Mail surprises

This came in the mail shortly after Lila was born. Not a bad addition to a baby book if you ask me!

1 month

Look at me, I'm one month old!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Mommy's little valentine started the day off in this outfit...but went through SIX by the end of the day. Messy girl!

Tummy time

She is getting so strong already! We do tummy time to make her neck muscles stronger, but so far all she's done is fall asleep or roll off the mat.

Lila's first bath

Well it took that silly little stump forEVER to fall off, so Lila finally got her first real bath after almost three weeks. Just in the nick of time, since she was pretty over the sponge bath. But she has so much hair, and is prone to spit up so it gets stuck in all that pretty hair, so it became a necessary evil. I'm so glad I took an infant massage class with Hayden so I can use the same techniques on Lila.

I put her in the tub with her diaper on while I got the water ready, and so she could get a feel for the mesh part of her tub. I love this little tub!

She didn't love it, that's for sure! But we got through it, and after a few more baths have figured out what she likes and what she doesn't. I love to cuddle her after her bath, and she appreciates the extra snuggles.

Back to work

Yesterday was my first day back to work. Because of the logistics of when I started this job, when it became full time and when my benefits started, I hadn't been a full-time, regular employee for a full year when Lila was born. This means I wasn't eligible for FMLA, or voluntary shared leave (where my coworkers could donate their leave to me). So I had four weeks of leave built up, and that was it. I could have taken leave without pay, but since I carry our insurance I would not only be without pay, but would owe GTCC for my insurance. This just didn't make sense for two weeks at home, so I decided to come back after four weeks. What helped with this decision was that Jay would be home with the kids, and I wasn't having to send Lila to daycare. I figure I got to spend a whole year at home with Hayden, and then had all the time when Jay was in training, in Afghanistan and in the field...so now he gets to spend similar time with Lila (and Hayden too).

We are still figuring out the logistics of how everything works, but we got off to a good start yesterday. I went to the doctor for my four-week check up and to get my paperwork. My appointment was at 9, I was at my desk by 10. Before I left the house I made sure Jay had a bottle to get her started, pumped milk defrosted, Hayden and Oscar situated and plans to come home at lunch. Right now I have it in my head that I can feed her before I leave, pump once at work, go home for lunch to feed her, pump again at work and be home for her late afternoon feeding. That worked yesterday and so far works today, we'll see how it goes! I didn't have a lot of these issues with Hayden since I didn't work for the first year, so it's a lot of learning for us. But we seem to be handling it okay.

I made it through the day without any tears. I think because she's home with Jay and right down the road it makes it a little easier. Next up? Get pictures of her in my office so I can see her sweet face all day!

Thoughts on 30

Remember when 30 sounded so impossibly ancient you could never imagine being that old? Well here it is...or was, I should say. This time last year I thought about a trip for my 30th birthday...Vegas, or a cruise, somewhere fun and exciting and youthful and NOT 30. Shortly after some preliminary plans, I found out I was expecting, and realized I'd either spend my 30th birthday pregnant, in labor or nursing. And really, it didn't sound so bad. What's so scary about turning 30? I honestly can't remember. I wonder what my 20-year-old self thought I'd have accomplished at 30? If I think back, I vaguely remember the idea of having my Masters and living somewhere near my fabulous friends, working and certainly not being married. 30-year-old me is pretty proud to have accomplished my Bachelor's degree, having lived in Germany for almost five years, being a wife, mother of two and a homeowner by 30.

The day passed with little fanfare, as I was nearing the end of my maternity leave. I had phone calls and texts and cards, my parents came by with lunch, but mostly I spent the day in my own house with my sweet family. I didn't look for new gray hairs or wrinkles, or lament about the wild things I forgot to do before I turned 30. Maybe it's 30, or motherhood, or five + years of marriage, or my awesome friends and family, but there's a contentment that comes with knowing how to love, and in being loved. In the end, that's what it all comes down to. Because when I pictured a big trip for my birthday, the destination mattered not as much as who was with me. The Class of '04 said it best in our Fall Fest '03 sister song..."In the end I wanna be standing at the beginning with you."

So here's to 30. I still want to go to Vegas. But what a great early birthday present I received in my sweet little Lila.