general life, life with baby

Thanks A Lot, Dude.

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My first full week back at work, and I already had to take PTO and missed out on the training at Baldwin-Wallace that all my fellow Solutions Analysts were able to go to. Really?! Jameson gave me his cold earlier this week, which I believe he caught at daycare (I saw a little girl with too-rosy cheeks coughing in there!). My cold seems to be much worse than his though. He’s already starting to get better, less snotty and with just some extra coughing here and there now, probably from drainage. Mine however is in full throttle, giving me a fever and swollen neck on one side. I thought for sure I had a sinus infection. The doctor says its a virus (though I’ve never gotten a fever from a cold before). No decongestants for me cause of the nursing, so I’m on tylenol for the fever only. It’s just miserable.

Jameson stayed in pretty good spirits throughout his cold, sleeping okay up until last night when he was up every hour after his 2am feeding. Lucky for me, Brian took the monitor and I didn’t hear a peep. However, we did have one little mishap with the cold, which caused him to have to stay home on Wednesday. He vomited on Tuesday and daycare had to send him home. So Brian worked from home on Wednesday. Apparently, Jameson wasn’t too bad for him, though for some reason he just doesn’t want to nap good at home like he does at daycare!

I asked earlier this week how he naps so long (thinking that he really likes the swing or bouncer there), but lo and behold, they put him in his crib for naps, and he sleeps for hours at a time! Amazing. I had bought him a little mobile for daycare, and I am going to take it home with me this weekend to see if I can get it to work it’s magic at home too. Apparently he stares at it for a bit, sucks his pacifier, and ouuut! They must be good. Or maybe he’s sucking down more food from the bottle and he’s happier? He’s at around 4oz per bottle there.

He’s also already doing tummy time much better. I feel like so far, daycare is awesome. He loves it there, and I get to pick up a happy baby everyday. I just wish I had more time after that to hang with him. The hard part isn’t him being there, it’s bringing him home and only having a couple hours.

He looked adorable yesterday in his St. Patty’s Day onesie which said “1 Lucky Kid!” I took his picture this past weekend to be prepped and ready. Thank goodness I did, cause it was hard enough to do his 3 month photos after work on Wednesday. He’s getting big! I am going to weigh him tomorrow on our regular scale (me without him, then me with him and check the difference).

We went on a walk yesterday because it was so nice out, even though I wasn’t feeling too great. It was nice to get some fresh air. Brian and I are supposed to have a date night this weekend, we’ll see if I’m up for it. Tootles.

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general life, life with baby

Jameson is Two Weeks Old!

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Jameson has had a busy week! Wednesday we went to the doctor for his two week appointment. He weighed 5 lb 15.5 oz, so he is probably a 6lb-er by now! We also got a referral to see an ear, nose and throat specialist to get his tongue tie cut. Then he got to meet all of Brian’s friends! We also heard good news that evening that Jason and Lisa are expecting a baby sometime in August next year. Everyone loves him, of course.

So on Thursday we went out again to the doctor. The ENT was just great, we liked him a lot. The tongue tie cut was quick and clean, barely any blood. We nursed there in the office and everything was well! Jameson is a champ. We were doubly glad we went ahead and got it taken care of because the ENT said that his was severe enough that it may have cause orthandontal problems later. Later on we introduced him to his first pacifier! He likes it, and now that he spends more time awake, it is very soothing for him (and for mom).

On Thursday, he also turned 2 weeks old! We got some cute photos of him with alphabet blocks (I stole the idea from an old co-worker!)

We took him for his first walk on Friday since it was so nice outside. There was still snow on the ground, but melting very quickly since it was a warm 50 degrees! He slept almost the whole time, which was impressive since we were rumbling over snow banks and ice on the sidewalks. The stroller is nice, it felt like a little all-terrain vehicle.

Jameson enjoyed his New Years Eve; that night, JP and Lisa came over and we had king crab legs (first time I have ever eaten crab that wasn’t already out of a shell), filet mignon, twice baked potatoes and spinach artichoke dip that Brian made from scratch. Lisa met Jameson for the first time. They are due in early March, so they are getting very excited and enjoyed holding him. He was on his best behavior! They didn’t make it to midnight because Lisa was getting tired early so late in her pregnancy, but Brian and I did with Jameson.

We had yet another visitor on Saturday! Celine, who lives in Alaska, stopped by for a surprise visit. She called that morning because she was in Cleveland! I hadn’t seen her in years, so it was great to see her and to meet Keith, her boyfriend. Her mother even got Jameson a cute duck book with a little music CD.

It’s been a great weekend. Tomorrow, Brian is going back to work, so that will be different. I have enjoyed having him home these past few weeks… tomorrow I have some goals though, so I should be able to keep busy. I will be taking down our Christmas decorations!

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general life, life with baby

Jameson is 10 days old

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Today Jameson is 10 days old!

Jameson has been holding his head up and moving around a lot more. He’s spending more time awake (sometimes, to my dismay!). Often after feedings he likes to stay awake for a while. He also is keeping his legs stretched out a lot more often instead of curled up. He still seems so small, but I bet when we taken him for his two week appointment he’ll have gained a lot of weight!

