It's cookie time!!

Megan is selling Girl Scout cookies as part of Brownie Troop 470, part of the Riverland council... and you can purchase this classic favorite for yourself or for our soldiers (part of Cookies for Iraq, see more info below).

Luckily Megan loves selling cookies and has set some lofty goals as part of their "Be Brilliant" campaign this year. In addition to raising funds for her Brownie troop, a portion of each box sold also goes directly into a fund for Megan going to camp. Last year this meant she was able to go to Day Camp here in LaCrosse, and next summer it just might mean "real camp."

Details are below. Contact us with any questions ...

Cost: $3.50 per box

Taking orders Sept. 30th - Oct. 17
Delivering Cookies Nov. 11-27
Pay for cookies at time of delivery or by Nov. 27th

Flavors available:

Samoas -- Tender vanilla cookies, covered with caramel, rolled in toasted coconut, and striped with a rich, chocolaty coating. Approximate count: 15

Thin Mints -- A thin wafer covered with a smooth chocolaty coating. Made with natural peppermint. Approximate count: 38

Do-si-dos -- Crisp and crunchy oatmeal cookies with creamy peanut butter filling. No artificial color or flavor. Approximate Count: 22.

All Abouts -- These beautifully -designed shortbread cookies have a series of Girl Scout messages on top and a rich fudge coating on the bottom. Approximate Count: 16.

Trefoils -- Short, tender, delicate-tasting shortbread that melts in your mouth. Approximate Count: 44.

Tagalongs -- Tasty cookies topped with creamy peanut butter and covered with a luscious chocolatey coating. Approximate Count: 15

Lemon Coolers -- (reduced fat) Bite-sized bursts of cool lemon flavor in crisp, vanilla cookies. Zesty lemon chips and a covering of powdered sugar make these "lemon wedge" cookies too cool to resist! Approximate Count: 33.

Cafe Cookies -- (New!) Carmalized with brown sugar, this charmingly crisp cookie will delight even cookie connoisseurs. With a hint of cinnamon spice, it's perfect with your favorite warm beverage. Approximate count: 47.

Thank you so much and let us know if you have questions or are interested in ordering.


*** Girl Scout "Cookies Iraq" ***

Everyone is touched in some way by our soldiers stationed throughout Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan. The Girl Scouts of Riverland Council will be sending cookies you purchase to the soldiers stationed in any of these three places!

All soldiers would love to receive this uniquely American Girl Scout treat, so don't hesitate to buy an extra box (or two) today. Each box will contain a special message thanking them from you for their service and bravery!

If you have a specific soldier in mind, please provide the Girl Scouts with their APO address and we'll ship them for you.

Shipping is being donated [by local business leaders].

Don't forget, your purchase of "Cookies Iraq" is 100% tax deductible donation!

The Girl Scouts of Riverland Council serve the following counties in western Wisconsin: Buffalo, Trempealeau, JACKSON, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Crawford, parts of Grant and Allamakee continues in Iowa, and Houston county in Minnesota.
http://www.gsriverland.com/

A Day With My Daughter

Shawn here. It was two days, really. I spent most of last Saturday and Sunday hanging out with Nessa while Tami was on the computer doing some work with a deadline. It was more uninterrupted time by myself with Nessa than I'd ever had; Tami took breaks to nurse and cuddle Nessa, and Megan was here, but she kept mostly to herself, so it seemed like it was just Nessa and me. It filled me with all sorts of awe and wonder.

I've seen Nessa's many moods, but rarely have I had a chance to see them flow from one to another to another in a lengthy progression. Her personality is showing, and it's fascinating to watch--what she likes, what she doesn't like, what makes her giggle, what gets little reaction, what makes her upset all of a sudden. I was able to watch her gradually grow tired several times, and learned to recognize the signs much better than I had before. I also successfully put her down for a nap enough times to prove that it wasn't a fluke--I can get her to fall asleep, and I have enough patience to persevere until she does. I discovered that successfully lulling your child to sleep while holding her is the most amazing feeling in the world. It made me feel more ... necessary ... than anything I've ever known. I really, really like being a dad.

Instilling Proper Values In Your Child

Shawn here. The picture says it all, really. I should add that I have officially embarked on my quest to get the first thing Nessa says after "Mama" and "Dada" to be "Go Vikes!" We have also begun father-daughter bonding over football games: I sit Nessa on my knee and explain the action to her. She's only interested in a few minutes at a time at this point (the way the Vikings played the first two weeks, that was about all I could stomach as well), but the important thing is to get started when they're young.

Food, Glorious Food!

