Last night, for some reason, I had trouble getting to sleep. The night before I had had all kinds of terrible dreams, and then we watched "V for Vendetta" which is not that great of a movie and has all kinds of things in it that my mind saved up to turn into horrible thoughts later. So, even though I was up until after 12:30, I had to be up at 6 with Emily when she woke up hungry. Fortunately she snoozed from 6:30 til 7, so I had a little more shut-eye but I've been so spoiled that today was a bit rough. Anyway, tonight we went to a party at a friend's house, and when Emily got tired I came home and put her to bed while Travis stayed to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Even though his staying up late is his choice and he's having fun with friends while mine was an episode of my stupid brain attacking itself, it'll still be me getting up at 6 tomorrow. Not that I could sleep much past then, anyway, cuz my boobs get so full that the pain wakes me up. Oh well.
Emily has found her toes!! Talk about CUTE! When we lay her down or recline her in a chair she reaches for her feet, although she'd generally prefer to be sitting upright. She can pretty much sit on her own now, and she's able to pick up toys off the floor once she's dropped them. She seems to think she's mobile, and is surprised when she lunges in a direction and then gets stuck there. Amanda said she nearly rolled over on Friday, kinda scaring herself, I guess!! She tries to imitate what we do - if we're buzzing on her feet or her tummy she'll put her lips together and buzz, if I babble at her she babbles back, and if I sing to her she kind of sings back (different than the babbling, a very soft, consonant-free song). I am just crazy about Emily. Even for a girl who's not so giggly, she's really really happy and I just would do anything to see her smile at me. She's the most amazing thing!!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Spending money like fools
We got a new washing machine! Yes, it deserves an exclamation point, cuz we're both pretty darned excited about it. It's a new high-efficiency washer, which apparently saves on water and electricity, and it's quieter, too. I'm most happy that when I reported that the old washer was broken on Saturday morning, Travis started researching new washers and by 3:00 that afternoon he had gone out and found the best deal and had it ordered! It arrived yesterday morning. How's that for a crazy-fast home improvement?? I'm also excited that we're having the house cleaned tomorrow - yes, by somebody else, someone we're paying! I also have a whole list of things I'd like to buy for Emily, so one of these days I'm going on a shopping spree for her, too.
I keep telling myself that the best thing about me working is that it makes it all right to spend money when it helps things go better. My dad told me (especially when I was worrying about finding enough money for college) that if money can fix a problem, it isn't really a problem. I suppose that's not completely true in all cases, but it does help keep perspective. And, I think I like working all right, too. I can't believe how into one of my projects I am. I'm really excited to see it done, and see how much better it can make things.
We babysat a friend's little boy last night so they could go out to dinner, and they offered to do the same for us sometime. It's a really nice thing to do with friends, and Emily had a good time (until she got inadvertently head-butted - oops!), but he kept looking at the front door, saying, "Daddy!!" It was heartbreaking, cuz he'd already been at daycare all day, and when his dad came to pick him up he had the biggest smiles I'd seen all evening. So it made me think: although Amanda is doing a wonderful job with Emily and I know she's safe and having a good time there, I'm going to be very careful as she gets older to make sure I don't regularly put Emily in a situation where she she would feel like this little boy did. That's something that money can't fix.
I keep telling myself that the best thing about me working is that it makes it all right to spend money when it helps things go better. My dad told me (especially when I was worrying about finding enough money for college) that if money can fix a problem, it isn't really a problem. I suppose that's not completely true in all cases, but it does help keep perspective. And, I think I like working all right, too. I can't believe how into one of my projects I am. I'm really excited to see it done, and see how much better it can make things.
