Mother's Day Bliss

After experiencing my FIRST Mother's Day, I have to say, yes sir, may I have another? I didn't do any dishes or laundry, and we got to eat out!
We spent a family vacation weekend at the Oregon Coast. It was RJ's first trip in a car across state lines and his first hotel stay. He did alright. I barely slept, but it was still fun. The weather bordered on terrible, but the sun came out and it warmed into the high 50's on Sunday just before we left.
For my first official Mother's Day gift, I received a beautiful jade and pearl necklace which I opened while sipping a latte and eating a cinnamon roll. PERFECT.

Back To Work

I've been back to work now for about a month, which should be enough time to know if it is working out, right? I think it is working out, but since my baby can't talk yet, I really don't have the greatest view of his perspective on the situation.

Luckily, I work for a small company and am able to work part-time for now. I work 2 days a week, and pump milk for the wee man twice a day on those days. RJ goes to daycare for one day (socialization time!) and spends Fridays man-to-man with CJ for some serious male bonding time.

Fridays alone with the baby have made CJ appreciate how much work it takes being a Mommy. He's very excited to see me at the end of the day, which makes me feel great. 

On the downside, I am much less passionate about my work than I was before baby. This can be a good thing too, but I do find myself thinking about things that should be moving along during the week in my absence, but often find them right where I left off the next week. For the most part, I am not a project manager, which works in my favor, (I'm more of a technical specialist) but there is one project specifically that I can't wait to finish. It was supposed to be all wrapped up while I away on baby leave, but that didn't happen.  Once it is done, I will have less anxiety on the M-Wed I get to spend with my little one.

The first few weeks of leaving RJ were difficult for me, but he seems to be happy when I pick him up at the end of the day, and this week I was actually looking FORWARD to having some time away. (I'm working W-Thurs this week) 

Cutest Kid Ever!

My kid is so cute!! And Mr. Serious too, but so freaking cute!

RJ's Four Month Milestones

Mr. Big Boy is 4 months old!! In the last week, he has grabbed at a toy and rolled over from belly to back. At his checkup today, he got 3 shots, weighed 12 lbs 5 oz, and was 22 inches tall. He is finally on the charts for weight, but fell off for length. I told the Dr. to look at what he's coming from, CJ and I are not exactly giants! 

Now we begin the battle of transitioning the boy to sleeping in his crib. I just ended a half hour of screaming by moving the swing into his room and putting him in it for a nap. I thought shots were supposed to make them tired? He is currently swinging away and gnawing on his best friend Soft Bunny with eyes wide open. Occasional coos tell me it ain't going to happen..gotta run, he just crapped himself with one of the loud kind. Sure to be a fun clean up!

Bad Blogger

I know, I've been terrible. Here is what has happened in the last couple of weeks. 

1) RJ had his first trip to the Midwest. He is an EXCELLENT traveler. He only cried on the runway after we landed in Columbus Ohio, after a 2 hour delay. I blamed United Airlines for his crying. 

2) RJ got to meet his grandfather, aunts, uncle and cousin while in Columbus. He was very popular.  He attended his first funeral, and slept through the entire thing, since it was during his normal sleep time on the west coast.

3) RJ grabbed a toy for the first time yesterday. (see photo)

4) I chopped my hair! This appointment had been moved 3 times, so I was super anxious to get it done!  See other photos

In Sickness and In Health

Too bad we're stuck with husbands and kids no matter what! (just kidding) Little RJ has his first cold, thanks to me. I've been sick for a week and the terrible illness struck him down at the stroke of midnight last night. I got a total of 2 hours of sleep this morning after giving him Tylenol. Here are some of the strange activities that I participated in during the wee hours:

1. Steam up the bathroom, and soak your socks while holding a screaming, sniffling kid near the steam in the shower stall.


2. Open the Vicks vapor rub, but since you're not sure if the baby can handle it or not, gently waft the fragrance in his general direction. Set the open container on the back of the toilet while you sit on the lid holding your baby and wondering why the lids of toilets are so uncomfortable for prolonged sitting.


3. Repeatedly plunge the EBE (enormous booger extractor) into your child's nose, attempting to pull out the unseen, but definitely heard offensive snot.


4. When you can't get anything OUT of his nose, try spraying some saline INTO his nose, with the hopes of washing it all downstream. (didn't work)


5. Go to the car at 3 AM for the Baby Bjorn, which you strap to your chest to keep the child in an upright position so he doesn't drown in his own snot.


6. Try to sleep propped up with all of the pillows in the house in the guest room, keeping the baby upright in th Bjorn and periodically checking for breathing.

To top of the extravaganza of snot, we are taking RJ on his first plane ride this weekend. There was a death in CJ's family, so we're heading to Columbus. Hopefully we can get the snot festival under control before then.

New Photos Added

Check out my Flickr page to see them.