Not your typical scrapbook

A very handmade Christmas

2012-01-03T21:35:00.000-08:00

This year, we decided to give handmade gifts to all of the people on our Christmas list. Last year we did some handmade gifts, but this year we went all out! I got pictures of most of them, or at least examples of things we did.

First up, notecards, made from store-bought plain cards, and scraps of paper from this initiative by the Columbus Museum of Art. I am not a scrapbooking guru but I was pleased with how these turned out!

Washcloths. I learned to knit earlier this year and have really fallen in love with it. I picked up a bunch of cotton yarn and knitted about 7-8 of these. I found a nice Chinese Waves pattern at which I became very adept.

Chocolate peppermint bark. I don't have a finished product photo but I do have this lovely action shot. Christian and Corinne made up a TON of bark to give to family, friends, and special people in our lives. Corinne was very excited about chocolate and doesn't understand about secrets or surprises, so many recipients heard all about the bark long before they received and opened their package!

Rice heat therapy bag. I made this for my grandmother using my new sewing machine. I think I might make a couple small ones to put in my pockets to warm my hands on frosty mornings!

I made a tutu for Corinne that she seems to really enjoy. I need to do some adjustments to it (the tulle doesn't stay as tight on the waistband as I'd like) but she doesn't seem to mind.

A friend dyed some gorgeous playsilks for us to give to Corinne. So far, they have been blankets, carriers, and superhero capes. They are so great for imaginative play. And Corinne has PLENTY of imagination!

Not pictured because I just wasn't thinking:
- Apple butter
- Magnetic photo tiles like these. Christian made them!

I loved making these gifts this year, even though it got a little stressful as the holidays approached and I ran out of time. Next year, I will plan ahead a bit more (hopefully) and be ready!

food stuffs

2011-12-04T17:39:00.001-08:00

I've been super busy in the kitchen this week and just wanted to record the deliciousness I've made!

I made some spinach-egg-cheese muffin cups to have for breakfasts. (I used this recipe as a starting point.) I managed to figure out a great combination of seasonings too, which have made these a delicious start to my day this whole week. These were super easy to make and I love that I am starting my day with vegetables. :)
I was feeling inspired and made some coconut almond flax cookies last weekend. This was the first time I've baked with flaxseeds. I'd made some cookies before using coconut flour and wasn't really impressed then, but these have been really delicious, and easy! I'll be making them again, I'm sure.
I improvised a winter squash soup yesterday. I baked two squashes (butternut and acorn), then mashed them and added them to sauteed shallots and spinach and some chicken broth (though I could have used vegetable). I added some white beans, and it was just perfect!
I made a skillet-to-oven pizza with chickpea flour and this was a great accompaniment to the squash soup. This was very easy, and fairly quick (the most time consuming thing was letting the batter/dough sit for a little while before cooking). I'd definitely make it again.
Today, I again used a recipe as a starting point (no link to the recipe but it was in this cookbook that my cousin gave me for Christmas a few years ago), and made beef and mushrooms with barley in the crockpot. I've been getting more adventurous with my crockpot and I am feeling more confident in my ability to use it to "make up" meals other than chili.

On deck this week: something involving sage, as it was on crazy sale at the grocery (probably, I will cook up some white beans and mix in some chopped sage). Also I picked up a pork loin and a whole chicken. I'll probably make the chicken this week as I'm out of chicken stock.

I love cooking!

just a few pics

2011-11-28T20:41:00.001-08:00

trying on my rain boots.

first time with pigtails, or as she calls them, "ear ponies"

Wearing her Buckeye outfit from Goggie. And hanging out with Captain the Dog.

**These have already been posted on Facebook but I thought I'd share a couple here for those who aren't on Facebook! :)

Natural personal hygiene. Or, beauty on the cheap and easy.

2011-11-14T20:29:00.000-08:00

In addition to the natural household cleaners I've incorporated into our lives, I've also done some changes on the personal products front. Here are some of my favorites:

~ Homemade deodorant. At home, I use a mixture of coconut oil, baking soda, and cornstarch. I add my favorite essential oil if I want a scent. I mix up a batch and it lasts for quite awhile. This works just great for me even in the oppressive heat and humidity of summer. One of my favorite things is that the gross greenish/grey tint that was on my skin when I was using a store-bought deodorant (I am guessing it was from the aluminum) is now totally gone.

~ Natural deodorant. If I'm traveling, I use Desert Essence Dry By Nature deodorant. I prefer my homemade deodorant, but this will do when I need it on the road.

~ No-poo. I haven't used shampoo on my hair in about 2.5 years. I have gone through a few routines but have found that this method (baking soda dissolved in boiling water, followed with a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse). I have also done the "conditioner only" method, which called for scrubbing my scalp with a silicone-free conditioner to wash my hair. This was also a very effective method for me. I think my hair is the healthiest it has ever been and I love being able to mix my favorite essential oils into my baking soda mixture.

~Body wash/soap. For Corinne, we use diluted Dr. Bronner's (see previous post), with a dash of apricot kernel oil for moisturizing. I add lavender essential oils to help her calm and sleep. I use a bar of goat milk soap that I've felted like this.

~ Moisturizer. We use coconut oil (great for hand moisturizing, and also GREAT for diaper rash), apricot kernel oil (great for body), and calendula cream (for irritated spots and super dry skin) for our skin care. I particularly love coconut oil with lavender essential oil as a facial moisturizer. So relaxing and my skin looks amazing the next morning!

~ Feminine hygiene. This was one of my final holdouts for natural products. I'm sorry I waited! I currently use a combination of Diva Cup and cloth pads. These products have been fantastic for me. I save money, have peace of mind about protection, and feel so much more comfortable, physically. I won't go into details here but am happy to share more if you want to know.

~ Dental hygiene. I use these toothbrushes (they have natural bristles and replaceable heads). I really like them - they're quite soft and feel different than any other toothbrush I've tried. And I switch between these brands for toothpaste. I like them equally well.

I started out with these alternative products and methods because I wanted to decrease the number of chemicals/toxins in our family. I found that in addition to being better for our bodies and our environment, these types of products are either very cheap, or very easy to make. I also feel like our life is simplified when I use these products and recipes. WIN!

Natural household cleaning. My favorites!

2011-09-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

After Corinne joined our family, I gained the opportunity to learn about environmentally friendly cleaning remedies and products for our household, from some friends who knew quite a bit about this. I wanted to share some of my favorites here:

All purpose cleaner - white vinegar and distilled water, with a few drops of essential oil (I use tea tree). I use birdseye diapers as cleaning rags and wash them after using.
Scrub - Baking soda
Toilet cleaner - white vinegar, and a little baking soda if I need a little something "extra."
Drain cleaner - baking soda and vinegar. Also, I have this product and I love it.
Floor cleaner (tile) - white vinegar and water with essential oil added
Dish soap - diluted Dr Bronner's
Laundry soap - soap nuts liquid (I buy the nuts and make the liquid) with essential oils added
Dusting - microfiber cloths
Swiffering - I attach a microfiber cloth to the Swiffer instead of the disposable sheets.

I have been really pleased with the results I've gotten from all of these, and I love that I don't have toxic cleaners with chemical fragrances in our house. I also love that these are very cost-effective. Vinegar, baking soda, and water are CHEAP! Reusable cloths save money on wipes that get thrown away. Soap nuts have lasted me a long time and Dr Bronners is highly concentrated and very effective - so a little goes a long way.

The chicken dance

2011-09-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, I did one of my current favorite crockpot tricks. I roasted a chicken in the crockpot.

The results aren't fantastic with regard to crispy skin and the texture of the meat is a bit "off" - I think it actually gets a bit overdone. I'm still troubleshooting that, but we make it work.

But I end up being able to cook a bird in the crock, and leave it unattended while I am out and about. Sunday, that was a good thing. We had church, nap, cleaning up a bit, and then a marathon shopping trip to find Corinne some new to her boots/shoes. I knew we'd be busy with little time to dedicate to dinner.

I really love the ease of cooking a chicken this way. The best part is after we finish it: I clean the rest of the meat off the bones, set the meat aside to be used in other recipes this week (or freeze it), put the bones, skin, and everything else but the meat back into the crockpot, fill the crockpot with water and some herbs, and simmer it on low all night. The next morning, ta-da! Homemade chicken broth. I put it in the fridge and skim the fat before I freeze it.

I love to keep homemade broth on hand in the freezer. It makes for easy soups (I used some for dinner tonight!), and extra flavor when making beans, rice, or other grains. I try to freeze several different sizes - 1 cup, 2 cups, and 1 oz broth cubes. I can't remember the last time I bought a can of chicken broth!

Been awhile!

