More of life with Millie... because I just can't get enough!

The last you heard from me, I was a little freaked about going back to work. Well, we've been at it for 2 weeks and it's going really well!! Oddly, the biggest challenge is adjusting to our new work environment (they moved our work space to the children's department, which is more "kid friendly"). It's nice to not have pressure to keep quiet and all that, but we're still getting to know our new office neighbors, big and little ;) But so far so good! And I really enjoy keeping Millie with me during the day.

Tonight Mark and I went on our first date without Millie. It was a far cry from last Friday night when we went to dinner and took her with us... she got fussy part way through and tried to eat but wouldn't and then cried and then we got her fed and... so tonight was nice ;) Tonight we went to a restaurant only about half a mile from where Millie was, at Barb's, so we didn't feel like we were too far. We got to sit and talk and enjoy some messy burgers and remember the last time we were there, which was when we had just started dating, talk about how much we enjoy our life and feel like the transition to parenthood is going well, all uninterrupted! Although we always love being with our baby, it was rather sweet to have 1.5 hours out by ourselves ;)

I'm not taking pictures as often because I'm at work during most days but here are some we've taken recently.

Millie is eating her hands all the time these days. She can also grab toys (or whatever is right there), but only really when they are already in her hand. We sometimes put her in the corner of the couch to hangout.

On Saturday's we do a walk/run with some friends (I've mentioned this before). Last weekend Mark decided to try the front pack instead of the stroller (he walks with Millie while I run ahead). Other than the fact that she pee'd through her pants early on (but we didn't know), it went really well! She stayed awake more and really seemed to enjoy it. This picture was taken at the end of the walk when she had fallen asleep.

This is the, "what's that light that keeps snapping at me?" look. But check out those eyes!!

I know this one is blurry, but I love this face! She is also spitting out a little as she tells me something. She is drooling ALL the time!

There's that beautiful smile!!

Tummy time!

After work Millie and I get home by 5 most days and have what I like to call, "Millie time". It's because while at work all day I can't pay as much attention to her so when we get home I try and give her lots of attention, except when I have to be making dinner. I use her as an excuse to just sit and rest a little after work by rocking her and letting her sleep in my arms during her evening short nap.

As if pacifiers aren't hard enough to find when you need them... we call this one the "invisible pacifier" because, in case you can't tell, it can blend well. This is one of about 4 different brands and types of pacifiers currently floating between our home, the diaper bag and my work. Someone had suggested trying a couple different brands to look for one she might keep in on her own. She does keep this one in a little better than some but in the middle of the night, in the dark, it's not the easiest one to find ;)

And this is how we end most evenings. We're pretty excited that Millie is falling asleep by 10 most nights. We put her down shortly after and if she's asleep nice and good, we just wrap up her arms tightly and she's out! Whala! In fact, we try and keep her up for a couple hours before her 10pm bed time and by the time we get her in her pjs and feed her, she sometimes falls asleep within 5 to 10 minutes. Also (less I speak too soon) the past 2 nights I've only had to get up with her once, which is pretty sweet! The first night she slept from 2:30 until after 7. The second night she didn't wake up until 6:30! I don't really expect this will be a habit forever, but it's been nice the past few nights.

Returning to work

It's Saturday night and all I can think about is how on Monday I return to work. I get to take Millie with me, which is pretty cool and I'm really thankful that I have the opportunity to take my baby with me. But I'm nervous about how it will go. I think it will work after we find our groove, but the unknown always scares me. I've so enjoyed my time at home with baby Millie and am a sad that during the time I'm at work my attention will be kind of divided. However, I'm excited about going back to work as well because I really enjoy my job and the people I work with... just the unknown is scary. Trust God... trust God... why is that always so hard to remember?

