Monday, February 26, 2007

Hi-ho hi-ho

It's off to work I go. It's only 9 hours a week, but still.

Right before I got pregnant with Dorothy I worked part time for a couple of months filing medical records at the clinic my MIL works at. She's in charge of the records department, so I was able to get the job without even having an interview. I had to quit right away when I found out I was pregnant due to the spotting. Plus I was scared to death of my cervix. Good thing I did quit because at 10 weeks I was 1 cm dilated.

Well, I hadn't planned on going back to work unless something really amazing came up. I love being home with Dorothy. But on Friday I got a call from my MIL. "How would you like to start work on Monday?" In spite of the short notice, my mom agreed to watch Dorothy for me. Grandma is next best to Mommy and it will give her some good bonding time with her. I am only working 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. And most likely it will only be for 4 months due to the fact that they are switching to electronic records as we speak. They just need someone to help in the meantime.

Now we can save a bit for the next pregnancy:)

Wish me luck.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

6 things about MEME

So, Sarah tagged me and I have to tell you all 6 weird things about myself. This could be interesting.

1. I am a separate eater. My food cannot touch. And I eat one thing at a time in order around the plate, leaving the thing I like best for the last. I think the world would be a beautiful place if we all used those plastic plates with the compartments in them:)

2. When I was pregnant, it was not the typical gross smells that got to me... it was anything soap-like. The clean laundry was by far the worst. Instant gagging. Our bedroom "stunk" so bad I had to wear vicks under my nose. I gagged the moment I walked into our house (eventually even when my nose was plugged). Dishes were untouchable. The only room in the house that did not give me heaves? The bathroom. Go figure.

3. Something funny to go with the pregnancy laundry aversion...normally it (clean laundry) is one of my favorite smells. In the process of folding the laundry I will frequently bring a clean item of clothing up to my nose and breathe in slowly. The fresher from the dryer the better. There is something relaxing about this for me, almost like meditation, only not.

4. I arrange my closet in rainbow order and/or by the size of the garment. My closet goes like this: Short dresses, long dresses, short skirts, long skirts, pants. Then it goes to my shirts. They go like so: white, gray, black, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple. Within each color section, they hang from short sleeves, to 3/4 length sleeves, to long sleeves, to sweater/jacket. Then if I want to wear a green short sleeve shirt, I know right where it is. David doesn't care so much, so I just arrange by size... pants, short sleeve polo shirts, short sleeve button-up shirts, long sleeve button-up shirts, long sleeve t-shirts, sweaters, then Jackets.

5. Now, something about my drawers (no, not that kind). I put everything in order, most recently worn on the bottom. That way they rotate though, and one item won't get worn out faster than the others. This includes all t-shirts, pajamas, underwear and socks.

6. An interesting embarrassment from youth is my vanity. I always hated the way I looked, especially despising my nose, which I was made fun of for unceasingly throughout grade school. I would look into the mirror and imagine myself beautiful. We had the kind of mirror where both sides opened so you could see yourself from several angles. And the hair. The hair I was always proud of. In fact it was the only feature I didn't hate. So I brushed it and watched it swish back and forth. One of my favorite things was to joke around and sing, "Ghirmack bounceback beautiful hair." Oh, the shame.

So I tag Catherine, Terri, and Emma.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Developments

Since we switched to formula, Dorothy is like a different child. We have had no inconsolable screaming in about 3 weeks, and let me tell you that I am very pleased with this development. She has also recently started going longer in between her bottles. She'll now go 3, sometimes close to 4 hours, and does much less of the "snacky" eating that she did before. If I had known how well she was going to do, I most certainly would have made the switch sooner. In the beginning, I wanted to breastfeed at least a year; longer if she wanted to. I had high hopes, and much mommy-guilt when I gave it up. But seeing how happy and content she has been so much of the time lately, I am confident that it was the right decision for us.

On the sleeping front she continues to do well. I was fully expecting when I had her that it was going to be a struggle to get her to sleep through the night. At her 6 week check her Pediatrician gave us a handout on sleeping through the night. We put her in her own room that very night and she slept 9 hours. The only times she wakes up at night to eat is when she has had a cold, a growth spurt, or has been in the same room with us (we all sleep much lighter when in the room together). Her bedtime is around 8 pm, but can vary some. If she hasn't napped as much, she goes down sometimes as early as 6:30. Those nights, she'll still sleep well, but wakes up at 6am. She averages between 10 and 12 hours. Even if she wakes up briefly, she puts herself back to sleep well unless she is really hungry, in which case I'll feed her and she goes right back down. I'm spoiled, I know:)

The rolling over has been really sporadic. I thought she would be rolling over more consistently by this point, but it's really hit and miss. She is definitely learning new things all the time, including how to laugh. She loves it when I dance with her around the room, or bounce her while I sing silly little tunes. Definitely my child!

In all, I'm having a lot of fun learning how to be a mommy to her.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Getting Better

I'm finally recovering from this cold after close to 2 weeks. Dorothy got it from me, but it has seemed to be more mild for her, which I'm thankful for. I hate it when she doesn't feel good and there's nothing I can do for her. A few days ago, in spite of the fact that I did everything they told me to do when suctioning her nose, I not only failed in getting snot out, but gave her a bloody nose in the process. Needless to say there was much mommy-guilt. There was screaming. There was crying. There was flopping and flailing.

Oh, and Dorothy was pretty upset as well.

So David and I went to WalMart to pick out a humidifier for her bedroom. We stood in front of the display comparing notes on each one, wondering which one would do the job best. We settled on a warm steam vaporizer that also had a little tray for holding liquid vicks. It seemed to work well and didn't make the room too damp when it was on the lower of the two settings.

I was going to upload a video or two of Dorothy, but Photobucket was giving me issues, so they will have to wait. I guess pictures will have to suffice for now.

Daddy and Daughter watching the big game yesterday:



More pictures of Dorothy enjoying her legs (I find it funny that she doesn't notice them until the pants are off and then all of a sudden they are the most fascinating thing ever.
Must touch.
Must kick.