My Kid is Crazy

My daughter is crazy.  A tiny, little lunatic.  Some of the things she does make me either laugh hysterically, or stare at her with a genuine puzzled look of concern.

And now it's time for...
Addy's Hobby of the Week!

Step #1: Look at hand.
Step #2: Shove hand in mouth so far that gag reflex is triggered.
Step #3: Once gag reflex is triggered, pull hand out of mouth.
Step #4: Laugh like a maniac.
Step #5: Repeat

It's been a long time...

The last couple months have flown by...maybe I'll make it my New Year's resolution to keep this blog more up-to-date.

Sooo, quick confession: I am not as good at being a stay-at-home mom as I thought I would be.  After two months of it, I was starting to go a little crazy.  Don't get me wrong, I love my kid...more than anything...but 24/7 was just getting to me a little bit.

I think that going from full time work and daycare to full time mommy-daughter time was a bit rough on both of us.  Just as I was used to being around other adults all day (and participating in actual two-sided conversations), Addy was used to being around other kids all day (and having different toys and activities to keep her busy and stimulated).  So, we decided to do something for each of our best interests.  We put her in daycare two days a week.

Since Ad has started her part time daycare...there has been a huge difference.  We are both less whiny, and I think it's fair to say that we are both much happier.  While she's gone, I have been cleaning and cooking up a storm.  I have actually started making things that are on my Pinterest food boards.  I can run to the grocery store, and if there's no parking when I get back, it's not a big deal.  I can handle a few blocks with the bags of groceries as long as I don't have to juggle Addy along with them.  I've been able to spend daycare time doing all the chores that were making my days with her less fun.  Now our time together is more quality time.  It's been really nice.

Many people have seemed surprised when they hear that we've made this change.  Wait...you don't work, yet your daughter goes to daycare?!  A couple people have even commented on how much it must cost...especially if they know how tight we are with money.  Here's the deal.  I think we have become almost-experts on weighing the pros and cons that every possible financial decision could bring.  When we sat down to figure out how much the daycare would cost, and realized it's basically the same as what most people "need" to pay in cable TV and smartphone costs, it was a no-brainer.  My sanity is worth the cost.

Yum.

Addy is kind of a savage beast.  The tiniest, cutest, savage beast you can imagine...but still.

She eats an insane amount of food.  The other day, AFTER a full meal, I gave her an ear of corn.  I just wanted to see if she'd nibble on it or play with it.  Not only did she eat all the corn, and suck all the juice out of the cob, but she bawled for 5 minutes straight when I took it away...presumably because she thought she could also eat the cob and thus I was stealing the rest of her meal.

If she sees a tomato as big as her head sitting on the counter, she will demand that it be placed in front of her.  She will then slowly, yet forcefully, devour the entire thing.  The result is quite grotesque...even considering her cuteness.  Cucumbers, peppers, anything...produce beware.

Example:

After eating lunch, Addy spots a tomato (huge) on the counter.

Before...

...and after.  She actually ate about 2/3 of it.
Note the bib.  You can't tell from the picture just how completely soaked with tomato guts it is.

...and she's ready for another victim.

Overdue.

I know, I know...I'm REALLY late with an update.

It's fun to write fun little notes once in a  while...but when you have a blog, people say things like:
 - you haven't posted in a while.
 - when are you going to post next?
 - why did you start something like this if you're so bad at it?    Ok, that one was just me.

Ahem.
Here we go.

We've all been incredibly busy since we moved in.  The school has been pretty awesome about facilitating events for us newbies (Allegheny hired 26 new faculty this year - insane!).  We've met a lot of people, and still have one more party to look forward to this week.
Our neighbors are cool.  On one side is a three unit house, they are all around our age and work at the school.  On the other side is a house with one family that has a couple dogs.  The presence of dogs in the neighborhood has proved very, very exciting to Addy.

TIM
Starting his third week of classes.  Everything's going really well so far.  That is all he can think of to say.

DREA
I'm taking one class at the college, just for fun.  Tap!  Unfortunately, I can't just do the fun parts and I am actually going to be writing a couple papers and taking quizzes and tests...sick.  I hate school.  The local theater is having Les Mis auditions at the end of September, so I'm also thinking about trying out for that.  We'll see if I chicken out.  Other than that, it's just been fun hanging out with the Adster.

