Where Does the Time Go?

Well, I have finished two weeks of full-time work. So far, we are doing well, and the routine is manageable. It is hard, and I desperately wish I could have more wonderful moments with Maddie, but I can't argue that she is happy staying with her grandmom, her grandmom is happy to have her, and my being at work is the best thing for our family. Now all that is left to do is sit back and enjoy it, and so that is what we've been doing.

Actually, we're not doing very much sitting back these days. There is always plenty to keep us busy. I gave up actually hanging up our clothes last week, and instead we have been pulling our shirts and pants from a neat stack on the dresser. While the laundry has been getting done and everything is folded, hanging clothes on hangers got postponed one day, and then another, until the pile was enormous. I am rationalizing that the half hour it would take to find enough hangers and hang them up could better be used elsewhere.

The most jam-packed part of the day is between 6:00 and 8:30 in the evening. I get home with Maddie, who has fallen asleep during the car ride home from her grandmom's. I rush to get dinner started, change my clothes, unload the dishwasher, set up the baby bathtub, do laundry, take out the garbage, and get everything ready for bedtime before Maddie wakes up. Then I give her a bath. Afterwards, I shovel food in my mouth while feeling a little guilty that I am not giving Maddie my undivided attention during the few precious moments I have with her while she is awake. After that, we play for as long as she is willing and then I feed her. If she doesn't fall asleep while eating, I get enormous pleasure out of sitting with her on my lap in the rocking chair and reading to her before putting her to bed. She is asleep by 8:00, and sometimes as early as 7:00. Every night I fight the urge to keep her up as late as possible so that I can get just a little more time with her.

Once Maddie is in bed, I finish all the chores and getting everything ready for the next day. Most nights, I don't sit down until 9 or 9:30, by which time, I really should be heading off to bed. Sometimes Hank is able to help out with everything that needs to be done, but there are many nights when he doesn't get home until seven or even later, often missing seeing Maddie at all during the day.

With all of the hubbub during the week, it is so nice to have the weekends together. For months, weekends were a blur of activity, errands, trips to see people, house projects, and cleaning. However, now we are making an effort to slow down a little bit and enjoy some moments together on Saturdays and Sundays. These Fall days have been cozy and warm, and perfect for staying in and doing nothing but hanging out as a family. Those are the moments I had been envisioning when I used to think of what I wanted in having a family. With so few of them, I am treasuring each and every one.

With Pop-Pop:

Falling asleep holding Daddy's hand, while Scott & Melissa's cat stands guard:

Playing with Uncle Mike and Uncle Matt:

With Grandmom:

Trick or Treat!

Bundled up for the cold:

I finally caught her big grin on camera!

What does she think about?

Happy Mommy:

What tha?!

On Election Day:

Three Months Old!

Well, another month has passed and so much has changed!

Maddie is riding around facing forward in our Snugli carrier, and she is rockin' the Bumpo:



I am in my final week of working part-time before having to do the real thing starting next Monday. I am really glad I went back early and did the part-time thing for a few weeks. I think this has been a good transition. I am very sad at the prospect of going full-time, but at least it won't be as traumatic for us as it might have otherwise been. The worst part is that Maddie is sleeping so well that I know my "awake time" with her will be limited. Most nights she is falling asleep between six and seven, and I don't even anticipate getting home with her before six when I pick her up after work. Most nights, it may be a struggle to get Maddie into the bath before she has to go to bed. There have been nights already when Hank has gotten home just a little bit late and totally missed seeing Maddie at all during the day, which is just so sad. Fortunately, since I am taking Maddie and picking her up from her grandmother's every day, I know I will at least spend some time with her, but this is not going to be easy. I know it's ironic that I am upset that my kid sleeps so well!

I have continued to meet a couple of the mommies that I have met with babies nearly the same age as Madeline. It has been so nice to have others going through everything that I am at the same time. We lean on each other for support and give insight, which is great. Hopefully, we will continue our friendship for a long time, and our kids can be friends. Here is a picture of Maddie with her baby-friend Alex:

Here are a few more pictures from the past two weeks...

