Break

As you might have noticed - I've been a bit absent.  Life is a little hectic right now and I need to simplify before I go (more) insane.  I'm going to take a quick break from the blog world and focus on my cutebaby//work//husband//leakyhouse//attentiondepriveddog//myself.

 

 

See you soon.

Welcome Home Mom

I recently had to take a business trip where I was gone for 40 full hours (but who's counting).  It's the longest I've been gone from this chicken.  Trust me, when you've got this at home - who would want to leave?

Getting to Know You - 5 Months

Wowza - this last month FLEW by.  We were so incredibly busy that I think I missed it.

Do you like these photos?  I thought I'd see what she'd look like from below - these photos are NOT distorted in anyway.  I just put the camera under her chin and clicked.  She even has her father's lips.

As we use to quote from one of our favorite movies, "You're not fat. You're beautiful! Now lay off the potato salad."

Sug is growing so fast it's unbearable.

Here are her stats for the month:

Weight - 16 lbs. even - 75th percentile
Height - 25 inches - 40th percentile
She's getting TALLER! Hooray!

We battled some illnesses this month, found a new doctor and went to bed smelling of garlic.... long story.  But we are well now (because of the garlic) and chugging right along.  The new daycare is settling in and the convenience is superb.  She is almost sitting up on her own (which we are highly impressed by) and needs to hold everything - including the skin on your neck.

She's wiggling and rolling so much, just ready to get into trouble.  The crib has been officially cleaned out - as she no longer stays put while sleeping - rolling and moving about.  I like to see where she's at in the morning when I go to see her smiling face.  She is sleeping much better these days, through the night mostly, but nothing is consistent and we just count our lucky stars for the silent nights when we do get them.

Bringing Up Bebe (SOAP BOX - BEWARE)

About a couple of months ago, I read the book Bringing Up Bebe - It's by an expat living in France and her observations of the rearing of French vs. American babies.

I really, really liked this book.  I think James got tired of me talking about it so much.  But I think I liked this book so much because it made me feel like we were doing some things right. 

James and I try extremely hard not to judge parenting ideas and philosphies and understand (especially as new parents) that sometimes you do what you have to do... But we've also realized there are certain systems, philosphies and behaviors that we find important and are making a point to implement in the raising of our Sugar Bear.  We've had many discussions on things that are important to us as individuals, things our parents did that we respect and also things we'd tweak if given the chance.

 I could seriously talk about this book for days - but I will spare you all.  As many of you know, I can be extemely passionate about certain things - and NPL has definitely fallen under that title.  I tend to be very goal oriented (to a fault) and reading this book reminded me that our little Sug is not a goal of baby milestones or a test of my abilities as a mother- she's a little person with a heart and soul who is looking to me to help guide the way. I want so much for her to grow into a confident, secure, happy woman - that I forget sometimes that it's ok for her to just be.

Found but not lost

Like I mentioned earlier - this little Sugar's brain is just churning away.  She has recently discovered two items that have definitely grabbed her attention - her tootsies and her poochie!

As you might notice - she has abnormally long, skinny toes.  Fingers for feet, so she's been able to grab a hold of those thing quite easily.  They've yet to make it in the mouth, probably due to the size of her belly. 

She's also noticed that the big black pony in the house is a staple.  She looks for him when she hears the clicking of his nails on the floor and enjoys being on his level in her exersaucer.  We are trying really hard to control his licking but it might be out of our control.  I have a feeling they are going to be BFF - whether he likes it or not.

Happy 4th of July

Is it possible to love someone so much you could explode?

SOLIDS! Nom, nom, nom

As a foodie family, we were excited when the doc said we can start the solids!  James was working a lot the first week we could eat - so we waited until we could all experience the first feeding as a family. 

Needless to say - I documented.

We even have a real live high chair coming to our doorstep this week!

We've started using the video feature on our camera, but I couldn't get it to upload.  I can't wait to show her these little bits when she gets older.

Yakity, yakity, yakity

A few weeks ago James and I were given the news that our daycare was closing for 9 months for a total renovation.  To some, that sounds like bummer news - to us it was a little bit of a shock/stress/shit! reaction. 

