What She's Doing Now

Little P is "talking a lot" meaning she's vocalizing especially after waking up. She lifts her head up and starts "ahh..ahh..." Her father says she takes after her mother...all that yapping. I don't think so! The Mayotts gave us an activity mat that has hanging toys overhead. That has been a lifesaver for us. It buys us some time to eat breakfast and sometimes dinner. She loves looking at the lights and can play for minutes at a time. She talks to those toys, too!

Little P is starting to turn over. She can't quite make it all the way over with the shoulder in the way. She falls asleep to me rocking her in the glider singing Haru Ga Kita and Hush Little Baby. The best milestone is the smiling. Every morning I'm greeted with the biggest smile as I say good morning. When I act really silly with her, I can get a little giggle. I still cannot believe that we have this sweet little baby in our life.

First Night in Her Crib

Little P has been sleeping through the night since she was about 8 weeks old. I think we've been very lucky from what we've been hearing from other parents. When she first slept through the night, we were so worried! Should we wake her? Is she getting enough to eat?

Our fears were banished as we brought this up to our pediatrician a few days later. He said (at that time) that she was in the 90% for growth, so clearly she was well fed. We were also advised to never wake a sleeping baby!

Here we were going on 5 weeks of sleeping through the night until last week when Little P decided to wake up in the middle of the night! It was a few days of 1:30-2:30 am wakings with me nursing and rocking her back to sleep. How quickly our bodies adjust to getting 6-7 hours of sleep! Was this a cruel joke? Do we have to go back to the middle of the night feedings?

I wondered if she was getting too big for her bassinet. I noticed a few weeks ago that every so often throughout the night, I'd have to scoot her down because her head was up against the top of the bassinet. I'd hear her fussing a little so I knew she was uncomfortable. So, over the weekend I had an epiphany: she needs to be in her crib!

After coming home after a weekend away, we tried the crib for the first time last night. It went beautifully! She fell asleep around 9pm and woke up at 6:30 am. How devine!

Fingers crossed that this will last...

The Hunt for Daycare

I have been stalling to find a source for daycare. RT really doesn't want to put her in one. Right now it's working out that when I go to work, he can watch her. I'm just not able to get anything done at work, and I feel like the continuity isn't there. I'm always feeling rushed and fear that someday I may forget something really important. (I often remind myself to slow down because I remember a while ago I saw an episode on Oprah about a woman who was so busy with work, she left her little girl in the back seat of her car while she went to work. The little girl remained in the car the entire day with all the windows rolled up. The outcome was horrible.)

Anyhow, the furlough Fridays are supposed to be lifted and it's just too much to have RT watch her and also rush to work when we switch off. So, the hunt begins.

I signed up on this local mommies network and started chatting with one of the moderators. She looked great on paper: a teacher, kids of her own, older mom, CPR certified, and so on. RT and I met with her and her kids one day. It was a great meeting. She was very personable and likable. There were a couple of things that weren't kosher with us. First of all, she said that she was pretty active with this mommies network, so she will take her kids to play dates, which translates to Little P being dragged to these play dates. The other concern was that she would be driving with Little P. We don't know anything about her driving record--is she a space cadet when she's driving around with kids? Is she a distracted driver? Talk on the cell phone?

We decided to set up another meeting at her house.

A few weeks go by and Little P and I go to her house. The night before, looked up her address on Google and saw a picture of the house. My first impressions were not that great. There were toys scattered all over the front yard (which maybe that is what you do when you have kids, but RT and I have never "liked" that look for a house). At least the front yard was fenced in. I had some weird dreams about this meeting--not very comforting.

I got there and the front door was open. I could hear the kids. I met the husband who seemed indifferent about the whole childcare situation. He was making breakfast. She gave me a tour of her house. I don't know about you, but if were having prospective clients come to your house to check it out, wouldn't you clean it!!! The place did not feel clean at all. I kept thinking, "Do I want Little P to crawl all over this floor?"

Her kids were a little distracting while we were trying to talk. Still, she was very nice and polite as were her kids. I went home not feeling really confident about this entire situation.