Jameson has what the doctors called a tongue-tie, which means he can’t move his tongue past his bottom lip. This is starting to make breastfeeding him a lot more painful for me, and I think more work for him! We decided that we are going to have it “snipped”. It’s a simple 10 minute out patient procedure that can be done in the office by an ear nose and throat doctor. At our two week appointment this week, we’ll be getting a referral to get that done.

At 10 days, babies are supposed to start going through a growth spurt, feeding more often. Jameson does seem more awake and a little hungrier, but not extremely so just yet!

Brian and I wanted to do a professional photoshoot, however we had trouble getting a hold of the photographer and ended up trying to take pictures ourself. It actually turned out really good! We couldn’t get any good naked shots because he was wide awake, but we got lots of great basket shots which we’ll be using for our announcements. We put him next to a bottle of Jameson whiskey for a couple shots (Brian asked if it was tacky and I said who cares hah!) We also got some great shots with him in the knitted bonnet that his Great Grandma made. She didn’t know when she gave it to me that it would be a boy (in fact, she thought later that it would be a girl), but he looked just adorable in the slightly too big hat.

Jameson got lots of great clothes for Christmas, in bigger sizes for when he gets older. We had a great Christmas. I got Brian a perpetual daily flip calendar with different pictures for every day! It was a lot of work, he is going to enjoy it. “Jameson” went over budget, but apparently Brian didn’t. They got me a Pandora bracelet with Jameson’s birthstone and a rose charm; and Jameson got me feety pajamas which are just too cute! Brian’s family came for the afternoon, bringing dinner with them. We had a very nice turkey dinner!

Brian has just a week left before he has to go back to work. Life with a baby is going to be a series of transitions!

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general life, house

Thanksgiving

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This year was our first Thanksgiving in the new house. Brian and I were pretty excited to be hosting it as well! We used our dining room for the first time and had Brian’s family over. Brian made most of the meal and it turned out just perfect with no hiccups. It was our first time using the turkey oven bag, and it was great. We also made sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping, green bean casserole, stuffing with apples, corn, mashed potatoes and gravy, and the cranberry sauce staple.

The day before, we took the day off and visited 5 daycares. We were finally able to decide on one, based primarily on gut feel and location and teacher to child ratio. All of them were around the same price, even with a corporate discount I received from a lot of them in the area. Then I got my hair cut, and spent the rest of the afternoon looking for a table runner and place mats. (That was all me — Brian worked on the shed)

The shed is getting it’s finishing touches over the next couple weekends as Brian has friends coming to help put in the siding. Then all it needs is a proper ramp, which is planned for spring! I can’t believe it actually is getting done, and just in time as the snow is starting to come down here and it’s staying cold.

I spent Thanksgiving day cleaning downstairs and putting finishing touches on Christmas decorations. We didn’t have our Christmas tree yet but all other decorations were out and inviting. This year, I got some inspiration from work where the corporate headquarters entryway had some big bulb ornaments hanging from ribbon down the glass panes. I did something similar, purchasing the bulbs of course during double discount, and hanging them from the railings on the second floor so they hang down into the entry way. They look great, I am very happy with how they turned out!

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general life, house

Waiting

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Just playing the waiting game now! So I will write about other stuff:

We spent Easter at my parents in Centerville, which was very nice. Everyone was home, and (maybe because I can’t let childhood go), I had my mom hide eggs and our baskets still. I love that part of Easter, it’s entertaining, and fun to have Brian do it too haha. My mom started writing poems for clues to hiding places back when we first move to the house on Sentinel Oak (what was that, some 10 years ago now?). Anyway, it is a firmly planted tradition now even though it only started after we were all older.

My brother is spending the fall in Florida doing the Disney program in his major, Industrial Engineering. We are all supremely proud of him, and I am excited he will get to spend some time away from school which I think is a very good thing. Not because he’s not doing well, but because I am a firm believer in studying abroad (or elsewhere in the US as the case may be). It’s awesome to gain new experiences like that.

My lightbox which I was using to photograph my jewelry was taken apart with some of our last showings (as we were starting to get desperate to make our house look big and inviting). Anyway, I have thus not taken any new pictures of jewelry that I’ve created, though I have done a few. The most recent one combines chain, which is a new thing for me. I am going to do another chain one soon that I think will be good enough to sell. I am still enjoying the hobby!

This upcoming weekend I am headed to Columbus for a (mini) reunion with old friends, and to see Jamie’s new house which will surely make me jealous! I am impatient and have noticed this month to be harder than before to try and stay motivated and positive. I am ready for this all to be over. We started packing in the house last weekend (Brian started packing the garage earlier); I put away all the rest of the books and started in the office closet which currently houses all my crafting items. This week I want to finish the office and take things off the walls. I hate wrapping stuff in bubble wrap, so I don’t want to wait til the last minute and get sloppy on those types of items.

