Sick little pumpkin

Amelia has her first cold. It was inevitable. Little Finn (Amelia's buddy) and many other people Amelia has come in contact with in the last week have had the sniffles. Amelia started throwing up at Karen's (she watches Amelia during the week) about 8 times!!! Poor little pumpkin! Luckily Bette was scheduled to pick up Amelia early since Finn was sick. Karen told me she let Amelia throw up on her about 8 times...when she was holding Amelia little Finn fell and bonked his head and started to scream. So she had to switch for a second and put Amelia in the car seat and she threw up some more ( I think?) I heard Amelia was a little soiled when Bette picked her up and gaggy. Man oh man I felt bad for my Amelia and for Karen. Just as long as little Amelia was OK which she was. I know Karen must have changed her clothes because a different outfit was soiled than what I sent her there in. All in all I think Karen did a good job and I didn't know Amelia was going to be a puke monster! Thank goodness Bette was there to help rescue Karen and care for Amelia.
Today Amelia was super clingy and only wanted to nap in my arms. We learned about nasal bulb suctioning those snot bubbles. Amelia actually let me do it a few times without fighting me. No throwing up for me today. I introduced a new food (pumpkin) to Amelia the day of puke fest. So perhaps that is our culprit. Note to self: do not introduce a new food on the same day Amelia has daycare. So for now no more pumpkin for the Pumpkin. I had some of the canned pumpkin I fed Amelia and I felt fine.

Double trouble...Grandpa Mattson and Campbell grandparents visit!!!

After Guy and I returned home from the farmers market. We met up with Steve "Grandpa Mattson" for brunch at the Neighborhood Cafe. Amelia had fun exploring Grandpa's face and mustache.

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Baby shower fun!

Amelia is growing by leaps and bounds. She loves to stand holding on to hands. She has even balanced next to the coffee table with my help. Amelia now can turn over both ways and roll from her tummy to her back sometimes. She can get her butt up and her knees under her and her torso up with her arms...but hasn't quite mastered doing them both at the same time. I am cherishing the time I have with her not quite so mobile, though I am looking forward to this new stage of development.

Today we attended Cousin Isabella's baby shower. Isabella is Steph Eiden (Guy's step-sister's daughter) she was born in early September of this year. (Sorry I can't remember the exact date!) She is so darling. I don't remember Amelia being to little, but she was. Kinda...repeat...kinda makes me want to have another one.. just for a second but then the insanity subsides and I come back to reality. It was really fun to see all the great baby stuff Steph got. I was glad I didn't have to find a place for it all at home! Amelia was so well behaved the whole time. I was so blessed. She didn't cry once even though she was being passed around all day. She especially liked Aunt Nancy's necklace, earings and fun design on her shirt. (and looking down her shirt too...no food in there for you!)

For those of you who know about my breast feeding woes. Amelia is starting to take more feedings at the breast. YES!!! She had 3!!! today. That is best she has done in months! I think it was part my fault too that Amelia started to strike. I needed to be more patient and calm. I think I was treating each feeding as a chore and not a wonderful time to bond with my daughter. I am sure she felt that and started her nursing strike. Tonight she actually refused the bottle and wanted the breast. That is a first. Wish us luck on lactaction journey. I also have a "Lactation Station" in the house too where all feedings take place. So Amelia has that routine and can know what to expect when we sit in the glider. We are figuring out our routine together. It's hard because as soon as we get a good routine going that works for me and for Amelia it is time for me to start my stretch working and it all is thrown out the window. Oh well, it will come. At least at this time Amelia is sleeping through most nights.

We started solids last week. Amelia loves pears. She is indifferent to rice pudding and apples. .I used my home made baby food. It was really great, easy to use and tasted great. No wonder why she gobbled it up. We are going to try sweet potatos next. Stay tuned for pictures.
Thanks for reading.
Blessings
Kristina Mattson

Grandma & Grandpa Campbell visit

Smiles and Trials

Sorry we haven't updated our blog in a while. On June 20th we closed on our new condo. It is a bigger unit in the same building . Last Saturday June 21st we called in the troups (Marky, Steve, Paul and Bette) to help us move. We are pretty much out of our old place and in our new place. Boxes, boxes everywhere! Amelia's pseudo nursery was torn down (sniffle). Now Amelia will have her own room, though she won't be spending nights alone in there anytime soon.

