HOT!!!

It is hot here in Seattle. Super HOT. Really. Really. Hot.

I like HOT for about a day, and then I am over it. I like to be cool. I hate sweat. That is one of the reasons I hate camping. I hate feeling dirty, and sweat makes me feel dirty.

When is the normal Seattle weather coming back?? I miss it.

Crib Moved. Master Bedroom Still intact!!

Well, after much debate...I decided Russ was right! Yeah, I know...that is the first and last time I will say that...but moving the crib to the loft was a good idea.

Last weekend Russ and I moved the desk to the basement and the crib to the loft. Chloe is sleeping there peacefully and is doing great. We are having less wake ups and I am sleeping better. Of course it is bitter sweet to have her on her own, but I do like having my dresser in my room, and not the "hall".

We are installing a canvas wall next week for light and sound and it looks like it will work out. I do like having my bed in our room, and I am glad we have solved the problem. This solution is more permanent and it is damn cute up there now...good changes:) When it is all complete I will post some pics!

Pictures!

Where do we all sleep??

Sleeping arrangements at the the Rockne household have never been so complicated. We bought this house 3 years ago and thought the loft upstairs would make a fantastic nursery...or so we thought. I had no idea we would be running into such discussions as we are now.

Chloe slept with me for the first three months of her life. Russ slept on a mattress on the floor! She slept in a little wedge and I made sure she was safe all night! It was the most amazing experience of being a Mom. I had no idea how connected I would be, or want to be with her all the time...awake or asleep.

Well, then she started to roll, so the bed was no longer a safe place for her, so the crib was introduced to her. The crib was in the loft space and seemed like such a perfect spot... until the fear of our two cats eating or smothering Chloe happened...so the crib was moved to our room and the door was closed. Russ was not a happy camper, but we all slept through the night...so it worked out just fine for 5 months. The mattress on the floor also stayed...as it was nice for me to nurse her at 6am while half asleep!

We are now in a new situation and we can not agree on what to to, which we seem to do a lot when it comes to sleeping arrangements! At this moment in time, Chloe is waking up when I enter the room! She is old enough to know when I am there and not there...she smells the booby!!!! So...after a month of her ending up on the mattress on the floor with me (after me being in bed for 45 min!), it is time for a change. My back hurts, my shoulder hurts and I am being woken up every three hours again for her to nurse...it is not so cute anymore! If only she would snuggle for an hour and then go back to her bed I would not be so ready for the change...but that is not the case here. I have tried sitting in a chair and nursing her back to sleep and then moving her to the crib...but she wakes up the moment I lay her head down! So...what is the solution??? The loft is too noisy for her, the bedroom downstairs seems like a thousand miles away and I need her to have her own space now. My solution seems really smart...let her have the bedroom upstairs, move a bed into the loft for Russ and I, and keep the room downstairs the guest room until I am ready for her to go down there...or until we have another baby!! Russ however is so opposed to this solution, yet can offer no other solution...so I think he may just have to learn to love it. Babe...I love you, but sometimes you just have to take one for the team! He thinks the loft area is a "hallway" and does not see my vision. It has always surprised me that with his artistic brain he can not see home decor like I do..it took us 5 years to get a dining table!! I should also mention that anytime we have had to change the sleeping arrangements he has objected. The floor mattress seemed crazy to him at first, then moving the crib was crazy and now moving us is crazy. I think with a little time, a little Sarah love and a happier Mommy...he may like it! Right??

I will let you know how it goes...wish me luck and sweet dreams!!!

Baby Load Out List

When I was catering I would have to write a "load out" sheet for every event. It was basically a list of EVERYTHING to pack...from platters, to serving utensils, lighters, uniforms, advil...we were prepared for anything! It took a lot of time and a lot of organization...it was not a good thing to forget the platter the chicken went on! Ha!

Now I have Chloe I am so grateful to have written HUNDREDS of load out lists, because I have this packing thing down...I think.

