oh and...

Aidan is 12 weeks old today!!

Hi ho, hi ho...it's off to work I go!

Well I'm getting back in the grove, back to reality, putting my nose to the grindstone, working for my keep...however you want to put it, I'm back to work. I started back this morning, only for a few hours today, but that's how it starts. Next week I will be back starting at around 12 hours and it will quickly build back up to 16-20 hours. Sigh. :)

I have mixed feelings about being back at work. I do love my job, and particularly the work that I do. I also love my co-workers. But it's always hard to leave your baby. Aidan did awesome at daycare today (as did Olivia, but that is to be expected) and I have zero quams with leaving him. It's just the part of me that wishes I could be home full-time. Then there's the othe part of me that says I would go insane if I was home full-time (that's just me). I have a good balance and I'll get back in the groove, it's just hard at first.

Wish me luck!

California, here we come! Or there we went!

What a glorious trip we had! Aidan and I flew out Saturday am to Sacramento to visit my roommate and BFF Delinda and her little lady Lola. Lola is 6 weeks old (exactly one month and one day younger than Aidan) and she is just a little doll. I'm sure Aidan will want to marry her one day. :) Aidan did awesome on the plane, both ways. He slept 95% of both flights except for when I was feeding him. I was so thankful!!

Delinda, the babes, and I had a great time going for walks, shopping, eating, watching daytime TV, NURSING (like all the time), and going to San Fransisco. Here are just a few pictures from our trip...

Matching outfits and cute little piggies!

Friend Amy in San Fran, Pier 39

My little man

A break from shopping and photo shoot

Aren't they just adorable??

I love spring!

I am SO loving this spring weather! We have been going outside everyday--going to the park, splashing in puddles (falling in puddles...), playing ball, playdates, walks...it is just glorious! Yesterday we went outside at our house with Olivia's wellies and she jumped around in puddles for almost 45 min. until she fell and got soaking wet! She would have kept going, but it was just a little too cold for that!

Today we went on a playdate with Michael and Marci and walked to the park near their house--the kids had a blast playing. Afterward we ate played more and then ate lunch at their house. It was refreshing for Marci and I because the kids actually got along!! We have had a string of playdates lately where all they seem to do is fight over toys and beat each other! ;) Today they did great!

AND....nap camp day #8: Olivia fell asleep without coming out of her room at all!!!! We've been home a little over 15 min. and she is already asleep! And I got a load of laundry in, and Aidan's still sleeping blissfully in his carseat!!!! YAY!!!

P.S. Did you know I am going to Sacramento with Aidan on Saturday to visit my roommate from college, Delinda and her little baby Lola?? I am SO excited!

Besides napping...

Here's what else we have been up to!

(Oh, and nap camp day #7: 20 min!!!! Both kids asleep!!! YES!!!!)

Weekly Tiny Tots swimming at good ole CIHS! Olivia loves the water!

Aidan's 1st stroller ride! He loved it! And he's 10 weeks today!

Umm.....she was excited about her new crocs...

Children's Museum w/best friend Michael for birthday celebrations!

Nap Camp Update & Aidan's 6 wk. pics

Aidan's pictures done by Awesome Photographer Bridgit:

www.hinklephotography.com/client/babyaidan

Nap Camp Day #3: Fell asleep immediately after coming home from daycare.

Nap Camp Day #4: Relatives at our house, teething, and a cold...not a great combination!! Took 45 min. to get her down--cut back from 2 hours!!

Nap Camp Day #5: Miserable with a cold and teething--Daddy put her down for nap--15 minutes. :)

Nap Camp Day #6 (today): 40 min!! Day 5 was a fluke because she was so sick she just cried herself to sleep for 15 min. and even though today was back to 40 min. I think I only had to go in her room 7 or 8 times!! Way better!! I feel very encouraged! And Aidan is putting himself to sleep for naps when I put him in his crib! I have to give him his nukie a couple times, but he just fusses, doesn't even cry. Hooray!

Stats

The kids both had their well-child checks yesterday--Aidan's 2 month and Olivia's 2 year. It was hectic with both of them at the same time, but yet nice not to have to make 2 trips. Ryan's mom came with and was in the waiting room (she was coming to watch Aidan during Olivia's swimming afterward) so I could bring Olivia out during Aidan's shots--That helped!!!!

Aidan:
10 lb. 12 oz. (22%)
22.5" (26%)

Olivia:
26 lb. fully dressed (40%)
34.5" (67%)

At Olivia's 2 month she was 10 lb. 10 oz. and 23"...they are so close in size!

Nap Camp Day #2

It's 11:58 and Olivia is down for her nap.

