These pics are a little unorganized. Rose's 8th week brought more crying, more gas, less sleeping. All the routines were upset by our traveling. She had her 2 month appointment. She is now 8 pounds 14 ounces, 21 and 3/4 inches long and her head is 14.4 centimeters. Just for record purposes, when she was born she was 6 pounds 10 ounces and 19.5 inches and her head was 10 centimeters. At her five day appointment she was 6 pounds 5 ounces, and at her 2 week appointment she was 6 pounds 14 ounces and still 19.5 inches.

So she has gained two pounds exactly since the last appointment. And by now (10 weeks) she is probably 9 pounds! Hard to believe my tiny baby has grown that much. She had her shots that day and had a fever for the following 4 or 5 days. It kind of freaked me out--it is so hard to see your baby not feeling well. That week was our first road trip with Rose. She did quite well. It took sooo much longer having to stop for feedings, but she was a champ and I think it helped her get used to her car seat a little more. She doesn't always cry in it now. She slept pretty much the whole way. And we had her blessing at grandma and grandpa's house. It was such a beautiful blessing, and Rose cooed at dad throughout the whole thing. It was such a special day.





Here we are on the Beaver rocking chair. Never mind that I look like trash-- it was Rose's first time.

Rose met her great-grandmas for the first time on this trip

More driving

Week 9 flew by. We hopped back in the car for yet another road trip. I stopped in Vegas to play with Marko, Amanda, Sofie, and Laila. Sofie loved Rose. Raimo continued to California for a job interview, which was successful, however it is not turning out to be a job we are that interested in after all unfortunately. It does not have any of the things we are looking for, so it was a depressing drive back home.

Here is some skin to skin time. She went to sleep right away.

Today we are at week 10. Rose is more darling than ever. The fussiness is not as bad. She is getting smarter all the time. She communicates with us all the time. She listens and looks at pictures when we read books to her. She seems to be at the point where she needs some entertainment--she doesn't just want to lay there. I need to get her some kind of interactive toys or something.

Raimo and I are trying to figure out what to do next. He has some more interviews lined up, but for now he is still commuting to Provo. I hope he finds a family-friendly job that gives him a little freedom compared to the standard 8-5 ( but that is just my personal hope--not really something that will happen I am guessing). And that will also make him happy of course. So far most jobs would be less pay than his current job, so they are not very appealing. We are looking in CA and Vegas mostly. Wish us luck! We really want to move on from this job and the not so honest management there.

Rose kicked off her seventh week by going wakeboarding. Yes, she enjoyed it... see for yourself.

She also decided it would be a good week to stop sleeping long stretches and go back to eating every 3 or even 2 hours. We were spoiled for a few weeks. She has also been ravenous the last few weeks... she never ate as often as 2 hours, but now she is always hungry. She also had her first really awful bouts of gas--after some medicine she finally felt better (hours later). She seemed to get more stomach aches this week than ever, but she is doing ok now.

She has attempted to suck on her little fists here and there, but hasn't really become a finger sucker. She also licks my shoulder, arm, blanket, or whatever is nearby. Also, she used to fall asleep instantly in her lamb chair with the vibrator. I am sad that this trick no longer works--getting her to nap takes a little more than that now, though I still use the chair a lot. We got out the bumbo for the first time yesterday. She looks so teeny in it! Her neck can rest against the back of it, though sometimes she slumps over.

We are not quite there yet, but she looks so grown up in it!!! I don't want her to grow up! She is also making the transition from newborn diapers to size 1 (there is such a huge size difference here-- why are the size 1's so big?) She had 2 blowouts yesterday (always at church of course), and they are getting more and more common so I'm thinking it is time. She is still in newborn clothes with the occasional 0-3 month outfit, but she is long and skinny and a lot of baby clothes are very wide so they don't quite work. She has grown out of a couple of her pajamas and a few tiny onesies and grown into all the other newborn clothes that were too big.

It is fun that she coos even more now. She responds to you when you talk to her. It is pretty exciting. She smiles and has great expressions when she's dreaming. She still attracts a lot of attention when we go out. Everyone asks me how old she is and comments on how beautiful she is and how new she looks. People ask if they can look at my baby at the grocery store and Walmart. The older ladies love it. I have to time our outings during naps so she doesn't cry in the carseat and also because it is the only way I can go without feeding her for so long. I love our carseat, btw. I am very happy with our Maxi Cosi and would recommend it! The only thing is it doesn't sit in a shopping cart very well like some do, but it is so lightweight and so cute and easy to put in the car.