It starts with the Diaper Bag
1. Diapers x4
2. Wipes
3. Change of Clothes x3
4. Sweater x2
5. Light weight blanket
6. Pink Scarf for nursing
7. Hand Sanitizer
8. Bags to put dirty Diapers
9. Sunscreen
10. Sun hat
11. Sunglasses
12. Anti bacterial wipes for hands
13. Toy for when I change her
14. Burping Diapers x4
15. Camera
16. Changing Mat
17. T shirt for me
18. My wallet!
19. Granola bar for me, just in case!
20. Diaper Rash Cream

Then there is the basic car stuff
1. Stroller
2. Car Seat
3. Ergo
4. Car Toys ( I have to change them out every few days or she gets bored with the same ones)
5. Light weight blanket
6. Heavy weight blanket
7. Umbrella
8. Rain Coat for me
9. Warm Jacket for Chloe
10. Beach/Park Blanket
11. Grocery Bags
12. Cold Play CD
13. Burp Cloths x3
14. Water Bottle for me
15. Blue tooth for me
16. Pen and Paper
17. My sunglasses
18. My Sunscreen
19. Tissues
20. Advil!

And then on to Chloe's lunch
1. Small Cooler bag
2. Ice Pack
3. Spoon
4. Bib
5. Wash cloth
6. Food...2-3 options because you never know what may work

And then there is the toy bag which we take to Kayla's. I have to take one at the moment as Chloe is older and needs more challenging toys and it is nice to be able to clean them after each time!

What am I forgetting??

Oh...ME, Chloe, cell phone and car keys??? and a few times a week we will take lunch to Russ!

I have no idea how this all makes it in the car everyday it just does. I like to be ready for anything and everything as Chloe and I like to be out all day...walks, beaches, shopping, friends houses, etc! Not to mention friends who change their minds on what and when we are meeting/ doing.

And FYI...this list is in my head...it is the first time I have actually written it down. I do miss those days where I could grab my purse and be out the door in 2 minutes. Will that day ever come again?

Did I forget anything??

Belated Fathers Day

Fathers Day was perfect! Chloe greeted Russ with a card in bed, took him to his favorite bakery for a muffin and latte and then went to the Seattle Art Museum. It was great to see Chloe and her Dad enjoying each other on such a special day.

Where is Chloe??

Sometimes I like to put Chloe into unexpected things! She loves it and I think it makes for great photos! Tomorrow I am going to put her in my stock pot and also her dresser draw! She will appreciate this humiliation one day!



I love her so much!

Is it harder now?

I often get the question if it is hard to have a baby? What is my life like now? And, is it harder when she was a newborn or now at 7 months?

When Chloe was first born we seemed to have a never ending line of visitors. In fact, it got so busy around here I had to keep a chart of who was coming when, by the hour. It was awesome, exhausting and overwhelming to be so loved and have all our friends and family be so excited for the new addition. Mostly we sat around and stared at the baby and sometimes dinner arrived. Family was here to help with the laundry, dishes, cleaning etc and it was nice to get a break from it all. I got to sit (c section only allowed me to sit) and nurse Chloe all day long. My Mom made me my favorite foods and friends pitched in here and there.

Well, after thinking about this for a week or so I can honestly say that it is harder now. MUCH HARDER!!! Chloe is more awake, needs more attention than ever, and no one is coming around anymore with the dinner cart. It is all on Russ and I now. I take care of Chloe all day, socialize her which involves packing up a car, hauling her around, carrying 20 things at once!), I clean all the time, I make EVERY meal, vacuum every other day, the dishwasher is run every night (sometimes twice in one day), nurse every 2-3 hours...the list goes on. There is always something that needs doing. When I used to "work" the laundry could wait till the weekend, I could stop at the store on the way home and it took 5 min to run in and out, you can pick up take out without having to change a diaper in the restaurant, you can answer the phone at anytime of day, complete a task from start to finish, sleep in if you feel like it...etc, etc. Life was much easier. I know the grass is always greener on the other side, but now having done both, the grass was greener, BUT I was never this much in love! I feel more complete as a person, more happy than ever and absolutly love the hard work. I LOVE my family!!!!!!! Crazy I know, but it is true.

