My BEEutiful Girl and Fun at the Pumpkin Patch

Halloween weekend was a busy one!! Halloween day was spent having lunch and then shopping with Nana. This was AB's first shopping spree. After that we stopped by our friend's house, The Penrose's, who were having a happenin' Halloween party that we weren't able to make. However, we wanted to stop by and show off AB in her pumpkin hat that Cori had made for her. I was so impressed with it and it fit AB perfectly.

The night got started off with a bang with the Red Power Ranger, Mario and Snake Eyes came over to go Trick or Treating with a cute little bumble bee (aka - Joey, Roman, Noah and Annabelle).

The very proud Red Ranger holding his little cousin, the bumble bee.

Cousins!!

My tuckered out ABee :0). And this was before trick or treating even began!

Mommy and ABee!

Daddy and his favorite flying bee!

My happy girl!

The next day we went to the pumpkin patch with cousin Stetson. We had so much fun walking around the arboretum and taking the baby's pictures! They were great!

We were tring to get them to look at eachother. They were more interested in the ground!

I think this is my fav!

Chana and I with our favorite little pumpkins!

AB did so good as we propped her up on the pumpkins and endured Mommy changing out her acessories from hat to bow.

Stetson, too, was such a good sport. Could you not just eat up those cheeks???

My fav of little man!!!!

And...she'd had enough!!

Stetson was so go with the flow!!!!

We had such a good weekend with family and some perfect photo-ops, too!!!!!!

Confessions of a Working Mom - Part II : Scheduling is the Key

I've never been good at the whole house-cleaning and laundry thing. I'd much rather spend my days doing something enjoyable. I am blessed with a husband who is wonderful at deep-cleaning and getting things looking spic and span - I know, what a blessing. However, we both err on the side of laziness so the house never gets as clean as I want it as often as I want it. So, I was thinking to myself the other day and wondering why I function so well at work and get everything done right on time and in an organized manner. Same with Annabelle. I never have a problem keeping things organized and doing things on time with her. But for some reason, my house always suffers. So, the longer I thought about it the more I discovered it's all about being on a schedule and doing everything in a timely manner. At work, I have a strict schedule to my day and have to follow it to a T. We have a certain number of hours designated to teach our science, math, ELA and social studies block. If we don't teach them when we're supposed to, we aren't meeting our goal. Same with Annabelle, I have her on a strict three hour schedule (thank you, Babywise). She eats, we have a little bit of waketime, and then she sleeps. I knew I had to do the same thing at home. Ever since Annabelle was born the whole cleaning and laundry thing has gotten worse! I just can't get it together. So, last week I put myself on a schedule at home. My goal: to clean one room of the house a night, one load of laundry and fix dinner. This way on the weekends, I will have all the laundry done and I won't be spending my whole day doing it, I have a clean house and I can enjoy my family. I have a late night at work one day a week to get all my planning done, so that is Austin's turn to cook dinner, do the laundry and cleaning for the week. This plan has only been put into action one week, but thus far it has been a success. I just came to the conclusion I am the type of person that needs to follow a schedule, or it won't get done. I have to hold myself accountable. When I was home with AB for maternity leave, I had no problem cleaning up after everyone and tidying up, but since I've gone back to work it gets overwhelming. I figure if I keep it up and I clean one room a night the cleaning will be minimal for the next week and easier to keep up. It's still hard not being home with my baby. Work has gotten much, much easier and I'm adjusting and back into my teacher groove. I still can't help but miss my baby during the day and wonder what things I am missing. Andrea is awesome about keeping me informed and sending me pictures. I love that. Even though the schedule thing has made my life easier at home, it still doesn't help me from missing my AB.

2 Month Check-Up

Last Monday was AB's two month check up. You know what that means?? Shots!! She handled it better than I did, but she was still pretty upset after she got them. I HATE that face and when she stops breathing because she's crying so hard...breaks my heart! I had to take a picture of her before all the trauma. She was so sweet and content in her seat before her appt. It made me sad really, because she was so peaceful and had no idea she was about to get four shots!!


