We’re baaaaaack July 8, 2009

Yes, I’ve ignored the blog, and yes, I regret it. Sorry for the month-long furlough. No, it wasn’t planned. Life just sorta happened.

I started working my new version of full time on June 1 (30 hours per week, Monday-Thursday). And as I explained to my lovely 20-something sister-in-laws over the weekend, when faced with the choice of blogging OR several other activities during the last 4-5 weeks  (such as reading, connecting with Joe, turning in early, watching trashy reality TV or getting a pedi), I chose “other” every time. Amazing what a little work and a little Noe does to your ever-shrinking personal time.

So, right before I send you on to the PICS (I work in communications. I KNOW my audience), here are some Noe highlights from the last 4-5 weeks:

• As of July 6 (her 6-mos. checkup), she weighs 16 lbs., 6 oz. (59th percentile) and is 25.5 inches long (42nd percentile)
• She’s sitting up and has mastered bending over and picking up every toy imaginable
• She rolls ALL OVER the place, and can roll in ways we never knew possible
• She’s up on all fours and is rocking back and forth (yes, dear sister-in-laws, will get my act together and post video IN MY FREE TIME)
• She currently loves to put her toes in her mouth (yummmmmm)
• She’s eating three meals a day (some combination of cereal, fruits and veggies), takes a bottle before bed, and sleeps 12 hours per night (and now, because I’ve written this and blurted it out loud to everyone, she will probably stop sleeping 12 hours… I am so superstitous!)
• She’s been making strange for quite some time, but no matter how long Joe is on the road for work, she always knows Daddy when he comes home. It’s awesome to see. Such a smartie.
• Anyway, I’d better stop blabbing like a new mom and get on to the pics…

Playing with Grandpa R., one of her FAVE playmates

A typical morning with Grandma Betty, before mommy heads off to work

Hanging’ with Grandma O., who is very good at reading me my German book… Some people say we look a lot alike!

Enjoying one of the three nice days we get all year in Minnesota

Helping mommy water the flowers in front of the house

Modeling my shades from Grandma and Grandpa O.

With Auntie Katelyn (and playing with cousins Tess, Padraig and Gannon)

Heading out the door to a beautiful June wedding, sans Noe

Cheering on the Sun Devils (GO ASU!) in the College World Series

Waking up from a nap in a playful mood

See what I mean by “playful?!”

I love it when they learn how to find the pacifier (and put it in their mouth)

I took a million of these shots and you’ll have to bear with me… I just love them

Sitting up all by myself (it’s easy) as of June 28

Playing at Lauderdale Park with my friend George (but I still don’t like that he took my toy!)

Wrigley Confessions June 4, 2009

It’s time for me to stop breastfeeding. Really. It first hit me last Friday, when I was standing in a bathroom stall at Wrigley Field.

Instead of sitting in my seat with the other fans, taking in the Dodgers-Cubs game on a lovely spring afternoon, I was hard at work with my hand pump — the one that can fit inside a cute purse but isn’t necessarily the most efficient among breast pumps. Yes, that’s right. I was executing the nursing mother’s version of the squeeze play.

OK, so maybe it wasn’t the end of the world: I only missed the third inning and was able to listen to the radio broadcast. But it wasn’t about the baseball. It was about getting away for the first time in five months and getting some relaxing time with Joe.

INSTEAD? Every three hours, I was literally consumed with the thought of pumping: what time would I be able to pump again? where could I pump? how much more pain could I withstand before giving in and pumping? specifically, how long could one really keep other women waiting outside the two-stall bathroom at Murphy’s Bleachers in Wrigleyville while pumping? Not long, methinks (I never tried).

I never realized how UNCOMFORTABLE “the girls” would be while I was away from Noe. The longest I’d ever gone without nursing her (and relying solely on an electric pump) was for eight hours at work.

So when I returned home, we started the process of weaning. So far, ummmm, yeah… much of the same kinds of pain. Owwwww. But it’s slowly improving. We started Noe on one bottle of formula per day last week and just increased to two bottles today. She’s taken to the formula just fine, thank goodness. I’m trying to give my body time to adjust. Wish me well as the process continues!

