Pyper 9 months

Pyper’s Stats:
Weight: approx. 18 lbs
Height: approx. 2'3" inches
Clothing Size: 9 months





Pyper’s 9 month milestones:

X Begins “cruising” along furniture (She pulls herself up on everything, and cruises e
_Drinks from a sippy cup (we haven’t tried this yet, but we will probably start soon)
X Begins to eat with fingers (Loves to pick things and put all of it in her mouth at once)
X Begins to bang objects together
X Displays separation and stranger anxiety
X Combines Syllables into word- like sounds (mama, baba, and dada)

 {from: © Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved}

Special outings:
Visiting Grandpa at the VA hospital after his surgery
Hanging out with my cousins
Playing with my cousin Crosbi

Walking with my cousin Ash, at the VA

Hanging with Avery





Highlights of the month: 
Spending her first night away from Mommy
Only eating breast milk before bedtime and when you get up in the middle of the night

Any big changes that occurred:
Pyper has started to scoot across furniture
Take steps with her walker
She loves "regular" food and begs everyone for theirs

Pyper's favorites:
·Toys: Anything she can chew on,
·Food: Breast milk, anything we are eating she is our little begger and will eat anything we are eating if you let her
·Books: Picture books
·Song: Theme songs of any kind (shows)
·People: Bo, Mom, Dad, "auntie" Laurie,  anyone that will snuggle with her
·Misc.:  anything that can go in her mouth, she loves sitting in her stroller and being outside.

Pyper’s Dislikes:
-Sitting by herself
-Sitting still

Our thoughts about the past month:
You are such a active and happy child.  You are constantly on the move we have to keep a close eye on you for fear you will find the gate that isn't tight enough, or pull yourself up on something that can't hold you up.   Luckily we really haven't taken down much of our baby proofing since we had your sister.  You love doing what ever your sister is doing, and you are very patient with her learning how to share with you.  You love to play with Wrigley, but she does not always reciprocate.  You could sit outside everyday in your stroller if we would let you.  It's the only time you are happy sitting still.  You are always getting into things you shouldn't be then turning around and just smiling at us with your adorable toothy grin.  We look forward to watching you develop your mischievousness, we predict you will be a little prankster. 

April Spotlight

 On March 27th I got this e-mail from our Executive Director.

Chrissy,

I behalf of the Leadership team I want to congratulate you for being selected as our April Employee Spotlight. 

We selected you for your amazing work as an instructor and advisor to the undergraduate program, but mostly because we have really seen you step up and take on more responsibility this program year, with a smile and a willingness to try.   You have supported the organization by taking on the medication management, which now has you as our staff lead for the medication audit.  You have contributed so much to the ongoing development of the CLP program; you have been Jan’s lead when she is on vacation.  And with all that going on, you still committed yourself to the gala committee.  WOW!  And thank you, for going above and beyond for MLC especially with such a positive attitude.   We truly appreciate your work.

Erin Boe will be following up with you to set up a breakfast with the Board, and Jessica will follow up with you to have your highlighted on Facebook.  The parking spot out front is yours starting April 1st.

Warm Regards,
Amy
I was so surprised,  I got a little teary when I read it.  I also started to think about all of the other staff members that work hard everyday too.  It is a honor to go to work everyday and work with our students and my co-workers.  Later that week this was posted to Facebook, and sometime this month there will be a write up on our web page. 

We're thrilled to announce that Chrissy Cleveland is our Employee Spotlight for April. Not only is her work as an instructor and advisor for the undergraduate program invaluable, but so have been her additional contributions to the development of the CLP program, the Gala committee and other projects, always with such a positive attitude.

Congratulations, Chrissy!

My favorite part is the Employee of the month park spot. 

