Week 18 - Minnesota!

Maude spent her entire 18th week of life in Minnesota.  Maude and I flew there last Sunday and got back today.  Mike joined us on Thursday night and flew back with us today.  It was a very busy and long Father's Day but we were all thankful to just be together!

Maude did about the same on the flights for this trip as she did to and from Seattle.  She is a very active and independent gal and being held for an entire flight in a little airplane seat isn't really her thing.  During the flight to Minnesota, she and I hung out in the back galley.  That distraction got us through the flight and we got lots of comments as we landed that Maude was angel during the flight.  The flight home today was about the same.

We had a wonderful week in Minnesota.  Maude met lots of my friends that she hadn't been able to meet yet.  She also got to meet her future boyfriend, Henry Schaefgen.  Henry is four months older than Maude.  This seems like an eternity now but in a few years, 4 months is nothing.  She loved watching him crawl around and walk behind his walker.  It was fun watching her interact with an older baby and be in awe of his advanced skills!

Maude also got to meet her Grandpa Larry this weekend! She had a wonderful day spending time with her Nama (my mom) and Grandpa.  And I think it was a pretty special Father's Day weekend for my dad.  =)

In other news, Maude officially rolled over for the first time this week!  A month or more ago, she was rolling  (more like falling) from her front to her back.  She hasn't been able to do that again for at least a month which confirms my belief that it was more of a fall over than a roll over.  Most babies first roll from their front to their back because it's easier than the back to front roll.  Today Maude started rolling from her back to her front pretty consistently.  She still hasn't rolled from front to back since her inadvertent rollovers weeks ago.  Again, this little gal is definitely my daughter - she does thing her own way and on her own timing and not when she's expected to.  She also saved it as a wonderful Father's Day gift for Mike!

Maude is headed back to day care tomorrow.  I know the teachers are excited to have her back and I can't wait to show them her new skills!  I loved spending the last week with Maude and it will be hard to be away from her during the day again.  I am, however, looking forward to normal and consistent days.  Our life has felt a little crazy and chaotic lately and a normal week will feel good.

Maude hanging on the deck in Minnesota at our friend Camy's house.

Maude and Henry trying to sneak in some hand holding!

Maude and Kinnick. They were both laying on the floor and Kinnick kept inching closer to Maude.  Maude loved checking out Kinnick's long hair.  So much different than Stella!

I just love this photo of Maude.  She looks like such a big girl in her little shorts.

Here are a few photos from the week!

Week 17 - Planes, Trains, and Automobiles

What a big week for Ms. Maude!  She took her first flight (as well as many other new forms of transportation) and turned 4 months old!  What a big week for such a little girl!  Oh, and she got shots, too.  And she's taking her second plane trip tomorrow.  Seriously big week.

I had a meeting with a client on Monday in Seattle so we were able to have Mike come with and therefore we could also bring Maude.  I was not ready to be away from her yet so I was so happy we could make it work.  We flew to Seattle on Saturday and came back on Monday.  For such a short trip, we packed a lot!  It was crazy how much baggage we had and how long it took us to pack everything!  We looked like the circus rolling into town when we walked into the airport with all of our gear.

I've had several friends fly with their babies and everyone said that their babies slept on the plane so I was expecting Maude to eat a little as we took off and then drift off and nap the entire time.  We apparently have one of the few babies who is not at all interested in sleeping on a plane.  She was way too curious about it all and wanted to see everything that was going on around her!  We spent most of the flight passing her back and forth and entertaining a very antsy little girl.  She was good, but it took a decent amount of work on our part to keep her happy during the flight.  Two hours spent sitting in the same seat was just a bit too much for her!

Beyond her first flight, Seattle included many new forms of transportation for Maude.  As soon as we landed, we took a tram to the main terminal of the airport to go and get our luggage.  After that, we loaded up in a taxi which was also a first for Maude.  On Sunday we met up with our friends Jason and Tonya and took a ferry ride!  Then Monday was our flight back home.  I think that was quite a few new things for our 4 month old.  She loved it all and we survived our first flight with her!

So after going out of our way to avoid me being away from Maude for my Seattle trip, I found out that I had to fly to Minnesota on my own for a meeting just a day after we got back from Seattle.  I was out on the 6:30 AM flight on Wednesday morning and got home the next afternoon.  I think it was much harder on me to be away from her.  She and Mike did great and I don't think she missed a beat.  I think Mike was exhausted by the time I got home on Thursday, but Maude was no worse for the wear.

