The Mother-In-Law Visit

In traditional American Folklore, the Mother-in-Law visit is a dreaded event. Thankfully for me, I have the world's best Mother-in-Law. We were very excited to host her and Kevin's niece, Kenrda, for a week back in June. We had barely brushed the box dust off our hands before they were here to remind us that there is life after moving. It was an especially meaningful visit since they both live in Kentucky and were coming out to meet Analiese for the first time.




Analiese was thrilled to be entertained twenty-four hours a day during their visit. No bouncy chair for her that week! At any given moment she had an adoring Nana or Auntie to cuddle her up. Here she is with her Nana.










Kendra insists that she is not really a "kid person" and certainly isn't going to have any of her own. However, whenever Analiese gave the slightest indication of unhappiness, her Auntie Kendra was right there to coo and sympathize with her. So she might not be a "kid person", but she certainly is an "Analiese Person".











Analiese's Aunt Mary Beth, Uncle Kurt, and cousins, Lauren and Lila, live in (relatively) nearby Riverside. They came to meet us for lunch in Palm Springs. It was fun to get to see them. The drive to Palm Springs was a first for us and we enjoyed seeing the cute little desert towns between here and there.









Mary Beth brought us a bag full of sun hats and other fun summer accessories for little girls. They are certainly necessary around here! Analiese doesn't seem to mind them at all and they sure look adorable on her.







San Diego is a little over 2 hours from where we are so we decided to take a little road trip. The fastest way to get there entails a rather windy road through the San Jacinto mountains. Our Kentuckyians are used to green green green so these rugged desert-scapes were something new for them. Here are Brenda, Kevin, and Kendra at one of the look out spots.




Since Kevin and I don't really know our way around San Diego, we decided to spend the day on the "Hop On Hop Off Trolley". It was great! We only had to find one parking space and then spent the rest of the day being driven all around the San Diego hot spots, listening to the entertaining drivers share San Diego history and fun facts. We were able to get off wherever we wanted to spend a little more time looking around, and then we could hop back on to the next trolley that came along. It was a great way to see Old Historic Downtown, Balboa Park, Coronado Island, etc. etc.


The Trolley goes over the bridge to Coronado Island and although you can't tell (the photographer missed at her aim of artistic bridge view scenery in the background...) - this is Brenda and Kendra with gorgeous ocean and the San Diego skyline behind them.










Here are Kevin and Analiese enjoying the view. It was SO nice to be outside for a whole day in sunny, breezy, 70-degree, San Diego weather. If only it were just a wee bit closer...

We are ready for Kevin's company to start acquiring vacation homes there so we can manage the San Diego division (it never hurts to dream, right??!?).






We spent so many fun days together laughing, talking, eating good food, shopping, watching movies and being spoiled in each others' company. It was very sad to see them go but we can't wait to visit them in Kentucky - - soon, we hope!

Three Month Milestones...

We have been told by several people, "Just wait until she gets to Three Months! That's when it gets good." I have to admit that there is something pretty special about the Three Month marker. It's as if Analiese is finally able to take all that she has synthesized & internalized over the past few months and assemble it all interactively. Here are some pictures and videos of the things that have developed just in the last few weeks:

After a couple of months of separation, Analiese wasn't very clear on what role Kevin played in her life. We thought that bottle feeding would serve as a "Power Bonding Tool". So I have started pumping, Kevin has started feeding, and Analiese is learning how to drink from a bottle (and that her mother isn't the only person she depends on around here!).

Analiese is starting to vocalize more and is learning that she can control her own hands to reach for things. (Marshall can't imagine that I would want to video tape or take pictures of anything without him in it...so it's either allow him in frames or spend a video saying, "Marshall!! Move over!!")

With vocalizing comes all sorts of mouth mechanics that need to be learned. What repertoire of mouth sounds would be complete without raspberries? Mimicking is also an important learning tool so Analiese had fun imitating her Aunt Ale using Analiese's new favorite sound.

This is by no means a milestone. Analiese has been falling asleep since Day 1!! But, this is the first time she has ever fallen asleep while sitting up on the couch. I guess all that abdominal exercise involved in the learning process wiped her out.

I think the best thing about the Three Month marker is that it really feels like Analiese is able to communicate with us and that she appreciates being communicated with. It makes parenting even more fulfilling and rewarding. Here is a picture of Analiese smiling into the eyes of her 95-year old Great Nana.