Maude Overman: Jetsetter

Welcome back good & faithful readers! I'm filling in for the prolific Marnie this week while she's on the road again (she truly can wait to get on the road again - but hasn't had much choice lately, it's been a busy summer). Maude has taken her 24th & 25th flights this week!

Okay, maybe that's a tad high. But she's been in the air a lot for someone under 180 days old - unfortunately they don't spot babies any frequent flyer miles. I think she'd be closing in on silver status (she's been to more fancy Sky Clubs in her life than I have).

For those of you who mostly tune in for the pictures - not to worry - there have been no photo sessions around the house but I've been getting snapshots from life on the road which I can share - Seattle this week for a couple days then back to LA for a couple nights then out to Iowa where she's getting to hang with Nama & Grandpa this weekend.

So, on to the vitals:

Maude had her 5 month doctor's appointment on Monday - everything is good and she hit the 15 pound mark! Of course then Tuesday she woke up with pinkeye - and was due on a flight in 3 hours so I booked it back to the pediatrician then swung by the pharmacy while Marnie got ready and got to the airport - we made the baby handoff with a little time to spare but was quite the adventure.

As for the theoretical, I've spent some time this weekend thinking about the evolution of the female role model. Even as we're continually dunked in a tank of talentless reality stars - the Kardashians, Hiltons, Lohans, Real Housewives - I've spent the past few days taking in the greatness that is out there. I don't know if having a daughter has simply made me more aware of the surroundings or if the surroundings are evolving - I have a feeling it's a little of each - they're both for the better.

This afternoon I watched our US women compete for the World Cup championship - competitive as any men and likely classier in defeat - and it felt like a big event, worthy of national attention - those ladies are stars (and I don't know that any human on the planet can execute a header like Abby Wambach).

I caught a matinee of Harry Potter 7.5 on Friday - a lot of the ass-kicking was doled out by the female characters. Bridesmaids has grossed over $200MM at the box office and received more attention than any other comedy this summer. I've got Michael Jackson's This is It on in the background right now and his lead guitarist was a rockin' female. Michelle Obama is hardly just the wife of the President - she's a figure all her own. Tina Fey runs one of the most successful (and funny) shows on television.

I'm sure there are still ceilings (the White House awaits). I'm sure there are inequalities (I like to think they're fading). But we tell our kids that they can do anything they want and it makes me happy it's becoming easier to point and say "see, there... you want it, go get it".

As Marnie mentioned in her last post we're heading for a shift that's going to have Marnie heading to the office and me staying home to handle the day-to-day around the house - flipping the "traditional roles" on their ear. While I'll try to provide my own example I'll certainly guide Maude to the influence of whoever the Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Kristin Wiig, Orianthi (MJ's guitarist), Michelle Obama, Tina Fey or Hermione Granger's of the future will be - we can all learn a thing or two.

Now, enough blabbering - on to the photos!

Maude hanging at Pike Place Market

I don't know what was going on here.

They just told me what happens on the road stays on the road.

First class!

Maude & Bailey at Nama & Grandpa's

(Bailey turns out to be a little more tolerant than Stella)

Put object on baby's head. Take picture. Laugh. Repeat.

Week 21 - 5 Months!!

5 months old!  This has been the fastest month yet.  I really have no idea how we went from 4 months to 5 months so quickly.  I love watching Maude get bigger and start to be able to do more, but I also desperately want it all to slow down so I can enjoy it all.  This has been one crazy and hectic summer and I get sad when I think about how it's going by too quickly.

Life now with being back to work is busier than I imagined and we have a little something more going on.  We're moving.  We're leaving California in a little less than a month and moving to Minnesota.  I was promoted within my department which means I'll be working again from our home office in St. Paul.  Taking on a new job, a newborn and a move halfway across the country is a lot.  The past few months have been a blur.  I'm thankful to at least have this blog where I've documented what's going on in Maude's life.  Without it, I think these early months of her life might have been forgotten in the stress that creeps up on us every day.  We have a lot we want to do before we leave LA and friends we want to see - I'm having a much harder time leaving here than I thought I would.  We're in the home stretch, though and I'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel.  Soon our lives will be our new normal and I am looking forward to that.

