Baby Food

This is the finished product!

This is the cool baby food maker I got at William Sonoma

These are my cousins, (Me, Krisite, Shawn, Kim, Heather & Cassie)

These are my cousins again, but this time without Shawn and with Chelsea. Funny, this photo was taken on Oct. 18 - Natalie's birthday!! Weird isn't it!!

OK, so Friday my cousin Kim came over and helped me make baby food. It was so easy and so much fun! We got a ton made and I think the baby food maker I bought will really turn out to be a good investment. I can't wait to start giving Natalie some of these foods. They smelled great and tasted even better.

You start out with steaming the food (except bananas and avocados) and then you puree it. Then you spoon it into ice cube trays and freeze it over night. The next morning you pop them out and put them in freezer gallon bags. When it's time to eat, pop out a cube or two, microwave for a minute and that's it! So cool!

I didn't buy organic last time, but I think I will this time, as I have read some stuff on pesticides and the like.....uggg. I can't believe some of the stuff I eat!!!

I also posted a couple pics of my cousins, as I talk about them a lot. I thought it might be nice to have a face and a name!

Confirmation

The doc called last night from the hospital and confirmed that she had two kidneys. Her left one is in her pelvic area and her right one is in normal position. The left one is smaller, but both are functioning normally. The doctor couldn't believe it and said that there was nothing else we needed to do! A true miracle.

I also just got back from the dermatologist about her birthmark and he said to leave it alone and it would go away. He said that it may go through another growth spurt, but 50% disappear by age 5, 80% by age 8 and 100% by age 10. He said the kind that she has can take a while to go away. The good news is that it doesn't cause her any pain or discomfort - it just looks a little scary.

All in all, good news.

We have big plans for this weekend. :) My cousin, Kim, is coming over tonight with her two girls and she is going to show me how to make home made baby food! Since Natalie will be starting it in a couple of weeks, I thought I would give making it a try. Kim promises me it is fun and easy...we will see about that!

Tomorrow we are getting some final things in place for a party next weekend. It should be fun.

Sunday looks like it will be a day of R & R. I can't wait.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have recieved it, and you will be given whatever you ask for. -Mark 11:24

This morning we had our sonogram appointment. The same lady that did her first ultrasound did this one. Natalie was super during it. She never cried and sat really still, which is amazing for a 5 month old.

The sono started and we saw her right kidney. Then she moved down to get a look at her bladder. The tech mentioned that she had a really full bladder. I knew we were going to get a shower soon. The tech then moved the wand down more toward her "nether regions". I saw something come up on the screen and I said, "That isn't her bladder is is?" The tech replied, "No, I would call that another kidney."

That is right, we think the missing left kidney has been found in her pelvic area. The tech also thought she saw the ureter for both kidneys and they were doing their job. Natalie then emptied her bladder, all over us. The tech then wanted to try and get another shot of the newly found kidney and couldn't locate it again. She said it must be hidden by her intestines. So, I guess it is only visible when she has a full bladder.

All of this was exciting and unexpected. She did mention that of course she isn't a doc and if they did see another kidney we would be sent for more tests. I guess now we are waiting for our doc to get the report to see what he wants us to do next.

We also got to see Natalie's ovaries and uterus. I told Jeff to wave at his future grand kids as females are born with all their eggs. I don't think he found it all that funny. I did.

It has been a wonderful and exciting day for us. I think Jeff and I are still in shock.

Prayers for Natalie

It has been a long time since we've asked for prayers, but as she is reaching her 6 month milestone, we are going to have to recheck her kidney and reproductive organs. We have confirmation that she only has one kidney from a sonogram that was done at birth, but we have never had her reproductive organs checked. We have an ultrasound on Thursday at 10:30 to check the function of her kidney and bladder and to check for reproductive organs. As you can imagine, we are very anxious about this. We don't meet with the kidney doctor until June 2, but I am hoping her pediatrician can give us initial results.

She also has an appointment on Friday with a dermatologist to check her hemangianoma birth mark that is on her back. It is about the size of a walnut now and still growing. They can't do anything for it, but I guess they just like to watch it's growth.

Thanks for thinking of us.

More Easter Pictures

I am 5 months old!

Daddy and Me on St. Patricks Day!

The photos below were taken while I was gone and Jeff was a "single parent". I love the one of her in her stroller with her glasses on. He did a great job and I think they both really enjoyed each other.



Today we went to cousin Gage's house for an Easter egg hunt and BBQ. We were a little late because we had our 5 month photos taken. I did get to participate in my very first Easter egg hunt and I had a great time!

Below are my 5 month photos. I was in such a good mood and I didn't even take a morning nap! Grammie bought me this huge bunny, so we took it to take picture with. They turned out so good! Grammie came to the photos too, it was lots of fun!

