Last Monday

Today is my last Monday at home with the baby.  Next week, I'll be returning to work

I did what I could to spend the most amount of time possible with Natalie, stacking sick tIme, FMLA and vacation to my too-short 6 weeks of maternity leave. Before she was born, the 5.5 months felt plenty but now..

I am going to miss this so much

24 weeks

this past week, Natalie has been doing a lot more.. Talking, grabbing, playing with her feet, & even sleeping in her crib in her own room
And apparently, so have I.  Not kn the crib with her, but practically.

Her night routine has started with her nursing then napping on me shortly after.  Sometimes interrupted with a bath, then she's out to sleep in her crib.  I'm camped out right next to her, until 130/2 am.  After I nurse her, I head into bed.  Then rely on the dropcam but honestly I'm back within an hour to soothe and comfort her back to sleep. Sometimes it takes one attempt, sometimes I'm putting her down over 5 times.  Then Every other night (it seems), she just ends up sleeping on me until the early morning 430/5 am feed.  Then we all migrate to my bed until Natalie wakes with the sun.

Planned to write more but she's stirring, 130 am feed

Playtime amplified

She now plays aggressively in her gyms (both piano & ocean), liking to kick at the hanging toys. Her grabbing is more precise and I love it when she clasps onto a toy with one hand

She's so fun 

& I only have 2 more weeks with her 

: ::cry cry:: :

The Crib

Doing very well transitioning to the crib, and in her own room. There's no turning back, the co sleeper has been packed up 

The first two nights I camped out in Natalie's room, with James right outside in the living room

But yesterday. The drop cam was set up and Natalie slept so well overnight 

First 3 hours on me, in our bed.  With James napping for a bit (I swear she is comforted by his loading almost-snoring breathing), then we gave her a bath

And from midnight to 730 in her crib (I has to feed her at 1, 4, & 730) and now she's sleeping on me while I doze off on our bed

Amazing 

23 weeks

On our way to celebrate a Dohl (first birthday) for dear Anna

& Natalie is just going to town with her newfound word "Eh"

So adorable,

5 months

Today, Natalie is 5 months old

& I have been a mommy for 5 months

Her morning blabber included multiple times of 음마, eum mah 

Which is pretty dang close to 엄마, um mah. Which means mom in Korean

I'll take it 

22 Weeks

Labor Day weekend, always will be special to me since I was proposed to at Kerry Park overlooking the Seattle skyline.  Now, we have a little baby in tow

Just recovering from her first cold, what a little trooper.