Some new Megan pictures

As I mentioned earlier, Megan and I were having issues regarding the whole bottle feeding routine. Frankly, she didn't want the bottle, and was starting to resent me entirely because I represented the bottle. This was making her constantly cranky with all of us throughout the day. Anyway, we kept at it with the bottle...trying all different types.
Finally, a few days after Mat and Beth left Megan started taking a bottle from me with no fuss. In fact, after that first bottle she was almost like a different baby afterward. She smiled all the time, she let you hold her with no crying, etc. She was very easy going...and again - a totally different baby.
Anyway, it all happened just in time because Jenny went back to work this week. So now it's just Megan, Ben, and I during the day. We're all doing fine...and already we're getting into a routine and schedule we can all live by. I guess it just took Megan a while to figure out she could have it both ways regarding the whole bottle/nursing thing. But she figured it out and life is a little easier now for all of us.
Here are some pictures of a much happier baby...

Fall Festival

One thing you see a lot up here in Michigan and the midwest is the celebration of the coming fall season. This past weekend we went to one of those festivals, a fall festival that was being held at the nature center here in town.

We took Megan on her first hike, saw lots of fall leaves and color, and participated in some activities that were being held. There were a lot of people recreating settler activities, such as yarn weaving...making apple butter...plowing the fields with horses...rope making...visiting an old schoolhouse...etc. It was fun, and the day was absolutely perfect. Ben especially had a great time making a candle...which we've been lighting up at dinner every night this week.

All packed in

Here's how 8 people all fit into a Honda Pilot. For the most part we were as comfortable as 8 people in a Honda Pilot could be. Also, I think we pretty much all got used to the noise. Here's an example...

Welcome Hames Family!

This past weekend we had Jenny's brother and family come up from Texas to visit. This was Mat and Beth's first visit to mid-Michigan, and Jackson and Luke seemed to enjoy themselves as well.

We started the tour off with a drive around Midland, showing them the sights around the city. We stopped at Dow Gardens where the kids got to run along the trails and explore the "children's garden," where they got to dig for potatoes and trek through the pumpkin patch.










Then we drove north to Traverse City, where we spent 2 nights at the "Great Wolf Lodge" resort (a big indoor waterpark / hotel). We spent some time at the park splashing around and letting the kids play. Once we all had our fill of water fun we drove into town and saw some lakeshore scenery at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore. The kids had a great time hiking around there and playing in the sand. The next day we drove to Mission Point to see an old lighthouse and walk along Lake Michigan.







On our final day we drove back to Midland where we showed everyone Ben's favorite playground, the "Fun Zone." Afterward we drove downtown to show them the "Tridge," and later for some pizza at Pizza Sam's.

Overall it was a fun-filled weekend. The kids all had a blast hanging out with one another, and it was fun to show Mat and Beth our little world here up north.

Sports Class

We recently enrolled Ben in a "sports class" at the community center. It's basically a class that introduces him to sports and games, and more importantly help him develop motor skills and coordination. He seems to enjoy it so far. He basically just likes running around and throwing balls every which way.

Megan entertains Ben

One thing that always seems to make Ben laugh is when I make Megan dance.

Ben sings Thomas

Here's Ben singing the lyrics to the Thomas the Tank Engine theme song. Complete with a british accent.

He's supposed to say:

"There's 2...there's 4...there's 6...there's 8...
Shunting trucks and hauling freight...
Red and green and brown and blue...
They're a really useful crew!"

But as you'll see Ben gets all the words wrong...and seems to laugh at his british accent.

Weight Check

Megan went to the doctor yesterday for a checkup...and weighed in at 10 pds 14 oz. So she's just shy of 11 pounds. The doctor added that she's in the 95th percentile for length, and 90th for weight. So she's a big baby.

1 Month Birthday

Today is Megan's "1 Month" birthday. Hooray for Megan.

Off to school

Ben started back up at school this week. So far it's going great. He's got a new classroom, new friends, and new teachers...but so far he's handling all the changes well. There's about 25 students in his class, all ranging from 3 years to 6 years. But most of the kids are around 4. Anyway, they're having a "phase-in" period all this week, so he only goes for an hour each day this week. Then next week will be the start of his regular schedule (3 hours each day).

Dinner at Doug and Joan's

Last night we went over to Doug and Joan's house for dinner. Ben loves going over there because they have a fish pond in the backyard that's filled with frogs. So Ben always wants to hunt for frogs when he's over there. He likes to touch them and make them jump. Megan just enjoyed the outdoor breezes and fell asleep pretty fast.

At the zoo

The other day we took the kids to the Children's Zoo over in Saginaw. It was almost perfect weather for it, and we all had a good time. We wanted to get Ben over there one more time because school starts up next week. Hard to believe summer vacation is just about over for him. But I think he had a good summer. We stayed pretty busy.

Out and About

We've been taking a few walks at night after dinner. Most of the time we've been taking Megan around in her stroller, and Ben will usually ride his tricycle. But on this night Ben wanted to ride in his wagon, so we let Megan ride in the wagon with him. Ben loved it.

Hi Grandma...

The other night Ben talked to Grandma on the phone...and pretty much took the phone out of my hand and held it on his own. The only reason this is noteworthy is because we've always held the phone for him...but this time I guess he wanted to do it on his own.

Megan at 4 weeks

Here's Megan at 4 weeks. Overall, she's doing well...but we are experiencing a few issues with her.

Megan has gotten the hang of the whole nursing thing and now refuses to take a bottle. In fact, she doesn't want the bottle or a pacifier. All she wants is Jenny. So when she's hungry, or just wants to pacify on something, she wants Jenny. We are obviously not giving into all of these demands, and we're trying to get her back on track with everything. But as you can imagine it is slow going.

So right now there is a lot of crying going on in the house, and the nights are becoming a little more difficult than they were a few weeks ago. She just has a hard time calming down right now because she won't take a pacifier, and I can't help out with the feedings because she won't take a bottle. So she'll cry. It's not colic that's for sure. She cries during the day and night...pretty much throughout the day. She just doesn't want to change. So we're working on it.