Tiring!

Ava's Boppy Pictures from 8-16 weeks old


I forgot how tiring working full time and raising kids can be! The good news is that I love my new assignment and the babies are transitioning really well into our new life. Ava is doing great at daycare and has managed to keep it to only two feedings a day that I miss. I hope we can keep it that way because I really don't enjoy pumping all that much :) Tomorrow is Friday and so far so good with our morning routine. I actually enjoy spending time with them in the morning before work. I thought it was going to be rough and a bunch of running around, but that's not the case (yet!)


This weekend Andy and I are going on a real, nighttime date for the first time since Ava was born. We are going to Laguna to the Pageant of the Masters and I can't wait! The only sad part is I didn't realize it was going to be my first week back to work when I bought the tickets in January. I know it will still be a great time though and we really need some couple time!

Sad :(

Today was my first full day back at work and Ava's first day of daycare ever. Andy usually brings Zach to daycare for 6:30 and then (when I was working) I would get ready to be to work by 7:30. Now I don't have to be in until a little later so I figured I would try to bring them for her first day. The morning routine actually went very smoothly minus the last 15 minutes of running around trying to get everything together. I just need to do a little more prep to make it a little easier on everyone. Good news is that Ava did really well. I only missed two feedings and she was a pleasant baby all day. Joe even got some giggles out of her. Once I picked them up it was tough though. They both wanted me and I didn't know who to go to first. As soon as Ava saw me she wanted to nurse to make up for lost time. I also don't think she slept very much with all of the stimulation. She is already asleep for the night at 8:00 and fell asleep when I put her on our bed for a minute. So far so good though! I hope the transition into my working full-time again can continue to go smoothly. Fingers and toes are crossed!

aquatic!

The theme has been water for the weekend.Saturday we went to the Bass Pro Shop and Zach was in love with the aquarium. The whole store is like a zoo for the timid. Everything is stuffed so he didn't have any fears. Some of the catfish weighed more than my toddler and boy were they ugly. One little fish was in love with Zach and kept trying to play with him. Zach really enjoyed it! Today we did our first trek up to the big pool. Zach started a bit timid, but by the time we wanted to leave we had to drag him out! He loves his new life vest, but he still needed to hold on to our hands.

Mom's eye view


Happy baby feet!

Tiring

Today was my first day back to work and it went very well. I really think I am going to like my new assignment and everyone seems so nice! The kids are super cute at this age (3-5 yo) and I am in that mindset any ways with my own child. The only problem with the day is that Ava decided to have her worst night ever!!! She usually sleeps from 8 or 9 to 3 or 4 then wakes up around 5 or 6 to eat again. Not last night! She was up at 10:30 (I fell asleep around 10ish), 12, 1:30 and restless until 2 something with gas. Then she woke again at 5 and I had to get up for 6 to go to work. Ugg! Needless to say I am tired. I guess I should try to nap while she is napping. Tonight is Mom's Night Out! Woo hoo! Monday will be the start to our new morning routine. Andy usually takes Zach to daycare on his way to work and then I get ready after they leave. I am going to try bringing them to daycare before work on Monday and see how that works out. If it is pure chaos then I will have him go back to taking them. It's Ava's first day though so I want to be there. This morning was cute because we weren't rushing Zach out of the door and he was able to cuddle with his sister in bed while I was getting ready. He just loves his sister, sometimes too much! Don't they look so much more alike in this pictures?!

Where there is a will...

there is a way! My child is never giving up the binkie. I have decided that when he is two and a half and Ava is one that the whole house is going to go cold turkey if he hasn't done it on his own yet! That is my thinking for today. It may change once we hit that point though :-) In other news, it's back to work for me tomorrow. I will miss Ava but I just have to jump in and do it. Working makes me miss them and cherish our time together, plus it pays the bills, so I know it's just something I have to do. Wish me luck!

Ava Update!

We went to the lactation clinic yesterday and our little baby is now 13 lbs 5.6 oz and taking in almost 5 oz of breastmilk (that's just one side because my kids are weird and only do one side at a time, it's a wonder I don't tip over!) She was the biggest baby in the place! I'm so glad we went though because that last time she was only taking in under 3 oz so her bottles for daycare wouldn't have cut it. She is getting so big so fast. She is in love with her exersaucer and sitting up like a big girl. Have I mentioned how happy I am to have a daughter lately?!

Who knew?!

That an almost two year old could fit just fine into an exersaucer?! He got in just fine on his own after he saw Ava playing in it, but he couldn't get out! I guess we do still have a way to contain the energy that is our son :) In other news, we booked our flight for Oregon in November! Woo Woo! Less than $200 a piece! So we will be seeing our Oregon friends and family soon! We can't wait to meet all of those new little people!

Questioning

(1) Andy (2) Sarah (3) Ava

Who do you think she looks like now???

Zach's 22 Month Photos

Zach wasn't very cooperative at our last photo shoot, but I thought these came out cute! I guess I forgot to put these up with Ava's pix.

Full of chub!

I forgot to mention that I have now joined weight watchers and am waging a serious battle against the chub! Ava and I are both super chubby at the moment and because she is 3 months old it is OK. Also because she is 3 months old that means I have to get serious! I also started a walking group with the other moms in my mommy group and I really hope it works out and keeps us motivated! That being said, yesterday we hosted the Sundae party at our house and it was the first real test! I did indulge in a scoop of ice cream and a bunch of banana :) This is a picture that I stole from my friend Erin's blog. It's Zach and Sophia playing peek-a-boo after a filling meal of ice cream and bananas! They start flirting at such a young age!

Today has been a trying day. My kids are so bi-polar! They are either super happy or screaming for no reason today. I brought Zach to our version of the aquarium (the fish section at PetCo) and he flipped out when we had to leave. He wanted to see the doggies (oggies!) and I wanted to go to Target. He screamed and I turned up the radio and he screamed even louder! This crazy scream that I had never heard before.
He IS almost two, afterall! Ava is just unhappy all around today. She has taken a few short naps but nothing long enough to put her in a better mood. I think she got used to us being alone again this week. What is she going to do at daycare?! We'll find out a week from Monday.