Happy Half Birthday Matthew!

Can it be? Has it really been six months already? I can remember back to the first few weeks of Matthew's life- enjoying every day to the fullest, while also feeling like each week was such a huge milestone. It seemed like the weeks were long and a huge feat to overcome. So how is it that without realizing it, he is six months old? There has been much talk about what we call, "The Third Child Syndrome". Can the quick passing of half a year be attributed to this? Were we so busy with the other two kids and busy with keeping up with life's furious pace that we failed to realize we have had this beautiful little guy for so long? Whatever the case, I can't believe what a big boy Matthew is and I am looking forward to the next six months and all it has to offer!

At six months, Matthew is a very healthy, chubby baby. He is now 21 pounds and 27 1/2 inches long. While he still doesn't have any teeth, his little gums show serious signs of a tooth on the horizon. He is drooling, his gums are swollen, and he has that little spotty teething rash around his mouth. Yes, we should have a tooth or teeth soon, but I am going to enjoy the look of his gummy mouth because soon we will never see it like that again. One significant growth of this month was Matthew's hair. It has grown enough so that now it gets spiky in the bath and we can see a color emerging. While his hair still can't be specified blond, red, or brown (it changes colors in different lighting) it is fun to look at. Some people say it is strawberry blond, others say it is gingerbread. I have no formal opinion because every time I call it a certain color- it changes. So I have resigned to watch the technicolor Matthew hair show and wait it out! His big blue eyes are here to stay (as if there was ever a question about that). Matthew's skin has really tolerated the sun. While his skin is not as dark as mine, he does exhibit some olive coloring and despite keeping him in the shade and using sunblock- he has tan lines.


Physically, Matthew has grown a lot stronger and more dexterous this month. He is happy on his tummy, but once placed there- almost immediately rolls over. He has been pivoting a little on his tummy and moving backward a little bit. He loves to lay down on his back and bat at toys. He is controlled enough to reach up and grab something in front of him. He is very close to rolling over from his back to his tummy. He rolls over half way, but flips back onto his back. Again, due to the fact that he is held a great deal of the day and really should have more floor time, I am trying to make sure I find time to get him on the floor! Matthew is able to sit up for about 30 seconds or so before falling forward or to his side. Because of this, he has started to spend some time in his high chair and likes to play with spoons or smallish toys on the tray.


He still loves his pluggie (pacifier) and is able to take it out of his mouth and then put it back in. He is talking a lot more and starts to sing when I sing to him. He seems to really recognize people in our family and exhibits his excitement by kicking his legs incessantly! Matthew is now super aware of where Mommy is at all times. God forbid if someone else is holding him and I walk through the room! He sees me and starts to whine and I can't resist the feeling of being wanted so badly! He will watch me no matter what I am doing and will lean out of someones arms and bring both arms out to me so I will take him. He is a snuggler and when I hold him, he likes to nuzzle his head into my neck and chest and even gives me hugs. He has started to have a little stranger anxiety and if someone he doesn't know gets really close to his face (mostly if he realized he doesn't know them) he will start crying. Another thing Matthew does that my other two children didn't do is scream! I mentioned earlier about the "Third Child Syndrome" and I think that this fits into it as well. Matthew is a well tempered baby- an easy baby in my opinion. However, when he is upset or really needs something, he will cry/scream with such a loud and high pitched sound that you can't help but pay attention to him. Does he do this because he is the third child and at times I am preoccupied? My cousin just had her third baby and he is a screamer/squealer, too. Does the third child and every subsequent child after that need to find a way to get attention? Just a thought . . .

Matthew's personality is really starting to exhibit itself. Not only is he a smiley guy, but he is laughing and seems to understand humor. Don't laugh at me! I am serious. If I laugh, he knows to laugh. When I do a certain tango dance with him, he knows that we dip at the end. When I get to that part of the song, he smiles because he knows I am going to dip him. While I never expected Matthew to lack in the personality department (how could he with siblings like Michael and Claire), I just think it is cute to see his personality take such form!