I feel more busy than ever and seem to only sit down for one hour a night (which also involves me folding laundry...there is a pile with my name on it to the right of me at this very second!) I know that this is my life now and I am not complaining, I love it...but for anyone out there who has not had a baby yet. Enjoy the first two months! The first two month are easy!!! You can watch TV when nursing, read when nursing, talk on the phone, lay the baby down while you take a shower, sleep in every morning. Yes, you get up every 3-4 hours, but breakfast is made when you get up (because your family is there to help).

So yes, it is harder now! Everything has changed. But life is way more fun!

Body Aches

My body hurts! Still! When will it stop????

During pregnancy my back hurt, my feet swelled up to a size 12 (Russ mentioned just now they were like circles! How nice) and then two weeks before labor my belly started to hurt! Chloe's head was pushing on my pubic symphysis!

Now...after having Chloe my body still hurts. It has been 7 months already and I am still in pain. First it was my c section pain, then my back again and now my shoulder feels like I tore the muscle hard core! Lets see why??

Lifting Chloe
Bending into very weird places with and without holding Chloe
Carrying the car seat with a 17lb baby in it
Loading the car with stroller, diaper bags, groceries, etc
Nursing
Sleeping...I still can not sleep on my belly!

I know that is only a small list, but when you do each one of those items all day, over and over, it hurts!!!!!!!!!!!!

Advil, here I come!

Colorado Visit June 2010

Andrew and Lyndsay say "I do"


First "real" dress I have worn in a year and a half


Eat up before the wedding!!!


The dude ranch!



Last week we took our first plane ride to CO. As we were boarding it occurred to me that Chloe's 1st time on a plane was at 6 MONTHS, and mine was when I was 8 YEARS old! Wow!

Both flights went really well and Russ and I were complimented by lots of people on how good Chloe was! Thank you so much little girl!! I even got to read part of a magazine on the way back...could this be the start of many great flights to come?? or the one and only time I get to relax??? We will see. We leave for Florida in a few weeks:)

Colorado was very fun and it was awesome to see Chloe interacting with her grandparents. She is at a perfect age for smiling, laughing and enjoying life with her family. We spent the first two nights at Grandma's and the next four at Nonna and Poppies. I thought sleep would be a nightmare, but to all of our surprise, she did great. Went down at normal time and woke up most mornings at 6am. It was great! Russ and I even got to sleep in till 9am because we took advantage of the grandparents morning babysitting offer!

Our main reason for traveling was to go to Andrew and Lyndsay's wedding. We took Chloe and it was so nice to be a guest, not the caterer behind the scenes. I was impressed by the venue and the wedding itself was very fun. Lots of good old faces to see and Chloe was a rock star. She slept when she was supposed to sleep, ate dinner with us, smiled, laughed and fell asleep all the way home down the mountain road. Super good time had by all!

Losing it!

I have recently found that mommy hood can bring out the best and worst in me. For instance, I am less stressed out than I have ever been. I am able to take a moment to look at the flowers about to bloom in my garden and I feel the most content I ever have. I love my life right now and would not change anything about it! As a family we are doing really well. So why tonight was it so easy for me to just yell at my husband, right in front of my brother-in-law and just loose it. I felt like a spark on a fuse...and I went off!!!!! Lack of sleep? Me hungry? Hormones? Long day? Of course those all have an affect, yet it was more than those things. I consider myself a fairly relaxed mother, who is able to go with the flow. I take Chloe out everyday and for the most part I just go with it. I want Chloe to be able to adapt to life, be strong and to know that sometimes days do not go according to plan. BUT when it comes to certain routines that really seem to be working and routines that I have worked so hard on making work, it frustrates me very quickly when others do not seem to care about the importance of them, or seem to forget what works and does not work. It was OK that we were home late...but I wanted the routine to be fast and easy. Easy it was not.