Why were we in Chi-town? Joe’s job took him there, and he coaxed me into coming along. We then “coaxed” a combination of grandparents into watching Noe. It took ZERO arm-twisting. They all had a blast.

We were only gone for about 36 hours, but it was an eye-opening getaway for several reasons. Joe and I found ourselves being able to reconnect and speak in full sentences, uninterrupted. We even finished thoughts that had nothing to do with emptying the diaper pail, what was in the fridge for dinner, or what time Noe would be going down for a nap.

We also got to spend time with my dear friend KJ, totally spur of the moment, which did wonders for my soul. I missed her so much. And I missed being out and living it up. Yes, my former partying self still exists underneath the mommy layers.

So, during the 20-30 minutes I was standing there in the stall at Wrigley (I know the bathroom attendants thought I was doing drugs!), I made a decision. I’m ready to give up breastfeeding and move on to the next chapter: Bring on the late-night formula mixing and bottle heating. I’ve given little Noe V. five months of breastfeeding, and that’s a huge accomplishment. Some day when I explain, I know she’ll find the whole Wrigley a-ha moment quite amusing.

The Latest on Noe? There’s tons of new stuff again but I’ll keep it short. Highlights: She loves her high chair… and we may have a southpaw in our midst! She’s been showing left-handed tendencies (just like mommy!) lately, first noted by Grandpa Dave over the weekend. They say kids switch hands a lot as babies before the dominant side emerges, so stay tuned…

On to the pics!

Wearing my SF Giants colors at Wrigley: “BEAT LA!”

Joe in front of “the bean” sculpture at Millennium Park

Our self-portrait at “the bean”

Springtime in Millennium Park

With BFF KJ

Back at home, going in for the tickle “kill”

Oh-oh… Attack of the Kissing Mommy!

Seriously, teething is hard work

Helping me water the flowers today after work

‘Sweetness’ is my weakness May 23, 2009

Holy reality check! I have NO IDEA how working moms do it/did it/have always done it… No, I did not think it would be easy. But I did underestimate the effort it would take to transition back into the working world.

Yes, there’s a huge wakeup call going on in my brain right now, and it centers around trying to straddle numerous worlds: kicking butt at work; having time to catch up with Joe–either via telephone when he’s traveling, or in-person (luck!) when he’s home and I’m still awake; enjoying Noe when I’m home; helping to keep the household running (including keeping breast pump parts cleaned and ready to go to work each day, ha!).

The nice thing is that whenever something does stress me out at work now, I just shoot a quick glance over at the photo of Noe and things start to come back into perspective. What can I say? She is my complete weakness (and wakeup call of another sort!) in a GOOD way.

These last few weeks I’m reminded of what it felt like when I started grad school in the fall of 2006 (full-time work and full-time school), and Joe’s aunt, a professor at the University of Virginia, told me to give my brain plenty of time to adjust to being back in the academic world. She was so right back then, and I’m applying the same concept to work and mommyhood now. Let. The Brain. Breathe. Ahhhhhhh.

I’ve been away from the blog for almost two weeks. Arrrrrrrgh. And no, it’s not that I envision you waiting with bated breath for the next post. It’s that selfishly, I want to look back on this in 10 years (if it still exists in some way shape or form, maybe archived on my hard drive in the garage?) and watch Noe grow up, week-by-week. That’d be so cool.

So, on to “the squirt,” as one of my dear co-workers calls her. It’s been a BIG couple of weeks. Lots happenin’ and lots to try and recall: first spoonfuls of rice cereal last week (wooooot!); becoming even more advanced in the Exersaucer (which we now call “the office” to steal from Mike and Stacy); rolling over both ways (front to back and back to front); first TWO teeth (yes, if Joe were reading this with you he’d tell you I’ve completely buried the lede!); and just hangin’ out and being SWEET in general.

About the teeth: I found the first one (her bottom front-right) Wednesday eve (May 20) while we were playing… Thursday morning (May 21), the second one (her bottom front-left) reared its cute little head. This does seem a little early to me in some respects, being she’s just 4 1/2 months old; however, she’s been showing strong signs of teething since 9 weeks. Whew! It’s good to know they’re finally on their way.

