Jul
2
We did it!
Submitted by jessica on July 2, 2009 - 10:09pm
We've had so many Viola milestones since I last posted. One: we took a short road trip to Portland and stayed in a hotel. (We took the Subaru; it came back to us. For those of you who were still in suspense from my last post - don't forget to click the Read More button). Two: we rode a plane. To Illinois to see the doting grandparents and uncle and lots of family and family friends. Three: Viola turned one-half of a year old! Which also means I've accomplished six months of breastfeeding, three of them while working full time.
Jul
4
Portland Pictures
Submitted by joe on July 4, 2009 - 11:48am
Howdy from Portland, a bit late, but still cute.
Jul
4
6-month retrospective
Submitted by jessica on July 4, 2009 - 12:11pm
Not to make too much of this, but the half year feels like quite a milestone. Someday I will probably look back and think I made too much of it. But, if you'll indulge me now, here is a photographic retrospective of how much Viola has grown and changed in these months...
3 days old
1 month old, still looking very newborn-ish
2 months old, with infant bags under her eyes
3 months old - her face is starting to square up
4 months old - her cheeks keep growing!
5 months old
6 months old at grandma & grandpa Balsam's house
Jul
16
May the Farce be with you
Submitted by joe on July 16, 2009 - 8:27pm
Since I've been hanging out at home on Thursday and Fridays with Viola, I've had a little time to think about my home here on hilltop. That and Zillow keeps me apprised of how our home is faring in today's real estate market. Our house is up 31.6% from when we bought it 5 years ago but down 12.4% this year. Not bad, but then I saw this sign while walking Viola around the neighborhood. Would someone actually buy a house from this company? 
Jul
17
I've done it!
Submitted by joe on July 17, 2009 - 7:36pm
The cutest Viola picture to date, in my humble opinion. She looks a little cross-eyed but the pediatrician asured us she's not.
Jul
17
12 things that happened on our trip to Illinois, only one-quarter of them involving poo
Submitted by jessica on July 17, 2009 - 9:42pm
1. Viola's poo squirted out the side of her diaper just as we were about to leave for the airport. It got all over my jeans and on every piece of her outfit. Note that this has never happened with her regular cloth diapers, only with the disposable ones we were using for the trip.
2. We picked up the wrong stroller on the walkway when we landed in Chicago. At first we thought it was no big deal because it was exactly the same model as ours, but then we noticed it was rusty and missing a sun shade. Oh, and there was sticky stuff on the handles. Anyone need a free stroller?
3. We went out in the boat on the river. I don't think Viola liked her life jacket at all.
4. I started eating dairy again for the first time since she was born, and a few days later she started pooping green. The green poo lasted for a week. Here, Joe, Stephanie, and Adam are at the Dairy Haus in Rockton, minutes before I tasted a bite of Joe's black walnut ice cream. Tsk, tsk.
5. Viola saw her first cornfield.
6. We drove down to Normal, Illinois to visit our good friends Matt & Carmen and we met their daughter Josephina for the first time. A video of Viola and Josephina follows; it will definitely be boring for most of you if you are not the parent, grandparent, or aunt or uncle of one of the featured children.
7. Viola had her first go on a swing (an infant swing-set swing - how do you say that?) I thought I took a picture of it somewhere...
8. Michael Jackson died and lots of Illinoisan people complained that there was too much media coverage about it. I bet these same people didn't complain that there was too much media coverage when Elvis died.
9. My parents threw a party and showed their granddaughter off.
10. Viola sat in her first highchair at a restaurant and chewed on the table.
11. Viola cried and sobbed for about an hour every night when we tried to put her to bed.
12. On the flight home, she pooped during descent and it got all over her, my shirt, and my jeans. Indeed, it was green, and I couldn't get up to change it until we landed.
Jul
26
Cheese Head
Submitted by joe on July 26, 2009 - 12:05pm
Is that cheese made from the happiest cows in the world?