So what happened?? Tonight we came home later than normal and knew putting Chloe to bed could be harder than other nights. We had a great day...a long day! Chloe was very stimulated all day and seemed to love all the attention...yet that can back fire too! Chloe's normal bed time routine consists of dinner at around 5:15pm, bath around 6pm and in bed by 7pm. Well, we did not arrive home till 7pm...so things were out of whack, plus we had a guest with us! There is also a magic formula to nursing her to sleep. It involves me sitting in the rocking chair in the living room and the house being very quite. If I speak she gets distracted, if anyone else speaks she gets distracted, and if other people are in the house she gets distracted. So tonight, all those thing were off. I thought Russ was aware of that and I thought I would be able to handle it better. I wanted to be the cool Mom who could adapt and not let people talking in the background faze me. However, after nursing for 40 min, listening to the boys talk loudly in the kitchen, and having a baby who was not falling asleep...I got frustrated! It was now 8:15pm and I was not getting anywhere with Chloe. I could have moved "my routine" upstairs to the bedroom, but the chair up there is so uncomfortable and I was also being stubborn. So, after 40 min of nursing (normally takes 10-15min), I decided she was tired enough, had enough food and needed to go to bed...so I swaddled her and lay her in the crib (she was super sleepy). Of course she cried. Any Mom out there can tell you how much it makes your boobs ache and how awful you feel when your baby cries. It is not fun! I came downstairs only to realize that Mr Meowzers was not downstairs...he was in the bedroom, with Chloe! Not OK with me. So...I did something I never do. I opened the door, got the cat out and Chloe lost it even more. I left the room and I lost it too. I lost it bad, in front of Chris, my brother-in-law and I just let Russ have it. Looking back now I am sorry I did that...but I just was so frustrated. While he was casually chatting to his brother about beer and how great it was so visit DC, I was getting my nipples sucked off for 40 min, dealing with a cranky baby and the cat in the bedroom was just the last straw (it is "his job" to make sure both kittys are out).

So I guess I can look at the experience two ways. One, I love Russ and Chris so much that I am comfortable enough to loose it...we are family. Or two, I cant think of a second one. It just comes down to being tired, not communicating and learning that next time we make sure the cat is out of the room! Looks like we may be moving the rocking chair upstairs sooner than later!

PS> after 15 min of Chloe crying, with me going in once and comforting her, she fell asleep and we ate dinner in peace...laughing and apologizing to each other. Isn't family great!

Can I have some BACON please??

If you cant cook the BACON with the homemade butternut squash baby food, then you can at least give Chloe the BACON Chip bag while eating the veg!



Chloe wishes the squash had some BACON in it! Maybe she would like it better!!!!

How to get over a cold!

For a week now the Rockne family has been sick. First Chloe, then me and then Daddy. Not sure who had it the worst. Chloe had the runny nose and fever, I had the soar throat and lack of voice and then Russ got a man cold. So how did I get through the past 5 days??

A huge pan of Chocolate Glazed Brownies! Yum, Yum!

Its what the Mommy does!

Occasionally Chloe wakes up in the middle of the night. It is not a bad thing...babies do that.
BUT...when she does my brain immediately starts working...it is what the mommy does!

1. Is she just waking and learning how to put herself back to sleep?
2. Did she poop?
3. Is she hot?
4. Cold?
5. Teeth?
6. Why is Russ not waking up? Can he not hear this?
7. Stay still, don't move, she will hear you and it will get worse
8. Move a little, let her know you are here.
9. Be quite
10. Sing her a song...it will help her go back to sleep.
11. What time is it?
12. Damn it, now I have to pee.
13. Hungary?
14. No, not me, the baby.
15. Is the fussing escalating?
16. Is she figuring it out?
17. Stop moving Russ!
18. Yes, I know she is awake...I have been awake too for 10 min now! ( me talking to russ in code)
19. oh...she is figuring it out. Good job Chloe
20. oh...she learned...I taught her to sleep:)

So....after all this running through my head and Chloe going back to sleep, I am now left awake to continue on with my own thoughts, so I can get back to sleep

1. What am I doing tomorrow?
2. So excited for playgroup? I wonder whats for lunch?
3. Stop moving Russ
4. I'm hot
5. Now I'm cold
6. Why did she wake up? Will she do it again?
7. Go back to sleep Sarah...6am is coming fast.
8. What shall I cook tomorrow?
9. Ummm enchiladas sound good
10. Guess I need chicken
11. Did I set the dishwasher?
12. Hope its nice tomorrow and we can go for a walk
13. So glad the boys are not scratching the door
14. Wow, she is still sleeping
15. Why am I not sleeping?
16. This would be a good blog
17. Ok...sleep Sarah. Stop thinking
18. Russ...stop moving
19. I love this family:)
20. Go back to #1!

