I'm three months old today!
Wednesday, December 29, 2004
Friday, December 24, 2004
First Day at the Sitter's
Wednesday was my first day back to work and Maegan's first day at the sitter's house. Our morning schedule went flawlessly (mom up at 5:15 to shower and get ready, Maegan up at 6:15 for feeding, leave at 7:00). I didn't mind going back to work and felt fine leaving Maegan with an experienced sitter (mother of 4). The most surprising thing about going to work was how achy my shoulders and neck got from reading emails all day (1750!), and how my feet hurt from my old work shoes. Hmmm...excuse for a new pair? ;)
I'm going to try to supply breast milk for Maegan while working, hopefully for the next 3 months at least. I thought I did quite well the first day, having pumped 5 oz, 4 1/2 oz, and 4 oz respectively during my 3 pumping sessions. When we picked Maegan up at the sitters, though, we were informed that she had devoured 3 6oz bottles AND the backup 5 oz of frozen milk I had dropped off! AND that she had only taken 2 very short naps all day. That evening was discouraging, as she slept almost the entire evening and I had to wake her for feedings. Thank goodness she slept through the night and Matthew had Thursday off and could watch her at home. She did much better, and I was encouraged and relieved by the fact that she only drank the milk I had pumped the previous day and took naps as scheduled. The sitter did have her kids and some friends over who played with Maegan all day Wednesday, so I'm guessing she was a bit overstimulated and that's why she didn't nap well. Maybe they fed her when she was tired, thinking she was hungry. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway, hoping we don't have to start using formula to supplement.
I think Matthew managed beautifully his first full day of babysitting. He had to deal with a major "blowout" and didn't lose his cookies. :) He'll be watching Maegan alone again next week Thursday and Friday while I work.
Carol, the babysitter she saw on Wednesday, called me at work yesterday to let me know that her boss wants her to work 4 days a week instead of the 3 she wants, so after next week she won't be able to watch Maegan anymore. That means I have Rebecca on Tuesdays and Fridays and Ginger on Thursdays and nobody on Mondays and Wednesdays. I'm hoping to find someone quick, but I know Rebecca has Wednesdays off too, so maybe she can watch Maegan until I find someone and maybe Ginger can pick up Mondays for awhile, too. This was a major discouragement, but maybe it is for the best, as the commute to Carol's house wasn't the best, and the whole feeding/nap thing may have been an ongoing issue.
Before I went back to work, I was able to find a tamale steamer at a local Mexican grocery store! We're all set now to do a cooking marathon tomorrow. Other than cooking, we don't have much planned for Christmas, as we visited family over Thanksgiving and in early December. In November we bought our gift for each other: Flambeaux pottery by Bill Campbell. Meijer Gardens had a sale featuring his work, and we purchased 2 square plates and one round and were able to have him sign the backs at the sale that day. We've hung them in the dining room above the sideboard. (See link for info on his pottery.)
Flambeaux Link
That's all for now. Merry Christmas!
I'm going to try to supply breast milk for Maegan while working, hopefully for the next 3 months at least. I thought I did quite well the first day, having pumped 5 oz, 4 1/2 oz, and 4 oz respectively during my 3 pumping sessions. When we picked Maegan up at the sitters, though, we were informed that she had devoured 3 6oz bottles AND the backup 5 oz of frozen milk I had dropped off! AND that she had only taken 2 very short naps all day. That evening was discouraging, as she slept almost the entire evening and I had to wake her for feedings. Thank goodness she slept through the night and Matthew had Thursday off and could watch her at home. She did much better, and I was encouraged and relieved by the fact that she only drank the milk I had pumped the previous day and took naps as scheduled. The sitter did have her kids and some friends over who played with Maegan all day Wednesday, so I'm guessing she was a bit overstimulated and that's why she didn't nap well. Maybe they fed her when she was tired, thinking she was hungry. That's what I'm telling myself, anyway, hoping we don't have to start using formula to supplement.
I think Matthew managed beautifully his first full day of babysitting. He had to deal with a major "blowout" and didn't lose his cookies. :) He'll be watching Maegan alone again next week Thursday and Friday while I work.
