16 weeks

Alexis is 16 weeks old today! Hard to believe she's no longer my little "peanut"! I estimate her weight around 13lbs and length around 24 inches...that's 7lbs and 5 1/2 inches more than she was 16 weeks ago!

She's smiling and laughing all the time now. She's still a little wobbly with her head, especially when she's sleepy, but she gets better everyday. She can flip from her tummy to her back, and can almost turn from her back to her tummy...those darn arms just get in her way! Her hands are her favorite toy, and they are always in her mouth. We think she may be teething as she's been a drool faucet for the last 5 or 6 weeks and the sucking on her hands has become more and more frequent. Lexi hates her paci...and will only suck on it for less than a minute before spitting it out, preferring her hands, or mommy's shoulder!

She's been getting rice cereal in her last bottle before bed since she was 2 months old and we've began to give her some on the spoon at least once a day. She's averaging 25 - 30 ounces a day but still doesn't sleep through the night. Waking up at 2:30 am is starting to wear on us. I really hope that as more solids are introduced to her, she'll start sleeping more at night.

She loves her activity gym that her Auntie Bridget bought her. She'll lay there for at least 30 minutes playing with the fishes before she gets bored and wants to do something else.

Lexi loves people! She'll happily go to anyone that we pass her too, all smiles and giggles. I'm sure this will change as she gets older and her "stranger" stage starts. Well that's all for now, I'll update later with her 16 week pictures. I have to wait until she wakes up from her nap before I can take them!

Coupons **HAVE BEEN CLAIMED**

Hi all...I have some Nest.le Good.Start vendor checks...we don't use this formula so they are of no use to me, but I keep getting them. There are $1 and $8 checks. Please email me if interested. First come, first serve. Some expire in August, others September.

Not Baby Related

I need some assvice. I've been working for my company, a large Bank, for just over 4 years, though I have almost 7 years of credited service (due to leaving and coming back). In these 4 years, I've had 2 jobs, mainly working with the same people. I love who I work with...but not necessarily the work itself. I mean, I enjoy what I do, but I don't wake up in the morning with the burning desire to do it. Anyway, as I stated in my last post, being away from Lexi is hard and I have that 4 hour a day commute as well. I applied to a few companies yesterday just for shits and giggles, and one of them emailed me first thing this morning wanting to setup a telephone interview. Now, I have no clue where this job will be, or what this company's stance on flexible work arrangements are, but I guess my question is...if you were in a stable job at a company you didn't foresee any cutbacks or layoffs at, would you move to another company and be the "low man on the totem pole"? I'm a little nervous about actually moving to another company (I know, I haven't even interviewed yet, but I need to know where my mind is on this) in today's economy when I really have no reason to leave where I'm at other than that damn commute!

I've asked my current employer in the past to telecommute, but they won't approve it, saying I am needed in the office!

Thoughts on returning to work

I've been back to work now for just over a week...and alot of my IRL friends keep asking me how I'm doing...and my standard response is "ok". But am I really ok? When I think about it, I guess I'm really not. I miss my baby girl. Rotten was so kind to send me a framed picture of my little girl with "I Love You!" printed on it for my desk. So I get to look at her all day. But it's not enough. I want more. (Thank you Rotten for the VERY nice present).

Before I was pregnant, I always said that I wouldn't have a problem going back to work...that I needed the mental stimulation and challenges that my job provides me. And I do...but I've come to realize that I don't need that as much as I need to be with Lexi. My heart aches to be near her when I'm at the office. But I HAVE to work. I carry our health insurance, and I get paid more than DH. We can't live on his salary alone. The 12 weeks I was home was challenging in another way. I had to learn what this little bundle was communicating to me with her cries and whines. And I think I've successfully done that. 99% of the time, I can tell by Lexi's cry what it is that she needs/wants. I'm sure that will change as she gets older, but I look forward to those things. And to think that I won't have the same amount of time to devote to her really rips at my heart.

I keep thinking to myself how hard we worked to bring Lexi into this world...the physical pain of injections and swollen ovaries, all the emotions that come with a negative outcome over and over, the financial burden we undertook to be able to do IVF in the first place. We did all this to have a baby, and now we can't even be with her as much as we want to be.

I guess I'm also afraid that she'll bond more with my mom, who is really going to be her primary sitter. It's silly, I guess. But I really feel like I'm missing out on this time with her. I don't get to see her discover alot of things for the first time. And I'm not "ok" with that. I just have to figure out how I can balance work and home. With a 4 hour a day commute it won't be easy. Any suggestions??