I replayed the visit on the drive home. Again, that concern of her driving around for play dates was still nagging at me. I also thought that she wouldn't be as dedicated or focused on my child if her children were there--they are her number one priority, as should be. She was also taking her kids to preschool, and those times were also when Little P would be with her, so more driving involved. And lastly, I couldn't get over the toys in the front yard and the not-so-clean feeling.

I started looking for another option. I called a few places and found a very pleasant woman who is licensed and specializes in caring for newborns and infants. Bingo!

RT and I met with her a couple days later. She had wonderful references! I also like the fact that she will be with a couple other babies. This lady will not be leaving the house. Her only priorities during the day are the babies. I never had a nagging feeling during our initial meeting with her or afterwards. Little P will start in a couple of weeks. While daycare is not the ideal situation, it is the best option for us right now. I do have mixed feelings about it and hate that I will not be with her, yet it will be a good balance for me mentally to have time away for myself even though it will be work. We'll see how it goes.

It's Been 3 Months Already!

Everyday brings new wonders into our world with this little one. Nothing is ever the same. It's been so fun and such a joy to see the changes in our daughter and our love and amazement grow more each day!

• Likes to look at the cute baby in the mirror.
• Has found her voice and is starting to babble.
• Lifting her heard up.
• Smiling a lot more.
• Focusing on what she sees.

First Shots

Today was the dreaded first vaccinations day. At 2 months old, it's hard to imagine the misery these little ones have to endure--first with the actual injections and then with the side effects of pain, fever, and swelling.

Little P did cry and howl when she got the shots, but her recovery time was fairly quick. I did some crying on my own. I think it's harder for the parents to witness.

RT took her home as I headed back to work. He said she was "talking" and slept for most of the afternoon. Then, we did the baby switch while I went home, and he went in to work.

She slept the whole car ride home and a little bit after we arrived home. Then, she awoke to some pain and started crying. It wasn't her usual cry. She sounded miserable and couldn't get comfortable. My heart was breaking...poor little one!

Earlier we had stopped at CVS to pick up baby Tylenol. Their whole shelf was empty! So, RT said he's stop and get some on his way home from work. He went to Rite Aid, all their Tylenol products were gone! What is this? Was there some kind of recall or outbreak of children's fevers? Alas, he found some generic brand at the grocery store.

Hopefully the night will be better and tomorrow even more so. Gee, we have another couple of months before we do this all over again! In the long run, we know it's what is best for her.

Is This Our Baby?

Our 2-month old is changing! Lil P slept through the night the other day. She slept from 9:30 pm until 5 am. I couldn't believe it! She stirred a little around 3 am, but I chose to ignore it. She must've fallen back to sleep because before you know it, it was 5! Was this a fluke? Then, I nursed her and she was back to sleep for a couple of hours.
This was the day that RT and I did the baby swap. Around 1:15 pm, I drove to Cuesta with her screaming her head off. Then, she was asleep the whole time I was at work. I came home about 6pm, and she was just waking up! Nursed her again, she fell back asleep.
Now this timeframe, between 5pm through 9pm is usually the most difficult for us. She's usually up and crying, pretty fussy. But miraculously that day, she was asleep. I must confess, around 11pm I woke her up. I know! I know! Don't wake a sleeping baby! I was just concerned because she's NEVER slept this much. Was she getting enough to eat? Her diaper must be sopping wet! I nursed her, and it was a bit harder for her to go back to sleep. She did sleep unfitfully this night, waking up every couple of hours.
So, was this a fluke?
Last night, she went to sleep around 9:30 and did not wake up until 6:30 am! Whoo-hoo! Am I beginning to see a pattern or schedule? Dare I say that our baby is sleeping through the night at 8 weeks old?

My First Mother's Day

I never would've thought I would celebrate Mother's Day in my honor. It's always been a day to celebrate my own mother and since marrying RT, his mother. I remember three years ago, on this day, my nephew (who was 9 years old at the time) gave me a bracelet. That was the year we tried to conceive with IVF and the gestational surrogate. I was so touched that he thought of me even though I wasn't a mom yet.

I will always cherish my first Mother's Day. I am so lucky that I can join this exclusive club.