Valentine's/7 Weeks!

First things first: Happy 7 weeks, Ava!



Yesterday was A's first Valentine's day (obviously!), and she got the cutest little hoodie from her great-grandma, and books and an outfit from mom & dad. We love our littlest Valentine SO much, and are so blessed to have her in our lives!



At seven weeks, Ava has become such a little doll. Her personality is coming out more and more, and she seems happier than ever! Whereas she smiled mainly upon waking up in the morning before, she's now doling out smiles to the two of us all day long, and making some cute little coos and squeals to go with them. I absolutely love hearing her little baby voice and the adorable sounds it makes, and love that she's starting to interact a little bit and make happy noises. Happy Ava = happy mommy! Ava is almost 23" long!!!!!!!! Geeeeeeeez, kid. You'll be taller than I am by the time you're four at this rate! She's also roughly 10.5lbs, judging by the super official weigh-me-then-weigh-her method. That sounds pretty big to me, but I've been assured it's not, and she can still squeeze her cutie patooty into the occasional newborn outfit and all of her newborn onesies, so I guess she may actually be on the smaller side (or at least it's distributed that way due to her height?).





Seven week pictures to come later on tonight, when I'm not at work on this beautiful sunny day with both girls and their respective playdates here. That's right. I have in my care today FIVE LITTLE GIRLS. Nothing like starting Monday off with a bang!

On a related note, for those of you yet to go back to work, or who stay at home and are wondering what being a working mom is like, let me fill you in:

You know you're a working mom when...

...your first meal consists of a three-year-olds lunch leftovers because it's your only chance to eat so far.

...you don't realize your shirt is on inside out until after lunch.

...forgetting to put your breast pads in and having to borrow one of your boss's shirts while you throw yours in with the kids' laundry.

...taking a three-year-old to the potty ten times before you find time to go yourself. My previously teensy tiny bladder can now go four to five hours without emptying thanks to the demands of three children and managing the D's household and errands, amongst my own personal life.

...doing two loads of laundry and running the dishwasher five times...at the D's. Having my own laundry and dishes neglected because it's the last thing I want to do at the end of the day.

...never having a single complaint just the same, because I know how amazingly fortunate it is that I can have the freedom of my own job and income while still spending my every waking moment with my baby girl and getting to nurse her from the breast round the clock!

For those of you still reading, thank you. I know this is a long-winded post, but before I sign off for the day (until I post pics later!), I'd just like to take a second to say thank you to all my fellow mommy bloggers. I have been fortunate enough to have "met" many other mommies with babies all around the same ages (some only a day or so apart from A!) through our blogs, and have really come to rely on them for many things, from advice to comedic relief to just the support that comes from knowing that they're going/have gone through the same thing, and that yes, this too shall pass. I value your input through the comments you leave, and enjoy reading all of your posts! Thank you ladies for all you do, and congratulations on your beautiful families :)

A Day At Work (In Photos).

Sleeping in!


Rocking out..


Happy baby (after a wardrobe change thanks to a poo explosion!)


S, the little babysmoocher:


Rest Time...


Brownie Batter!


The finished Valentine's brownies for the D's:


Such a good napper!


My little helper!


Painting Valentine's pictures...


Long day...happy to be home!

This Week (In Photos).

I'm sure it's becoming more and more obvious when my computer falls victim to the stupid, un-clearable virus since I go days and days without posting pics, but I'm trying to get some up each time it decides to cooperate :)

What a fantastic daddy!


Such a cute face!


Visiting dad's office!


Princess Fussypants (she HATED that hat, but it's COLD!)


On the go again!


My little sweet stuff!


Baby Uggs to help brave the elements!


Sad face :(


The elusive, camera-shy smile briefly captured!


Sleephead!

Couch to 5K.

This is exactly what I need/have been looking for to help me break into running. This loks totally feasible and healthy, not to mention with it only being 30 minutes, 3 times per week, I'm sure I can find that kind of time without being away from A too often. I've still yet to be away from her AT ALL. Yep, I'm serious.

Anyhow, here's where you can find more info on the program: Couch to 5K, Cool Running

Click here for a list of runs going on in Texas and surrounding areas (Broad, I know!). I'm thinking of signing up for the ASH Bunny Run on 4/3 for an untimed trial and practice, and then the Schlotzky's Bun Run for my first timed 5K on 5/2 :)

Happy running, ladies!

Our Little Party Girl.

