Vacation recap

So we have been on two vacations in the last two weeks. The first one was to Ohio with Chris's family. The second one was to the lake with my family. Alyssa loved the water. She would only stay in for like 20 minutes. We bought her this crab that she could sit in and put some water in the front. She liked to keep her hands in the water and kick her legs. As long as someone was moving her around she was happy.
The bad part was that it was way to hot to be outside if you weren't in the water. So when we weren't in the water or drying off we had to be inside.
We have been back at the house since Wednesday and she is enjoying spending time with her Uncle Michael his girlfriend Cat, and her grandma. She will meet her Pa Pa for the first time today and I know he is very excited to meet her.
This evening we have her Baptism and party afterward. The part went from just family to about 40 people. It is wonderful to know that she is so loved!
I will write more about it tomorrow.

Home again

We went to the lake of the Ozarks for the last 4 days. Alyssa had a good time and enjoyed splashing in the water for about 20 minutes at a time twice a day. She also enjoyed sitting outside and watching the boats.
She had many sleepless nights while there, but she was happy.
Will write more later.

And we are back

Our first vacation with Alyssa was great. She did wonderful and we are all still alive today so that must mean it was a success.

Friday:
We left around 2:30, 20 minutes into the trip was the first stop to change Alyssa's poopy diaper. She really did not sleep much in the car until it got dark then she slept just fine. We did not get to the hotel until a little before 1 in the morning thanks to Ohio detours. We got everything into our room, fed Alyssa put her down and she went right to sleep. She did wake up at almost 4 and was so cold I couldn't put her back in her bed cause I thought she might turn into an ice cube.

Saturday:
She got up at 7. We got ready and she went back down for an hour nap at 8:30. By 9:45 we were out the door to breakfast and then off to Cincinnati. We took the scenic way and drove by Lake Erie the whole time. They had huge pretty houses and we stopped so Alyssa could stick her feet in the water.
Then we went to see "The Christmas Story" house. You know the movie that is on TBS for like 24 hours a day on Christmas? Yeah that one. It was pretty cool. Now they didn't do any turn filming inside the house, they used a sound studio for that, but they did use the outside. They have changed the inside to look like the movie and that was cool.
Then we went down town we parked so that we had a good spot for the game and then walked the mall for about an hour. We then headed off to the baseball game. It was 80's night so we got a bobble head doll of one of the players in a polyester suit it is pretty funny looking. Chris and Luke got to enjoy the game. I watched the first 3 innings and then Alyssa and I explored the stadium and the first aid station looking for a nice quiet spot.

Sunday:
Out the door at 8:15 for breakfast then Chris, Luke, Gary, and Danette headed off to the park. Alyssa and I came back to the hotel she took a nap and we left for the park about 11:15 with Rebecca, Justin, Alex, Judy and Chas. We met up with the other group and talked for a little bit, then the kid group went off to the kid rides. Rebecca wanted to ride everything and I went on most of the rides with her as she wasn't tall enough to go by herself. I also went on some rides with Alex since he wasn't tall enough either. His rides were a lot tamer. Alyssa slept off and on through this. Justin was a good cousin and pushed the stroller while she slept. She did enjoy the train ride.
At about 3 Judy and the kids left. Alyssa and I found a first aid station and I nursed her and then we went to find Chris. Chris, Alyssa and I then went on some rides, we rode the sky tram, Ferris Wheel and did a lot of walking. We left the park about 6, brought Alyssa home got her bathed and into bed by 7:30.

Monday:
The big group was going to go do some wineries. But Luke and I couldn't/don't drink so we decided to do the water park. Danette and Alex joined us. Alyssa and Alex had a blast in the kiddie part of the water park. Alyssa got to do the lazy river and also enjoyed splashing in the water. Luke, Chris, Danette and I enjoyed the slides and big kid part of the water park. We then went and did some kid rides for Alex and rode the train again. We then left the park went to dinner and had Alyssa in bed by about 8:30. Justin then came to baby-sit while Chris and I went and talked to the grown ups. He thought it was pretty easy since she was asleep.

