Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Growing up
Things are good. Bacon is growing - still not sleeping great, but she's fun. I thought she was talking alot before, but then she started this babbling thing that is seriously funny. She's not crawling yet (at almost 7 months) but can scooch sideways and backwards. No forwards yet either. She's eating solids and still nursing. D's been out a bunch at nigh for work and fun, so I've been picking more of the night shifts. The more I pick up, the more Bacon wants me there to go to sleep (this may have a lot to do with the fact I'll nurse her to go to sleep, but hey, it works.)
I spoke to my sister yesterday who is seriously unhappy with her husband. He's helping out with the house and kids less and less and spending more time and money on his interests. She sounded so sad and hopeless. I don't know if it's serious or not, but it made me talk to D about needing some help around the house. I don't mind being up with Bacon if it's not every hour - I just can't function that way. But, it does seem like D's husbandly duties have gotten smaller and smaller since I started staying home with the baby. After he took the trash can to the curb without any garbage in it, I mentioned the diaper pail that needed emptying and the kitchen trash that was full. He informed me that his job was just to get the can to the curb. Let's just say that there is a long history of this not being the case.
With T's current issues I didn't want to be in her shoes in 10 years, so I bit the bullet and just asked for more help. I asked for 2 things: (1) emptying the trash and (2) dealing with dirty (and clean) dishes. It seems like a reasonable list and the conversation went well. We'll see how it goes.
D just got home from work.
I spoke to my sister yesterday who is seriously unhappy with her husband. He's helping out with the house and kids less and less and spending more time and money on his interests. She sounded so sad and hopeless. I don't know if it's serious or not, but it made me talk to D about needing some help around the house. I don't mind being up with Bacon if it's not every hour - I just can't function that way. But, it does seem like D's husbandly duties have gotten smaller and smaller since I started staying home with the baby. After he took the trash can to the curb without any garbage in it, I mentioned the diaper pail that needed emptying and the kitchen trash that was full. He informed me that his job was just to get the can to the curb. Let's just say that there is a long history of this not being the case.
With T's current issues I didn't want to be in her shoes in 10 years, so I bit the bullet and just asked for more help. I asked for 2 things: (1) emptying the trash and (2) dealing with dirty (and clean) dishes. It seems like a reasonable list and the conversation went well. We'll see how it goes.
D just got home from work.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
As expected
As expected, Friday, my full day at work, was harder than Monday and Wednesday. We're still nursing. Around 2, I was in total pain (Engorged? Plugged duct? Since the pain lasted until after I went to sleep, I'm guessing the latter, but who knows.) so I left at 2:30. Since I started at 7:00, it was almost a full day. I was so hoping to at least get some rest, but a friend of D's stopped by, then D's work called and he ended up having to go in. He didn't get home until 3:30 am, so I did baby duty. So, no rest and sleep disturbed every 1 1/2 to 2 hours all night. I did get a bath which was very nice.
I shouldn't have been surprised, but the charm of work had worn off a bit by day 3. This was totally like last year when the excitement of the newness of it wore off. I think for the short term we're going to have a modified "full day" on Friday, but otherwise I do think it's going to work well. A client that I have had no contact with had a small crisis and I was the only one there to deal with it. Of course, I knew nothing about the situation. I think it got handled okay. We'll have to revisit it on Monday.
Per my regular doctor's recommendation, I have breast ultrasounds and a consultation with a breast specialist scheduled. We'll see if she can figure anything out about this recurrent issue - in 2 weeks, when I could get an appointment.
Bacon (and so I) got up at 6 this morning. We stayed out and about until 10 so D could get some sleep. Then I turned her over and went to nap. I had that kind of nap where you feel drugged and kept telling myself that I had to get up. I finally did at noon and they're nowhere to be found.
Continued later -- Just as I was typing this, I heard Bacon crying. They were upstairs in the office. We went for a walk and then a late lunch. Some sleep and a pain reliever then time with D and Bacon certainly make things look a lot better. Of course D had to go back to the office to work on the same problem as last night. We'll see if we see him anytime soon.
I prefer the weekends. This shouldn't come as a big surprise, but right after Bacon was born, after D went back to work, weekends were hard. I had so many expectations about what we would get done in a weekend. I think part of this was the whole fixing the house up and moving thing and part was simply getting used to life with a baby. But, it really effected how I viewed the weekends. While I still have a bit of that, I love seeing and being with D and Bacon when one of us isn't rushing to get somewhere. Not surprising, but a really great feeling.