On his six month birthday, Matthew had his first rice cereal and he loved it. There was no tongue thrusting, instead- he swallowed it completely. I anticipate that Matthew will be a good eater and we won't have any food issues.

Michael and Claire continue to LOVE having a baby brother. They are really helpful and help keep him occupied when I make dinner or take care of things around the house. In their eyes, every time Matthew can do something new- it is like a miracle. I heard Claire gasp when she watched Matthew eat a Gerber snack puff for first time. Michael has been known to find it fascinating when Matthew reaches out and touches him.

We are loving life with Matthew. We have had a very busy summer and Matthew has just rolled with the punches and let us enjoy ourselves. He's flown on numerous airplanes, taken many long car rides, and had to be patient a lot while I help the other kids. He is very adaptable and has handled all of this very well. And while I cheer and mourn (just a little bit) the fact that he is already half a year old and that he is in the last few weeks with a mouth with no teeth, there are many wondrous things on the horizon for this little guy and I can't wait to witness them. We love you little bear.

Lake Chelan

Every other year, my family takes a trip to Lake Chelan. There is nothing like wading in the crystal blue water, eating ice cream cones that practically melt before you can eat them, basking in the old town feel of the city, and swirling down the water slides that sit high above the town on the side of a mountain. Yes, Lake Chelan has it all and it is the perfect place to relax and enjoy family while sharing tons of laughs and memories.

I have been going to Lake Chelan since I was a child. I camped for years during the summer in the Chelan State Park with my cousins, camped with my family in both the State and City Parks, and more recently, stayed in hotels (my dad hates camping) right on the lake. While I do miss the smell of the campfire and waking up on a cold pillow, I thoroughly enjoy the hotel atmosphere and don't miss the dirt and muck. For me, Chelan has gotten better and better since I introduced my kids to the fun it has to offer. They now have their own memories and ask me year long when we are going to go back! For Michael and Claire, this trip to Chelan was their third. For Matthew and my nephew Kyle, this was their first trip!

Chelan is a short 3 1/2 hours from my parent's house. To break up the trip, we sometimes stop in a quaint and cute German town called Leavenworth. The small town was built to look German and offers a lot of shopping and yummy snacks. We couldn't resist the taffy shop and of course, we had to frequent the authentic German coffee shop, Starbucks. The kids enjoyed the opportunity to stretch their legs and Matthew was equally happy to get out of his carseat, eat, and enjoy the scenery.

For the past two trips, we have stayed at a cute little hotel on the other side of a little bridge from the small downtown of Chelan. Unfortunately, they were remodeling and have started upgrading their rooms to draw more guests (and more money)! So, we opted instead to stay at Campbell's Resort which is right in the middle of town. I stayed there years ago with my Uncle Denny, Aunt Carol, and cousins Julie and Stefanie when I was 11 and we really enjoyed our stay there. This year, our family (13 people) occupied 4 rooms and used my Mom and Dad's room as the 'Party Room'. Okay, we basically snacked, played games, and fed the babies there- but that is about as much partying as we get these days! Their room was situated perfectly on the lake and it never got boring sitting on their balcony, watching the boats zig-zag on the water, while eating red licorice (a Chelan must!). At night, the starry sky was breath-taking and if you timed it right, you could watch the moon sneak behind the mountain only to return the next day.

The big variable of the trip were Matthew (5 1/2 months) and Kyle (9 months). Would having two babies throw off the rhythm of the trip, or would having them there enhance the trip? I am happy to report that both babies did great! They slept pretty well, and napped on the go. They even went down a few waterslides! When we booked the trip last year, both Jill and I were pregnant and we wondered how it would be once the boys arrived. I think everyone was happy they were with us. They looked adorable in their swim trunks, Kyle got to try his first ice cream, and both enjoyed the favorable weather and I think they relaxed, too.

