In the Jumper – 3/18
Hannah trying to crawl
Hannah NOT trying to crawl
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Why hello again. Guess it didn't take me too long to get back in here to give you an another peak into our little lives and how things are going.
As some of you well know, Jeff went out of town last Wed-Sunday to Austin for SXSW. For those unfamiliar, it's a unorganized cluster-f*#k sh*t-show in Austin where thousands of bands go to be heard. Jeff usually spends at least 100 hrs prepping for said event. His attempt is to make the most of it while seeing upwards of 25 bands a day. I decided years ago to never attempt SXSW with Jeff again. If you've ever been to a concert or concerts with Jeff you'd know why. It's intense. And while I could hang for a day, I'd never last. I'd be dead weight. So instead, I bake a dish for him and his friends and send him off to enjoy some time away with just the guys.
House updates - our yard is a wreck. Weeds everywhere, dead tree, dead "flower" bed, and a leak in the front yard. I hired a guy to help clear out all the crap in both front and back yard. Still a work in progress. Temp. set back getting the water leak in the front yard repaired. This is the third time in 2 years the main water line sprung a leak and this time I decided to just replace the whole line. Too bad the city won't pay for this - anything in our yard is our problem. I saved us a couple hundred dollars by having our helper, Raul, dig this massive 50 foot long, 12 inches deep trench for the plumbers to place with a new pipe. Instead of running another copper line, we decided on black poly. It's more flexible, stronger and cheaper than copper. So now we have a new line but need to fill the trench and patch with new sod. No idea when that will happen. Crape Myrtles need to be trimmed back too. No idea when that will happen either. Good thing for daylight savings, but still not able to find time to do it. Hannah might let me get started on it after work tomorrow so we'll see. To add to the current yard disasters, yesterday I got home from work to find our outdoor canopy demolished. A huge branch from the dead tree in our back yard gave way to 25 mph winds and came crashing down on it. Leaving us with glass shattered everywhere and a gaping hole in it's top. At least it didn't hit the roof, right? Sigh.
Hannah is doing pretty well. We think some bottom teeth moving their way up. She's been drooling like crazy and chewing on everything. Two weekends ago was hell for us all as we battled through what seemed to be the worst of her teething yet. No teeth though! Hannah is still doing fairly well with sleeping at night. She doesn't nap much during the day while at daycare but is sure to sleep 11-12 hrs at night. Her bedtime is 7pm and we stick to it. We've tried extending the time but that doesn't make her or us very happy. When I explain to people that Hannah is in bed by 7pm every night I usually get shocked responses. Mostly from non-parents but also from some fellow parents. They ask "why so early?" or "I keep my kiddo up late bc I want to hang out with him/her". Naturally, I feel a little defensive because I wonder if they think I don't want to hang out with our baby in the evenings too? Whatever the case may be, it's just one of those situations where I smile politely and usually offer nothing more than a minuscule explanation. We know what's best for our child and if that means a 7pm bedtime, so be it. Hannah sits up pretty well on her own now. She's not crawling yet, but she seems curious. My friend, Hannah, was in town this weekend and showed me how I could help teach her how to crawl. I'm not so sure I really want Hannah mobile quite yet, but admit it was pretty cool to watch her on her hands and knees a few times. The look on her face was priceless. She'd get in the position (with my help) and once there she'd smile so big! Pretty cool. I have a couple videos I'll post for you to see.
Today I leave work early to take Hannah to another doctors appt. This one is for part two of the flu shot. Poor girl gets so pissed when she gets shots! Some friends lead me onto this application called Sparkabilities for babies so maybe that'll be a fun distraction. We'll see. Wish us luck!
As some of you well know, Jeff went out of town last Wed-Sunday to Austin for SXSW. For those unfamiliar, it's a unorganized cluster-f*#k sh*t-show in Austin where thousands of bands go to be heard. Jeff usually spends at least 100 hrs prepping for said event. His attempt is to make the most of it while seeing upwards of 25 bands a day. I decided years ago to never attempt SXSW with Jeff again. If you've ever been to a concert or concerts with Jeff you'd know why. It's intense. And while I could hang for a day, I'd never last. I'd be dead weight. So instead, I bake a dish for him and his friends and send him off to enjoy some time away with just the guys.
