1st week away from baby girl...

& I was so foolish to think it would get easier. :( I dont like it, not one bit. I know were fortunate she at least gets to hang with Daddy all day but it doesnt make it easier. If Im not with her it sucks. I really hope Ive made the right decision.I could have stayed home, maybe found another way to make some money but then we wouldnt have our "extra" to travel, save..and frankly the idea of living by the bare minimum freaks me out! So here I am working..and not only working but taking care of 21 other babies ( my class)..when I just want to take care of my own all day. My biggest fear is that I miss one of her firsts, like crawling/walking etc. But enough of the sadness, hoping for a good year & great students!! Who knows, maybe it'll make me a better teacher. I'm sure Ill constantly be thinking "how would I want Avah's teacher to respond" ..time will tell. :)

Last few days of summer..

Teachers go back to work on Friday. Friday will be the first time I've left Avah for more than 4 hours. ugh, sick feeling in my stomach. I am looking forward to returning and seeing all the kiddos but man oh man it is going to be a hard few weeks! Avah will be at home with David until we find someone to come in the house for a few hours in the afternoons. I know she is in good hands but I still dont want to leave her little cute smile all day :) So, we have been enjoying the past week. Avah and I had our first "dinner date" alone at Daddy's restaurant...cant wait for more of those! I pretty much got every pinterest project I wanted to complete done in 3 days, wish I would have been this productive all summer. I still cant believe it has been 5.5 months, wow a half year old already?! Life cannot will not go this fast!!! Although Id love for life to sloooow down I am so ready for fall. For Daddy to be home during the evenings again, cool evening walks and help with dinner/bath time!
I think we are going to head over to the park this afternoon and maybe try out the baby swing...

"Routine" at 5months...

Since mommy hood I have learned I am very much Type A personality. Yes, I am still crazy about Avah's daily routine...getting things done around the house during naps & still trying to maintain a some what clean home. If something is on my mind I have to make a list and GET IT DONE. :) So, her routine is very important to me...

Whenever she wakes she usually eats..here lately she has wanted to wait at least an hour. After eating she plays and then she always has her morning nap. This is usually between 9-10am. After her second feeding she has her rice cereal. I like the eat-play-sleep method so that is what Ive tried enforcing all day. Of course there are still those times her entire day isn't like that. She takes 2 more naps during the day. These can be a different times but usually 1ish and 3ish. Around 6pm she has another tbl spoon of rice cereal with a tsp of mixed sweet pot, takes her bath, nurses and then shes out by 7/8pm. I have exclusively breastfed 99.9% of the time and having her on a routine was kind of calming. I needed to know everyday when I would have "my" time to be productive, get things accomplished and recharge mentally. haha! In our home we dont use the cry it out method and yes I fed her on demand in the beginning. This is just what works/ed for us. Gradually we both just eased in to this routine and it has worked marvelously. :) Now if we are out to dinner and its 7pm Avah is falling asleep. It doesnt matter where she is her body tells her its time to sleeeeeep....

Things are going to change in about week when I go back to work...hoping everything doesnt go to crap..LOL. I am still going to breastfeed, hoping she adjusts well to the sippy cup while I am gone!

Momma is 29 & Baby Girl is 5months!

Today we celebrated my 29th birthday and Avah's 5 months! This has been the best 5 months of life thus far. This week Mimi came in town so we've been doing a lot of shopping, walks and dining out! Daddy and I even got a date "day" in today, we saw the movie Ted and went to K38 for some yummy tacos. Ted is hilarious if you havent seen it...

At 5months Avah is

* rolling over tummy to back and back to front

*grasping for everything in her line of reach

*sleeping all night until 6am (although she still has some growth spurt nights)

*eating rice cereal twice a day

*trying sweet potatoes but not a fan of them yet

*tries to "pet" the dogs when they come near

Giggle, Giggle

Avah loves her Daddy or maybe its his voice she loves so much? Whatever it is, anytime he talks to her she laughs and giggles the entire time! Today we tried a little teaspoon full or sweet potatoes. She was not very thrilled about them....She is still eating rice cereal in the morning.
She has started reaching for everything! 
Her Mimi gets in town Monday! I cant wait, we will probably head to the beach..do some shopping for Avah's 6 mo pics. and eat a lot of yummy food!

Can we actually enjoy our house now?!?

Finally! We are finished with ALL the projects for our house this year...I know David is ready for a break... but after watering the grass every other morning I think the next project will be irrigation system spring 2013

I could be wrong, but I think the green skinny plants are called pencil hollies (they are my favorite, esp once they are full grown) :)

 My other favorite is the laurel pedulum...

 & no post is complete without some Avah...

 Hi Mom!

 Book time, gotta love to read my mom is a teacher!

mmmm this giraffe isnt too bad..

4 months 7/8/12

What's New?

*Avah is eating rice cereal (just a tablespoon full at her 6pm feeding) most of it ends up around her face, but she seems to enjoy playing with the spoon. ha!

*She is taking a sippy, yay!!! Its the nuby brand 4 mo. +, its like a transition from bottle to sippy so I guess we are just skipping bottle. :)

*When shes laying flat and we grab her hands she can sit up. She can also sit up by herself but she leans wayyy over to grab her toes.

*Toes are her new fav thing <3

*She has this infectious giggle, will mostly only do for Daddy but it is hilarious!

*When she wakes to eat around 5 or 6am I bring her in bed with us & she goes back to sleep for atleast an hour..I LOVE waking up with all if us in bed..its the best snuggle time!

*She sleeps for at least 9 hours, she keeps going to sleep earlier though. At 8 weeks it was around 9pm then she was always asleep by 8 now its 7 sometimes 6pm?!
*She takes 3 or 4 naps a day each lasting only 45mins to an hour.

*Loves the exersaucer.

 I am still struggling with the "post preggo eating habits"..I picked up some very unhealthy habits in the 3rd trimester. So this is my new go to snack: tomatoes, basil, some mozz with balsamic/evoo and salt/pepper. YUM!! Let me just tell all those ladies out there a scale means NOTHING. I have been back at my pre preg weight for a while...and skin on the belly and legs just doesnt look the same. :( Scales are just a #, it means NOTHING. haha..theres my advice.