We've made it!

It is officially summer time (though the weather doesn't seem to think so).   I have completed successfully not only my first year at my new job, but my first year working full time and being a mom.!!    A year has passed and so much has happened.  A new job, a new place to live, and a beautiful little baby (who will be one in two weeks!!!!!)  
Overall I am so happy with my new job.  There were some bumps throughout the year, but hopefully they will not be there next year.   And honestly I'm not usually one to brag or highlight anything I've done, but I'm quite proud of myself.   After school started, I moved and welcomed home a tiny little baby girl.  Life has not slowed down and while there were a couple breakdowns over the course of the year- mostly work related- I survived and baby girl is doing well.


Thankfully I have an awesome family who helped out on during the evening conflicts I couldn't get out of or take baby girl too.   I'm so thankful for my brother, my aunt, and my parents.   And I'm really thankful that my mother was able to watch Baby J this year so that she didn't have to be in a daycare.  While we still got sick some, it was never severe and overall she was pretty darn healthy.  Also Baby J has come so far and I know a large part of that was getting individual care instead of being thrown into a daycare.  I'm all for daycare and preschool, but I also know as a newborn and small baby there isn't the one on one interaction all the time that they probably need.  Sadly I will be looking for daycare in the fall (so feel free to send cheap fabulous suggestions my way) because my mother is taking care of some health issues and can not watch her.



I'm looking forward to this summer and getting to spend time with Baby J.   We've already been so busy this past month---I think she's been to a zoo like 3 times in the past few weeks.   Thanks everyone for your continued support and good thoughts.  

Update on Baby J- Still no teeth, but she is teething like crazy...driving us all crazy.  She loves music and tries to sing---often sings herself to sleep.  She has started to stand on her own---especially when she's not paying attention to the fact that she is doing it.  She loves to walk with support and is requiring less support each day.  It won't be long.   She has
definitely found her voice and most days it's only one volume----loud.   Overall still a happy little girl who gets into everything.  At her doctors appointment 2 weeks ago she weighed 15lbs 11 oz, so she is probably around 16lbs...maybe a little more.    I have officially removed all 3-6 month clothing---not because she can't fit in any of it--but because it's time to move up...haha. Actually she still fits in a few things that are 3-6month.  She is still very much in 6 month clothing and 9 month is kind of big on her.   She also loves swimming- we have been several times and water is fun for her.  

Happy 11 Months Baby J

It's hard to believe that Baby J is now 11 months old.  This past month has been extremely busy with my first musical at my new job and that was an experience and a half doing it with a clingy baby.  Thankfully my family really helped out during show week and I'm so lucky she can come to rehearsals with me.    I have no idea how big Baby J is, but am guessing right around 16 - 17lbs.  She hasn't grown a whole lot in the past month physically.   She still wears some 3-6 month clothing - though we are definitely getting closer to removing all of those.   6 month clothing is a little big for the most part, but we did move up to size 3 diapers this month!

Baby J has changed so much in the last month.  She's still a very happy girl most of the time and can now make her way around pretty much anything.  She can crawl really well, sits up on her own from laying down, and pulls her self up constantly.  In fact she would much rather stand and has even started to really let go more often now.  She falls still, but she is trying.   She loves to 'walk' when you hold her hands.   We have started to eat more real - non baby- food, even though we have no teeth STILL.  That poor child has been teething since December and nothing has come through.


She loves the water also.  We have been swimming several times in the past couple weeks and she really enjoys the water.  She splashes everything and is learning to lay on her back.   She can stand by the stairs and loves to hold onto the railing and go backwards- often letting go on purpose.  The water doesn't bother her at all.  Actually she is not scared of anything.

The other thing we have done a lot lately is go to the zoo.  We have been to the Sedgwick County zoo and today visited Tangyinika zoo.   She stays awake for it all.  Today she got to pet several animals.  Even the alpacas and goats who get in her face don't bother her.  She thinks they are funny.   Today she fed birds, a giraffe, turtles, giunia pigs, goats and alpacas.

Baby J laughs all the time now.  Especially when she thinks she is getting away with something.  She also laughs at the dogs a lot.  I'm not sure why but she has found Herbie extremely funny lately.   She also likes to 'sing', 'talk' (she is getting a lot more sounds), and read books.   She is a busy little girl and plays all day and would much rather be on the floor than being confined to anything.    This month she even starred in a 'film' for Shakespeare in the Park and is set to be the face of the new Hospital care line fundraiser pic.

My house is a disaster, my life is crazy busy, and I feel like I don't get much sleep, but I wouldn't change it for the world.  I'm so lucky to have Baby J and she is such a smart, adorable, fun little girl.   I love watching her grow and learn new things.  I can't wait till we get to actually spend quality time together this summer.

On May 11- she weighed in at 16lb 10oz!!