Hunter had the day off work on Wednesday and took this video of Avery in the morning. He emailed it to me right away and I couldn't stop watching it. I was laughing and crying. I know there is no meaning behind it yet, but it still melts my heart. I love that girl more than anything in the whole world!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Bath Time
Avery finally outgrew her infant bathtub, so we got her this little bath bumper. It lets her sit in the big bath but puts a non-skid surface under her and a soft landing all around. She loves it! She will sit in there and play for as long as I'll let her. The biggest benefit to her is that her toys are always within reach!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Need one of these!
We were at our friends Doug and Julie Youngs for their daughters first birthday party and they had one of those outdoor swings for babies. Avery LOVED it.
After all that fun, who wouldn't be tired? Time for a nice nap in the sun . . .
I love moments like these.
After all that fun, who wouldn't be tired? Time for a nice nap in the sun . . .
I love moments like these.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
The Rat Race
I hate working, I'm pretty sure I've mentioned that about a million times now. To make matters worse, however, very large rats the size of house cats have taken up residence in our office building. Every afternoon they chase each other or run races or something in the rafters above my office. Their newest past time seems to be scratching the ceiling tiles above my office, leaving a nice little hole and tile shavings on the floor. I swear if a rat drops from the ceiling while I am working I will QUIT on the spot. NASTY.
My biggest fear is now being in my office with the door shut and locked, hooked up to my breast pump, when . . .WHAM, a giant rat falls through the ceiling. You're laughing right now, I know you are, but this would NOT be funny.
Pest control has been here and we have about 10 traps around, but so far, the rat races are in full swing.
As promised. . .here is my sap story:
For those of you who don't know, I actually hated working before I had Avery, but knew it was just a part of life. Money makes the work go round. After having Avery however, I feel my heart break every morning when I leave her and it doesn't start beating again until I pick her up. Everyone said, "don't worry, it'll get easier, I promise." They were wrong. It is getting harder. I pray every night that God will show me the right path to follow so that I can stay home and raise my children. I don't know how working moms do it. I can't possibly keep my house clean, cook decent dinners, care for Avery, and work full time. Let alone working out or shaving my legs, I gave up hope on those a while ago. My house is always a wreck, we eat take-out multiple times a week, and my baby is being raised by other people for the bargain price of $815 a month.
I'm thinking about possibly doing home care for one or 2 kids after Hunter and I pay down most of our debt (Lord willing - this could happen soon). Does anyone have any insight into doing this?
Hoping to leave the rat races soon,
Andrea
My biggest fear is now being in my office with the door shut and locked, hooked up to my breast pump, when . . .WHAM, a giant rat falls through the ceiling. You're laughing right now, I know you are, but this would NOT be funny.
Pest control has been here and we have about 10 traps around, but so far, the rat races are in full swing.
As promised. . .here is my sap story:
For those of you who don't know, I actually hated working before I had Avery, but knew it was just a part of life. Money makes the work go round. After having Avery however, I feel my heart break every morning when I leave her and it doesn't start beating again until I pick her up. Everyone said, "don't worry, it'll get easier, I promise." They were wrong. It is getting harder. I pray every night that God will show me the right path to follow so that I can stay home and raise my children. I don't know how working moms do it. I can't possibly keep my house clean, cook decent dinners, care for Avery, and work full time. Let alone working out or shaving my legs, I gave up hope on those a while ago. My house is always a wreck, we eat take-out multiple times a week, and my baby is being raised by other people for the bargain price of $815 a month.
I'm thinking about possibly doing home care for one or 2 kids after Hunter and I pay down most of our debt (Lord willing - this could happen soon). Does anyone have any insight into doing this?
Hoping to leave the rat races soon,
Andrea
Sitting Up
Milestones are one of the most exciting things about being a parent I think. Each little thing makes you believe your baby is the smartest baby to ever live. Avery's newest super-human ability to sit up without support is becoming more impressive everyday. We still have to be ready for the topple at any moment, but she is getting so strong! Before we know it she will be sitting up playing by herself on the floor. Next milestone will be getting up on her hands and knees or army crawling.
Here she is in the Bumbo Jenny and Troy are loaning us, this lets her sit-up with support (and frees mommy and daddy's hands so they can hand over toys).
Here she is sitting up all by herself on our bed. This is a good practice place since the landings are nice and soft!
And finally, because it's so damn cute. . .
Who do you think she looks like?? I think she looks like both of us, my big cheeks and nose and Hunter's eyes and hairline, maybe lips too. Comment with your thoughts!
Love to all!
Here she is in the Bumbo Jenny and Troy are loaning us, this lets her sit-up with support (and frees mommy and daddy's hands so they can hand over toys).
Here she is sitting up all by herself on our bed. This is a good practice place since the landings are nice and soft!
And finally, because it's so damn cute. . .
Who do you think she looks like?? I think she looks like both of us, my big cheeks and nose and Hunter's eyes and hairline, maybe lips too. Comment with your thoughts!
Love to all!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The life of a full-time working/nursing mother . . .