ADDY
Days start around 7am lately.  After playing all morning and her first nap around 9, she goes for a walk with mom around the college.  They visit the playground, the alligator statue at the campus center, the fish in the biology building, and stop and talk to almost every flower and large plant they pass.  After lunch and afternoon nap, Addy and Mom either go to the grocery store or play upstairs in the loft.  Sometimes, if she's really lucky, Addy will either get to watch 15-20 minutes of Toy Story, or some fun Sesame Street clips on YouTube.

We leave you with our current favorite: Bruno Mars on Sesame Street

Giggles.

One day, Addy, your skills will be as impressive as your mother's.

Late night chat.

Transition

As of June 8th, 2013, you can call me Susie-Homemaker.

I'm terrified and excited simultaneously.  Ok, maybe not terrified.  Nervous.  Definitely nervous.

I have worked since I was fourteen.  Technically, only during the summers until I turned sixteen, but I say it still counts. Work, work, work.
The truth is, I'm great at working. I like it. I like hustling around, getting things done...and if I get to boss people around in the meantime, that's just a bonus.

Of course, being a stay-at-home mom is also work.  I know that I'll still be busy, just in a different way.

We'll see what happens.  I'll still have one little someone to boss around, so that will probably help.

She's fun.

Away We Go

Tim has received and accepted an offer from Allegheny College!  We leave in early August to start a new chapter of our lives in Meadville, PA.  He is so excited to graduate from 27th grade, and to have the chance to do what he loves full time.  I could not be more proud of him.

With this great news comes a twist of sadness...

I have called many places "home" over the years, but Lansing might just be the hardest one to say goodbye to.  Here are some reasons why:

1. People
We have met some of the best people during our stay in Lansing.  People I hope to never, ever lose contact with.  You all know who you are, and I love you.  Not an "I love you, maaaan" love you...really, truly, care about you with my whole heart, love you.  I cannot express how much your friendships have meant to me during this chapter in our lives.  You have welcomed us, in spite of my crazy (maybe even because of it?), and made this time truly awesome.  Ok, enough of that.  I'm an ugly crier.

2. MSU
The busy and diverse community that comes with living by a LARGE college campus will be sorely missed.  I love East Lansing, and I loved the three years we spent living there.  I'm sure Allegheny resides in a great town as well, but something tells me that the general atmosphere will have a little less hustle to it.

3. ICS
I've had the good fortune to work at this marketing firm for close to 5 years now.  I have grown so much here, both in taking on a leadership role and my business savvy in general.  Many thanks to the company leaders for entrusting me with responsibilities that allowed me to rise to the challenge time and time again.  I have made some great friends here, and have appreciated this place more than I can say.

More details to come.
...

In other news, Addy is now 7 months old and has 8 teeth.  She yells alot, likes sweet potatoes and bananas, and was just voted 'Cutest Baby of All Time'...by me.
 

Time flies when you're having fun.

The past couple months have been a whirlwind.  We made it through our first holiday season with baby in tow.  It was exhausting, and it was fun.  It tooks Ads a week to recover.  2013 will undoubtedly bring a new set of challenges and triumphs for us to speed through. 

Addy and I have a resolution, which is to eat less sugar.  Notice my crafty, vague phrasing.  Less sugar than whom?  Seriously though, we're going to make a conscious effort.  If you are familiar with the loving relationship I have with candy, you can surely agree that it's a necessary step...if for no other reason than Addy NOT having a junkfood complex like her mother.

Tim recently returned from California, where he had a whopping 10 job interviews in just two days at the Econ job market conference.  He's feeling good about how they went...so now, we wait.  Wait for 2nd interviews, flyouts, job offers.  We'll go where the wind takes us, but we are really hoping it doesn't blow us too far.  Grand Rapids has a nice ring to it (come on, GVSU!).

Addy is now 4 months and 4 days old.  She has 2 teeth, can roll over from her stomach to her back, and enjoys speaking in her self-created language (composed primarily of the word "gggguh", which means Mom).

Two Months, Maternity Leave, and Back to Work

Wow.  That is all I can say...wow.  Wowowow.