Mike is leaving his job at NBC.  I want to take this opportunity to brag about him a bit.  He received a pretty impressive promotion just a few weeks ago.  The people at NBC recognized what an important member of their team he is and what an amazing job he does.  He's a much bigger big shot than I will be for some time, maybe even ever.  We know, though, that in the end, this move is what's best for our family.  When we move, Mike is planning to stay home with Maude and Stella and work on building his own business.  He's had the opportunity to film friends' weddings and create some pretty impressive wedding videos for them.  Through that, he's realized it's something he really enjoys doing so is going to start his own business doing wedding videography and other video work in Minnesota.  This will hopefully allow him to spend weekdays taking care of Maude and do work on the weekends.  He's excited for the change and Maude and Stella are pretty stoked to have their dad at home with them every day.

In Maude news this week, she turned 5 months old!  The day before the special occasion, she sat up unassisted for the first time!  Just 5 days later, and she's an old pro at that.  She still rolls from her back to her front as soon as you lay her down, but she hasn't again rolled from front to back.  I'm sure she'll master that very soon.  I've also noticed that when she's on her tummy, she is getting herself pretty high with her arms.  I'm sure soon, she'll be able to also get up on her knees...  and then comes crawling...  Yikes!  I'm not ready for all of this.  She continues to be a jabbermouth and is incredibly interested in everything we're doing. 

Our day care situation this summer has been a bit of a hodge podge.  Mike's company has a great back up day care system.  They provide 20 days each year of care at an incredible day care center.  With all of our travels since I've been back to work, we've been able to stretch that 20 days out and our time there had to end on Friday.  It was a sad day for me.  As much as I was anxious about taking Maude to day care at first, I quickly saw how much she loved it there and how much the teachers there loved her.  She was frequently the only baby they'd have each day and got lots and lots of love and attention.  There were some tears shed by me and her teachers on Friday but we promised to come back and visit.  A few of the teachers are even going to come to our house for the rest of this month to watch Maude.  We needed some additional help and since they all adore her, a few agreed to help us out for the next few weeks.

Maude is going on her third trip this week.  I have a business trip to Seattle so my friend Amy is flying in from Austin to meet us and help out with Maude while I'm at meetings.  I haven't' seen Amy in 3-4 years (she and I were trying to remember how long it's been - way too long!!) and I'm beyond excited to see her again and introduce her to Maude. We're gone Tuesday through Thursday, then fly out again Saturday morning to go to Iowa.  I have a meeting in Iowa on Tuesday of next week so Maude and I will be going to my hometown to see family and friends for a few days before my meeting.  Maybe Mike will take the reins of the blog next week. 

Enjoy the many 5 month photos we took.  We have these super clever month stickers we put on the front of a onesie each month when it's Maude's birthday.  She now will only hang out on her tummy so getting a shot of the sticker on her front side is a bit difficult.  We compromised and just propped the sticker up next to her while she played on her tummy.  Once she tired out, we did get a few shots of her lying on her back with the sticker on.

Her daycare also sent home a CD of all the pictures they took of her during her time there.  I posted a few of our favorites.

Lastly, there is a video of Maude and her "scream" I mentioned in last week's post.  I love her little voice!!

Such an adorable expression.

Loving being the center of attention.

Subdued.

Showing love for her future home.  And showing off her new sitting up skills.

Painting with Teacher Zuzi.

Fun at daycare

A daycare friend.

Cuddling with a little bear at daycare.

Maude and Teacher Irma on Maude's last day at daycare.

She's gonna be a reader!

Week 20 - Talkin' and Rollin'

Happy 4th of July!!

20 weeks!  The last week was a busy one and Maude took it all in stride.  I took her to day care on Tuesday morning before my flight and had a very hard time leaving her.  There were tears - and not just from me.  The sweet day care teacher also cried.  Maude, however, was all smiles and laughs as I said goodbye to her.  She and Mike had a great time together and Mike even commented that she exceptionally good and happy while I was away.

