My daughter is a fascinating little person. Over the last week and a half or so, she has gradually become more and more independent. (though it nearly feels like it happened over night) She's my little explorer, and everything is worth exploring. Stairs are something to be conquered, cabinets are to be opened, magazines are to be flipped, boxes are to be investigated, tupperware is to be banged on, and every nook and cranny of our home is for her to explore, usually more than once. Frequent pit stops are made to Mommy, just to check in, and then she's off once again. She's on the go from the time she wakes up till the time she goes down. Life is different for us. :)
She doesn't outwardly show me that she needs me as much, which is a little hard, and feels like an official end to her infant stage. (despite the fact that she still nurses 5-6 times a day) While it's nice to not have her attached at the hip 24/7, I miss it.
She says "ba" or "ba ba" for ball, has said "bye bye" a couple of times, and says "bir" for bird. She loves the birds at Grandmom's house! (Those are all in addition to "da da" and "ma ma.")
I've officially been at my new job for a week now, and I have to say that it's going really well. Though I know she's in good hands with my Mom, I called quite a bit to check on how she was doing those first few days. Of course, she adapted like it was no big deal. Naps are a breeze, and she is on a schedule where she wakes up from a nap right around when I get there to pick her up. (it's a nice treat to be the one to get her!) I won't lie, I miss being able to spend the entire day with my girl, and Ryan and I both really wish I still could, but she thankfully is doing just fine with it all. We still do the same things we used to do together.. it's just crammed into the second half of the day now. :)
My actual JOB is just great. It's challenging, and I've been busy since I started, but I love that they already seem comfortable with me, and I love that I'm already feeling comfortable there myself. I open the office every morning, and I actually have my own real office instead of your typical front desk. I took a picture to share...
Aside from that, we're gearing up for Brooke's party! (17 days away) Brooke and I took a trip to Party City to get all the supplies, and had a really fun time. :) Of course, there was so much for her to look at, and she LOVED the giant balloons! (though I found two giant ones for her party through eBay, which saved us some money) Here are a couple of pictures of her from our party planning day.
Cheerios!
Playing with the free balloon they gave her at Party City!
Also, have to say... HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMANDA! Hope your day's been special, girlie.
Well, hope you all are doing well and have a great week. :)
Today is my last day at home before starting my new job tomorrow morning. To be honest, I'm already dreading it, (my stomach flip flops just thinking about it) but I'm trying to think positive. It really does seem like a great company, and a good position. It's just that there's no greater or more rewarding job in my eyes than taking care of my child, so it hurts that I'll have to leave her. Moving along...
We spent the weekend down with Ryan's family to celebrate his Mom's birthday. :) Saturday was a flurry of activity, beginning at the Shenandoah Caverns, (which I had never been to) their America on Parade exhibit, and finally their Yellow Barn. All of this was followed up with a delicious dinner at Outback, and homemade vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries back at their home.
Here are some pictures!
Heading down into the caverns... at 52 degrees, it was
a great place to be considering it was 90+ outside!
Exploring with Daddy
My daughter, the criminal--you're not allowed to touch~
Columns
Brooke and I in front of the Diamond Cascade (or something to that effect)
Next up was America on Parade--here's the Radio flyer dog (my favorite) from the Rose Parade
Brooke and I with the giant polar bears!
King and Queen float -- I wish this wasn't blurry!
Showing our American pride
Hanging out with Daddy (and miscellanous creatures)
After a two hour interview yesterday, I left with a very good feeling that I would receive a job offer. As of half an hour ago, I received and accepted a wonderful offer to work for them part-time, Monday-Friday, from 8:30-1:30, without a lunch break. (my choice--so I can get home to my girl faster!) Talk about a blessing! I start this coming Wednesday as their administrative assistant.
Even though I don't want to have to go back to work, it was still a relatively painless, easy process, and I attribute a lot of that to the prayers everyone sent up on my behalf. Thank you! :)
While my Mom was watching Brooke yesterday during my interview, she did something so cute, I wished I could've heard it. Mom asked if she would say "thank you" for something she gave her, and she said, "da doo." Seriously, da doo, how unbelievably cute is that?
My girl, she says "ma ma." (insert my heart melting here) The first time was when I picked her up out of her crib after a nap, and she said it as quiet as a whisper. A night later, she said it loud and clear while cuddling on the couch. She has said it a few times since, and nothing could make me happier right now. It's every bit as precious and amazing as I imagined. :)
If you think of it, I'd really appreciate prayers tomorrow at 1:30, when I'll be interviewing for a part-time job near where Ryan works. As much as we both hate it, we really need me to work part-time in order to make ends meet. Ryan would work his part-time job forever if it meant I wouldn't have to, but it's just not enough hours. I know God will bring the right job, with the right hours, and the right pay, but it's still difficult to think about leaving my precious girl, even for only half the day. I never expected to be in this situation once we started having kids, but it's what I need to do right now, and will hopefully not be for too long. I do feel blessed that I've had nearly 11 months to spend with her full-time, and uninterrupted. The changes she's gone through from infancy until now, and the new and exciting things she has done since she was born are priceless treasures that I haven't taken for granted. And it puts Ryan and I at ease to know that she at least won't have to be in daycare. Having grandparents so close by is a major blessing!
Changes are on the horizon, but we have faith that we will be taken care, guided, and provided for. Life doesn't always go according to our own plans, but God has always been faithful to us.
Well, Brooke and I are off to the pool. I have to take advantage of my relatively free schedule and uninterrupted time with my girl. :) It's absolutely beautiful here today!
Hope you all are enjoying the beautiful weather, and having a great week!
- She gives kisses... it is absolutely the most precious thing ever.
- She LOVES the playground! We walk about a mile and a half to a really good playground which also has bucket swings. She LOVES the swings!
- She's crawling all over the place. It's not a traditional crawl.. it's more half crawling, half dragging one leg, but whatever, she gets where she wants to go! She gets into things that I never even noticed before. :)
- If she's not crawling, she's pulling herself up with things and cruising around.
- SHE CLAPS!!! She knows the word for it, and will do it whenever and wherever you ask her to do it. :) She gets really excited and proud of herself when she does it!
- She LOVES Baby Einstein DVDs! (especially the Noah's Ark one) I was given like 20 of them through Freecycle, and she just loves them! She has never really cared for the TV until now. Good to have for rainy days!
- She will eat absolutely anything we give her. She's less excited about baby food, and way more interested in what we're eating. So, at dinner time, I make her a little plate with bite-sized pieces of what we're having, which we can give her during mealtime. I've also cut out one of her nursings during the day.. she's not ready to completely be weaned, but it's time to start cutting a few out. She had been nursing ten times a day.
- She will be a year old in a month and a half, and her birthday party is only a month and 3 days away. How did this happen?!
July 4th Pictures -
Waiting for the parade to start!
She LOVED the pinwheel her Grandma & Grandpa brought her!
Ryan, Me & Brooke, Mom & Dad S.
I won't bore you with all of our parade pics, but here's my favorite, for obvious reasons!
Our Lil Sparkler!
Playing with her food :)
Littlest Nittany Lion fan!
(Ryan bought her this long before she was even born)
Cruisin'
Our Weekend Pics -
Brooke & I at the pool yesterday~!
We even got her on video, splashing away :)
Don't you LOVE her watermelon bathing suit?!
She LOVES the pool!!
(And everyone at the pool loved her! She is such a ham!)
Splashin :) Look at all those teeth!
Well, that's all I've got! I hope you all are doing well, and having a good weekend! :)