A couple days ago Amelia started to smile. Big, gummy, bright eyed smiles. Oh, how sweet and heart melting they are...also did I mention brief. SO we don't have a picture of one of her wonderful smiles YET but as soon as we do it will be posted.

Also, Amelia slept her first night through 2 weeks ago. A whole, continuous 6 hours! Though she hasn't been doing this consistently since she hit her 6 week growth spurt...we are still stoked!
Amelia has also started to hold her head up on her own for brief periods, started cooing and gooing. It is so precious! I can't wait for Grandma and Grandpa Campbell to see her. Boy are they going to be amazed by how much she has grown! Come home soon grandma and grandpa, we miss you!

Meal times are quite a trial for me (Kristina). Now that breast feeding doesn't hurt anymore, we have moved on to throwing up entire meals. I call her "Cottage cheese mouth". :-) It is a little laborious feeding her over and over again. Any suggestions I am all ears!

Sorry no pictures this time. I will post new ones soon!

Thanks for reading!!!
Kristina Mattson

Just Pictures!

Father's Day

Grandpa Mattson's

Today we visited Grandpa Mattson's for Father's Day. Steve and Pat were excited to see how much little Amelia has grown and changed in the two weeks since they had seen her. Amelia was wearing a special outfit given to her by Grandma Bette. I forgot about it and crossed my fingers it would still fit her as it was a newborn size. The dress and shoes fit; the bloomers did not. Her is a picture of Amelia in her Sunday's best.

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Father's Day Part Two - Great Grandpa Thorbus

After visiting at Grandpa Mattson's in Big Lake we headed over to Great Grandpa Thorbus' in Crystal. We were a little late, but this time it wasn't MY (Kristina) fault. Amelia was hungry and Quinn was showing off his new "sidekick" cell phone to Guy when I realized it was a little after 3pm. We were supposed to be there at 3pm, whoops! So I finished Amelia up and we were on our way. At Grandpa's we were greeted by Aunt Sally and Vicky Powell, Uncle Tim and Aunt Judy, Grandpa Thorbus and Sharon. It was so nice to see everyone! Amelia stole the show (of course)! It was her first time meeting Grandpa...now, "Great" Grandpa Thorbus and Aunt Judy. (She had met Uncle Tim briefly while I changed her diaper at his home the other day after hanging out with Sandra.) We celebrated the afternoon debating what else but politics. It wouldn't be a gathering at Grandpa's with out blood pressures rising discussing the current political status of our country. I am grateful Guy is there now to debate Grandpa. Guy can really get Grandpa spinning circles. But it's all in good fun! The last time we all got together Guy and Grandpa placed a bet on the Democratic Party Nomination. Guy bet him Hillary would not receive the nomination, Grandpa bet she would. Well, well, well...Grandpa pay up! We had to photograph the occasion.

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Father's Day Part Three

Actually Part One

This morning Amelia got her Daddy a card and a book for the "Dad who is Best at Everything". It is a funny instructional how to be a dad.
I don't think he needs any help from a book.

From the looks of this picture
Amelia already has her Daddy "wrapped around her finger".

It was a really great First Father's Day! Thanks for reading!

Weekend at Grandma's House

Weekend at Grandma Bette's. Bette babysat Amelia Saturday while Guy and I were out on the riverboat reception. Saturday Amelia and I spent the night at Gramma's house. It was Amelia's first sleepover and gramma couldn't be more excited. On Sunday Amelia attended her first church service, (She slept through it.) went to Culver's and went shopping with Mom and Grandma to all the occassional sales in Buffalo.

Amelia had her 1 month pediatrician check up today. She is 10lbs 8oz (90%) despite spitting up everything she eats! I was amazed! She also is 22 1/4 in long (90%). Dr. Sackett wasn't too worried about the fussiness, green stools, spitting up as long as she is gaining weight, wetting and stooling enough. In the wetting and stooling department she gets a gold star!!! I have the diapers to prove it. Actually I have a lack of quarters to prove it. We cloth diaper.

Today is our 1 year wedding anniversary. We are headed out on the town. Bette (Guy's Mom) was kind enough to offer to babysit...we had to pull her arm to do it. Just kidding she couldn't be more excited to babysit little Amelia. So I am defrosting milk...weird! Amelia took to the bottle like a champ. This allows me a little more freedom and also for others to get in on the act of feeding her. Guy and I are going to W.A. Frost's for dinner. I can't wait. But it will be weird to go out with out her. I don't have to worry though because I know she is in good, loving hands. Well gotta go. Thanks for reading!