Nothing Better

We had a productive day.....after trying to get babygirl to nap for a loooong time this morning, she finally fell asleep.  However, she woke up pretty fussy fussy.  Finally I said to heck w/ it let's get outta the house.

So, we headed back to the store where I ended up taking back the first jogger I was in love with.  You might notice that it takes me a long time to make decisions--and sometimes I change those decisions.  Uhhh, didn't I say I was in love w/ it?  My friends give me grief all of the time. I've taken back some large items before like tv's, etc. I still don't think there's anyting wrong w/ wanting things to work the way you expect them to!

After I got it home last weekend and took it out, there were a few things I noticed that were somewhat bothersome--the seat doesn't recline, the baby support did not really work and her head was flopping around.  The side windows didn't open.  You couldn't see the baby from the top if the sun shade was down.  The jogger veered to the right (which I think could be fixed).  It wasn't very comfortable to jog behind.

After that experience I ended up just looking at the website again and just happened to see that they were unveiling a brand new urban jogger/stroller/trailer for 2013.  It is a cross between the model I bought and the front wheel like a b...o...b.  With all the coolest features.  I learned that this one you didn't have to take off a tire to switch between jogging and strolling--you just turn the dial and lock the wheel. The seats recline. It has side zippers to open window....the seats looked uber-comfortable, the head supporters were more versatile, the parking break was easier to get to, the handle has 3 positions.

The verdict??  I am in love again!!!!  For real.  This stroller is absolutely freakin amazing.  And it still can be converted to go behind a bike too!  It is so comfortable in recline that babygirl fell asleep the first trip. That makes me less anxious when out exercising.  Here's the coolest thing ever.....I have to say my hours of internet surfing paid off. I found out which website was carrying them and believe it or not they had a 20% off coupon!!  I couldn't believe it. So all in all I got an awesome jogger/stroller/bike trailer for LESS THAN the other model that I had a few hangups about.

We've been out a few times and so far it has been performing really well.  I will certainly update if things change, but I haven't been this excited about a 'thing' in a long time.

Left-Returned.  Right=Love.

So after returning the one, we also went to the grocery store. Much needed.  I tried out a new cart cover I got at a store and really like that too. It had a harness belt on it so she couldn't face plant onto the front of the cart bar. It worked and it was her first 'big girl' trip to the store sitting in the cart instead of her infant seat.  She loved it.

And finally......after a busy day (and lots of fussing), as I was leaving baby girl in her cradle next to my bed for the night I looked back and saw this.

There is nothing better........

 

And Another Milestone!!!

BABY GIRL GOT HER FIRST TOOTH TODAY!!! I can only feel it, not necessarily see it....but I am still calling it.

Here is a pic the other day when we went to see the bunny. Think she liked it...although you can almost get the sense of her wondering....uh, what the heck are you?

You'll notice her head is a bit flat in the back. It worries me often, but the Dr. said not to worry and it will correct itself when she starts moving around more.  We shall see.....

There are way too many things you can obsess about w/ little ones.

Milestone

Okay, baby girl did it.....she rolled over from her back to her tummy today!!!!!  She had been getting sooo close for a few weeks now. She'd swing her leg over and touch the ground w/ her foot....her torso was twisted, but she just wouldn't roll over her shoulder.  I put her on her back and went into the kitchen.....I came back out to find her on her tummy playing w/ a toy!  I said no way...I missed it.  So, put her back on her back....and saw how she did it. Her arm kind of gets stuck, but she finds a way to wiggle it out and pop up.

I clapped and clapped.....and clapped.  Such a proud mama.

In other big news--I bought my cad.illac of a stroller and I couldn't be more thrilled.  This thing is so awesome. I had been waiting for my coupon for the store and it came in--20% off.  After I brought it home I had it in my living room. Just looking at it.  Well, and to figure out how the baby holder goes in there.  I knew when we were at the store the guy didn't seem to be doing it right, but didn't say he didn't know how. It actually really made me mad because after I got home and looked it up online, he clearly did it all wrong. And that impacts safety. For MY baby.  Yes, was upset.  Doofus.  Just tell me you don't know how to install it versus installing it wrong.
Anyway......it can be a stroller, a jogger, and attach behind the bike. All along I have been getting the parts, so now I have everything.  I put her in it and she really seemed to like it.  I'm not so sure about the headrest for her since she is so little still, but we'll just try it out.  The thing just glides.....so much so that I let go (w/out her in it).....and it basically goes by itself.
Just so excited to use it!!

