these are the much anticipated 4th of july photos.

Mother's Milk

Lately I've been thinking about how amazing the breastfeeding process is. I am producing milk for my child and that milk is all that she needs right now. Actually my milk is making Jenna a very robust child. (4 month check-up updates to follow) By taking care of myself I am able to nourish my child. And my body knows what she needs and how much. It is amazing to me! I recommend to all mothers that you try breastfeeding. While it takes some time to learn (for both you and the baby) it really makes my life easy. Having the food warm and ready whenever she wants it is great! Being able to lay in bed and nurse (and fall asleep while it happens) gives me sometimes 2 extra hours of sleeping. Like I said this whole process is amazing!

Jenna had her 4 month check up on July 16th. The girl is growing! She was 16lbs. 5oz. 27in long with a head circumference of 16in. The 16lbs+ amazes me! I knew she would be in that range but then I talk to other people and they tell me their child was only 16lbs when they were a year old. We have already gotten into the 9 month clothes for this girl. Once she gets a little bigger I am going to have to actually go buy a majority of her clothing (until now she had been wearing all the clothing from our baby showers and the girly clothing that poured in after she was born). At this check-up we learned that our doctor has taken a new job and by the end of the fall will not be able to see us anymore. We still get to see him in September but that is the last time. He said she looked normal and was reaching all the milestones perfectly. Jenna got 3 shots and one oral vaccine. We had some crying but then it only took us 5 minutes to calm down so we could leave. We have such a tough little girl!

Since I haven't posted in a while....Robb is home from his trip to NYC. This week is his last of the summer. So he and Jenna are spending quality time together. Since this is his last week of summer this also is Jenna's last week of being at home full time. Aug 2nd she will start daycare. I still don't feel great about this but it is a step we are taking. Grace Hills has been very helpful and I feel Jenna will be well cared for. But it just isn't the same as having Robb or myself care for her. So next week she will only be going for half days on Monday and Tuesday and then full days on Wednesday and Thursday. Like I said we have a tough girl and I'm sure this new phase will be harder on mama than Jenna

Playing with Oma

This past weekend we went to the farm. This is one of the videos I got of the weekend. Jenna loves this little horse leg thing that my mom does. I tried to capture the whole thing but only got part. I think you can see how much she likes it!

Fun times with Oma

On Monday Robb left for NYC. The Virlina District was getting to Colorado by bus. So he will be gone for almost 2 weeks. That seems like a very long time. Since Robb is gone for 2 weeks my mother has come to Appomattox to take care of Jenna. We didn't want to start her in daycare and then have Robb home and have to pay for time she wasn't going.

I think my mom and Jenna are having a wonderful time together! Jenna has a different schedule every day. So I guess it really isn't a schedule at all. I think Oma is amazed at how much Jenna sleeps. So while she isn't playing with Jenna she practices the piano and does some chores around the house.

Its also been nice having my mom here since Robb is gone. I still have someone to help me with Jenna in the evenings. I'm not a huge fan of being a single parent. I can do it for a night but 2 weeks would have been a long time.

Robb took our camera and mom forgot hers so we don't have any new pictures from this week. We are going back to FC for the weekend so I will try and remember to bring moms camera with us and hopefully while they are playing we can get some shots.

Also if you are interested, Robb is writing an NYC blog you can find it in my "Blog I Follow" section.

Our beautiful girl

pictures of baby Ethan

here are the much delayed pictures of Heather and Dave's baby Ethan. We got our camera back today.

4th of July fun

This past weekend we took a mini-vacation to Maryland. We went to the Antietam battlefield for their annual concert and fireworks show. It is really a fun event. Robb started going to this event while he worked a Shepard's Spring camp that is close to the battlefield. Since we have been together we have gone a couple of times. The Maryland Symphony gives a free concert. They always have some patriotic selections and play the 1812 overture with real cannons. This year the programs also included Lincoln Portrait, Fanfare for the Common Man, Medley from Cats, and Summertime. This event is usually attended by about 30,000 people. So while the concert started at 7:30 we showed up at 4 to get a good spot. We took dinner and a cooler of drinks and just relaxed. The day wasn't too hot and Jenna stayed in the shade of her stroller the whole time playing with her toys. After the concert there is a wonderful fireworks show. About 30 minutes worth of great fireworks and you are so close to you can feel the boom. I was a little worried Jenna would not care for the fireworks but she just sat on my lap and looked in wonderment at the colors.

Sunday we traveled to my parents and had a birthday/4th of July picnic that evening. Robb and I had picked up some fireworks in West VA so we had a little show to put on. So we had two good fireworks shows this year!

Monday we came home and went to Sears for our first official family portraits. Jenna was wonderful at those as well.

So I have pictures from this weekend but since my camera is still in Richmond we used my moms camera. I will have the 4th pictures next week. So until then you will just have to enjoy my words.