In Mike and Maude's 36 hour adventure, she put him to the test just a bit.  The morning I left, Mike got up at 5:30 AM to make sure he was all ready for the day before she got up (which is typically between 6 and 6:30).  6:15 rolled around and Mike was completely ready, just waiting for Maude to wake up.  He waited, and waited, and waited...  until 7:30!  Then on Thursday morning, she woke up at 5:45 AM and as Mike went into her room to get her, he was panicked when he saw something all over her crib.  Our little gal had a big blowout and her poo was all over her crib.  Ahh, poor Mike!  That particular issue has never happened to me so he was the lucky one to experience that for the first time.

Maude had her 4 month doctor's appointment yesterday.  She's 23 inches long and 13lbs 4.5 oz.  Her height is still in the 25th percentile, but her weight is a bit above now (I think it's all in her thighs!!) and her head is back up into the 50th percentile.  She took her shots better than in past appointments and was a smiley little gal again within a few minutes of getting them.

Tomorrow, Maude and I leave for Minnesota.  This is her second flight, but our first alone together.  I'm a little nervous for how it will go without Mike there to help with entertainment.  I'm hoping she'll turn into a less curious little one and decide sleeping is pretty nice during a plane ride!

Enjoy the pictures below, all taken in Seattle.

Prior to getting on the flight.  As you can see, Maude was pretty thrilled.

About to get on the airplane!!

Maude's first swimsuit.  We tried the hotel pool but it was a little too cold for everyone.

Mike had his best cup of coffee ever from this place and we took a picture with the barista!  (Note:  this was not a Starbuck's!)

Pike's Place Market!

Jason and Tonya with a windblown Maude on her first ferry ride.

Somebody discovered her feet!  And she thinks they're quite tasty!

4 months old!

Mowhawk.

16 Weeks!

This short post and limited pictures will reflect the fact that I went back to work this week.  I was thinking this having a baby thing was a pretty easy gig until this week hit. Woah, has life changed!  I now get up earlier than I ever thought I would and I don't stop until my head hits the pillow at night.  I'm hoping that it's just extra crazy this week since it's the first week back, but I also can't figure out what could get more streamlined or cut out of the day to make it less hectic.  As busy, crazy, and overwhelming as it is, I certainly wouldn't change a thing - except for maybe being independently wealthy and not having to work!

The days of leaving Maude at day care have gotten slightly easier.  She seems to enjoy her time there and is young enough that she doesn't care when I leave her and is only happy when I return.  We get great reports every day and the teachers always comment about how pleasant she is.  YAY!  I am so thankful we have a baby that they look forward to seeing every day.

We had high hopes of including pictures of Maude's first trip to the beach in this update.  We got up early Sunday morning and headed to Malibu, baby and dog in tow.  We knew it was going to be windy, but the forecast indicated that the wind wouldn't pick up until noon or after.  Wrongo.  We parked the car on the PCH in Malibu, got out and felt like we were going to be knocked over by the force of the wind gusts.  We still bundled up and walked down to the beach, but after about 10 minutes, Maude had enough.  Stella was in pure heaven, but the cold wind took it out of the rest of us.  Maude was melting down and Mike and I were feeling like idiots for even attempting it all.  So we hiked it back up to the car.  The minute I got Maude into the safety of the car, she was all smiles again.  We'll definitely try the beach again this summer, but will aim for a warmer and much less windy day.

I mentioned Maude's potential aversion to peppers and onions last week (I like to call it "Peppergate").  I cut them out of my diet and it was clear they had been the culprit.  I then made the mistake of eating them again on Monday, along with some beans.  Big mistake.  So, I'm officially very much off the onions and pepper for the foreseeable future.  I love them both oh so much, but it's worth it to have a happy and gas free baby.

Maude seems to have found her voice this week.  She loves to babble, yell (ok, it's more of a scream) just to hear herself.  There are times when she's slightly fussy and crying a bit, but it sounds like she's incredibly ticked off because she's also screaming at the same time.  We're taking our first flight with her on Saturday so I'm hoping she doesn't love the airplane acoustics and feel the need to give them a good sound check!