One big sell for Chelan, next to the nostalgia of the small city, is the water park called SlideWaters. It is a smallish park, but so much fun! The babies and Michael and Claire started on the small kiddie slides. It didn't take long for my two crazies to want to go on the big slides and off they went. We first took them on a double tube ride which is no small feat! Up the sides of the slide we flew and all I could hear was Claire's giggling as I tried to see through her hair which was flying back in my face. Next to the double tube ride is a slide called the Purple Haze. I went on it a few years ago and remembered it to be a little rough and scary, but not too bad. Claire had absolutely no interest in it, but Michael begged and begged to go on. Michael knows that when we wants to push the envelope, he should ask me because Damien is more conservative when it comes to rides and scary-ish things. So, after seeing the hopeful glimmer in Michael's eyes and after talking to Damien about letting Michael go on it, he agreed. Up the hill we climbed to the entrance to the ride. The whole time in line, Michael was asking me if it was going to be scary. I said that it was a little scary, really dark, but a lot of fun. As I confidently answered Michael, I started to get nervous because I really didn't remember the ride much except that it is pitch black in the tube the whole way down. I was going to go first so that I could be at the bottom to catch him. I waved goodbye to Michael and told him to be brave. Off I went. Man- was it dark. Gees, the pace was fast and the water was rough. I was swished around and seriously couldn't see anything. The air in the tube was warm and I am embarrassed to say- I started hyperventilating. All I could think about was my Michael- who was so courageously handing his fear but was doing it because Mommy said it would be okay. And here I was- a grown woman freaking out! I pictured him crying, I thought of him choking on the water. I was now in a full blown panic and thought that maybe if I yelled loud enough up the tube to my brother-in-law Brian, he would hear me and spare Michael from the terrifying ride. As soon as I came up with this brilliant idea (not) I was splashed with overwhelming daylight and thrown into the pool of water. I knew that my splashing in the wading pool was the signal for Michael to go. Brian gave him a push and off he went. The ride only lasts about 45 seconds, but it seemed like an eternity. I pictured him coming out hysterically crying. I bit my nails and felt Damien and the rest of the family's eyes peering through me to the opening of the tube to see Michael come out. I brainstormed how I would handle Damien's anger as he held his frightened son and how it was all my fault. As soon as I began to formulate my plan, the tube spit Michael out into the water. "I'm coming Michael! Mommy's coming!" Once he wiped the water from his eyes, he yelled out, "That was awesome! I want to do it again!" All my worrying- thinking Michael couldn't handle it and I was the only one hyperventilating. In my eyes, this very moment propelled Michael to a new level in my mind. He is growing up and he did a great job at handling his fears. A lot better than I did! The whole day at the park was so fun, hysterical, and perfect. SlideWaters lived up to our expectations, again. Can't wait to go back in a few years!

Our trip was great! There were no snags with our ever-growing family, and we all felt satiated on day 4 when it was time to return home. Yes, Chelan lived up to its promise and the delicious ice cream at Pat & Mike's on the way out of town left us wanting more!

Three In The Bed

Matthew is so lucky to have a brother and a sister who love him so much. They think he is so cool! These great moments are what make the craziness of having 3 kids worth it!

Tastes of Summer

I am waiting to feed Matthew food until he is 6 months old. I waited with my other two, so I don't see why I wouldn't wait with Matthew, too. A lot of people start feeding their baby food when they are 4 months old, but I am more conservative when it comes to these kinds of milestones. If you think about it- there are only a few months in a baby's life when they only drink milk and I cherish these times!

When my other two kids were babies, I never felt the need to feed them early or even give them a taste of food. But since Matthew is so aware of his surroundings and seems interested in what we are all doing, I have found myself tempted and have given in! Last week as I was biting into a juicy apple while holding Matthew, I noticed that he was watching my hand was I bit the apple and returned it to the table. This went on the entire time I ate the apple and I decided that I would quench his curiosity. So I put the apple in his mouth. He ran the tongue over it and then started sucking . . . and sucking . . . and sucking. He brought his hands up to the apple and was pretty much attacking it! After a few minutes, I took the apple away and he had a total meltdown. Screaming and kicking, but I couldn't give it back because he had weakened it and I didn't want to have him break off a piece in this mouth. Then the next day, he watched me intently as I drank water from a glass. So I gave him a try and again, he loved it! When I went to take the glass away, he again screamed and screeched. At dinner the other night, we were eating watermelon and it was so sweet and good. He watched Michael and Claire eat their watermelon from start to finish. Damien thought we should give him a taste and I totally agreed! He sucked on watermelon for about five minutes straight- barely taking a moment to breathe!