And because blog posts are just a lot better with pictures, check out my beautiful baby! Now I'm off to feed that beauty and spend the next 45 minutes trying to get her to sleep in her own bed (she likes to suck on the pacifier while falling asleep but can't hold it in herself, so I have to stand there and hold it in for her. And she likes to not stay asleep and wake up every minute or 2 for a while ;) But it's so worth it and I'll look back on these days with such fond memories!! At least she's starting to fall asleep before midnight ;)

Millie's great adventure to Montana

Last Thursday Millie and I flew to Billings, Montana to visit her grandparents and meet Aunt Stini. We left really early so Millie slept through both flights on the way there. I carried her in the sling around the airport and found that it didn't work so great. It's a fantastic sling but hurt my back and Millie likes to look out, which I couldn't figure out how to do in the sling without having hang on to her with one hand (and isn't the point of the sling so you don't have to hang on to them?) So I got a front pack for the way home and it worked WAY better! Millie likes to sleep against your chest or look out, so either position with the front pack worked well. On the way home she was awake for most of the first flight but seemed completely oblivious to being on a plane except her interest in watching people. And she was mildly fussy before falling asleep at the end of the first flight. Although it worked out because even with getting her in and out of the front pack as needed (apparently you can't wear your baby for take off and landing), she slept until we arrived in Portland. All in all she traveled fantastically! Although I ended up a little tired from hauling Millie and all my stuff around the airport. But I seemed to need it all.

We had a great adventure flying and a great time visiting with my parents, Christina, and friends. Here are some pics:

Bonding with Aunt Stini. She told our parents that since she had school and work she got "first dibs" on holding Millie when she was home ;) The first night we pulled a rocker from the office to the dining room doorway to the kitchen so we could rock with Millie and talk with mom in the kitchen. By the way, that's my new hair cut. It's fun!

Millie and Christina playing. Cuddles (the dog) likes to be in the center of everything that's going on so nearly stepped and laid on Millie while trying to get our attention. It was funny.

Millie talking with Grammy.

More talking.

Saturday morning we invited my long time friend Josie and her son and husband to breakfast. We've known each other for over 20 years!! Josie looked great but still feeling somewhat sick, I hadn't gotten dressed or done my hair by breakfast. We had fun reconnecting and meeting eah other's kids. Her little Lincoln is about 20 months.

Later on Saturday mom and I went for our one and only workout (I was supposed to do at least 3, oh well). We borrowed an extra pair of Yak Traks for me to wear since it's snowy there. We did somewhere between 4.5 and 5.5 miles that day walking/running in the snow. It was fun training "Montana" style in the snow.

Millie and Cuddles. When Millie started to fall over a little Cuddles kind of freaked out. Cuddles ignored Millie for the most part. They'll have fun playing more when Millie is older.

Each morning when Millie would wake at some ungodly hour and not fall back asleep, I would bring her up to my parents and enjoy some additional sleep. The first morning it was just after 5am and I guess she sat in their bed and talked to them for a while before falling asleep. The second morning it wasn't until 6. The third morning it was after 7. Although she had originally woken up at 4am and wouldn't go back to sleep but that seemed a little too early. They really enjoyed their time with her each morning and I enjoyed some extra sleep!

Millie 2 months

Millie was 2 months old on Friday the 29th. Wow!! Time has sure flown by!!

Her 2 month appointment was on Monday. She weighed in at 13lbs 14oz and 25in long. The Dr said she is above the 95% percentile on both. Funny kid! She takes after her father... he was over 11lbs at birth! Now I understand why people keep saying she looks big for 2 months. She is!!

This picture was taken a couple weeks ago but is so cute. We just love Millie's little personality that is starting to show. She has come cute funny things she does. All of which we just love to pieces!!

Millie likes to suck on her pacifier before going to sleep. Sometimes she doesn't need it to go to sleep, just during the transition to sleeping time. She still can't hold it in on her own.

This is Millie's nightly routine. She gets rocked for a bit before she goes to bed. Sometimes she falls asleep and sometimes we put her down before she's all the way asleep. But normally Mark rocks with her for a while. She likes her daddy rocking time.

Just a cute picture of Millie. Love these pants on her!

I wish this picture didn't load side ways but it's my current favorite. I have it posted on our fridge. It's just so funny with her little face and finger. She's in the middle of telling us something ;)