2011-09-18T17:39:00.001-07:00

I haven't been so good about taking pictures, and I'm not happy with how long it takes Blogger to post pics when I've tried to load, so I've been discouraged about posting lately.

We've been staying busy and having fun here in Columbus. We've had a lot of really fun outings this summer. Peach picking, LOTS of hiking, Young's Dairy, visiting family and friends in Dayton, Cleveland, Tiffin, and New Jersey, several farmer's markets, the zoo, plenty of festivals (Asian, Greek, Comfest, Pride, and more), the art museum, and many of the great parks/playgrounds around Columbus. Corinne keeps us busy!

I've been busy with learning a few different homemaking and crafting skills. We learned canning from our friends. That was something I'd been wanting to learn for awhile. We made tomatoes with our friends and then I was able to make raspberry jam, peach jam, and strawberry jam on my own. After realizing that making bread by hand was a bit ambitious for a regular project, I got a hand-me-down bread machine and we've been using that quite a bit. I also learned to knit recently and have been enjoying that and sewing on the new machine that was generously given to me by my in-laws.

I've also been enjoying time with friends and family locally. One "just for me" activity I've started recently is volunteering with a local concert series. I attended quite a few of these concerts when I last lived in Columbus, and decided I wanted to volunteer with this organization now that we live here again.

Corinne is such an awesome little person. This summer, her vocabulary exploded. She talks constantly and we are always amazed at how well she expresses herself. She makes jokes, is playful, friendly, spirited, and adventurous. She is quite an excellent hiker and we've really loved going on hikes with her where we love to watch her explore nature. She can sing her ABC's and count to 12. She has an amazing memory for books and loves to read, both with us and independently.

Christian completed his language courses (French) this summer and is getting ready to start the 2nd year of his degree. He is giving a jazz recital next Sunday to start the year.

I hope to update more regularly on more of the minutiae around here, including current recipes, events around town, and some of our favorite things.

Until then...

Trying to wrap her bear. Patiently!

2011-05-24T19:41:00.000-07:00

Lots of pictures!

2011-05-24T18:42:00.001-07:00

In no particular order:

"Want DOWN" (after eating yogurt)

Went to the zoo for Mother's Day and ran into cousins! First pic of all 3 cousins together. :)

Stopped to ride a wildebeest (I think).

The circus came to town! And the elephants were brought in on the circus train, then walked down the street just a couple blocks away from us. It was dark and they were moving quickly so the picture isn't the best. But it was something cool to see!

Rummage sale and thrift store finds - shopping cart and sunhat. :)

Sitting on dad's shoulders at the zoo.

Out to dinner with Aunt Mandy and Uncle Greg. Delicious!

Went to the conservatory to check out the butterfly exhibit.

Spent some time looking at the koi pond there.

Loves to build tall towers, (all by herself) and then knock them down.

Spring, where are you?

2011-03-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

March has just flown by. We are hoping for warmer weather soon. It snowed yesterday!

Corinne's language skills have exploded this month. It is truly amazing to hear the thoughts in her little head, and she does not hesitate to share her thoughts, constantly! :) She also has been doing lots of climbing on furniture. Hopefully it warms up very soon so that she can practice her climbing skills at the playground. Her current favorite indoor activities are puzzles, blocks, and books. She learns new puzzles really quickly and she's been reading books to us, ad libbing as needed.

Christian's recital was fabulous! He worked so hard and gave an outstanding performance. It was very rewarding for me to hear the progress he has made from just one year ago. It was really wonderful to have so many of our family members in attendance supporting him too. 3 more to go!

Last week was spring break, and so we visited my parents and sister in New Jersey. I also got to meet up with lots of different friends, including some girlfriends in the city. It was a nice break for all of us and Corinne did really well in the car. She particularly enjoyed the rest stop we made at Cabela's in Wheeling on the way back home. Lots of fun things to see there!

long overdue update!

2011-03-01T19:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, lots of time has passed since the last blog update. We have been quite busy with life these days.

Corinne is growing and changing every day. She is SO talkative and picks up on new words quickly. She told someone "Bless you" today when they sneezed! I actually had said that to her this morning when she had sneezed but I had no idea she was able to transfer the knowledge. Then she did it later again when I sneezed. (lots of sneezing going on, it sounds like!). She is saying 2-3 word phrases and sentences and her vocabulary is huge. She is so much fun. Current favorite activities are eating (always), going outside, taking walks (she especially liked walking in the ice and snow), playing with dogs ("goggies"), petting cats, throwing balls, reading books, spinning, giving (and asking for) high fives, dumping various toys in the bathtub, dancing, taking all the clothes out of her dresser, jumping, trying on hats, and climbing things.

Corinne switched to a new sitter this week since her old sitter was moving and starting a part time job. So far she has done really well at the new sitter's and we think it will be a great environment for her. There are more kids there (about 5-6); she is so social and does great in larger groups of kids.

Christian is busy preparing for his first recital at OSU which will be on March 12. I am looking forward to hearing him perform - he's been working SO hard!

As for me, I've been busy with work of course, and also taken up a few different crafts. I've learned how to sew using a machine (thanks, Jane!), needle felt wool, and spin wool into yarn. I am really enjoying these new hobbies and have loved to make things for our family that are pretty and functional!

Here are a few recent pictures to share.
Corinne and Christian after his jazz band concert.

Inspired by dad AND mom.

Communing with her one of her animal pals, Scooby.

Out and about in Columbus

2011-01-16T20:14:00.000-08:00

Recently, we've taken advantage of some of the great things to do in Columbus. We went to the Main library downtown (winner of the 2010 Library of the Year!) and enjoyed our visit in the children's section. There was a really awesome holiday train setup in the Atrium when we first arrived.

Corinne and I checked out the Franklin Park Conservatory with some friends. I only took a few pictures since I was busy chasing after my active daughter. There are several stunning large scale Chihuly pieces there. This one was in the entryway.

This giant "lite brite" display kept the little ones busy for quite awhile!

Busy holiday season!

2011-01-10T19:48:00.000-08:00

Whew, it has been quite a while since I last updated. I guess Christmas happened! Here are some photos of the goings on.

These are from our little celebration at home the day before Christmas Eve.

Corinne was thrilled with the tea set we got her! Though to her, it's coffee, since that's what she sees mom and dad drinking.

Corinne copies EVERYTHING we do. She especially likes to copy Christian.

I did not get too many pictures throughout Christmas (I am hoping some family members can send some to me!) but did get a few of Christmas Eve at Goggie's house. Here, Corinne is playing with the nativity set that Christian used to play with as a child.

Cheesy grin in her Christmas finery.

I was really excited this year to make and give homemade gifts to many friends and family. I made soup mix in a jar, and vanilla extract. And a friend of mine dyed some dishtowels. Here is a picture representing the gifts we gave.

I did not bake cookies this year but I did make some fantastic cake balls for my work cookie contest. My sister recommended the flavor - chocolate peppermint. They were awesome!

Lastly - my new favorite pic. :)

housework, hanging out, and "fun" in the snow

2010-12-12T18:02:00.001-08:00

Corinne loves to "help" out around the house. The other day she grabbed the Swiffer and started imitating what she has seen me do many times. She actually did really well, though I was watching her like a hawk to make sure she didn't break anything while wielding the long handle.

A couple of friends recommended we take out the center section of the handle to make it her size so we did. I also added the pad to the bottom and she actually did clean a bit for me!

Corinne loves to grab our cell phones, walk around the house and "chat" on them. We aren't sure who she's talking to but it's pretty funny. Usually she will offer them back to us by holding them up to our ears. You can see in this pic, she is getting really big!

Today we had our first "big snow" of the year... not a ton of accumulation, but enough to go play. Corinne was a bit unsteady on her feet and ended up falling over a few times. She wasn't so sure about snow. I did show her how to brush it off of things and how to kick it. We'll try again the next time it snows!

No pics today, just a hello.

2010-12-07T18:22:00.000-08:00

December is humming along quite smoothly!

First, the all-important Corinne update. She's very busy these days, constantly learning, just as constantly talking. She understands so many words, and loves to chatter at us all day long. She has a great sense of humor too. Currently some of her favorite activities are: emptying her dresser drawers, picking up her toys, putting on hats, checking herself out in the mirror, brushing her teeth, dancing, jumping on the bed, putting away silverware, asking us to read the same book many times in a row, and playing with pots and pans.

Holidays - I am doing fairly well with holiday preparations. I have about half of the gifts gathered/prepared, and intend to complete the rest this weekend (and possibly the following week). We are forgoing a tree this year in the interest of saving space in our small apartment. We actually don't have any decorations up this year either but that's okay. I will probably bake a little but not go crazy. I will post here to share about some of the fun gifts we gave this year (after the recipients have received them!)

