So Behind!

Hello all you faithful blog readers! (do you still exist??) It has been ages since an update, and I bet you can guess why! Having a baby has certainly changed a lot of things around here. We're doing well, though and are keeping busy. Here is a list of random things that have happened in the last 8.5 months in no particular order.

1) I've learned how to make baby food. Before Laura, baby food was something you bought off the shelf at the store. It said Gerber on it and was made of who knows what and was only for baby - not for me. After seeing the price of $2 a jar (or there abouts) at the store here, I started investigating making my own baby food and have been pleasantly surprised. It is a little time consuming and makes me looong for a decent size freezer, but on the whole, I'm really enjoying making Laura's food. I've learned that baby food is really just ground up adult food (that may sound obvious, but it was a realization for me...). I've also learned that I like Laura's food and I am even sometimes jealous of it (like when she gets the last of the salmon). I also don't know how I ever lived without my Blendtec blender. Thank you Holst family - it has been invaluable in the baby food making venture!

2) How do single or working parents ever get anything done?? I'm home with Laura full time and barely keep up with the bare minimum of chores. Got any hints?

3) Laura is pretty flexible - I just have to give her the opportunities to be flexible. I've only had one or two incidents that I can remember where she didn't do well when we were out or traveling. Other than that; she's been an angel. She just goes with the flow and adjusts to her surroundings. It is often I who doesn't want to mess with her schedule when, in fact, she probably would do just fine. Tom pushes me to do so, and I'm glad he does, but at times it is just easier to stay home :)

4) Sleep is important. For both Laura and myself. I slept for 5 or 6 hours straight for the first time about a month ago and it was heaven. I still am not getting enough sleep, but it's more my own fault at this point. I have a hard time going to bed before midnight (a 10 year habit is hard to break) and my "alarm clock" wakes me up without fail and has no snooze...

4a) We let Laura cry it out when she was about 4.5 months old and was one of the hardest things I've ever done. We read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child (which I highly recommend) an decided that we really needed to teach Laura how to sleep. She wasn't sleeping well or for long periods of time and it was taking a toll on all of us. There were gradual improvements in the first week, but it took about a month before Laura was really sleeping well. It took all the willpower in my body not to go into her sometimes, but it was worth it. She now goes down with a fuss (most of the time) and sleeps 12 -13 hours every night. It's amazing what a difference her sleeping well has made in my life. It is wonderful to be able to put her in her bed and know she will sleep. Ahh.

5) It is really hard being away from family. Having Laura has really made me homesick for my family. I hate that they can't share these sweet months of her babyhood with me. Skype is great, but it only goes so far. Maybe someday we'll be closer to home again.

6) I can't help but be cheered up by a Laura laugh, smile or coo. To me, she is the sweetest thing on Earth and she (almost) always brightens my day. I praise God for giving me the gift of her. He is teaching me so much through her and I feel so honored to have the responsibility of raising and loving her. We just love her to bits and still can't believe that she is ours :)

7) Where did "me" time go?? I now spend Laura's waking hours taking care of her and her sleeping hours taking care of the house, Tom and my own needs (ie showering). I don't have time anymore for reading for hours on end, blindly surfing the net or working on various craft projects. It's been a paradigm shift. My priorities have totally moved around and my spare time activities are at the bottom of the barrel! I'm not complaining - really - I'm just amazed at how much things have changed. I view my time differently and am much more aware of how I spend it. For example, Laura goes to sleep for her morning nap. Do I: shower, sleep, clean up the kitchen, pay bills, update our budget, iron or curl up with a book? I have 2 hours at most. How will I spend my 2 hours of allocated free time?

8) It is really neat to see the world through Laura's eyes. She is growing, changing and learning everyday. It is fun to watch her explore and learn about the simple things in her world. It makes me appreciate how much I know how to do without even thinking about it. Laura learned how to chew the other day and I was so proud of her. Before she was just swallowing the pieces of banana. Now she chews (gums rather) anything that need chewing without even thinking about it.

9) Life is about to change again. Laura is just starting to crawl. I can't leave her alone or else she might end up who knows where. She isn't quick or accurate yet, but full mobility is just around the corner. My cupboards, shelves and windows are now longer safe. She will soon be in (and her fingerprints on) everything!

10) I'd like more children someday, but how will I ever manage more than one? I feel like I'm barely treading water as it is!

Thanks for reading my random thoughts - sorry about the dearth of entries. If you want pictures - find me on FB - I've been uploading everything there.