Dear Monday,

I hate you.

Today's not going so well. In fact, I'm pretty certain mommy was in need of a cocktail around 9AM (Kidding, but you know the sentiment!).

First off, that gorgeous day yesterday? Apparently it was an anomaly, with today being in the 30's & 40's, and 2-4 inches of snow expected between tonight and tomorrow night. Excuse me, what?!?! This is Austin, not Boston. Geeeeeeeeez.

Second, Ava has reverted to some old sleeping habits this weekend - just refusing to go to sleep. The funny thing is that she's ready for bed at 8:30, and so I try to put her down, and basically spend three hours continuously putting her pacifier back in. Last night, I think it was after midnight. WTH! I'm so exhausted, and not feeling quite myself, and I'm not feeling any better on no sleep. On top of that, I've had some trouble putting her back down after the 2/3AM feeding here and there, something that never happened before.

THIRD, Ava has been Princess Fussypants the past couple of days. I swear, she's cried more in the past 48 hours than she has the past eight weeks. It makes me very sad, and also more than a little on edge. If it keeps up through tonight and into tomorrow, I'm taking her into her pediatrician since it's just SO unlike her. She doesn't have a fever, but she really seems to not feel herself. One of my ears is bothering me, so I'm starting to wonder if it's that. Also, my mom had two teeth at two months, so I keep checking her mouth just in case it's that - from what I've experienced with teething, it would make complete sense. I just really hope she's not cutting teeth this early...that would pose a breastfeeding catastrophe!

Anyhow, I just needed to vent. I'm sleepy, cold, REALLY MISS SWEETS!!!!!!!!!!, and look like crap because homegirl wouldn't nap for long enough for me to take my hair out of a ponytail, let alone put on makeup and coordinate my clothes.

Perhaps tomorrow will be better.

Baby's First Playdate & Other Fun Things!

Ava had her first playdate this past Thursday evening at the home of a woman I previously worked for and now consider a friend. She has a 4.5-year-old and a nearly nine-month-old. Check it out:





She had a great time and was so interested in the two girls. I think it's so sweet how children intuitively recognize other children as being like them. So cute!

Then on Friday Ava and I met up with her godfather for lunch - how adorable! We were very happy to have the chance to visit with him, especially considering he works just two buildings from where the big plane crash was on Thursday. We are so very, very thankful that he is safe!


Here are some other pics from the past few days:

Ava's new swing:


Cute pink boots!


Bathtime baby:


Reading Millie Moo with mommy:


Basically the cutest little kiddo ever:


Happy Weekend! It is a GORGEOUS day in Austin, Texas, with this year's first 80 degree temps. Our windows are open and wafting in is the delicious smell of BBQ chicken and bacon-wrapped, jalapenos :) I love weekends!

Sad Story.

(Don't worry - this is not the kind of sad story that makes you go and hug your sleeping baby a little tighter (not that you shouldn't!). I do not tell those kinds of stories, nor do I like to read them. I know the what-ifs, and drilling them into my head everyday surely isn't helping me to sleep any better at night. Praying for Ava's safety and thanking God for the miracle that is my little one, however, is.)

Fortunately this did not happen to me. Unfortunately, it did happen to someone I know.

Many of my readers know what it is like to pump, day after day, some several times a day, to store up milk for nights out, days away, work. It's tedious, uncomfortable and a total pain in the ass, am I right? C'mon, I can't be the only one that feels that way. I love to nurse, but Lord I hate to pump.

Well, what I'm sure you can't imagine (since my own personal mind has blocked this thought as it's too painful and upsetting to me!) is having your freezer DIE. Yep - a friend of mine told me a horror story last night while on our baby playdate (more on that later!) about how when her first daughter was two months old, she wandered downstairs one day to find her freezer, well, unfrozen. She lost her entire stockpile of breastmilk.

This mom said it was one of her darkest days, with her not getting out of bed and spending the rest of the day crying over, well, spoiled milk.

While I wouldn't have understood the full horror of this incident pre-baby, I DO NOW. I wouldn't have even been able to make it to bed before my meltdown. I'd still be in a puddle on the kitchen floor.

Makes you want to go downstairs and hug your freezer/breast pump/electrician, doesn't it?

Success!

I am extremely happy to report that in the past week, I've succeeded in moving Ava's bedtime from the wee hours of the morning, to between 9 & 10PM! Tonight was her earliest bedtime to date, with her falling asleep minutes before 9PM! Hooray!

Whereas I'm up feeding her having already gotten 3.5 hours of sleep, before last week I may have still been awake fighting to get her to bed. I am so enormously thankful for this!

Now if only D's snoring could be extinguished so quickly...

What a Beautiful Day.

Today in Austin looks much like...well, how days in Austin should look. It's 65, clear, and sunny - does wonders for the mood and energy of the city! Finally having the opportunity, I took Ava down to Town Lake for a nice 3-mile walk along the trail and a chance for mommy to exercise with a few of my newly-acquired mommy friends (Thank you, Austin Pregnancy & New Mom meetup group!)



Anyhow, after our walk around the lake, one of Austin's most beautiful natural treasures, we headed over to Butler Park near the Long Center in order to kill some time and so little A could see the fountains. Naturally, she slept through both experiences! Mommy feels fantastic, though, having gotten both some exercise and some fresh air :)



Happy Thursday everyone!

P.S. I miss sugar something fierce!

Lent.

As you all know, I was raised Mormon. After much soul-searching and church-visiting last year, however, I chose to make the switch to Episcopalian, as their beliefs more closely mirrored my own, and I had not been an actively participating Mormon, well...ever. Anyhow, though I had known many people who observed Lent, I have never practiced it myself, nor have I been too familiar with the principles and practices involved. This year changes that.

Seeing as how this is my first Lent, my first year in charge of another's spiritual education, and my first year as an active and practicing Episcopalian, I chose to go all out. Oh yes, my friends. It's not enough that because I'm breastfeeding, I am still abstaining from alcohol. And dairy, in fact, due to my lactation consultant's suggestion. And caffeine. Nor is it enough that due to my current life situation with a newborn at home, I am having to forcibly abstain from a decent night's sleep. Nope. I decided more torture was needed when deciding on my Lenten sacrifice, and decided to give up sweets. Broad, right? Let me break it down for you a bit more clearly. I cannot have:

*Cookies
*Cupcakes
*Brownies
*Cake
*Candy
*Ice Cream

I may still have:

*Sugar-free hot chocolate
*Sugar-free jell-o pudding
*100 calorie packs

I know that may sound odd, but a.) those don't qualify as the same type of sweets that, say, creme brulee does, and b.) if I have to give up those three as well, I am setting myself up for a quick failure when I have my first craving. Trust me - it's a major diet change. I have a sweet tooth to rival cookie monster, and probably eat nearly as many cookies. I'm also hoping to come out the other side of this Lenten season several pounds lighter!

Wish me luck!

My Little Roly Poly.

Ava did something that shocked the pants off me today - she rolled over from her tummy to her back!!!!

A bit of tummy time...


We've got lift off!


And there she goes!


(I wasn't able to capture it on film, since I had no expectation of her rolling over anytime soon!!! I'm trying to get a picture of the actual event soon!)