Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

We flew home to Rapid City, SD on December 16th to visit family for Jeff's Christmas break. June got to meet Grandpa Joe, Uncle Tanner, and Aunt Regan for the first time at the airport.

Grandpa Joe, Uncle Tanner, and Aunt Regan with June

June also got to meet Papa for the first time when he got home from work that afternoon.

June and Papa

That night, my mom was nice enough to host a welcome party for June so that any family and friends who wanted to meet her could do so. This was nice for us so we didn't need to feel so busy running around trying to see everyone the first couple of days we were home.

June with Aunt Regan

The Vahrenkamps, Drewitz, and Frieds

June and Great-Aunt DeVee

June and Grandpa Joe

Regan and I

June and her friend, Ainsley (they are about 7 weeks apart)

Jeff and Ainsley

We spent the first week home with the Vahrenkamps. Jada had lots of fun playing with baby June and June loved the attention.

Jada and June playing

Janae, Jada, and June Playing with Charlie


Jada and June chilling out


Nana and her Babies

Just Hanging Out

Playing in the Johny-Jump-Up

Taking a bath in the bumbo (fyi: they float)

What would a trip home be without watching Regan play sports. We got to watch her play soccer and basketball! We didn't get to watch any volleyball but the last picture shown here was from one of her practices. She had a volleyball pole fall on her head. Yikes!

Meeting Uncle Aaron

Meeting Uncle Tyler

How does an Alabaman baby stay warm in icy South Dakota?

Playing with Grandma

Notice June is dressed to play along

Regan's Goose Egg

And of course we must visit friends! They all wanted to meet June too. Sorry I didn't get pictures of everyone. June doesn't always cooperate and Mom doesn't always remember the camera.

Meeting Merrick!

And Eric!

Mommy and June

Christmas Eve day! We got to spend Christmas Eve with the Vahrenkamps. We went to the candle light service at Fellowship Bible Church, came home and took some family pictures, watched Jada open her presents, and had an evening of fun and fellowship.

Santa Baby

Family Christmas Picture!

Keeping June happy while in between pictures

Nana and Papa and their grand-babies

Christmas Day we woke up at the Odegaard's and had the joy of including the Kainz family in our activities. We spent the day socializing, playing card games, taking family pictures, and all the kids (minus June) climbed M-Hill.

June and Cousin Andres

Playing with Uncle Tyler and Cousin Andres

Grandma and Grandpa with June (their only grand-baby...for now)

The Odegaard Clan

Sam, Regan, Jeff, Aaron, and June

Hiking M-Hill

Great-Grandma Odegaard with June and I

Cousin Liliana and June

Four Generations of Odegaards

The day after Christmas was the Vahrenkamp family Christmas. We took a trip down to Chadron to meet all the extended family. I had a fun afternoon playing Bananagrams with family and June loved the attention everyone gave her. I always enjoy our trips down to Nebraska. They are such a fun group to hang out with. June also got to meet Grandma Vahrenkamp for the first time which was fun because we had both June Vahrenkamp's together. Sorry there aren't more pictures. I guess the camera man got a little lazy.

Grandpa and Grandma Vahrenkamp, Nana, and June

Cousin Kris and June

The last week, Jeff went back to Alabama and June and I got to hang out with my family. Everyone went back to school so it was a little quieter, but Grandma had surgery on her thumb. Now recovering from surgery is no fun, but I was still happy to have her home with me a few more days before we left. June also learned how to suck her thumb in that last week. The little stinker hasn't given it up yet. We will have to work on that!

Uncle Tanner playing with June

Always the center of attention!

Four generations of Yorks!

Great-Grandpa York and June

June playing with one of her Christmas gifts (she loves this thing)

All tuckered out after a long three weeks of visiting family
June sucking her thumb

It really is hard being so far away from family, but it makes us really make it worth it while we are back home. It was so much fun to see June with all our family and how much she loves them. We have such a happy baby and loving families which makes for an awesome trip.

