Sleeping Through?

As I'm now back at work, we decided to start Carina on one formula feeding a day. My intention was to start sharing the 4:00 AM feedings between us so that I could get a full night sleep at least every other day. However, we somewhat optimistically decided to start with her 10:30 PM feeding on Friday night. We did this because it takes babies longer to digest formula than breast milk, so there was a chance Carina would sleep longer with the formula. Here's the results:

Thursday (all breast):
10:30 PM feeding (40 min)
4:00 AM feeding (40 min)
6:45 AM feeding (40 min)

Friday:
10:30 PM feeding (15 min)
6:30 AM feeding (40 min)

Saturday:
10:30 PM feeding (15 min)
4:30 AM re-swaddle and stick pacifier in mouth (5 min)
7:30 AM feeding (40 min)

Sunday:
10:30 PM feeding (15 min)
2:30 AM diaper change (15 min)
5:30 AM re-swaddle and stick pacifier in mouth (5 min)
6:30 AM feeding (40 min)

I have high hopes that the re-swaddle waking will go away soon and that we'll be consistantly going from 10:30 PM to 6:30 AM! I would never have believed that I'd be excited to get to sleep in until 6:30 AM, but there you go.

On a somewhat related note, Katie had her baby shower on Saturday. My life has taken such a right turn, it seems like she should have had that baby a long time ago! Anyway, I got a lot of enjoyment watching Becca's smile freeze on her face every time a new game was announced. :) I actually enjoyed the "dress the baby blindfolded" game, although I lost my heat by wasting time feeling for the 3rd snap on the onesie. Turns out there wasn't a third snap. Who knew? All Carina's onesies have 3 snaps!

Grounded

I had a flying lesson scheduled for tomorrow, but once again fate has been working against me. My instructor called a few hours ago to tell me that the vacuum pump on the plane is broken and that we won't be able to go tomorrow. So... One more week, I guess. I'm pretty bummed.

Meanwhile, I've started to study for the written test, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. The list of questions published by the FAA is 694 questions long. Plus, I'm starting to realize that I haven't retained some of the stuff that I read several months ago. When am I going to find the time/motivation to study all that with a 9-week-old? I'll fall asleep every time I try to read it!

Deathly Hallows

After spending some of the evenings last week rereading Book 6, I was able to punch through Book 7 last night and this morning. I liked it a lot, especially the second half which reaches a spectacular climax suiting the entire series. I'm sure many, like myself, had questions about what happens to some of the characters afterwards. Turns out Rowling was going to put a lot more at the end, but felt it didn't read well. If you've already read the book, then feel free to check this out. It's an interview where Rowling fills in some of the gaps.

New Beginnings

I am writing this on my brand new laptop! I got a Dell Inspiron. It's not fancy, but it is new and runs quickly. The only thing that's annoying me is that it came with Windows Vista, which is trying way too hard to help me set up.

Halfway through my first week back at work part-time, I think that things are going well. I'm definately happier getting out every day and contributing to our nation's space program! Even though I miss Carina the whole time I'm at work, that's less emotional stress for me than the cabin fever I had at home.

I'm having some growing pains with the day care. I think Carina isn't getting as much sleep there as she does at home. I think maybe they're getting her up and changing her every time she stirs in her sleep. She's exhausted after being there for 5 hours. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the ladies that work there to go more to the schedule we have her on at home.

Separation Anxiety

Carina started day care today.

Everything was going fine, and she was very happy, until she pooped in her diaper. That was actually a good thing - I'd wanted a chance to show the staff about the cloth while I was still there. However, she doesn't like getting her diaper changed, and it took a bit longer than normal since I was teaching. So she got upset. Then she got upset when the lady tried to put her down with some toys. And then another kid started crying. So, as I left the worker is holding Carina in one arm, and rocking a crib with the other arm. Carina actually watched me go out the door with a sad-crying face on. :(

First off, I didn't think she'd focus on me leaving like that at this age. She's still supposed to be happy with any adult comforting her. Secondly, that's the image that's been in my head all afternoon, rather than all the smiles she gave me at home. *sniff*

More Than Meets The Eye

We saw Transformers when it opened, but were stuck in the 3rd row. My impression then was that the first half of the movie was incredible and that the second half was okay. So I went to see it again yesterday with some friends who hadn't seen it yet, and then time we had good seats. I liked the second half a lot more, now that I could actually see what was going on. ;) I still feel like there is a change in the script around when Section Seven shows up, a change that wasn't for the better.

It's interesting how all the evil Decepticons use military or government vehicles, and the good Autobots use the civilian vehicles. I guess the Autobots also have the good guy armies on their side... the Decepticons are rather outnumbered.

