The house project has begun!

We have finally started on the house! By "we" I really mean CK but you get the idea. Our good friend Lorri is watching Reese and Asher so CK can start playing (I mean working) with his new backhoe.

This is the current state of our new house (site)
Andrew demonstrating the wonderful view
Our new "addition"

Here you can see the tough time the trees have had around Helena. The dead ones are a result of the pine beetles that have killed 2.5 million acres of forest in Montana.
Val and Reese looking on while CK and Andrew get some work done
So we've started! We have no idea when we'll be done but it feels good to be moving in the right direction.

Asher 4 mths; Reese 19.5 mths

CK took the kids in for their checkups/immunizations today and here are their current stats:

Asher

Height: 27" (94th percentile)

Weight: 18 lbs 12 ounces (94th percentile)

Reese

Height: 33.5" (84th percentile)

Weight: 26 lbs 10 ounces (74th percentile)

National Champions!

This shot almost ruined my night...

But instead...a late birthday gift
I will be smiling all week...really, all summer...a proud and happy alum I am. Wow, what a game.

This counts as business casual, doesn't it?

Some days it's nice to be the boss :)

Let's go DUKE!!!

More videos of the kids

Reese is learning her ABCs and both kids are "talking" more and more to each other

Asher can roll over!

Asher has been close to rolling over for about 2 weeks now and finally made it all the way over yesterday. I was able to capture it on video:

I looked back and it looks like Asher beat Reese to this milestone by about 5 weeks. Already trying to catch up to his big sister...

Please more bears!

Last summer, Jane got Reese a video for her birthday. The visual is a bunch of bears (with some eagles, moose and squirrels thrown in for good measure) walking around and sleeping in nature while some folksy songs about bears play in the background. As far as kid videos go, it's actually pretty entertaining and the folk songs aren't even that annoying after the millionth time (and, believe me, we would know). Anyway we found the video recently and starting playing it for Reese and have created a bit of a monster. Every day the first thing we hear when she wakes up: "Please see bear" or "Please sing bear" (hard to tell which but the effect is the same). This is Reese watching the bear video last week:And we've included a video of how she (politely) asks about 20 times a day to watch the bear video:

You'll also notice in many of the other videos we've posted lately of Asher that you can either hear the bear video playing or Reese asking "Please see bear" in the background.

March pictures...in April

Some recent pictures of the kids...sorry it's taken me so long to get them on here. We're kinda busy around here, you know?

Asher in his Jumperoo

...and a special guest

On to Indy!

Duke is finally heading back to the Final Four and we are all smiles in this house :) The alumni association even tempted me with an email offering tickets for next weekend's games. Of course I was tempted...but I'll be watching them from my 10' projection TV screen instead (probably have a much better view ;) Go Devils!!!

idol worship

Anyone who's spent time with Reese knows how much she loves music and usually stops what she's doing as soon as she hears anything from a grandfather clock to a commercial with a catchy jingle. It shouldn't surprise you, then, to hear that Reese's favorite show is American Idol. In fact, she loves it so much that she gets mad at us when other things are playing on TV and demands we switch it with "sing! sing!"

Maybe it's the catchy tunes they sing, maybe it's the dancing during some of the more powerful performances. Or maybe it's just that she really, really likes Ryan... Either way, it's pretty funny to watch Reese and her appreciation for all things musical. It could be a phase or it could be that we have a budding superstar on our hands. Maybe even a contestant for American Idol 2026?