Christian is ending the quarter at OSU and that means his workload is significantly lighter. He worked so hard this quarter and really deserves the break! He is enjoying spending more time with Corinne and working on things around the house that got lost in the madness of the quarter.

Just in time for the Big Game.

2010-11-27T17:27:00.000-08:00

Footage from gameday at the Huss household in New Jersey.

Child development is amazing

2010-11-02T21:03:00.000-07:00

I wanted to mark the words Corinne is saying these days:

hi
bye
water
cheese
beans
no
yes/yeah
dada
mama
airplane
thank you
read (I think she is saying this)

Sounds she imitates:

dog
cat
lion/dragon/monster
monkey
any song or funny voice Christian sings or does
really she just loves to imitate anyone saying anything

Signs she uses:

milk
please
thank you
more

A few things she's done that have really surprised and amazed us:

taken my keys and held up one to the doorknob, motioning as if to unlock it
helped put away silverware
given me my glasses first thing in the morning so we will get out of bed
attempts to put on her shoes

Forgot the stats update!

2010-11-02T21:00:00.000-07:00

Corinne went for a well-child visit at her new doctor last week. Her new doctor is really nice and took a lot of time to answer questions and provide information. I am so happy we found this doctor!

Corinne has apparently caught up and thrived, size wise, over the last several months! Here are her stats for 16 months:

Height - 32.25 inches
Weight - 25.5 pounds
Head circumference - 19 inches (she's got the "Scheper head")

Halloween!

2010-11-01T20:15:00.001-07:00

What does the monster say?

"ROAR!!!!"

Also, "Thank you!"

Photo shoot at the park

2010-11-01T20:09:00.000-07:00

A few fall shots

2010-10-30T20:22:00.000-07:00

A few pics from the Huss Cabin Weekend at Lake Hope State Park.

Hanging out with Grandma Huss.

Family pic. :)

We did trick or treat with the little cousins. Corinne was a determined (but tired) monster.

Hiking the Perimeter Trail around Lake Hope. Lovely!

Corinne LOVES playing in leaves. She loves kicking them, throwing them, stomping around in them. She also did quite well walking around the hills at the park.

Corinne kept looking up when we were hiking at Old Man's Cave. I decided to look up too and check out what she was seeing. Pretty cool!

Fall Fun

2010-10-12T19:05:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we took a short trip to Cleveland so Christian and his dad could go to the Browns game. Sadly, the Browns lost. We had a great trip though!

Corinne helped out when asked.

Christian enjoyed playing around.

And taught Corinne a few tricks too.

Checking out the Cleveland skyline from the Pier.

Just hanging out on the pier.

While Christian and Bob went to the game, Corinne and I ventured further west and went apple picking with Jane and Joe. We had a great time and got LOTS of apples. It was a beautiful fall day.

At first, Corinne wasn't sure what to think of all these trees and apples
(she got only a short nap beforehand).

"Oh, I can eat these?"

Walking with Grandma and Joepa

She had an apple out of hand for the first time and loved it.
She ate nearly the whole thing, core and all.
She wouldn't even put it down while we took pumpkin photos!

Straw maze!

Corinne approves of all the fun we had!
(she's still a little wobbly when she walks and has her fair share of bumps and bruises)

Walking - video proof!

2010-10-07T21:31:00.000-07:00

Here she is, clearly pleased with herself and excited about her newfound freedom! She carries books with her all over the place now.

I can't get this video to rotate so you'll have to turn your head sideways. :)

She's walking!

2010-10-03T19:21:00.000-07:00

Corinne is finally walking on her own. She started on Friday at the bank. We are hoping that means something. Maybe she'll be a stockbroker and be able to support her mom and dad in their old age. Since Friday, she's been unstoppable. She is pretty steady (I think she waited until she knew she had it down before she actually tried it on her own) and seems very pleased with herself that she can go wherever she wants (within reason!) on her own. I don't have video yet. I'll try to get some this week.

We went to the zoo yesterday for my work picnic. We were able to meet up with Grandma Jane, Joepa, Cousin Will, and Aunt Mandy for the first part of the day. We didn't take too many pictures, but we did have a lot of fun!

My new favorite picture. This was on the train at the zoo.

Video from playdate

2010-09-28T21:22:00.001-07:00

We went to a playdate on Saturday morning and someone grabbed some great video of Corinne laughing after this great ride!

Has it really been a month?

2010-09-26T11:39:00.000-07:00

Wow! We've been keeping busy over the past month with everyday life, weekend trips, and fun family outings. The time has flown. Now we are in my favorite time of year - fall. Football, chili, cooler weather, beautiful trees, hiking, pumpkins, etc.

Corinne is SO much fun these days. She is talking up a storm, and we understand very little of what she is saying but that doesn't stop her. She loves to make animal sounds, and can answer correctly if you ask her what sounds a kitty-cat, dog, or lion make. Lion is my favorite. She's not quite walking on her own yet but will take a couple of steps by herself if she's really motivated. She asks us to read books for her, loves giving and blowing kisses (complete with "mwah" sound for maximum effect), and helps me put away silverware.

Here's some of our latest pictures of all of our activities!

Gallery Hop

Greek Festival

Playing with her car

Squatting

More car

She LOVES playing with her megablocks

Oktoberfest, being serenaded by accordion

Fahrvegnugen

Helping to recycle

Take me out to the ballgame!

2010-08-25T18:49:00.001-07:00

Corinne went to her first baseball game this week. She enjoyed a Columbus Clippers game on Monday night with dad, mom, and Grandpa Secrist.

We had fairly good seats out towards right field. A couple of foul balls came our way but we didn't catch any. Corinne made friends with the little boy sitting in the row in front of us.

We took our 7th inning stretch a bit early to explore all the park had to offer.

Christian couldn't resist the bounce house...

...or the splash pad.

It was dime a dog night. Corinne had the nickel bun.

It was a big night for such a little person. She was so tired by the 6th inning!

Feeling hot hot hot!

2010-08-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

Whew! August has been SO hot here in Columbus. We have tried not to let the heat get us down, though. I make an effort to get out and about with Corinne most weekends. We have gone to the Ohio State Fair, Farmers' Markets, outdoor concerts, and to a friend's house to play. And of course, we go to the park regularly too.

Corinne has been on the move, still. She continues to do the crawl/scoot thing and is a lot faster at it. At the sitter's, she apparently loves to be chased by the other little boy, as she scoots from room to room. She also has gotten really good at just holding one of our hands to walk. I am waiting for the day (soon!) that she will stand and walk on her own. Oh, how life will change!

Corinne also has lots of new teeth including 1 molar that's full in, and another on the way. She likes to use her teeth to eat a large variety of foods at the sitter's and at home. She loves to CRUNCH on her foods.

Here are some recent pics of goings-on in our life. Enjoy!

Ohio State Fair

Meeting goats at the Goat Playground

Meeting a horned owl at the Natural Resources area

Watching butterflies at the butterfly house

Just messing around and making faces

"Having dinner" with Grandma and Grandpa Huss via webcam

She likes to share

Going for a walk at an outdoor concert

Corinne is on the move!

2010-08-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

Here, she is dancing (turn your speakers up!)...

Here, she is exploring the playground (with dad's assistance)...

Here, she is using her push toy. She caught sight of herself in the oven door and gave herself a kiss...

new home and new adventures

2010-07-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

We are finally getting settled here in Columbus.

We moved down on July 6 and I started work on July 12. We had a lot of wonderful helpers throughout the process who were FANTASTIC - we could not have gotten everything done without them. I think July 6 was one of the hottest and stickiest days we've had this summer. It was *perfect* moving weather (note the sarcasm).

Christian has done the lion's share of turning our apartment into a home. We have pared down on furniture and "stuff" and have lots more to go through before we will feel settled, I think. But for now, our space is livable and it is even starting to become comfortable.

We LOVE our neighborhood. We have gone for some wonderful walks. There are at least 3 parks (that we have found so far) within easy walking distance, and it is so great to be able to just take Corinne a couple of blocks away for a quick ride on the swings. I really like that our neighborhood is easily accessible from the highway and that it is so close to my office. It is great to have a 10 minute commute instead of the 40 minute commute I once had!

We are so incredibly happy with Corinne's childcare provider. Corinne adores her and her son, and we love hearing about all of the fun activities she does every day and new things she learns there. It is a huge relief to know that Corinne is so well cared for while we are away. The childcare provider lives only a block away from us so that is also incredibly convenient!

We have taken advantage of a few Columbus things to do and have really enjoyed that. We went to COSI and Schmidts Sausage Haus last weekend with Aaron, Diane, and Will and had a lot of fun. We think that COSI will be a great place to take Corinne over the next few years! We are also really enjoying being so close to Kate and Tim and have been able to visit with them several times.