Speaking of getting on with it… here are pics from the last two weeks:

Hangin’ out with me at home on a non-work day last week

More R&R

Notice the drool – that means she’s totally relaxxxxxxxed ;-

First bites of rice cereal on May 14

At work in her “office”

She says, “Mom, quit bothering me while I’m trying to get my work done!”

“Woman, PUT THE CAMERA DOWN, or I’m never going to get these TPS reports done before naptime!”

And chillin’ at home with me on May 21

Noё’s Dunking Day May 10, 2009

I’m stealing today’s headline from Grammy Jill’s email. She was kind enough to take video of Noe’s baptism over the weekend via her cell phone (since the parents forgot our video camera on the kitchen counter…).  Long story short — our church does the full on naked dunking — and no, we’re not Baptist. We’re the Catholic Christensens. Noe handled it all like a champ. Good times!

 

So, catching up from last week: BBQ with the Saindon Family; My first days back at work; Grandma Betty’s first days as Noe’s care provider; Noe’s baptism; Mother’s Day… Whew! Enjoy the pics. More commentary when working mommy gets the hang of multi-tasking.

 

Friday night BBQ: Me, Noe and Stacy

All five chicas: Stacy, me, Tess, Ruby and Noe

Daddy reading her FAVORITE book right now, “Gossie”

Can’t get enough of Gossie in her red boots!

A visit from Grandma and Grandpa R… This was extra special since Grandpa R. hand’t seen Noe since she was one day old, in the hospital!

 

Showing her range: Noe sitting up in her Bumbo Seat

 

… and performing in her Exersaucer!

 

Whew! Mommy’s first week back at work was EXHAUSTING!

 

We three Christensens at the baptismal font

 

Noe hamming it up at her baptism after-party…

 

A special shout out to all the women in my life who are like mothers to me: friends, mentors, support networks, pillars of strength, mommy-advice-sharers, friends from way back, mothers of my friends from way back (Mahnee and Marilyn!)… You know who you are. Too many to list here… I’m lucky enough to have an amazing mother, yet you women also rawk my world… THANK you for being you!

Getting back to the bacon May 6, 2009

Work, ahhhh… that lil’ thing.

Yep. I started back part time this week, working on a special project that will have me in the office three days a week. I feel so fortunate to have had four months of maternity leave and to continue on a partial-leave basis. My mom is our care provider for now (how damn lucky are we?), until I make some time to search for the right fit.

It’s good to be back, and I suppose it’s healthy for me to get out into the big, bad world again…  but I’m missing her like crazy, of course. Now I understand what Joe’s been going through these past three-plus  months!

I’ll try and post photos later this week… Happy (almost) Mother’s Day, all.

Finding Her Voice April 27, 2009

Little Noe’s newest accomplishments are so numerous that I can barely keep up with her… I need to get the baby book updated before I forget these most recent baby milestones.

Let’s see:

• She’s chattering nonstop and LOVES to hear herself “talk;”
• She started “turning the pages” when we read her current favorite book, “Gossie,” about a little yellow gosling who wears red boots;
• She’s rolling over every day – she also gets really fired up when she is “stuck” on her back;
• Her hand control (and even fingers) is much more detailed. She’s able to tease herself with the pacifier, taking it in and out of her mouth (but she has no clue it’s SHE who’s doing it – ha!). She can hold more types of toys and teething rings;
• She’s also sucking her thumb to soothe herself to sleep, which has been great in terms of being able to leave her alone when she loses the pacifier.

Joe and I have been cracking up all day about that little voice of hers… Today is the first day that she’s chattered almost the entire time she’s awake. And when he and I talk to each other, she jumps right in to try and join the conversation and make herself heard. Girl’s got spunk!!! I’m thankful it started to happen today, since Joe just flew home this morning from a recent work trip. Amazing how those things work out, isn’t it?

Enjoying a stroller ride in the neighborhood last week, when temps reached the 80s

The weather was toe-curling gooooooood!

A little R&R in the stroller is so nice

Noe’s version of “Smart Baby Tricks” – I went in to get her after a morning nap last week to find this…

Yep, here’s another view in case you’re as dumbfounded as I was! So silly how she just left it there and let me take pics.