I love when Maddie looks at me adoringly! I am whole-heartedly of the opinion that everyone should have someone who looks at them like this:

A very typical Madeline face:



So many friends!

Checking out the feet:

"Mom, I'm cold! Stop taking pictures!":

With Gramma:

Video Frustration

Well, I was really hoping that I would be able to post video today, but no such luck. After giving up on the video camera, I realized that my regular camera has video function, and I was hoping to be able to use that. However, I am getting all kinds of errors when I try to load it onto my computer, and I am getting frustrated! I feel like we are missing a lot of terrific moments that should be recorded! I'll keep working on it, but if anyone can help me figure out how to get the video from the camera to the computer and then on the web, I would be extremely appreciative. Either that, or recommend an inexpensive digital recorder that would be easy enough that even I could figure it out!

Anyway, I was trying to post video of Maddie cooing. I still can't believe how vocal she is!


The other night, I had Maddie in my lap while I sat in the recliner. She wanted to sit up, rather than lean back, and she has been rather insistent on being able to use her neck muscles now that she has good control of them. As we were sitting there, Maddie was studying her feet with interest, and began leaning forward. I tried to straighten her back up, but then decided to see what she would do. Well, she wanted those feet in her mouth! She slowly bent over all the way to her big toes and starting sucking on one and then the other. She also bent so far that she was able to caress her cheeks with her feet! It was hysterical, so much so that I was crying and laughing at the same time. (That would have been a great video too, huh? Darn!)


I took the picture below on Sunday night. Let me tell you, Maddie has figured out that the TV is VERY interesting. We are having to make a more conscious effort to turn it off or take her to another room when it is on now. Here she is entranced:

I can also tell you with all honestly that every time Barack Obama is on the TV, whether it is his voice or his face, Maddie stops what she is doing and pays close attention. I think it must be his voice, and also that he is looking straight at the camera in many of his commercials. A couple of weeks ago, both of the candidates were on 60 minutes. The interviews were taped so that their faces were pretty close up and there was a white background. I noticed that night that Maddie was very interested in Obama, and I think she recognizes him now as someone she has seen or heard before. Of course, I'm sure that my Republican-leaning loved ones will think this is abominable, but I honestly just think it's really interesting how responsive Maddie is to someone she has seen on TV.

(I just made some people really mad.)

Anyway, I am working really hard to catch Maddie's giant grin on camera, and it just isn't working! The flash confuses her every time. Here is another close one:

Back to Work

Well, I started work again on Monday, and I survived the week! I must admit that, in a way, I was glad to be back. I miss Maddie like crazy when I am not with her, and I can't even think about her much when I am at work because it makes me a upset. However, I know that her grandmother is taking very good care of her, and the best thing for our family is for me to work. In the last few weeks of my maternity leave, I had even started to feel like the walls were closing in a little bit, and I must say that it is nice to have the social interaction and mental exercise of being at work.

Hank's cousin Nicole hosted a Halloween bash yesterday. Maddie and I both went dressed as black kitty cats:


Nicole and Maddie:


Cat Nap:



I'm posting a few other pictures from the past couple of weeks. Here is Maddie with her Aunt Liz:



Maddie playing with Daddy:



Overall, we are doing great. I finally feel like I am breaking loose from the post-partum cloud. Maddie is sleeping like a champ, so we are all sleeping well. Hank has been amazing as an equal partner in taking care of the baby and keeping our house going. Honestly, I couldn't ask for more!

And as for Maddie's sleeping habits, I hate to share this with other parents less-fortunate, but our little girl has been sleeping for TEN WHOLE HOURS at night. Most nights this week, we put her down around nine in the evening, and I had to wake her up at seven in the morning. So many parents I have told this to have shared stories about how their kids didn't sleep through the night for years, even one as old as FOUR!!! Hank and I know we are lucky lucky lucky!