Corinne is growing growing growing. She definitely developing into a toddler - she's no longer a baby! She LOVES to walk with assistance (us holding on to her hands), cruise, scoot, etc. She still isn't crawling but has been pushing herself over onto her tummy to reach for things more. Her favorite time to end up on all fours is in the middle of the night in her crib. Then she gets frustrated and cries for help. We are looking forward to the moment she figures it all out. She has at least one more tooth coming in (on top) and has also been just a little uncomfortable with that too.

Here are a few photos from our trip to COSI. It was the "Farm Daze" weekend so there was farm machinery for the kids to see up close!

1 year old!

2010-06-29T20:09:00.001-07:00

We had a wonderful 1 year birthday celebration for Corinne on Sunday, with friends and family joining in the fun. Here are a few pics of the fun:

We are busily preparing for our move to Columbus on July 6. My last day of work is July 2 and then I start my new job on July 12. We have LOTS to do before we go, but Christian and several very helpful family members have put in a lot of work to get lots of things packed up.

I wanted to make note of Corinne's latest stats at her doctor's appointment today. At 1 year old:

Weight: 19 pounds, 1 ounce
Length: 29 inches

She had quite a growth spurt!

Almost 1 year!

2010-06-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe how quickly time is flying. These pictures are from Corinne's 11 month birthday. She just keeps growing, doing new things every day.

Some of her latest favorite things are: giving (very wet) kisses, cruising while hanging on to the coffee table or the ottoman, painting (it was a mess!), playing with bubbles, listening to daddy practice the saxophone and flute (but not the clarinet), pointing out my nose when I say "Where's Mommy's nose," and occasionally scooting ever so slightly backwards when on her tummy. Oh, and of course, helping in the kitchen!

Corinne continues to eat lots and LOTS of food. Whatever we give her, she generally eats. She can put away amazing quantities of food that you wouldn't think would fit in her little belly. She has been known to eat a whole cup of blackberries, a cup of broccoli, a whole hamburger patty, 2 bran muffins.... really, the girl can eat. I suppose she takes after her parents! She is also working on learning how to drink whole cow's milk. I am continuing to nurse her but she will transition to cow's milk while she is at daycare.

Things are coming together for our move to Columbus. I have found a job, we have an apartment, and we have found what looks to be wonderful childcare for Corinne. Christian has even picked up teaching a class as an adjunct faculty at a college in Columbus. Now if our house would sell, everything would be in place. It is kind of strange to think that we are coming to the end of our time in Tiffin, where we have lived for 7 years. We have experienced so much here in northwest Ohio: newlywed life, graduate school for me, owning our first home, expecting our first baby, and now being parents. We have much to be thankful for, and we are very excited about our next step on our journey!

Guest Blogger

2010-05-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

I'll post more later, but I wanted to share the words of a special friend today:

h.m uuuuuuuuuuu ;mon n m jjlfvf

Here is a picture of our guest blogger.

Moving along

2010-05-24T17:59:00.000-07:00

May has really flown by! We have had a lovely month so far, with lots of celebrations and new milestones (and of course a big Cleveland sports disappointment).

Our celebrations this month have included Christian's birthday, Mother's Day (my first!), and a family wedding. We had a quiet birthday celebration for Christian's birthday.

For Mother's Day, we spent a lovely afternoon at Schedel Gardens in Elmore. We walked the beautiful gardens there. It was a little chilly but we had a wonderful time and would recommend checking out the gardens if you are in Northwest Ohio. My favorite were the Japanese gardens.

A couple of weekends ago we took Corinne to the zoo for the first time. It was crowded but lots of fun and there were lots of animals out. The baby giraffe was my favorite but Corinne and Christian liked the apes. Christian calls this photo "Hi Ho Silverback."

Most recently, we attended the wedding of my cousin Abby in Columbus. It was a very fun weekend with LOTS of festivities and time with family. The "girl cousins" took some time out for a picture at the reception.

Corinne is doing so many new things lately. She is standing with support (she loves to hang on to the coffee table), she is pretty good with pulling herself to standing if you help position her feet, she can take steps when we hold her hands and guide her, she will spin around when she is sitting, she initiates games of peek-a-boo, and she is finally scooting backwards on her belly. She is such a happy baby and we are having tons of fun with her every day.

More firsts, and now some lasts

2010-05-01T07:43:00.000-07:00

Corinne was 10 months old on Tuesday, and of course we celebrated with a fish blanket picture. She is growing and changing every day.

She has developed two new fun skills: clapping (pictured above) and high fives. She claps a LOT especially when we clap too, but the high fives are still a bit elusive. Other things she loves to do now are turning the pages in books, copying the noises her daddy makes at her, and "jumping" (if we help her stand she will often bounce up and down). Still no crawling but I suppose that makes life a little easier for now!

Christian has been celebrating many lasts as he winds up his last year at Tiffin University. His students threw him a party after band during the last week of classes.

On Saturday, he conducted his last TU band concert. Here is a picture of the TU staff and GAs after the excellent concert.

We haven't announced it here yet, but we are planning to move to Columbus this summer so Christian can start his doctoral program at The Ohio State University this fall. We are very busy getting ready for that. I am applying for jobs, and our house is on the market (we have an open house later today). It's a little stressful getting things ready for moving and having our lives be in limbo during for awhile, but it's worth it!

Time is flying

2010-04-19T18:03:00.000-07:00

The past month has just flown by. We have stayed very busy with lots of activities and family get-togethers. Corinne keeps getting bigger so we must be doing something right!

We just finished up swim classes at the Y. It was a good chance for Corinne to get introduced to being in the water, and for us to get used to handling a baby in the water! She really liked the pool - I think she thought it was one big bath. She especially loved the kickboard...

And also "jumping" off the side of the pool into daddy or mommy's arms....

We celebrated Corinne's 9 month birthday with some blanket pictures. We also made a doctor's visit where we found out she is now 26 inches long and weighs 15 pounds 10 ounces. She is growing!

Corinne shows little interest in crawling. She mostly just decides to roll over when we try to encourage her to crawl. Even Cheerios don't entice her to move. Here's an action shot of rolling though!

As the weather has warmed up this spring, we have been spending lots more time outside. We've taken lots of walks (this pic is from a walk by Grandma Jane's house).

And Corinne has discovered the fun of SWINGS at the playground. She laughs every time we put her in a swing and start pushing. It is one of our new favorite things to do together.

We spent Easter in Cleveland with Christian's family and had a nice time visiting with everyone.

Corinne tried her first Easter egg (yolk only) and loved it. She ate a bunch of new foods that weekend, including asparagus, beets, and salmon. Her palate is expanding rapidly - she has yet to meet a food she does not like. She eats whatever we eat which makes dinner time lots of fun and really messy too.

Visiting with GGpa Gil.

A quick picture in front of our tulips, before she discovered the mulch. Then things got messy.

Happy spring!

2010-03-22T19:57:00.001-07:00

Finally, it is spring! The weather has alternated between warm and sunny, and cold and rainy here. We've also had some company - Corinne was treated to seeing both her grandmas in one day!

Here are some recent photos:

First cloth diaper photo. We have been cloth diapering (CDing) for 2 weekends now. I am using old fashioned prefolds (cheapest option) with covers. So far, so good. I was surprised when I washed them and they got clean, even the poopy ones! Maybe that is weird of me. I have one diaper that is an "all-in-one" - just like a disposable, only it is cloth. If I like how that works better than the prefolds, maybe I will explore that option more. There are a lot of options out there for cloth diapers these days that seem to be a lot better than the options from a generation ago.

Playing intently. She has such great concentration on tasks and has a pretty good attention span.

Eating bananas. We have expanded food to include hummus, cheerios (she is a cheerio monster and would prefer that to anything else), blueberries, and shallots (she ate a few I gave her from a pizza I made the other day). The "banana-henge" on the tray was intentionally set up by me.

Just hanging out on the weekend.

Swim class. She really enjoys splashing, kicking, bobbing up and down in the water, and seeing all the other kids inthe class. She is even pushing off the side and "jumping" to us, and is learning to hang on to the side of the pool too!

Gratuitous photo post!

2010-03-09T18:25:00.000-08:00

Christian found the cord to the camera, so here are some recent pictures.

bathtime fun (fauxhawk by dad)

just playing

happy valentine's day!

like father, like daughter

mmmm.... cantaloupe

love this view!

happy 8 month birthday

look closely and maybe you can see a tooth

playing intently

happy baby

Is winter over yet?

