before now. (I think she likes to kick it because every fourth song there is a barking dog that freaks out Ruby.)

Playing on her mat...maybe at the end of the time...she gets a little crazy.

Violet and Claire, the daughter of my friend Sher.
The leafy terry cloth dress came from Lindsey and Nevena, two photo students.
It is so sweet!

A fashion photo that is creepily like the photos they used to take of children who had passed away. She was just really tired and relaxed, as she so often is. Look at her skinny bird legs. The cheeks are really filling in, but the arms and legs haven't caught up yet! The socks were huge!

Grammy is having a good time helping us out with things.
We try to put Violet in her crib from time to time, but she is just so snuggly!

So tired. Oh, and for those who have asked. Mom had some cells removed on her nose and because she is down here and not at home she may be stuck with the bandage for an extra week. That is dedication! We are going to try to send them a photo of the spot to see if they will let her loose tomorrow. Thanks for your interest in her health!