I am also happy to announce that as of Friday, I do believe Miss Maddie is fully capable of holding her head up. She has just a little wobble when she is tired, but I would feel confident enough to put her in her Bumpo chair or use a front carrier at this point. Everyone who holds her can't believe how strong she is, including her back, legs, and grip.

Cute Little Goo

I am so behind on blogging and posting pictures!

Maddie is smiling like crazy, and it it so adorable. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get her on camera doing it. This one is close:

I've also been trying to get pictures of Maddie with the cats. Unfortunately, none of the cats is interested in Maddie, and the feeling seems to be mutual. I took this one by putting sleeping Maddie down on the recliner next to Tita (you can tell how thrilled the cat is):

My friend Tammy gave Maddie a stuffed dalmation named Boo after Tammy's own dog. Maddie loves her Boo, probably because he is black and white, which are favorite colors for babies this age. I made Patrona get in the picture too, but she wasn't happy about it:

Here, she is saying, "Check out my mom!":

It seems like there are a lot of times when Maddie doesn't really sleep very well if I put her down to lie flat on her back. Sometimes I sit her up in the recliner, which is so cute:

A cute close-up:

On her activity mat:

Hanging out in her car seat:

After Daddy dressed her (note the hat and pink socks with the red outfit):

Her adorable profile:

In other news, Maddie has been sleeping through the night for almost two weeks now. In fact, the same week that I moved her into her crib, she started sleeping in seven hour stretches at night. I almost wish I had moved her into her own room sooner. Needless to say, I have been getting lots more sleep lately, and I think everyone benefits!

Maddie's two-month doctor appointment was this morning. She is now 23 inches and 12 pounds 5 ounces. She had her rotavirus vaccination, which is oral, and then promptly threw it up. She also got two shots, which was difficult for both of us. I was warned that she could be cranky, sleepy and feverish over the next couple of days, but so far, Maddie is handling the vaccinations very well.

The latest nickname is "Goo", as in "A-goo", which is something Maddie says a lot in her baby language. Hank, of course, was the one to start calling her this. He loves his little Goo!

The Mom Gang

I have been fortunate that there is a mom/baby group that meets at the hospital every week. New moms get together with nurses to discuss issues and problems on Monday mornings, and the group has also gotten together each week at a park to picnic, play with the babies, and walk. Yesterday, there were nine of us who met at Bellevue State Park for a lunchtime outdoor concert. After it was over, we all took our strollers and set out on the trails. With all nine of us, I swear we looked like some sort of gang coming to take over the park. We had fun, and I will definitely miss getting together with these ladies once I go back to work in a few weeks.

The Clock Is Ticking

I am going back to work on October 6th, and I can't believe it! Fortunately, I have arranged to be able to return early, in exchange for having a few weeks part-time. I think this will help with the transition, but I know that going back to work will still be incredibly difficult.

The last couple of weeks have been so much fun with Maddie, and she is growing so fast! She has started licking everything that crosses anywhere near her mouth, and she is cooing like crazy. She is smiling and observing everything that happens around her. She spends more time awake, which has made it a little harder to update the blog.

I moved Maddie to her crib this weekend. I thought it would be a lot harder than it was, but I think she actually sleeps better there than in the bassinet. I also sleep better, since I can't lie awake listening to every little noise she makes. Maddie is still waking every three hours during the night, but getting her down has become much easier than before, so she and I are at least getting to bed earlier.

I made two major discoveries last week that have made life a little bit better. I should be paid for the following testimonials:

1. Maddie has had baby acne, but my friend Christen told me switching to Dove for sensitive skin for her bath. It worked within one day, which was unbelievable!

2. I bought a few meals from Super Suppers, which is a place that has take and bake frozen dinners. Hank and I were overly reliant on take-out even before having a baby, and I have been worried about how we would be able to manage having nutritious dinners once I returned to work. Everything we have had from Super Suppers has been delicious, and I am so excited that we won't be eating pizza every night!

Gotta run. Just a quick update, but I will post more soon!