2010-03-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

It has been quite a while since I've gotten the chance to update. I know we've been busy but I can't remember what all we've been up to. I like lists so I'll update in that way today.

General updates:
1. We took a couple of roadtrips to Cleveland to visit family and friends. The visits were short, but it has been good to see everyone.

2. We have had a TON of snow. Enough that both my work and Christian's work closed for a day a few weeks ago. Then we had snow again several times shortly after that. It is beautiful while it is falling but it sure is a pain to drive in.

3. We really got into watching the Olympics over the last couple of weeks. We particularly enjoyed the short-track speedskating and the ski-cross. It was very odd on Monday when the Olympics were suddenly no longer on TV - we almost didn't know what to do with ourselves!

4. I've been slowly making the transition to using more natural products in our home. Becoming a mother has made me really interested in having less chemicals around. Some of the switches I've made so far include: using natural cleaning products (vinegar, water, baking soda), doing a "no poo" (no shampoo routine), using all-natural body soaps and some cosmetics, and I am just beginning to experiment with cloth diapers. Christian would probably say that I am embracing my inner hippie!

Corinne updates:
1. Corinne got her first tooth, on the bottom. I noticed it popping through on February 20. She hadn't been too fussy. She's drooling quite a bit again and chewing on everything so I think she's getting another one but she's still not fussy. Maybe we have a happy teether, at least for now.

2. Corinne has really expanded her repertoire of solid foods. She now eats: rice cakes, broccoli, cantaloupe, bananas, sweet potato fries, butternut squash sticks, Cheerios, and has tried hummus, peas, pork, and a tiny bit of sauerkraut. We are doing only table foods and letting her feed herself (this is called "baby-led weaning"). It is working out really well for everyone and seems to be a good option for our family. Here is some more information about baby-led weaning, if you want to learn more.

3. Corinne is not crawling yet but is definitely moving her arms and legs quite a bit. She is pushing up with her arms but just hasn't gotten her torso in the air.

4. Just the other day, she started babbling "dadadadadaddad" - the first time we have heard her do hard consonants like this. She does love her daddy!

5. She is really into peekaboo these days. Christian plays this with her and she tries to anticipate where he will emerge so she can see him again. It is adorable.

6. We started baby swim class at the YMCA on Monday. The class is for 6 months to 3 years. Corinne and another baby, Austin (who is 6 months old) are the only infants in the class. She seemed to really enjoy the water a lot and really started kicking by the end of the class. The locker room is a madhouse to get her changed afterwards, but other than that, it is a really great experience. Also, she gets to hang out with Austin some more - he also goes to daycare with her and we have been told she likes to hold his hand there. Christian feels a little better about the whole thing now that he's met Austin's dad. At least we know their swim dates are chaperoned!

7. Corinne turned 8 months on February 27th. We celebrated by taking a fish blanket picture, and doing our taxes and giving thanks for our beautiful little tax deduction - we have a nice refund coming to us!

No pics to add right now, but I will do an all-picture post soon to make up for that.

Snow!!!

2010-02-06T18:01:00.000-08:00

We got some snow here with the "big storm" - probably only about 6 inches but it was blowing a lot so we have really big drifts. We had a level 3 snow emergency here all day, so Christian could not make it to his winery gig. We decided to take a winter hike instead. We got a great workout walking through the huge drifts and it was beautiful.

This really has been a great day all around. Dayton beat Xavier (WOO HOO), creamed them really, and I got to watch the game on national TV, once of the few times a year I get to do that.

After the game, we gave Corinne some butternut squash to try out. We had given her avocado about a month ago that did not go well (I think it was just too late in the day and she was tired), and then she was sick for a while. She is finally feeling back to her old self and so we are back to trying solids again. She wasn't too sure about it at first but eventually tasted it and we think she even ate a little (very little)!

I came home from work the other day to find this. Christian has truly mastered multi-tasking!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I am going to try to post more often. I slacked off on taking pictures for awhile but am back in the swing of that too. Luckily, I have a great subject.

2010-01-29T21:58:00.000-08:00

Another couple of weeks have passed and we have stayed busy with the usual work and play.

Over MLK Day weekend, we went down to Dayton to visit with my Grandma. We also got the chance to meet up with some girlfriends and their husbands. Corinne got to meet Jordan and Claire and we hit up the Dayton Mall for some socks that actually stay on her feet (ah excitement). Corinne also watched her first Dayton Flyers basketball game on TV versus Xavier but was not impressed with the outcome.

On Sunday evening we had a quick visit from Grandpa Bob and Nancy. Grandpa got a little silly with the toys.

Corinne is sitting up really well these days. Still needs supervision but has good balance and usually catches herself if she starts to wobble. Christian thinks she is really close to crawling but I'm not so sure.

Christian and Corinne play together most evenings. Sometimes I get to play too! I love seeing how much they adore each other. It's easily one of the best things about being a mom.

On Wednesday, Corinne turned 7 months old. Of course we celebrated with a fish blanket picture! I have no idea how to rotate the picture so this month's photo is upside down!

Corinne got a cold this week and felt really miserable on Thursday. Fortunately my work had a snow day so I stayed home with her. I wore her in a wrap most of the day while I got a lot of work stuff done (and some laundry). Poor baby!

One more thing!

2010-01-16T08:27:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention that Christian gave a saxophone mini-recital at the First Friday series in Tiffin at the National Theater last weekend. Here's a link to pictures, unfortunately you can't hear how wonderful he was!

Has another month gone by?

2010-01-14T17:29:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how time has flown. The holidays were, of course, very busy for our little family. We had a great holiday season seeing many of our family and some friends too. Then we had Corinne's baptism and pretty soon it was back to the grind.

Corinne (and Christian and I) received many nice gifts, and Corinne really enjoyed the wrapping paper most of all.

Corinne and her cousin Will watching the train at Grandma Jane and Joepa's house.

Playing with dad.

The wrapping masterpiece Christian spent the better part of an afternoon doing.

Corinne turned 6 months old on December 27th and celebrated with a fish blanket picture with the knitter of the fish blanket - her aunt Mel.

At her 6 month doctor's appointment, she weighed in at 13 pounds, and measured 25 inches. For those of you keeping track, yes that is a half inch shorter than 2 months ago. Apparently it was an office mistake! We double checked and that is what she's measuring.

New Year's Eve, we had many visitors and Corinne got to enjoy a bath given by both of her grandmas. The adults played games and rang in the New Year then went to bed!

Corinne's baptism was held on January 1st, after a lovely Mass. Many of our family members were in attendance and we were blessed to be able to share the ceremony with them as well as a luncheon at our house afterward.

With godparents Mandy and Kate.

In the sweet baptism gown my mom made for her.

Corinne is now sitting up on her own for brief stretches. Here she is, showing off. Happy new year, everyone!

December is flying by!

2009-12-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

Where did December go? Christmas is just around the corner and we still have lots to do to get ready. We have had several visitors this month, including Grandma Jane and Joepa who came for the TU Christmas concert, and our friend Lori who was visiting all of her Ohio friends (us included). Lori was gracious enough to take our family Christmas picture. We don't have too many photos of all 3 of us - so thanks, Lori!

Corine enjoyed meeting Lori, even if her face doesn't look like it in this photo:

Corinne has been getting tummy-time in - she really enjoys being on her tummy now. She will look around, babble, reach for things, and roll from front to back. She is still working on rolling back to front, though. She is also practicing sitting up unassisted - still working on that too!

We thought we were finally getting ahead last Saturday when we put up the tree and decorated it. The next morning, we found this:

It took us a couple of days to get it upright in the stand and then we decorated again. Corinne seems kind of confused as to why we have a tree inside our house. Sometimes, when you're confused, it's a good idea to take a nap until you have the energy to figure things out:

Merry Christmas, everyone!

November Fun

2009-11-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

It has been a couple of weeks since our last blog post but we have had lots going on!

We had some people over to watch OSU beat that school up North a couple of weekends ago. We enjoyed the company and some tasty food, and mostly enjoyed the game! Corinne got into the spirit by wearing an OSU onesie from Aunt Mandy.

We went to New Jersey for Thanksgiving and really enjoyed the visit with my parents, sister and brother-in-law. Corinne was really great on the long drives there and back. She is such a good baby. She also finished her first 5K Turkey Trot (I walked with her while the rest of my family ran it). She dressed up for Thanksgiving dinner, which was fun because we don't put dresses on her very often.

While we were in New Jersey, we also visited with some of my old high school friends and their children. Corinne liked watching the other babies and big kids too. We also celebrated Corinne's 5 month birthday with the fish blanket pictures.

Now as we head into December, we will stay busy with end of the semester activities for Christian, and preparing for the holidays - and Corinne's first Christmas! We will try to post a few times in December so you can continue to watch her grow.

