Back at it- Part 1

I feel like it was just the other day when I was sitting at the dinner table crying. It was Oct. 29th (the day before my due date), I had just completed my last day of work before my 4 month maternity leave began. To say that I was emotional would  be an understatement. 

I was upset. I was 40 weeks pregnant and my little man was still sitting comfy inside me. I knew every day that he was late was one less day that I would get to spend with him on my maternity leave.

I was scared. Scared of the unknown and taking on the challenge of being a working mother. I knew things would never be the same once the baby arrived and I was back at it in the work world.

I was anxious. Anxious about the possibility of being induced. I was beyond excited to meet him but wanted him to come on his own terms! I wanted a natural birth for the benefit of him and I both.

I was excited and just plain ready.

I was a ball of emotions. Cody sat there and let me share all my worries then assured me everything would be just fine. I remember that night like it was yesterday. Since that night, I was induced, spent 2 1/2 days getting pumped with pitocin before Mr. Hanley made his grand entrance, brought him home from the hospital, made it though the Holiday Season, watched him change literally by the day as the Seasons flashed before our eyes. Somehow, I am sitting here holding my 4 1/2 month old and just completed my first week back to work.  Where did the time go?

I got off easy on Monday with a half day of work but Tuesday was much harder.  It was the first time I had ever spent a whole day away from him. I questioned myself whether I could really do this when I sat down to pump the first time on Tuesday. One look at his photo during that pumping session and I had tears running down my cheeks.

By Thursday I was feeling much better though. Two things that have helped make the transition much easier. 1) Working part-time 2) My Mom was here all week to help us (Thanks Meme!)

Check back next week for part 2 when I blog about Hanley's week with Meme!

Center of Attention Once Again...

Up until Hanley came along, Roxy was generally the center of attention (Maxi only stole the spot light occasionally). Dr. June and the girls have really fallen in love with the sweet BIG gal she is and have offered to take her for a few days for us a couple times. I think Roxy has really enjoyed her time over at their house too! She LOVES all the attention (and Xiao's cooking!).

She loves Xiao's Chinese cooking and isn't shy about begging for it!

Roxy and Teresa...sitting on the furniture! She really is spoiled at their house!

Hugs from Serena...so sweet!

I think it's pretty clear that Roxy enjoys her time at their house and being center of attention once again! Thanks Dr. June and the girls for taking such good care of our fur baby!

First Bowl

Hanley ordered his first bowl of rice cereal....

Hanley: "Waitress, I would like to order today's special please."
Roxy: "Yes sir! One bowl of rice cereal coming right up!"

The establishment he dined at, took longer than he expected...

"What is taking that woman so long? I am hungry!"

But his bowl came and it looked delicious...

"Hmm...that looks pretty good. Maybe it was worth the wait!"

 Delicious...

 Screw the spoon, dive in...

Hanley was very hands on and really wanted to help Mama feed him. So as you can imagine, by the time we were done he was a mess! It's possible that more ended up on him rather than in him!

Another Week Flies By

It's been another busy week for us...

We have still been working on naps with Hanley. By Thursday last week, he was falling asleep within 5-10 minutes with every nap! Even when I took him into work on Friday, he did great. I set up his bed in Dr. June's office and after just 5 minutes of crying, he was out!

Then, we got off track with a busy weekend and a busy week to follow...

We were in Eugene over the weekend celebrating lots of birthdays and soaking in lots of Grandma time! Kim and I took Hanley to Cottage Grove to visit Great Great Grandma! While we were gone, Cody and Loren set up our elk tent and stoked the fire. I am sooo in love with our tent! I almost wanted to sleep in it that night!


I couldn't believe how warm it was inside with the stove going!

Hangin' with Opa in the tent!

I think the tent has Hanley's stamp of approval!

Later that evening, we dropped Hanley off with my Mom so we could go out to dinner with Kim and Loren for their birthdays.  So, it was a full Grandma kind of day for Mr. Hanley!

On Sunday, we went out to breakfast with Wayne and Brooke then stopped by to help celebrate Aiden's 5th Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Aiden! I love that these 3 will grow up playing together!

Hanley and I spent our last Monday together (I return to work next Monday) with a walk and Starbucks date with Jojo! About 2 miles away from Jojo's house, Hanley decided he was done in the stroller and made me carry him home the rest of the way! Lets just say, I got a great workout in!

We made a day trip to Tillamook to visit Great Grandma and Grandpa. While we were there, we also had lunch with my Aunt and Uncle.  Hanley just loved my Uncle Norm!!!

