Happy Half Birthday, Baby Girl!

*As per usual, I am late posting. 6 months was technically August 20th.

6 months old. How did this happen? From my quick labor, to bringing her home from the hospital thinking are they really letting us take her home by ourselves ?! Staying up all night in the early days, staring at her endlessly, sobbingly returning to work at 6 weeks, and then slowly getting into our routine.... we both survived.

We made it a half of a year. Each day with S gets better. Her little gummy toothless smile lights up a room. She squeals when I get home from work. She plays with my hair with one hand while she falls asleep with her head on my shoulder. She sniffles and snorts her nose when she's excited (thanks grammy for teaching her that one!). She rolls around in circles from happiness when J goes to get her in the morning and he's the first face she sees. She scoots backwards. She sits up. She babbles. She laughs. But none of that comes close to describing this baby. She's happy. She's content. And she is in love with her mama (umm yes, and our 3 am nursing sessions). Her giggle is infectious. I am probably jinxing us, but aside from the whole sleeping through the night thing- which is possibly half my fault too- she is such an easy easy baby. We're lucky. You know life is good when after you put your baby to bed, you and your hubs spend time laying around looking at photos of her.

Lucky, lucky, lucky. We made a video of all the iphone photos I've taken of my little one over the past six months, but alas, the blog won't let me upload a twenty four minute Sienna show.  So, this photo below will have to suffice for now. What a gorgeous baby I have.
Happy six months, Sienna Bear!!

The S Word

Sleep. Every mama of a 6 month old who is not sleeping through the night has surely put some time into reading about it. Weissbluth, Sears, Ferber, Mindell. No Cry. Cry It Out (CIO). CIO with checks. And here's the funny thing- no one talks about this "in public" because they are afraid to be judged for their choices.

Case and point? I posted on a mama board awhile back just asking, "Did anyone sleep train their 4 month old?" I just asked! I didn't even say I was going to do it! And I didn't say a n y t h i n g about CIO vs. no cry. Just about sleep training. And I got flamed. All the experts, even the non crying ones, say anywhere from 4-8 months is prime for sleep training because if you wait to long... well you've got a 4 year old who you are having to fall asleep in bed with and sloooowly back out of the room praying they won't wake up when you shut the door.

So with some major reading (I spent more time reading than sleeping) and some talking with some of my close friends who sleep trained anywhere between 3 and 8 months, we knew that we had to do something post 4 month sleep regression. We were back to waking every 2-3 hours. Mama works full time. This was not going well.

So we sleep trained. We did a mix of CIO with checks (S got pissed sometimes when we did this), CIO with checks without mama involved (Thank you J) and straight CIO at times. We also did some praying and hoping and rain dances to the sleep gods that this would work. And knock on wood, it keeps getting better. We have our nights that are horrible, but at 4 months we dropped to two night feedings and since about 5 months we've been consistently at one feeding. Bed time is at 7 and she sleeps until anywhere between 2:30 and 4:30, nurses for about 15 minutes, then sleeps until 6-7am.  I'll take that.
But it's not all sunshine and butterflies and always perfect. Sometimes things happen that are totally out of my control and just happen.

Like last night:
2:33am: SQUEAL!
2:35am: "ooooooooo me! ooooo iiii!"
2:40-something am: I decide she's happy and just having fun. Mama falls back to a very light sleep.
3:18am: wooden bumping noise
3:18am: check video monitor, foot kicking crib slats.
3:19am: Please go back to sleep
3:30am: Crying.
3:35am: Still crying
3:35am: I'm up. Wonder through the dark hall with cell phone light.
3:35am: Pick up S. S SMILES AND LAUGHS
3:36am: Yuck, what is that smell?! Change diaper.
3:40am: Nurse
3:48am: Done nursing, playing with mama's Yurman necklace
3:48am: Rock in glider for a few minutes.
3:50am: Kisses for baby, back in her crib
3:52am: Mama takes off glasses & goes back to sleep
3:52am: Two more big squeals and giggles "AHHHHh ooooo"
3:55am: Finally silent. Check monitor. Baby's asleep.
7:20am: What? The baby's not up! I need to wake her up to nurse her before work....

