Back to Work

What a successful week! Yesterday was my first day back at work and Carina's first day with a sitter. She was such a champ. Ate well, slept well... happy as a clam. She was with Rebecca and her son AJ yesterday and with Cheryl and Mercedes today. Cheryl's is more on Peter's way to work so he dropped her off today. It was nice to get to work a few minutes early so I could leave early.

I had a ton of work waiting for me but I'm slowly chipping away at it. I think people are happy to have me back and honestly it felt pretty good to be back. I'd much prefer being home with my sweet girl but I know she couldn't be in better hands. I feel wonderful knowing she's happy with her sitters (and her new friends!)

It's a bit overwhelming getting things prepared in the evenings. Packing lunches, laying out clothes, packing the diaper bag, getting my pump and supplies together... it's a lot to think about! And bringing it all back into the house after work today was not so easy in pouring rain.

Now we're set to enjoy an entire weekend with our favorite little lady.

Tricky Baby

We woke up this morning to find Carina had scooched herself 90 degrees in her crib last night. She's on the move! She tried really hard to roll over this past weekend too. Now if only she could hold her head up. She's actually getting really, really good at it and fights us to let her hold her own head up when we're walking her around on our shoulder. A stubborn/independent streak already!

We started her on baby vitamins this morning. I had read in one of my parenting magazines that breastfed babies should take a vitamin D supplement so I asked our pedi. He said go ahead and start her on a daily vitamin containing A, C and D. It's fruit flavored! Carina didn't seem to mind at all. She just looked a little perplexed as she smacked her lips.

I've made new decorations for our Sunday school room next year. We'll move with our same girls to a different room starting in September. I took pictures of them all individually and then put each picture on a piece of scrapbooking paper surrounded by squares for each month so they can put a sticker up for each week they are there. It's a scaled down version of the monster wall covering we currently have in our Sunday school room. I really enjoy doing stuff like that for the girls. Peter is the teacher and I'm the craft/discipline person, haha.

Not much else going on. One week till I return to work. I'm stocking supplies like Pop-Tarts for those days when I miss breakfast, candy (just to make me feel better) and a framed picture of my darling girl. I get my hair cut tonight and it'll be nice to get out on my own for a few minutes. Peter will enjoy the daddy-daughter time too.

Party, Party, Party

We've come to the end of yet another weekend but Peter is off tomorrow so it feels as though we can enjoy the weekend for one more day. Yay!

Saturday friends of ours came to visit from New York. We went to TGI Fridays for lunch. The food was awesome, the company was even better (we love you Ted and Becca!) and Carina was pretty well-behaved. We came home and hung out a bit more. Once our company headed to their hosts' home for the evening we took a walk around the mall. I didn't intend to buy anything but I ended up with a few things for work. I tried to use a coupon at Gymboree on something for Carina but even with the 20% off I couldn't justify spending more on baby clothes than I do on my own. Ridiculous. Carina gets mostly 2nd hand anyway - it just makes more sense for baby clothes she stains up and grows out of so quickly. Plus my fave consignment shop has the cutest and best clothes ever!

Enough about shopping. Today we went to Sunday school and then came home and had lunch with Ted and Becca before they headed home. After lunch we headed my parents' way for a graduation party for my cousin Shawn. We got to hang out with family, pass the baby around and eat some good food. Plus we took some 5 generation photos that I'm pretty proud of. Carina is so fortunate to have so many grandparents, great-grandparents and even a great-great-grandma. Not many people can say that.

So now we're home and Carina is hanging out with Daddy. Asleep? Yes - Daddy says for the moment she's asleep on the couch. It was so sticky out today she'll be getting a bath tonight. Can't wait to enjoy another day at home as a family tomorrow!

Another One Bites the Dust

Another weekend gone. Another week closer to returning to work. Boo.

We had a busy but fun weekend. Saturday we spent the morning at my parents' house. Carina got to meet David, the 4 month old who lives next door. It's neat to see what we have to look forward to - bigger smiles and neck control.

Saturday afternoon we went to a party for my cousin's graduation from nursing school. Got to show Carina off to some more family who had yet to meet her. She slept pretty much all day. My family doesn't believe that she's ever awake! She was such a good little traveler and party-goer.

Sunday we made it through Sunday school and Carina was fairly content. We came home and did some house work before heading to Cracker Barrel in York to lunch with my college roomies. It was so nice to see everybody but especially nice to finally meet Celia - my roomate's daughter who is only 4 days older than Carina! Celia is only a pound or two bigger but she looks so much older than Carina and really has amazing neck control (can you see I'm obsessed with baby necks these days?).

My mom and two youngest nieces came to spend the night Sunday. It was nice to have them around Monday. Our phone and internet went out Sunday and we couldn't get them back without getting a new cable modem Monday. Then of course I couldn't get it all to work right so we had no phone or internet for 2 days and I was especially grateful to have the company. Gave me a chance to get out to pick up the cable modem, run to Target and get to the grocery store. Plus mom got plenty of time with Carina. She was so awake and sociable all day (I mean Carina but Mom was too, haha).

We're back to sleeping pretty well. She slept from 10 till 7 for a few days over the weekend but this morning she woke at 4:30. At least she goes back to sleep after a change and a snack.

Growing Like a (Very Cute) Weed

Monday Carina turned 2 months old. Holy crap. Where did the time go? She spent the day playing on her monkey mat and sleeping. Tuesday she had her check-up. She now weighs 10 pounds 2 ounces and is 20 inches long. We were amazed. She's such a little chub! She had her first shots and was NOT a fan at all. Three in her legs and she screamed like she has never screamed before. Poor little thing had quieted down by the time we got to the car but had snot, spit and tears all over her face (and my shirt).

She recovered nicely. Slept it off once we got home with Daddy. She did wake up from her nap howling again but after a snack and another nap she was back to her cheerful self. She slept well and never had any other side effects. What a zen baby we have.

Last night we had dinner with friends at their home. They grilled burgers, we took pasta salad and chocolate peanut butter cake. Carina was mostly awake all evening so I wasn't really surprised when she slept 9 hours last night. Uninterrupted sleep is heavenly. We've been waking up once per night for the past week and a half while she has adjusted to the sleep sack. Maybe this means she's back to sleeping through the night!

Had a good day today. Lots of playing and sleeping. Three weeks till I return to work and I'm trying my best not to think about it.

South of the Border

Yesterday we took Carina on her first interstate trip. We visited Peter's grandma Yoder in Maryland - about 90 minutes away. Overall is was a very successful trip. Carina was well-behaved in the car, as usual. We ate Chick-Fil-A on the way down and Carina ate once we got there. We stayed about 3 hours, fed Carina again and headed home. She was still asleep when we got home so we took her out for a walk in the stroller. After 3 hours in the car and 3 hours of sitting and visiting we all needed to stretch our legs.

This morning Carina was very well-behaved for Sunday school but started kicking up a fuss about 5 minutes into church so we just went home. Our church has a parenting room for fussy babies, nursing mothers, etc. and eventually it will be equipped with AV feed of the service but it isn't quite ready yet. I would have liked to stick around and hear the service in the parenting room but since that's not an option yet I figured I may as well miss the service from home instead of missing it from church, haha.

Tomorrow Carina turns 2 months old! We have our two month pedi appt on Tuesday and we can't wait to see how much she has grown.