Rockin' and Rollin'

Beauty

I could stare at you all day, every day. 

That is all.

Not Enough Time...

This is usually what I say on Sunday nights. This weekend I didn't have enough time at all. How the h-e-l-l do these women do it? Managing life. Geez, no one told me it would be this hard and I am lucky enough to have an amazing hubby that helps with dishes, laundry, and Lexi. On Saturday, we did some cleaning up and running around. On Sunday, we spent the afternoon celebrating our sweet niece's 10th birthday. I just kept thinking that I hope Kay's 10th birthday does not creep up on me. I want her to be a sweet baby girl forever. She looked so pretty today for the party, and this momma could not stop smiling at and doting on her.

I really have about 20 more things on my to do list that I NEED to get done, but I guess they will have to wait. I am excited to get this week filled with a dreaded observation (that I still have no plan for)  and parent teacher conferences over quickly because then I will get to see my closest friend. Daddy and I are driving up to see her and we are going to a friend's bridal shower while Daddy is on babysitting duty. There is something so comforting about having the important people you love snuggle and love on your baby. I am hoping this week flies by and I don't lose a lot of sleep worrying about getting everything done before I can enjoy the weekend.

This weekend was amazing spending time with the baby. She changes so much week by week. I will have posts about these things, but I couldn't wait to tell you that she started eating sweet potatoes and she loved them! Also, she finally rolled over from back to front for me! My mom had told me that she did it this week so I was patiently waiting to see it.

This baby girl is reaching for so many objects, and we are on the verge of



drumroll please



her putting this binky in all by herself. She can take it out, hold it, and bring it to her mouth to suck on the edges of it. In no time, she will be grabbing that lil' sucker and sticking it in her own mouth!

Okay, I am getting ready for a Law & Order SVU marathon until my eyes slammed shut. Have a great week everyone!

Scrub a Dub Dub

Bath nights are some of my favorite nights. I love the bonding time Kay and mommy get after being apart all day. I love getting our little peanut squeaky clean and lathering her up with lotion. Then, I just sit and smell her head and rub her little fluffy peach fuzz against my face. She loves bath time as much as I do.

Tonight, Daddy joined us for bath night so I was able to get some sweet pictures of my baby girl enjoying her tub. I love our bath time routine. Is it weird that I do things the exact same way every time I give her a bath? First, I wash that sweet little hair...and I make a silent wish that it keeps growing!

Daddy's hands...my arms are not that hairy..my legs are another story.

Next, I scrub her little belly, arms, and legs. I always make sure I scrub under her chin extra good. Who knows what kind of food gets stuck under there. You can't forget to clean between these chubby little fingers. There is always lint between them.

Then, I gently wash her pretty little face. I love the way her eyelashes glisten when they are a little wet.

Then, more soap to clean that little dimpled bottom that is hidden under a diaper all day. Of course, I have to empty the tub and rinse her with clean water at the very end. Now one wants to be rinsed with dirty water...plus you never know if she pee pee'd in her tub or not! As she gets rinsed, she is usually so happy that she slams her little feet onto the edge of the tub.

 She watches me get the towel ready and she talks to me as I wrap her up and take her to her room. Daddy is always left with bathroom clean up duty, but he doesn't mind. He loves keeping her tub and bathroom clean.

So tonight, I am watching my clean, sweet smelling baby on the monitor thinking how lucky I am. It is the little things that make me happy. It is our daily routines that mean the most. I can't wait for the weekend, spring break, or summer vacation to enjoy my baby...I have to enjoy my baby every day. I  have to soak it all in, every last bit because pretty soon my baby won't fit in her tub, won't let us give her a little mohawk, and won't want me to pick out her pjs. I just shed a tear thinking about it.

Manic Monday

What??

What's that?

 

What'd you say?

Oh you like my hair?

Why thank you. I am currently growing it out. 

Adios to Another Weekend

Another weekend down...I am just closer to spring break and summer vacation. The power of positive thinking ... jump on the bandwagon.

We had a low key weekend. Kay had her first taste of carrots. She gagged...it was pretty funny. She made a huge mess, and I feel like buying a million bibs and just throwing them away after every carrot feeding because I don't want them near me or any of our clothes. I have nightmares of all of our clothes being stained orange like her little face. Her chin is already dry from me wiping it too much. Poor thing.

We did a lot of dressing up this weekend. One of Dave's friends from work got the baby this mudpie outfit. She finally fits it. I am loving the huge bow. She looks like a little diva. I am thinking of entering her on toddlers and tiaras...but I a not sure this would suffice as my WOW wear dress. I would have to consult my pageant coach on this one. Regardless, she looks ridiculous and too cute for words!