Anyone who knows my Grandpa, knows that none of the kids can leave his house without him slipping them a buck or two. I think Hanley's piggy bank holds more money than ours! 

So far, it's been a busy week but I hope things slow down so I can just simply enjoy Hanley cuddles while I can...

Sophie La Girafe

Mr. Hanley seems like he is beginning to teeth.  He chews on EVERYTHING except for the teethers we have around the house.  So, I caved and bought him a Sophie Giraffe.  Cody wasn't thrilled about the idea of spending 20 bucks on a teething toy but I have heard such great things about them that I thought it was worth a shot!



"Hmm, Now how does this thing work...?"







"Okay, Maybe I will try it this way..."









"Well this is a little better..."

 "Bingo! Alright...Now we are talkin'!"

I am going to go ahead and say it was a good purchase!

There Were Day's...

As my maternity leave wraps up, I think about all the days and all the emotions in the past few months.  If I am being honest, there were days...

Days that I couldn't wait for Friday so Cody would be home for the weekend to help me with Hanley.

Days that I had to sit Cody down and tell him how much I appreciate him doing chores around the house on the weekends but what I really needed was him to take Hanley so I could have a break and do the chores, uninterrupted.

Days that I felt guilty for wanting a break from Hanley because I knew once I am back to work, I would be wishing for that time with him again.

Days (okay, maybe weeks) that even the thought of going back to work and leaving Hanley with a sitter brought me to uncontrollable tears.

Days that I felt like I did nothing but sit on the couch and FEED!

Days that I felt like I was not cut out to be a stay-at-home Mom and needed to go back to work.

Days that I had to convince myself that this is the perfect time to go back to work. Telling myself that I have had quality time with him at home to create a strong mother-baby bond but he's young enough to not really know whats going on when I go back to work. Going to the sitter's will just be the norm for him from the start.

Days where I have to convince myself that returning to work will financially benefit Hanley and help us provide the kind of life we want for him.

Days that I am beyond appreciative of my extended maternity leave but wish for just a few more weeks.

Days where I think 'Hey, Maybe I COULD do this SAHM thing!'

Days where I just want to freeze time.

Days where I just look at him with tears in my eyes because I love him so much.

There have been lots of days filled with different thoughts and emotions but one thing I can say is there hasn't been a single day with him that I have taken for granted. I have LOVED everyday at home, the good ones and the bad hard ones.

4 Months

Wow, where have the last 4 months gone?! Our little guy is getting big much faster than this Mama is ready for! Today he had his 4 month Well Baby check-up.  He did great with the vaccinations...almost no tears! What a tough guy!

Length: 25.5 inches (70%)
Weight: 15lbs 12 oz (60%)
Head Circumference: 16.75 inches (80%)

Dr. Hall says he is a healthy, growing little BIG guy! He also said we can introduce rice cereal at anytime.



Kickin' it with Bert and Ernie on his 4 month birthday!

Highlights

A couple highlights from the past 2 weeks:

-We went to visit Courtney is Seattle. While we were there we also got to meet baby Isaac for the 1st time. Roxy stayed with Dr. June and the girls and got completely spoiled.  She loved being center of attention.

-Uncle Caleb sent Hanley shoes from Alaska. They are absolutely adorable!

-Hanley loves reading before nap time!  Maxi loves it too! Although she would rather sit on my lab, she settles for cuddling up next to us on the rocking chair. I just love how Hanley has to have one had on the cat and the other on his book!

 

-I started letting Hanley cry it out for nap time.  It's been hard on me but we want him to learn to self soothe. On day 1, I thought no way was this going to work but we are getting the hang of it.

-We made 2 trips down to Eugene this week. One over the weekend, as a family which was a lot of fun.  I enjoyed a couple hours away by myself when I went to Marissa's baby shower for Hudson! Sherri and Shantele did an AMAZING job on the shower!!! Since the Draper's are finally home, Ashley got to meet Hanley for the 1st time too! Then, Hanley and I made the trip down later in the week to see my Dad! Hanley loved every minute with Grandpa!

-We finally got Hanley's rash under control! The poor kid was miserable and was up all night for a week. So as you can imagine, everyone in this household was exhausted.  I took him to his pediatrician and to the dermatologist and they determined he had severe craddle cap, eczema and a bacterial infection.  So, he was put on antibiotics and a steriod cream.  His skin is clear now and he is once again a happy boy!

-Hanley spent his first half day with his babysitter, April. Even after crying for 30 minutes before he went down for his nap, he is still invited back! Thank goodness because we really like her!

Today is Friday! Cody and I are looking forward to a low key kind of weekend at home!