I shouldn't have been surprised, but the charm of work had worn off a bit by day 3. This was totally like last year when the excitement of the newness of it wore off. I think for the short term we're going to have a modified "full day" on Friday, but otherwise I do think it's going to work well. A client that I have had no contact with had a small crisis and I was the only one there to deal with it. Of course, I knew nothing about the situation. I think it got handled okay. We'll have to revisit it on Monday.
Per my regular doctor's recommendation, I have breast ultrasounds and a consultation with a breast specialist scheduled. We'll see if she can figure anything out about this recurrent issue - in 2 weeks, when I could get an appointment.
Bacon (and so I) got up at 6 this morning. We stayed out and about until 10 so D could get some sleep. Then I turned her over and went to nap. I had that kind of nap where you feel drugged and kept telling myself that I had to get up. I finally did at noon and they're nowhere to be found.
Continued later -- Just as I was typing this, I heard Bacon crying. They were upstairs in the office. We went for a walk and then a late lunch. Some sleep and a pain reliever then time with D and Bacon certainly make things look a lot better. Of course D had to go back to the office to work on the same problem as last night. We'll see if we see him anytime soon.
I prefer the weekends. This shouldn't come as a big surprise, but right after Bacon was born, after D went back to work, weekends were hard. I had so many expectations about what we would get done in a weekend. I think part of this was the whole fixing the house up and moving thing and part was simply getting used to life with a baby. But, it really effected how I viewed the weekends. While I still have a bit of that, I love seeing and being with D and Bacon when one of us isn't rushing to get somewhere. Not surprising, but a really great feeling.
Monday, August 14, 2006
I returned again
Yesterday I realized that about this time last year I was just returning to work after my leave of absence. Here I go again. Today was my first 1/2 day (and the nanny's too). I was mostly worried that I wouldn't leave enough information for the nanny or that the baby would be very upset while we were gone, but no. I was at the office for 4 hours which went very quickly. It seemed like I had never left although I'm in a new office and there are new systems in place. It was great coming home to Bacon. She's so smiley and happy and talking up a storm. Although my full day of work may be tough, I think this is going to work out well.
D got the promotion he was trying for at work. He starts today. The job came with a nice bump in salary.
I got another prescription for antibiotics. They seem to be the only answer to the ducts. Hurray, no pain! Although sleep would still be nice. We had a very rough Saturday night. I got no naps during the day, so was desperate for sleep that evening. Bacon just wouldn't fall asleep and cried - oh she cried. I had a hard time dealing and finally resorted to putting her in her crib and turning off the monitor. After 2 1/2 hours, D finally got home and got her right down. I don't know why I dealt with it so badly. I just had no reserves. Luckily, D really comes through when I am at the end.
Bacon seems to be going to bed much easier for D these days. I'm not sure which if its her or us. I'm glad to hand over this task and have it go so well.
Other than the going to bed part on Saturday, I've been getting the good end of our split night for the past 3 nights. I've been feeding Bacon at 2:30 am. She's been sleeping through until 6 - well, except for last night when she woke again at 3:30. I know I may be totally fooling myself, but can we pretend that this is a trend?
Although she was seriously teething last week, we still have no teeth. I have a feeling that this is going to be an interesting process.
D got the promotion he was trying for at work. He starts today. The job came with a nice bump in salary.
I got another prescription for antibiotics. They seem to be the only answer to the ducts. Hurray, no pain! Although sleep would still be nice. We had a very rough Saturday night. I got no naps during the day, so was desperate for sleep that evening. Bacon just wouldn't fall asleep and cried - oh she cried. I had a hard time dealing and finally resorted to putting her in her crib and turning off the monitor. After 2 1/2 hours, D finally got home and got her right down. I don't know why I dealt with it so badly. I just had no reserves. Luckily, D really comes through when I am at the end.
Bacon seems to be going to bed much easier for D these days. I'm not sure which if its her or us. I'm glad to hand over this task and have it go so well.
Other than the going to bed part on Saturday, I've been getting the good end of our split night for the past 3 nights. I've been feeding Bacon at 2:30 am. She's been sleeping through until 6 - well, except for last night when she woke again at 3:30. I know I may be totally fooling myself, but can we pretend that this is a trend?
Although she was seriously teething last week, we still have no teeth. I have a feeling that this is going to be an interesting process.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Oh the teeth
That's what I'm blaming today. Sleeping - so bad. I'm getting used to the idea that Bacon is just a bad sleeper. At some point, we've got to come up with a way for her to learn to put herself back to sleep. We're up with her every hour or 2 - mostly for less than a few minutes - to help her get back to sleep. But that's a lot of times up a night.