Nothing left in me

On Friday morning I woke up at 4:30am. Not by Chloe, but by my stomach making the worst sounds...and spinning in circles. I ran downstairs to the bathroom (did not want to wake Chloe, or Russ by using upstairs) and just made it. Yep, I had the stomach flu...or food poisoning. The jury is still out on that one. Russ came down at 5am to help me and immediately said he was staying home for the day! Thank god he was here!

So what is it like to have a stomach flu and a 5mo old that only will eat from your breasts...well...in one word...SUCKS! I have never felt so ugly, so tired, so exhausted! Forget morning sickness, forget being tired because Chloe woke up 6 times the night before, this is way worse. I felt like I had nothing left to give. Not only are you being depleted by both sphincters. you are also being depleted by multiple holes in your breasts...every 2 hours! Yes...Chloe of course wanted to nurse more those 4 days than normal! Poor Chloe. Poor Russ. Poor me!

It is now Tuesday night and I have just started to feel better. Lets just hope that continues!

And....thanks babe so much for taking care of Chloe and me! You are the best husband and Dad! I love you tons!

Mommy Mimosa Pics!

I thought it was about time to post some pics of Mommy time!

Mommy Mimosa time meets every Thursday at 11am...a.ka Playgroup. As you can see we like our spiked OJ! It has become somewhat of a staple:) Luckily we hang out for at least 4 hours, eat a ton of food and try to also go for a walk...if the weather lets us...so one small mimosa is not a problem.

We have now been meeting for a month so I thought I should post some pictures of the babies...I have yet to get some good pics on the Moms (except Lauren above).

Here is the group:

Clockwise we have Danny, Allison, Chloe, Edie and Mae!

And here is Danny again!

And Allison!
And Edie moving so fast you can hardly see her!

And finally Mae!
And Chloe and Edie taking a nap, after lots of playtime!

Hopefully I will get some shots of the Moms this next week...but this will have to do for now.

Past, Present and Future

The class 1st weeks is an open forum presented by a very educated baby guru named Anne and meets once a week in Madison Park. It is a chance for new Moms and Dads to come together, ask questions, air their concerns and to learn about what to do and what not to do. It is broken into different sections, 1st weeks (weeks 1-12), next months (months 3-6) and then Sitters, Crawlers and Movers (months 6-9). I think there is one more after that, but I cant remember the name.

Chloe and I would go each week to this class when she was 7 weeks old and have just stopped going often (we have a new play group that I will blog about later). It was a great chance to get out early, meet new people and to just listen to other stories (sometimes it made me feel REALLY lucky compared to some of the other parents nightmare stories).

Today I got to go back to 1st Weeks with Kristin, Kam and 6wk old Kayla. It was awesome to see how far I have come and how much I have learned over the past few months. It made me look back at where I was and I left feeling emotional, happy, relieved, sad and excited all at the same time.

I miss my newborn who could only go to sleep with me. Chloe now goes to bed awake, in her own crib and has learned how to fall asleep all by herself (such a big girl!). I miss the days of being able to breast feed while talking and watching TV at the same time. Now Chloe is too distracted so it has to be quiet or I put a scarf over her to black out the world going on around us. I miss how small she was! I miss all her hair, but love watching it grow back in. Every morning I think she has grown at least 10 new hairs! I miss how quiet she was. I miss the days she slept all day and I could just watch movies! Now the TV is hardly turned on when she is awake, as her head turns immediately to it and she is glued. That just cant be good. I miss being able to go out past 5pm and not worry about the "bedtime routine". I just miss Chloe the newborn.

