Week 18 Growth Photo

Our little girl is getting so big! As Mom transitioned her clothes to the next size up, Dad couldn't find much for her to wear - and ended up with this! No worries - Rachel is still as happy as can be. Next week we promise a little more Christmas festive outfit... :)

Busy Busy Busy

The Magician from Frosty the Snowman was "busy, busy busy!" and so were we this week! Dad was out of town from Tuesday afternoon through Friday afternoon for work. He was lucky enough to sneak in a visit with Great Great Aunt Velda in Atlanta before heading home. Mom made sure to have some adult conversations each day while Dad was gone, so we did sneak in a visit to Great Aunt Mary (aka Granny) and Great Uncle Jim on Wednesday. Mom forgot the camera so it was lucky that Uncle Jim remembered to take at least a few pictures. Thursday Mom decided that Rachel was old enough to start eating some rice cereal. We tried out the highchair for a bit and Rachel didn't seem too sure of it all. Then, a different time Rachel ate, we did end up documenting the messy face of the beautiful girl. After Dad got home on Friday afternoon, we packed up and headed to Escanaba to help Grandma Barbara get ready for a houseful of people through Christmas week. Grandma had an exer-saucer toy that Rachel loved to play in. Time to make sure we have one in Milwaukee! Rachel has also learned to completely love bath time. She really enjoys the few minutes after when Mom scoops her up in the towel and they giggle together. Rachel also had her 4th month check-up today and she is 13.4 lbs and 25.5 inches tall. She is right on target as a very happy and healthy baby! Can't wait to see what this next week will bring. Merry Christmas everyone!

Week 17 Growth Photo

As we start another week, Rachel continues to smile, giggle, goo, and gee more and more each day. Christmas time continues to approach us and we reflect on the many blessings of the year - number one being Rachel! Share in more smiles for this week and stay tuned for another weekly update!

Blue and Gold and in the cold!

This week we had our first heating adventure as the heat went out in the condo. It was back on by the mid afternoon, but it was still pretty cold. Mom and Dad should have moved Rachel into a warmer location (despite the number of blankets that were put around her) since she did get her first cold/ fever from the exposure. As she worked through her little coughs, we prepared for a big game of Marquette vs. UW. We had a few friends over to watch the game and it was a good time (even though the wrong team won). Rachel still took her nap - only on Miss Julie's shoulder! Rachel continues to feel better and better each day and we suspect her cold will be gone in no time. We will continue to have a fun week preparing for Christmas!

Week 16 Growth Photo

Week 16 started off with a celebration of St. Nicholas day - so Christmas attire was in the cards. The shirt says, "Elf in training"...and little Santa's helper she has been! We so enjoy her smiles and giggles each and every day.

A few firsts this week!

This week was a week of a few firsts. On Thursday afternoon, Rachel decided it was time for her to flip over from her belly to her back at the end of her nap! Mom was very excited and couldn't wait to tell as many people as possible. Then, during the middle of the night, Rachel continued to flip over, and Mom wasn't so excited anymore! Pictured below is Rachel's first flip on her own with a bit of a smirk for the camera. That's our girl.

Another first this week was Rachel's first St. Nick stocking. Even though she is not really all that aware of what was going on, she certainly had a smile for the camera as she attempted to figure out what she was looking at.

The last picture isn't a first, but it is Rachel's reaction to the MU game on Saturday afternoon. MU played very poorly as you can tell from her gesture! The next few weeks are busy with Christmas decorating, wrapping, and cooking baking before we are on the road visiting family. Happy Advent season to everyone!

Week 15 Growth Photo

"Well, Mommy says we're going to be here awhile...I think I'll just relax and make myself comfortable."

Happy Thanksgiving!

For my Thanksgiving vacation, I got to visit lots of special relatives at Grandma Barbara's house in Escanaba: Uncle Philip, Uncle Peter, Uncle Colin & Aunt Sarah, cousins Amy & Michael, and younger cousins Madeline, Rebekah, and Leah. Madeline and Rebekah were very nice and played with me on my playmat, and Leah really enjoyed saying "hi" to her next youngest cousin.

Grandma Barbara even took care of me one night while my Mommy & Daddy and a few aunts and uncles went to see a movie. (Of course, I was well-behaved for Grandma...I'm an angel. Just ask Daddy.)

And when they weren't busy eating or playing board games, Uncle Philip and Mommy & Daddy even got to watch two Marquette basketball games during the long weekend - and they were thrilled to see Marquette (unexpectedly) beat the stuffing out of Xavier and Michigan. As Mommy will tell you, I was just happy to get an occasional glimpse at the TV. I know I'm only three months old, but I REALLY enjoy watching TV. Mommy tries and tries to keep my eyes away from the screen, but I'm just too smart - I always find a way to catch a peek.

No matter what, I'm already thankful to have such great relatives. I know I speak for Mommy & Daddy when I say we're already looking forward to visiting Grandma Barbara and Grandpa & Grandma Handrich again in December!