We babysat a friend's little boy last night so they could go out to dinner, and they offered to do the same for us sometime. It's a really nice thing to do with friends, and Emily had a good time (until she got inadvertently head-butted - oops!), but he kept looking at the front door, saying, "Daddy!!" It was heartbreaking, cuz he'd already been at daycare all day, and when his dad came to pick him up he had the biggest smiles I'd seen all evening. So it made me think: although Amanda is doing a wonderful job with Emily and I know she's safe and having a good time there, I'm going to be very careful as she gets older to make sure I don't regularly put Emily in a situation where she she would feel like this little boy did. That's something that money can't fix.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
La La La
Emily is learning to use her tongue, and she's been working on a couple of imitations. I've caught one of those in a little video, which I will try to post after I'm done with the blogging (we'll see how long Emily sleeps!). She puts her lips together and tries to buzz, blowing bubbles and drooling everywhere. But she also likes to watch me as I say La La La, very closely watching my mouth. So I sing all kinds of songs to her with La, and she stares intently and happily. She also likes listening to music, so I've been going through my CD collection ripping it onto my computer. Travis bought a new sound system, which we had originally planned on being our Christmas present to each other - in 2004!! It sounds awesome, and Emily loves to sit with a toy and chew and listen. Yesterday's tune was Tchaikovsky's violin concerto. I mean, hey, why not listen to really good stuff if you're going to sit and listen intently to something? :)
I am trying not to gauge Emily's accomplishments too strictly. I feel like there is some expectation for her to quickly reach developmental milestones - to do things on the same pace as her parents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins - but I'm really okay if she just gets to things as she gets to them. She rolled over once, but not since, and it was probably by accident. It's taken a long time to get a laugh out of her, but I think it's just that she's not a very giggly girl. I heard her giggling when she was talking to another baby this weekend, so that was music to my ears but it's really okay if she's too serious to laugh much, cuz she's certainly happy and smiley. I know I should have an eye out for a few key developments (the thought of autism scares me to pieces) but other than that I am doing my best to just relax and enjoy her as she grows. She is the most wonderful little 5-month-old and I love her for everything she is right now!
I finally have a mother-in-law story, but although it left me feeling a bit hmph-ish I'm sure it wasn't malintentioned. Those of you with true Mother-In-Laws will not have any sympathy for me at all. :) We were in Barnum last weekend, and we started looking through some of Travis's pictures from when he was 4 or 5 months old. It was fun to see which expressions and features of hers come from him - those cheeks are most definitely his! (and his dad's, too). Nancy was marvelling at how big and beautiful Baby Travis's eyes were, then she looks at Emily, and says, "But her eyes are definitely yours." Well, they really are, and I'm sure Nancy would agree that they're still gorgeous, but it did come across weird. I know she's just reminiscing after her own baby, but Emily is mine and I think it's great that she looks like me too!
This has been such a dreary winter. I am so glad that February is over (I think I said that last year, too!), even if we are supposed to get more snow tonight. I can tell the sun is higher in the sky and it's light a little longer each day, so even though it's overcast, windy and cold today, well, maybe it'll be warm soon. I can't wait until I can use my sunroom, and take Emily for walks in the stroller, and just get out of the house without bundingly up and bracing myself for that blast of winter air!
I am trying not to gauge Emily's accomplishments too strictly. I feel like there is some expectation for her to quickly reach developmental milestones - to do things on the same pace as her parents, her aunts and uncles, her cousins - but I'm really okay if she just gets to things as she gets to them. She rolled over once, but not since, and it was probably by accident. It's taken a long time to get a laugh out of her, but I think it's just that she's not a very giggly girl. I heard her giggling when she was talking to another baby this weekend, so that was music to my ears but it's really okay if she's too serious to laugh much, cuz she's certainly happy and smiley. I know I should have an eye out for a few key developments (the thought of autism scares me to pieces) but other than that I am doing my best to just relax and enjoy her as she grows. She is the most wonderful little 5-month-old and I love her for everything she is right now!
I finally have a mother-in-law story, but although it left me feeling a bit hmph-ish I'm sure it wasn't malintentioned. Those of you with true Mother-In-Laws will not have any sympathy for me at all. :) We were in Barnum last weekend, and we started looking through some of Travis's pictures from when he was 4 or 5 months old. It was fun to see which expressions and features of hers come from him - those cheeks are most definitely his! (and his dad's, too). Nancy was marvelling at how big and beautiful Baby Travis's eyes were, then she looks at Emily, and says, "But her eyes are definitely yours." Well, they really are, and I'm sure Nancy would agree that they're still gorgeous, but it did come across weird. I know she's just reminiscing after her own baby, but Emily is mine and I think it's great that she looks like me too!
