Baby Pug

Levi's tongue is always out! He now loves to curl it (un taquito), if he is not slobbering all over YOU and grunting like a dragon. We sure do love how adorable he is. At 11.5 months, he has had some challenges in the pooping area again, but also good milestones. He is 22lbs, 29 inches. He loves his front facing carseat, can wave hello, got his first haircut/trim by Jared, cruises and crawls everywhere FAST, still has no teeth and LOVES his brothers to entertain him. He loves to crawl to the piano, lift himself up and start to play it. I always wonder, "What goes through his head to have him go over and start to play?" He loves to tap to music in the car and I really think we might have a musician on our hands.
I was frustrated this month as he started to get constipated, despite my dilations. I took him into the surgeon where he told me to stop them and just try Miralax. The problems continued and so I set up another appt with a GI Pediatric Dr. He told me how tight his bum hole was and the dilations had to continue! What the heck! It's not easy running to and fro appts, paying co pays, having Levi suffer (and the entire family as well) and then get confusing info. We are back to dilations, praying and just cheering for Levi whenever he does poop now. I was concerned for his diet for a while, especially b/c he doesn't do pureed foods (except yogurt), and he has no teeth to chew. But, Dr was more interested in getting the poop out! I have done my fair share of stool education now and I must say that I am now enlightened and more aware of what should be going in and out of our bodies.
I just hope that his health gets better as he grows older and that this won't be a problem. Let us get through the dirty work NOW so that he can be happy and healthy later!

Abu and Oscar

My mom and Oscar came for a visit for 2.5 weeks. The time sure does fly by! I enjoy having her company here as she does her many projects (Meridian magazine en Espanol, sewing, coloring her hair, learning her new camera, etc). Oscar and she will go to Hawaii and Utah for a month and then follow up with one more week here in the end of August before heading back to Argentina. Oscar and the boys don't speak Spanish together, but they still communicate with tickles and smiles. They always love their new soccer jerseys and I LOVE my red tote bag!

Bathtime

Having a baby who loves table food = a messy slobbery situation! Watermelon really does a great job as it slides down his belly. He also loves to put PB in his hair. He no longer will eat pureed foods (spits it out or slaps it out of your hand), which is another mess on the floor. I call it his "tight lip" look.
One thing that helps pass the summer days is having Isaac take a bath with Levi. They will play in the tub for 30 min, and I especially love styling Levi's long hair wet or dry. I like the mohawk, or "pipa" hairstyle slicked pack, or parting it with "wings."
All babies love the falling water out of the spicket and they love bubbles!

Wastach.Back.Ragnar

Oops We Did It Again. We wore tutus, butterfly wings and purple in honor of Rhett syndrome.
That was the name of our Ragnar Relay team this year. Jared and I got picked up Friday morning to catch a ride up to Eden Utah to meet up with our fellow teammates. We were happy to see the Ashton's had made it. I was anxious to be leaving Levi for 2 days (still nursing him), but I wanted to do this race for US.
Jared's legs: 8 miles UP HILL, 5 miles flat (4am) and 8 miles DOWN HILL
My legs: 4 miles flat, 8 miles frontage road (3am) and 4 miles UPHILL, "The Ragnar."
Jared pushed himself so hard, hardly walking and really did an amazing job. He never wants to run those legs again. That first leg when he met us up the mountain with his red face, we all thought he was mad...but he was just exhausted! The downhill leg was hard on his hips and knees, where he limped the next day. For having not trained at all...he was a superstar.
I enjoyed my legs too. My first leg I ran it fast and enjoyed the breeze. The middle of the night was scary for me where I couldn't keep my head light on my forehead, so I just ran with it shooting up to the stars on my hair. It was really chilly and I could see my breath, so I just kept on running for my life. I tried to keep up with the other bouncing lights from other runners, but whenever another one would pass me by and creep up on me, it always scared me! I was proud of myself for not stopping at all. My last leg was difficult b/c my right knee was throbbing from the previous trail run, we had only gotten 2 hours of sleep, my boobs were SO swollen with milk, and I had runner's diarrhea from all the anxiety of not being able to nurse. I needed a honey bucket! I just walked/inclined that mountain and tried not to go crazy if I saw people pass me up. The scenery was pretty and I was just grateful for the view of Park City.
We had no sleep from 10pm-6am, but tried to get some shut eye at an exchange spot from 6pm-10pm...but it was too bright outside! I then tried to relieve myself by pumping in the backseat of the van, but was too embarressed and anxious to get my "let down." At one point the driver (who I had just met the day before, a young man with no kids of his own) turned down the radio and asked, "What is that noise?" (referring to the breast pump machine). I wanted to crawl under the cushions and die. Didn't help that we kept swerving from side to side going down a mountain as I was trying to pump and get my nipple in the right spot!
So glad that we finished! Really nice to be with friends in a gorgeous location and having the adventure of running alongside my best friend. The reunion with our kids was oh so sweet, especially having Levi get some milk!