IN THE GROOVE OF THINGS

Well, I am officially an adult!  As if graduating college, turning 27 last year, getting married, and getting pregnant didn't make me one already.  I have always wanted to be a "morning person", yet, never found the energy to get my rear out of bed.  I would literally drag myself out of bed after pushing the snooze button about 10 times (no, really), and have maybe 15 minutes to get ready before I would have to be at work.  Now, I have an excuse to get out of bed.  And guess what...I don't even have to set my alarm.  She wakes around 6am every morning, allowing me to feed her, then actually feed myself in the quiet peace of my own home.  Not on the way to work, not walking into work, and not during my Kindergartner's snack time.  It's glorious!  I have a whole hour and a half of time to myself in the mornings which makes for a much better day.

Last Thursday was K's first day of school at Springbok Academy.  I was so excited to bring her to work with me!  I have been able to nurse her on my lunch breaks, and today, my boss let me feed her in my classroom while my class played in centers (a bottle of course).  I love that I can just walk back to her class and see her throughout the day.  She seems to be adjusting well.  I am so happy she has baby friends now.  I can't wait until she can come home and tell me about her days at school.  As for now, it's bottle feedings, diaper changes, and naps I get to look forward to hearing about.

Side note...she has outgrown all of her newborn clothes...sad day : (

      Things K LOVES this week:

sleeping in her crib at school

bouncy time with her baby friends

listening to the "white noise" app on my phone



My last week of maternity leave...

Well, it's my last week of maternity leave and I am trying to get in as much time with K as I can!  She is so alert these days and I love it.  She is having more and more tummy time, and I can just see her  muscles strengthening every time.  She is now lifting her head and turning it from side to side.   Her facial expressions are getting more and more animated.  I swear she was laughing at me last night.  We found out this past weekend that she loves listening to the vacuum.  Matt had been cleaning the living room (yes, ladies I am a very blessed girl because my husband actually cleans AND vacuums).  K and I were in the bedroom and she was very upset after I had changed her diaper.  All of the sudden, she heard the vacuum and immediately calmed down.  Needless to say, the vacuum now sits outside our bedroom for those sleepless nights. 

So, back to the fact that this is my LAST week with her before I go back to work!  Thankfully, she will be taken great care of in the infant room where I work.  I will be able to go check on her from time to time throughout the day to steal kisses and hugs.  If she gets sick, I will be a room away and will be able to go make her feel better.  If some little baby boy breaks her heart, I will be able to go comfort her in an instant : )  I say that because there are two little boys that will be hanging out with K in the infant room.  I am excited to go back to work and to have a routine going again.  I have missed my friends there, including my little 5 and 6 year olds!  All in all, I feel very blessed that I was able to take these 7 weeks off to be with my little girl.

Things K LOVES this week:

taking baths (I can't believe she doesn't cry)

the vacuum

listening to bird sounds while she swings

napping with Daddy

the dogs love hanging out with their sister

she likes sleeping with her arms up like this

so sweet

her eyes are starting to lighten up

We have a red headed baby

her passi takes up half of her face

she loves playing with Daddy

Bathtime

Not sure what she was looking at here



Sleeping baby

The past two nights, K has slept 4 1/2 hours straight!  I can't even put into words how wonderful this has been.  I love my baby girl, but I NEED my sleep in order to function properly...like most people do.  So, this morning I got up when Matt left for work at 7:15am.  I fed K, made my morning coffee, and caught up on some reading and journaling.  I felt so refreshed and I am actually looking forward to waking up just as early tomorrow to get our day started. 

K is getting so big!  My guess is that she weighs close to 10 pounds now.  She is still wearing newborn clothes, but I am starting to put her in some of the 3 months too!  Funny story...  This past weekend Matt, Kingsley, and I went to Irving to hang out with family.  We started out at my mom's place.  I had put her in a cute outfit (her first time to wear jeans), and low and behold, she had a huge blowout!  Thankfully, I had made a quick trip to Kohl's, so I missed the fun.  Evidently, my mom was holding her and my cousin, Josh, kept saying, "something smells...I think she pooped".  My mom said she was waiting for her to finish, not knowing she had pooped all over herself : )  Then, while we were getting ready to leave to go to my Dad's, K spit up all over her second outfit.  Lesson learned here: when we are going somewhere and I want her to look really cute, wait to put her in the cute outfit until right before we walk in!  Luckily, I had four outfits in her diaper bag that day.

Things K LOVES this week:

taking walks around the block in her new stroller

my ring sling (every new mom needs one)

spending Monday evenings with Grandma Cline

lifting up her head and looking around the room



It won't be like this for long...

Today, our angel is one month old!  It seems like just yesterday we were trucking through the snow to get to the hospital.  What a wonderful blessing these last four weeks have been.  Each day that passes, she is growing, changing, and maturing into a beautiful child of God.  Her tiny hands will soon be big enough to clasp mine.  Her little body will soon be wearing a tutu dancing around the living room.  Her beautiful eyes will soon be able to see the wonders of this world.  My hope and prayer for miss Kingsley Grace is that she grows up and follows her dreams with passion wherever they may take her.  That she would come to know and love Christ and walk with Him through life.  That she would treat the world/people with kindness and respect.  Looking over at her sleeping in her daddy's arms, I can't help but wonder what she will look like when she grows up.  What will her struggles and strengths be.  Who will she fall in love with and who will break her heart.  As a mother, I know I will want to protect her from this world.  But I also know I will have to let her spread her wings and fly.  So many emotions fill up my heart....and she is only a month old!  The song, "It won't be like this for long", is stuck in my head today. 

"It won’t be like this for long

One day we'll look back laughin’

At the week we brought her home

This phase is gonna fly by

So baby just hold on

‘Cause it won't be like this for long"

 
Things Kingsley LOVES this week:

nighttime

starting to love her swing

mylicon drops : )

sitting in the sunlight

playing video games with Daddy