However, she fell asleep on the way home from ECFE today--she never falls asleep that early in the day, but she has a cold and is teething. She woke up when we got home and I put her up in her bed and she went right down.

I don't know what this means or if it hurts or helps nap camp. We shall see what Day #3 brings!!

Nap Camp Day #1

Alternately Titled: The Strict Super Nanny Diet
Alternately Titled: I better get something good out of this.

Okay, thank you all for your napping advice whether on blog, facebook, or email. The consensus is Supper Nanny's Stay in Bed Technique. I have tried this to "some degree", which I know Jo would say doesn't work, and it hasn't worked. It is hard for me to be organized with 2 kids to complete the task successfully. Well today was day one of being organized.

Camp took place in Aidan's room, next to Olivia's. Supplies included: Aidan, play mat, bouncy seat, nuk, burp rag, cell phone, home phone, and a glass of water (all that lifting back into bed makes me sweat!). My sweet little man to look at:

Nap Camp began precisely at 12:43, when we got back home from a play date in town. Olivia was tired on the way home, but not tired enough apparently! I made sure she was fed and changed before we left the play date so we could begin immediately with as little attention from me as possible, as this only seems to fuel her fire. At first, I thought we were golden. She went a full 20 min. staying in bed in her room. Silly me however, she must have just been storing her energy for the big play. From 1:17 until she fell asleep at 2:45, she got out of her bed at least 30 times (I lost count). Whenever I would hear her out and playing with something, or opening the door, I would get her and put her back into bed. Not saying a word. I would also remove the play things that could be moved out of her room and put them in the hallway. Outside of the room I did some deep breathing and relaxation techniques (good thing I'm a therapist!) which truly did help me stay calm. Hallway outside her room when it was all said and done:

(and yes, she will be helping me put it all back.)

Aidan and I played for a while, but fortunately, he fell asleep around 1:45 and slept for an hour until just after she woke up. That part worked out great. And if there is a benefit in all of this, I think he my learn to put himself to sleep in his crib awake! Fantastic! After she was finally down, I headed downstairs for my sweet reward:

Here's hoping tomorrow takes less time! Oh crap, it has to, we have Dr. appointments at 3:00...now what? How to handle this one, Super Nanny?

What? 9 weeks??

Where did that time go? I have been dreaming the last few weeks that I am pregnant--yipes! Don't worry, I'm 98% sure that's not true!!! I think it's just my minds way of wondering if these past 9 weeks happened, or if Aidan man is still inside me.

Last week was SUPER busy for us--many birthday celebrations and each day I created an extra-busy morning for us, just so I didn't have to deal with naptime drama. Is that bad?? I just made sure we were super busy and then came home right at naptime and she went right to sleep! Worked great, but I can't do that every day! Today was our first day where we didn't leave the house in the morning (except to play outside) in 8 days! It was nice to be home, but of course, naptime drama returned. Only one hour though and she was down--I guess that's a good thing. I'm hoping this phase will be done with soon because it's awfully draining.

I know I've asked you all about your kids and naptimes before--but give me some more details. Do you have kids who just stay in their beds when you tell them to? Because I don't. Who has kids who repeatedly get up and how do you get them to stay in bed? I know Olivia's not the only one... fess up! :) I'm just thankful that it's only at naptime and not at bedtime too! That is smooth sailing (knock on wood!).

Right now I'm sitting on the couch, laptop on lap, Aidan sleeping next to me (for ease of re-inserting the nuk to get him to sleep a little longer--he's a cat-napper, but going on 2 hours now!), watching the snow fall outside, and wishing it was springtime! :)

Olivia's Birthday!

I remember enjoying brithdays SO much as a kid! It began with anticipation, oh months in advance! Laying in bed the night before your birthday, willing yourself to fall alseep so the big day would finally be here. Waking up to a pile of presents on the kitchen table and a special birthday breakfast, having a party, and just being the special person of the day!

Did you ever know that your parents were not as excited as you were? Or that they were even sad?? I didn't! Maybe my parents were just excited for me to move past wheter year I was in...I was a little, well we'll use the term "spunky", as a youngster. Probably similar to Olivia...maybe vivacious would be a good term... Anyhow, I was sad on Olivia's birthday! Just a little, of course, because I was thrilled to celebrate with her. But my baby girl is 2!! She isn't a baby anymore!

Well we had a great day, starting with dinner with my parents the night before. (Darn blogger for not putting my pictures in the right order, and darn me for never remembering about that!!)

We went to Adventure Park to play with our friends Marci & Michael (Michael's birthday is the day before Olivia). She had a blast!

Monkey bread for breakfast at Daddy's work.


Just proof that I was there too...

Yum!!

Olivia's pink pig cake!

The Haircut