Photoshop

I got photoshop on a deal at Costco and I am super excited about it! I am trying to learn how to use the program and scrapbook all of Vanessa's growing up. And one day, I plan to go back and scan all of me and Jon's pictures that are pre-digital days. It's an overwhelming task to think about, but I'll get around to it...one day... In the mean time, I am loving this program and learning more and more about it all the time.

Christmas

We were really spoiled this year by both our parents. Vanessa got more toys than she can ever possibly eat (she eats, not plays with her toys). Jon and I got a new computer and a new stroller. The stroller is really more for me but Jon says he is pretty excited about it too :)



We have spent a lot of time with both our families the last couple weeks and loved it. Jon has enjoyed being out of school for a while, but he starts again on Monday so that feels pretty short lived. We didn't take as many pictures as we would have liked, but we definitely had a lot of fun!

Seven Month Check Up

This was taken December 16, just a few days before her check up on Dec 21. She's doing great and is very healthy.
Height 26"...35%
Weight 15 lb 6 oz...19%
Head 17"...54%
She's had a runny nose the last couple of days. She's actually snoring in my arms right now. I couldn't get her to stay asleep laying down, I think because she couldn't breathe so well. So here we are :)
She is sitting up like a champ now. And, this just in!...last night she army crawled across the counter. She did it several times last night but I can't get her to do it today. We did get it on film though.

Polar Express

The day after Thanksgiving we went with all the Purdy family on a Polar Express ride (aka Frontrunner). We rode into SLC, went to dinner and the lights and rode home. It was a lot of fun and the kids LOVED the train. Cody cried when the train going to Ogden came and left and we didn't get on. He was much happier when we boarded for Salt Lake.


We went to the Garden Restaurant for dinner and Vanessa tried a little lemon.



After dinner we got Vanessa to sleep and Jon 'wore' her in the carrier. He now knows what it is like to be pregnant :)
She slept through the entire time at the lights, which we are pretty sure she would have loved. Seeing how she still has an obsession with lights. When she woke up, on the train ride home, we unwrapped her and found we had kept her a little too toasty. Her hair was wet from sweating.

All in a Day's Work...

Helping with Laundry (sorta)

Hugs for Daddy

Festive winter PJs


I went to the doctor last week and I am finally done taking Coumadin! Horray! No more bloody noses and no more bruises. The bad news: the clot calcified in my leg so there is still a little there that is now a part of my anatomy. How endearing! I still have persistent swelling that is a pain, but nothing they can do about it. On the regime to "try out" is running a few times a week, massage, and hot baths. Hm....I can live with those. The doctor said they might help with the swelling and forcing my body to make "alternate plumbing."
The other bad news is there is a good chance I will have to take blood thinners every pregnancy. Super freaking lame! We'll see, nothing is for sure yet, and I'll definitely do my research ;)

Six Months!

Vanessa is six months old as of yesterday. I can't believe how fast it has gone! She is a beautiful baby and so much fun. She surprised me about two weeks ago by sitting up on her own. Just for a few seconds, but I hadn't even realized she could. We've been practicing and she's pretty much a pro now. Unless she really wants to see something. Then she cranes her head around and forgets she is still top heavy :)

We started feeding her rice cereal mixed with breast milk last Sunday. She did great with this. It tasted the same as what she was used to so she only had to adjust to the texture. She did great and tried to eat the spoon about every bite. Yesterday, we started feeding her bananas. I know, I know, veggies first. But I want to make her baby food and we only had bananas. So bananas it was. She did great with these too. Her poop kinda freaked me out this morning (green banana bread batter?!) but it didn't seem to bother her ;)

We also had some super cute pictures taken. We don't have them back yet, but they'll follow shortly!

Vanessa's check-up

Vanessa had her four month check up on October 28. Technically, she was five months, but we're a little behind.
She was 24.5", which is the 24%
She weighed 14 lbs. 6oz. and that's the 33%
And her head was 42cm, which is 49%
Hm...looks like she might be short, like her mommy :)

Steven's Wedding

Vanessa sporting her new hat
I'm pretty sure these cousins will be friends one day :)













Waiting outside the temple for the happy couple


Jenny and Steven tied the knot on October 1st. They were married in the Salt Lake temple. We had lots of fun that day and are so glad Jenny is officially part of the family. I have no idea how I went the whole day without getting any pictures of Steven and Jenny but their photographer covered that pretty well.

Vanessa's Favorite Things...

being tickled,
playing cards,

waterbottles,

and of course her Daddy!

Cutie Pie

This is where Vanessa sits while I am in the bathroom getting ready. I can see her and she can see me. We smile at each other every once in a while. Or I get this look, the 'are you done yet?'