letter to TSA

So this week I considered writing a letter to TSA about their inconsistent application of the 3-1-1 rule for carrying liquids through airport security. I consider myself an expert in this area after my experiences over the past 15 months or so. As some of you may know, TSA allows you an exemption to their 3-1-1 rule for juice or milk, both while you're traveling with an infant, and when you're not. This exemption has been in place for at least as long as I have cared (so more than a year). However, I have flown through no less than 15 different airports in the last year and have had a different experience in almost every one. Scarier yet is that I have a different experience in the same airport depending on which TSA person I encounter. While I have never been prevented from bringing my precious (and hard earned) milk through security I have spent varying levels of time (from a 30 second pause to a 20 minute delay while they scanned each one of the 40+ bags I was bringing through) delayed at the security checkpoint, often while TSA dude #1 talks to TSA dude #2 (or his supervisor) to figure out how to handle the crazy lady who's attempting to board a plane with a cooler full of milk. It's funny how often I get asked the question "Where is the baby?" Uhhh...the baby is clearly at home which is why I'm carrying this ridiculously large and heavy cooler through the airport. Maybe they think I just like to cart around milk for fun. I guess it frightens me that if our TSA employees aren't trained well enough to understand this rule and implement it consistently, what other (arguably much more important) rules are they also not following? For anyone reading this who may be looking for tips on how to make this process easier, I wish I had some. I have travelled with the milk in liquid form (to avoid it melting and being wasted). I have travelled with it frozen. I have travelled with some of each. It doesn't seem to matter. All has been accepted and all has made it home safe. The delay time at the checkpoint is completely up to the individual TSA employee and their interpretation of the rules. I've had everyone from the 20-something guy who takes one look at me and (displaying signs of being slightly grossed out) ushers me through with a "You're good" to the "I'm going to follow our rules by the letter" guy who has taken out each and every bag from my cooler and scanned them all for explosives (and I carry 30-40 at a time). I wish I could say there was an easy way to do it but, at least in my experience, easy and TSA don't usually go together.

So yes, I considered sending in a letter but then I got busy playing with my kids that I haven't seen all week and decided against it :)

Plan B

So here is Plan B. We decided to go straight to the toddler bed (good thing we got the convertible crib, huh?) Reese slept in it for awhile last night and then rolled out onto the floor around 2am. We're going to keep at it and get her used to being in her own bed but we did move the crib/bed into our room to make things easier for her and for us.Like my bed head?

Now you see me...

Now you don't

And now you see why we don't put anything under the sink :)

Reese has found it's much more efficient to just play INSIDE the toy bins
Reese playing with her friend Tyler

Reese likes to read books to Asher
Asher celebrating Duke's 2010 ACC Championship and their #1 seed
Asher seems to like Reese's new bed...yes, we're starting him early :)
Smiling for Dad

Our little monkey

Well Operation get-Reese-to-sleep-in-the-crib was pretty much a complete failure. After assembling the crib last night and starting a good routine of bath, then book reading, then bed, we left Reese in her new crib (in her own room). She cried for about 10 minutes and it was pretty heart-wrenching to hear "Mommy! Mommy" (with choking sobs in between each one). I see now why it's better to train them to do this before they can say your name :)

Anyway, CK and I were both in our bedroom debating on how long to let her cry when we heard a thump. I started walking towards Reese's room to see what had happened and there she was walking down the hallway to see ME. Yes, despite the crib mattress on the lowest setting and the rails all the way up, Reese managed to climb out of her crib within the first 15 minutes. Hmmm...

Plan B, anyone?

where I work

In case you’re curious, this is the hospital that I’m currently working in. In fact, if you watch the video, the hallway that they’re in at the end (with the lovely orange tile) is where I walk 10 or more times a day. Anyway, if you’ve been keeping up with the healthcare reform debate, Intermountain has been cited by everyone (including the President in many speeches) as a model for balancing quality and cost of care. They do it better than almost anyone else in the nation. This project for me is less of a “they’re in real trouble so let’s fix them” and more of a “good to great” challenge. Somewhat ironically, the video focuses on the example of how c-sections cost the healthcare system so much more than regular deliveries so I guess I'm not doing my part to keep costs down!

back to work

Yesterday was my first day back at work. It was a long, exhausting day. A different kind of long, exhausting day than I'm used to :) I'm trying to prepare for the project I'm starting on Monday while also doing the work I'm assigned to in PDX this week and pretend to carve out time to "catch up" with everyone who wants to catch up with me. Oh yeah, and sleep and maybe squeeze in a workout and a meal or two. However...

I did sleep 6 hours in a row last night without waking up once.

Now I am a waker. Meaning even when I didn't have kids I usually wake up a few times a night, see the clock and roll over and go back to sleep. But I was so exhausted last night that I hit the pillow and didn't see the clock again until my alarm went off for my run this morning. And despite the early hour it said on the clock, I felt fabulous and got right up with only a minor hesitation about pressing the snooze button.

As I've said, though, I have the easy end of things. CK said the first day with the kids went pretty well. Asher is doing great with the bottle and slept quite a bit (unfortunately, during the day so we'll see how last night went). Jen watched the kids last night so he could play basketball which I'm sure was a nice break.

