Monday, September 30, 2013

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Saturday, September 7, 2013

first day of preschool

Preschool is expensive. 
I never really realized that until this year when I looked into it.
 Last year we did a Mom School with 5 other kiddos and Charlotte was only 2 and quite a bit younger than the others, but she did really well. She's pretty smart and mature for her age.
I knew I wanted to get her into something this school year. 
I wanted her to continue learning and have a good social experience.
Plus having her out of the house so I could have some one-on-one time with Jane was a bonus.

Back in April my friend told me about our school district opening up their preschool to include 3 year olds.
And it was free.
Well, $100 for the whole year to help with supplies.
What?!?!
The only drawback was that it's 5 days a week.
So I wasn't going to do it. Then I was. Then I wasn't. 
I debated with myself until I remembered that I drop her off at the gym's daycare 4-5 times a week for an hour and a half already.
Why not drop her off somewhere she'll learn something and have more fun?
So I signed her up.

She was SOOOO excited. All summer we talked about it as we passed her school (which is 2 blocks from our house). 
She went to their hour long screening and her teacher said she was more than ready for school.
I liked the school.
I liked her teacher.
So we were all happy.

 Breakfast of champions: oatmeal with blueberries.
She'd eat this every morning if she could.
 Soooo excited!
(thank you, Mom, for her first day of school outfit)

 Ben was home that morning so we walked her together.
I was already tearing up and Charlotte was chatty and excited the whole way.

 Finding her line.

 She wasn't nervous or sad or hesitant.
There were a few children screaming and bawling with their parents and she looked at them like, "Dude, what's your deal?"
Then I started to cry. It was a little embarrassing.
No other parent looked like they were having a problem.
Then I remembered I was less than 2 wks post-partum so tears were okay, but I still walked away to not embarrass myself further.
 Watching her teacher as she tried to calm a very sad kiddo.
 And that was it. 
She walked in line into her school without glancing at us at all. 
Now we are two weeks into it and she still loves it.


Later that day Ben took her to an ophthalmologist.
She failed her eye screen at school and at her doctor's visit.




Apparently they were adorable with her and she was a stud throughout the hour long exam.



Her eyesight is a little off, but not bad enough to have glasses.
At least not for awhile.
Yay!

P.S. - Jane is getting smiley.
 Legitimate smiles. 
She's going to be a heartbreaker.

Thursday, September 5, 2013

home

So we stayed in the hospital two days. Ben was on call the last day so he was already going to be at the hospital. Plus Jane had a little jaundice so they wanted us to stay anyway. I spent that second night at the hospital alone because Ben was insanely busy, but little Jane and I bonded that night. It was good.

 We stopped by Einstein Bagels and got some breakfast to bring home to everyone and headed out around 9 or 10 in the morning after Ben's coworkers were able to stop by and meet her.
 We came home to the cleanest house, a cake, a huge balloon, more flowers, and the happiest 3 year old that really didn't want us around. She was happy to be alone with Grandma.
Whatever.
 Above is a blanket one of Ben's co-resident's wives made. I've never even met her yet and I love the blanket.
 Her first huge bow I tried out on her head.


 Her hands are always next to her face.
She will physically harm you if you try to swaddle her arms down.
 Below you can see her awesome widow's peak.







 If I'm not in the room and the baby cries, Charlotte immediately sings, grabs a binkie, bounces her, etc. Such a good helper.

 Heading out for a walk. Yes, I fixed her smashed face after see this picture I took of us before we headed out.
 Dreaded tummy time.
 My mom was awesome. After we got home she stayed for another week or so. 
These two were inseparable. When Charlotte woke up she went to Grandma. They went to the park, did tons of crafts, yard work, cooked, cleaned, sang, memorized poems, went shopping, out for ice cream, and did tons and tons of coloring.
When we dropped her off at the airport, Charlotte gave her a hug and kiss and said "Don't worry. I always come back." I think she thinks of her as her best friend over me... dang it.
 Swinging on the hammock.




 First sponge bath.








 Pooping.

 First manicure.





 Took both girls to see Despicable Me 2. 
It was adorable.
Nursing her cat.

So now here we are, two days away from her being FOUR WEEKS OLD! What?!?!
It felt so slow with Charlotte and now it seems so fast.
Too fast.
I'm enjoying it so much more this time. No crazy hormones and unknown source of tears.
She's such a reasonable baby and sleeping in 4-5 hour chunks at night.
Since I pump as well as nurse I've been able to leave her with friend's a few times while I went to school-related meetings and off to the grocery store.

And thanks, Mom, for coming and giving up so much work and pesos to be here. It was perfect and so much help. Excited to see you and Carrie and Alex in a few weeks for Jane's blessing!

And I have to mention this because I think my husband is pretty awesome... A few days before my mom left he asked me if it'd be okay that he take her out one night. We had both been to a blue's club when we first moved here but that was many years ago. It's not my favorite music so I didn't want to do it again. Ben's been dying to go and my mom always asks to go when she's visited 8 times. So one Friday evening my husband took my mom out on a date to a blue's club. How hilarious and cute is that? They stayed until close and got home at 2:30 in the morning. 
I love those two.

Next up: Charlotte's FIRST DAY OF PRESCHOOL!