Fort Lauderdale

Jon went to Fort Lauderedale and Tampa for two interviews for grad school. And what kind of a wife would I be if I made him go all alone?! So of course I went with to enjoy a little sunshine :)
The beach was only across the street but the heat was more than she could take. It really must be exhausting being a baby!

Excited for the beach!

She was kind of hesitant about the waves but by the time we left she let us go out and even took some splashes.

The swimming pool was quite a hit. She probably would have been content splashing in there all day :)

The Trim

Vanessa loves her new hair cut!

Business in the Front....

Party in the back! The mullet is coming off. I already tried once but the clippers were too big and didn't work. Steph has volunteered Ryan's beard trimmer for the job. I will post the "after" pictures soon.

Vanessa is actually quite shocked by the idea of voluntarily losing more hair :)


Where did it all go? This picture was July 1. All that soft fluffy hair is just a memory...

Labor Day

I realize this was at the beginning of the month and it is now the end of the month but better late than never right?!
For Labor Day we went camping, er, we went to Jon's uncle's cabin and slept in a tent :) It was lots of fun and Vanessa, of course, did great. She was so happy she had everyone believing she was the easiest baby alive. Which she actually is a really easy baby and I realize that so I just enjoy being spoiled with her.

Four Months

Vanessa has just recently started to use her feet to hold things. Last month she "discovered her foot." Now this month she is starting to put it to use. She hasn't figured out that they're fun to suck on yet though :)

This is Vanessa with her cousins Breann and Molly. Just hanging out :)
Vanessa hasn't rolled from her back to her tummy yet. I blame myself because I am horrible about tummy time. She sleeps on her tummy but I get her as soon as she fusses so sleeping in that position probably doesn't help her developmentally (it's supposedly a risk for SIDS but I won't get into that). Grandma recently bought a BUMBO. She thinks this is her throne. She chills in it and just watches everyone or sucks on the side. She loves being able to sit up. If I put her in the papasan she is constantly trying to pull herself up with her head (though she can't get more than her head up and off).
She is sucking on her hands like crazy. Usually two fingers on the right hand but occasionaly she'll get all four in. She isn't much for the thumb though. I guess we'll see if the fingers are as habit forming as the thumb. It's actually more like she is eating them rather than sucking on them.

Vanessa's Giggles

Vanessa has been giggling for over a month. This is the best video I have on my digital camera. I haven't figured out how to upload from our video camera, so this will have to do. She laughs the most and the most easily at little kids. They can just look at her and she thinks they're funny. It's just us adults that have to work for it. Clay got her going the other day throwing a purple bag on her feet and then pulling it off again. She was squealing and giggling so loud!

That's It, I'm Moving to Sparta!

Anyone seen Hercules lately? Remember the scene with the people standing around talking and they see the bug and thinks it the plague locust? And then the old man says, "that's it, I'm moving to Sparta." I can't help but feel that way sometimes (though I wouldn't choose Sparta...Jon and I like New Zealand). There are so many things going on in this country that just drive me nuts right now. Sometimes my happy place in my mind is just moving away...somewhere far far away...

Three Months (and a week)

I am probably biased, but I think she's beautiful! And she is growing so fast! She giggled for the first time on August 12! She's doing it more and more now and is so much fun! Last night Jon and I spent 1 1/2 hours setting up the crib! She was hanging out on the mattress (don't worry, not in the crib) and rolled from her tummy to her back! We were so proud, we pulled out the camera but she didn't do it again (of course right?). She still doesn't sleep through the night but I sometimes wonder if it isn't because she knows when she wakes up she gets to sleep with mommy and daddy :) Needless to say, she didn't sleep in her crib last night (or her cradle for that matter). But she just woke up from her first nap in it. And yes, I took pictures of such a big step ;) I think it will be a slow transition since the crib doesn't fit in our room and I like having her close :) I won't give the list of reasons I gave my mom for wanting her an arms length away, it all boils down to one thing...I'm paranoid :)
She's drooling like crazy and I just pray she's not going to be teething early. She is starting to play with toys, she can almost pick them up and suck on them by herself. She often drops them before they make it to her mouth so she just goes to town on her hands. She is also starting to discover her feet (note picture of her staring at her foot) but she can't quite reach or gets distracted by her hands when she tries :) She's pretty much adorable and we love her!

Camping in the Uintahs

We did an overnight camping trip (mostly for the boys to get some fishing in) up by Mirror Lake. It was a lot of fun. Vanessa loved all the trees and the fire and slept like a champ (even if I didn't because I was so paranoid about her being ok).

Coeur d' Alene

Purdy Family Vacation this year was in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. For those who are thinking where the heck... it's up in the pan handle of Idaho, near Spokane Washington. It was tons of fun. The pictures don't even come close to showing how beautiful it is up there! We went to the beach, to a water park, boating, kayaking (in the kayakos), repelling, rock climbing, lots of good eating and being with family! Jon also got in some fishing, of course :)