Employee Spotlight: Chrissy Cleveland

Chrissy Cleveland, who was recently named the Employee of the Month for April, was praised for taking on more responsibility this program year. Those responsibilities include medication management, contributing to the growth of the Community Living Program (formerly the Graduate Living Community), and commitment to the Gala committee. I spoke with her to learn more about her background, her role at Minnesota Life College, and how MLC inspires her.
Chrissy Cleveland

A part-time job out of college in a classroom full of students with autism led Chrissy to a lifetime career schooling people with learning differences. She visited the Minnesota Life College campus during a transition class in 2005 and fell in love with the school’s vision. The very next year, she seized an opportunity when she spotted a job opening for an autism specialist, and she’s been at MLC ever since. In those eight years, Chrissy says that Minnesota Life College has become more centered on its students’ personal needs while maintaining the focus of what MLC’s mission vision and values to help them build independent lives.

Medication management is one of Chrissy’s primary responsibilities and requires strong attention to detail. She tracks each individual undergraduate students’ medications, coordinates changes with the students, their parents, and staff, keeps the system up-to-date, while training staff to keep everything running smoothly. Any time there is a medication change, Chrissy must coordinate the transition and ensure that everything is documented correctly.

Chrissy also teaches classes and advises students, who she says are a constant source of inspiration for her. Watching them have a “lightbulb” moment when everything comes together is a particular highlight for Chrissy. One of her favorite moments will always be when she went on a summer trip with the students and all of them climbed to the top of a mountain, despite the hurdles they faced. It was a great to see them be successful at something they didn’t think they could do. We hope she has many similar experiences at Minnesota Life College in the years to come.

Chrissy is also in charge of the decorations at the annual Gala, and anyone who has attended one of MLC’s famous parties can attest that she does a wonderful job making creative and beautiful scenery on a budget. This year, Gala goers even asked to take home the large wildlife silhouettes which stood near the stage. There is an almost-life-size moose in someone’s home now thanks to Chrissy.

Gala Flowers Cabin Gala Animals

MLC is proud to have such a multi-talented staff member in Chrissy!

by Matt O'Keefe, Multimedia Writer

Happy Birthday to my Amazing Husband

Hope you enjoyed your birthday as much as we did celebrating it with you.
Bringing her home-aid birthday cake to her daddy

So excited for daddy to blow out his candles.

King Time!

It was so nice to see Stevi, Chad, Van and Crosbi when they came up to meet baby Abe.  
We almost didn't get to see them though because our mainline in the basement decided to back up again.  Josh was such a trooper and just forged through while we went on ahead to Jamie and Emily's 
without him. 

Good thing we got carpet tiles.
 I love getting together and watching all of the kids playing together.  Each time we get together it gets more and more chaotic, but with chaos bring great memories.  

As Bo and Avery would say:  This is the best day ever.
Finally able to enjoy some warm weather

"The Kings"

Love this girl, and all her glory

I can't beleve he is almost a year old already

What Jamie you want peace and quiet while you eat?

Our Little Princess

We also celebrated Stevi's birthday too. It was so nice to see you guys, can't wait for Jess and Mitch to have their baby girls, so we can come down and stay with you guys.

Pyper's 9m doctor appointment

Nothing new and exciting happening, Dr. B said she is a very healthy baby.  He couldn't believe that she was cruising so much and already had 4 teeth.

Pyper got all of her 9 month vaccines she only had one shot this time
HIB (Haemophilus influenzae type B)

Pyper's 6 Month Doctor Appointment Stats:
Length
6 Month: 2ft. 2.25 in
Today: 2ft.3.87in
Going from the 67.37% to the 56.37%

Weight
6 Month: 16 lbs 7.2 oz
 Today: 18lbs. 13.6 oz
Going from the 57.79% to the 60.48%

Head Circumference
6 Month: 42 cm
Today:  43.5cm
Going from the 44.58% to the  37.97%

BMI
6 Month: 16.77 kg kg/m2
Today: 17.06 kg/m2

Bo's 9 month appointment (a little late 10 month)
Here are her stats:
Length
10 month: 27 3/4 in
The 33.47%

Weight
10 month: 19lbs 9oz
The 45.28%

Head diameter
10 month: 44.6cm
The 53.84%

Where have we been?

Doing this...
The design

the material


The Labor
Stage one


Stage 2

Stage 3




Stage 4



Center Piece 1

Center Piece 2

Moose

Moose together

 Moose at the event

Welcome to Minnesota



My Partner Gretchen

ANOTHER GALA down, already thinking about next years decorations.