I have my first business trip on Monday - a meeting in Seattle.  I was distraught over the thought of going overnight without Maude, so Mike took Monday off and we're making a weekend trip out of it.  Unfortunately, another trip came up that I need to go on just a day after we get back and it's not possible to take Ms. Maude, so I'll be headed out on a very early flight Wednesday morning and will be back Thursday afternoon.  Mike, Maude and Stella will fend for themselves all alone for the first time.  I don't quite know how they'll do it, but I know they will and will be the better for it.  And I'll do my best to try and actually believe that while I'm gone. 

Just two pictures this week.  I hope to have lots more next week after our trip to Seattle!

I don't think this photo clearly shows what Maude is doing, but over the past week or so, she's been really into sucking on her lips.  It's pretty cute and makes us smile. 

Again, another photo that doesn't fully capture what's going on.  This is the one and only picture we took at the beach.  The surf was high and as violent as the wind.

15 Weeks Old!

Today was a big day for Ms. Maude.  She went to day care for the first time.  I was in tears the moment I walked in the door to leave her there.  I stayed with her for a while and she seemed to be enjoying all the fun toys they have so I finally pried myself out of there.  I called in a few times throughout the day and the teachers always said she was doing great and they were enjoying having her there.  When I picked her up, one of the teachers was holding her and didn't want to give her up.  So all in all, the day was much tougher on me than it was Maude.  I hope next week goes just as well!

Next week is actually my official start back to work, but I attended a local client meeting on Tuesday and went to my office for a short day today.  Mike stayed home and watched Maude on Tuesday while I was at my meeting.  He initially volunteered to "babysit" her for the day and I had to gently let him know that it's not called babysitting when it's your own child!  It's now become a little joke for us. He reported that their day went well.  There were no major meltdowns and she even left him a lovely gift in her diaper. 

Our typically great sleeper has been having some rough nights lately.  It started last week while Mike was working late a few nights in a row.  I initially assumed her struggle to stay asleep when I put her down had to do with the fact that she hadn't seen Mike all day and he's always the one to give a bottle before bed.  The first night he was home before her bedtime, she slept through the night. We had several nights in a row of great sleeping again until early this week, too.   Last night was the worst but tonight she went down pretty easily and is still asleep.  Here's hoping she stays that way until morning!

In addition to the late nights, Maude has been a bit fussier during the day and has been spitting up a lot more than normal.  I made the connection a few days ago to the fact that I've been eating A LOT of bell peppers and onions.  I think the poor gal has had some tummy issues.  I haven't had pepper and onions since Tuesday night and already today, she was a much happier little gal.  I'll probably stay away from them for another week or so and if Maude stays her normally pleasant self, I guess I'll be avoiding those items in the near future.  Our summer go to fajitas on the grill may be in jeopardy! 

We're looking forward to the upcoming three day weekend.  I hope you all enjoy yours!

The pictures below were taken during Mike and Maude's day together. 

Happy girl!

This picture makes me laugh!

Daddy and Maude heading out for a walk. 

Week 14!!

Maude is 14 weeks old.  What?  I know I keep saying this, but it is so amazing to see how much she's changed.  She is a riot these days.  I have so much fun with her.  It seems so unfair that I'll be going to work in just a week or two, just as Maude is becoming such a little person with a very happy and fun little personality.

A few posts ago, I made the mistake of commenting that I couldn't remember the last time I had to get up in the middle of the night.  That very night, I think Maude woke up twice.  Ever since, she either sleeps all through the night or wakes up just once.  I really can't complain.  We've moved her bedtime to an earlier hour and the first few nights of that brought a middle of the night wake up.  There have also been a few early mornings.  She's had a few 12 hour straight through nights which feels amazing!  In other sleep news, I finally was able to let her sleep in her crib.  If she wakes up in the middle of the night, I bring her into our room after her feeding.  I was pretty darn proud of myself for finally leaving her in her room when I went to bed.

For weeks now, Maude has been giggling, but we've been getting some full on laughter over the past few days.  Sunday was the first day we heard her really (really!) laughing.  It was hysterical laughter.  Mike was holding her and singing some power ballad type song.  She started giggling, then laughing so hard - we've never heard anything like it.  I was laughing so hard and was so happy, my eyes welled up.  I looked at Mike and through his laughter, his eyes were welling up, too.  (Sorry, Mike - hope this was ok to share!!)  Ever since, we've been desperately trying (mostly in vain) to get the same laughter out of her.  We've gotten some more laughs, but nothing like what we saw on Sunday.