Shawn here. On Sunday the 18th we were at Nessa's cousin Jacob's baptism and brunch, and when Nessa got a little fussy, Tami gave her an apple with some bites taken out of it. Nessa glommed onto that apple like a koala onto a eucalyptus tree, and we didn't hear a peep out of her for quite a while as she sucked and sucked and gummed and sucked some more. The "solid" food era had officially begun.

Tami's sister Ellen loaned us the chair in the above picture, which clamps right onto our table. Works in theory, but it makes our small pedestal table lean some, and when Nessa kicks (which is most of the time) the table rocks back and forth. Eating in those circumstances is a bit like trying to eat on a ship in heavy swells, so after one attempt I went and got the high chair we had been eyeing, some plastic spoons with loopy handles, and a bib--everything the gourmand-in-training needs to be successful.


As you can see, Nessa likes her high chair. She likes being with everybody during meals, instead of being exiled to the living room to watch a Baby Einstein DVD. We like the fact that we don't have to hold her on a lap while eating to keep her happy.


We got some great plastic bowls with suction cups on the bottom as part of our shower gifts from my co-workers, and of course we have a variety of sippy cups. We're putting everything to use. Feeding (I use the term loosely) Nessa usually involves two loopy spoons, one for her to play with and one to use to actually attempt to get some food into her mouth. Nessa has already demonstrated the wisdom of having a vinyl cover on her chair cushion, as she regularly drops the spoon she is playing with to grab something else. So far she has feasted on partially peeled apples, applesauce, rice, rice pasta, rice cereal, a bit of baked potato, diluted apple juice, and maybe a few other things that Tami has given her when I'm at work. It's fun to watch her discover new textures and temperatures and try to decide if she likes them or not. So far nothing's been rejected outright, but we've seen some strange looks on her face. It will be interesting to see if she takes after her father (a notoriously picky eater as a child), or if she'll eat most anything she's served. :-)

Follow The Bouncing Baby

Shawn here. We had to get some pictures of Nessa in this outfit while it still fits. This is one of two outfits I picked out while Tami was pregnant. I chose it because I figured my dad, a retired high school basketball coach, would like it (and he did). When we bought this, we were thinking it would be a good fall sleeper, but Nessa has grown too fast. Oh well, at least I got to see her in this one a couple of times--the other outfit I picked out while Tami was pregnant was too small a couple of months ago. I think maybe I saw Nessa in it once. Another Obscure Parenting Rule: don't get too attached to infant clothes.

She did it!

Nessa Rolled over from her back to tummy!!!

We've been waiting for this for a long time and she's come oh so close SO many times. Finally, last night, Wednesday, September 21st, she rolled over from her back to her tummy. And I think she's figuring out that it's a way to move and reach things! Or, would that be an Uh-Oh on my part ... I better get the house baby proofed soon. :-)

Last night was the Law and Order premiere (I'm kind of a junkie although I don't set me schedule around it) and although the show wasn't as good as I hoped it would be the fact that I ended up getting Nessa's PJ's on in the living room on the floor rather than in her room on the changing table led to the excitement of her rolling over. So, it's all good. :-)

I was letting her have some naked time before getting her snuggly jammies on when I stopped talking and playing with her for a minute to turn my attention elsewhere. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed her rolling to her side as she so often does. As always I continued to watch in hope of a total roll over. And then ... She was on her tummy! I clapped and clapped which of course got a HUGE smile and even some giggly shrieks.

So, then I yelled for Shawn to come upstairs. Yes, in a strange effort to not disturb the "I can roll over" session I yelled rather than going to get him. He thought there was some sort of emergency as he rushed upstairs so his reaction wasn't quite what I was hoping for when I told him that Nessa rolled over. And he wasn't exactly thrilled when she wouldn't do it again for him.

Shawn grew tired of waiting for a repeat performance and returned to his Wednesday night chores. Nessa then rolled over about four more times for me. Finally, about a half hour later she showed Daddy that Mommy was indeed telling the truth and not making a fool of herself with applause and shrieks for nothing.

This morning I wondered if she would only do it while naked (Megan rolled over only naked for a long time before doing it when dressed). When I set Nessa down next to the desk to do a quick email reply she showed me that she could indeed roll over while dressed. She also showed me she could reach the stack of papers to be filed, the cords from the computer, and anything else remotely nearby!

What were we thinking ... Groth cousins photo shoot Sunday Sept. 18th

Of course I'm sure we'll try again, but I'm thinking full tummies and the promise of Christmas presents to open might help next time ... then again ...

Help me decide what to have Nessa wear for photos Sunday

Which of these denim outfits (orders are to wear denim :-) do you think Nessa should wear Sunday Sept. 18th for photos with her Groth-side cousins?