The Minneapolis McCues: The McCue June

Well, the big news around our home this month is.... Jon is finally done (or at least will be as of June 30th). So, to celebrate this past weekend, we had a BBQ get-together for family and friends. It was kind of a more last minute decision to have the party, because I didn't think that between his call schedule and our busy June that we'd have the time. But as it turned out, his mother (and her twin sister, Jon's aunt Carolyn) were going to be coming to visit that weekend. I then thought, hey, we can do this - with their help.

And we did do it, but of course it was a lot of planning, preparation and work. And throw a nearly 9 month old with her needs, wants and schedule and it's just that much harder. But, thankfully, as I said, Jon's mom and Aunt were around to help with the shopping, preparation and even just to keep an eye on Meredith while we did some work. Unfortunately, this didn't make their visit very relaxing, but we very much appreciated their help.

For Jon's graduation present he decided that he wanted the Big Green Egg. This is a ceramic grill/smoker, which Jon used for the first time for his graduation party, making our usual, smoked pork shoulder. It was a nice turn out, with family, friends and kids. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't very cooperative, but we found room in the house and made do. We had a great time and Meredith was very happy, easy girl - but I hope it's a while before we have to host a party again, or maybe we'll just have it catered.....

The following week was a bit busy as well, full of appointments and getting ready for our family trip to a cabin on Big Makenzie Lake in Spooner, WI. On Wednesday, June 16th - Meredith turned 9 months old! I can't believe how fast the time is going! We also had her feeding clinic evaluation that day at Children's Hospital in St. Paul. All in all, their evaluation was good. They do agree that she seems like she either did, or currently still has heartburn and probably would've been better to treat it more aggressively earlier in her life (I'll keep that in mind for my next one, I guess!). They also were more interested in the fact that she wouldn't eat baby foods or food from a spoon. They encouraged me to work with her with that by pureeing more flavorful foods (apparently babies with heartburn don't tend to like bland foods?!). Also to use textured tools to give her pureed foods since she may have a negative association with the spoon. They also gave me ideas of different finger foods to try and told me not to worry to much about the nutritional value of the foods - since most of her calorie and nutritional needs were being met by the bottle. All of these suggestions were enlightening. But they also gave me some advice that stressed me out and seemed unrealistic and unnecessary. For instance, they gave me a loose feeding schedule that included 6 bottles, 3 meals and 2 snacks, which I can't imagine finding enough time in her waking hours to do such a thing. And the whole idea to push pureed versus finger foods seemed unnecessary. Also they did say to give the solid foods first, then the bottle - and not to give her the "dream feed", but at the same time said to give her 26 to 28 oz of formula a day. Luckily, the next day I had Meredith's 9 month appt and I discussed these suggestions with our pediatrician. She has always been more relaxed (which is both good and bad) and said not to worry about the pureed foods and not to worry about the amount of formula, but to just keep trying new finger foods with her and see how it goes - and I'll have to say - it's been going pretty good! Incidently, she also had gotten pink eye that day at day care - so we got some eye drops for her and poor Jon stayed home with her that Friday from day care!

That Saturday we left for WI and boy was my car packed to the brim!! Jon drove separately because he was going to be leaving on Tuesday and Meredith and I were staying all week. The first two nights my brother, sis in law, step sis, her hubby and son and my step dad were also up - otherwise the rest of the week was the usual crew - my mom, gma, uncle, aunt, 3 cousins, 2 sisters, bro in law and niece and nephew. I stayed in a cabin with my sister Emily, her hubby, Andrew and their two kids - Madison (5 yr) and Brooks (10 months). It was a lot of fun, but I'll tell you - I was happy to be home.

About half of the days were nice weather - we brought the kids and played in the lake in the afternoon. But the other half of the days it rained - which was hard because there really isn't anything else to do but watch movies. In the evenings we had dinners together and then after the kids were asleep - we headed up to the bar. Most of the nights my grandma stayed back with the kids - but I usually came back and relieved her around 11pm or midnight (because I knew I'd be getting up at 7am with Meri) - then almost everyone else stayed up until bar close - which was somewhere between 2 and 3am, including my Gma!!