Little A has adopted the sleep schedule of Courtney Love. Up half the night - usually until 1 or 2AM!! - then sleeping alllll day long. Somedays she won't have awake time until the clocks rolls over into PM territory. Wtf.

Before I get berated for letting this happen, let me assure you that it is NOT for lack of trying. Trying to wake this little one up is futile - I may wake her for a second by irritating the hell out of her, but she goes right back to sleep. And who can blame her?! She's tired from her little party girl schedule! Unfortunately, however, I'm not at a point in my life where I can keep up with that kind of schedule (I'm not a college student for Christ's sake!), and so I've been consulting just about every imaginable source (books, internet, friends, family, strangers at S's gymnastics class...) for suggestions and advice on how to move kiddo's schedule up several hours. I know she's capable of night sleep, since once she's down she wakes only to eat, and usually without even opening her eyes, and she naps like a champ, which I find both encouraging and deeply frustrating.

Most people have confirmed that this type of night owl behavior is quite normal and common amongst babies this young, but I would like to do what I can to encourage healthier sleep habits if possible, and so I've gathered some ideas:

*Since she sleeps so deeply in her car seat during the day, it's been suggested that I put her in there when she's drowsy and I want her to fall asleep for the night, and then transfer her to her bed when she's deeply enough asleep. (If your baby sleeps deeply elsewhere, like a swing or bouncer, sub that item for the car seat. This applies to everything except having him/her fall asleep in your arms.)

*Put baby in their crib/bassinet/wherever you're trying to ultimately put them down for the night, and then help soothe them to sleep while they're laying there. (I DO NOT mean to have them cry-it-out while supervised. Babies before 4-6 months are not capable of self-soothing themselves to sleep.)

Last night I tried the latter with Ava, putting her down in her bassinet at 10PM with a full belly and looking pretty drowsy. She stayed asleep when I laid her down, but predictably woke up within five minutes fussing. I put her pacifier back in her mouth, and she fell back to sleep. A few minutes later, the same thing. This went on until 11:00, with her going longer and longer between the pacifier falling out and/or her fussing, and eventually at 11:15, she no longer woke up when it fell out and slept until she was ready to eat at 2:30.

Was it a long hour and fifteen minutes? Yep. Was it a hell of a lot shorter than holding her until she falls asleep, trying to lay her down and then inevitably picking her back up over and over into the wee hours of the night? Yep! Did we all get more rest of better quality than we ever have? YEP. Is it laying the foundation for better long-term sleep habits? Most definitely. She also then went a dive-hour stretch without eating, and then a four. Yay!

Here's hoping this method will take less and less time as we try it again each night!

Gotta Love Three-Year-Olds!

On the walk back from P's bus stop today, a woman stopped us and asked the girls if they had a baby brother or sister (she was in the sling). Since explaining the dynamics of our little foursome is...complicated...we all just replied, "Sister."

Just now, while playing upstairs, that exchange must have still been lingering on S's mind, as she asked me, "Who is Ava's big sister?"

"She doesn't have a big sister," I said, "but maybe if I have another baby someday she'll have a little baby brother or sister and BE a big sister!"

"When you get rid of that baby?" she asked.

Hahaha. I tried to explain to her that you don't 'get rid' of babies, but rather they grow up into big girls and boys, but I'm still pretty sure she's under the impression that ill someday get rid of Ava in exchange for a big girl and a 'new' baby. Hilarious.

Seconds?

Earlier today, at my six-week check up, my doctor brought up the issue of birth control. That I was prepared for. What I was not prepared for, however, was the question he raised while helping me to explore my options: Do you think you'll want another baby in the next five years?

Let's rewind, say...two months. Had he asked then (not that he had to - I was telling everyone I met that this was going to be my first, and only, baby), the answer would've been absolutely not. No way, no how. Not. Happening.

Now flash forward back to the present. Faced with the question just ten short hours ago, I said the first thing that came to my mind. I said yes.

Wait, what? I'm sure half of you are shocked, and the other half are smirking to yourself and saying, 'I knew it.". To be honest, I've been giving this some thought lately. Not that it would be happening anytime soon. I'd like to be married before Ava has a sibling, ya know? But where I would never have considered it previously, I am now...open to the idea. You see, I was an only child for the first 16 years of my life, and it was terribly lonely. And I love A way too much to see her lonely.

My only reservation now is how I could ever love another the way I love Ava, but I know all parents think that, and all parents manage to find room in their hearts.