Babies' Checkup

Travis and Libby went to the doctor for checkups yesterday. Here's the latest on their development.

Travis

Height: 36 inches (75th percentile)

Weight: 28.4 pounds (56th percentile)

One year ago, Travis was in the 99th percentile for both height and weight, so his growth has clearly slowed down. He's healthy and growing, though, which is all that matters. His language development is advanced, perhaps because he talks nonstop! Dr. Copeland identified the cause of his nighttime waking: his 2-year molars are on their way.

Travis is also getting more "terrible" by the day. Just when we didn't think it was possible, he manages to find new mischief-- despite our thoroughly childproofed home. For instance, when I went into his room yesterday to get him ready for the doctor, I discovered quite a scene. He had opened each drawer of his dresser, had climbed up it like a ladder, and had thrown everything from the top to the floor. (Those items were on the top of the dresser specifically to keep Travis out of them. Thankfully, the bottom drawers are nice and heavy or there could have been serious danger.) That's Travis for you. He bounces from mischief to mischief constantly. We just hope he puts his creative, persistent, active, and mechanically smart qualities to good use some day. In the meantime, he is ridiculously adorable.

Libby

Height: 26 inches (20th percentile)

Weight: 15.25 pounds (5th percentile)

Libby is still our itty bitty girl. Don't let that 5th percentile fool you; she eats great and is even getting a little chunky! She is ahead with her motor development, and her language development (if you can call it that at this age) is great, too. Libby went from being a very quiet baby to babbling and squealing loudly most of the time. And she now pulls herself up to stand every chance she gets. In fact, we think she'll be cruising soon.

For how active Libby is, she's also very mellow. So long as she's fed, rested, and free to move about, she is content. We also joke that she's our gymnast. She's tiny, flexible, and extremely strong. If she wants to take something from Jamin or Travis, they have to try to keep it from her... and they're strong, too! Libby loves playing ball with her brothers. For now, they just roll balls back and forth. We hope they continue to be great friends (though I'm admittedly terrified of having two toddlers come December, especially with Travis as the mastermind).

***

Travis and Libby both did great with their shots. Libby only cried with the last one and calmed down quickly with a binky and Jamin's singing. Travis was happy the instant he got a Diego sticker and a sucker. Jamin was my special helper the whole time. Oh, how I love them.

Serenade

One evening a couple of weeks ago, the kids played while I unpacked.

After Travis went to bed, Jamin escaped into the backyard. He came inside some time later toting a few of his toys... and two flowers: one for Libby and one for me. 

"Girls really love flowers," Jamin explained.

(Like those dirty hands?)

As usual, Jamin asked us to put our flowers behind our ears. Libby wanted to eat hers, so it went on the counter instead.

Jamin pulled out the step ladder and dangled clothes hangers across the top. Then he placed two swords beside it. 

"My xylophone is ready!" he announced. "Girls also love music."

He serenaded us for the good part of an hour.

(Hammers and saws apparently make great mallets.)

We're lucky girls.

Breather

 

Life is pretty hectic right now.

We have a lot to tackle before classes resume for Scott. Chances are good that some of those tasks will spill over into the following couple of weeks.

While I love blogging, it isn't high on my priority list-- not to mention that we finally got our computer replaced (read: tons of set up, downloads, file conversions, etc. before it's 100% usable)-- so I'm taking a break from blogland for a little while.

Eight Months

In the midst of my 8-day-memory-posting streak, our baby girl turned 8 months old. 

Libby is such an easygoing, active, happy girl. I've never known a baby who cries less. She spends most of her time playing contently, smiling, eating, or sleeping. She scoot-crawls very fast these days: if I step into a different room for a moment, she's at my feet in no time. She loves her newfound ability to sit by herself. Libby has also started climbing. For now, she's just climbing into things at her level (the bottom level of the coffee table is her favorite). She has successfully pulled herself up to stand once and continues trying to. For her small size, she is surprisingly strong.


We just love her!

(Tutu, headband, and flower clip by Joey of Libby Loo's Boutique)

Memory #8: Eighth Anniversary

Why, yes-- that would be today!

Scott begins his straight graveyard shift tonight (woohoo!), so we began the festivities yesterday.

First, we headed downtown to check into our room at the Grove.

Next, we stuffed ourselves full of sushi and hibachi steak. Delicious!

We then picked up dessert and turned in for the night. 

After brunch and a little shopping, we headed back to reality this afternoon.

While we didn't get the loads of sleep we hoped for (courtesy of loud traffic at 4am), we had a fabulous kid-free time. Thank you to Charly & Jeannie for watching the little ones!

(View of the city from our room)

We've truly had a wonderful eight years. Happy anniversary!

Memory #7: Wedding Day

These eight years would not have been possible without our first day as a married couple. Our wedding is a wonderful memory in itself! 

I had grand plans to write a detailed account of our wedding, but today is much too busy (in a good way) to dedicate that amount of time. Instead, here are some highlights of our big day:

• Waking up early and feeling surprisingly well rested (everyone told me that I would toss & turn all night). 
• My dear friend Char styling my hair after a sleepover in the Greenwood Inn bridal suite.
• Being sealed for time and all eternity to the man of my dreams. Patriarch Westenhaver came to the Portland Temple that day specifically for our wedding. Our sealing was simply beautiful.
• Touching up my hair and makeup and changing into my lovely gown.
• Taking pictures in the summer heat for hours. We think our photographer may have had Parkinson's. Not to make light of the disease, but it didn't inspire a lot of confidence in the days of film photography. The concern and loads of sweat are now a funny memory of our day. Thankfully, we do have some gorgeous pictures.
• Dining with close friends and family at the Pavillion Bar & Grill. I can still taste the calimari, olives, and lemon-rosemary stuffed chicken. 
• Cutting into our incredible cake. Beaverton Bakery prepared a decadent masterpiece of chocolate fudge cake with raspberry ganache filling and chocolate ganache icing.
• Chatting, laughing, and spending time with loved ones through the afternoon and evening.
• Opening gifts in our suite.
• Saying goodbye to everyone and beginning our lives together. 

(Me and my hubs, August 17, 2002. Sorry about the poor quality of this photo. We're still scanner-less, so this is a picture of a picture.)

Memory #6: Refiner's Fire

For a moment, I studied Scott's face. The embers below cast a faint orange blush on his cheek. He shifted his eyes to mine. 

"Are you ready?" he asked. The fire's reflection danced in his gaze.

"Yes," I smiled. 

"Let's go."

Our hands clasped. As we moved our feet across the smoldering coals, our steps aligned. The heat gave way to pain, and we walked more swiftly. 

At last we stepped on to the cool forest floor. Scott pulled me close, and I looked at him again. The fire now burned intensely in his dark eyes. 

That moment silently reaffirmed our commitment. Through thick and thin, we're in this together. I wouldn't cross the flames of life with anyone else.