Not much else is new around here. The baby and I had a lazy day and she is starting to really snuggle with me and like it. We lay next to each other on the bed and she burrows her head next to mine and smiles and reaches out for everything in sight. I love it. She seems just happy being close to me. You should see how she reaches for things...she is starting to develop her hand eye coordination.

This week coming up is a busy one for me. Things are getting hectic at work with report cards due, meetings, and observations. I am just getting geared up to handle it all.  Hope everyone has a good week! Happy Spring! Keep your fingers crossed that this beautiful weather is here to stay!

Lacrosse Season

There was time in the not so distant past that I would have been eating, breathing, and sleeping lacrosse right now, but I am not. For that, I am thankful and a little sad. Lacrosse was my life for so long. It was how I defined myself. In college, I was a lacrosse player. Out of college, I was a lacrosse coach. Yes, full time. It always frustrated me when people would say "oh, what else do you do?" Ummmm HELLO. I coach a division 1 team. What do you mean what else do I do? I coach, recruit, scout and drive all over the East Coast. People can be so ignorant. But ...this is all in the past. I met my hubby, and I was ready for something more permanent, something closer to home, and something where I didn't have to work every day & weekend for weeks on end at all hours of the day.  Nowadays, I just constantly check scores and laugh over the forums on laxpower.

Not my best friend, Cristina. She is still busting her hump everyday as she deals with the shenanigans of college kids. And if they are anything like we were, then she better put them on lockdown. She is the Head Coach at Wagner College. Anyway, Friday night we traveled to Villanova for Baby Kay's first lacrosse game. I HOPE she liked it. She is going to be a laxer one way or another!

The game started off good, but Villanova pulled ahead and the Seahawks lost. Sorry Cris! We sat with Kate who was loving Baby Kay up the whole time! I won't even tell Cristina how she didn't watch the game because she couldn't take her eyes off of this binky smile.

This game made me miss lax. It made me miss being part of a team. I have so many memories, stories, friendships, and accomplishments all from being part of a team. I hope one day Baby Kay gets the enjoyment, confidence, and competitiveness from sports that I did. I know whatever it is that she does, she will be the best that she can be.

Spring Is Around The Corner

Spring is around the corner! The weather wants to change. I can just tell. Spring is just giving Winter that one last swift kick in the rear to be on its way. Its COMING! We actually ventured out in the backyard this weekend for some fresh air, but it was a little too chilly and a little too bright for a baby without sunglasses! But we liked being snuggled up in our fleece outfit.

Maybe next weekend the weather will be a little warmer and we can start taking some much anticipated strolls around the neighborhood. I know one little girl who would love that... Lexi Doodle.

She is dying to get outside and play frisbee, chase squirrels and other pesky backyard dwellers, and bask in the warm sun. And so am I ...minus the pesky backyard dwellers.

Tonight, we are taking a much needed mid-week break to have dinner with our friends Angela, K, and A. I can't wait for the girls to see how big my sweet little beaner is since their first meeting! When the husbands are away, the little girls will play! 

Happy Hump Day! 

Happy 5 Months!

Are you wondering why this little girl is so happy? It is because she turns 5 months old today! Yup, that's right...Kailyn Rose is 5 months old today! I know, I know I can't believe it either!

At 5 months old, I am noticing so many changes in this little one. It seems like after I have been away from her all week, I spend time with her on the weekend and she is doing something new every day.

This 5 month old cutie...

* has started eating rice cereal. She gets an early morning bottle followed by a breakfast and lunch of rice cereal then a dinner and bedtime bottle. She is really taking a liking to eating. She takes 7 ounces at her bottle feedings, but I am still not sure about after she eats her cereal. This week, she is going to try some oatmeal for the first time.

* wears 3-6 month clothing and size 2 diapers.

* is giving us some trouble sleeping. She is wearing a sleep sack and she is getting used to it. She is binkie obsessed and she wants us to give her back the binkie through the night. We are going to start letting her cry it out. So you will have to check back with us about that one.

* takes two naps a day in her crib or playpen usually between 1-2 hours. She goes to bed around 7:45 and wakes up around 5, eats then sleeps until about 7 or 7:30.

* weighs 12 pounds 14 ounces! At her 4 month visit, she was in the 20th percentile for height and weight, but I think she will catch up. She is doing so well and she is growing like a weed! I can't believe how big she is getting. See for yourself.

* can reach out and grab objects and hold things in her hand. She loves her little monkey blanket and she squeezes it, holds it up to her face, rubs it. She loves reaching out for her feet. She hangs on to her pant legs to keep her legs up in the air. She is turning into a little gymnast.

* can roll over from front to back and she is trying so hard to roll from back to front. Look how hard she is trying!

