Morning Routine Take One

Reese focuses on talking OR smiling - she will only do both if I don't have the camera on! This is a smile video.

Friday was a big day for Reese - and for me! Our first trial morning trip to daycare - as I attempted to wash my face and brush my teeth at the same time, Reese waited not so patiently for her breakfast. The dogs were next in line to be fed and put in the backyard. Packing the diaper bag, changing out of my pj's and packing up Reese in the carseat doesn't SOUND like it would take THAT long - but an hour and a half later - I was convinced otherwise! The morning routine will take some tweaking...not quite the pre-baby 15-20 minutes that it used to take me!!

Our daycare provider (Kim) is wonderful (and fortunately lives within 2 miles of our home)! She has a couple busy toddlers that Reese will have to get used to. Reese was sound asleep when we arrived - I swaddled her up and put her down to sleep. As soon as she would close her eyes - someone would scream for more Cheerios and her eyes would pop WIDE open! Her awake time up until now usually hasn't lasted over an hour and half at a time - she is an excellent napper for the most part. We are curious how all of the new sights and sounds will effect her sleep schedule. We've never set a schedule...she has simply fallen into a pretty good day routine on her own...lets hope it continues! Her night schedule is another story - kinda like the lotto and we can't always be lucky!

-kristen

Easter

Just home from a long nap at church!



Easter morning service just across the street - we were planning to walk (which would have taken less time than strapping Reese in the carseat) but it was a bit too chilly! Ms. Reese slept the entire time despite the worship service including drums and electric guitar! There were daycare services available for children under two but we aren't quite ready to toss her in the germ pool just yet! We still have our mini hand sanitizer hanging from the carseat :)




Lean on me.... neither Ashton nor Reese has mastered sitting solo!

We celebrated Easter with a feast at Grandma and Grandpa Kuiken's. This is the first time we've gotten pictures with Reese and her cousin Ashton together! Ashton is only about 3 months older than Reese - so it will be fun watching them grow up together! For now - the interaction is minimal - they do share an interest in ceiling fans :) Both kiddos have the cutest smiles, but we were fortunate to have eyes open so we didn't force the smile issue!

This is also the first family picture we've taken together in months! I am proud to say that after such a long hiatus - I was still able to locate and operate my blow dryer (once I blew the dust off of it!) Ah motherhood...makes you appreciate the simple things (like ponytails and getting to shower).

opinion poll

Who thinks mommies should go back to work full-time?

Who thinks mommies should stay home full-time?

Well, I survived my two full days of work this past week. I'm afraid I missed Reese a lot more than she missed me! So long as her tummy is kept full and she gets snuggled - she is a happy baby. Grandma Roxie must have managed both because Reese had no complaints. Our morning routine needs some fine tuning - I'm not sure how we are going to actually get out of the house with Reese and still make it to work before noon?! A work in progress for sure! Thankfully, our daycare provider lives within two miles of our home!

We did make it to her 830am Dr. appointment on Friday morning (only 5 minutes late). She weighs 11lb 2 oz and is 22 3/4 inches long. She is now in the 30th percentile for weight! We are not only on the growth curve, but we are also moving steadily up it! The Dr. said we don't have to give her two formula feedings a day anymore (HOORAY!) Weight gain is good - but bathing gets to be more challenging the more crooks and crevices that she gets! Check out the chins!

Reese LOVES...

Well, there are lots of things Ms. Reese LOVES including her cousin Austyn who came to stay over the weekend. She also loves her pacifier, lamps/lights, and most of all CEILING FANS ! The smiles are multiplying, however, she gives way more to the ceiling than she does to mom or dad! Note the photo of the "ceiling fan trance" top photo. She talks to the ceiling fan, she waves her arms at the ceiling fan - she plans to ask Santa for a Lowe's giftcard this year?! Santa talk may seem premature - but not surprising coming from the baby who came into the world nearly 7 weeks early just to make it in time for Christmas!

An exciting moment came for mom and dad this week when Reese went 4 hours between feedings through the night - we are looking forward to the sleeping milestones especially now that I am going back to work (TOMMORROW!) I will work 2 days this week and 2 days next week - returning to full time on the 31st. Reese will be hanging out with Grandma Roxie and then will go to an inhome daycare once I go back fulltime. I am going to miss her terribly and Rick is going to miss all the photo texts I am able to send him throughout the day when I am home!

-kristen

Chatty Reese

In an attempt to keep up with my tech savvy friends, I have decided to give my best shot at blogging. Reese will soon be 12 weeks old - and hitting the 6 week developmental milestones! We're super excited for her to be more interactive, smiling, etc. though we don't want her growing up too fast! With as much as Reese has to say these days...I'm guessing she will be taking over the blogging in no time! I go back to work next week already so I figure now is my best chance to get the whole blog thing started. Please be patient with our technical adventure...we will try our best to keep updated photos and videos available!

- kristen