Doctor's Visit

Elianna had her first doctor's visit in many many months last week. After first being super sad that we have to find new doctor's - we absolutely loved every doctor and hair person and dentist in New Jersey - we talked with a bunch of different people to see who they would recommend. A friend from church suggested Lowry Pediatrics and since it is near where we will be moving next year, I decided to give them a try. If I didn't like them, we would find someone else. But, I absolutely loved the doctor who saw Elianna! She was so sweet to Elianna - talking, interacting with her, etc! It helps too that she has a son 2 weeks younger than Elianna. 

At first Elianna was a little scared, but pretty soon she was feeling right at home and didn't mind the shot one bit. The new doctor also agreed to continue with the immunization schedule we have Elianna on (no multiple shots - one shot per month).  After listening to Elianna talk for 2 seconds, she determined that she had no questions or concerns about Elianna's speaking abilities. Ha!

Elianna's official stats as of May 3, 2012 are:

Weight:  28 pounds 12.8 ounces (40%)

Height:  34-1/2 inches (10%)

Head circumference:  19 inches

Well, we don't have to worry one bit about having trouble finding a husband taller than her. She is definitely not in the "tall" category.

After her appointment, we headed to Chick-fil-a since she was such a trooper!

This is Sparta!!

It was hot so very very hot but I could not have been prouder of my Chris this past Saturday. He and his brother, John, participated in the Spartan race. If you are not familiar (like I was) with the Spartan race, think 4 mile run meets obstacle course covered in mud.

This year the race was at Fort Carson, CO and designed by Army Special Forces. It was said to be the most obstacle dense course ever. You began the race by running up a hill followed by many many obstacles such as jumping over mud pits, falling into some of said mud pits, climbing over walls, climbing under walls, climbing through walls. Muds pits to go through. There were backpacks full of 80 pounds of rocks to carry up a huge hill. Cinder blocks to pull up and down a hill. Mud pits to go through. Barbed wire to crawl under through the mud. Huge tires to turn over. Cinder blocks to pulley up and let slowly down. Mud pits to go through. Fire to jump over. Huge wall to climb.

Chris started out with a bright yellow shirt which was nice because it was fairly easy to find him. However, at the end of the race, everyone looked the same. Muddy brown. 

Elianna was a trooper throughout the 2 hours we waited for them to finish. Since it was blazing hot, I was super concerned about her fair fair skin burning so I made her sit most of the time under an umbrella. It was wishful thinking that she would sleep and take a short nap. She did great in spite of the circumstances.

There were supposed to be a couple other guys do the race with Chris but due to work schedules and torn shoulder something or other's, it ended up just being Chris and John. Chris loved it and is already talking about the next one and beating his time. He is also trying to talk me into it but I'm just not sure quite yet. It would be a huge accomplishment but I'm not convinced yet.

 Excited for the race to start!!

One of the crazy dressed up people.  There were many.

Before

After

Chore Chart

We recently instituted a chore chart with Elianna. It was mainly for my benefit because I would often forget to have her do things like take her vitamin or brush her teeth. I realize that is a not so proud mommy confession but it's the truth. Every time she completes a task on her chart, she puts a sticker on the chart. Thank you Grammy and Dollar Tree for lots and lots of stickers.

And since I'm in the business of boring people, here is a list of her chores. I could claim that I need to keep this as a reference for the next kid. No, don't even ask. There is no next kid in the oven. Anyway...

-Brush teeth in the morning
-Take vitamin
-Give Harley a bone at lunch time
-Feed Harley at dinner time
-Take dishes from the dinner table to the kitchen

*(except Mondays and every other Tuesday)
-Clean up toys before bed
-Brush teeth before bed

*On Mondays, instead of helping with the dishes, she gathers all the trash cans and brings them to the kitchen where they are emptied and then she takes the trash cans back to where they belong.

*Every other Tuesday we have running club and eat dinner there.  So no dishes for her to bring in for me to clean!  Yay!!!

It seriously has been the best thing to help her (and us) remember what her responsibilities are as a part of our family.

Running club week

**We also take Sundays off since they are always crazy although we still do have her brush her teeth. I know you are relieved to find that out! Ha!

Denver Children's Museum

On the first Tuesday of every month between the hours of 4 pm and 8 pm, the Denver Children's Museum is free thanks to Target, I believe. Yesterday we went for the very first time. We met my friend, Andrea, there with her little boy, Sam. There was so much to see and do! Firetruck (with jacket and helmet), bubbles, painting, drawing, "ant hill" that you could crawl through, recycle place, "store", and Elianna's favorite, the little house in a hollowed out "tree." She absolutely loved it! The only thing I will do differently from now on is to take our dinner and step outside and eat it. We got there at 4pm but by 6pm we were both so hungry so we left to go home. Elianna would have played for the 2 more hours available, so maybe next time we will take dinner and not have to make an early exit.

This phone was in the section with the firetruck.  The firetruck was dismissed because there was a phone to play with instead.

She loved this slide - head first, backwards, regular -it didn't matter.

And then she found the little house and it was pretty much all over!  We spent most of our time in here.

In the bubble zone

The little boy in the red striped shirt is my friend, Andrea's, little boy, Sam.

Her first water painting (with a little help on the flower stamp at the top)