Week 14 Growth Photo

Officially in my 4th month of life and I am sitting up in chairs pretty well and smiling a LOT more! I still sleep through the night (most nights) and have finally stopped being super messy when I eat, just a little messy! I love time on my play mat, looking around, sitting up, reading with Mom or Dad, and did I mention that I love to sleep!?!?! Next week Mom said I can start wearing some of my Christmas outfits...it's a good thing that I look good in red!

busy busy busy!!!

The week started out to be a slow one, most of the time we spent on the new favorite toy, the play mat. Rachel has taken a great interest in choking the sun sponge in a very serious way! She entertains herself for up to 30 minutes on her own, taking great interest in everything around her. We practice rolling over and still read at least one book each day. Later in the week Rachel and Mom were able to visit Grandma Barbara and Great Grandma Sickel. This is only the second time that Rachel has visited her Great Grandmas Sickel, so we took a few pictures. One of the favorite pictures is that of all four generations. It was a good time visiting Green Bay. Then over the weekend we were back in Waupaca for the early Handrich Thanksgiving feast. Mom thought there were pictures taken of Rachel with Grandma and Grandpa Handrich, but I guess we will just have to catch them at Christmas time. Rachel has been geeing and gooing more and more. Mom and Dad love spending as much time with her as possible. She is so fun!

Week 13 growth picture

You heard it here first: the Chicago Cubs will win the World Series in 2010. Book it. In the meantime, I thought this would be a good week to celebrate in advance and try on some nice Cub threads.

Three months and counting...

Hard to believe, but I just celebrated my three-month birthday yesterday! Mommy & Daddy didn't throw a big bash in my honor for this small milestone, but Mommy thought it would be fun to take a lot of candid shots of me throughout the week. However, since I've discovered the joys of sucking my hand and kicking my feet as much as possible, I really haven't paid much attention to Mommy and her camera. (I'd rather look at myself in the mirror of my "tummy fun" toy, because, well, I'm just that cute.)

But especially around feeding time, I'm turning into quite the entertainer. I "coo" and "goo" with the best of 'em, especially right after Mommy or Daddy pulls the bottle out of my mouth. Someday I'll go back to being a clean eater...but for the moment, I really enjoy soaking at least a bib or two with every bottle.

Mommy is officially back to work these days too, though she does get to work from home a few days each week. Don't worry - as you can see in the picture above, I'm keeping a close eye on her from my bumbo chair to make sure she doesn't ever slack off.

Mommy & Daddy keep telling me the holidays are coming up...I'm a little new to this "holiday" thing, but if that means I get to spend some more time with family and friends again, count me in!

week 12 growth photo

I have officially attended my very first Marquette University Men's Basketball game! I lasted through almost the whole thing, but then I got tired and decided it was time to go home. We actually walked to the game because the November weather was so unusually wonderful - let's hope it lasts!

Week 11 growth photo

Ahhh - it's Halloween and our little pumpkin is dressed up like a pumpkin! It was too hard to pick between either picture - so this week she gets two!

Halloween weekend

The weekend was filled with Handrich family fun as we gathered in Waupaca for our first family photo! We had the chance to have the three gand-children on that side of the family all dress in the same pajamas and we had a chance for a photo op the next day! Rachel continues to smile more and more every day. She has also started cooing, squealing, and making some gee and gaa noises too. Rattles are becoming interesting for her to play with and she definitely knows who Mom and Dad are. Our little halloween pumpkin is getting bigger everyday!

Martha's Vegas Trip

With 100% respect to the saying, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" I will not divulge the exact happenings of our short girls trip this past weekend. However, I will share that we had a great time hanging out by the pool, sipping some drinks (pretty much every where we went), and gambling just a bit of cash to keep the Vegas economy strong. I can't wait for another girls trip soon!

Week 10 Growth Photo

Just Mommy's luck: the weekend she leaves Daddy and me for a girls' weekend in Vegas is the first weekend I smile - on command - for my weekly growth picture. Will Mommy have the same luck getting me to smile next weekend for picture time? Let the betting begin!

Week 9 Growth Photo

These beautiful eyes are now baptized! (More fun details and pics coming soon...)

Rachel's Baptism

October 17, 2009 was a very special day for Rachel Mary Handrich. She joined a community of faith through the sacrament of baptism. Rachel was VERY well behaved throughout the entire mass! Not even a whimper when the holy water hit her head...Dinner was held at the Pfister hotel so that all friends and family could attend with room to spare. She wore a baptismal gown that was made by Great Great Grandma Sickel for Grandma Barbara to wear when she was baptised. Both Aunt Sarah and Mom wore the same dress too. Welcome to the Catholic faith Rachel!

Baptism pictures

Below are just a few pictures. To see the full array, feel free to click on both links below (2 different albums) to view more pictures.

album 1) http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=550232638703:2070164336

album 2) http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=550232638703:2070164336