Carol, the babysitter she saw on Wednesday, called me at work yesterday to let me know that her boss wants her to work 4 days a week instead of the 3 she wants, so after next week she won't be able to watch Maegan anymore. That means I have Rebecca on Tuesdays and Fridays and Ginger on Thursdays and nobody on Mondays and Wednesdays. I'm hoping to find someone quick, but I know Rebecca has Wednesdays off too, so maybe she can watch Maegan until I find someone and maybe Ginger can pick up Mondays for awhile, too. This was a major discouragement, but maybe it is for the best, as the commute to Carol's house wasn't the best, and the whole feeding/nap thing may have been an ongoing issue.
Before I went back to work, I was able to find a tamale steamer at a local Mexican grocery store! We're all set now to do a cooking marathon tomorrow. Other than cooking, we don't have much planned for Christmas, as we visited family over Thanksgiving and in early December. In November we bought our gift for each other: Flambeaux pottery by Bill Campbell. Meijer Gardens had a sale featuring his work, and we purchased 2 square plates and one round and were able to have him sign the backs at the sale that day. We've hung them in the dining room above the sideboard. (See link for info on his pottery.)
Flambeaux Link
That's all for now. Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Monday, December 20, 2004
New Beginnings
I think I'm crazy for starting this blog just before returning to work after 12 weeks at home with Maegan, but I think it is important to share our life with family and friends, so many of whom are far away. I hope you'll enjoy reading about the day-to-day events of two new parents and most especially baby Maegan.
I have today and tomorrow left before I head back to work on Wednesday, so I'm trying to maximize everything...time playing with and holding Maegan, relaxation, volume of laundry and dishes completed, etc. It is currently 16 degrees with a zero degree windchill, so I'm content to stay inside and create this blog while Maegan naps. We may venture out tomorrow despite the cold to finish up some last-minute Christmas shopping and to search for a tamale steamer. Matthew and I started a tradition a couple of years ago to make tamales on Christmas day. This is a common Mexican tradition, and since we love Mexican food, we decided to adopt it as our own. I have a pot with a steamer insert that works in a pinch for the 1 1/2 hour steaming, but it isn't quite large enough to work without rigging it up with lots of aluminum foil. A friend gave us directions to a couple of stores in Holland that carry steamers, so I may travel there tomorrow if the weather is good. Otherwise, we'll make due with the old pot.
Since this is supposed to be about Maegan, I should get on topic! She will be 12 weeks old on Wednesday the 29th. She is the cutest baby ever, and we are absolutely in love with her. She has a beautiful smile, which she uses frequently to melt our hearts. Lately, she's learned to "talk" to us and likes to be held in a sitting position so she can see everything that's going on. She's been an easy-going baby from the start and has slept through the night consistently now for about 2 weeks. About a week ago, she mastered the sucking of her left thumb (much to her daddy's delight, as he is a lefty). This has made nap times much more agreeable for everyone, since she no longer cries herself to sleep, since that is impossible with a thumb in your mouth.
Well, I hear her waking up from her nap, so I should go rescue her. More later!
I have today and tomorrow left before I head back to work on Wednesday, so I'm trying to maximize everything...time playing with and holding Maegan, relaxation, volume of laundry and dishes completed, etc. It is currently 16 degrees with a zero degree windchill, so I'm content to stay inside and create this blog while Maegan naps. We may venture out tomorrow despite the cold to finish up some last-minute Christmas shopping and to search for a tamale steamer. Matthew and I started a tradition a couple of years ago to make tamales on Christmas day. This is a common Mexican tradition, and since we love Mexican food, we decided to adopt it as our own. I have a pot with a steamer insert that works in a pinch for the 1 1/2 hour steaming, but it isn't quite large enough to work without rigging it up with lots of aluminum foil. A friend gave us directions to a couple of stores in Holland that carry steamers, so I may travel there tomorrow if the weather is good. Otherwise, we'll make due with the old pot.
Since this is supposed to be about Maegan, I should get on topic! She will be 12 weeks old on Wednesday the 29th. She is the cutest baby ever, and we are absolutely in love with her. She has a beautiful smile, which she uses frequently to melt our hearts. Lately, she's learned to "talk" to us and likes to be held in a sitting position so she can see everything that's going on. She's been an easy-going baby from the start and has slept through the night consistently now for about 2 weeks. About a week ago, she mastered the sucking of her left thumb (much to her daddy's delight, as he is a lefty). This has made nap times much more agreeable for everyone, since she no longer cries herself to sleep, since that is impossible with a thumb in your mouth.
Well, I hear her waking up from her nap, so I should go rescue her. More later!