In the room she was so good! I stripped her down to her diaper so she could be weighed and checked before Dr. Straughn came in. At this check up, she weighed 10 lbs 13 oz and was 22 1/2 inches long. She was pretty much in the 50th percential for everything, whereas at her 2 week check up she was in the 90th percentile for length, so she's evened out some!

She was in the best mood, and waited so patiently in my arms until the doctor got there. When I layed her down on the table she was all sprawled out and just kept looking at me like, "where am I, mommy?" When Dr. Straughn came in he answered all of my million questions that I always ask and he answered them all and was very patient with me. We LOVE Dr. Straughn. I asked to get a picture of him and AB. He's such a good pediatrician and so loving in his care to his patients. We're lucky to have found him.

2 Months Old

Oh my sweet little AB,

You're two months old! How time flies when you're having fun, and boy, is Mommy having fun! I never knew being a Mommy could be so rewarding! You are just the best baby and so easy going! Your Daddy and I keep pinching ourselves in hopes we don't wake up from this wonderful dream!! You are a dream baby for many reasons, and as you get older it just keeps getting better. Here is what you have been up to this month:

You are still a sleeper. Yes, ma'am. You sleep through the night for seven to eight hours at a time. Mommy actually sleeps more now than before you were born. I can still at this point, count on napping with you. When we get home in the afternoon, I know that I can lay you down beside me and you will take a short snooze with me. These are some of my most favorite times with you, Annabelle.
You are SO go-with-the-flow! Daddy and I can take you anywhere and you rarely fuss or make a peep. You are very much content with where you are at all times.

You are holding your head up like a pro! Miss Andrea (you're amazing sitter!), just made a comment to me the other day how strong you were and how you are doing so good with that! I've noticed it more and more, too!
You love to talk to us. This month you have really found your voice, and it's music to Mommy and Daddy's ears! You get that precious tounge of yours going, and you jibber and jabber about something for minutes at a time. We don't know what you're saying ,yet, but you sure do! I love it so much that I recorded it on my phone, and now your sweet voice is my ring tone!
You have just recently been able to fit into some of your 3 month clothes. How I'll hate when I can't put clothes on you that say "NB" anymore! Although, there are so many outfits that I can't wait for you to grow into. Have I mentioned that you have a TON of clothes?

You are so happy! You give Mommy and Daddy the biggest smiles! I love it when I see those big, beautiful gums of yours! And, you've recently started this sweet high-pitched squeal that comes along with your smiles. This is how we know you are really happy.

We've recently noticed you like to watch t.v. The other night you were in your bouncy and your eyes were GLUED to the t.v. I looked at your Daddy and told him that you are definitely his daughter! In fact, Daddy picked you up out of your bouncy to cuddle with you, and you demanded to be put back in your seat so you could watch t.v. It was funny (even though Daddy took it a little personal!!)

Even though you are still considered a "new born" (just for one more month!) you are showing signs of big girl things. You want to talk so bad! I can tell that we are most definitely going to have a chatty little girl on our hands - like mother, like daughter I guess! You still don't go anywhere without a bow. And as you can see, sometimes you aren't always crazy about them. I can't help but laugh when these big bows fall over your eyes. However, you don't find it very funny...so I try to leave them off of you while you are in your carrier.

You have so many people who love you and want to be around you. You are going to be blessed with lots of friends, family and surrogate aunts, uncles, and cousins. I'm already amazed at how you respond to children as opposed to adults. You are much more relaxed and calm when you are in the arms of your cousin or your good friend Anna.

Oh sweet angel, we love you so much!! You are already such a sweet little lady and I can't tell you how much joy you bring to our lives. As I look forward to the coming months and admiring how much you will have grown I will so miss these days. You are so sweet to watch and I love your noises and your sweet newborn baby smells. I don't want to miss a thing!