This has been such a dreary winter. I am so glad that February is over (I think I said that last year, too!), even if we are supposed to get more snow tonight. I can tell the sun is higher in the sky and it's light a little longer each day, so even though it's overcast, windy and cold today, well, maybe it'll be warm soon. I can't wait until I can use my sunroom, and take Emily for walks in the stroller, and just get out of the house without bundingly up and bracing myself for that blast of winter air!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Positive comments!
I have some good things to share about how the end of the job transition has gone.
I had a casual conversation with my boss the other day, a get-to-know-you kind of thing, and it turns out he's a biker, too! He and I were reminiscing over some of the hardest Ragbrai days in the past few years, and one was the day we biked into Audubon into a headwind so strong that you had to pedal to get down the hills (and of course, up them, too). The day after was much easier, into Waukee, and then I remembered that the day after was the day that I had my stitches taken out after my accident. I kind of blurted it out before I realized that I didn't want my new boss to know what a retard I was in nearly killing myself, but it turns out he had already heard about it!! I didn't even know the person who told him, so word was REALLY getting around Deere. My reputation, it appears, had preceded me. He's a pretty funny guy, tho, and he's already gotten a couple of glass-shard-related jokes at my expense. Makes me feel welcome, anyway! (and, stupid, all over again).
I felt a lot better, tho, when I had confessed to him that I was happy to be in this position regardless of part-time or not because my previous working relationship with my manager left a lot to be desired. He said he could tell from my year-end comments (which I hadn't realized he'd read... ) and that they seemed to be "out of line" with what other managers had said in their comments. He has said since then that he has high expectations, and that the few things I'm working are critical to accomplish.
I also had a conversation with his boss's boss (3 levels higher than me). This guy said he likes to interview everyone who comes into his organization (a couple hundred, probably), but that I had snuck past him in the way I got hired. But he had read my resume and my past year-end comments from previous managers and thought I was worth a shot after reading those. He said they don't give just anybody the opportunity to work part-time. So, after I had sent a (pathetic) email to HR at IVS, they sent it to this guy first. He must've looked me up immediately, because I got a call the very next day from HR saying they had interest. I was so flattered that he read about me and thought I was worth giving a chance. AND, he had read Tom's comments!! So, as worried as I was that Tom had somehow marred my Deere reputation by putting those asshole comments in about me, I have built up enough clout on my own that his remarks seem out of place to other managers (Managers worth working for, I might add). I can't tell you how good I feel having these positive comments said to me. :) Ahh...
Emily is really close to being able to sit on her own. In her bouncy chair, she tucks her chin down like she's trying to sit up, although she's pretty wobbly on her own. She likes grabbing at toys, and we're looking around the living room trying to decide when and how to babyproof. At her 4-month check-up, she weighed 16 lbs (90th percentile), and length is 26 1/4" (95th). She cried in my arms through the post-vaccine fever, which breaks my heart but she fared a little better than last time. And, on the bright side for me, at least she was a little bit snuggly for a while!
I had a casual conversation with my boss the other day, a get-to-know-you kind of thing, and it turns out he's a biker, too! He and I were reminiscing over some of the hardest Ragbrai days in the past few years, and one was the day we biked into Audubon into a headwind so strong that you had to pedal to get down the hills (and of course, up them, too). The day after was much easier, into Waukee, and then I remembered that the day after was the day that I had my stitches taken out after my accident. I kind of blurted it out before I realized that I didn't want my new boss to know what a retard I was in nearly killing myself, but it turns out he had already heard about it!! I didn't even know the person who told him, so word was REALLY getting around Deere. My reputation, it appears, had preceded me. He's a pretty funny guy, tho, and he's already gotten a couple of glass-shard-related jokes at my expense. Makes me feel welcome, anyway! (and, stupid, all over again).
I felt a lot better, tho, when I had confessed to him that I was happy to be in this position regardless of part-time or not because my previous working relationship with my manager left a lot to be desired. He said he could tell from my year-end comments (which I hadn't realized he'd read... ) and that they seemed to be "out of line" with what other managers had said in their comments. He has said since then that he has high expectations, and that the few things I'm working are critical to accomplish.