In other sad news....my cat is just not doing any better.  He continues to destroy things. I am just resigned now about it. About 20 minutes ago I went in the spare room where an air mattress was up when my sister was here. Wouldn't you know he just peed on the blanket/sheets/mattresspad....THANKFULLY it didn't make it to the air mattress. But still.....so disgusting.  He just won't stop.  I've been delaying and delaying.  I'm so sick of cleaning up after him and all the money it is costing me to replace things. Not to mention I can't leave anything out or he will find it. I am just waiting for him to hit her crib or the swing, or things on the floor. 
I've played phone tag one too many times w/ the Vet so I need to talk to her tomorrow.  I did look on one of the shelter websites just to see the types of cats that are out there....most of them are much younger (mine is 7 now).  I just have a feeling that if I took him there he wouldn't get adopted.  I don't know.

Anyway.....going to have a decent week at work. Boss is offsite all week, so the pressure just feels less.

Bigger World

One of the things I am noticing is that baby girl is noticing her world getting bigger.  She is starting to realize that when she drops something it goes somewhere and she turns to look for it.  Or, when she is in her cradle (yes she is still in it), she will turn and arch her back and look to the left, right....up, down..... and grab way out of her reach.  And when she is on the floor she is starting to twist and turn to see as much of a full circle around her.  Also today, when the cat came in the room she is noticing him and watching him walk around.  Her world is now bigger than what's in front of her face.

She is also becoming extremely tactile....she wants to touch and run her fingers on everything. She runs them across her blankets, the floor, tries to scratch at the sofa/chairs.  Her newest thing is people's hair. She loves it. She will bring her hands up to hair and run her fingers through it. Sometimes she gets excited and starts to pull and I stop her and say "Nice....nice....." and slowly run her hand over hair so she starts to learn not to pull it.  She is starting to get the concept because she pulled the other day and I said NICE.....and she immediately softened her grip and was....nice!

She is also becoming more verbal.....she is starting to do this screeching (not in an irritating way) and just yelling.  She is much more noisy than she used to be....when she is awake, I definitely hear her. She's also trying to imitate mouth movements...it is so cute. She looks to intensely at whoever is talking or making faces...her eyes zero in and her mouth moves so slightly...sometimes her eyebrows move. It is the cutest.

We actually had a good several days...my sister came in town last Wednesday and stayed through until this morning.  I'm just going to say that vacation w/ a  7 month old is not quite the same as it used to be. 
I....am.....exhausted. Probably more than before vacation.

We did a lot when my sister was here....went to the mall, stores, restaurants, etc..  My sister is great w/ the baby in terms of interacting w/ her...loving on her. Which I am so happy to see.  Where she isn't the best is actually doing the things that would be helpful for me like changing diapers, feeding her, clothing her, giving her a bath, etc...basically she got to do the fun stuff w/ her and I still did all the rest.  Maybe I should communicate more and say that's what I need. She was here to help, and is helpful when asked (usually), but for some reason I just kept doing it and found myself utterly exhausted come this morning.

I was actually looking forward to work today so I could get a break. And wouldn't you know, my nanny called in today because her daughter sick.  We still had a decent day as baby did pretty good w/ naps, etc.. Nanny did show up late this afternoon for a few hours and I just took a nap in my room. As soon as I was able to hand over the baby I just laid on my bed and went..

Aaaaahhhhhh........

She did it!!

I'm a little shocked right now....and did not expect it.  At 7 months old.......

BABY GIRL SLEPT THROUGH THE WHOLE NIGHT LAST NIGHT!!!!!!

So rewind to yesterday....very whiny day.  She didn't want this...or that...she would NOT take a nap. Well, she took short 'naps', but kept waking up and didn't really get restful sleep.  I kept trying everything I could, which included feeding her multiple times to try and get her to sleep.  Well, it didn't work during the day, but it did last night....she must have been so full that she didn't wake up all night. I put her down and she whined on/off until about 6:45pm.  She didn't wake until 6:00am this morning.
Woop-Woop!!

Considering how much I had to feed her to get her there....I am not expecting a repeat....but mama would be soo happy for it.

Today was also a bit of a whiny day....and she even did nap okay.  Frankly, when she finally went to sleep I just exhaled......feel exhausted today.

It's days like this....the constant attention I needed to pay to her, I have a hard time imagining how I could possibly do w/ two.  I seriously didn't have enough hands for her.  And honestly, I have a lot of work to do w/ my own physical shape before I even think about going through IVF again. 