House updates - our yard is a wreck. Weeds everywhere, dead tree, dead "flower" bed, and a leak in the front yard. I hired a guy to help clear out all the crap in both front and back yard. Still a work in progress. Temp. set back getting the water leak in the front yard repaired. This is the third time in 2 years the main water line sprung a leak and this time I decided to just replace the whole line. Too bad the city won't pay for this - anything in our yard is our problem. I saved us a couple hundred dollars by having our helper, Raul, dig this massive 50 foot long, 12 inches deep trench for the plumbers to place with a new pipe. Instead of running another copper line, we decided on black poly. It's more flexible, stronger and cheaper than copper. So now we have a new line but need to fill the trench and patch with new sod. No idea when that will happen. Crape Myrtles need to be trimmed back too. No idea when that will happen either. Good thing for daylight savings, but still not able to find time to do it. Hannah might let me get started on it after work tomorrow so we'll see. To add to the current yard disasters, yesterday I got home from work to find our outdoor canopy demolished. A huge branch from the dead tree in our back yard gave way to 25 mph winds and came crashing down on it. Leaving us with glass shattered everywhere and a gaping hole in it's top. At least it didn't hit the roof, right? Sigh.
Hannah is doing pretty well. We think some bottom teeth moving their way up. She's been drooling like crazy and chewing on everything. Two weekends ago was hell for us all as we battled through what seemed to be the worst of her teething yet. No teeth though! Hannah is still doing fairly well with sleeping at night. She doesn't nap much during the day while at daycare but is sure to sleep 11-12 hrs at night. Her bedtime is 7pm and we stick to it. We've tried extending the time but that doesn't make her or us very happy. When I explain to people that Hannah is in bed by 7pm every night I usually get shocked responses. Mostly from non-parents but also from some fellow parents. They ask "why so early?" or "I keep my kiddo up late bc I want to hang out with him/her". Naturally, I feel a little defensive because I wonder if they think I don't want to hang out with our baby in the evenings too? Whatever the case may be, it's just one of those situations where I smile politely and usually offer nothing more than a minuscule explanation. We know what's best for our child and if that means a 7pm bedtime, so be it. Hannah sits up pretty well on her own now. She's not crawling yet, but she seems curious. My friend, Hannah, was in town this weekend and showed me how I could help teach her how to crawl. I'm not so sure I really want Hannah mobile quite yet, but admit it was pretty cool to watch her on her hands and knees a few times. The look on her face was priceless. She'd get in the position (with my help) and once there she'd smile so big! Pretty cool. I have a couple videos I'll post for you to see.
Today I leave work early to take Hannah to another doctors appt. This one is for part two of the flu shot. Poor girl gets so pissed when she gets shots! Some friends lead me onto this application called Sparkabilities for babies so maybe that'll be a fun distraction. We'll see. Wish us luck!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
7 months ago
Hannah is 7 months old today! I feel like a broken record, but I can't believe how fast time flys. I can still remember the day I had her, the day we brought her home, the day(s) I turned to Jeff with tear filled eyes saying how exhausted I was and asked him if it were okay we only had one child. The beginning seemed to move along slowly (and not always in a good way). I took things one day at a time, but each day I hoped Hannah would eat a little more, sleep a little more and cry a little less. Living each day holding her, feeding her, changing her, napping when she napped or being up around the clock. Looking back it's all a big blur. I've forgotten the details of what happened in those first three months, but I remember enough to be able to say it was hard. It's amazing though how I can clearly remember how difficult it was yet still look forward to having another baby one day. Kinda funny how that works. And now, now Hannah is 7 months old and I look at our little baby thinking she's not so little anymore. She's turning into a "big girl" and it's all happening so fast! She's taking drinks from my water glasses, sipping from her sippy cup, eating all sorts of baby foods, indirectly saying "ma ma", "da da", becoming increasingly fascinated with the dog and sitting up on her own. No teeth yet, but since I'm so bad about posting I'm sure by the time I get around to posting something again she'll have a few.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Updates!
Well folks, our sweet sweet baby girl is now 6 months old. She's growing so fast! We're loving being parents especially now that we're getting some sleep! Our little family started with just us two, expanded with Lainee and now we have Hannah. Pretty perfect!