Maude's favorite thing to do during playtime is to have tummy time and look at herself in the mirror.  As soon as I lay her down and she spies herself in the mirror, she grins her biggest grin. She typically babbles to herself, too.  I constantly wonder if she knows that it's her own image or if she thinks it's another baby smiling and laughing back at her.  She's also just beginning to roll over.  I think most of the time it's more of a fall over, but she's doing it so we'll calling it rolling.  She also mostly rolls to her right.

The video below is some tummy time in front of the mirror, followed by a roll/fall over.  Please excuse the glimpses of her little bare bottom!  =)

More tummy time in the mirror.  This was after quite some time on her tummy and she was nearing her end point.  Also note her cute little bear bottom (not to be confused with the bare bottom above).

Napping in her aptly named Sleepy Wrap while at the park.

I thought this was a beautiful shot of Stella.  Mike took this over the weekend and I just love it!

Week 13

Maude was 3 months last Friday and 13 weeks on Sunday!  Time has flown by.  We marvel every day at how much she changes.  I had a dream last night that I woke up this morning and Maude was talking!  I can't wait to hear her first words, but am not ready for her to be old enough to talk.

We had her 3 month appointment at the doctor's on Monday.  Maude is now 11lbs, 14.5oz and 23 inches long.  Her heights, weight and head circumference are all in the 25th percentile.  This is where she's been since birth so it's good to know that she's growing at a steady rate.  She also got two shots which she hated even more this time than she did the first time!  There were major tears and screaming.  So awful!  But, I'm thankful she's getting the protection she needs from them which I have to remind myself as she's screaming during them and crabby for the day after getting them.

My firth mother's day was amazing. Just having Maude here and being the recipient of her smiles and giggles all day were the best gift I could ever receive.  Mike made pancakes for breakfast, we had a picnic in the park for lunch, and then for dinner Mike made salmon and roasted veggies.  Yummo!

Mike's birthday was yesterday.  I learned that the year he was born, mother's day was the very next day.  What a mother's day gift that was for his mom!  We had a low key evening celebrating at home.  Maude wanted to make him a cake so we worked on that during the day while he was at work.

I'm soaking up my last few weeks here at home with her.  I get sick to my stomach at the thought of leaving her when I go to work.  I also learned that I have a business trip to Seattle fairly soon after I go back but thankfully we were able to work it out so Mike can come along and bring Maude.  Yay!  We'll also get to see friends while we're there.  Double Yay!  =)

I hope you enjoy the latest photos.  I think Maude gets cuter and cuter each week! 

At Noah Hamer's 1st Birthday Party.  I think she's grumpy because I wouldn't let her go in the bouncy house!

Mike and Maude with John and Noah.  Mike and John were roommates for years here in LA.  So cute to see them with their babies!

Giving kisses.  I love love love how Maude squeals when I do this. 

Such a happy girl on Mother's Day!

Mike on his birthday with the cake and sign that Maude wanted me to make for him. 

Week 12

This will be a mostly photo post.  It's suddenly Friday and I haven't updated the blog all week. 

Maude is 3 months old today!  How did that happen?  It is truly amazing how much she's changed from when she was born.  Those first few days after she was born, I kept thinking about how I didn't want her to grow up, I just wanted to enjoy those first days of having a brand new baby forever.  Now that she's 3 months old, I realize how much fun it is to watch her discover new things and become a little person.  I can tell that she can see a lot further than she could and will immediately brighten up when Mike or I enter a room.  She smiles and laughs most of her waking hours.  She is particularly fascinated with her hands - both looking at them and all they can do and getting as much of them as possible in her mouth at one time.

Her good sleeping streak continues.  I can't remember the last time I got up with her in the middle of the night.  This would obviously be a great time to transition her to sleeping in her own room all night.  Every night I swear that this will be the night that it happens.  But then Mike and I go up to bed and I can't help myself, I go and get her out of her crib and move her into the crib in our room.  I asked Mike the other night if he would mind if she slept in our room until she was 18.  I don't think he went for it. 

Mike gives Maude a bottle each night.  She grabbed hold of it one night.  I guess she was hungry!

3 month old happy girl!

I've been a mom for 3 months so I stole Maude's sticker when she was done with it.

She doesn't sit up on her own yet, but can with a little help from mom or dad.

Loving her hand!