I know a lot of people are curious as to how I work full-time and continue to exclusively offer breast milk to Avery. It's no easy feat, let me tell you!! Here is an outline of a typical workday:
1am-3am: Avery wakes up for a feeding (& diaper change)
6am: out of bed, get ready for work
6:30am: wake Avery up to feed & change her (then she goes back to sleep with Daddy)
6:45am: pump before leaving for work (then pack pump and my lunch for the day)
7:10am: out the door on my way into work
7:45am: arrive and "work" or play online and eat breakfast ;-)
9:30am: pump again at work in my office (door shut and locked obviously)
**the whole pumping process takes me about 30 minutes from set-up to clean-up**
11:30am: pump at work again
1:00pm: lunch break - head to daycare to feed Avery (yes, I do this EVERY day)
3:30pm: pump at work again
5:00pm: leave to pick up Avery from daycare
5:45-9pm: Nurse, clean, cook, eat, clean, nurse, baths
9pm: nurse Avery and put her to bed for the night (my favorite nursing session-soft light and sweet sleepy baby in my arms-LOVE IT)
9:15-10:30pm: get bottles ready for the next day, run the dishwasher and get pump set up for the morning; maybe watch a little TV. . .then bed for me finally!
Sound fun?! In case you lost count, that's 4 pumping sessions every day. It's worth it, really, it is. I'll admit that I think about introducing a little formula more often these days, but it is an emotional thing for me. I'm just not ready to do it yet. I'm proud of my success with breastfeeding . . .just wish I weren't so DARN tired!
*I left one thing off the schedule. . .7:45am-COFFEE TIME!! LOL
ZZz Zzz zzz . . .Andrea
1am-3am: Avery wakes up for a feeding (& diaper change)
6am: out of bed, get ready for work
6:30am: wake Avery up to feed & change her (then she goes back to sleep with Daddy)
6:45am: pump before leaving for work (then pack pump and my lunch for the day)
7:10am: out the door on my way into work
7:45am: arrive and "work" or play online and eat breakfast ;-)
9:30am: pump again at work in my office (door shut and locked obviously)
**the whole pumping process takes me about 30 minutes from set-up to clean-up**
11:30am: pump at work again
1:00pm: lunch break - head to daycare to feed Avery (yes, I do this EVERY day)
3:30pm: pump at work again
5:00pm: leave to pick up Avery from daycare
5:45-9pm: Nurse, clean, cook, eat, clean, nurse, baths
9pm: nurse Avery and put her to bed for the night (my favorite nursing session-soft light and sweet sleepy baby in my arms-LOVE IT)
9:15-10:30pm: get bottles ready for the next day, run the dishwasher and get pump set up for the morning; maybe watch a little TV. . .then bed for me finally!
Sound fun?! In case you lost count, that's 4 pumping sessions every day. It's worth it, really, it is. I'll admit that I think about introducing a little formula more often these days, but it is an emotional thing for me. I'm just not ready to do it yet. I'm proud of my success with breastfeeding . . .just wish I weren't so DARN tired!
*I left one thing off the schedule. . .7:45am-COFFEE TIME!! LOL
ZZz Zzz zzz . . .Andrea
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A blog about me
So far all my blogs have been about Avery, which they will continue to be, since her existence is FAR more interesting than mine. I thought I'd write a little update about me for a change though.
Where to start. . .I'm the happiest I have ever been. Seriously. I LOVE my life. I feel blessed everyday that I have an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter. We have a wonderful home and we are both employed. Okay truth time, I hate working, everyone knows that. I'm not one of those women who are career driven and want to "have it all." I just want to be a stay at home mommy. It's really all I've ever wanted. I'll get there, I WILL GET THERE. I have to keep telling myself that. This will be its own post eventually I'm sure!
I still love to travel and get out of town every chance I get. My favorite spots to date are (in no particular order): Jamaica, New York, Colorado, Caribbean cruise #2 (#1 sucked). I have high hopes that we can continue to travel now that we are a growing family so our kid(s) can see the world too. Our Colorado trip this month was a good start!!
I'm out of shape. I know I just had a baby 6 months ago so I shouldn't be too worried about it, but I'm not going to be able to get back in shape if I don't get my butt to the gym. I have a solid 10 lbs preferably 15+ lbs to lose to be back to "normal." Since I'm still nursing full time though, finding the time is near impossible. I'm working on making it a priority again (hopefully with the help of my sisters).
I think that should suffice for now. . .lol. If anyone wants to know anything or has any good blog post requests, send them over!!
Love to all,
An
Where to start. . .I'm the happiest I have ever been. Seriously. I LOVE my life. I feel blessed everyday that I have an amazing husband and a beautiful daughter. We have a wonderful home and we are both employed. Okay truth time, I hate working, everyone knows that. I'm not one of those women who are career driven and want to "have it all." I just want to be a stay at home mommy. It's really all I've ever wanted. I'll get there, I WILL GET THERE. I have to keep telling myself that. This will be its own post eventually I'm sure!
I still love to travel and get out of town every chance I get. My favorite spots to date are (in no particular order): Jamaica, New York, Colorado, Caribbean cruise #2 (#1 sucked). I have high hopes that we can continue to travel now that we are a growing family so our kid(s) can see the world too. Our Colorado trip this month was a good start!!
I'm out of shape. I know I just had a baby 6 months ago so I shouldn't be too worried about it, but I'm not going to be able to get back in shape if I don't get my butt to the gym. I have a solid 10 lbs preferably 15+ lbs to lose to be back to "normal." Since I'm still nursing full time though, finding the time is near impossible. I'm working on making it a priority again (hopefully with the help of my sisters).
I think that should suffice for now. . .lol. If anyone wants to know anything or has any good blog post requests, send them over!!
Love to all,
An
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