Even though 16 weeks is officially 4 months, this week (on Thursday) will be exactly 4 months to the day since Anna was born. Weird how time works like that. We'll just go with it. We do have a doctor's appointment on Thursday morning, more shots. BOOO.
Anna has made it to April! Daddy's BIG birthday month! This year we get to celebrate 30 with our new addition. Should make it very special for him!
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| Daddy, I want to go to Bermuda! (I stole Pop's hat.) |
April is also a big month because Mommy is going back to work! This is my last full week without work, as I am set to start back on the 11th. I am both excited and nervous, and a million other emotions wrapped in one. As I keep saying, I know this will be good for both of us (and in the long run, Doug too) - as I really need to get out and do some things for myself, feel like I'm a part of society, and use my brain to talk to other adults. I know Anna could really use it too - some socialization, some separation from me, some independence, etc. I think it will have its ups and downs (mostly I think the inevitable sickness will be the first DOWN) - well that and the crying I am bound to do at some point next week. I'm a big girl, and like anything else - it's a transition that will take a little time to adjust to, but it's for the best. I've left myself the option of saying "this isn't for me" in a couple months in case I really hate it or Anna really hates daycare or something.
We did find a great daycare center right here in Middletown that I have a good feeling about. We are set-up for 2 half-days this week to "ease into" the process - mostly for my sake. (Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning) I know Anna will have a little problem with the transition, just getting used to napping with noise going on and people around. She may come home exhausted the first few days/weeks, since she is so obsessed with not missing out on anything. But that is another positive in my mind, she needs to chill out and realize she isn't missing anything and can nap or go to sleep without panicking! I've worked it out with my bosses to work 2 days a week for April and then move to 3 days after that. We'll evaluate how things are going with our schedules and daycare and see what's next. If 3 days a week is it, then that's it. Like I've said all along, work has been SO good with this and I am so thankful to have this job to go back to. (Let's see how I feel in a month...)
Moving on..
We have been keeping busy, as per usual. Doug's work schedule has been very demanding and he's been spending some long nights working over the past couple weeks. Thankfully, as always, my parents have been a wonderful resource for me- I can go there at 5pm, have some adult conversation, a home-cooked dinner and a little bit of help with Anna. Then when I get home it's bedtime for her and I can finally relax. I am hoping his schedule relaxes a bit this week and he is home on time every night. He's exhausted too, and a little more time relaxing at home would be good for everyone.
Last weekend we participated in the Keyport St. Patrick's Day Parade. My dad was Fred Flintstone last year, driving a homemade "Flintstone Mobile" (long story). So this year we thought it would be funny for all of us to dress up and walk along with him. It was HILARIOUS.
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| The Modern Stone-Age Family |
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| Crazy Old Man Flintstone |
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| Aww Pebbles in on the fun |
Anna and I have been all over - we love running errands to keep us busy. I am a pro at loading her up, unloading the stroller and hitting whatever store I need to go to. She doesn't seem to mind and actually gets very happy whenever we are out. She is a real people person that's for sure. Smiles like a champ whenever people pay attention to her!
We went to Ikea on Sunday, and just like a champ she decided to poop through her pants when we got there. Anna - always keeping me on my toes.
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| Yep, pantsless baby at Ikea. |
Other stuff happening with our peanut over the last 2 weeks:
She is getting more and more distracted by the world around her every day. Everything is very exciting for her which means that nursing is BOR-ING! She will eat for maybe 2 minutes before picking her head up and looking in every direction. The alarm clock is a big draw, as is Daddy talking in the room and FORGET TV! Even just the light on of the TV is impossible. Pretty much the only time she is focused is the last feeding at bedtime and any time in the middle of the night. Otherwise, forget it. And when she takes a bottle she is trying to be so independent - grabbing the bottle and pulling it in and out of her mouth, as if she needs little breaks. It's both cute and maddening.
She is VERY close to rolling over, trying constantly. She did roll over 2x from belly to back last week, but hasn't really replicated that since. If you put her down on her back, she's guaranteed to try to roll within minutes. It's got to be any day now.
She is very aware of everything now, like I said - so little things are interesting. When nursing, she loves to scratch her nails along whatever surface is behind her. Sometimes on the boppy pillow, sometimes on the pillow case, sometimes a blanket. Everything must feel so different but the sound gets right into my head and drives me crazy!! I swear baby nails are one of the worst things ever. They grow at a ridiculous pace and are sharp as razors. They are almost impossible to cut as they are still sort of soft and you can confuse her nail with her actual finger tip. THEN add on top of that a wriggling baby who never stops moving or wondering what you're doing and forget it. I swear, I would pay someone $100 a week to cut her nails. Mommy & baby manicures perhaps?
Lastly, and constantly - our biggest problem is SLEEP. Both naps and overnight. She is awful. No matter how much I try (and that's pretty much all I do - as I am obsessed with her sleep patterns. Again, I need to get out of the house) nothing seems to change. She is a cat napper for the majority of the day. 40 minute naps. Sometimes I get lucky and she naps for an hour. I've tried letting her lay there when she wakes up crying so she'll fall back to sleep. NEVER works. She gets SO worked up its pointless, because then trying to get her to calm down and fall back to sleep is never gonna happen. We have been trying to let her self-soothe at night a bit, which means CRYING IT OUT. NOT FUN. This past week I laid in bed for almost 2 hours listening to her. I went in to check her and tell her "you're okay" about every 10 minutes or so. She would periodically calm down, fall asleep and then suddenly whimper and remember "no I am MAD" and start crying again. It just kept happening. She cried so much it gave me a headache. Doug was working late in the basement so I laid there alone trying my hardest not to go in at every heartbreaking scream. Sleep training is the hardest thing I've yet to do in my life, second only to being a mom on a whole. This past weekend she got so worked up after a nap she screamed for an hour and then fought a nap for the rest of the day (almost 4 more hours). It was insane. I've never experienced such a stubborn baby and I'd like to thank Doug for giving our daughter that fabulous quality ;)
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| of course, sleeping "like a baby" in my bed. |
Here's a funny video of her running in her sleep:
So anyway, we move forward. Things will certainly be DIFFERENT next week. I need to start figuring out a plan. Showering at night before bed, laying out my clothes and Anna's things, etc. No more falling back to sleep at 7am for an hour or so.... I am going to be TIRED on a whole new level (how is that possible....). Hoping that maybe the sleep thing will start getting better, because otherwise WE MIGHT NOT MAKE IT!
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| But I'm so CUTE! |
Everyone have a wonderful Easter - and check back Friday with 4 month baby stats and updated photos!
