Update

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I last updated my blog! Time flies when you're a stay-at-home mommy!

This past month we were blessed to have some friends visit us from Tennessee for 2 weeks. It was so great to catch up, play games and do some site-seeing. We didn't finish our list of "things to do", so they will have to come back soon for another visit!

Shara and Jeff visiting from TN!  We're at the LA fair.

Elliott continues to make us smile everyday by the little things he does. He loves laughing, staring at his fingers, rolling from side to side and standing. He is now 5 months old and we can't believe how fast time has flown!

Elliott at the petting zoo @ the LA fair

Elliott loves to point!

Elliott's sleep has improved dramatically! Most nights he's in bed by 6:30/7:00...which of course means he's up by 6:30! (Being a parent is definitely a life transition...I don't remember the last time I slept in past 7am!) His night feedings have decreased to 1-2 a night. HUGE decrease from the month before! Unfortunately he's become a bit of a "mommy's boy" when it comes to sleep. I am now the only one he will go to sleep with. Previously he would sleep with Kyle or myself, so at times it's hard that I am the only one he will take naps/sleep at night with. Elliott has also transitioned from his cradle into a crib, which gives him more wiggle room. :)

Last week I joined a group called Stroller Strides. It's an exercise group of moms with strollers that work out 5 mornings a week. Besides getting a pretty good work-out we are able to socialize with other moms/babies. Most mornings I spend 1-2hrs after class socializing with the other moms and introducing new babies to Elliott. Elliott is still not sure of other babies...he just stares intently...maybe that's because there are about 20 women in my class and some have 2 children (baby/toddler) so it's a bit overwhelming from our house!

All in all, life is great! When you change your schedule to reflect your life's priorities, it's amazing how good you feel at the end of the day.

Precious Sleep

We got a card in the mail last week from our electric company notifying us that they would be doing maintenance work in the area and we might lose power from 9pm-9am. We joking said we would use candles for the night, but didn't give it much thought. Well, last night was THE night. The electricity went off around 11pm. Little did we realize that "electricity" meant refrigerator, air conditioning and all outlets. At night our bedroom sounds a bit like the ocean due to all of Elliott's white noise machines. (It takes 2-3 to get him to sleep, plus a seahorse that plays timed lullabys.)

Within seconds our room became silent and warm...which turned into hot (even with the windows open) and full of noise as our little one unexpectedly woke up from his deep slumber. I wish the electric company knew how much work it took to get Elliott into a deep sleep and the improvements he's been making the last few weeks. After stripping Elliott of his clothes we both took 1 hour shifts rocking him back and forth and trying to recreate the white noise he's used to. (Side note: Now that I am a parent I am amazed at the things I do for my baby at all hours of the night!) Needless to say none of us slept well last night and it was a LONG day for Kyle and Elliott while I worked.

I love watching Elliott's entire face light up the second he sees me and hears my voice. He laughs, makes lots of talking noises and grabs my hands. Ahhh. Tonight when I got home he was so tired he fell asleep after 10minutes of playing and 5 minutes of nursing. It wasn't even his bed time yet! I just sat back, drew his precious body close to mine and admired this little being nuzzled deep within my lap.

2 Days to Go

The last week and a half have been quite interesting and trying for all of us sleep-wise. We had a great Labor Day weekend and enjoyed BBQs and swimming. By the end of last weekend Elliott was sleeping almost through the night...only woke up twice. HUGE improvement from 12-15 times!

I went back to work on Tuesday and the nightmare began again. While I was at work Elliott cried for 3 solid hours. I felt really bad for Kyle because I would have tried to come home early, but I didn't have my cell phone with me. When I got to my car after work I had a voice-mail in 20 minute increments of Elliott crying... The second I walked in the house and he heard my voice he stopped crying and started smiling. Let's just say the week has progressed from there... It's getting harder to put him to bed at night because he wants to be in my arms and will cling for an hour or two before letting me put him down. Poor baby... Poor daddy... Only 2 more work days to go!

On another note I think Elliott is teething. Not only is he gumming me while he eats (that's a fun experience), but he's gumming everything he can get into his mouth. He's also become quite a drooler. With me working and early stages of teething it makes sense why he's having a tough time. Kyle and I swear we heard Elliott crying "Momma" tonight when he woke up to nurse. We listened closely and he repeated it several times. Craziness!

2 Weeks Notice

Getting up all night long has really made me sick. My sinuses are acting up and I am having a difficult time talking. So, I took Tuesday off of work and it was the best day ever!