The funny thing is, seeing as I was only "awake" totally from 3:20-4 I consider this a very successful night.  Also, since we only wake up once to eat these days, I find that I enjoy our 15 minutes of quiet cuddle time. Other updates: S sleeps on her tummy now- butt up. We got breathable bumpers because she kept getting her legs caught in the crib slats. She couldn't be any cuter in her pajamas.

In another few weeks, it's time to cut our last night feeding. And while I know (oh do I know) that there will still be nights with many wakings, especially during teething or sickness, I feel like we've survived. Take that, sleep.

Fall To-Do

Fine, it's not as much as "to do" as "to attend" and "to visit" and "to celebrate". All of which I am okay with! But it will be a busy busy fall this year!

On deck we have [side note: every time I hear the phrase on deck I picture myself in my swim team bathing suit and cap with a permanent marker scribbled event written on my hand]:

30th birthday party for one of my bffs.
accompanied by a trip to CT for a family visit.
end of fellowship(!!)= part time SAHM with S
labor day party in yardley at our friends' new abode.
fall wedding 1.
J's grandma's 90th birthday party!
softball tournament.
trip to seattle.
fall wedding 2.
a bridal shower + bachelorette party!
Philly Union game (crab fries mmm).
fall wedding 3.
fall wedding 4.
visit with J's college friends.
trip upstate NY hiking with the family.
wedding anniversary.
fall wedding 5.

all before november first. better get our plane/dancing/hiking shoes on!

Oops. 5 monthsalmost6months

So I was a bad mama. I forgot a 5 month post. In theory I didn't forget... I just kept thinking of it at inopportune times.  On Monday S turns 6 months old and I need to get this up before that!

The time span between 4 and 5 months was ages ago. June 20- July 20! Luckily it was iphone to the rescue. So instead of typing out an entire month's worth of updates (I do also keep a baby book and journal for S) I am going to just use a few pics. I downloaded the app phonto and I love it!

As we can see, you did a lot between months four and five! Started a little bit of solids (and LOVED them), started sleeping in your crib unswaddled! Hooray! Bed time is soooo much easier now. Celebrated your first 4th of July and daddy's birthday. Started doing mini push ups on your tummy. And started sitting up! I realize you were leaning forward a bit, but oh well! It counts! Oh one more thing, you technically rolled over between 4 and 5 months too! But I already posted that the day after your 4 month birthday. By 5 months you were a complete champ at this move!

Happy VERY belated 5 months S!

Next week... it's your HALF BIRTHDAY!

my hubby, the athlete.

Last weekend, J did the North East Maryland triathlon. He barely trained. He crushed almost everyone (for real he was top 20) in the swim. That's my retired lifeguard at work. I was really proud of him, and so was Sienna. We cheered on daddy from the gorgeous little park!

Oh also lately I'm obsessed with my maya sling. It has a zip pocket for keys and such, it's easy to get on, and Sienna likes to be held upright on my hip. This helps a lot with long periods of holding her, especially if we are pretty still. If I am on the go, we use the Ergo.

I spotted J on the bike. I have to be honest, I wasn't positive it was him at first because he swore to me his good friend would pass him on the bike. But not so true. I snapped some photos as quickly as I could! I also saw him start and end then run!

Go Jamie Go! And after, a little celebration!

What good athletes! And what a gorgeous summer day. So glad S and I got down there to watch daddy race!

it's coming!!!!

Fall.

Sigh.

 crisp leaves. boots. we know i love boots. cool breezy mornings. my favorite wedding season. maybe because it's our anniversary. hiking. pumpkin spice starbucks lattes. trips to linvilla orchards.

This year I am extra extra excited for a few things:

• I have 18 days (!!!!) of work left. In 18 days, September comes booming in and S and I get to be bff and spend more time together. I will be working part time [probably, there is no official job right now, but I digress] but at minimum, I'll get an extra two days with my baby.
• Spending days with my mom.
• I think the reason above should have two bullets. I plan to sign us up for mommy + me swimming, schedule playdates with our baby friends and mamas, and plop little S into the grocery cart in the middle of a non crowded work day.
• We are taking our first plane trip with S and our first trip to Seattle to see one of my oldest (as in time, not age) friends get married.  J has a list of 100 things to do in 4 days.
• A possible hiking vacation, but this year upstate NY instead of wayyyyy upstate NH.
• So gorgeous. I love new vacation spots.

