March 7 - 9, 2012

Wednesday Olivia & I got a good head of steam going in the morning and went on errands right away. Even though it was still a little snowy, (when isn't it, really?), we made it over to Fred Meyer's with no trouble. We were able to get all our shopping done there. It's so convenient for me to be able to shop at places like this and only have to take the car seat in and out once, especially now that Olivia is getting bigger/heavier.

We were joined by Jessica Abel for a lunch of healthy salads and some good conversation. She had just come from a workout. I am looking forward to doing some exercising, perhaps once Adam is home. Although I have lost a considerable amount of weight in these past ten weeks, I still don't have my body back in fighting form. I'm sure things will never be quite the same, and I am not upset by that, but I'd like to have a little more strength - for hefting Olivia if nothing else!

We took about a 30 minute nap on the couch together. Our new goal is to have two naps during the day. I'm trying very hard to watch for cues that Olivia is tired and might need a rest. Hopefully we can get as good of a nap routine going as we have of a bedtime routine.

After our short nap we went back out to Baby & Me yoga and then the post office. We mailed off two boxes full of Girl Scout cookies to Laura & family and a package of photo cds to Uncle Grant. I hope they get there in a timely manner. I have been a little disappointed in the Fort Wainwright mail lately.

In the evening we were joined by Morgan for take-out from the Food Factory and the Disney movie Rio. I had never seen it, and found it very sweet. Loved the music! Although Olivia had napped through the whole movie we went to bed early because Thursday was going to be a very early start for all of us!

Thursday morning we were on the road by 7:00. We picked up coffee for Morgan and met at her house before she drove me over to the dentist. It was a marathon of dental work for me! Seven fillings, one crown and four hours later Morgan picked me up. Olivia had been very good for her (thank goodness) and continued to be good for me (another thank goodness). The rest of the day was spent quietly at home. My mouth was fairly sore and I was very tired. I feel extremely lucky that Olivia was 'on board' with the whole idea.

The yoga mats that I ordered arrived in the evening. I got one each for Sarah & Olivia (I know it's a bit premature) with butterflies and one for myself - pink with dragonflies. Now Adam can use my blue one when he's home and we do Family Yoga. I also got the book I ordered. Itsy Bitsy Yoga by Helen Garabedian. I'm excited to try some of the gentle stretches and poses that are supposed to help your baby's digestion, sleep and development!

Olivia was so cute cuddling with both Pammy & Mingo tonight. I couldn't keep up with photographing all the funny things she was doing. As soon as I put the phone down, she'd do something else - like balance Mingo on her head, or bite Pammy's face, or smush them both in close to her. Here are a few of the moments I was able to capture.

Friday we got going early, again. I rushed around and did chores. Olivia is
so happy in the mornings that it makes it the best time to get things done. First stop was the mailbox because the USPS tracking website said our diapers were (finally!) delivered. Hooray! Then we went to the pharmacy to pick up some prescription refills and then over to the px for just a few odds and ends. She was so good the whole time and so alert! Then it was back home for us. It was windy out, which is unusual in Fairbanks, and it made it feel so much colder than it really was. I felt chilled and unused to the unpleasant sensation of wind blasting snow in my face and was ready to cuddle up with a warm baby indoors.

 

Look at all our new cloth diapers!

Olivia matches the diapers!

Once home, I nursed Olivia and then put her in her crib for a nap. She slept a little while, at least long enough for me to eat a bit and do some more chores, but then she wanted to be with me - which always makes me happy. I brought her into my room and we both took a nap for another few hours. Right after I laid down, but after Olivia had fallen back asleep, the doorbell rang.  I surrounded her with pillows (she was in the middle of our big bed) and went to see who it was. When I got to the door no one was there. I am sure it was one of the young people from next door. I wish people weren't so impatient with the doorbell, etc. Usually they ring it two or three times by the time I get to the door, and now they could not wait long enough for me to get there. I wasn't meandering about; I went straight there. I was just on the other side of the house with a baby! Uff da. I imagined this happening again and again as I tried to nap, so I wrote a nice note and put it on the door with a magnetic clip. I asked for patience after ringing the bell. Please!

Olivia and I played a bunch in the late afternoon. It's so much fun to watch her anticipate things. I sat her up on the couch and I slowly crawl towards her to give her a kiss. As I get closer and closer she smiles bigger and bigger and squeals. It's so cute. We also read our Touch & Feel Bunny book. Olivia spent a long time looking at the pages and touching them. She loves new textures. I'm so impressed by her attention span and her interest in things. All day she was amenable to whatever I chose for her to do. She was in the swing for about 30 minutes looking around and dozing off. She sat in her chair and looked at the bugs for about 25 minutes. All these times she amuses herself are wonderful to watch, and also let me get some pesty chores done. Particularly those chores which are tough to do while holding a baby. I feel very very lucky to have such a happy girl. What a blessing.

We went upstairs around 8:30 and were both asleep by 10.