Laughter

What is the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard? When you read that question, does something immediately pop into your head? Is it the voice of your favorite singer? Or something more like the crashing of waves on the shore or wind chimes chiming in the breeze? For me, it’s a more recent sound. The sound of my baby girls laugh. She laughed for the first time this past Sunday. Now I don’t believe that most people would even qualify it as a laugh or even a giggle. In fact, some might consider it merely a “ha” lacking its fellow “ha”, but to me, it was definitely a laugh and it was the most beautiful sound in the world! It was pure, unadulterated joy. With her little toothless grin beaming at me from the silly sound that had brought on this mirthful moment. I can’t even adequately describe the feelings I felt hearing that and seeing her beautiful face in that moment but my heart sang. This beautiful little angel made music with a laugh. I fully believe that this is the sound that can change the world if you let it. If only the world would listen and know the innocence that exists and take us all back to that kind of joy there might be a lot less to worry about. Don’t you think? Daddy has yet to hear this joyful babble, she’s only done it one other time yesterday at grandma's. I’m sure it'll become more frequent and become even more full in giggling glee. I definitely look forward to the laughter we’ll share with our daughter with each new day.

A Day in the life of this Working Mom

Well, I've been back at work for three weeks. It seems like longer! Work is fine, I'm back in the old routine there, still bored. But my home routine is totally new and very busy! Here is a glimpse into my day:

5:00 a.m. Up to take my shower
5:30 a.m. Get Mila out of her swaddle to start waking up in the crib
5:45 a.m. Blow dry hair, do make-up, eat breakfast
6:00 a.m. Tummy Time for M
6:05 a.m. Give M her Vitamin D
6:10 a.m. Feed M
6:30 a.m. Get Breastmilk out of the freezer, pack breast pump bag
6:45 a.m. Change M
6:50 a.m. Load the car with diaper bag, breast pump, lunch bag and warm car
6:55 a.m. Load M in carseat and into car
6:58 a.m. - 7:06 a.m. off to daycare singing our ABC's
7:10 a.m. Drop M off with Ms. Sue at daycare
7:15 a.m. Drive to Work
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Work
Pump at 9:30 a.m, 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m.
5:00 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. Drive Home
6:00 p.m Feed Mila
6:45 ish to 7:15 ish - Story for M and down to sleep
7:15 - 8:00 Eat and some sit time
8:00 - 8:45 Clean all bottles, pump parts from daycare and work, make lunch
8:50 p.m. Wake M, change and feed.
9:30 ish - 10:00 ish Put M to sleep
After 10, me to bed, wake M to feed between 2-3 a.m.

... and start all over again at 5!

Luckily, Marc helps with the dog and around the house stuff or else I might drop! But I truly wouldn't trade a moment. I love being a mom. Watching my little one learn new things every day, growing and smiling and cooing and kicking! I would, however, definitely trade moments at work for more moments with my family and my little girl. We'll see what we can do about that!

M’s first adventure

It was a busy and emotional week last week as our little bun started her first big adventure… daycare. And I… well I had to return to work. I wanted to write several times but would start crying every time I tried. Last Monday was her first day at daycare. I decided to start her with a half day since I didn’t have to start work until that Wednesday. So I headed into the center, apprehensive and sad. The infant room is at the end of the hall and that felt like I was walking the green mile! I got to the classroom and it seemed like a bit of mayhem. There seemed to be more kids than should be allowed for only one provider, which there was as Sue, the teacher explained, on Monday mornings the toddler’s are in there until 7 a.m. (it was after 7). Well, as a new mom, dropping off her baby girl at daycare for the first time, this did not help ease my nerves. But I took my little M out of her carseat and hugged her tight as she stuck her little butt out, raised her arms up and craned her neck in her usual M stretch. “Mama will be here in a bit to get you. Be a good girl” I kissed her little chipmunk cheek and gently handed her to Sue. I walked out quickly so that I didn’t cry in the center. When I reached my car, the tears came as if a flood gate had opened. I hated it. She’s my baby, I should be with her every moment I can until she starts school! Damn bills. Damn car payment. But I had to pull out of the parking lot, it’s not like I could sit there until noon counting the minutes. I would go crazier than I already was. So, from there, I took a practice drive to work, trying unsuccessfully not to cry. I made it to work and continued on to mom’s house so that I wouldn’t just go home and cry. At mom’s, little E was there and when I walked in the door he came running around the corner, looked up at me inquiringly and said “baby?”. It was almost enough to start the tears again. He had gotten used to seeing his little cousin when he saw me as they had spent the last couple of mom’s off days together. So I visited with mom and E for a bit before I had to run a grocery errand and then home to pump before I picked up my little bun. I was counting the minutes. When I got to the center to pick her up, there she was, as innocent and adorable as she could be, laying in Sue’s arms. She looked so calm with her little bright eyes looking up from her green pjs. My smile was endless as I took her in my arms and laid several kisses on her cute cheeks. Well, it’s been a week of her at daycare and it seems we’ve been blessed with a very good baby. She gets good reports from Sue and the afternoon provider Kim. They told Marc that she’s very bright as she seems to be practiced at several milestones that many babies have not yet reached at her age. Great eye contact, holds her head up well and coos to conversation. That sure made me feel good.

But here I am at work and I miss my little ladybug every minute. I definitely have to figure something else out. I just don’t want to miss out on so much! Even if I’m working part time, it’s still better than being apart so many hours during the day. She’s changing so fast. Everyday she’s exploring more, whether it’s a new face she makes, a new sound she can tries with her voice or discovering that she can suck on her hand (which daddy tries to prevent). She’s such a beautiful and amazing baby girl who will have many adventures to come and I want to share as many as I can with her and her daddy (and her pup).