Her lower gum is swollen. She was a fussy wreck this morning, but still napped well. After chewing on my fingers this morning, she won't let me touch her mouth this afternoon. How many more teeth does she have to get?
Oh, then there are the recurring plugged ducts . . .
Even with all of this, I'm still riding the high of the wonderful trip. Although our connecting flight was cancelled on the way out and we almost missed our flight home and there were other little things that happened, I really had a wonderful time. Boy did I get lucky with D's family.
Her lower gum is swollen. She was a fussy wreck this morning, but still napped well. After chewing on my fingers this morning, she won't let me touch her mouth this afternoon. How many more teeth does she have to get?
Oh, then there are the recurring plugged ducts . . .
Even with all of this, I'm still riding the high of the wonderful trip. Although our connecting flight was cancelled on the way out and we almost missed our flight home and there were other little things that happened, I really had a wonderful time. Boy did I get lucky with D's family.
Monday, August 07, 2006
All in one piece
We had a wondeful trip. We gave up all signs of a schedule which worked surprisingly well during the trip. Of course today Bacon is sleeping, eating or crying - home with mom isn't nearly as exciting as the beach or riding around Sea World with D and the extended family.
Our first night out was great. I missed her and was seriously tired by 10, but we've got to start somewhere.
Our first night out was great. I missed her and was seriously tired by 10, but we've got to start somewhere.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Family Reunion Time
We're heading off tomorrow for a family reunion on D's dad's side and the wedding of one of D's high school friends. It should be a fun packed long weekend with lots of fun baby time for Bacon with her aunts and grandparents. D and I will actually get our first night out alone for the wedding on Saturday and may get some extra babysitting for the rehearsal dinner or other wedding events.
I start back at work in just under 2 weeks. I am excited about it. It just sounds like the best of both worlds - getting to work and earn some money while still staying home most of the time with Bacon. Work sounds totally jazzed to get me on the limited schedule I'm willing to work. I have no hourly commitments - no minimum hours that I need to bill; I'll be a straight hourly employee being paid at the rate of what my salary but benefits worked out to be. Sounded very fair to me. The nanny seems like she will be great. I'm so curious to see if it all works out as well as I think it will. I know that there's no way to know other than to try it, so I am excited to do so.
Today I bought a new lipstick for our trip. Such a small thing, but it was so nice to know that I wasn't contributing to digging a financial hole for us by doing so. I'm going to get paid really soon!
D is interviewing for a new position with his company. I hope it works out and turns into something he can really sink his teeth into without demanding crazy hours. With my new schedule, he'll be taking care of Bacon for about an hour and a half 3 mornings a week. I like the idea of them having dedicated alone time while she's actually awake. Usually, D sees Bacon for up to an hour in the morning, but I'm still taking care of her. He typically gets home right before she goes to bed and puts her down. His weekends in the new house have been primarily spent doing yard work or napping (which is totally understandable given her recent sleeping schedule). She's so great and it seems like he sees so little of her. I know this is how our Dads did it, but . . .
I'm looking forward to the trip for the chance to see family, hang out with D and enjoy Bacon with D and the family.
I start back at work in just under 2 weeks. I am excited about it. It just sounds like the best of both worlds - getting to work and earn some money while still staying home most of the time with Bacon. Work sounds totally jazzed to get me on the limited schedule I'm willing to work. I have no hourly commitments - no minimum hours that I need to bill; I'll be a straight hourly employee being paid at the rate of what my salary but benefits worked out to be. Sounded very fair to me. The nanny seems like she will be great. I'm so curious to see if it all works out as well as I think it will. I know that there's no way to know other than to try it, so I am excited to do so.
Today I bought a new lipstick for our trip. Such a small thing, but it was so nice to know that I wasn't contributing to digging a financial hole for us by doing so. I'm going to get paid really soon!
D is interviewing for a new position with his company. I hope it works out and turns into something he can really sink his teeth into without demanding crazy hours. With my new schedule, he'll be taking care of Bacon for about an hour and a half 3 mornings a week. I like the idea of them having dedicated alone time while she's actually awake. Usually, D sees Bacon for up to an hour in the morning, but I'm still taking care of her. He typically gets home right before she goes to bed and puts her down. His weekends in the new house have been primarily spent doing yard work or napping (which is totally understandable given her recent sleeping schedule). She's so great and it seems like he sees so little of her. I know this is how our Dads did it, but . . .
I'm looking forward to the trip for the chance to see family, hang out with D and enjoy Bacon with D and the family.
