June is busy and Lily is, too

We have officially wrapped up the school year! It was a pretty special ending for both Jason and I; Jason accomplishing his student teacher (he kicked butt, got a great letter of recommendation from his principal, and is officially in the hiring pool at Bellevue!), and I finished up my 7th year. This was a pretty fabulous group of kids who I got to spend this special year with. They were with my from when I first announced my pregnancy, brainstormed name ideas and found out we were having a February Sparkle, and right up until my water broke in the school parking lot. I hadn't anticipated how great it would be to share all this with the kiddos, but their belly hugs, baby names, and hilarious questions just made the whole pregnancy experience that much more fun. Remember when Y asked me if I could bring my 1st trimester fetus to school? Or if I could feel the baby, hear the baby cry, or hear what the baby is thinking? I was reminded how concerned they were for the baby and my safety after I told them the doctor said I shouldn't jump (which led the frequent questions like, "Mrs. Friesen, is it ok with your doctor if you do that?"). Last week when the staff at my school surprised the kids with a Year-End Flash Mob (that's right, we're on You Tube!), L said "It's a good thing you aren't pregnant anymore and you can jump again!" 

Meanwhile, we've been busy at home! Lily noticed she has feet! But only when she is in the tub. She loves to kick and splash, and even figured out how to lift the ball with her feet! We've been practicing swimming in the bath, and Lily now floats, kicks, jumps in from the side, and even lets us dunk her underwater!

 Last weekend we went to a barbeque at a friends' house that we met through Snugglers, and lots of our baby friends were there, including 2 couples from our hypnobirthing class! It was fun to see the babies behind the bellies....ha!

 Lily likes her Bumbo, and has started what we can only assume will be a love affair with Sophie the Giraffe. I stayed up way too late the other night surfing Kenley's blog and checking out KK at about the same age sitting in the Bumbo!

 We're really getting our summer reading around here, and even checked out some new board books at the library!

Lily has had a few grumpy days. On Friday night we met Rachel and Michael at Carkeek Park, and Lily had a major meltdown! We think we might be in for some teeth!

"I'm a baby on the edge!"

 We got a fun gift in the mail....a "Lillian" frame that was a gift from the Woodridge staff! We added some scrapbooking papers they had used to decorate at the Woodridge baby shower, and, ta-da!

Lily is working on a lot of new and exciting things. We think we might be teething, because she has been a little irritable, continuously drooly, and chomping on anything she can find! She has just about mastered the y sound, and chatters "ayayayayaaa!' She is constantly doing baby crunches and trying to sit up, and just in the last 2 days has really been trying to turn over from back to tummy. The other day we caught her sitting up...momentarily!

This week will be our first official week of summer vacation, and we can't wait to get started on all our fun plans, and spending lots of time together as our little family.

Jason's Graduation

Lily and I are so proud of Jason! He graduated yesterday with his Master In Teaching degree and certificate.

Our first glimpse of Jason as the graduates file in!

Our friend, Dawn, graduated, too! Lily says, "Way to go, Dawn!"

Lily and Jason lining up before heading up to the stage.

Jason E. Friesen.........and Lily! With the Dean of the College

And the head of the Teacher Ed program.

Jason's cohort! 2011 Elementary MIT

After the ceremony, we cruised through campus to take a few photos.

The Friesen Family! Thank you for your support!

Looking good in the hood!

Nerd Alert

Kenley loves graduations! She has decided she wants to graduate some day.

After the ceremony we headed over to Palisade to celebrate.

What a crazy year it has been! Jason has handled full time school, student teaching, a pregnant wife AND having a brand new baby! Thanks to everyone who has helped us along the way!

4 Months Old, and catching up

  

 Lily is four months old! She has found her hands, and she LOVES to suck them! I couldn't get her to take them out to take this picture!

Lily is four months old and getting so BIG!

 I realized it has been forever since I updated our blog! It turns out going back to work means not so much time to blog. Plus we have been super busy having fun! Here's some catch up:

4 month checkup! Lily now weighs 13 lbs, 4 oz (40th percentile) and 24 1/8" long (35th percentile)! Dr. K is so proud! 

Lily loves the Jumperoo!

 Lily is just starting to want things in her mouth, but she doesn't always know how to get them there. Here she is trying SO hard to get those giraffe legs into her mouth, but she can't get her head off the floor. Use the force Lily.....

  Life is better around here because Lily is a happy girl in her stroller AND her carseat!! Now that she is noticing the world around her and starting to show an interest in things like her hands and toys, she is more easily entertained while strapped in. She will also (sometimes) take a pacifier, so that helps. We still have tough rides, but it sure makes a difference to not have screaming on every trip. Mama is soooo happy.

On Sunday we explored a new park called Forest Park in Everett. It has great trails...not so great for strollering though. Ha!

It also has a great spray park! Lily liked watching the water bubble up. Too cold to go in on this day though!

 On Tuesday we had our 12th (and technically last) day of official PEPS meetings! We took some fun pictures, though we are missing one baby and mama. We are planning to continue to get together with this group, and feel lucky that we found such an interesting and fun group of new families. We can't wait to see the babies grow together!

Daddies and Babies

Mommies and Babies

Lily occasionally notices that she has feet, and they are cool!

Look Ma!

I've got toes!

Round Baby!

 We had a fun Memorial Day weekend celebrating Papa's birthday! We loved all the visitors!

 We hit up Folklife and saw all kinds of crazy things!

I'm halfway through my short return to work before summer. It has been, and will continue to be, quite an adjustment! I'm happy to be back and work and see my kiddos and my fabulous coworkers! I'm trying to figure out how to do the same amount of work in fewer hours, and find time to pump 3 times a day while I'm there! Lily is happy as a clam at home with the grandparents, and we often come home to find Lily cruising the neighborhood in her stroller, or squealing happily at adoring grandparents. I'm looking forward to summer and a return to our mornings of cuddling and playing, and outings with our baby friends.