Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween everyone! Charlotte had so much fun trick or treating that she is already asleep! No fussing tonight.  I am sure she won't stay asleep too long, but fingers crossed! She fell asleep in her tights and before her bath, but I figured oh well, let her rest now, we can shower in the morning! She is such a happy girl during the day.  She loved hanging out with everyone and seeing all the kids come by to trick or treat.  I wish I didn't have to go to work tomorrow, I think I should work a week, have a week off, work a week have a week off, someday! Lotte is getting so big and interactive, it is so much fun to be with her! She had been mimicking sticking out her tongue, now she is trying to give kisses, but can't quite figure it out, soon though, soon!

I am going to take advantage of her sleeping and hit the hay early myself, well I am going to lay in my warm bed and watch American horror story YES! Overall, I'd have to say that Lotte's first Halloween was a success!

We are safe and dry!

Well Charlotte went through her first hurricane, and I went through my first big weather event by myself and we both survived! Really it was kind of a let down, a let down in a good way I should verify.  We briefly lost power, lots of flickering, but that was pretty much the damage of Sandy for us.  It was REALLY REALLY loud last night though.  I thought for sure the windows were going to break and tree limbs would fly though, but luckily it was fine. 

The storm kept Lotte up most of the night, but that was to be expected, like I said it was really loud.  Sadly I work in a place that never closes, so work was not closed for me, luckily Monday I got to go home early, and I stayed home today.  Everything was too wet and soggy and there were a ton of tree branches down everywhere this morning and Baltimore urged us not to drive until after noon, so I figured I would stay home and cuddle with Lotte while working, and it was AMAZING.  I think I needed a mental health day anyway.

It is amazing how much having a little one changes you.  My head used to be all about work, ask anyone, I never called out, but now I look forward to the random times I get to spend with Charlotte.  Especially after such a busy weekend, it was nice to just do nothing with her, just to exist with her.  I really can not get over how much she amazes me everyday.  She is growing so fast, I am trying to hold on to every memory, every mental image of her smile, every smell.  I know when the road ahead gets tough I will look back on days like today and smile.  I will know that I did the best I could with what I have and just remember how truly blessed I am. 

When I took this photo, I had no idea how much I would truly love this little person.  I had so many thoughts about what she would be like and the amazingness that I pictured is no where near the reality of how awesome she is:

Halloween!

Lotte had so much this weekend! She went to two Halloween parties, went to her uncle's birthday brunch and carved a pumpkin with me!  She makes the cutest elephant! I love spending time with her and enjoy doing fun fall things.  I can't wait to do a little trick or treating and hand out candy with her.  Should be fun! Right now we are trying to sleep during hurricane Sandy! It's Lotte's first hurricane! So far so good, but it seems to be getting worse.  I am hopeful I do not have to work tomorrow (or that it gets better so I can work).  Lotte and I will keep everyone posted on our hurricane survival!

Mommy and Elephant:

 

Lotte loves GG:

Happy Girl at Brunch:

 

Reading her menu:

 

Chillin at GG's while mommy learns to knit:

How to make my child sleep?

So Lotte had her four month checkup today! She is weighing in at eleven pounds even and is 23 and 3/4 inches long! She is growing so fast it is crazy! I miss my little peanut.  Sometimes I get really sad when I do her laundry and know she won't fit in any of these clothes anymore.  It is hard to pack up all the newborn size clothes, I know she will never be this size again and although I am happy to be gainfully employed so that I can provide for her, everyday I am not with her I feel like I am missing out on her life and watching her grow.  Today was especially hard.  In the past when she has gotten shots she has been extra fussy and likes extra cuddles, so I was sad when I had to leave her at daycare and not help soothe her.  I just keep reminding myself I am doing whats best for her by being able to provide for her.  Luckily I like my job and I am fortunate enough to have an education and a license that will help me stay employed in this economy. 

In other news, the doctor told me I need to help her work on her sleeping.  Every time I see my grandmother she asks how she sleeps, if you are a regular blog reader, you know this question enrages me to no end.  Seriously people she is not fucking sleeping, when she does sleep for more then a few hours at a time, everyone I know will be the first to know, because I will throw the most amazing party ever. 

