Toys

Little C has officially decided that toys are fun. It started with the blocks (mentioned in my last post), but since then it's expanded to pretty much anything she can get her hands on, including my glasses. It's so much fun to watch her start to interact, especially with the things we've had since before she was born (like this lady bug):

And oh yeah, she's sitting up. The blue bumbo is on loan from a co-worker and is AWESOME. C can only handle it for a couple of minutes before her head gets too heavy, but it's really fun while it lasts.  Dancing on her back is still her favorite though. Especially with a fun new wood rattle from Grandma and Grandpa.

Her favorite toy at this point? Definitely her daddy :o)

Development

So while the adults were partying, little C has been busy developing. What's new with our little one? Well the biggest thing is that she now gets toys. It started with blocks that Nana and Saba sent for Channukah. We put one on her lap and she actually grabbed onto it and even brought it to her mouth!

Other favorite things include her play mat (she reaches for the toys herself now)...

...sweatshirt strings....

...and perhaps the best example ever of a brilliant simple idea, her new crinkle paper :)

Grandma Jean got her this crinkle paper for Christmas. It's a soft covering over something that sounds like a potatoe chip bag, and C loves it! It's been really fun to watch her start to interact with the world around her more. I have a feeling max will be next...

Ps she also just started tracking Alex with her eyes and head as he moves across the room. It's pretty awesome. I'll try to get a video

Happy Channukah, Merry Chrismas and a birthday pizza party

Alright, so what's happened since last week? Well, the Provans arrived :o)

Caroline, Norm and Jean all arrived on Thursday for the holiday weekend. Friday we had some fun with a pizza party for Norm's birthday.

On our plates you see deep dish pizza, smuggled up from Chicago by Caroline to surprise Norm. Charlotte celebrated the birthday by wearing her big girl overalls for the first time

Saturday was Christmas eve and we headed over to Todd and Dianne's for a wonderful dinner with the crew.

And Sunday (Christmas Day) Charlotte opened presents in her new pajamas, max got a skunk, and the rest of us got our holiday dress fix for a while.

Phew :o)

Quarter of a year old!

Happy three month birthday baby girl! Everyday you get more amazing :o)

The new normal

So after a rocky start last week I felt like we actually were getting the hang of work and life. Charlotte started eating better at daycare which lead to better sleep and I had started to adjust to being back at work. And then the weekend rolled around and we had two glorious days of uninterrupted family time. We had a nice dinner at home Friday while decorating out tree, we went out with friends Saturday night and Charlotte did great at the restaurant, and had a wonderful brunch at our neighbors Sunday. Sunday's outfit was especially dashing for if I do say so myself:

All and all it was wonderful to do so much as a family, which made going to work this morning really hard.

On the plus side the mothers room in the building I'll be training in is really nice! Between my office and here I should be reasonably comfortable pumping for the duration. And little C is way fun to come home to. She's learning to talk...

Half way through week one

As you guys know I went back to work on Monday, and I'm happy to report we've made it so far. I have to say - it's really different then I expected it to be. I was expecting it to be emotionally difficult, but more than anything I'd say it's been physically difficult. No thanks to the unwelcome sickness that's been working it's was through the house and little C decision it's way better to eat in the middle of the night then it is to eat during the day, I'm tired. Luckily I'm only working part time at this point so I'm writing this from home in PJs, instead of being at work this morning.

I think our saving grace will be settling into a routine, which is why C is at daycare this morning even though I'm home. We've gotten the mornings pretty well down, and once we figure out evenings as well things should get easier. One thing daycare and working has already done for us - we're squeezing more fun out of the waking hours we all have together:

Only two more days until the weekend!

Well that was interesting...

Today was my first day back at work, and I'm happy to report that everyone survived, if just barely.

Last night around midnight I woke up and was sick, and proceeded to wake up to be sick just about every hour. Somehow we all managed to get out of the house this morning, but Alex came home with a fever at lunch and has been in bed since. Poor Charlotte decided at daycare today that she hates bottles, resulting in her eating about half the volume that she should. So far max seems to be fine, but given our luck he might be next.

Not to be all doom and gloom things are at least looking up for some of us (a managed some toast for dinner!). And the silver lining is that the rest of the week has to be easier :o)

Sleep

Last night was a huge night for little C - she slept through it :o)

We put her down as usual around 8:00. She didn't nurse particularly well so I assumed I'd be up with her a couple of times but instead we heard her on the monitor for the first time at 6:15 this morning. Amazing. 11 weeks, 4 days old.

Unrelated to sleep but awfully cute, here's your video fix of the week.

I start back to work tomorrow. Wish us all luck!

Quack

Today's silver lining, when C's diaper leaked during her nap this afternoon I had an excuse to change her into the awesome pajama sack nana got her. I'm a sucker for fuzzy ducks, what can I say?

We survived!

Just what did we survive since the last post? Nothing big, just a trip to Boston and the first day of daycare.

When Rachel was staying with us back in October she made me realize that it is possible to travel with an infant. So trying to take advantage of my maternity leave as much as possible, Charlotte and I headed off to Boston last Thursday. Alex had to work so it was just the two of us, but we actually managed just fine. The flights weren't crowded and Charlotte did really well on the plane.

Once we got to Boston we drove up to Grammy and Grammy Sue's house, where we meet up with the Pytels, and eventually Nana and Saba.  It wasn't quiet:

But it was wonderful. and we got some great pictures:

As far as daycare goes, Charlotte did 4 hours this morning and we both survived, but I'm still a little too emotional to talk about it. Charlotte did fine. I didn't so much. But she's back home now and well is well with the world.

Phew, what a week.

Quick update

Boston is great. We're having great fun playing with cousins and Grammy and Grammy Sue. Travel was easier than expected, and C's adjusting just fine to the new scene.

We made it

Well it can be done. You can fly with a ten week old and live to tell the tale :) After leaving the house at 5:30 this morning we arrived in Boston safe and sound.

Overall travel was way easier than expected. Alex parked so he could help check the suitcase and the car seat, and the Madison TSA agent let me through security wearing Charlotte in the. Moby so that was easy as well. The flight out of Madison was empty so we even got our own row (making nursing MUCH easier). The connection in DC was fine, aside from a three diaper diaper change, and while Charlotte fussed at bit on the second flight, it wasn't enough to seriously bother anyone.