Love you,

Mommy

My Little Gator

The other night we went over to Nick and Kelly's house for dinner. I was so excited to put AB in her gator outfit. This was the first outfit I ever recieved as a gift for her. Kelly bought it for me when I first found out I was pregnant, and it's so fitting because it has little gators all over it which is the mascot at the elementary school where we teach. She is definitely a Groves Gator in training. It is a size NB and I haven't been able to put her in it yet because it hasn't been cold enough! The second it got cold enough I put her in it and she fit, barely! Her little toes were pretty snug in the little feet of the outfit, but it worked! She looked adorable, and I was so glad for Aunt Kelly to see her in it! Here's some pics of my little, bright-eyed Gator!

Confessions of a Working Mom - Part I

"Working Mom." I honestly never thought I would gain that title, but I have. My mom was a stay at home mom. I loved it. So when I was old enough to start thinking about having kids, I always told myself I would be a stay at home mom. Well, timing and planning are everything and that isn't quite so. I am now a working mom. I could sit here and throw myself a pity party about how much I miss my baby for seven hours of the day. How hard it is for someone else to do MY job. I could sit here and cry about how I should be the one to witness her "firsts" and give her all her feedings and comfort all of her cries... ok, well I guess that was a bit of a pity party I just threw...but,throw me a bone. I've only been back to work two weeks. It's hard - really hard. However, I am trying to look at the positives and focus on those. This is what I've come up with:

• I have an incredibly rewarding job. I may be leaving my baby for seven hours of the day, but I have the privilege to educate and take care of other people's babies for that time. They are trusting me with their child, just like I am trusting someone with mine.
• I am out the door everyday at 3:15 (with the exception of Wednesdays...a teacher needs a "late day" to get everything done for the next week).
• Kindergarten is a blast. I crack up most of my day. They are sweet and loving, and the best part...they love me and Annabelle. Even though they have never met her, that is the wonderful thing about the heart of a five year old. You let them into your lives and share your thoughts with them, and they start to love the things you love and own the things you own.
• Teaching is in my blood. I love it...I have a hunger for it. Although, my hunger for being a mommy trumps it just a bit.
• We have most definitely been blessed with an incredible babysitter. I almost feel like that title is too juvenile for ALL she does and means to us. She is more like a mentor/friend that gets to hang out with my baby for the day. :0) She has taught me things in such a subtle and non-abrasive way. Even though she has tons of experience being a mommy, she doesn't impose her thoughts or theories on me. For this reason, I love asking her opinion and getting her advice. Let's face it, as a new mom...I don't know squat!! Best of all, I know she cares for Annabelle.
• It doesn't hurt that it takes me 3 WHOLE MINUTES to get to her house from my work. I LOVE being that close to AB. If I had to run, literally on foot, to get to her...I could.
• I have to pat myself on the back. I am breastfeeding (which was most definitely a feat within itself) and consistently pumping at work during the very few breaks I have during the day. It is time consuming, but I am committed to it. Let me clarify, there is NOTHING wrong with formula. We still supplement with formula a little bit. It is just that I think I'm so passionate about breastfeeding because I AM a working mom. That is something that only I can have. No one else can have that kind of time or bond with her. I need that for myself.

Those are my "glass half fulls" for the day! Really, I'm struggling on the inside. I hate leaving my baby. Don't misunderstand me, I don't dread my job or going to my job. I dread leaving my baby. There's a difference. I've had some really hard days. Days I just want to cry and cry. Days where Austin comes home and takes one look at my face, and says, "I'll cook dinner tonight." I think he sees that even that short time it takes for me to cook dinner, I could be spending the extra time with AB. I am so grateful for all God has done and is doing in my life. I don't know what God's plan is for next year. We're praying about it and will cross that bridge when we get there. For He knows what is best for me, Austin, and AB. I totally and completely have a new appreciation for all you working mom's out there. It's tough. There's a lot of guilt that comes into play. Guilt for not being with your baby. Then when you leave work and maybe feel like you didn't give it your all, you feel guilty for that too. It's almost like being torn in two different directions. Whether I stay a working mom or eventually stay at home, I will always have an appreciation for you moms. However, I know staying at home is a job within itself. I am grateful for the adult time that my job gives me. But more than anything, I just want that Annabelle time. Leaving you with a picture that I got from the sitter last week. These types of things make my day when I'm missing my baby AB. It makes this working mom very happy.

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