Maude has been loving her voice.  She tests it out anywhere she can.  And testing out her voice means screaming the cutest little high pitched scream.  We went out to eat on Friday night and Maude's little screams and babbles brought lots of stares from the other diners.  Thankfully, they all thought it was pretty cute once they realized she wasn't upset and in fact, was all smiles as she let everyone around us know that she was there and ready to party!

Maude is now a very active, rolling little gal.  She has been able to roll from back to front for a few weeks now, but was only able to do it rolling to her right.  She can now roll to her left, and on occasion, roll from her front to her back. This of course means that she's starting to get into things.  Gone are the days of laying her on her little blanket and just staying there.  She inevitably ends up on the floor instead of the blanket.   I therefore spent yesterday scrubbing our floors.  The easy newborn stage is officially over...

Mike and I were just discussing the other night about how everyone tried to tell us how much work it is to have a baby.  This last few months have been a lot easier than we anticipated.  We've been incredibly fortunate to have a happy, easygoing, and decent sleeping baby.  As we were discussing this fact, we realized that it's certainly going to get a lot harder.  As Mike said, "we haven't even gotten into the psychological stuff yet."  I know he's right, but for now I'm going to enjoy the simple thrills of watching Maude grow up.

Enjoy the photos below - all were taken yesterday when Maude had her 4th of July outfit on before going to a barbecue at our neighbors. The video was taken today - Maude got her first piano!  Please enjoy her musical stylings!

Showing off her 4th of July outfit!

Similar expressions, clearly not even looking in the same direction.

Her little expression makes me giggle. 

Week 19 - Stellaversary!!

This weekend was all about Stella.  Each year we celebrate the anniversary of when we adopted Stella and we call it Stellaversary!  It was quite the stellabration!  Stellaversary is always celebrated with one of Stella's favorite things - a trip to the beach!  This also happened to be Maude's first real trip to the beach.  You may remember our attempt at the beach a few weeks ago - we spent all of 15 minutes there, fighting the wind and cold before heading back to the car.  Stellaversary was a success for all parties involved.  In fact, it was one of our lengthiest beach trips ever!  The weather was perfect - cool and breezy without being cold and not so hot that Stella poops out on us after a short time running up and down the beach.

Maude seemed to love the fresh sea air and enjoyed watching Stella run into the waves as they came crashing into the shore.  There were lots of families with kids there, too.  I had visions of watching Maude someday building sand castles while Stella runs into them and obliterates all the hard work.  I can't wait to see these two grow up together.  This weekend was also the first time I've really seen Maude and Stella interact.  Stella has done her fair share of checking Maude out, but Maude has always been a little oblivious to Stella.  And the few times we've brought Maude really close to a lounging Stella, Stella has quickly moved to get as far away from the baby as possible.  This weekend, the two of them seemed to become genuinely interested in each other.  I even put a treat in Maude's hand and Stella gently took it from her.  So sweet!

This coming week brings my first two night trip away from Maude.  Prior to coming back from maternity leave, I knew the planned business trips I had over the summer and felt somewhat mentally prepared to go on them.  A week prior to coming back to work, I learned about one I hadn't planned on, but was able to arrange bringing Mike and Maude with me.  I then had another unexpected trip come up - my first without Maude.  Now this week I have a planned trip with another unplanned the very next day which means I'm flying from one city to the next and will be gone from Maude for well over 48 hours.  Overnight was one thing - I got to see Maude (very very) early in the morning before I left and then again the next late afternoon when I got home.  This trip means I'm going an entire day without seeing her.  I'm just not ready for it. I have an annual work event in mid-August where I'll be away from her for two nights and I had hoped that would be my first time away from her for so long.  This week's events came up so suddenly and much, much earlier than I had hoped for.  I know she and Mike will be fine - I'm more worried about me. =)

The pictures below are from our beach trip and some we took today with Maude in her tutu.  I bought that tutu well before I knew we were having a girl.  I just knew we were going to have a girl and couldn't resist buying this sweet, pink, fluffy, girly tutu! These are the first real photos we have of her wearing it.  I love them so much!!

Mom and the girls at the beach.

Daddy and Maude.

TUTU!!

I love her laugh.  Stella is loving having her new friend at her level.

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.