Tuesday:
We got on the rode to come home at about 9:30. Did not get home until 6:30 (and that is with gaining an hour). It was a LONG day. Alyssa did not sleep much and was a crab when she was awake. I don't think I will ever travel that far again with a little one during the day. She was so tired of her car seat. I promised her today she does not have to get in it at all.

All in all it was a great trip and I have the sunburn to prove it.

Vacation

Chris, Alyssa and I are leaving on vacation tomorrow. Now if you know me, you know that I have been making lists for this vacation for about a week and a half now. I have the list of things to do, the list of things to take, the list of what needs to go with Vinnie to his babysitter, and the list of all the lists I have made.
The list of things to bring is in a word document and it has 4 columns, it is still two pages long! I'm so afraid that I'm going to forget something for Alyssa or because I'm thinking about her forget something for me.
Our poor car is going to be full to the brim. Part of that is because we have to take her pack and play and her big stroller. Those two items alone will take up 3/4 of the trunk. I know I am over packing, but isn't that what mothers are supposed to do?!
I will be glad when we have left and this trip is started because just getting ready for it is stressing me out!
Once it is all over I will need a vacation from my vacation, and I will kind of get that when we go down to the lake, but once again I have to pack for that trip. (Don't worry I have those lists already started too. :-) )

Bath Time

Alyssa LOVES bath time. She sits in her chair as we pour water over her. She has now started to try to hold the cup. She uses both her legs and both arms to hold the cup because it is so big. Sometimes she can get the side up to her mouth and she tries to stick it in. This does not work of course because you can't fit the whole side of a cup in your mouth.
Tonight I was soaping up her body. We have to make sure to rinse her hands right away because she likes to stick them in her mouth. Well I didn't rinse her hand soon enough and it got in her mouth. Her facial expressions made Chris and I both start laughing. I tried to rinse her hand off, but it must of still tasted funny because she stuck her hand back in her mouth and made an even worse face. Then she looked at me who was laughing at her and gave me a very disgusted look. I stopped laughing long enough to rinse her hands again so that she could go back to happily sucking on her hand.

Doctors Appointment/ Hippie Mom?

Okay, first the doctor's appointment. Alyssa had her 4 month check up today. She was 14 lbs 2 ounces. 25 inches long and her head was 41 cm. That means she is 60% for weight, 75% for height and 50% for head.
The doctor said that she looked really healthy. She showed him how she can scream, and kick when she isn't happy. She was so brave for her shots. She got 2 and she stopped crying as soon as I picked her up.
Now on to the Hippie mom. I never thought I would be one to go against doctor's advice, but I am. I have done tons of research on feeding solids. Many things I read said that babies tummies are not ready for solids before 6 months. I have decided that I'm not going to start solids until closer to 6 months. She is not interested in our food or drink. The only time she opens her mouth for a cup is in the bathtub! We have 3 trips planned for the next 5 weeks. I think once we get back from those trips I will introduce the food. Also he told me she should be sleeping through the night. I told him she gets up once to eat. He gave me a look, I said she also isn't eating 6 ounces at a feeding. He said that we should try to keep pushing her feeding back and that by the time she comes back for her 6 month check up she should be sleeping through the night. I guess it is a good thing I didn't tell him she still sleeps with us a few hours a night!
We are still keeping her on a routine for naps and bed. She is doing really well with this schedule and is waking less and less during those nap times.
It took me a long time to come with terms with the fact that she is my baby and I need to do what I think is right and now what others tell me I should do. It wasn't until this weekend when I was out with some friends and one of them was talking about how she had to come with terms that she isn't a failure( regarding changing careers). When she said that it clicked with me. I'm not a failure with Alyssa I just have to do what works for her and me.