Professional Shots

We had professional photos done for Maddie's one-month birthday. Enjoy!

Update after today's doctor appointment:

Maddie is now 22 inches (90th percentile) and 10 pounds 11 ounces! I told you she was growing fast!

My Little Girl Is Growing Up!

This is Maddie on the day after she was born:

And this is Maddie today:

I can't believe how much she has changed in just one month! I already feel like she is growing up too fast!

On another note, I'm really not sure what I did to deserve this face, but it's too priceless not to share:

We are getting Maddie's first professional shots done this weekend, so I will post them as soon as I can!

All Together: "Aww!"

Hank and I were feeling very adventurous on Saturday, and decided to take Maddie with us to dinner, clothes shopping for Hank, and then grocery shopping. This was a big trip for us, and she did great!

After my years working in the restaurant business, I now feel very worried about how my baby will behave in restaurants. I am terrified that I am going to be the mom with the screaming baby irritating everyone in the entire establishment. When I was a manager at Friday's, there were several times that guests would ask me to tell parents that their child was disturbing everyone else, but this, of course, was never well-received. So many times, the parents would get defensive, and I eventually learned that it was a no-win situation for me to say anything other than offer to help by bringing crackers or refilling drinks for the children. Based on this experience, I can assure you that I will never get defensive, but at this point, I am probably overly worried about how much noise the baby is making and whether it is affecting others within earshot.

We went to Red Robin, and fortunately, we were able to sit outside. There was only one other table out there when we sat down, so when Maddie woke up and starting crying, at least the entire restaurant wasn't affected. She only cried for a little bit, and once we fed her, she was so good for the rest of the time that we were there. I wound up carrying her out of the restaurant in my arms, and two women stopped me to ask her age and tell me how precious she is.

Maddie was great while we were clothes shopping. Once we arrived at the grocery store, she woke up and was hungry again. I fed her a little bit in the car, and then while we were inside, Hank pushed the cart and held the bottle for her to eat while she was in her car seat. When she needed to be burped, he would hold her and walk around, and I swear there was a chorus of "Aww! Aww! Aww!" coming from every direction as we went through the store. Again, everyone asked all kinds of questions and told us how adorable she is.

I have to admit, it's kind of fun getting the attention from so many people when we go out in public, and I know that Hank was especially loving it. He is such a very large man that the image of him carrying such a tiny baby is really a sight to behold, and some people are really in awe of him. Of course, Hank doesn't mind being the center of attention (or at least sharing it with the baby) and he sang and talked to Maddie all the way through the store, making the entire scene even cuter.

Pics and Fun Stuff

Alexis got Maddie a tummy time play mat. So far, Maddie is not such a fan of being on her belly, but the pillow is cool because it props her up when she is on her back so that she can look around. This is has been great for playing and she is usually really content in this position!

The cats have been really great with Maddie, although it is pretty clear that they are all starved for attention since the new arrival. Before the birth, Neo had always been in my lap any time I sat in the living room, but since the baby's arrival, he has been a little miffed that his position has been taken. However, it looks like he has decided not to give up his space completely, and is willing to begrudgingly share with Maddie:

Of the three cats, Neo has definitely been the most interested in Maddie, checking on her when she cries and sniffing her pretty often. Once, he even licked her head, which means one of two things: either he recognizes that she is part of the family and is willing to treat her as one of the pride, or he thinks she tastes good and plans to eat her when no one is looking.

It looks like we aren't going to the shore this weekend. Hank feels like we have too much to do here and wants to have time to recharge his batteries. Quite frankly, I'm not sure what happened to my husband, since I never thought there would be a time when he would turn down an opportunity to go fishing, but apparently there is a first time for everything. Whether I am here or at the shore, my plan is to catch up on some sleep!

Maddie has been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G with how well she is holding up her head. I think it will only be a week or two before she will be able to do it on her own. Yesterday, she rolled over onto her side and then rolled back again! She was laying on the couch, so it wasn't a flat surface, but it was still absolutely incredible!