We don't live or work in a very residental area of Dallas - and our neighbors are not young families, so there aren't a lot of day care options available.  When we first found out we had a Sug in the oven we researched the few options we did have and quickly got on the waiting list.  We were extremely fortunate to get placed on priority status at our first pick due to James' dad's military service - and the few months we attended; we were very pleased.  Our daycare franchise was even mentioned in a book I recently read as one of the nations best; comparing it to some of the government daycares in Europe - which are the equivilant to a prep-school here in the States.  Because it is subsidized by the government for military families; they must follow extremely strict rules and standards in order to receive those funds.  I have heard horror stories from so many people about private daycare facilities or nannies and was thanking my lucky stars everyday for the peace of mind that ours offered.  Sug was very well taken care of and seemed very happy too - she was napping and eating well and seldom grumpy when I came to pick her up.

So when we got the news that it was shutting down and we only had 2 months to relocate - AND we would be competiting with all the other families that needed to find new sitters - we were less than thrilled.

So for 4 very stressful days James and I called all the daycares (again) in the area and pleaded our case - hoping for some sort of availability. 

With some luck and hopefully good karma - we were given an 'exception' and granted a spot at a Methodist church about a block from our home.  Sug starts her new place on Monday.

I'm not sure if we'll be as lucky to be as happy with this new place as we were with the old - but we are going forward with a POSITIVE attitude, $300 less bucks in our pocket a month and big smiles; hoping this is a place we can feel comfortable and excited about everyday.

  

Getting to Know You - 4 Months

Guess who's 4 months old?!  (Closer to 5 now, but who's counting?).

A few weeks ago we had Nora P's 4 month check up.  

Here are her stats:

Weight - 14 lbs. even - 80th percentile

Height - 23.5 inches - 25th percentile

She's our little tea pot - short and stout!

Head 16.5 inches - 50th percentile

She's found her hands and her voice and both have been put to great use these days.  She studies the self removal of her pacifer very hard and then test herself on putting it back in her mouth (actually everything goes in the mouth these days).  It's so much fun to watch her - everything is so new and such an adventure.  Her little brain is churning 24/7 - soaking it all up.
Speaking of 24/7 - she's still trying to figure out that whole 'sleeping through the night' concept.  We're all hoping that catches on soon.

The doc gave us permission to try some rice cereal (more on that to come) and she's not opposed to chowing down on a big bowl of soggy rice and breast milk.  Yummm!  James and I tried it - it's really not too bad.
She's a seasoned tummy timer these days - although it's still not her favorite, she makes the best of it and might even pretend to enjoy it a bit.

 

She has the wiggles!  Bath time and the pool are a lot of fun these days - especially with her arms and legs moving at such a rapid pace.  She's can move those arms in a million directions all at once - especially when she turns into an angry bird.  And is seldom in the same direction in the morning as we put her down at night.

 

She's growing at rapid speed and her development puts me in awe everyday.  It's a very special time right now for sure!

Good Grief

So I've been a little busy these days and then I changed the blogger format and then realized I didn't have enough time to learn how to use it.  So for now, I'm reverting back to the old style with a dorky heading and big font until I can pull together a few hours and customize it back to Neato Land.

Sorry for the disappointment.

"Why are you so damn busy?"

Mostly - due to my salary job. 

I started this job two years ago with two projects.  I now have eleven.  Enough said.

Partly - due to my non-salary job.

She's getting so big and wiggly!

(yes, that's rice cereal - we have a lot of catching up to do)

When I can catch a breathe - I'll send updates on Sugar Bear's 4 month check-up and all the wonderfulness that makes us Neato.

Kaaaa blooey

My head is swarming over here at work, so sorry for the lack of post. 

I was rummaging through some work photos yesterday trying to figure out a "sink situation" and found this photo of Nora and I last December.  My doctor told me I couldn't fly past December 20th - so I was sent to Minnesota on December 19th. 

For two seconds I paused at work and thought of my baby girl.  Then the whip was cracked and I was back to the grind stone. 

(She's still always in the back of my mind though, no way around that.)

Hello Beautiful.

She's her father's daughter for sure.

Notice any similarities? 

1983 vs 2012

I think Sug's cheeks may be even bigger than baby James?