One year ago today

One year ago today Chris' and my world changed. It was our first month trying and we really didn't think that anything would happen. I was told that it would take a while for me to get pregnant thanks to PCOS. In fact I had convinced Chris that we should start a month earlier than what we had originally planned because then we would try for 3 months, then I could go back to the doctor and he would give me medicine to help us.
I had been on vacation the week before with my college roommates. While we were out shopping I picked up bibs to tell family when we were finally pregnant. I got back from that trip on Monday the 2ND. Starting that night I asked Chris if I could take a pregnancy test. I had no reason to take one except that we had bought a bunch from the dollar store. He kept telling me no and that I needed to wait until Saturday (the day my period was due).
On Thursday at work my abs hurt like no other. I felt like I had done 100 crunches when in reality I hadn't done any. That day after school I was talking with a teacher that was pregnant. I was looking at her cute belly and thinking that my non-pregnant belly was probably bigger than hers.
When I got home from work I decided that I wanted to take a test. I figured it would be negative I could throw it away and Chris would never know. So I took the test and went to change into my PJ's. I came back from changing and there were two lines. I couldn't believe it. "I'm PREGNANT!" I thought the second thought I had was, "OH crap how am I going to tell Chris? Should I wait until Saturday? No I can't wait!!"
So I left the test on the sink and came downstairs, I must of run back upstairs about 50 times to check to make sure there were two lines. When Chris got home I was in the middle of making dinner. He told me he was going upstairs to change. I wanted to follow him but I was in the middle of mixing things. So I finished mixing the stuff quickly and followed up the stairs.
As I got into the bedroom I hear him in the bathroom, and then I hear "Shannon, what does two lines mean?" I went in and told him I was pregnant. Shocked was an understatement. We hugged for awhile, but I had to get back to dinner.
As we sat down to dinner he still had a pale look to him, but there was also a smile there. During dinner I got a call from a friend telling me she had gotten a call from a place I had interviewed at for a reference check.
Between the news of a new job possibly and a baby, dinner was wasted for me! I did not get any sleep that night thinking about a baby AND a new job ( I ended up not getting that job but I did get one a week later).
The next morning I got up at 4 and took 3 more tests, all of them came up positive right away.
The rest is history, and I couldn't be happier with my life!

Alyssa (what else?!)

Well last night she went down on her own. However she woke up at 10:50, 11:15, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15 and 2:30. At first I was like well this method SUCKS!!! But then I realized she wasn't waking up because of the method, she was waking up because she had a killer tummy ache and was having the worst case of the farts ever. Finally at 2:30 she had a bowel movement and she ate. At that point I couldn't take the thought of waking up every hour for the rest of the night so I brought her to bed with me where she slept until 6:30.
Today she went down for her morning nap on her own. I have found she likes to hold a blanket. She was sleeping very nicely and I really don't think she would have woke up except for the fact that I decided to vacuum the stairs. She woke up very angry at me. So angry she wouldn't go back to sleep, so we played for 30 minutes then I wrapped her up again and she went back to sleep. So this morning she slept a total of 2 hours in two naps.
This afternoon she went down even easier than this morning and slept for just about an hour. She woke up and I knew she wasn't ready to get up, but she was HUNGRY so I fed her played with her for an hour and now she is back down. She has been sleeping for about 45 minutes now. I'm hoping she will sleep for about another 30 and then she will be good until bed time.
I think we might be on to something, she is at least falling asleep without anyone touching her but she wants to know you are there, if you walk out of her sight she cries until she can see you again. I don't mind, each time she has gone down it is less and less time that I have to stand there, so I hope we can keep making progress and by this time next week, I can put her down and walk out.

Now the only thing I have to hold is the dog. He is sound asleep in my lap!

I Love summer

I love being off of school. Though I might get frustrated with Alyssa not taking naps without me holding her, I love the excuse to hold her. I'm not going to stress about naps until after we get back from vacation. She is in her bed right now taking a nap. We will see how long it lasts, but I have to say the two hour nap we took together this morning was awesome.
I got a phone call from my school this morning, I had to debate if I wanted to answer it or not. I did answer and the secretary was just telling me that it is almost certain that I will be teaching first grade next year. That is fine with me since I taught that this past year and so I already have the lesson plans and clear ideas. I am sad that I'm leaving one of my good friends back in third grade, but I will just have to send her notes.
Well off to enjoy the house to myself until Alyssa wakes up and we can play again.