But...the class also made me so happy for right now. Chloe is becoming so much fun. She laughs and giggles every time I make a funny noise. She catches herself in the mirror and lets out the biggest squeals. She is constantly watching everything I do and wants to touch everything. The sound of a bag being crinkled is like heaven to her ears! I love her smile. I love her sounds...even the little cries when she needs something. I just love being her Mom. I love her bedtime routine of bath-time, singing, story and one more snuggle. I love when she goes to sleep peacefully at 6:30pm and I can make dinner, watch TV and have some alone time with Russ. Now that she is awake more, the days are longer, harder and some alone time is nice again. I love that each day is always so different. She is learning so quickly right now. Just last week she decided she could sit up fairly unsupported and can hold and grab at toys (and my hair, nose, lips, ears, boobs...everything!). I love she sleeps for so long! 12 hours most nights! Chloe is no longer a newborn, she is a real baby and I am so glad I am here to see every new moment.

Now she is 5mo I keep thinking about what comes next. I want to see her run down the stairs and jump into Russ's arms when he comes home from work. I cant wait for her to to say my name. I long for the day when she can dress herself! I cant wait for a shopping buddy! I am excited to see her be a big sister like I am. I am excited to teach her it is OK to fail...once in a while:) I am excited to cook with her! I am just excited to have a daughter.

So all in all the class was good for me today. I got to feel like a pro, look back at the past 5 months and to really appreciate that I am here, all day and every day to have these memories.

Husband phone calls

This all women will understand. Have you ever been so excited to hear your husbands voice over the phone, especially if they are out of town. I do. And then the phone call finally comes. You turn the TV down, your heart beats with anticipation, you give them all your attention, start to tell them about your day...only to get in return a "hmm", "OK", "ah ha"...really that's it. Nothing. It is like you are talking to yourself. I guess women are just better at talking! I love Russ, I love talking to him all the time, he makes me laugh...but boy do I hate the phone calls that dont go anywhere. Love you babe and see you tomorrow night for a real face to face conversation:) Sleep tight!

3:47am snap

Last night Chloe woke up at 3:47am. She was smacking her lips and starting to babble. Russ was sleeping on the mattress on the floor because I let one rip on his leg which he did not find attractive. At 3:49am Russ started to get up to switch beds with me which is when I snapped my fingers and pointed at him. It was almost like I was scalding a dog for jumping on the bed! Sorry babe!

(yes, I got up and got Chloe, fed her and passed out on the floor with her...Russ got the bed back and made sure to tell me at 8am he did not appreciate my finger snapping. I just wanted to see if Chloe would go back to sleep...yeah right!)

Chloe can do it!

It has now been a little over a week since sleep training boot camp began at the Rockne house...what a difference a week can make. With a little perseverance, consistency, tough love and my boobs aching we have success. For the past two nights Chloe has gone to bed sleepy, but awake, gets a kiss goodnight from me, watches her ladybug mobile go around once and falls asleep without a whimper. WOW!!! I am SO PROUD of her. I knew she could do it! Now we just have to work on me relaxing when she is asleep...

Sleep training has begun!

Poor Chloe...poor Mommy!! This is hard.

Chloe was such a good sleeper for the first 4 months, but around week 18 she started having a hard time going down for the night and then waking every few hours. The trend for the past two weeks has been her being awake till 9pm, sleeping till 11pm or 1am and then sleeping on the mattress with me. I was then only half sleeping, being woken to her every move...nursing around 4am and then again at 6am. Talk about disrupted sleep. Before we had a Chloe that went down at 7pm and slept till 7am...so I know she is capable of sleeping.

So, as of three nights ago we have started sleep boot camp. We bath, read a story, nurse and swaddle. I then lay Chloe in the crib awake, turn the mobile on and walk out the room. Walking out of the room is the hardest part. You want to stay and watch her fall asleep, be there for her to see you and most of all pick her up and make it OK. But...tough love has to come some time...I just didn't know it would be so soon and be so hard on me. Listening to your own baby cry, when you know you can make it stop in seconds is the hardest part of parenting I have experienced so far. I just want her to learn to love her bed, love sleeping as much as I do and to know I will always be here when she wakes up.