I also had a conversation with his boss's boss (3 levels higher than me). This guy said he likes to interview everyone who comes into his organization (a couple hundred, probably), but that I had snuck past him in the way I got hired. But he had read my resume and my past year-end comments from previous managers and thought I was worth a shot after reading those. He said they don't give just anybody the opportunity to work part-time. So, after I had sent a (pathetic) email to HR at IVS, they sent it to this guy first. He must've looked me up immediately, because I got a call the very next day from HR saying they had interest. I was so flattered that he read about me and thought I was worth giving a chance. AND, he had read Tom's comments!! So, as worried as I was that Tom had somehow marred my Deere reputation by putting those asshole comments in about me, I have built up enough clout on my own that his remarks seem out of place to other managers (Managers worth working for, I might add). I can't tell you how good I feel having these positive comments said to me. :) Ahh...
Emily is really close to being able to sit on her own. In her bouncy chair, she tucks her chin down like she's trying to sit up, although she's pretty wobbly on her own. She likes grabbing at toys, and we're looking around the living room trying to decide when and how to babyproof. At her 4-month check-up, she weighed 16 lbs (90th percentile), and length is 26 1/4" (95th). She cried in my arms through the post-vaccine fever, which breaks my heart but she fared a little better than last time. And, on the bright side for me, at least she was a little bit snuggly for a while!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
A very full life
So it's weird to think that I thought I had a very full life before Emily was born. There's so much that's been added to my life that I wonder what has been replaced and leaked out. My whole social world is changing. We were supposed to go to "prom" in Ames on Saturday night, but there was a snowstorm so we skipped. It would've been no problem to go if we didn't have Emily, but the thought of being stuck in a ditch with a baby in a snowstorm in the middle of the night was too much of a risk for us to take. I was pretty bummed to miss it - a bunch of old farts in retro prom dresses and free beer - but on the other hand I got a very good night's sleep and had a happy morning with Emily that I would've been too tired to enjoy had I been out dancing the night before. It's frustrating that in order to have a good time the way I used to, I have to give up something - sleep, schedule, productive time, something. There's really no way around it. *sigh*
I ate some dark chocolate M&M's tonight after dinner, and after it took an extra hour to get Emily to sleep tonight, I looked up the caffeine content and it turns out I had quite a bit!! I guess it's nice that she wasn't crying, just happily awake, and hopefully she'll sleep a bit later in the morning because of it. I probably will jinx it by telling you this, but Emily has slept through the night for the past week - 7 nights in a row. It has been wonderful!
I ate some dark chocolate M&M's tonight after dinner, and after it took an extra hour to get Emily to sleep tonight, I looked up the caffeine content and it turns out I had quite a bit!! I guess it's nice that she wasn't crying, just happily awake, and hopefully she'll sleep a bit later in the morning because of it. I probably will jinx it by telling you this, but Emily has slept through the night for the past week - 7 nights in a row. It has been wonderful!
Friday, February 8, 2008
Day care
Emily seems to be having a good time at daycare. Our provider Amanda is absolutely wonderful - she does all kinds of things with the kids, and doesn't hesitate to include Emily in the older kid stuff like storytime and exchanging "valentines" (scribbles on paper scraps). Emily probably thinks she's as big as the other kids are, watching and learning from them, and they sure seem to like her too. And, Amanda writes down what Emily does during the day, with quite a bit of fun detail which I just LOVE. Here are a few of my favorites from over the past few days:
"Read books in Emma's room ~ Emily happily listening, content"
"Tummy time ~ did awesome lifting up her head! She loved "chatting" with the boys."
"Changed blow-out diaper, laundered outfit"
"One-on-one play ~ Baby Brain Games Activities. What a smiley girl :) "
"Held, bouncing ~ guiding her not to hit at me & kids"
Doesn't it sound like she's having fun? There are days of course where she has a hard time, and spends the day mostly unhappy. Monday, Travis picked her up and said that Amanda looked pretty tired, and we should probably start budgeting for hazard pay! The worst part isn't picking her up afterwards, but going to take her back the next time. I just can't shake the feeling that if I prepare better or do things right, she'll have an easier time, even though I know there's no way that can be true. My heart still aches a little, and I feel immensely better when I pick her up and she's happy, or content and sleeping.
Tomorrow, Emily goes to her first Iowa State basketball game, and next week she and I are going to Rockford to spend a day. All in all, things are going pretty well for us. :)
"Read books in Emma's room ~ Emily happily listening, content"
"Tummy time ~ did awesome lifting up her head! She loved "chatting" with the boys."