Visiting Auntie Janelle (and Uncle Joel)

Meeting Uncle Alex for the first time

Chillin’ with Grandma O.

Wishing Great-Grandma a happy birthday

She’s Flippin’ Crazy… April 21, 2009

Noe’s on the moooooove now, flipping over from her tummy to her back. She mastered the skill — at least while an eye witness was watching — at 14 weeks. Joe spotted evidence of it Friday. Since then, I saw it happen Sunday and again today. We’ll try to catch video of it soon. Her technique is pretty cute to watch!

Last week made for some awesome stroller weather here in the 6-5-1. We were out for walks every day. It’s amazing to watch her take it all in: the blue sky, trees, wind, sunshine, the sound of birds chirping…  a poor little “winter baby” cooped up inside and finally able to discover the natural world. She can’t get enough of the outside world and I really can’t blame her.

We also hit up my new favorite place to take Noe, a local coffee shop called Java Train. Special thanks to Mike and Stacy for introducing us to this family friendly cafe not far from our house. We love the atmosphere and yummy scones, and Noe loves watching all the other kids. Each time we come home from that place, Joe and I talk about how relaxed we feel.

I have a bunch of pics to share from this past week. Regrettably, though, I forgot to snap pics of Noe with her babysitters from last Friday night, my brother Mike and sister-in-law Cindi. Darn! She’s a lucky little one to have them close by. I consider Auntie Cindi a true “baby expert” and an experienced mom I will call on FREQUENTLY for advice. Love you, woman!

The latest, greatest photo installment:

Playing with one of her favorites right now, “P.J. Bear.” She’s getting so good at holding things with her hands and moving them how she wants…

We’re on the go again… Noe says, “Where we headin’ this time, Mom?!”

At Java Train, where we met up with Mike, Tess and Ruby

Ruby (left) and Noe hanging at The Train

Ruby says, “PUH-lease, enough with the cameras already… We KNOW we’re cute!”

Yep, on the go another day… It’s colder out so we’re rockin’ the warm hat. Noe says, “What’cha lookin’ at?!”

A sight that made me SMILE BIG today… Finally packing up my maternity clothes and storing them in the basement. It took me long enough, but I’ve successfully reclaimed my closet from all stretchy-panel type clothing. Whew.

Easter Week Rewind April 13, 2009

Easter Sunday turned out to be one of our greatest days as Noe’s parents — and for the three of us as a family. I’m not even kidding. See, I’m not that far removed from having a super-colicky baby and dealing with my brain turning to scrambled eggs whenever she would wail (and wail and wail).

Ahhhhh, those days are behind me now, but I still appreciate each and every “good day” she racks up. I keep my expectations low and go with the flow. Which is why Easter Sunday was such a gift… We took her to The Hometown (an hour’s drive away) for two stops with family and she was a complete angel all day long.

Our first Easter celebration was with my sisters Jodi and Jean, where we dined on a yummy dinner and coaxed the little one to take a catnap (20 minutes or so?) in her pack-n-play. She conked out for about 30-45 minutes on the drive there and was a very good girl at Auntie Jodi’s place. Next, we stopped off at Grandma O’s house (Joe’s mom and stepdad), where Noe was able to play with Grandma and Grandpa O., Great-Grandma Marlys, Great-Grandpa Fritz and Great-Grandma Ruth…  She loved being held and passed around, and we were lucky enough to get her to nap for 45 minutes before a final feeding and the drive back home. She slept for about 45 minutes on the way home and was an absolute sweetheart in the car for both rides… Whew! What a day. Whomever gave me the Baby Einstein lullaby CD (sorry, can’t remember), God Bless you. She loves that CD while riding in the car.

Noe also checked out the Como Conservatory in St. Paul last week… The place was PACKED, but we met my friend Rachel and her son, Luke, also three months old, and enjoyed the scents of blooming flowers and their beautiful colors. It definitely feels like spring inside the conservatory!

I’m happy to report that Noe weighs 12 lbs., 5 oz. as of April 10. We logged a visit to the lactation consultant Friday morning to double check some questions I had. Everything checked out just great and they are very pleased with her weight at this stage.