Kyle and I devoted today to family time. All day long we cuddled Elliott between us and played with him. We were so happy to see his little precious smile return with his infectious giggle. There were so many moments when Elliott would look at me and smile, then look at Kyle and smile, then look back at me, etc. I'm pretty sure he was thinking, "Yay Mom and Dad are both at home with me today!) The day was perfect. We had much needed family time and Kyle and I even had a couple of hours at night to spend together.

We started talking about what was most important to us individually and as a family. We agreed that Elliott is now our number one and comes before any job. After doing some number pinching, we worked out a way for me to quit my job and stay home with Elliott and Kyle. (Kyle works from home during the week.) Our new money plan requires us to sell my car (which I was only using to go to work) and be continuously mindful of how we spend our money. It's worth not going out to eat to spend the day with Elliott and have him sleeping again!

So, I gave my 2 weeks notice yesterday and I am so happy about it!

Worst Week Ever

This has been the worst week ever! Elliott’s night-time wakings have increased so much that he is now waking up 10-15 times at night. I feel like a zombie! I am so tired and starting to get sick. The worst part is that Elliott has stopped smiling. Normally he is a smiley happy kid, but my absence is making the smile temporarily fade away. I’m so stressed and emotional, I don’t know what to do.

At night Elliott clings to my clothes and refuses to go to sleep. It’s cute and really sad at the same time. He’s fighting sleep so he can spend more time with me. Last night we gave up and went for a car ride to see if that would put him to sleep. 45 minutes into the car ride, and 2hrs past his bedtime he went to sleep. The second we got home he woke up. I took him out of his car seat, laid him on my bed and laid down next to him. He turned towards me, grabbed my shirt with both hands, nuzzled his head against my shirt and let out a deep sigh. Within seconds he was in a deep sleep.

Adults with older children always say to cherish every moment because children go up so fast. How can I ignore the pleadings of my baby? All he wants is his mom to stay home with him. As he grows this moment will soon fade away and he will be consumed with toys and friends and I will no longer be the number one thought on his mind.

Normally Elliott doesn’t sleep in our bed, but last night was different. With tears in my eyes I cuddled next to him and fell asleep.

Sleep Mystery

Unfortunately things have not gotten any better with Elliott at home. I just finished my second week of work and Elliott is still not sleeping. I have tried to keep Elliott in the same routine that he has been in all summer long, but it is not working. Kyle says he cries for about 30 minutes once I leave for work. Things are getting so stressful that when I get home Kyle hands me Elliott and goes for a walk. I think it's been hard on him because even though he is the father he is not able to completely console Elliott. It's hard on me because I feel like my absence is traumatizing Elliott. I guess it's because he had me everyday since he was born. By the time I get home from work I only get to spend an hour or so with Elliott before putting him down for bed, which is becoming an hour long process.

I did a little experiment this past weekend. I took Monday off of work, so I was home Saturday-Monday. All weekend long I played with Elliott. His sleeping increased at night. By Monday night he slept for 7 straight hours, woke up once, then went back to sleep for 4 more hours. The sleep mystery is solved (as if I didn't already know the answer.) The more time I spend with Elliott during the day, the more he sleeps at night.

How can I be there for my son, while working to help provide for my family?

Back to work

I went back to work last week and I have mixed emotions...

Before the summer was over I was looking forward to working again.  I have tremendous respect for women who enjoy staying at home with their children, but I don't think I am of that breed.  I love being a mom and I love Elliott, but I miss contributing  and using my brain in ways outside the house.

Currently I work for a non profit organization that provides free after-school tutoring and activities to low income families.  The specific program I work for is in a middle school.  We have close to 150 students after school and my job is homework help.  So, I started back a week ago.  I really am enjoying working with students to understand their homework...usually it's math they need help with.  (I've had to re-teach myself Algebra and Geometry so I can answer their questions)

Even though I've enjoyed working, Elliott and Kyle have not enjoyed having me gone during the day.  Before I started working Elliott took 2-4 naps a day all at least an hour and only woke up once during the night.  Well, since I've been working all of that has changed...  Elliott only sleeps 30minutes at a time...and will only nap once.  At night he wakes up every 1-2hrs.  It's a bit stressful for both of us, but we are hoping things will get better once we get into the routine of me working...  I mean, so many women work full-time and are mothers, so me working part-time should be okay...  Here's to more sleep at night!