I Heart Google

I started this post about 5 days ago. I need my new laptop! (Which, BTW, should be here tomorrow. Yea!)

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Don't you just love Google? I mean, what did people do for fun before you could go google your name to see what comes up? Or alternatively, if you have a 7-week-old and are obsessed, you google her name. What do you find out?

- Fred has a webpage and posted pictures of her.

- Carina's Baby Countdown webpage actually registers on Google.

- There is at least one other Carina in Houston, and she ran the same 5K as Gavin's dad.

vindauga update

I seem to be in the habit of spasmaticly posting pictures to the photoblog. There's another update there, with lots of great material from our recent guests and trips to the zoo and Minute Maid Park.

I'll try to post more often.

Back in the Saddle?

Flashback to two months ago (it seems both longer and not that long). Here I am in all my 37 weeks pregnant glory, sitting in the cockpit of the plane that I'm about to fly. I am very proud of this picture.


People keep asking me when I'm going to start flying again. The answer is any day now. I intended to see if my instructor had some time this weekend, but then I got a sore throat and decided that was a signal to slow down a bit. So, I've been sitting on my butt all weekend. The house has not been cleaned. The laundry, well that got done - that's not so much an option as a necessity these days. But, I decided my first lesson back has to wait one more week. This was especially hard after reading about Jose's first cross country. (Go, Jose!) I'll get back in the cockpit soon, though!

Blessed Silence

Well, the guest onslaught is over. Both Gavin and I are missing our niece today, but it is rather nice to have a quiet house again. Three-year-olds have tons of energy and no volume control. I'm not sure whether I miss being followed around constantly being asked "Whatchou doing?". A typical conversation would go something like this...

Caroline: "Whatchou doing?"

Me: "Feeding Carina."

Caroline: "What's Carina doing?"

Me: "Eating milk."

Caroline: "She drinking the milk?"

Me: "Yes."

Caroline: "Whatchou doing now?"

Despite some concern that she was fussing more than usual yesterday (and her rude inauguration of Cari as babysitter) Carina slept well again in her own room last night. I got 5 full hours of uninterrupted sleep last night between a 12:30 AM feeding and a 5:45 AM feeding. And she's been down since 2:00 PM this afternoon for a good nap.

We saw the new Harry Potter movie last night, and I was pleased. Since I've read the books several times, I was concious of the moving being a little thin relative to the book. It's unavoidable as the books get longer and more involved. I think they did a pretty good job with the movie as far as removing the details that weren't essential to keep the run time reasonable.

I've got a hint of a sore throat today, which scares this new mother. First of all, I don't want the baby to get sick. Secondly, I don't want to be sick and have to take care of the baby. I have enough trouble getting things done as it is. Must get a maid...

Caroline and Carina

Here are a couple shots I took with my new camera of Carina and her Cousin Caroline.

Happy Anniversary to Us

Today is our 7th anniversary. I think 7 years is something around the average length of a marriage in the US. We're doing pretty good! :P Things have changed a lot this year, of course. We are no longer DINKs. Crazy.

Did I mention recently that my husband is awesome? He got me a new digital camera for our anniversary. It's good, because my old one was really having issues. If I used the flash, the picture came out really dark. If I didn't, it came out blurry. Plus, this one is really small, and I'll be able to carry it in a pocket. Yea!

Meanwhile, I couldn't find Gavin anything in the 2 hours I was able to spend in the mall this morning. So, I got him a very romantic and expensive dinner at Chili's, with desert at Marble Slab. I think he won the gift war this year. :)

Photos

Pictures of Carina during the last couple weeks.

Pictures of Caroline (and others) during her visit.

Changing of the Visitors

Time is flying. My parents have come and gone. I think they took more pictures of Carina in 4 days than we have in 4 weeks. (OK, maybe not, but a lot.) They got stuck in the airport yesterday for more than 6 hours due to the weather here, the weather in Dallas, and a bird strike on the plane they were supposed to finally leave on. I hope my sister and her family have better luck this afternoon.

I'm a little intimidated with the idea of having Caroline here now that it comes down to it. Our house has lots of baby gear in it now, but not much toddler gear yet. I hope she doesn't get bored. At least there's always the neighborhood pool. And the dogs - hope that works out well.

We have had Apache and Bennett for the weekend. When I agreed to take them with company here, I was thinking that we could always throw them in the backyard if it got to be too much. Well, it's been raining cats and dogs all weekend. I put them out for a couple hours yesterday after it stopped raining, and Gavin had to give Bennett a bath before we could let them in. Roxy is thoroughly annoyed with the whole situation. I've caught her on the couch twice in the last few days. She's definatley protesting.