VACA!

Last week I had to go to Florida to work and some how the stars aligned and James and Sug were able to come with and stay the weekend.  It was so nice.  Despite having to work Thursday and part of Friday, we were still able to get in some much needed family time and just relax.  Sug was an awesome little traveler and had many first - first time in the ocean, first time in the swimming pool, first flight... the list goes on. 

I can say that although this was a very different trip compared to our vacations pre-baby - we didn't mind it at all.  It was nice to just sit and catch up with each other and enjoy the breeze and sun.  James and I always notice after we've been on vacation and return back to work - we end up missing each other's company.  Sugar Bear was especially cranky on Tuesday when she returned back to daycare - and I think it's because she missed us too.  It was a successful family vaca and I look forward to the many ahead!

The Milk Memos

One thing I've missed since becoming a mother is the luxury of reading.  It has always been a way for me to escape and relax for the night.  But since the Sug-meister has entered our life; if my head's on a pillow - don't expect my eyes to be open.  James and I don't normally sit down until Sug is asleep at 9 and at that point we still have all our normal household chores, the dog to walk and sometimes if we are lucky - we watch our ever-growing DVR list.

But the past three weeks Sug has been on a nursing strike - she's the opposite of most babies - preferring the bottle over the boob.  So during those weeks I was using my electric pump A LOT - which I found to be the perfect time to read a few pages and let my mind rest.  (She has since decided that nursing isn't the devil and my poor little pump can take a breather.  This is good for everyone. (James was washing 14 bottles a day!!))

The first postpartum book I've been able to read is of course about being a mom.  It was given to me by a friend and has offered a lot of wisdom and support about breast feeding while working.  It's written by two successful IBM executives who bonded over their electric pumps and baby stories as they pumped in their offices' lactation room over the course of a year. It offers tips on how to juggle your two jobs and not go crazy in the mean time.  Most importantly, it made me not feel so alone in my endeavor to give Sug the best and still bring home the bacon.  I'm not the first woman to do this and definitely won't be the last.

We got the water

We baptized Sug on Mother's Day and it was such an awesome day.  She was definitely surrounded by love and support by our family and friends.  It was a very memorable occasion.

Sug's Crib

We finally have Sug's room complete (one of the only in the house) and I love it. 

I wanted it to be light, calm and airy; without being too girly.  I tried to keep a lot of the larger pieces such as the walls and furniture gender neutral.  Sug may have a brother someday and this mom is too lazy and cheap to redecorate.  I think it turned out fairly nice; without breaking the bank.

Won't you join us for a tour?

The room is actually quite large, so we had plenty of room to keep the guest bed in place.  Which is nice when Grandmas come to visit.

The artwork is a graphic of Little Women, one of my favorite books growing up.  I think I've read it 3 times and could recite the movie by heart.  The gray background of the image is the text of the entire book.  The rocking chair was a gift from James' parents and is where we snuggle every night before bed.

 

I found this dresser on craiglist.  My talented friend Rick refinished the drawers white and I replaced the pulls with white Lucite knobs.  It's one of my favorite pieces in our house; it turned out great.

The art was really expensive - 3 white cheap canvases, a hole punch, Sherwin Williams paint samples and glue. 

The mini-rocker is a custom piece made by my grandpa.  80 years old and he's still keeping busy.  I love that Sug will be able to give this to her kiddos some day.  The bear in the rocker was made by my mom using fabric scrapes from my Grandma Pearlie.

The bedding was made by my mom, after I purchased way too much fabric.  I couldn't make a decision and was running out of time (February was among us).  But I think it turned out perfect and oooo so cute.  She even made the sheets which actually fit better than the store bought ones.

And of course my favorite baby animals photos (Glued and nailed to the wall, I had nightmares of them falling off and breaking over her head.  They aren't coming down without a sledge hammer now.)

James and I made this piece of art right before she arrived.  It's a favorite song of ours and made me real weepy when I was pregnant.

The bookshelf used to be a weird little closet with sliding doors. It's much better served as a place for books, keepsakes and old toys of ours.  James' dad got Sug her first sneakers - I have a feeling they will be bike buddies.

This post took a really long time. 

The End.