No nervous break down...yet.

SO, we're surviving our first week of mommy-goes-to-work.  I cried like a 3 year old Monday morning on the way to work...and that was with Papa and Vie at the house sitting for Madeline.  I can only imagine what people thought as they passed me on the road.  Mascara running, nose running, tears running...gugh.  Madeline 1, Mommy 0. 


Tuesday wasn't any easier.  In fact, it was worse.  We dropped her off at Benna's house and the sobbing continued.  Multiplied by 100. But, our kid is awesome and was an angel for Benna.  She even made a "friend"  in 6 month old Amelia.  Apparently, the girls stared at each other all day long.  Madeline 2, Mommy 0.  


I was home with her today and loved every second...and tomorrow, we daycare-it once again.  I have a feeling I won't be such a hot mess this go round...emphasis on the word such. I'm not dreading tomorrow, so that's a plus.  Baby steps for mom.  I will survive.

All good things must come to an end

Today marks the last day of my maternity leave and tomorrow, I return to work. Where on earth did the time go?!  I' m really struggling with the thought of leaving my sweet buddy during the day, but I'm hoping that actually putting on make-up (waterproof mascara, of course) and getting dressed up in the morning will be refreshing.  And, I'll be working from home twice a week, so that will lessen the blow!


I have thoroughly enjoyed every single day of the past 14 weeks.  Even the sleepless, tough ones.  Being a mom to my sweet girl has taught me so much about myself, about others and about life.  Motherhood is a constant lesson in humility, multi-tasking, patience, strength and most importantly, love.


I love you, sweet Madeline.  You bring me more joy than I could have ever imagined.  

Last vacation of the summer

We just returned home from our annual beach trip with the Shaffer, Cable and Gurganus families (a day early, thanks to the approaching hurricane Irene).  This year was quite different than past years in so many ways.  


This year...


1) We had four new attendees - our kids - aged 10 months, 8 months, 8 months and 3 months.  Nolan, Cy, Sadler and Madeline, also affectionately known this week as Jimmy, Boogers, LeBron and Squirrel (or Bean, as Jason called her).  Bless. 


2) We had to plan way in advance to have a golf outing for the boys and a girls night for the girls.

3) We were all in bed by 9 or 10 every night.


4) We were all up by 7 every morning.


5) Beach and pool time was dictated by naps and meal times.


6) Where flip flops and beach towels used to be, there are now toys.


7) Instead of wine bottles, baby bottles now occupy the counters. 


...and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Great week with great friends!

M and Cy loungin' in the pool

The girls

Sweet babies 

Sadler, Nolan and Cy

Other fun this week, Uncle Darin finally decided to put a ring on it (oh, oh, ooohhh)!  Aunt Kim will officially be Aunt Kim! :)  Congratulations to the love birds!  Can't wait to celebrate.


And, precious baby Jack Janovich was born on August 25.  Welcome to the world sweet one.  You are so loved already!  Congratulations Carrie and Travis!

3 months old!

Our happy little M is 3 months old.  I can hardly believe it.  Where in the world has the time gone!?  One day, we had an 8 lb., 6 oz. tiny baby, and in the blink of an eye, we have a 12.5 lb. big girl who loves her mama and daddy unconditionally, holds her head up, "talks" all the time, likes to check out her feet and hands and laughs like an adult.  Our big girl has also started to let us know that she's ready to go to bed around 8 o'clock every night, and interestingly enough, she knows her bedtime usuals - sleep sheep and sleep sack.  She settles in pretty quickly with those two in place.  


Madeline will occasionally roll to her side from her back, and we're thiiiis close to rolling over.  Also, she's started chewing on her fists and drools like a mad woman....early signs of teething?  At first I was skeptical, but I read that kids can show signs of teething a month or more before a tooth pops out.  Who knows?!  Maybe she just likes to chew and drool.  


The past 3 months have been the greatest 3 months of my life.  Little Madeline has brought so much joy to our lives.  I'm trying to enjoy these last two weeks of my maternity leave (where are the brakes?!) and savoring every minute Madeline and I have together during the day.  I know she'll be in good hands, but leaving her is going to be so hard - probably more so on me than her.  I hope that the State Troopers take it easy on US 1 this fall, because this mama will be speeding home every single day!


We're counting down the days to our fun beach trip with Sadler, Cy and Nolan (and their parents!), and the arrival of baby Jack Janovich.  Madeline loves all of these friends she has already!

 

She's a growin' girl

Miss Madeline has had two successful nights in her crib.  The first night, she woke up twice - changed diaper, fed her and she went right back down. Last night, she was up once.  Is tonight the lucky long stretch?  Here's hoping.  The crib doesn't seem to bother her, but her schedule has been thrown a little.  She actually napped in the crib today...like a full blown nap.  Way to go, girl! 

We're working on Madeline's development every single day.  She despises tummy time, but thanks to this tummy time, she is holding her head up (and steadily!) and pushes her whole chest up when she's on her stomach.  You can see her conversing with Dad in the picture below.  Pleading to be picked up, no doubt.

She's also figuring out that she can reach out and touch things.  She repeatedly hit the same dangling object on her play mat tonight - and then grinned.  Such a smarty. We're so proud!  


And just for kicks - a video of her laughing at her silly dad.  I kinda want to eat her.

Big girl room

So...mom and dad "cut the cord" and let Madeline sleep in her room last night for the first time.  She actually did pretty well and slept from 9:15 pm to 4:30 am, and then woke up wet and hungry.  Once she was all taken care of, she went right back to sleep.  Mom and Dad, however, were a little sleepy because we just couldn't tear ourselves away from the train wreck that is Jersey Shore. 


SO, the room is no problem - she slept in her bassinet for this first night, but tonight, we'll try the crib and see how that goes.  I have been putting her in her crib for some naps, but said naps last about 15-20 minutes max, and then she's awake looking all around trying to figure out her surroundings.  Maybe (hopefully) it will be a different experience when she's really, really sleepy.  And lets also hope that I can stop looking at the video monitor every 10 minutes. :)

First trip to the beach!

Mom and Dad took Madeline on her first trip to DeBordieu with Papa and VieVie over the weekend. She was such a trooper for the long car ride and enjoyed many new firsts: a dip in the pool, a walk on the beach, and toes in the sand and the ocean.  She loved being outdoors (except for the hats...not a fan) and enjoyed all the love she got all weekend long.  Mom and Dad enjoyed some quiet time on the beach (thanks Papa and Vie!) and 6-7 hours of sleep every night.  Way to go, Madeline!  


On a funny note, Madeline is not only using her voice, but expressing her likes and dislikes quite well. On night one at the beach, M was feeling a little clingy with mom, being in a new plane and all.  She was in my lap with her pacifier (or "Nukky", as we call it) in her mouth and Vie was talking to her.  Madeline looked at Vie, grunted a grunt that seemed to say "not now, woman" and buried her head into my chest.  We all enjoyed a good chuckle over this one :)  She never ceases to amaze.