It has been a bit of a spiral. I am going to admit it here, but I am embarrassed to say this. I have never done this in my whole life, but I did it tonight. I seriously ate a whole large delivery pizza.  The....whole.....thing. And I'm not even full!! I just don't understand what is going on. It makes me wonder if there is like some switch in my head that's been turned on.....oh wow....just had a lightbulb.  I am under a lot of stress at work right now.  I am very worried about the stability, it has gotten worse in my mind.  And over the last 3 weeks my eating has gone apeshit.  Go figure.  I think the aha is that I've not been honest w/ myself about how stressed I feel.  I keep telling myself, it will all work out....it will be fine.  Well, ideally I could put in my 2 weeks notice asap, but I really want (need) to have my next job lined up.  The problem is the companies I am interested in going to just don't have the openings yet.  They may in the next few months, but they may not.  This is a bit of 'limbo land' and it really doesn't feel good.
I know for sure I have to go because when I heard my boss was out this next week I just breathed such a sigh of relief.....and that is not a great way to be at work.  It didn't help we had an offsite this week and I was my usual honest self, but it probably didn't help my cause much.....just shined a spotlight on the fact that I need to get out.

Well, I can't create a job for myself so I will just keep working through my network and seeing what I can do.

As for my physical health, what I thought about today is that I can join up back at my old gym. I am just not sure why I didn't think of this earlier, but they have childcare there. I thought it was 6 months old plus, but I called today and it is 6 weeks old.  There isn't a reason why I can't take us both over there on Saturday and Sunday....good for me, and she gets used to more people.....and probably picks up some more germs....freaks me out, but I have to get over it.  I could also go Wednesday during lunch since I work from home that day.

There is no secret here....I am a stress eater and I am stressed out. 
Gotta work on this.....

Behavior

I just put baby girl to 'bed', at least until she wakes up around 2am for a bottle.  We are still trying to work on cutting that one out. I can handle the 9-10pm, even the 6-7am, but the middle one is tough. Sometimes I am in the middle of the only deep sleep I get when I come out hearing a crying baby.

For now, she still sleeps in her rocky play cradle.  She has really gotten used to sleeping at a 45 degree angle (think recliner), versus flat.  She also still spits up, so I am just hesitating to change it now.  I know we will need to change to her crib soon, though, because she has learned to 'flop' around in her cradle....arch her back and grab on to the sides.....she is going to flop right out soon enough.  It is just so much easier, though, w/ her in it because I can simply have her fall asleep and carry her into my bedroom, where she still sleeps.  I like being close to her, and she still wakes up at  night. I'd much rather roll over and give her the bottle than haul my sleepy butt up into her room where the crib is.

She is almost 7 months old.  She still isn't sitting by herself (although she sits w/ assistance), and is just now putting weight on her legs to 'stand'.  I was wondering about this because the books say she should most likely be doing this at around 6 months....Dr. said no worries since she was early...give her time.
Okay.

And still no sign of teeth.

Most of my focus these days has been on how to leave my current company and start somewhere else. It has really gotten more and more unpleasant...and it is unstable there.  I've been scouring company sites I'm interested in and reaching out to my network.

The other thing I'm dealing w/ right now is one of my cats is not taking well to the baby. And yes it has taken this long for the bad behavior to come up.  It started right after Christmas where I found her bouncy seat had been used as a litter box for the week I was gone--destroyed.  Then, I noticed bottle nipples being chewed up. Then the cat peed on the baby's carseat (twice), then I found poop in the corner of my living room (twice) and this is something neither of them have ever done before, THEN just the other day the baby's head pillow thing was on the floor I went to pick it up and it was wet. Yes, peed on.  I had him to the vet about 3 weeks ago and he does not have a bladder infection, which I thought he did. 250 bucks later he's basically fine and his kidney disease is stable.  In addition, I've cleaned up about 8 piles of vomit over the last few days. I think this is because I tried to change the dry food, but it still upsets me.  Not only that, he has to be fed wet food daily (which isn't cheap) to keep his vomiting at bay and so I can put his kidney medicine (potassium gel) in to keep his kidneys working well.

He is turning into an extremely high maintenance cat and one that has bad behavior.  So.......I'm going to call the vet. I know there are two options 1) put down or 2) give to shelter. I just can't keep him anymore because he will continue to destroy her things....and mine. When I had friends over he got a pair of my work pants--and they were not cheap.  I don't even want to put a price on how much he's destroyed over the years.

And yes, I have asked a friend of mine if she wanted to take him and they can't.  I just worry if I took him to the shelter I don't think he's adoptable because A) he's not good w/ kids b) he's inside only/declawed and c) behavior problems. I also just can't imagine him at a shelter he would just freak out--he's that kind of cat.

Not really happy about any of the options I can think of right now.  I know others have dealt w/ this too...read recently on another blog someone had to take their dog to the shelter.  I just am not sure what to do.........maybe vet can help me.