I guessed 12 pounds

Jessie had her 4 month check-up today with Dr. Fritz.  She is 24" long and weighs 11 pounds, 14 oz.  She is in the 10th percentile for weight and in the 50th percentile for height.  Just like last time, she cried during her shots and immediately fell asleep as soon as I picked her up.

 

Nap Time

 

A LITTLE Big Kid

I think it is all the hair that makes Jessie look so much older than she is.  I often hear the comment that she looks like a miniature toddler.  And when you take a close-up of just her, she does look pretty big.....but, put her next to something big and you can see her actual size....

My First Mama Bear Moment

Jessie sporting her new bows from Jaylyn

New Jaylyn Bows

I love Jessie's hair.  And I love to put it in piggy tails.  And I've waited a very long time for my own child so that I can have a say about her appearance.  So, with that in mind, please allow me to document/ vent....

When I teach my Wednesday circuit class Jessie spends a couple hours with her daddy at work.  She has many admirers at the Forest Service and seems to be the highlight of the lunch room each week.  They are very sweet to her and spend a lot of their time taking care of her and snuggling her during their lunch breaks.  And this works out very well for all of us.    However, one of the jokes around the lunch table is that Jessie is too girlie, wears too much pink and has "girlie pig tails" which, I guess are a bad thing in Forest Service land.  To me, this was all fine, harmless, and their way of making conversation (because Jessie's hair is often the topic of conversation wherever we go).  I even made special effort to send her in green, blue, and red - no pink for quite a while.  Until last Wednesday. 

But this week the joking went a little too far.  Jessie came home with her hair messy and tucked into her hooded sweatshirt - no pig tails.  When I asked about it I found out that someone, other than Reid, had taken them out....Then I learned that the person who intentionally removed them (because they were not her preference) used scissors to take them out! 

I know that this is not a big deal, the end of the world, or something to take offense to, but it really bugged me that they would take it that far!  What could have happened if Jessie had turned her head while they were CUTTING her rubber bands out of her pig tails?  To clarify, He hair didn't get messed up or fall out of the rubber bands.  They didn't even just pull them out of her hair.....they took scissors to them because they wanted to.   

It bugged me so much that I had to say something........and say something I did.  I THINK I was kind.  I hope I wasn't rude or overbearing, and most of all, I hope I didn't embarrass Reid or the people at the Forest Service.  They really are nice people and I find it endearing the way they flock to her when we walk in the door. 

Not my best moment, but I have now gained a little understanding about motherhood.......
Here's to hoping that's a good thing right?

Court Date

Our adoption will be finalized in court April 11th at 1:30pm in Seattle.  Reid and I will not be going to the court proceeding as I will be in California for a national cheerleading competition and Reid will be at a training in Texas.  After the adoption is final, our attorney will file for a new birth certificate with the name we have chosen, Jessie Diane, and we should receive it in 6 weeks. 

We will be taking Jessie to the temple to be sealed to us on May 27th.  We will bless her at church the following Sunday in Helena. 

Grandma Stovall

On our way home from a cheerleading competition in Salt Lake we stopped in West Yellowstone to see Grandma Stovall and aunt Ann.  It was fun to see them and to listen to Grandma sing to Jessie.

Another First for Jessie - Pheasant Hunting!

The day started with sunshine and ended with snow.  There is a game preserve 17 miles away in Winston where you can purchase birds to hunt outside of the regular hunting season.  Because the weather was so nice, and because there were no gophers to be found we all jumped in the truck and headed out to find some pheasants.  Reid and I took turns staying in the truck with Jessie and hunting with Gunner and Kirk.  When it was my turn, the snow, THUNDER and wind, began.....

The snow storm didn't last long, but it covered the ground pretty fast and stopped a few minutes after we finished our photo shoot.  But, as usual, even the wind and snow didn't seem to bother Jessie.  Granted, she was only outside for about 45 seconds total, but either way, she is proving to be a pretty good sport!

The First Thing People Say When They Meet Jessie.....

"Look at all that hair!"

 

Jessie was teaching her dad how to put her hair in piggy tails

She is nowhere near being able to balance herself, but she loves to stand up!

Watching a movie on our tummies

A little play time

Yellow Shirts. Cute Toes. Curly Hair.

This little yellow shirt with white dots is my absolute favorite newborn outfit.  I am sad to see her outgrow it and hope to find it again in a larger size.  I think yellow is my favorite color to dress her in! 

Jessie's feet are ALWAYS moving.  She is always curling and spreading her toes.  She doesn't have any interest in playing with them yet, but I am sure that will be coming soon.  Her little feet are one of my favorite things about her and I only cover them up when we leave the house. 

Jessie's hair is curly when wet and will stay that way if I use a little mouse and hair spray.  I don't think it will hold the curls as it grows out, so for now I am just enjoying them as much as possible. 

Jessie is Rollin' Over

This started as still shots to show how well Jessie is doing at holding her head up.  Then, she rolled over......and peed on her blanket! 

So, I added a diaper (and switched blankets), and started filming to see if she would do it again.  

Hope you don't mind her cute little bare bum!

 

Jealous?

Snuggle Bug

Gunner has been very sweet with Jessie and is very gentle with her. When she wakes up from her nap Gunner runs into her room to check on her.  When I bring him inside he looks for her first and seems very confused if he can't find her.  He also likes to rest his head on the boppie as I feed her.  Tonight I propped Jessie up with the boppie on the floor and he parked himself next to her and stretched his paw out on top of the boppie towards her.  

 

Happy all the time