34 weeks

11/28-

Finally Thanksgiving

It was harder than I thought it'd be, having to work thanksgiving & Black Friday. I wanted to be honest badly with my little family

So this morning, I really loved it when baby woke & needed me.. Loved it

I changed her, played with her, then held and sang her to sleep

She's in my arms right now, sleeping. My last two attempts to sit I months bed was met with protest.  Half asleep but with threats to wake up. So here I am, slowly walking the room carrying 22 pounds. And smiling 

Congestion

I have a snorting pig for a baby 🐷

Last Thursday her sniffles turned to full blown running nose on Friday & pretty much all weekend was sick. She just got better Tuesday, & I felt so bad but she was scheduled & got her second dose of the flu shot today

Tomorrow is thanksgiving 

& I'm going into work.

So sad, I was looking forward to spending some family time together 

Nonstop nap

Natalie fell asleep in her high chair at daycare, didn't even finish her bottle and konked out.  My ringing the doorbell actually woke her a little but immediately dozed back to sleep.  She did wake, was awake on the drive home, and then dozed off while nursing.  She slept her full nap (again) and woke to 5 o'clock darkness.  Played a bit then fussed & when she started to rub her eyes I just rocked and sang her back to sleep. Been sleeping since.. I'm in awe

But my heart aches for her

33 weeks

What started as a little extra boogers became full fledged congestion, runny nose, and cough

My heart aches for baby Natalie, especially when she's having a tough time breathing in her sleep or while nursing. 

I'm sitting and holding her upright so she can breath a little better.  Her whistling nose snores are are cute as it is pitiful 

New thing

Blowing raspberries

So cute 

7 months 7 days

She's my everything

32 weeks

The Ellen Show

11  months today,

& i'm told she might as well go on the Ellen show, since her FB page just featured this little cutie

Current sleep schedule

Everything has changed since I went back to work

Now, Natalie is 

- Up at 8/830

- naps twice

- down by 9/930

So, here's our usual (& crazy) schedule
When i work, i get home earliest 745 PM, but regardles

830 PM- bath, sometimes skipped

9/930 PM- ideally, baby is asleep

If I can't get her to sleep, James takes her at 930 and works his magic. Regardless, she sleeps on me until
1030/11 PM when I transfer her off me.  which honestly hasn't been happening

**10 PM to 130/2 AM** James on work call, yup. five nights a week, poor daddy

1130 PM/ 12 AM- wakes up, usually a diaper change & some snuggle fixes her up. If not, I'll nurse her & put her down next to me. This is when I sleep-sleep

130/2 AM- when James goes to sleep, I'll dream nurse Natalie.  Skipped if she nursed at MN

430/5 AM- like an alarm, she wakes up.  Then i'll nurse her.  there's been 1-2 occasions that when she doesn't wake..

6 AM- I'll wake her to nurse her before leaving to work. 

8/830 AM- up and James takes her to daycare by 845, or she hangs out with mama on my day off 

Natalie used to wake with the sun & have 3 naps.  Now that she sleeps in, she gets 2 naps

Usually 12, for 30 mins 

Usually 4, for 60-90 mins 

That said, just last week she had an epic 3 hour nap at 330, haha

Daddy's little girl

It has happened already

Just the way she says Appa, and also when she says it.. Always in happiness. The gurgling baby talk convos she has with him, being all smiles when waking up next to him,.. Natalie has become daddy's girl

I see the pride and joy that James gets, and her love for him also fuels his determination to become that "best dad"

Just now, I hear him singing to her

Na-ri, Nari-ya, yea yea ya Nari-ya

Nari, Nari, Natalie yea yea..

I know he's holding bouncing and just doing it all

I can hear her murmur, as she fall asleep 

31 weeks

Natalie has really found her voice the past week.  She's been practicing her ahhh-Ppa!  and when she's in a great mood, would chit chat Da-da-da-da-da Daaaaa-da-da-da Da!

She's also sitting up pretty well, but more interested in reaching for things. Be it a tag on a blanket, her toy, or even for mommy or daddy.  Speaking of which, she now reaches out for us.  it warms my heart so much

Reading

 Reading, while the parents sleep in

(She's a week from 7 months!! Someone hold meeeeee)

Daycare baby

This morning, I dropped Natalie off at her daycare.  It went smoothly, especially for me. I felt emotionally stable, & on the drive home I envisioned myself utilizing the alone time to get household chores done.  So, I did one thing , and have been sitting on my bed for the rest of the time.  I'm sad, disturbed, and just confused with having this time by myself at home. 

I can't wait to pick up my baby