Matthew is not a little baby. People comment all the time about his chubby arms and legs and how 'healthy' he looks. This little guy loves to eat! I will continue to give him tastes of food, but as far as eating cereal and food from a jar, he only needs to wait two more weeks. It should be fun to start foods since he really seems to enjoy trying new things!

4th of July

Because the 4th of July fell on a Wednes- day this year, we had nearly a full week of parties! We started last Saturday at Lani's In-Laws for their annual 4th of July celebration! The kids were really looking forward it this year and the Gullottas didn't disappoint! Their house is perched way up on top of a mountain and on a clear day you can see the all the way to San Francisco! The big sell for the kids is that their pool has a swirly slide (as they call it). The weather was perfect, the pool refreshing, and everyone seemed happy in the spirit of the 4th! It was fun to see the cousins play/swim together and we still can't believe how big Megan is getting. In between swimming and catching up with everyone there, we dined on their amazing pizzas! They have trays of fresh pizza dough which you form yourself and adorn with any of the multitude of toppings. Then they put it in their wood-fired pizza oven. I really do look forward to these pizzas every 4th! We had a great time and always appreciate being invited to their event!

On the actual 4th of July, most of the Swendsen family gathered down here in our neck of the woods. Damien and I wanted to make the holiday special so we made a few yummy touches for the party! Marlene and Mark have a bunch of Meyer lemon trees at their house- so when we visit, I always make sure to bring a bag home for decoration purposes and just to have lemons on hand if a recipe calls for them. But for this 4th of July, I wanted to use them in a recipe and I decided on Lemon Meringue Pie. At first I thought it was a great idea. But when I went to look in the Joy of Cooking for the recipe, they warned you that Meringue can be tricky! Two whole pages were devoted to the dos and don'ts and I must admit, I was a little nervous to make it! I hired Damien to by my sous-chef and appreciate that Heather took the kids to the pool for an hour so we could really concentrate on making it right! We followed the directions exactly and what do you know? The pie turned our beautifully. Sure it looked pretty, but I couldn't lose the visual from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when the seemingly perfect turkey is anything but perfect! Lucky for us, it tasted as good as it looked!

The party was fun! Small, yet lively. As of yesterday, Damien's sister, Ali, is living at Mark and Jocelyn's house (since they are abroad). Ali will be joined by her husband in their house after they get married in August. Because Ali's first full day living there was the 4th, not only was the 4th was a celebration for our country but also a celebration in honor of Ali's big move! We had a lot of fun. Water balloons, fireworks, BBQ, a plethora of Coke made in Mexico (it is so sweet because it is made with sugar cane), and good family fun. It was the first 4th of July we have spent down here in many years and it was a lot of fun. As always, we thought of Hellie -Damien's grandma, who's birthday was the 4th and from whom Michael got his red hair. We had a few pictures of her around the house and made sure to tell some great stories about her. We ended the night watching a firework show that was set off from a neighboring high school. It was awesome to see Matthew watching the big fireworks. He moved his eyes around and flailed his arms and legs as the colors erupted in the sky.

I couldn't help but think that my kid's memories of the 4th of July would be so much different from my own. When we were kids, the greatest thing about the holiday was saving up your money and then biking to the firework stand where you could buy your very own fireworks. Since fireworks are now banned in so many areas, my kids might never know the feeling of what it is like to light off your own fireworks. Sure, we almost caught ourselves on fire a few times, and sure, a bumblebee firework flew at me and burned a hole in my shirt, and yes- I did hold the roman candle as it spewed fire into the air, and really- I only caught my hair on fire once . . .

Maybe it is best that they won't really get up close and personal with them. Nevertheless, we had a great 4th and if my kids remember one thing from the 4th of July, I hope it is that holidays and 'special days' are best spent surrounded by the people you love. God Bless our Country and God Bless Hellie!