June in the airport

I should say that it was an awesome trip up until the flight home. Me being silly, I missed our flight in Denver so we had to wait an extra four hours and go through Houston instead of a direct flight. Let's just say that June let me and everyone else on the plane know that she was done with this flying stuff. I would still say that she did great traveling overall and I was glad that people on the flights were so helpful and didn't show their anger although I'm sure they had some. As bad as it was it won't keep me from flying back again to visit family.

June turns 3 months

Yet again, I realize this is a little late as June is almost five months now, but better late than never right? Here are a few of my favorites from June's three month photo shoot. We don't have much extra cash for a professional photo shoot, so Jeff set up a home studio and used our camera. Enjoy!

Jeff's mad editing skills are kinda fun.

Close up

I love how it looks like the letters are floating.

Mommy and June

I love that her legs never stop moving.

So happy!

Is that MY name?

What's that?

(June's stool also has a sweet puzzle of her name on top)

Boy, that hand is interesting

Cheese!

What?

Smile

Who couldn't love that face?

I love this stool June got from my Aunt Amy

Awe :)

Can't stop moving those arms!

Look at our classy lady and her wine

Maybe she had a little too much

(Its pretty much a given that when put on her belly, she will puke within three minutes)

June all tuckered out after the photo shoot

Oh Baby Oh Baby

Alright, I know its been awhile, but its been crazy with traveling and the holidays so here is a little update on what June has been doing lately. On December 13th, June had her second hip ultrasound.

June at her ultrasound

We got the results of the ultrasound later that week. Thankfully, the doctor said that her 'loose hips' were getting better and not worse. That means no brace for our little kicker! Right around this same time, June started to giggle. This is one of the more rewarding milestones in my opinion. We love trying to make her giggle.

We love our Chunker

For awhile she loved when we sneezed

On January 11th, June had her four month well check and our little baby is getting so big. She is now...

weight: 13 lbs 10 oz (average)

height: 26.25 inches (off the charts...meaning way above average)

head circumference: 15.75 inches (average)

We are still on track to have one tall child someday. Poor girl had to have her second round of immunizations as well. She had a fever for almost two days and was quite miserable.

June at her 4 month well check

June has also been learning to talk. She loves to just sit and entertain herself during the day. Sorry that you can't really see her face in the video, but if she sees the camera then she will stop talking.

June Talking

June has really developed a personality now and it has been so much fun seeing her grow.

June bug learns to make strange sounds... On purpose.

June had her two month appointment on November 9th. I'm always excited for her appointments so I can see how much she has grown.

June's stats on November 9th
weight: 11lbs. 6oz. (in the 75 percentile)
length: 23.75 inches (off the charts!!)
head circumference: 15inches (right on track, 50 percentile I'm guessing?)

This appointment was a little sad since she had to receive her first round of immunizations. She had three shots and one oral immunization. June actually did much better than I expected with the shots. She let out one long yell and was done with that. At her appointment, the doctor felt that we should have an ultrasound done on June's hips. She has three of the major factors associated with hip dysplasia; she is female, she is the first born, and she was breech. So on November 14th I took June to Children's South for her ultrasound. June did great, but was a little unhappy with them taking off her diaper and prodding her with the ultrasound wand. Later that week, I talked with the nurse who told us that the doctor wanted June to go back in for another ultrasound in four weeks. So June will have her second ultrasound on December 13th. We are hoping that the doctor is just being overly cautious. If they do find that June has hip dysplasia, she will be fitted for a brace. Thankfully the treatment is much easier and full recovery is more likely when they diagnose it this young.

June has spent the last couple of weeks smiling, finding her hands, learning to grab her rattle, and testing out her newly found voice. Jeff and I are loving this part of parenting. Hearing that first giggle is when it all pays off. Here are a few videos from the past couple weeks. Sorry if its bad quality. They were taken with my phone. Also, I just recently realized that I have been taking pictures and videos with my camera sideways so I apologize for them not being upright.

June starts to smile

June discovers her hands

June plays with Mr. Froggie

June rattles away

June Talks