One year...

 …ago, Garrett and I received the most amazing phone call from our nurse at Overlake Reproductive Clinic – we were pregnant!!!!  What an amazing year we’ve had J

We have truly been blessed and I cannot wait to see what this next year has in store for our family. 

Special Day

Oops...forgot to post

Happy Father’s Day

4 months old

It's so much fun to be 4 months old...

Graycen’s 4 month check up went great – here are her 4 month stats:

·         Weight – 12 lbs 5 oz (25^th percentile)

·         Height – 23 ¾  inches (25^th percentile)

·         Head circumference – 15 inches (11^th percentile)

She is holding strong in the 25^th percentile for weight, where she has been for the last 2 months.  Looks like we have a long and lean baby for awhile J 

Her 4 month check up came with another round of vaccinations.  Thankfully, she only had 2 shots this time and the nurse went very quickly.  Graycen was quite brave and only whimpered for a few seconds. 

Graycen is now:

·         sleeping 8+ hours a night

·         holding her head with great control – no wobbling J

·         drooling and making bubbles

·         laughing, cooing, “talking” back

·         attempting to suck her thumb and fist

·         looking for mom and dad when we enter the room

·         spending lots of time on her tummy trying to figure out how to roll over

It wasn't so dreadful after all....

We did it!!!!  We all survived my first week back at work.  Reflecting back, the return to work was much more difficult for me than for Graycen.  She was excited to spend her days with her daddy and her grandma.

It was an emotional car ride to work, but once I stepped into the classroom I was glad to be back….well, sort of.  I had forgotten what 8th graders are like in June and I was quickly reminded that students have “checked out” and are ready for summer vacation. 

Graycen has had a wonderful time hanging out with her daddy – they have been going on lots of walks, watching movies and TV together - Graycen’s new favorite show, “Ultimate Cage Fighting”  - she can’t take her eyes off of it J  I may need to set up a parental password for both Graycen and Garrett.

Time with grandma has also been great for Graycen.  Grandma SPOILS her with long naps in Grandma’s lap, walks and playtime.  She LOVES it!

Only 11 more days before summer break J

The End of Maternity Leave....

Let me start by saying - WOW, I can't believe how much I love our little princess.  She has ALL of my heart.  I knew that I would experience an overwhelming feeling of love when I finally held her in my arms, but I didn't realize just how much that love grows each day and the insane amount of joy I feel every time I think about or look at our princess.

This has been the post that I have been dreading to write.  I was hoping that if I put it off - thinking about it, talking about it, writing about it - that this day would not come.  But, sadly, my maternity leave is over....Ughhh....

Returning to work is a very bittersweet feeling.  I am excited to return to my classroom and students, BUT I am feeling so guilty, anxious and sad about leaving Graycen.  Today, I'm wishing that I lived in California, or Canada, or Europe to have an extended maternity leave.  I know I am lucky; however, I will return to work for the next 17 days before summer vacation begins. So here we go....17 more days until summer break and my next role - working mom.

Then....and....Now....

Our "big" girl....

                                                
                          1 week old                          3 months old

Playtime with cousins

Graycen is one lucky little lady - she has two very awesome cousins that love her.  The boys were so cute with her this last weekend - "babysitting" her while I washed my hands after changing diapers, holding her when she cried, inserting her pacifier, showing everyone how to handle the baby, and smothering her with love and kisses.

Brayden was the baby whisperer while we were visiting, calming her when she was fussy.