Our little girl is growing up!!!

Amelia Mattson 3 months, 3 weeks old

Amelia loves playing with her "Baby Einstein" gym. Thanks Grandma Pat!

She is too interested in showing off turning over (and over again!) to bat at the hanging toys.

Amelia is so close to crawling, it won't be long.

Amelia loves her "Bumbo" chair. Thanks "Gramma" Bette!

This is her favorite dolly at the moment. She loves to chew on the wooden arms.

She also loves to play the "drop it and have mom pick it up" game!

Learning cause and effect has never been so fun! :-)

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Amelia is changing so much everyday. She is turning into a little girl before our eyes. It is AMAZING how much she has changed in 4 months. She can turn over, lift her head up, scoot around on her tummy at little, stand with assistance, sit for a second or two before taking a nose dive, track objects, grab objects and of course put them in her mouth, laughs, giggles, coos and gurgles, recognizes mom and dad, sleeps through the night...most nights we are going through a phase right now.

She has doubled her birth weight or is close to doubling. I think it is the most amazing thing to see Amelia growing so well off of my breast milk. It really makes me proud.

Grandma & Grandpa Campbell visit

Rollie Pollie Pumpkin

Our little Amelia rolled on the floor for the first time today. She was just hanging out under her play gym as I was catching up on some emails. One minute she was on her back the next minute I hear little grunts, she was on her tummy. I couldn't believe I missed it. No worries though she did it again 3 more times in the span of 5 minutes. I put her back on her back and she would roll right back over. I am so proud of our little Pumpkin!!! She was able to roll over on softer surfaces like our bed...but this is a first on the floor. Now the fun begins! I can't wait. I fear we will need to baby proof before we know it.

In other news, I sold my baby. Yep, my other baby. My first brand new car, The Sentra. We decided we needed to upgrade with our growing family. Despite the increasing fuel prices we are going to get an SUV. We figure they are well priced now that the gas prices are up so that would off set the price of fuel for us. We live in the city and don't do a lot of long commutes. We were going to get something smaller like a Rabbit but then decided we needed to get something we could grow into and drive for a long while. I don't like SUVs. I think they are a menace. I think they are gas guzzlers and road hogs. Oh well! Sign me up. Half the time I walk to where ever I need to go if I can anyways. (In the summer). It is sad to give up the Sentra. It was the car that signified to me...you made it to adulthood. I bought it the fall after I graduated from college and got my first job. I was out in California. Out on my own, starting my career as a RN with my new car. It was a good little car...it only had about 50,000 miles on it. We got a good penny for it which is nice for the down payment for the preowned SUV's we are looking at.

In other, other news. Amelia may be starting to teethe. Yep. She is a drool monster! She likes to bite on her hands and whatever she can get into her mouth. We bought her this teething pacifier. It is HUGE...it is hillarious to watch her suck on it. HA! Pics will be posted soon!

Well gotta go, it's late and I need to get ready for bed.

Videos

My maternity leave has drawn to a close. My first day back to work was a sad, sad, day for me. As I was leaving for work Amelia was crying uncontrolably (which is very unlike her) . Bette was there and I knew she was in good hands and I just had to leave my babe, crying. I almost cried on the way to work. I had to think myself out of the tears and blink them back while I was driving. I wanted to call and check on her but I forgot my cell phone at home. (I don't know Bette's number by heart, though I know I could have called Guy and he could have given it to me had I really, really needed to call.) The first day back was a little shakey, kinda like getting back on a bike for the first time in a while. You remember how to balance but just are not quite comfortable with all the gears and brakes, yet. By the end of the night I had my groove back and by the end of the second night I was rockin' and rollin' again. It did feel nice to get out and work again...but honestly I just really love being a mom right now. I am enjoying motherhood much much more than I ever thought I would. I LOVE it. I can not wait to have more. Honestly. I am a baby person...who knew. I sure didn't.

Video of Amelia "Talking" with Dad.

Yay! I can't believe I got it to work. Enjoy!

I can't believe it!

Our little "Swashbuckler" is 12 weeks old!

I can't believe our little girl is going to be 3 months old, already! It's amazing how fast time flies! It is also amazing how much Amelia has changed from a floppy-headed newborn to a little babe with an awesome personality. She smiles, giggles, has curious eyes and seems fearless already.