Rolling, Rolling, Rolling

OK...so she's not rolling THAT much...but my baby girl did roll over for the first time today from her tummy to her back. DH had put her down in her crib for a nap on her tummy, like we always do, we heard her fussing on the monitor about wake up time...but then the fussing turned to coos and laughs...she had flipped herself onto her back and was cooing at the fish mobile we have hanging on her crib! My little baby is getting so big! <8'(
Lexi was also Baptized last Sunday. She was good the whole Mass...until they poured that cold water on her head...then she cried. But only for a little while. Here are some pics to enjoy!

Lexi smiling up at Daddy

Lexi and her Godfather

Our priest, Godfather, Godmother (also my sister), me and DH

Godparents



The princess...the dress she wore is an Irish Linen heirloom. It's 65 years old and every baby born into our family in the last 65 years has been baptized in it. The picture doesn't do it justice.

Pictures

These were taken yesterday...

Third day in a row!

Wow...this back to work thing has paid off in that I have time again to post! Though I'm sure everyone's tired of hearing me say how much I miss my lil punkin!

Anywoo, Lexi slept through the night again last night! Woo Hoo!! She didn't nap much throughout the day for her auntie, so she was a bit fussy last night...but I gave her a bath (have I told you how much she LOVES her bathtime??!!), gave her a bottle, and we rocked on the rocker and sang songs until she was just about to doze off. I put her down in her crib about 10:20...and she slept until 4:45! I think we're finally getting past the nighttime craziness we were having! Though DH gets out of a feeding, since I do bedtime AND I'm the one up at 4:30! I may have to get him to do bedtime a few nights!

Lexi's baptism (see...this is why I asked my previous question) is on Sunday. We have family coming in from out of state that will be staying with my in laws, and with us. I'm on vacation next week from work! Woo Hoo! I need it (lol)! Lexi will be wearing a 65 year old linen gown with Irish shamrocks on it. This gown has been worn by every baby born into the family for the last 65 years! I found little shoes with shamrocks that match, and a bib that matches as well. I'll post pictures afterwards.

Work day 2

It's my second day back at work...and I'm still trying to get all my access restored and get back into the swing of things. Needless to say, I don't have alot of work on my desk...which leaves me plenty of time to think about Lexi. I managed not to call at all yesterday, and I've only called once today. I just wish the clock would speed up a little so I can get home to see my angel!

On another note...can someone please tell me what the difference between "christening" and "baptism" is? I always thought they were one in the same, but someone told me they aren't?

Return to Work

Today is the day...I am back at work. I loaded up the car last night with all Lexi's "necessities". I didn't want to forget anything. She is spending the night tonight with her grandma. I will see her this evening and she will be home tomorrow. We had a bit of a mix up in who was watching her when, which necessitates her sleeping at grandma's tonight. She did give me a present though...she slept from 10pm until 4:25am! She woke around 2:30, fussed a little, and went back to sleep! I fed her at 4:30, and packed her into her carseat, where she promptly fell asleep and then slept through the whole ride to my mom's...all the way until 7:30 this morning! (I've been told, as I left her at 6:30!)

It's amazing how much I miss her. I'm not worried about her, as I know she's in excellent hands...I just miss holding her and cuddling with her. I'll have LOTS and LOTS of hugs and kisses for her tonight when I get off the train. There were tears on the ride to grandma's (mine, not hers). It's just hard to believe 12 weeks went by SO fast!

Update: I just received a flower arrangement with a card reading "Thank you for being the best Mommy in the world! Can't wait to see you when you get home! Love, Lexi." I am now an emotional wreck, with tears streaming down my face. Thank you baby...mommy loves you too! (Thanks DH...I needed this!)

12 weeks

Today is the day I have been dreading since my water broke...my official "return to work" day. I've managed to postpone going back by taking a vacation day today. But I can't put it off any longer. I know this is my last weekend at home with her. My eyes well with tears at the thought of leaving her on Monday. These last 12 weeks, while rittled with frustration, have been the best 12 weeks of my life. Watching Lexi blossom, seeing her explore and experience things for the first time, has been priceless. She's smiling all the time now, and even starting to laugh...she makes the face, but not much sound comes out yet. I'm so happy that I got to see those things, as I know I will miss many of her firsts...rolling over, crawling, etc. While I can hope she will wait to do those things while I'm home, realisticly I know she probably won't.

On a lighter note, we've moved Lexi into her room. She has slept in her crib the last 2 nights. We're also starting to get a nighttime routine down. She gets her bath around 9 or 9:30, then a bottle, then to bed. She's been in bed by 10:15 both nights, and slept until 2:15 or 2:30...got another bottle and went right back to sleep. This is good news for us, as she was still getting up every 2 - 3 hours. I can only hope that this sleep pattern continues.