* LOVES to talk to everyone. Her new thing is squeaking and making a sound like "aaahhhhh." It is so sweet. She can blow raspberries and bubbles with her little lips. The best is when she talks to you in her soft voice and makes a cooing sound. Her little lips go into an "o" shape and she look like a little angel.

* puts everything in her mouth especially her hands! 

This sweet little girl has made us the happiest two people on the planet for 5 months. I am so excited to see what the next 5 months will hold. 

A Week Later

A week of practice makes ALL the difference! Look at the big girl! 

She is doing great eating her cereal! Look at the happy girl. With a full belly, how could she not be happy? It seems like she will like food as much as her mommy. She was leaning her head into the bowl and opening her mouth! Mommy's little piggy! 

It felt better than amazing to finally get to feed her this weekend. We are going to stick to the rice cereal for another week and feed her breakfast and lunch before she gets her first taste of veggies! Stay tuned for yummy carrots! 

Adjusted

Why is it that complaining makes you feel better?  Spewing frustration, unfairness, and stress always makes me feel slightly better. Is it because you get it off your chest? Is it because maybe just maybe someone feels the same way or has sympathy for you. I have always been a complainer. It helps me work through stressful situations. It helps to talk about things. The only problem is...I shouldn't be complaining. I am truly one lucky lady. I have a beautiful baby, an amazing husband, and a career. Handling all of these things together is overwhelming. It is a juggling act that requires a lot more practice and planning on my part. The ONLY ball that I want to remain in the air is being with my baby.

After almost two months back at work, I should be adjusted. I should be in a routine, in the groove, moving along, but I am not. I am still breaking down. Complaining is unacceptable two months later. People assume you are just fine...it has been two months why wouldn't you be fine!?! A very wise friend gave me some good advice today. Once you accept that this is life, it will start to get easier. This sounds like the truth. Instead of complaining and feeling guilty and missing my baby, I need to accept that this is life.

When I drop off the little peanut every morning, I have to drag myself out of my mom's house. I have to make a conscious effort to fight back the tears. I try to remind myself how lucky and blessed I am that I have a baby to return to at night. A beautiful, healthy baby.

As my sweet little girl continues to change every day, I try to hold on to what she is like, how she looks, and what she does today. When I close my eyes, I see a gummy smile with little balled up fists clasping her monkey blankie by her mouth. I see little red marks on white, chubby knuckles from the new obsession of finger and hand sucking.

I can feel her little quarter inch fuzz that is growing on the top of her head tickle my lips and nose as I kiss and snuggle her. I love the especially fuzzy and soft look after one of her baths.

Can you see the peach fuzz on top of her cute little head? 

I can see her long, slightly curled eyelashes that rest on the chubbiness of her cheeks as she naps in her carseat.

I will remember the soft moans and mumbles, those sweet oooooohs that come from this baby girl when she is alone in her carseat while I am driving. She is talking to herself and singing herself to sleep. I love turning the radio off and listening to her sweet voice.

These little things are the things that I will hold on to. These are the little things that make it hard for me to adjust, but these are the little things that help me make it through a day away.

Roll Baby Roll 2

Look at the smile for Daddy after she rolls again! She is so proud of herself!

Roll Baby Roll

Look at this big girl!

Breakfast of Champions

Saturday was the day I waited for all week! We were planning on giving Kay her first taste of rice cereal, and I was ready. It was a LONG week with very little sleep due to an unswaddled, over tired, binkie obsessed baby. I had all of the things I needed...cute little spoons, cute little bowls, and our bumbo chair.

Before I could feed this little sweetpea, I needed some food and coffee myself. Daddy ran to get us some breakfast.

Breakfast of Champions?

or Breakfast of Champions?

Oh, it is not what you think. I had the new delicious fruit and nut oatmeal. Even though, I really wanted a greasy breakfast sandwich. I was good. The oatmeal was good too. It tasted like caramel apples. LOVE minus the raisins, but you can't win 'em all.

Ok, now that I was fueled up, I was ready to fuel up my little bambino. I had this nice little picture in my mind of how lovely this would all go. She would spit a little out and smile and like it. Little did I know. Kay was not feeling the rice cereal love today. She HATED it. All she wanted was her bottle. She could not figure out why I was torturing her. It seemed like the only time she actually opened her mouth was when she was crying! Otherwise, her lips were sealed!

I did manage to get some in her mouth. She was so confused, and she made the biggest mess with just a little bit of cereal. She looked awfully cute as a messy baby. Don't you think? 

So, our first taste of rice cereal was not exactly a huge success, but we had a few good laughs! She did take some good naps after eating. Good job little Kay!