"Changed blow-out diaper, laundered outfit"
"One-on-one play ~ Baby Brain Games Activities. What a smiley girl :) "
"Held, bouncing ~ guiding her not to hit at me & kids"
Doesn't it sound like she's having fun? There are days of course where she has a hard time, and spends the day mostly unhappy. Monday, Travis picked her up and said that Amanda looked pretty tired, and we should probably start budgeting for hazard pay! The worst part isn't picking her up afterwards, but going to take her back the next time. I just can't shake the feeling that if I prepare better or do things right, she'll have an easier time, even though I know there's no way that can be true. My heart still aches a little, and I feel immensely better when I pick her up and she's happy, or content and sleeping.
Tomorrow, Emily goes to her first Iowa State basketball game, and next week she and I are going to Rockford to spend a day. All in all, things are going pretty well for us. :)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Growing so fast!
Hope everybody had a good Groundhog's Day!
Saturday was the BRR ride - a 26-mile bike ride - so my parents came down, and Travis, Dan, and Dad went off and bike while my mom and Emily and I played. We went up to Ames last night to celebrate a college friend's escape from credit card debt, so we are pretty tired today. I can't believe how wiped out I am today! Emily is too - she's been asleep for 2 hours now, when a normal nap for her is about 50 minutes.
She's pretty amazing these days. Her pictures of course are at the link to the right. She is learning to sit up on her own, although rolling over still eludes her. She loves to hear herself talk, apparently, since she'll babble while she's playing with toys. She particularly likes to play with this litle gurgle in her throat, and she sounds like a soprano Chewbacca. She has started to figure out how to use her hands - within the last week or so, she's started reaching a hand out and hitting whatever toy she's looking at. And then she pulls it to her mouth, without fail, whether she actually has a grip on the toy or not! She is the size of an average 6-month old, at one week shy of 4-months. She has pooped out nearly every outfit she's worn for the last week, so we're starting to put her in bigger diapers (the 16-22 lb size!), not so much for the size of her booty but to contain the quantity of output. She's SO hard to hold onto now, cuz she wiggles constantly, like jumping and trying to climb up over my shoulder. She's amazing, and I'm having so much fun being her mom. Her smiles and excited talking - unbelievable. I just love it :)
My house is filthy, there's practically nothing to eat in the kitchen, and I'm too exhausted to do the laundry so Travis is doing it while watching Family Guy's spoof of Star Wars ("Blue Harvest"). It's actually pretty funny, even if you don't have the Star Wars movies memorized. It's a pretty nice weekend at the Sullivans'!
Saturday was the BRR ride - a 26-mile bike ride - so my parents came down, and Travis, Dan, and Dad went off and bike while my mom and Emily and I played. We went up to Ames last night to celebrate a college friend's escape from credit card debt, so we are pretty tired today. I can't believe how wiped out I am today! Emily is too - she's been asleep for 2 hours now, when a normal nap for her is about 50 minutes.
She's pretty amazing these days. Her pictures of course are at the link to the right. She is learning to sit up on her own, although rolling over still eludes her. She loves to hear herself talk, apparently, since she'll babble while she's playing with toys. She particularly likes to play with this litle gurgle in her throat, and she sounds like a soprano Chewbacca. She has started to figure out how to use her hands - within the last week or so, she's started reaching a hand out and hitting whatever toy she's looking at. And then she pulls it to her mouth, without fail, whether she actually has a grip on the toy or not! She is the size of an average 6-month old, at one week shy of 4-months. She has pooped out nearly every outfit she's worn for the last week, so we're starting to put her in bigger diapers (the 16-22 lb size!), not so much for the size of her booty but to contain the quantity of output. She's SO hard to hold onto now, cuz she wiggles constantly, like jumping and trying to climb up over my shoulder. She's amazing, and I'm having so much fun being her mom. Her smiles and excited talking - unbelievable. I just love it :)
My house is filthy, there's practically nothing to eat in the kitchen, and I'm too exhausted to do the laundry so Travis is doing it while watching Family Guy's spoof of Star Wars ("Blue Harvest"). It's actually pretty funny, even if you don't have the Star Wars movies memorized. It's a pretty nice weekend at the Sullivans'!
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