My nine weeks on maternity leave flew by - I can't believe I am on my third day back to work already.

Our two month photo shoot went well. She finally fits in this sleeper! At last we can expand her wardrobe to include all her adorable 0-3 months outfits. Addy is going to be one stylish little girl soon!

Being a 'stay-at-home-mom' for nine weeks was one of the most difficult, lonely, boring, fun, happy, and rewarding chapters in my life.  This kid is WORK...much moreso than I anticipated.

I thought that I would feel one of two ways once my maternity leave ended: so excited to go back to work OR so sad that I had to leave her at daycare (maybe even so sad that I would quit my job).  I never thought that I would feel both simultaneously, and yet here I am...talking to vendors and working on complicated projects, all while wistfully counting the hours until I get to see her little face again.

I realized yesterday that I'll maybe get two good hours a day with her during the workweek.  This, to be honest, sucks big time.  An hour of smiles and giving her a bottle when she wakes up, and then another hour of quality time when we get home before she starts getting tired and cranky.
Two hours?!  What the heck?!  Isn't this MY kid?  Oy.

But that's what we do I guess...we let other people raise our kids so that we can better provide for them.  The day Addy calls one of the daycare workers 'Mom' I am going to flip my lid.

Awwww

Check out these photos!  Doesn't she look exactly like her dad?

Addy at one month - Tim at birth

Addy at one month - Tim at four months

One Month

First of all, let me just say that the 'One Month Photo Shoot' was a little rough.  She is a lot more squirmy than she was three weeks ago!  After over 20 shots, this is the best we've got.

This past month has been a whirlwind.  Among other things, Addy has gone to her first sporting event (an LCS soccer game), her first restaurant (City Limits), has had the pleasure of meeting some of her great-grandparents, and last night got to visit to her best friend, Sydney.

There have been more, less fun firsts as well: her first blowout, her first two-hour screaming session, etc.  It's a good thing the adorable, fun times are so much more memorable.

Leaving you with the best picture we've caught of Addy so far - smiling in her sleep.

Many Faces

The Cute:

The Cry:

The Crazy:

Due to low camera battery and the unruly behavior of the model, the rest of the shoot had to be postponed.

*Not pictured: The Pooping, The Confused, and The "Mom, is MY hair going to be that out of control?!"

From Dad: Lessons on Poop

Before becoming a parent, I noticed a common trend among new parents – they love to talk about poop! After hearing conversation after conversation about poop, I was beginning to question their sanity. I mean, what mid-to-upper twenty year old spends most of their time talking about poop?!

These doubts I had about the sanity of a new parent were present until a week ago – the exact time I had of child of my own. After only one week of observing and caring for my child, I realized that poop is your main topic of conversation because you have little else to think about when you change up to 22 diapers a day (sometimes 3 diapers in 15 minutes)!

To continue the proud tradition of new parents, I want to talk for a few minutes about poop. Well, the lessons I have learned concerning this lovely topic.

Lesson #1: If your child doesn’t poop in 24 hours, don’t worry about the health of your child. 

He/she is fine. What you need to spend your time worrying about is the floodgate that is going to open when that period is over. I promise you, it will come. I made this mistake while we were still in the hospital. I was worried. I even began asking nurses if this was normal. Then it happened...my first encounter with the blowout! There was poop everywhere! The sheets. My hands. Her clothes. My clothes. Even my glasses somehow managed to get poop smeared on them! Rather than freak out about your child not soiling his/her diaper, enjoy the calm before the storm or take the time to mentally prepare yourself for what is about to happen.

Lesson #2: Don’t get too close while changing a diaper. 

Even if you think you have the routine figured out, don’t risk it.  I learned this lesson the other night. I started changing the diaper with “the routine”: open diaper, close diaper, listen for bathroom noises. I thought that my status was quickly bumped to pro as I accomplished this task to perfection! Then I was reminded that even pros are thrown curveballs.  I opened the diaper and then...BAM! A stream that would put Old Faithful to shame flowed forth from my precious, little child. Luckily my cat-like reflexes are still intact at 2 AM (a fact that I neither knew nor tested before this). Thankfully Drea was already awake to help me clean up the mess – I would have been overwhelmed otherwise.