• First hiking vacation WITH BABIES! J has a baby backpack.
• Can I mention the pumpkin spice latte again?!
• Part time work means more time with little niece Stella too.
• A new start. Every fall I feel that way. I know that technically January starts a new year, but to those of us in the medical world whose training years revolve around August 31, a new start is September. And I love it.

Come on over, September, I'm waiting for you!

Operation: Get back into my Sevens.

I have this pair of Seven jeans I adore. They are the old school 7 for all mankind worn in wonderful ones. I couldn't buy them in a bigger size if I wanted to because they don't make them anymore. I think the last time I wore them was approximately a year ago in the early days of pregnancy. I am wearing them in a photo from last July on J's bday. I adore those jeans. The thing about those jeans- they always let me know when I even gained a pound. Because they didn't have much give. And their threads were worn thin. I've owned them for about 8 years. Maybe 10. Oh how I adore them.

But let's be honest about it, pregnancy doesn't equal designer jean wearing (well actually it did but they were maternity), and it's time to face the music. I cannot wear any of my cute jeans. I have a few pairs of pants that are okay, and most of my work-type dresses and cotton dresses fit fine. But my jeans? Well nope.

Everyone kept telling me breastfeeding months 3-5 will be the most weight loss yet! This magical time did not help me much and so far- when I cut my calories, I also cut my milk supply. As much as I want to fit in those pants, I am not willing to give up breastfeeding either. So I've gotta find a way to do this. I will say that operation get back into my sevens will come to a screetching halt if my supply starts to drop. S is most important and until we hit the year mark at February I really hope to keep bf. So that's the caveat.

So here are the things that I am going to work on:

• I'm going to do this in steps. My sevens are my favs, but they've always been my "I'm feeling thin and not bloated" jeans, so maybe having those as goal 1 isn't fair.
• So first I think I'll start with the goal of this: Fit into my true religion jeans, seen below [without feeling stuffed into them]. Please ignore the crazy picture. It was karaoke night in grad school.  These jeans are super stretchy, so with some give they will probably be first to get over the post preg ass.

• Then I will move on to my Citizen of Humanity jeans. Comfy, casual, also a bit stretchy. I can't find a photo of them which is interesting because they are my go- to daily jeans. They are not wear my heels and go out jeans. I cannot wait until they can be my go-tos again.
• I am going to track my calories. My Fitness Pal  is a free app- and the best part? I can add in "breastfeeding" as one of my daily activities and it gives me back those calories so that I hopefully won't have that aforementioned supply issue.
• I have to make a confession. I haven't gone on a good run since I was a few months preg. That makes me sad because two falls ago I did the Philly half marathon with J. I need to fix this pronto. So I got the Couch to 5k app on my phone too. I am going to do this if it kills me. I should have time (since it's only 30 mins 3 days a week) to do it either after work when I get home with S in the jogging stroller or after I put her to bed if J is home.
• I have no "date" by which any of this will occur. I just want to make an effort. And writing it down will help me with motivation. The five weddings we have this fall are also motivation!
• Oh, I am also considering this: Tracy Anderson Post Preg Workout. But it's $50. That seems pretty drastic to me. Then again, if considering doing bullet above, I may want to reconsider.


• And then, and then... MAYBE I can fit back into my Sevens. Oddly, these are the only two photos I can find of my favorite pants ever. Note I am totally checking myself out in the mirror in photo one. Yes, I want to have the desire to do that again.

Wish me luck!

Update: I drafted this yesterday and then last night completed my first C25K workout, logged my calories, and took a "pre" photo. It's super blurry, but the best I could do while holding a squirmy baby. And my linen closet is a disaster zone. Ugh the post preggo stomach- which S is very sweetly partially covering wiht her foot! Here are me and baby S on night #1: