Grandparents visit

Here you go Carolyn! your very own post. Tom's parents came to visit the weekend before last, gotta fit some Una time in whenever you can.

bebe pod

She's not quite ready for it, but if you stuff like 12 blankets around her she can kinda sit up. So funny.

Oh dude

Let's just hope she stops before she's 15!

Increments of time

Yesterday was one of the sunniest and hottest days of the year so far, the wind was blowing, the Bob Marley was playing, the neighbors that never come out of their house decided this was the day to revamp their overgrown forgotten garden...all was right in the sunny Oregon Spring. Standing there, babe in arms, I decided this was the day to detail the truck. I have been wanting to do it for 6 months, it needed it terribly, the interior ambiance consisted of crumpled up napkins, old coffee cups, smeared food items, and yes, a few diapers nicely folded and shoved under the seat *ashamed*. Little did I know, the events that would unfold in the next 4 hours would lead me to have my latest parental epiphany. It is as follows: Partly, good parenting, and ultimately parental bliss, hinges on both realizing and accepting the fact, that you are going to be living your life incrementally. I remember when we were fresh, we brought Una home and had no idea that we were not going to sleep for the next 3 weeks. I tried to push my will upon this new force of nature that I had given birth to, alas, she broke me. And so it began, my incremental life. It started with feedings every two hours, diapers every 1 hour, it has led to many others, naps for 2 hours twice a day every 4 hours or so, I can drink wine every 2 hours for an hour, she will tolerate the swing for 20 minutes, the rocker for 40 minutes, and tummy time for 30 seconds. She will let me watch a movie for 35 minutes, be on the internet for 5 minutes, and read a book for 26 seconds, yes, this is why, on a beautiful Saturday, with the bumblebees buzzing, and the birds chirping, it would take me 4 hours to clean the truck. From rocker, to car seat, to ergo, to stroller I got the sensation that the whole neighborhood was watching me bound and determined, laughing of course. In the end the truck was spotless and the baby was happy, and so was I for that matter. I have given my will and my efficiency over to parenting, I have sacrificed time lines and foolish prideful planning to the parental deities, and in doing so, found my rhythm. Thanks Una.

A walk in the sun

She loves those trees.

Yeah stretching is pretty funny...

So apparently you can't plan what you are going to be saying and or doing when your child decides you are hilarious and that they are going to display one of their first laughs. The other day my friend posted his kids' first laugh on facebook and behind the adorable coos, and cute crakups, you could faintly hear him saying "mmmmaple bacon?" repeatedly. Tonight I laid Una down to do her stretches and there you have it, "ssssstrrrrrretch".

Thanks KB!

My friend Kirsten took this pic, love it.

Daycare and work

What a week, and it's not even over. Monday I dropped Una off at Discoveryland, cried a little in the truck, drove to work, cried a little at the office, drove to pick her up, cried a little in the truck, and went home. Una took one bottle that day (1OZ) and looked almost drunk with fatigue when I picked her up. She went to bed almost as soon as we got home. Annette, our caregiver said that she was pretty fussy but mostly happy and that she would probably adjust over the week. Today I dropped Una off at Discoveryland, drove to work smiling because she was so cute in her little bed that they have for her, worked all day without calling the daycare to check on her, picked her up, and went home. Una drank 2 bottles today (2 and 3OZ) and when I picked her up, was laying on the ground next to another baby her age holding his hand. Transitions are strange and uncomfortable, apparently I'll be learning how to cope...from my 13 week old.

Surgery

So we are down one bronchial cleft node and past the surgery. What a day! Papa and Auntie Diana came with us and waited in the waiting room. Una did great, she was put under completely and intubated so we were pretty terrified but once again our little princess proved to be a fighter. She and I slept for 4 hours when we got home and then after a short feeding slept again through the night. She is good as new and playing and laughing like herself again today. Simply amazing.

Countdown

Una and I went to her daycare yesterday to sit and observe, they say that this helps with the transition for both parent and child. I watched her having tummy time, observing all of the wild toddlers amazed at their every move and in that moment realized I was having my first parental separation anxiety. I guess this is the first time I have experienced that moment where I know she will be fine without me. I thought this would be a comforting thought, picturing her smiling and playing with two adoring and loving caregivers looking on, me sitting at work being exceedingly efficient knowing that my child is being properly socialized and will one day be the first female president due to this fact. Best laid plans right? No wonder my dad said that having a child is like taking your arm off and throwing it in the freeway, here we go! Headed straight toward the on ramp to backtowork ville!

Glow in the dark

We got this cool hand me down that turned out to be glow in the dark, check out scary una in the dark. You can hear her little breaths, so funny.

Smiles and teething

The cutest thing ever!

MMMM Finger