Lesson #3: Just because you have a girl doesn’t mean geyser pee isn’t possible. 

Referring to Lesson 2, I have a little girl and that is what happened.

Lesson #4: You probably won’t understand this post, or may be grossed out by it, unless you have a child of your own. 

I know I was. Luckily, the love you have for your child quickly outweighs any disgusting circumstance you are thrown into. Love, and the fact that you will get to repay your child someday when they have to change your diaper!

I love you Addy and I will always be there to change your diaper, no matter how messy it gets.

-Dad

Wow.

I cannot believe we've had this little cutie in our care for over a week now.

We've learned a lot:

1. We have the most amazing friends and family in the world.
I knew they were great people...but I was still blown away by the kindness and generosity shown to us.  We became responsible for feeding ourselves again (meaning, out of the hospital) starting on Friday, 9/15.  Since then, we have not had to actually make one single meal ourselves.  With the exception of cereal for breakfast, everything we've eaten (even snacks) has been prepped and/or delivered by someone awesome.  PLUS a couple gift cards we've received to go towards a quick shopping trip or take-out meal.
Thank you all - it has meant so much to us!
Really.
I love to cook.  But, if I had to cook during this last week and a half, I would have gotten so much less sleep...and I'm positive I would have eventually burned the place down, due to forgetting to turn the stove off.  There is no way I would be feeling as good and semi-rested as I do right now without all of your help.  You rock.  :)

2. This kid is good, quality entertainment.
She squeaks, she grunts, she belches like a sailor, and she makes faces that have us cracking up constantly.
She is just so cute.  I could watch her for hours.

3. This kid is a pain.
If she gets even the slightest bit cold, she melts down.  Check her diaper...the second the air hits she cries.  I'm talking, scream-bloody-murder when a wipe barely grazes her skin.  We have to work on that.
She went through 22 diapers yesterday.  I wish I were exaggerating.

4. This kid is the love of my life.
I was not prepared for this.  I knew I would love my daughter, no matter what...it's what parents do, right?  But, I was not ready for how wholly I would love her.  How every time she cried, I would feel so sorry for not being able to figure out how to make everything better.

5. Before she was born, we had more free time than we realized.
We were very busy people: working full-time jobs, visiting friends and family, playing trivia at City Limits with friends once or twice a week, watching 30 Rock while leisurely enjoying the latest dinner I'd concocted...very busy indeed.
Ha.
I barely have time to shut the box of Honey Nut Cheerios before I toss it back in the cupboard.
The main thought on my mind at all times is: when did she eat last?  I am living my life in 3 hour increments.
My 'free time' (i.e. when Addy's sleeping) goes to either doing the dishes, prepping bottles, straightening up my bed/living room for visitors, or trying to catch a precious hour of sleep myself.

Yes, we've learned a lot already...and we've only just begun!

One Week Old

She's Here!

Being a day past our due date, this morning we had a series of tests scheduled.  I got strapped to a machine that tracked Addy's heartbeat along with my contractions, or lack thereof.  Then, we got another ultrasound!  Unfortunately, the coolest part of this one was getting to see a shot of her foot.  They were mostly just looking out for any problems.

Well, there was one: my amniotic fluid was low.  Nothing too scary, but low enough for the doctor to schedule a 2pm induction.

...

Wow, how time has flown!  I started writing this post on 9/10 from my hospital bed after being admitted for my induction!  So, a quick update on the last few days to get us all up to speed:

Monday
By 3pm I had been given some medication to start my contractions.  It worked.  It worked so well that they didn't need to give me more than one dose, and I didn't need any pitocin or any other drugs to get things underway.  I have to wonder if Addy was planning on coming so soon anyways!

Tuesday
After 13 hours of labor (I'll spare you the details on how mind-blowingly painful the contractions were, the blood & guts of it all, and anything related to tearing and stitches) and only about 15 minutes of pushing, Adelyn Lorraine arrived!  She was a grayish, slimy, little alien at first...but, no worries, once they cleaned her up she looked a whole lot cuter.

Wednesday
We had gotten about 5 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours by the time Wednesday morning rolls around.  We spent all day (and all day Thursday) in a whirlwind of feedings, diapers, and nurses.  We started getting to know Addy.  Not only is she adorable, but she'll most likely also be the smartest kid to ever live.

Thursday
We got home around 8pm.  One adventure complete; a better one just beginning.
Aw.

Getting close...

Due date is 4 days away!  I am so very excited.

Yesterday we had our 39 week check-up.  In case anyone cares, I am ONE WHOLE CENTIMETER dilated!!!  Woohoo - now that's progress!

The doctor offered to 'sweep my membranes' (in my opinion, just a fancy way of saying 'stick my arm up you and prod your cervix') which I declined with a smile. 
Then she tried to schedule an induction exactly one week after the due date, which I also declined.
Then she said with a laugh, "Well, you must just loooove being pregnant!" 
I laughed back and said, "Actually, I've hated nearly every minute of it."

...but that's not really true.  In reality, I'd guess I've hated about 65% of it.  You know, the puking, nauseous, heartburn-y, painful, swollen, waddling, extremely uncomfortable part of it. 
But I have definitely loved some parts of it too.

I have LOVED feeling Addy kick, roll around, strech out...loved watching my belly swing around wildly in all directions as she tries to get comfy...loved knowing that soon, soon I'll have a little person out here in the world to take care of.

See, I know myself too well to entertain any of this sweeping, inducing business.  I know that I am, without a doubt, the most ridiculously impatient person alive.  I mean, I want to give people their Christmas presents as soon as I have them wrapped.  Regardless of if it's December yet.

So make no mistake, Doctor.  I want this kid here NOW.  But maybe, maybe this isn't something to be rushed. 

Maybe all this little girl wants is to come into this world on her own time.  Maybe she's nothing like me.  Maybe she loves suspense and drawing out the inevitable.  Maybe she's getting a kick out of keeping us waiting.  Maybe she's not planning on coming out...not until the whole world is shouting, "You haven't had that kid yet?" at her poor, enormous mother.

Fun times ahead

12 days left until the due date, and I am starting to feel READY!

Not all that ready mentally or emotionally, mind you, just ready physically.
Who would have thought that having a kid hanging out in your uterus would be so uncomfortable?  Ok, so maybe it sounds obvious...but it's been suprising to find out how much she can actually hurt me.

Yesterday was our 38 week checkup.  While the nurse was trying to find her heartbeat, Addy kept punching the dopplar away.  Hard.  Like, 'get that blasted thing away from me, I'm trying to sleep' hard.  It was so great, both the nurse and I couldn't stop laughing. 

This kid is already such a stinker.  :)

Any Day Now

The time is drawing near. 
17 days from now is Addy's due date...so really, it could be any day now.  Eeeeeeek!

I've been thinking a lot about work lately.  Things like: will I want to come back after maternity leave?  I'm sure that I will come back, but will I want to?  Maybe.  Maybe I'll be so happy to come back to my typical routine that I'll want to come back early!  So many questions that I dont, can't, know the answer to yet.

I've always been a little sad that there are so few women where I work.  I always felt like some of us young-uns could really benefit from a powerful, positive, woman-in-the-workforce kind of role model.  While I'm sure still that's true, lately I've been realizing, I've got plenty of role models here already.

See, where I work, the majority of staff falls into the middle-aged-guy bracket.  There are several men that have daughters around my age, some of whom are grandparents already, etc.  While this sometimes leads me to feel I'm being spoken to like a child, it far more often means I feel I'm being spoken to like a child of THEIRS...which is totally different.

It has been so fun to have some of these men sharing their own fatherhood stories, from the delivery room to grandchildren.  They joke about how their bellies are about the same size as mine ("I think you've got me beat now!" one said with a laugh, once I hit about month seven).  And to have them asking me questions about Addy: if her nursery is ready, is Tim excited, if I think I'll be making it to the office the following morning, etc.  I can tell they're geniunely interested - not just in what I provide for the company, but in my actual life...what happens to me and mine.  It's really nice.

Man, I need this kid to get here - one day I'm super pumped about getting out of work for two months (but who wouldn't be, right?), and the next day I'm reflecting on how much I like working here - I can't handle the roller coaster!