Maci 7 months old 3/25/11

Last week we got Maci's pictures taken for her 7 month old birthday. Levi came too and we got some really cute ones of both of them. Maci is growing up so fast and moving fast too. She can scoot all around on her tummy and is always up on her knees rocking and looking where to go or where Levi is..Watch out! When she starts moving Levi and her will be trouble. At the dinner table Levi will make her laugh and scream and they go back and forth with each other. She is sleeping well, and eats well so those are all good things. She is over her bout of RSV so now just to keep the two kids healthy until the warm weather. Levi is offically potty trained and loves wearing underwear "like dadda" everything these days has to be like "dadda". "Where's my dadda..he working..I miss him" I hear that every morning. Levi has been getting alot of time outs lately and some spanking so hopefully the warm weather comes so that he can get some of his energy out. He loves to bother/poke/hit his sister and hates when she gets near "his" toys which of course he is not even playing with...again when Maci starts moving we will have more trouble. We are excited for Spring Break so that we can be home as a family and get some little projects done.

Typical pose at 7 months

Spring Please Come Soon!

We are so ready for Spring here at the Koopmans household. These past two weeks have been occupied with medications, sleepless nights, and germs. Two Sundays ago it all started when Maci had a fever 102-103 that would not go down. I was working and Ryan was home so after talking to the doctor Maci was seen in ER and sent home after a urine cath was done, which did not show anything. The fever continued and now with a cough and runny nose. On Tuesday she was seen at the doctor and started on Amoxicillin. On Thursday, she went in for her 6 mon well child visit and was wheezing and still coughing with on and off fever. She got her vaccinations that were due and I felt comfortable watching her at home. On Friday morning she was much worse with congestion and wheezing so I called and back we went to get set up with an at home neubeulizer which we did for her every four hours through the weekend. She was also started on nystatin for thrush and an oral steriod. This week she has improved a lot. She is fussy but sleeps through the night which is much needed and no more fever or cough, sometimes just a runny nose. Part of the reason she could be fussy might be her two bottom teeth popped this week..so we add Motrin and Tylenol to the mix of medications she needs to continue on. At her 6 month appt she weighed 16.5 lbs(75 percent) and was 28.75 inches long which is 99 percent for height. Levi now has had a fever of 102-103 since Monday night so if he is not better by tomorrow I will call the doctor and see what is next for him. Levi is doing great with potty training! He is wearing underwear during the day and a cloth diaper at night(which is mostly dry in the AM). He is almost there! We also started the transition of moving him downstairs into his new room. The bunk beds are up and his race car bedding on(I will post some pictures of that later) He has been taking his naps down in his room. We all have been pretty tired over here but are thankful for each other and for grandmas and grandpas to help out.

Weekend with Casey and Laura

This past weekend we ventured out of Grand Rapids and visited Uncle Casey and Aunt Laura in St. Joe. We had a good time. We did not do much but it was nice to catch up and be away from home for awhile. Maci is always such a good girl and did not seem to mind being away from her bed or her routine. She slept well and did not fuss at all. Levi just loved playing with the trucks and truck mat at their house..that is all that mattered to him. He LOVES playing with trucks and reading about trucks. Casey and Laura made all the meals so we did not have to lift a finger. Levi got to eat out of a special Spider Man plate too. Ryan and I both got to take a nap on Sunday too while they mangaged the kids. On Saturday, we went to ride the carosel and then to Fernwood Nature Center. They had a small train at the center and some hands on activities and a bird watching area. They also had alot of trails and garden area that seem like it would be really pretty in the Summer or Spring. On Sunday, we went on a walk on the pier and see the "snow and sand", as Levi would say by the lake. It was a nice break from our routines to spend time with family. Here are some pictures from the trip..I love the candid family ones. Oh..the memories being made:)

Maci Jean 6 months old

Here are some pictures of Maci on her 6 month birthday. She is a moving girl. She can scoot her way around on her tummy in a circle about 3-4 feet around her. She is reaching and grabbing for everything and putting everything in her mouth. She is also being much more vocal with her noises, making buster noises as Levi calls it.She loves eating baby food now and she loves most everything except green beans.That is the only time you will really hear her scream is when she is hungry and wants food. NOW! Maci still loves her bottle and will take 6 oz or so at a time depending on how much baby food she has eaten. Maci also is sleeping through the night if she does wake is just needs help finding her paci and then is back to sleep.Maci loves sleeping on her tummy. Usually she is to bed by 730 and up around 6. Maci also is able to sit up on her own and does pretty well unless she reaches too far for a toy and then she is down. Levi is good at making sure that she is ok where she playing and balancing her when she is sitting up.

Bird Treat with "Tweetie"

Today Levi and I had fun making a recipe for a bird treat. We mixed peanut butter, nuts, raisins, honey, oatmeal and shortening.We bundled up and treked outside and smeared it all over the tree trunks in our backyard. Ryan and I used to feed the birds in our backyard all winter and we had to cut that expense out when the kids came:)But now, hopefully, we will get some bird action.

with our mix.

Winter Blast

We got hit with a huge snow storm in Feburary. Ryan had two days off from school and thankfully I did not have to drive into work. I think we got over a foot of snow. Ryan enjoyed snowblowing the drive way..he is crazy but says it is one of his favorite things to do in the winter. Levi helps shovel and brush the snow off the snowblower before it goes in the garage.

Joy of Bath Time

Maci loves her bath.She is sitting up now in her bath too! Her are some pictures of her last night in the tub. I think she already has Dadda wrapped around her finger.

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