If you are interested, I think you will be able to watch Christian's Holiday Concert which is being webcast, to help you get in the holiday spirit. It is Saturday, December 5, starting at 7:30 and will probably last a couple of hours. Be sure to watch the grand finale - it's going to be great! Here is the link to watch - just click on it during the time of the concert and you can watch live.
http://www.tiffin.edu/performingarts/music/webcasts/

Beautiful November!

2009-11-14T17:53:00.000-08:00

It has been such a beautiful few weeks here in Tiffin. Last weekend we lucked out with weather and got the chance to go on a great hike up at Oak Openings Metropark near Toledo. Corinne really liked being outside (so did we) and it was great to go on a good hike in the woods again.

We've had lots of visitors again this week at the Secrist household. On Tuesday, Grandpa Secrist came for an evening visit. We all enjoyed dinner and visiting for the evening, and were happy he could make the trip!

Thursday night, Grandma Jane and Aunt Mandy came to town, and they brought a complete spaghetti dinner with them. It was delicious! They stayed home with Corinne on Friday while Christian and I were at work. Corinne kept them busy, or so we heard. The weather has been gorgeous and especially warm for the past couple of days, and they went on a couple of walks and then cheered Christian's "marching band football" team to victory in the 1st annual "Band Bowl." We made homemade pizza for dinner and played Trivial Pursuit (Christian and Mandy won). Then they left around noon today after hitting a local craft show with Corinne and me.

This afternoon, we watched Buckeye football (go Bucks!) and Corinne got really vocal toward the end of the 4th quarter. We like to think she was cheering for the Buckeyes. And it's basketball season now too. Corinne has already learned to cheer for LeBron and the Cavs, and now it's time to indoctrinate her as one of the (Dayton) Flyer Faithful!

The latest thing Corinne is doing, is reaching for things - toys, open mouths, shirt collars, pacifiers, etc. She has a good strong grip and it's fun to watch her manipulate toys!

busy baby!

2009-10-31T18:29:00.000-07:00

4 month fish blanket pictures!

We have been very busy this week, with Halloween, 2 TU performances, appointments, and my parents visiting. Luckily, we don't have anything planned for tomorrow, except some around the house chores.

This was "wacky week" at daycare, which included "mismatch" day, PJ day, sports team apparel day, and costume day. Here's a photo of mismatch day. I actually realized that night that while the top and bottom did not match color-wise, they both had giraffes on them!

Corinne had her 4 month shots on Thursday and her 4 month doctor's appointment on Friday. She did pretty well with shots, just fussed a little, and the doctor said she looks great and may be teething (we agree, as she puts everything in her mouth these days). Here are her 4 month stats:

Length: 25.5 inches
Weight: 12 pounds

My parents arrived Thursday night just in time for trick or treat. Christian and my dad handled most of our many trick-or-treaters (we estimated maybe 100 kids or so). Corinne, mom and I just hung out and then visited with friends and neighbors who stopped by. Corinne was decked out in some of her Halloween clothes.

On Friday, Corinne played hooky from daycare and stayed with mom and dad at home. When Christian and I got home for the evening, my parents had also cleaned out our freezer and made a delicious dinner (using some of the items from the freezer). What great houseguests!!!

Corinne was clearly excited to play hooky!

Friday night we went to the fall ensemble concert over at TU. It was a great concert, diverse programming, and Corinne seemed to enjoy it too. She was asleep for part of it but woke up near the end and was smiling, babbling, and grooving to the music. The concert was streamed live on the web and several friends and family near and far watched it from their homes - hopefully they will broadcast future concerts too.

Today was the last TU home football game of the year. It was a little chilly but we stayed warm with a blanket, hats, gloves, winter coats, and hot cocoa. My parents and aunt Carol came to the game and the band put on a great show. Here's a band's eye view of their awesome director.

Tonight we had an impromptu dinner party with all 3 of my "Tiffin aunts" after Mass. The intention of the Mass was for my Grandpa Huss, whose 100th birthday would have been today. My mom got to wear Corinne at church in a wrap and enjoyed snuggling with her snoozing granddaughter. My parents leave tomorrow morning - we will see them again over Thanksgiving when we travel to New Jersey on a Very Long Car Trip with Corinne who will hopefully will be a good long distance traveler.

4 months!

2009-10-27T18:14:00.000-07:00

Today Corinne is 4 months old. We took some pics on her fish blanket but haven't uploaded those yet. She is getting so big and does something new every day. Lately, she has been giggling a lot, sticking her tongue out, and she has a growing repertoire of sounds she likes to make - squeals, grunts, coos, etc.

We have been so busy this month. The pictures from the last post include lots of our activities. We took a day trip to Cleveland the first weekend, had visitors the second weekend for TU's Homecoming - Grandma Jane, and Joepa. Corinne had a fun time with our visitors. The third weekend, Christian, Corinne, and I had a fun fall outing - to the apple orchard to pick some delicious apples and enjoy the fall weather and scenery, and to a local farm market where they had a corn maze, hayride, and a slingshot to launch tomatoes into a field.

Last weekend, we went to Mohican State Park with the extended Huss family for our 33rd annual cabin weekend. We had a nice long weekend of family togetherness, sightseeing, OSU football, fall foliage, a bridal shower, and large family meals. Corinne got lots of snuggles from lots of different people too! Christian had to leave early to return to Tiffin for the 2nd annual band festival hosted by TU and Tiffin Columbian HS. The band had a fantastic performance (I got to see the video). Here is a link to some pictures from the festival (TU is on page 3 in black, green, and gold). http://cu.advertiser-tribune.com/galleries/300284/

In case you did not catch this on Facebook or in my mom's weekly email, Christian wrote a really fantastic article at the beginning of the month related to some issues in our community. I am really proud of him. Here is the link to the article: http://advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/518032.html?nav=5104

Corinne celebrated her first Halloween at the cabins. Christian dressed her as a burrito - wrapped in a bunch of Taco Bell wrappers. Quick and cheap, and pretty cute!

This weekend, my parents are coming to visit. They will stay with Corinne on Friday while we are at work, and they are planning to attend the last football game of the year on Saturday. It will also be nice to have their help Thursday night with trick or treaters - we have a very popular neighborhood for trick or treat!

Gratuitous Photo Post!

2009-10-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

We've been busy here, and no time for a written update, but wanted to share some of our favorite recent photos! Will write soon...

Brrrr!

2009-09-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

The weather has turned autumnal this week in northwest Ohio, with blustery winds and dropping temperatures. Tonight we are supposed to get a frost! This is my favorite time of year. Here is a picture taken just after one our frequent evening walks.

Saturday while Christian was at the TU football game, Corinne and I went to our friend Brynn's 4th birthday party. Brynn was a lovely hostess! Corinne had lots of fun meeting new people, and she took some naps too. (photo courtesy Brad)

Sunday was Corinne's 3 month birthday. We got some blanket pics to commemorate the occasion. We can hardly believe it has been 3 months - we are enjoying every day with her! She has discovered her hands in the past week or two, and her current favorite thing to do is to gaze at her hands, then shove one or both of them in her mouth and slurp away.

Ch-ch-ch-changes!

2009-09-26T08:26:00.000-07:00

It has been a little while since I last posted - we've been very busy this last week!

The biggest change of course is that Corinne started daycare full-time, and I went back to work. We both seem to be adapting very well. The staff at daycare love to see her in the mornings, and in the afternoons, they tell us what a good baby she is. Every day, they send her home with a written report of diaper changes, naps, and bottles. We've also heard she is enjoying playtime too. I have started a new position at work, and so far I think it's going to go well. So many changes!

Our routine is that Christian usually takes care of taking Corinne to daycare, and I usually pick her up, and so far that has worked out fairly well. In the evenings, we fit in playtime/books, feeding, and bathtime before Corinne's bedtime, then Christian and I get everything ready to do it all over again the next day: making lunches, washing dishes, preparing bottles. I even made it over to water aerobics on Thursday, thanks to Christian's encouragement.

Corinne gave us the gift this week of her sleeping 10 hours straight every night this week. We're stocking up on sleep (8 hours for us) now for those nights to come when she's teething, sick, growing, fussy, and all the other reasons that babies don't sleep.

We got out a new fun item this week - the Bumbo! She tends to lean a little in it still but she does sit up straighter when she's really alert and energetic. She does seem to enjoy looking around at things while she is sitting in it!

Other activities over the past week and a half:

Grandpa Secrist came to visit and celebrate his birthday

Tiffin had their Heritage Festival - Corinne and I watched the parade and saw Christian's band.