Mix up

So on Monday I got a call saying I had to interview principals today from 11-6. I was surprised but called arranged a babysitter and showed up at 11. When I go to check in I give them my name, the lady says you are not on the list but Stephine Knight is. Now it all makes sense. There are two Knights in the district. She gets my mail sometimes because you have to add a 2 after my name. Well after about 15 min we get things all straightened around and I get to leave.
At this point I was wishing I lived closer to work so that I could do some things around the house without Alyssa, but instead I go to Barnes and Nobel do some shopping and then go pick up my daughter. The babysitter is very relived because she had been crying since I left. As soon as she saw me she stopped and was all smiles. Boy it feels good to play the mom card.

Last Night

Well we started our bedtime routine last night. She still woke up 30 min later. The same thing this morning. This afternoon we were both so tired I laid down with her. It is now 2 hours and 15 min later, she is still asleep. I think this kid will be attached to mommy until she is 18! I bought a book today, again it calls for the cry it out method. I think that is what we will end up doing, but I can't do it until she is at least 6 months. She is too young for me right now and she does sleep 4-6 hour stretches at night, it just takes a while to get there. After she finally went down at 8:30 she slept until 12:40 then to 3:15, then 6:30 when we got up. So we will see what happens as the summer continues.

Being a Mommy is hard

As a teacher I have to make choices for my students on an hourly basis. Do they need to continue working and finish this project or should we wrap it up and move to the next? Should we review those words again? Do they understand the material? How should I handle the students hitting each other? What should I tell their parents when I call and tell them their student is not passing. I have never had any trouble making these decisions, and very rarely do I question myself about them.
Now making decisions about Alyssa. OMG they are so hard. To find the right babysitter I searched high and low. To give her shots I spent hours researching the side effects and benefits of giving them all at once or stretching them out. When she came down with a cold the day before her shots I called at least 3 people to get opinions. Now to sleeping. I have posted for the last while that she has had a hard time sleeping. I have spent two days reading parts of books. I don't like any of them. Some say let her cry it out. Chris and I feel she is too young. Some say carry her in a front pack all night and take her to bed with you. Chris and I like our time without her, and that doesn't teach her to sleep on her own. Others say that you put them to sleep then when they wake you are to just give them a blanket to soothe themselves.
The only thing Chris and I felt comfortable doing at this time was establishing a clear and true bed time routine ( something we hadn't done before now). We are going to try this until our vacation. I'm also going to talk to the doctor when I take her for her shots on Monday.
We started the routine tonight, she got a bath with lavender smelling soap, then we read her a book, swaddled her we both said good night and I nursed her and then rocked her for a few minutes. She was asleep and I put her down. I have now pumped so if she wakes Chris will take the bottle and feed her and rock her back to sleep.
Hopefully we can start to see a better sleeping pattern in a few nights! Wish us luck!

First Day of Summer Break

( A picture of my sleepy girl)
It was my first day of summer break. Alyssa got up at 6. Luckily Chris was off today and so he got up with her and I got to sleep until 8:20.
I worked out today for the first time in over a year and a half. It felt good, but I know I'm going to be SORE tomorrow. Hopefully I will stick with it.
Alyssa did not really sleep at all today and now she is having a hard time getting to sleep tonight. I think I'm off to the store tomorrow to buy some books about how to help get her to sleep and stay asleep. I know part of it is that the routine has changed for her once again, but we were having some problems getting her to sleep before school got out as well. She is a much happier baby when she gets her sleep and I'm a much happier mommy when I get mine and have my alone time in the evenings not worrying if she is going to wake up. So if you have any suggestions of books to pick up let me know.
I also got some alone time today when I went to the mall for about 3 hours and Alyssa stayed home with Chris. I missed her while at the mall, but it was so nice to be able to get in and out of the stores I needed without her with me.
The only bad thing about today was that I got a call from the school district I work for telling me I'm on the interview committee( something I had no idea I was on) and that I have to interview principals all day on Wen. (from 11-6) so I had to scramble to find a babysitter. The one I asked couldn't do it the whole time so Alyssa is going to be moved from one babysitter to another during that time. Hopefully Wednesday is the last day I have to work.