Christmas 2007

We had a really great visit with Rich's family in Las Vegas over Christmas. Although I was nervous about Lia's first plane ride, she was a real trooper and had no problems... despite the airline losing the carseat (later recovered)... despite both Rich and I coming down with the cold (we washed our hands religiously- she never caught it)... despite the return flight being held up for two hours on the runway due to computer errors... Lia has just earned her first stripes as a globe trotter, just like her mama and papa!

It was really great to see everyone. Ron and Doris have had a really busy fourth quarter with their travels and parties. Randall et al drove up from Phoenix. Cousin Rylee was Lia's sponsor for her baptism.

Highlights: Red Rock, Chinatown, Bellagio Buffet, and Lia's baptism. We also had a nice family dinner on Christmas day. We were invited to Dale and Diane's for dinner on the 26th.

We did less this time around because of Lia. Rich even gave up his boys' night out gaming night (partially due to his cold). It was tough traveling with a baby. We had to work around her feeding schedule, naps, and all the baby issues that hindered our mobility. The diaper bag and babysling are treasured accessories and my best friends! All in all, I am proud to say both parents and baby did their best to get along and we had a nice time.


Visit to Red Rock.


Christmas display at Bellagio.


Lia's baptism on Christmas Day. She was sleepy but her eyes popped wide open the minute the water hit her head!




Mama and baby taking a needed break.


If she could only sleep this good at home!

Smiles!!!

Our girl is finally becoming a social butterfly! We absolutely love these first smiles and coos.

Going Back to Work

Ouch!!! The big date is January 2, looming over me like a dark snarly cloud. We had made the decision for me to return to work a few weeks ago. I don't want to do this but the economy is so weak in Detroit that, with our two mortgages, things could spiral out of control very quickly should Rich lose his job.

We already have daycare set up at the Rainbow Center, a place recommended to me by a coworker who also has her daughter there. I have toured it and liked what I saw. The best thing is it is only about a mile from the office, so that I can go visit and nurse her during lunch. I know Lia will be fine but still, leaving her will be painful. We will try to have her there four days a week, with us taking time off on Fridays. We will have to sacrifice vacations his year, but it is important to have that quality time with her in this crucial stage in her life.

A Good Night's Sleep

Sleeping through the night... that is like nirvana for new parents. And I have *almost* achieved it. Lia sleeps through the night on some occasions. I typically feed her at 10pm and go to bed at 11 (after some burping, rocking and massage) and she can make it to as long as 6am. The problem is- I still wake at 4am, because I am used to waking for her when she had shorter sleep cycles before. And, sometimes when she does wake up earlier, I have a hard time falling asleep again after nursing her. I am really hoping our cycles will sync up when I go back to work, as we won't have the luxury of sleeping in, as we do now.

Oh, I really love sleeping with her. I love watching her sleep. I love waking up with her. And I know she loves it too. She feels so comfortable and secure, as we share cuddle time. I love it when she turns toward me and puts her arm on me. This bonding experience is truly priceless.

Lia is 2 Months Old!

Lia now weighs 12lb 2 oz and measures 23.25 inches. She is in the 75th percentile for both.

She now loves to smile and get tickled. She has developed a curiosity for her surroundings, always checking out the room. She continues to be very active and I bet she will start to roll over soon.

They say you're "over the hump" at two months, but Lia finds ways to challenge us as new parents (I suspect that will continue well into adolescence). The breastfeeding, diaper changes, and baths are routine now. We are trying to settle her into more predictable routines in preparation for daycare next month. We are so used to sleeping in and getting up at 9:00 that we'll need to adjust our night time sleep hours. It will be a big adjustment for everyone.