So far so good. I'm sure in a few weeks this will all be our new routine but right now we're both still adjusting to the new days (and nights).

so much for the flu shots

Despite diligently getting our flu shots (both th H1N1 and the seasonal), CK and I both came down with a nasty stomach flu this week. Luckily the worst of our sicknesses didn't overlap because at the height of it neither of us could stand up without almost passing out. So we've taken turns taking care of the kids (who, thus far, have not gotten it) and each other. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my last week of maternity leave.

Monday I return to work and will be headed to Portland for a one week assignment. Then my actual project- improving flow in the Emergency Room- starts in Salt Lake City on the 8th. The direct flights and no change in time zone will be nice. CK definitely has the tougher job staying home with both kids. Don't be surprised if he can't answer your phone calls the first time. We both learned this week just how tough it is to do this on your own.

Sometimes you get lucky

...and sometimes you get really lucky. After a last minute ticket change we arrived at Newark airport this morning in a way-too-early-to-be-awake fog to check in and get seat assignments (5am EST, 3am MST). First, the woman at the ticket counter was able to get her manager to override her system to assign us across-the-aisle bulkhead seats. Then we get on the plane, CK and Reese in the aisle seat and Asher and I in the aisle seat across from them and no one sits down next to us. CK just smiles and I am in disbelief. Keep in mind that I fly over 100 days a year and this NEVER happens to me. So we had an entire row (6 seats!) to ourselves for 5+ hours to Salt Lake. It was utterly fabulous. The kids were both less than thrilled on the next flight from SLC to Helena but that was a short one so we couldn't complain. Overall we are very tired but happy to be home.

The last few days of our trip were full of the sad events of my Grandmother's funeral. The wake and service were both really nice and the best part was seeing almost the entire Lageman family together in one place. Overall the mood was fairly upbeat and we enjoyed catching up with everyone and reminiscing over old photos. Here's a picture we took with Mom:

The trip was great and we were able to spend time with a lot of friends and family. We even squeezed in a short dinner with Steve Saturday night (thanks Steve!) Thanks to everyone who hosted us for a meal or a night (or a few). Especially with Jeff and Michelle soon jetting off to live in London for the next 2 years, we were thankful that we could see you!

I go back to work in a week so this week I'll be digging out the suits (hoping they fit!) and getting Asher used to more bottles. It's also time to transition Reese to her own bed (I know, I know, as we've told many of you, we've learned our lesson on letting the kids sleep with us...) The last 11 weeks have flown by, sleepless nights and all. Asher is officially in 6 month clothes now. Our little man is not really so little :)

East Coast Road Trip 2010

We are closing in on the end of our East Coast road trip. We've seen lots of friends and family and had a great time. Unfortunately, we are going to end the trip on a sad note as my Grandmother (Lageman) passed away this morning after a wonderful, long life. So we will be extending our trip for a few days to go to the funeral and celebrate her life with family.

Here are some pictures from our trip so far. We also spent time with my friend Jessica and her family but somehow managed to forget to take any pictures (probably because we were too busy eating!)

Prior to the trip Reese, Asher and I got geared up for the big Duke-Carolina game. Aunt Michelle and Uncle Jeff with Asher

CK and Uncle Jeff getting Asher to talk

Daddy and Asher

Uncle Dan reading to Reese

Dan, Reese and Jameson

Venus, Dan and "the kids"

We stayed a night with my friend Elizabeth (who is expecting her own baby girl in 6 weeks) and her husband Jason. They fed us very well :)

Elizabeth, Reese and me

Aunt Michelle and Asher

Dan and Venus playing a hard core game on the Wii

Reese finally got to meet her friend Petey who is only a week younger than her. Petey is the son of my friend Erin from high school and is super adorable as you can see...

Aunt Sarah and Asher cuddling

Aunt Sarah and Reese clowning around

CK and I decided to stop by Windycrest (the house I grew up in) and here is what we found. We took a tour of the updated kitchen and downstairs bathroom. Looks like they're taking pretty good care of the place :)

We had lunch with my friend Casey and her daughter Barrett, who is 6 days younger than Asher. As you can see from the picture below, babies sure do grow at different rates!