So I survived my first trip away from Natalie. It was hard, but I did enjoy myself some and did some great shopping at the Mall of America for Ms. Natalie, like she needs anything else to wear! I did have to travel back with about 90oz. of breast milk in a cooler, so that was interesting with TSA, but it really wasn't any big deal. What made it a big deal was how heavy it was! With the milk, ice and ice packs, I could barely lift it!! I am glad to be home and looking forward to Easter tomorrow, we are having it at the house so it should be fun. Happy Easter everyone!

Welcome to the World Cleo!!!

So, my mom's best friend, Rachel, had another grandchild on the 17th. Here are some photos! Mommy, Marisa and Daddy, Joe are doing great! We are so happy for them and can't wait to give her a squeeze!!! Isn't she just the cutest!!!

Happy Birthday Grammie!!

Grammie making a wish!

Gammie and me hanging out at her birthday party!

This is me right after my bath. I love taking a bath, but I hate getting out! Can you see my red, gooey eye? It is getting a little better. Still gooey, less red.

Here I am sitting in my chair. Daddy is sitting over there reading me a book. Don't I look mischievous?

Here I am getting ready to go see Jenny and her 3 girls, I am not sure why I have that look on my face! My hair is really coming in!!

Here is a silly outfit Mommy got me for Easter.

I am not a big fan of tummy time, but Mommy makes me do it!

Me and Grammie playing with my music stage. I love hitting all the buttons!

Today's is Grammies birthday! We celebrated by eating Italian food and creme puffs for dessert...yummmy! Also, one of Mom's best friends, Rachel, her daughter went into labor at 2:00 this afternoon. We were hoping for today, but at 7 she was only dilated to 2, so it looks like it will be a St. Pattie's baby! I wish her well and can't wait to her. She is also having a little girl, Cleo.

Natalie has been hilarious today. She decided that she only needed a forty five minute nap all day. By 7 tonight she was a mess. She has been sleeping since 7, but has woke up every hour to eat. Hopefully it is just because she went to bed so early. She is back to sleeping in her swing, but she is also back to sleeping through the night, so that is good. She just loves that swing!!!

I leave for a business trip tomorrow and I am terrified!! I know Jeff will be fine, but sure am going to miss my baby. I hope I am able to get on the plane. I don't get home until Thursday at 11pm. I won't even get to tell her goodnight... :(. I told Jeff I was going to wake her up and he told me I better not. That plane better not be delayed or I am going to be MAD!!!

We have had a really good weekend. Natalie is in such a good mood anymore. I just packed and hung out with the baby, I work a little too. Jeff did the same thing, minus the packing.

It's A Wild Ride Baby!

So, things have just been a roller coaster here. Natalie, as you all know, has started waking earlier and earlier. Well, last weekend she just slept terrible and last night she woke up every hour. Ugg. So tonight she is back in her swing. I guess she just wasn't ready or really missed the swing. Who knows, I just hope we all get a little more sleep tonight. Her eye is still gooey even after around of eye drops. Now the doc says that it is just a virus that will have to clear up on its own. Who knows, it looks miserable. I have to travel for 3 days next week and I am getting really nervous about it. I am sure Jeff will be fine, but he is going to be really worn out by the time I get home!!

This is Natalie figuring out that her knees were meant for crawling. I give her one more month before she figures it out!

This one is just too funny! Natalie is ready for summer! (And so am I)

Natalie has the best laugh. I could play this video over and over again!

Natalie has really found her voice and her volume!! She also is getting very good at grabbing the animals on her mobile!

Easter Craft

Back of the "teachers" bags with a photo of Natalie in the middle of the flower.

Front of the "teachers" bags.

Natalie's basket before decorating.

I tried to find a really cute Easter basket for Natalie and wasn't having any luck. One day at lunch I went to Hobby Lobby to look for frames and found a felt section where you could make your own Easter basket and bags. They had all kinds of things to decorate them with. I thought it would be a lot of fun and posted the photos because I thought they came out really cute!

Natalie was just a doll today. She didn't want to sleep much so we just hung out all day. She does have a really bad cough, so I asked around to see what everyone else did to treat it. Lots of people said to put Vicks on her feet and then socks before bed. I didn't think it would hurt so I gave it a shot. Well, she has been in bed for over 3 hours and has only coughed once. I wonder why that works? Oh well, who cares, as long as it does!

I survived my Dallas trip. As I was getting ready to leave I was thinking that if anything happened I was going to be really mad as I have so much to live for. I had good flights and was glad to be home. I did get harassed in security a little bit about the breast pump, but I made it through.

Tomorrow Jeff is going into work and Natalie and I are going to go hang out with Grandma. She is still pretty sore, but is doing good. Grandpa Don is coming for dinner, I think we are just going to order pizza. It should be fun.

I hope everyone has had as good of weekend as we have had.