Our weather has been SUPERB as of late. Yes, I’m a true Minnesotan (again), complimenting 52-degree weather. We’re supposed to hit 60 on Wednesday, and you can bet I’ll be out and about with her in the stroller, trying to feel the sun on my face. Hope you’re starting to enjoy spring, too, wherever you are!

At the Como Conservatory

Casual Friday

Headed to the doc

Auntie Katelyn babysitting on Friday eve

Back from “date night” in time to finish giving her the bottle

With Auntie Jodi on Easter Sunday

With Auntie Jean

At Grandma O.’s house for the first time – enjoying Easter

With Daddy and Grandma O.

With Grandma and Grandpa O.

With Great-Grandma Marlys

Opening her baby chick beanie baby from Great-Grandma Marlys

Meeting Great-Grandpa Fritz for the first time — and a four generations shot

Alas, D-A-D Homecoming April 7, 2009

Joe came home on Sunday! That’s a big, collective “YAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!” and has been cause for lots of excitement at our house.

In other news from this past week, Noe attended her first bridal shower and survived her very first road trip to get there (it was held in Rochester, in honor of cousin Brian’s fiance, Rory). Aunties Katelyn and Allie road along with Noe and I and were a HUGE help. Good thing Rochester is only 90 minutes away.

We’re anxious to know how much Noe weighs. At her last doctor appointment March 25, she tipped the scales at 10 lbs., 11 oz.  She’s also working on some teeth. Yes, that’s right. I’ve been remiss not to mention it before, since the symptoms (sucking her hands and drooling up a storm) started back in the ninth week. She’s not pushing a tooth through, but the teething pain is there and her gums are really bugging her. As a result, I had to open up the teething toys, wash them and pop them in the fridge sooner than I expected. She sports big smiles when you take a cooled teething toy and rub it on her gums.

Other than that, we are enjoying some family time with the three of us at home in the mornings and waiting for the weather to continue warming up. We are dying to take the stroller for a spin in our neighborhood. Looks like this will finally be the week, with the temps creeping into the 50s again.

Welcoming Daddy home Sunday morning!

Meeting cousin Brian for the very first time

With cousin Brian and his fiance, Rory

Getting completely ignored by me at home

She’s 12 Weeks Old Already March 31, 2009

Where does the time go? Noe reached the 12-week mark yesterday, and it feels like the last month (after the super-colicky stage) flew right by. She’s changing by the day now and learning new things so quickly…  Her smile still lights up my gray, dreary, wintry Minnesota days. Seriously, I think I’m going to start taking hits off her Vitamin D dropper pretty soon!

What’s New? She’s definitely developing her motor skills, learning to use her hands and legs in intentional ways. She can hold objects now, and in the bath, she’s able to splash her legs and feet and move them into the running water. She’s also thinking about flipping over (gets the legs going and then “swings” her body over to one side while lying on her back). She’s still discovering lots of different sounds, coos, laughs, etc., and testing them out. She clasps her hands together all the time now, at will.

What’s She Been Up To? Noe had her first “lunch date” outing last week. We met my friend Katie and her 10-month-old daughter, Emma, at CPK. Although Noe naps best at home in her crib and doesn’t sleep well (at all) in the car seat or stroller,  it’s good for mom to get out of the house (see gray, dreary Minnesota reference, above). She also had a visit from Auntie KJ, who flew in from Chicago for the weekend. Noe loves playing with KJ and had a blast tooling around the mall in the stroller, showing her the local sights. And hey, I’m not going to complain too much about a baby who naps best in her crib. After 6-7 weeks of nearly ZERO daytime naps, we are in a wonderful place now. And I’m WAY superstitious, so that’s enough talk about that.

My Turn: Time to celebrate little milestones… She turned 12 weeks and I “toasted” myself with a glass of white wine after feeding and putting her down for bed last night. Here’s to three months of exclusively breastfeeding. Wooooot! It hasn’t been easy, but we’re doing it. Yay!

Now it’s on to the photos…

At CPK with Emma

Playing with KJ, her favorite Chicagoan

Practicing for the 2030 World Cup

More “futbol” practice

Playing with baby kitty in the bouncy seat