As I said before, our weeks are pretty busy. Not much has changed there. Weekends have been somewhat busier since my mother's health has declined. She's the only family we have here so it's become my new found responsibility to care for her. I'm so lucky to have such a great husband to step up and care for Hannah while I spent every free moment running to the hospital, rehabilitation facility or to her home. And now that she's home receiving home health care while recovering, we're just on call for anything she may need at this point. It's been a lot to handle over the last month, but we have such a great support system here with our friends by our side and I'm just not sure what we'd do without them. Not to mention, my work has been so understanding so the threat of losing my job over putting my family first is not an issue. I'm very fortunate. I do wish more family lived close enough to come and alleviate some of this responsibility, but knowing they can and have flown in at the drop of a dime makes this scary situation with mom that much more bearable.
On a lighter note, Hannah has started swimming. I registered her for swim class Jeff found in our area. Starting at 6 months they can begin to "swim"! I know she won't remember this, but I will. I'll remember spending our Saturday mornings at the pool with her a few times and her daddy and I getting in the water with her, etc. Just building memories. Good ones.
And now for a TMI moment....I've stopped pumping. It's official. I'm FREE!!!! hahaha I lasted over 6 months. Pretty proud of myself even though quitting has been bitter sweet. Hannah takes the bottle really well now. Even eats rice cereal, baby food bananas, sweet potatoes, peaches and squash. So far her favorites have been sweet potatoes and peaches! Such a fun age.
More to come!
As I said before, our weeks are pretty busy. Not much has changed there. Weekends have been somewhat busier since my mother's health has declined. She's the only family we have here so it's become my new found responsibility to care for her. I'm so lucky to have such a great husband to step up and care for Hannah while I spent every free moment running to the hospital, rehabilitation facility or to her home. And now that she's home receiving home health care while recovering, we're just on call for anything she may need at this point. It's been a lot to handle over the last month, but we have such a great support system here with our friends by our side and I'm just not sure what we'd do without them. Not to mention, my work has been so understanding so the threat of losing my job over putting my family first is not an issue. I'm very fortunate. I do wish more family lived close enough to come and alleviate some of this responsibility, but knowing they can and have flown in at the drop of a dime makes this scary situation with mom that much more bearable.
On a lighter note, Hannah has started swimming. I registered her for swim class Jeff found in our area. Starting at 6 months they can begin to "swim"! I know she won't remember this, but I will. I'll remember spending our Saturday mornings at the pool with her a few times and her daddy and I getting in the water with her, etc. Just building memories. Good ones.
And now for a TMI moment....I've stopped pumping. It's official. I'm FREE!!!! hahaha I lasted over 6 months. Pretty proud of myself even though quitting has been bitter sweet. Hannah takes the bottle really well now. Even eats rice cereal, baby food bananas, sweet potatoes, peaches and squash. So far her favorites have been sweet potatoes and peaches! Such a fun age.
More to come!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Where did the time go?
I feel like as I've become a parent I'm contstantly asking myself one question. Where has the time gone? How is my three month maternity leave long gone? How have I been back at work for almost three months? How is Hannah about to be 6mo old? It amazes me how quickly time flies by and even how more quickly an hour passes. I remember when I was a kid, I used to be mad that a day had 24 hrs in it. I felt like that was just too much time especially since roughly 12 of those hours it's dark outside. I still admire the mornings and the daytime, but have become particulary fond of the evenings because M-F is when I get to spend time with my family. However, the evenings are just too short. When I leave work, I race to get Hannah from daycare. It's, hands down, one of the BEST parts of my day. I quickly scoop her up, make the short drive home, unpack her stuff, and begin our evening routine. I'm usually home at 6pm which means I have less than 1 hr to enjoy our daughter before it's time for bed. Bath time, play time, get her thing out for the next day, heating the bottle and then find myself staring down at our beautiful daughter as she takes her bottle and drifts off the sleep in my arms. I would sit there and hold onto her forever, but I know tomorrow brings another busy day and if I'm to survive I have to get some sleep too. By this time, Jeff is usually in the kitchen organizing dinner or cleaning bottles. Sometimes if he gets home early enough he has a minute with Hannah before he runs off to shower a busy days worth of work away while I put Hannah down for the night. Everynight Jeff and I sit down together for dinner. Even if it's just for a little bit and talk about our day. This is another time I'd consider to be the BEST part of my day. After dinner, I run off to go pump then get the bottles filled and ready for the next day then shower so I'm semi-presentable for work. I try to get to bed by 10pm because Hannah will sometimes be up in the middle of the night and I have to wake at 5am to pump, get ready for work, get Hannah up then get out the door to drop her at daycare by 7am so I can get to the office before 7:30am. This is our routine. And getting all this done in only 24hrs is rough. If only there was more time in the day.....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)