Anyway, the doctor said she needs to learn to fall asleep on her own.  So the journey begins.  I have been reading lots of peer reviewed articles (because that's how I roll, evidence based practices people, evidence based!) about getting babies to sleep.  So far, it is not going well.  I let her cry it out for a few minutes like I was supposed to, every night I am supposed to increase my time.  IT WAS THE WORST! Not sure Ill ever make it past three minutes! Another thing that is supposed to help is a really full tummy, so she had sweet potatoes tonight.  She is now asleep, lets see how long it lasts!

Here she is, sleeping beauty! This was earlier tonight during her twenty minute "nap" in her bed:

We almost made it!

My first week on call since Lotte has been born.  Tomorrow I give this phone of doom away.  I can't wait.  It has been awful.  I hate knowing that I could be spending time with Charlotte and instead am stuck working.  The good news is we survived.  It has been hard, but we did it.  Getting a call in the middle of the night is scary.  It used to not be that terrible, more of an annoyance.  But now that It's just me and Lotte I have to plan to have someone watch her, and no one other then me really knows her middle of the night routine, even my mom has trouble getting her to sleep in her crib.  I have mastered the transfer haha.  It was hard, and I am happy that tomorrow it will be over.  Last night in the middle of the night when I had to leave she was crying.  It was really hard.  I never in my life felt heartbreak like I did last night.  It is not fun leaving your baby that wants you to stay.  It made me feel like a bad mom and of course after working all night I was exhausted today.  Then my really nice hair straightener broke.  It was the last straw.  I had a nervous breakdown.  When things are going wrong and I'm sick or upset or tired or sad, I like knowing that at least my hair looks good.  It makes me feel better.  I know its silly, but it's true.  I guess it is one of the things I used to be able to control, and now I can't even control that.  LAME!

Like I said, the good news is that we survived! Lotte was of course just fine without me, I made it through a few hours of work and took a nap to regroup and am ready to face the world again, to bad my hair will still look like crap lol.  Tonight Lotte and worked on her Halloween cards.  I have so much fun doing crafts with her.  She is hilarious and just loves to interact with people.  I am so lucky that she is such a happy baby (when it's not bed time anyway haha).  Lotte and I have such a fun weekend planned I can't wait for this work week to be over.  We have two Halloween parties on Friday and a neighborhood pumpkin carving party on Sunday and her uncle's birthday brunch at one of my favorite places ever, Ms. Shirley's on Saturday morning!

Here is preview of Lotte's Halloween card! It's a phone photo, so just ignore the crappyness of it haha

I was finally productive!

Well Adam took Lotte to a dinner with his family today.  She was gone almost all day and I missed her so much, but I had a chance to get things done finally.  I did five loads of laundry, I still have one more to go of Lotte clothes and paraphernalia, but happy I made a dent in all the laundry that has been piling up.  I also went grocery shopping and got us pumpkins to carve this weekend! I miss her so much when she is away, but love when she comes home and smiles big when she sees me. 

I also learned a great tip from another mom today and so far it has worked! Lotte HATES pacifiers, she always spits them out, not sure why.  However, at night time she likes to use me as a human pacifier, which is quite annoying.  The tip was when she finishes eating slip a pacifier in her mouth before she has a chance to notice! It has worked well tonight.  I hope it will be a good addition to our nighttime routine. 

So sad the weekend is over, but looking forward to the next one I get to spend with Lotte, I'm off to sleep in my bed with freshly washed sheets.  Sleeping in a made bed with fresh sheets is one of my favorite past times!

Best way to spend a Saturday!

Lotte and I have enjoyed having a Saturday with no plans! I wanted to go to a festival downtown, but didn't have the energy since we both have head colds.  Instead we decided to relax it up! We laid in bed until almost nine, we ate pancakes, took a long walk, played at the park and cuddled on the couch! It has been amazing! Everyday she is more awesome.

Lotte's new favorite thing to do is imitate.  So she has started sticking out her tongue, and loves when people do it to back to her.  It always makes her smile and laugh.  She extra loves it when you make a raspberry sound while doing it, it's a surefire way to please her!