Back and Forth
We're back!
We got back Tuesday night from our little trip to Ohio and are now resting and recovering (and gearing up for the return to work). The trip was great! Mela was a champ for the long car ride (10 hrs there, little shorter on the way back); she only got cranky a few times (e.g. when she got her lunch 3 hours past when she was supposed to).
Renting a minivan turned out to be a great idea (we were all comfortable for once) and we got to see way more family than I thought we would. Of course, Mela seduced everyone with her entertaining tricks (waving bye-bye!), and it only took about a day for her to get used to napping in the playpen. Sleeping with her on the pull-out couch was less than great (she woke up one night at 2 am and was wide awake, trying to crawl off the edges, until 4 am) but overall, could've been worse.
And the highlight was seeing my grandma (her "GG") get a real kick out of her. With 15 great-grandchildren (so far!), you could excuse her if she was a little blase by now about another one but she really loves babies and delighted in Mela's every move. It was great.
In other news, we now officially have two upper teeth that have broken through, Mela can wave bye-bye (and as of this evening, clap her hands!), and has become proficient at moving along a piece of furniture by taking little steps. Lots has happened over the weekend!
And going forth ... Amelia spent this afternoon with Maria, the nanny, and I went into work. I was only there for 2.5 hrs, and it was great. Because it was so short, it didn't feel like an official return to work but I got to get dressed up, get out of the house, have a meeting, sharpen some pencils and feel smart. Perfect! Mela didn't even glance up when I left the house and, although she seemed happy to see me when I got back, just scrunched her nose and smiled and didn't seem that bothered. I give the nanny 100% credit.
Going forward, I'll be working two full days the next two weeks, which will be more demanding (we'll actually have to put into action the whole "dropoff/pickup routine," which promises less sleep and more stress) but at least it's not full time yet. And I found out today that my maternity leave replacement is going to stay on all summer and we're going to share the job! Hoorah for less work!
And tomorrow we have an ultrasound! Can't wait to find out if there's something to see.
Here are a couple pics from the trip:
With her GG:
Asleep on the pullout couch:
Reading a book in the car:
We got back Tuesday night from our little trip to Ohio and are now resting and recovering (and gearing up for the return to work). The trip was great! Mela was a champ for the long car ride (10 hrs there, little shorter on the way back); she only got cranky a few times (e.g. when she got her lunch 3 hours past when she was supposed to).
Renting a minivan turned out to be a great idea (we were all comfortable for once) and we got to see way more family than I thought we would. Of course, Mela seduced everyone with her entertaining tricks (waving bye-bye!), and it only took about a day for her to get used to napping in the playpen. Sleeping with her on the pull-out couch was less than great (she woke up one night at 2 am and was wide awake, trying to crawl off the edges, until 4 am) but overall, could've been worse.
And the highlight was seeing my grandma (her "GG") get a real kick out of her. With 15 great-grandchildren (so far!), you could excuse her if she was a little blase by now about another one but she really loves babies and delighted in Mela's every move. It was great.
In other news, we now officially have two upper teeth that have broken through, Mela can wave bye-bye (and as of this evening, clap her hands!), and has become proficient at moving along a piece of furniture by taking little steps. Lots has happened over the weekend!
And going forth ... Amelia spent this afternoon with Maria, the nanny, and I went into work. I was only there for 2.5 hrs, and it was great. Because it was so short, it didn't feel like an official return to work but I got to get dressed up, get out of the house, have a meeting, sharpen some pencils and feel smart. Perfect! Mela didn't even glance up when I left the house and, although she seemed happy to see me when I got back, just scrunched her nose and smiled and didn't seem that bothered. I give the nanny 100% credit.
Going forward, I'll be working two full days the next two weeks, which will be more demanding (we'll actually have to put into action the whole "dropoff/pickup routine," which promises less sleep and more stress) but at least it's not full time yet. And I found out today that my maternity leave replacement is going to stay on all summer and we're going to share the job! Hoorah for less work!
And tomorrow we have an ultrasound! Can't wait to find out if there's something to see.
Here are a couple pics from the trip:
With her GG:
Asleep on the pullout couch:
Reading a book in the car:
Comments
What awesome pictures. I talked to gramma and she went on and on about the trip- there was nothing blase about it! She tells a great story about the Riehles being characteristically loud and Meli putting her hands over her ears and scrunching up her nose. LOVE IT.
If you have other pics please post them on afryn.
Definitely weird to be there with my baby (but no husband) - still felt like a teenager.
Other pics are posted on afryn.