I will post pictures of the new place once we are settled! My parents are giving us some furniture of theirs that we aren’t picking up til end of May, so chances are there won’t be pictures until then. They are giving us their old couches, my old day bed (less the mattresses), a gliding chair, elliptical and some other stuff. I am super pumped about it, it will be so nice to have like-new furniture!

Anyway, that is all that’s new on this end. Til next time.

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general life, wedding

Happy 2009

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It’s a little weird for me to say that it’s 2009 because at work, we go by a fiscal year, our fiscal year starts in February and is a year ahead… so it’s been fiscal year (FY) 09 for 11 months for me. For one short month of January, we will be the same fiscal year as the actual year. It’s just weird… and we use FY09 in almost everything we do.

For New Years, Brian and I went to Hibachi Wasabi for a second year in a row with JP & Lisa (couple we went to Mexico with, both are in the wedding). We also went with JP’s brother and girlfriend. It was a blast as usual! This places pours saki down your throat! We requested the wild guy we saw taking care of another table and got him! He was hilarious. I had the best scallops I have ever had–they were so tender. I just love the sauce that goes on them! We went back and the girls chatted while the boys played Wii until ball drop time, then we all went downstairs to play Wii games. We tried out Ravin… Rabids, those creepy wacked out rabbit games that I always see commercials for. That’s a crazy game. I drove us home and we got back around 3:30 and crashed. I woke up around noon, I can’t remember the last time I did that! Yesterday then I can’t even remember what we did, I was so lazy. Brian made us pork roast and saurkraut, stuffing the pork with garlic. Oh my goodness… not a big pork fan, but this was tender, juicy and amazing!

Today, Brian’s old friend Hollie and her three girls came over. We gave them cute crafty gifts from Jo-Ann’s. We went to the Winking Lizard where they go to see a real live lizard! And came back and played games on the Wii and chilled.

So 2009 is going to bring some great things for me! We’re getting married, and hopefully we’ll be moving by the end of 2009, and maybe even a new position… I’m excited for all the wonderful things coming my way! I’m not doing resolutions this year, because a) I never remember them, and b) I don’t even think there will be time to remember them! We have a house to get ready to sell (living room and kitchen still need work, basement needs reorganized… redecorating… ahhh and of course, wedding stuff which has caused me to dream a couple times now crazy wedding dreams. I dreamed a few weeks ago that one of the bridesmaids died and I was worried about whether to leave an empty chair in honor of her or to pick a new one!

Anyway, think I will be calling some florists and/or bakers tomorrow, and heading out to Great Lakes Brewery in the evening… then to a bar or two and finally to see one of Brian’s play a show! Good times. The long weekend is going by too quickly for me.

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general life, wedding

MERRY CHRISTMAS

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The Family HIstory book was a hit! My grandma absolutely LOVED hers and spent hours pouring through it. Said it was the best gift she’s ever received! My parents liked theirs as well. I got a new white-light lamp which I like to use for crafting, because my old one was from Big Lots and dying. I also got the little box die cut templates I want to use to make favors, so that’ll be nice, as well as some random geeky stuff from dad, like a little plasma ball that plugs into the USB port of the computer. I brought that in to work, haha 🙂

It was a nice Christmas visit, aside from the long driving time (from picking up Grandma, adds almost 2 hours onto the trip that’s already 3.5 hours). I think my mom enjoyed it more than she thought, because she was upset earlier that I wasn’t coming down for Christmas and didn’t come down for Thanksgiving and missed Christmas last year… she was feeling neglected. But Brian and I spent quality time with them, we played some board games and watched movies and stayed up late.

I worked today, wrapped gifts tonight and had a wonderful roast meal cooked by Brian (since he didn’t work today, he made a nice dinner and did a lot of house work). Oh! We finally got our bathtub refinished, it looks like a brand new tub, it’s amazingly white!! So the bathroom is finally done being remodeled… now just to keep it clean.. haha.

And, for the wedding update: So the bridesmaid dresses will be from Forever Yours, http://www.foreverbridals.com/gownpix.asp?Style=77201. The color is coral with an ivory sash. The coral color isn’t really like the one they have on the site, it’s actually closer to this which is ginger on another brand. They sent me a swatch so now Brian and I need to go around and find tuxes that come close to that color since this brand doesn’t have a tux line.

So far, we’re on a tight deadline for getting the dresses in in time. If we order by beginning of January, they’ll come in late March/early April which should be enough time for any alternations needed for the girls. It feels like time is just flying and Brian and I are really behind! But I think we are actually okay, and pacing ourselves okay.

I’m researching florists right now so I can see how much it would cost to have them do something. I’m actually leaning towards a square vase now with lemons and/or limes lining it with some short flowers. But I’m flexible, all depends on cost. Other next steps are the DJ and cake person, and then we get started on detail work.

I began working on invitations. I have 20 pocket folds done (the inserts will come later, after we finalize all information). I’m pacing myself at around 15 per week so I’ll be done in January and will be able to do the inserts and get them all out in a timely manner. I’m afraid I may be over 1 ounce though which means extra stamps.. but since we’re having most people RSVP online it might be okay.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

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