Katie - 7 weeks (last week)

Tummy time with Daddy and Shadow
Katie after eating (check out the biceps!)

Longer sleep--we're almost there!

Katie's been sleeping longer through the night! Last night I woke her for her 9:30 feeding...and she slept until 6:30am! Yay Katie! The next step is dropping her 9:30 pm feeding, but this won't be done until after 4 or 5 months.

The Best Dad in the World

The best dad in the world enjoys kool-aid and brownies as he sits on the stairs, waiting for Katie to wake up for her 4:30 (pm) bottle.

Visit from Jamie Wilson

Jamie, who lived with us for a couple of months last fall, was in Rockford, Illinois this week. She drove to Waukesha yesterday, and Katie and I took her out to lunch at Spinniker's in Oconomowoc. Jamie had a seafood melt and I had an ahi tuna sandwich and a glass of sparkling Reisling (my first in 11 months). Notice the beautiful Lac La Belle in the background.

Katie, Shadow and Old Brown

Katie's close-up...she weighs in the range of 10 lbs.

Our big little girl

Katie slept through the night last night. We put her down at 9:45, and she woke up hungry this morning at 5:30am! (Not bad considering she usually wakes up on her own between 6 and 6:30am). I (Ashley) got a head start to the day by going downstairs, making coffee, and packing Bryan's lunch. Bryan played with Katie until she fell asleep again around 7:15.

Katie and Old Brown

Yes, Old Brown is still "alive" and functioning.

Olympic week home makeover

As mentioned previously, we (Bryan and neighbor Tim) painted and rearranged our family, dining and living rooms.

Cookout with the Tausches

Norb and Jill invited us, along with other optical people, to their home on Sunday for a cookout. Bryan used to work with Norb. The Tausches were kind enough to dispose of Katie's dirty diapers.

The Olympic Week

Team USA is busy in Beijing, and we are just as busy at home. For the past 3 nights, Bryan and our neighbor, Tim, have been painting our dining room, living room and hallway. They do take frequent breaks to catch the swimming races in all their glory!

Bryan: loading up on brocolli and brats before he begins work

Tim: rolling the hallway. He's such a trooper! He came over at 6:30pm to begin work even though Bryan didn't get home until 7:30. Bryan had to kick him out of our house at 10:30 to go home to his wife and 4 kids.

Horsing around and rattle-shakes

Wisconsin State Fair

Last weekend Dad, Deborah and Jordan came into town. We went to the State Fair and spotted cows, ducklings, and a dog-jumping contest. Foods in which we indulged: cream puffs, corn dogs, fried cheddar cheese nuggets, chili dogs, mocha shakes, hand dipped ice cream (am I missing anything??).

Happy Birthday Uncle Darryl!

Dear Uncle Darryl,

I gave Mommy and Daddy a chocolate cake-colored surprise in honor of your birthday. Happy 30th!

XOXO,
Katie

Bathtime with Rabbit Hoodie

From breast to bottle, bassinet to crib

We're teaching Katie all sorts of new things! She now eats one meal from a bottle (no formula), and today she took 2 naps in her crib. Next week we will try sleeping through the night in the crib!

Mobile-watching

War with the Trumphet Vine

The people who formerly owned our house thought it would be cool to plant a trumphet vine. After all, these vines attract beautiful hummingbirds. These vines also become evasive weeds.

Bryan chopped our trumphet vine down in the spring, but new vines kept sprouting up in our yard. Over the weekend, Bryan dug up its rudimentry roots. It was a tough job!

The Otts Visit Katie

Today we received a visit from Bryan's old girlfriend, Joei. Joei's husband (Dave) and their 2 kids came along. They live in Bryan's paradise--Aurora, Colorado.

For breakfast, we ate a ham casserole (yummy!), pecan coffee cake and fresh fruit. The kids, Sam and Annika, acted scared of Shadow at first. But at the end of the visit, the kids were petting Shadow and playing with her. In fact, Shadow started hiding from the kids so she could have some peace!

Picture: Sam, Dave, Joei, Katie (center) and Annika

Favre Returns to Pack

Bryan, Katie and I are watching history.

The breaking news on all of our news channels is about Brett Favre returning to Green Bay to return to the packers.

The reporters are doing a play-by-play of Brett's plane landing. The crowd is chanting "We love Brett; we love Brett."

The people Katie has vomited on

Mom and Dad, Barb Sanders, Nicky Bell and Michelle Staus (Nicky again).

Did you make the list?

Awake time fun

Tummy time, Daddy time, bath time, and mobile time