Rollin', Visitin', and Jazzin'

2009-09-15T10:12:00.000-07:00

We've been busy here! The biggest developmental news here is that Corinne has figured out how to roll from front to back. She did it for the first time last Thursday and kind of surprised herself, and since then she has done it several more times, usually within seconds of us putting her on her tummy. Here is a video of one of those times!

I have also discovered that Corinne is ticklish under her right ribs (but not her left, yet). This makes for extra fun at diaper time - maybe one of these days we'll hear a giggle.

On Thursday I got my official "mom haircut" - it is so much easier to take care of now, and it looks cute too! I also started a water aerobics class, which was a good workout and a lot of fun. It is twice a week, kind of late in the evening, so Christian is in charge those evenings with bath, story, and feeding.

Last Friday we traveled to Dayton to visit my Grandma Scheper so she could meet Corinne for the first time. Grandma raised 7 children of her own, and has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren - so she has lots of experience with babies. They had a great time "doing exercises" and "talking" and I loved seeing my grandma, too! One of my favorite pictures is from when I was a baby, with my mom, grandma, and great-grandma. I am hoping to recreate this picture at Christmastime when we are all together.

Last Saturday we went to the Jazzin Tiffin festival. We spent the entire afternoon and early evening enjoying the beautiful weather, eating some bratwurst, listening to the music, and spending time with friends. A game of touch football broke out!

This is my last week of leave and I return to work full time starting Monday. We don't have too many special things planned, but hopefully we can fit in some nice walks and naps! Corinne will go to a half day of daycare on Friday so that we have a "dry run"and feel a little more prepared on Monday morning.

Jazzin Tiffin

2009-09-13T07:57:00.001-07:00

CU.Advertiser-Tribune.com | Purchase Prints, View Galleries, Upload Photos - Tiffin Advertiser Tribune

Shared via AddThis

The link is a photo from the jazz festival we went to yesterday. Will add much more later!

The End of the Summer

2009-09-08T10:38:00.000-07:00

The end of the summer has arrived - what an eventful summer it has been for the Secrists!

After band camp ended (a week and a half ago), we made the most of our quality time over the weekend. On Saturday, we went for a hike at a small park just outside of town, and on Sunday we went to church and out to breakfast, and got some yardwork done too.

Last week was somewhat rainy and not so great for doing too many fun things. However, we did get out a bit.

On Wednesday, Corinne and I went up to Sandusky and met Grandma Jane for a shopping excursion. I was in pretty desperate need of some clothes for work (I return on September 21), and Grandma Jane graciously volunteered to hold Corinne and offer fashion advice while I shopped.

On Thursday Corinne got her 2 month vaccinations (2 shots and a drink). She did okay. She slept much of the rest of the day on Thursday. On Thursday we also went to the TU football game (Corinne's first) and stayed through halftime.

Friday, Corinne and I went to Sorrowful Mother Shrine (www.sorrowfulmothershrine.com/) in Bellevue with my aunts Carol and Mitzi, where we enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch, and a peaceful contemplative walk around the grounds.

On Saturday, we watched the first part of the Buckeyes game, then listened to some of it on the radio as we all went to the Hillside Winery in Gilboa where Christian had his monthly afternoon gig. I enjoyed my first glass of wine in quite a long time (a nice Riesling), and Corinne had a great nap throughout most of the gig. It was her first time (outside the womb) hearing Dad perform! It was a beautiful and very warm day and I was glad she had her sunhat!

On Sunday we headed to Cleveland to visit family and celebrate GG-Ma's birthday. We had a nice cookout with a good crowd, and took lots of pictures:

Corinne has been becoming more aware of her surroundings. She's interacting more with toys as well as people, and is able to amuse herself for short periods of time. She has grown to like her activity gym, and even kicked the kickpad to get the music started!

She also has been tolerating "tummy-time" better, when she is in the mood for it. She will play for longer periods of time, and can really hold herself up high for short bursts.

In exciting technology news, I figured out how to take video on our camera, and how to upload it to the blog! Here is a trial video (very short) where Corinne is telling me she is done with playtime and is ready to take a break. Hope you are able to view it. You can look forward to more videos in the future!

2009-08-28T15:05:00.000-07:00

This week has really flown by - guess what everyone tells us about time going by quickly is true. Just a few things to report this week as well as some cute pictures.

Tuesday all three of us went to TU's annual beginning of the school year party at the president's house. It was a really nice affair, with a luau theme. The decor was festive (leis and palms), the drinks were tasty (mai tais were the signature cocktail), and the food was amazing (lots of seafood, a pig roast, really creative dishes). Corinne met lots of new friends at the luau who all thought she was adorable. She wore her brand new (to her) sunhat until the sun went down a bit. I got it at the resale shop in Findlay for $1.50 last weekend, as I wanted her to have some sun protection when we go to the football games this fall. It is really cute!

On Wednesday, we went to the "band dance" over at school - this is an annual event. Every year, Christian does the "Personal Jesus" line dance which has become a bit of a tradition. Corinne got to dance with both mom and dad at the dance. We really boogied to "Fat Bottom Girls" and then I learned that yes, spit up does glow under a blacklight. Oops! I will post a picture from the dance soon.

On Thursday, we celebrated Corinne's 2 month birthday by relaxing all together for the evening, for the first time in awhile (since band camp had started), and taking some fun pictures - some on her fish blanket to compare how she's grown in the last month, and a few with dad being silly using a burp cloth to make her look like the flying nun.

Today, she started wearing the next size of diapers - size 1! She probably could have been wearing these for a week or so already but we had some newborn size to finish and she still fit in those. She is also nearly 10 and a half pounds now, as demonstrated by my highly accurate method of weighing myself on our home scale, then weighing both of us together.

This weekend we are looking forward to spending some quality family time together, as band camp is over! We also have some thank you notes we need to get done. We can't believe August flew by so quickly - it was a memorable summer for us!

Doctor's visit - 8 weeks

2009-08-22T06:33:00.000-07:00

Corinne went to the doctor on Friday. He said she looked great and was developing just fine. Here are her stats:

Length: 23 inches
Weight: 9 pounds, 11 ounces
Head Circumference: 15.5 inches

She's definitely growing! She did a great job during the visit and the doctor said she should come back in 2 months. Corinne says WOW, I'm getting big!

Other events this week: attempting to attend the "Summer Splash" marching band concert at the park with great Aunt Dorothy and cousin Jess (ironically, it rained, and we left early), having lunch with dad at TU, signing up for daycare, meeting friends Justin and Claire, going to visit mom's friend Mary Kay and her son, and and going for lots of walks. Corinne also has been doing well at night, and Christian and I are adjusting to the "new normal."

Corinne's new favorites: lamps, ceiling fans, and blowing spit bubbles (first time was yesterday!)

The biggest news for the grown-ups this week: Christian started band camp and it's going very well, and I fit into my pre-pregnancy jeans!

Summertime smiles, sling, and friends

2009-08-15T10:16:00.000-07:00

This week, Corinne has been giving us lots of gorgeous smiles - my favorite milestone so far. She has also been cooing a lot. We hold some really interesting conversations throughout the day, and I could just sit and smile back at her for hours on end. Here are a couple of her smiles - I will try to capture more but right now they are elusive!

We had lots of social engagements this week too. My parents came on Sunday for a quick stop on their way back to NJ after dropping my sister off in Colorado. Aunt Kate and Uncle Tim also stopped by for a brief visit Sunday night. On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we visited with cousins Julie and Mackenzie, and Great Aunt Mitzi too. Here's a funny face Corinne made while Great Aunt Mitzi was holding her.

On Friday, Corinne and I went to visit my boss and her 5 week old son. Then that afternoon, my friend Christina came to visit us with her son Liam. It was a little strange having two little ones in the house instead of just Corinne, but we had lots of fun visiting and playing. We even managed to go to New Riegel Cafe to enjoy some ribs with all of my dad's siblings and in-laws.

This week, I started carrying Corinne in a sling that a friend has loaned to us. She LOVES it! She can be really fussy and then when I put her in the sling she calms down and usually falls asleep. I love wearing her in it because it helps me keep my hands free to do things around the house while still keeping her close. I also love that she loves it! She's been in it at Kroger, Walmart, church, and last night in New Riegel. While she's hidden pretty well in it for now, this photo shows how happy I am to wear her in it!

Musical entertainment

2009-08-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Corinne enjoyed 2 live music events this week. On Wednesday, we went to Fremont to hear a local bluegrass band play on the veranda at the Rutherford B Hayes Center. The concert was preceded by an ice cream social and the music was quite good. The photo below is from that evening.

Today, we went to hear the first of the brown bag concert series in front of the courthouse downtown - an acoustic singer songwriter who had a pretty nice voice. Corinne really enjoys being outside with all the mild weather we've been having.