So...why now?? I know she can do it! I know she can sleep! I know Chloe is a smart girl and can learn quickly! I know I can not teach her to sleep with me, only to have her be 2 years old and have another baby who also needs me...so that is why this week was the start.

So here is the break down from the last 3 nights.

Night 1:
Cried for 50min!!! That is the longest she has ever cried!! I went in every 10 min to console by patting her tummy, singing my little Hallelujah song, and crossing my fingers and toes. After the third attempt at this, I did give in to picking her up. I had to be sure she was really tired, and not crying for food, pain...etc...whatever excuse I could think of. I think I just needed to hold her!
But, as soon as I rocked her, she immediately closed her eyes...so tired it was. After the 4th time, she settled down and fell asleep till 4am...where we went to the mattress to nurse and fall asleep till 6am. She woke up like nothing had happened. Big smiles and exactly the same as the day before.

Night 2:
Cried for 35 min! Big improvement from the night before. I did the same technique...going in every 10min to console and let her know I was here and she was OK. She fell asleep at 7:30pm and woke at 5:50am! Yahoo!!! ( yes...I picked her up...)

Night 3:
Cried for only 12 min!!!!!! I did not even go in the room. It is now 9:45pm and I have not heard a peep.

So now I know she can do this. I know she is a good sleeper and I now expect more from her than when she was first born. It is like her little brain has suddenly realized that I am here, will come when she really needs me and will be there when she wakes up. I am so proud of her and know we will get through this together. She turns 5mo old this week and I can not believe how fast it has all gone by.

Daddys Birthday

Yesterday was Russ's 31st Birthday! His first Bday with his daughter!! He had a great 30th year, and I know his 31st is going to be even better!

Chloe actually slept in till 9:30am (she was awake at 7am, but fell back asleep) which gave me a few minutes to finish his gift from Chloe. The gift was perfect...I framed 7 photos of the family for his new office (yet, he wants to hang it at home, because he likes it so much).

After playtime we headed out to Palisades in Magnolia for a Bday lunch. The view was spectacular and Chloe could not get enough of looking out the window. She loved the boats and the sunshine...just like her Daddy. The food was great. I had seared scallops with lentils and BACON!! Russ had a trio of sliders (lobster, salmon and crab). Dessert was also very good...lots of choc cake!!

After lunch we went over to the pool in Bellevue, took a walk in the park and finished the day off with Indian food.

It was a perfect family day!

Shopping with an OPEN shirt!

OK...this is cracking me up. I went to the frame store to get a gift for Russ Bday today and had the most embarrassing moment. I fed Chloe in the car before I went in (cranky baby), burped her, got out of the car and walked into the store holding her. The ergo and car seat seemed too much of a hassle to just buy a frame.

Well...I was in there for a good 10 min before I noticed that my shirt was UNDONE!!! ALL THE WAY!!!! I was walking around totally showing, asking store people to help me, saying hello to other customers...NO ONE told me. I got back to the car, put Chloe in the car seat and realized that it was all hanging out.

Lovely!

Poop on your pants! Looking like a fool with poop on your pants!

Before we left the house:

Me: "Russ, would you like me to get you a change of clothes to keep in the car?"

Russ: "No, I don't think that is necessary. Thanks anyway"

Well...BIG mistake!!! Maybe he will take me up on my suggestion next time.

Chloe had not pooped in 4 days!! So we knew the next one was going to be big! Russ even made me change her outfit to an "easy to change" outfit, just in case! While I was in Jill's kitchen getting a waffle, Chloe decided to let it all go...ON DADDY!!!

I bet he wanted those other jeans after that! Too bad I don't have a picture!

First Foods and Good Friends!