Meredith had a pretty good time. She ended up having fun in the lake and at the lake. I found out that she is kind of a bully - she was always trying to climb over Brooks and steal his pacifier. I also had the opportunity to work on feeding her solid foods - which she did pretty well with. She seems to like sandwich meat, shredded cheese, potatoes, beans and bread. She can't tolerate cottage cheese and yogurt. Still not a fan of veggies or fruit. And she pretty much finished all the bottles she got! I did stop doing her "dream feed", the 10-11pm feeding while she was asleep. So, maybe she is making up for the other ounces in her day time feedings - fine with me!!

But I was ready to go home to a clean house, one that doesn't have sand and dead bugs on the floor and that is larger than one living space and two bedrooms for 5 to 6 people. I was happy to have a seperate bedroom from Meredith and to have my husband to help me. Not that my family wasn't helpful - but there is something to be said to having no guilt when handing your hubby your child and telling them you're going to go back to bed :)!!

Some 9 month happenings......

Meredith is very BUSY!! She is crawling, pulling herself up and cruising around on the furniture. I'm sure she'll be walking pretty darn soon!!

She finally got her first tooth!! I just happened to feel her gums last week and sure enough, her bottom left tooth has come through. I didn't even notice that she was fussy prior to this happening. I thought for sure when she was teething that she'd be a bear - not eating or sleeping - but that didn't seem to happen - I hope that's how it is with the rest of her teeth!

She's basically on the same schedule she's been on for a while. Three 1 to 2 hours naps a day, to bed around 8:30 or 9pm and up between 7 and 7:30am. She doesn't fuss much at night, but if she does, I just have to put her pacifier in and that's that!

She's still swaddled, but usually gets one arm out sometime in the middle of her sleeping. This is actually good, because she can then get her pacifier back in her own mouth! She's also still rolling all over the place while swaddled and actually seems to prefer sleeping on her stomach!

And she's currently eating bottles well, for me anyway - today at day care she took 3.5 oz and 4 oz and took horrible naps (I really want a nanny!!!!).

All in all, she's a great little girl. But after a week with her cousin Brooks, I realize we need to start teaching her No, No! I don't want her to be the daycare bully, pushing kids over and stealing their things! Jon and I have basically been letting her crawl all over us, steal our glasses and play with our jewelry, I guess we'll have to try and start teaching her some manners. My sister started telling her No, No at the cabin and all she does is turn and look at you with a huge mischievous grin! I think I'm in for trouble!

Danielle with Meri and Sam

Daddy being silly

Over at our friend's the Whitson's, for a BBQ with the Blacks

Jon, Meri and I at Solera for Jon's Surgery Graduation Party

Gma Stone (McCue) finally here again for another visit

Smiling with Gma

Meri is such a big girl, no more baby bath tub - playing in the big bath tub now!

Perfect time to cuddle, right out of the tub

Great Aunt Carolyn (Jon's mom's twin sister), reading Meri a story

Jon and I all dressed up for our night out while Gma and Great Aunt Carolyn babysit

Jon smoking his pork shoulder on the big green egg!

My college gal pals, plus kids, at Jon's Grad party

All the kiddos on the couch, how cute!

My sis-in-law, Jenny, bro, Justin and my youngest sis, Jill at the party

Gpa Pfaff with his little granddaughter

Carolyn, Jon and his mom

Meredith tooling around in her new walker, at the party (don't worry - all gates are up and locked, there will be no falling down the stairs!)

Meri getting a little too friendly with the dog, luckily she's taking it lying down (ha, ha!)

Jon with his friends Sly and Gabe

Me, my dad, my sis and Meri: can you see the resemblance?

Our happy family

Jon with Sly and Danielle at the General Surgery Graduation

Meri's first happy experience in the water, she used this floatie each day on the lake like a walked and just cruised around the shallow area

My Gma, Meri in my sister's stroller and my mom - all of us just hanging outside

My niece Madison and step-nephew Riley

Jon with his big catch (ha, ha!)

Another way to keep Meri busy at the lake, we put her in this intertube which acted like a little baby jail!!

Having some fun in the swing by the lake

My brother-in-law, Andrew, myself and my sis, Emily up at the Lodge

I asked my niece, Madison, to watch Meri while I used the bathroom and when I came out - this is what I saw. Madison had put Meri in this basket... how cute!!