Becoming a mom is so much fun and is as wonderful as I hoped it would be. I was surprised by the fact that having Rose has brought Raimo and I closer, and it is not necessarily based on time spent together or how we help each other, but on how we are so much more of a family with her. You would think that all of our attention would be focused on her and less on each other, but somehow, as busy as I am with baby and he with work, we are closer.

Everyone is posting about how they have to start school. I am so happy it is not me!

Rose at 6 weeks

Little Rose is in her bassinet. She is awake, just looking around. She was pretty adorable tonight so it was hard to put her in bed! She was cooing a little and looking into our eyes, giving us some smiles and listening to stories. Man, some of those childrens' books really make Raimo and I tear up. They are so sweet and sentimental. And we are pretty in love with our baby so any book about parent and child makes us lose it. Anyway, Rose has gotten pretty good about going to bed at night--no more bouncing and rocking her to sleep (only when her tummy aches at night). And she will sleep till 3:30 or even 5:30. She eats more in the day now to make up for it I guess. I feel like I am actually getting caught up on all those weeks without sleep. She still gets to join mom and dad in bed in the morning around 6 or 7 for snuggles and sometimes more sleeping. She is so cute in the mornings--she is most relaxed then. However, she howls when she gets strapped into the car seat and put in the car. She is only happy if she has just recently been fed and is able to fall asleep (so unlike the first few weeks where she would fall asleep instantly in the car!) I am hoping this changes before we embark on an 8 hour drive to California.

On Monday (the 15th) she rolled from her stomach to her back. Such a little thing and so momentous! Monday was also our last night in our apartment and by Tuesday we were living in Sandy with Raimo's parents. She napped pretty well those last few days that we were moving... thankfully! But I also had help from Monica and Tammy so I was able to get everything done. I am tired of moving. I was glad to be able to be settled again and give her some more attention.

Rose is seriously a good baby. While there are moments when parenthood seems very overwhelming (when she is crying very very loudly or when my body is so so tired), overall it has been an easy adjustment with Rose. From the beginning she ate every 3 hours like clockwork and slept pretty well. She was a very easy newborn, and, even as she is growing, has not been too colicky. And for me, it has been so much fun! I could hold her all day (and I do). It is like playing house, but the real thing and way better. And she is soo beautiful! Like a little china doll. At 6 weeks, she is a bit bigger than when she was born, but she is still pretty small. She has filled out in the cheeks and thighs a little, though she is still very long and lean for a baby--long fingers, toes, legs and arms. And she has a tiny little head and tiny face (about as long as my pinky) and tiny features. It is hard to tell that in the pictures, and she is prettier in real life. I wish I could capture it better so I can look back on it. Her eyes have changed and are sapphire blue--not really my eye color or Raimo's. We'll see if they change again.

Daddy sings Justin Bieber's "Baby" to her, substituting "baby, oh" for "baby Rose". I try to think of songs that have Rose in them, but all that comes to mind is "Moses supposes his toeses are Roses" so she's heard that a few times. Also "There Were Bells" has the line "and there were wonderful roses." I sing a lot of show tunes and love songs to her. Raimo sings "How do you like your eggs in the morning?..." and primary songs. She responds to our singing-- not to music from the radio or cds.

She is still in newborn diapers and newborn clothes, some 0-3 month. We just rotate outfits. I am guessing she is 7 pounds now and has probably grown an inch since the 2 week appointment. Her hair has grown slightly. It is still very sparse. She fits in her headbands now so she wears one every day! So fun!

Sneak Peak

Rose Colette Laitinen

Our baby girl was born July 6th at 5:18 p.m. weighing 6 pounds 10 ounces, measuring 19.5 inches. We are so in love with her.

Raimo getting pumped up after 14 hours of waiting













One day old



Home from the hospital







Recouperating
Riding in the car (1 Week old)
an outing (Target)--first time shopping
First baseball game
With Papa
With her 3-month older cousin, Parker



3 Weeks old
I have pretty much retreated from society and am just enjoying my baby girl every day.