Other musical fun Corinne enjoys:
- "conducting" with dad while he sings various opera themes
- dad singing Super Mario Brothers theme music during her bath time
- falling asleep at night to the music of Miles Davis or Stan Getz
- dad practicing the saxophone
- mom singing made-up songs about her toys

In non-music related news this week, we celebrated my 31st birthday. Christian got me beautiful red roses and prepared a delicious steak dinner. I was so excited to have my steak grilled to medium rare after not being able to enjoy it cooked that way during my pregnancy. We also had chocolate cake for dessert!

Busy weekend

2009-08-03T14:36:00.000-07:00

We've had a good weekend and a good start to this week so far.

On Saturday, Corinne and I went to the park to meet with cousins Nicole, Neil, and Nathaniel, and Great Aunt Carol. We had a nice time sitting in the shade, going for a walk, and playing on the playground (Corinne and I watched). I even nursed in public for the first time - something I had been a little nervous about, but it turned out to not be a big deal.

On Sunday, Corinne and I missed church due to us both needing to take a morning nap (the previous night had been a restless one). Christian gave her a bath and for the first time, she didn't scream her way through it. Progress! Then Grandma Jane came for an afternoon visit. Grandma babysat Corinne for a little while so Christian and I could spend some couple time together. We had brunch and checked out the YMCA, where we are considering joining this fall. When we came home, Grandma Jane helped me repot some plants. we had some birthday cake, and then had a quiet rest of the evening.

Today was a big day. Corinne and I went to Findlay to say hello to my coworkers. She was wide awake and adored by all. My boss also brought her almost 4 week old son with her so there were enough babies to go around! Corinne did pretty well in the car and even fell asleep on the way back. We stopped to get her second Hepatitis B shot at the health department. Poor girl had a rude awakening, but actually handled it really well. She screamed for about 2 seconds and then calmed quickly as I held her. I think it freaked me out more than it did her (especially the needle - it was SO long!!!). There was another mother there that offered her sympathies (she had 3 little ones) and said it is still hard for her, even after 3 kids! Lastly, we visited the library (Corinne's second trip there).

This week should continue to be busy. We will hopefully be checking out a daycare and then getting ready for the Huss Grandparents to visit this weekend!

1 month old!

2009-08-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

Corinne turned 1 month old on Monday, which we celebrated by taking a nap! We also took another picture of her on her fish blanket - hopefully we will remember to take the same picture each month so you can see how she is growing.

We had several outings this week, including the Seneca County Fair. We went around dinnertime and shared pulled pork nachos for dinner, and wandered around to check out the displays and people watch. We even saw a little bit of the rodeo. Christian met a celebrity:

Friday was a very big day. We headed up to Catawba on Lake Erie to visit with some of Christian's family and enjoyed a lovely lunch with good company. Christian had his first ever Kobe beef burger which he said was fantastic. After leaving Catawba we went to Findlay to a farewell party for one of my coworkers. It was really nice to see some of my colleagues. Corinne slept blissfully until we got home (after fighting a nap most of the day).

This next week should be exciting as well, with visits from both grandmas (and one grandpa), a shot on Monday, and mama's birthday!

Doctor's visit

2009-07-25T18:04:00.000-07:00

Corinne had her 1 month checkup yesterday, a few days early. Here are her stats:

weight: 7 lbs 14 oz
height: 21.25 inches
head circumference: 14.75 inches

Doctor seemed to be happy with her growth and stated she is very healthy and doing well.

Life goes on.

2009-07-23T11:41:00.000-07:00

We have had lots more visitors over the past couple of weeks here at the Secrist household, including friends Bryan and Carrie, Grandpa Secrist, Nancy, Goggie, and Great Uncle Jim and Great Aunt Carolyn. Corinne continues to be a very popular little lady!

She also has become more adventurous in her travels. She has now visited someone else's house (Brad, Ali, Noah and Brynn), Kroger (2 times), Walmart (2 times), the park, Babies R Us (the longest trip yet, which also included an emergency stop to change her diaper and get some ice cream), the library, the health department, the farm stand, the Huss Family Reunion (where she unfortunately did not win the prize for youngest family member!) and Beth's hair salon to visit Tonya. She usually does well in the car and she really enjoys going for walks in stroller from Grandma Huss.

I have begun to get the hang of leaving the house with her and am doing better with timing trips during the best part of the day for her.

Other new developments this week for Corinne:

beginning to see non-gas smiles, though I don't think they are social smiles quite yet
learning to enjoy diaper changes
more tummy time, and gazing at her "friends" on her play gym
apparently gaining some control over her hands - reaching for objects
a raging case of baby acne
lots more gazing at mom and dad's faces
enjoying books - she often relaxes when I read to her

Tomorrow is her 1 month doctor's appointment and we are excited to hear her"stats" - we think she is growing but it will be nice if the doctor confirms that!

No pictures today - I will try to include some next time.

Lots of Visitors!

2009-07-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Baby Corinne is a very popular little person these days. We have had many visitors over the past few weeks - Grandma and Grandpa Archacki, Aunt Mandy, Grandpa Secrist, Goggie, Grandma and Grandpa Huss, Aunt Mel, Aunt Kate and Uncle Tim, Aunt Diane and Uncle Aaron, Cousin Will, GG-Ma and GG-Pa Scherry, Great Aunts Mitzi and Carol, Great Aunt Dorothy and Great Uncle Mark, Cousins Nathan, Jess, Adrian, Daniele, and Anaya, and friends Brad, Oleg, and Yoo-Jung. Everyone has been wonderful company, and it has been very nice to get the chance to visit with everyone.

Christian and I are adjusting to life as new parents. The first few days home from the hospital, Corinne had her days and nights mixed up. This made for some late nights for new mom and dad, and we had been pretty much working in shifts to make sure the other one at least got a few hours of sleep. Things are sorted out a little better now and we have gotten into a bit of a routine at bedtime, which has helped.

My mom stayed with us all last week - the longest we have ever had a houseguest! She was a HUGE help around the house, doing cooking, laundry, weeding the extremely neglected vegetable garden, and playing with Corinne so that I could take naps most days. We took some outings with the stroller she had bought for Corinne, and made a Walmart run too. Thanks, Mom!

Christian and I also ventured out and took Corinne on a couple of "family" outings over the weekend. On Saturday, we went to the St Joseph Church Festival and walked around. There wasn't much to do but we did say hello to friends and family there and then walked down the street for some ice cream. On Sunday, we took a walk at the park, and caught just a bit of a barbershop choral concert there.

Every day Corinne does something new and exciting, and even though we don't have hard evidence, we think she's growing like a weed! Our current favorite thing is when she sneezes and covers her mouth (we're sure it's not purposeful but it's pretty cute)!

Corinne Renee

2009-07-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world, baby Corinne Renee!

Last Saturday, June 27, I was woken up at 3:00 a.m. with what I thought were contractions. I had been told by plenty of other moms that "you will know" when it's time... well, they were right! I was really uncomfortable lying in bed so I got up and rocked in the nursery and kept one eye on the clock to see how frequent they were. I finally woke Christian up around 6:00, and he was alert immediately! We had a light breakfast and then went for a walk. As we walked, the contractions became stronger but somewhat irregular - stronger ones about every 8 minutes, and smaller ones between those. We called the OB to see which ones to time - he told us just the stronger ones. As soon as we started timing only those, the smaller ones got much stronger and they were all about 4 minutes apart - time to go to the hospital!

Got to the hospital about 8:30 a.m. and was disappointed to find that dilation was only about 2-3 centimeters. They told us that we would have to "make progress" or else they might have to send us home! So - we walked the halls of the birthing unit for about an hour - and then came back to the room. While I rocked in the rocking chair, my water broke - about 10:45 a.m. We were so happy they would not be sending us home!

From there, things happened very quickly, I got in the tub and labored there for about 2 hours until I was about 9 cm dilated. At that point the pain was getting to be too much for me and I was not sure I could continue.... so I opted for the epidural. Luckily, they were able to get that in fairly quickly, and that helped me stay "present" for the rest of the time. Started pushing about 2:30, and our precious baby girl was born at 3:12 p.m.

When she was born, they immediately placed her on my chest and she turned her head to Christian and me - her eyes gazed right into mine. That moment was indescribable! Christian's memory of her birth is just as moving - he says it was like she "sprung forth" into the world.

Corinne Renee Secrist
Born 6/27/09 at 3:12 p.m.
20" long and 7 lbs 5.6 oz

We love our beautiful Corinne!

Testing, testing.

2009-06-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

This is a test post to see how things will look here on the Secrist Blog. We will have a new and better name soon but wanted to get things started before Baby Secrist arrives!