Here are some milestones our little gal as achieved: Controls head, turns head from side to side, can bring objects to her mouth, holds head up at 45 degree angle, tracks objects with her eyes, smiles, coos, babbles, giggles, ROLLS OVER (this is so scary!), bears weight on legs supported, can sit supported, attempts to hold bottle in mouth, sleeps through the night (YAY), reaches for objects, is starting to prefer parents over strangers. (Shucks), I think she is also starting to conceive the principal of permanence.

Amelia is a "Daddy's Girl" through and through... She saves up her smiles and coos just for him. I am a little jealous at times, but more I am happy they have this special bond which allows for this interaction. Amelia and Guy have a little talk every evening when he comes home from work. She just talks and talks and talks to Guy. It is BEYOND precious! (I have it on video. Once I figure out how to post video I will post it.) She moves her hands while she talks. It's as if she is telling her Daddy all about the adventures of the day. "First we got up and I played with my rattle, then Mom and I went for a walk to the food store. It was cold in some places. Then we went outside again and walked and walked. I fell asleep, when I woke up we were home. Oh, and did I tell you Dad, I ate a lot today and I kept most of it down. Mom put me in the baby carrier. I really love that and guess what I fell asleep AGAIN! Yep and I woke up in another new place. People were looking at me in the carrier and saying things I couldn't understand yet, but I think they were good things because they were smiling...so I smiled back and they laughed...so I laughed. I think people like it when I smile so I do it more and more. Especially for you Daddy. I love you! " I think the conversation would have gone something like that. :-)

Well here are some new pictures of our little cupcake! Enjoy!

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Amelia hangin' out with her buddies Dugan and Finnian

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.

Saturday Night on the St. Croix

Last Saturday Guy and I left Amelia with Bette and attended Gary's wedding reception. It was held on the Avalon Riverboat. This time I remembered my camera.

The boat boarded at 6:30pm and docked at 10pm. It went so fast, it was 10pm before we knew it. I forgot to take many pictures, darn. If you are reading this and were there and have some pictures of Guy and I please share!

My cousin Vicky and Gordy breakin'
it down on the dance floor

Gary's Rehersal Dinner...I forgot my camera, Doh!

Friday we attended my second cousin, Gary Blasek's rehersal dinner. It was held at my other second cousin, Gordy's home on lake Minnetonka. He had completely remodeled his house since I had last been there. All I have to say is, WOW! Their home is beautiful.
Everyone was at the rehersal dinner. I saw family members I haven't seen in over 5 years like Dick and Kay Zellmer, Nikki Butterfield Zizak, Mary Kay Butterfield, David and Gracie Engstrand, all the Blaseks. Amelia was quite popular! Everyone took turns holding her. I was regreting forgetting my camera. It would have been nice to have gotten a picture of Kay and Betty holding Amelia. It was nice for everyone to meet Guy also.

Moby Wrap Magic

Amelia was having another episode of "Cranky Time" this afternoon. I attempted to nurse her but she wouldn't have any of it. I was desperate so I thought "Moby"! That last time I put Amelia in it she spit down my chest. At this point I didn't care if I felt warm curdy chunks running between my cleavage as long as she was calm. I was double lucky today. No chunks and a calm baby! (see picture on the left)

Amelia looked a me a couple times and screamed. The screams started to weaken as I eased her head down on to my left chest. She put her ear down and my heart beat soothed her in to "Happy Baby Land" and "Happy Mom Land" :-) I also was able to get some things done around the condo too. Double duty! Amelia and I went for a walk around the neighborhood also.

I think Moby and I are going to have a long fruitful relationship. Thanks Morgan for my awesome baby carrier!

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Part 2

Earlier in the afternoon Amelia and I met Kay and her little girl Gwen at Cafe Latte. Gwen is 12 weeks old and is so cute and petite. Amelia is about the same size as Gwen. Amelia is a little chunk! Well, not really Gwen is just long and lean and Amelia has 3+ chins :-) Gwen is so cute I which I had my camera with me . Kay had her in a little papuse/ sling carrier. She looked so cozy in there. It was nice to get out and see Kay before she has to head back to work. Her maternity leave ends on the 14th.