Yesterday Chloe had her first spoonfuls of rice cereal! We mixed it with my milk, sat her in the Bumbo seat and crossed our fingers. For her first time experience she did extremely well. I would not say she ate it up like I would a chocolate milk shake, but she did eat it and kept it down. We will stick to the rice cereal this month and then next month try other yummy foods...like peas and bananas!! Russ is thinking a Snickers bar may be a good option! J/K

We also had a very busy day today. ( I seem to be more busy now than I ever was). First we went to my new friend Jills birthday brunch and then off to Eva's. Russ got to meet all the new Mommy friends and had some amazing waffles! We then attempted to have ice cream at Molly Moons in Wallingford. Not such the greatest place to hang out. I did not realise the store was so tiny!! Chloe had finally fallen asleep in the car on the way over and I really did not want to move her into the Ergo carrier, so the stroller would have been perfect...if it had fited! So, the car seat was taken in, Chloe woke up, the door kept opening and closing with the cold air rushing in waking Chloe up the moment her eyes closed and to top it off I was hungary again! (I eat a lot now!). Mommy was not happy:( When did going for ice cream get so complicated?? Lukily my friends are so awesome the socialising was moved to Evas house where we could all sit, chat and relax.

I am glad to report that Chloe was in a fantastic mood...even with her lack of a nap. She laughed and squeaked the entire time and Kendra really had some good quality time with her. Thank god for good friends, good laughs and a delicious burger (emergency food hunger solved by Laura!)

Daddy in the Womens Bathroom?

Yesterday we had lunch with Kristin, Kam, Kayla, Chloe and Daddy. Of course the time came to feed the two babies, so off to the Nordstroms bathrooms we went. A vote was taken to let Russ into the Women's Nursing Lounge...it was separate enough from the bathrooms and we all knew that nursing could take some time. I have spent an hour in there before! I just love the fact that my husband sat there with not only me nursing, but also his boss and didn't seem to care that other women gave him some serious stares. He has become such a great Dad! I loved it and we will have to do it again sooner than later. Too bad we did not get any pics of Daddy in the bathroom, but here is Kayla (1mo) and Chloe and Kristin.



On another note, I need to remember to pay for parking. When parking on a street in Seattle it is not free! The first time I got a ticket was when I went to lunch on Lake Union and just walked away from the car, only to return hours later to a $40 ticket. Lunch suddenly became expensive. And then yesterday we parked downtown in a space that was only open till 3pm. Russ was with me, so we did pay for parking...even ran back after two hours to plug it again...but when we returned at 3:30pm we met a bike cop who was about to have it towed. We were causing a small traffic jam!! Thank god Chloe was there to play up the baby eyes and get us out of the tow! Maybe I should just start riding the bus? But how do you do that with a baby? What is the law for babies on busses, without a car seat?

Peg Legs

Today Laura, Chloe and I went swimming! Chloe is such a little fish and loves the water so much. I have a feeling we have a swimmer in our midst! We took a 3min video of her just swim swim swim...so cute!!!

After swimming we went over to the mall for lunch (Nordstroms...got to love the bathrooms!!!) and then did some shopping. Here is Laura using the Ergo for the first time!


In Banana Republic there was a skinny pair of jeans hanging on the rack that seriously looked like you needed two pegs for legs! I have never met a girl in my whole life that could really wear what they are passing off as pants. What do they do with all those pants that no one can wear. I wonder, if there is a land fill full of skinny jeans?

Anyhow, it was a wonderful day and Chloe was such a rockstar.

1st Blog!

Welcome! I am so excited to be starting my own blog. It is something I have wanted to do for a long time and I now have the time/energy/desire...whatever you call it, to really make an attempt to recall my days.

Well...where to start. I guess the biggest, most exciting news is that I am now a Mommy! Chloe Kathryn Rockne is now my birthday buddy! Born on November 7th 2009 at 4am. She weighed in at 9lbs 12oz...I know, gasp...big girl! Labor was a little bit of everything...natural, epidural, push, c section...even went in the bath tub. I guess that is just my personality to do everything!

Chloe is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I absolutely love every day. I wake up with this little girl and get to watch her change every day. I can't imagine a better place to be and I am so grateful I have the opportunity to stay home...thanks babe! I was unsure before Chloe arrived how I would react to not working ( I left one baby for another), but now she is here I am fine with not being a career woman right now. It is like a piece of me has been revealed and I have really become a whole person. Cheezy I know, but that is what happened.