Sleep War Armistice

And thus we declare a truce in the sleep wars, it was a peaceful ceasefire. Over the last week I'd noticed that even though Zara was sleeping with us, she was shimmying over next to me less and less. Friday night, I slept with one of the large receiving blankets so it would pick up our smell and then tucked it around the pack n play base to make a sheet out of it.

Yesterday afternoon, Z slept for a two hour nap in there sans binkie and then last night I just put her in there and we all went to bed. Lo and behold, she slept until her usual 4am waking after 6 or 7 hours or sleep when she got changed and fed and tucked back in for another 3 hours. It might not be so easy every night, but I think she just let me know that she was ready and it appears she was. John and I are just happy for our 3 month present from a little girl.

Here is the 7:30am proof, she was still out like a light even when we switched on the overhead for a picture and a couple other pics from yesterday.

1/4 Year Milestone

Today Zara is 3 months old and yesterday we were at the pedi for 3 month shots. All the mom's reading this are saying "what 3 month shots"? We are using an alternate vaccination schedule the spreads out the shots and delays the ones infants really don't need. The point of this being there are fewer risks of side-effects and interactions than the mass shot schedule the AAP puts out. Since the AAP schedule is based on getting the most of general population possible to get them done, it front loads shots for babies before they get older and stop getting taken to the doc as much. A result no doubt from that fantastic health care system we have in this country. She will get all of them eventually since we won't forget and will take her to the doc as she gets older, but the 4 ones really important for infants we do 2 at a time in months 2/3 and then 4/5 instead of all together in months 2 and 4. If you would like to read an actual balanced discussion of vaccines with the ingredients, scientifically proven side-effects and risks(as in not autism hysteria), discussion of the disease being prevented, and generally good information and facts, I recommend "The Vaccine Book" by Dr. Bob Sears. I read it just so I'd know what I was sticking in my child even before I decided to switch to the alternate schedule suggested.

Anyhoo- being at the pedi means updated stats. Baby Zara is now 23.5 inches! She is over the 60th percentile in length and has kept on growing long at a fast rate. She is also 10b 4oz, exactly 4lbs over birth weight and still 10th percentile. So we've stayed on the chart for weight and are tracking the 10th percentile line steadily. For additional statistics, in 3 months she has grown 28.7% in length and 64% in weight. PICTURES!

Runnin' Circles

A year ago I ran my first marathon, much has changed since then. However, you probably don't know that since the pregnancy calendar actually starts before you are pregnant, my week "0" was essentially the marathon. So really the marathon was one crazy kickoff to bringing Zara into the world.

Today, a week shy of her being three months old, was the big Houston Marathon. I did not run the marathon, but did sign up for the half marathon during the summer as a post-pregnancy fitness goal. My intention all along was just to finish, not PR or anything, and how I accomplished that was really the unknown. Over the last few weeks I've been getting back into the groove and made good use of the Bob (best stroller ever). When John asked me when he should go outside to see me finish this morning, I told him I was going to try to beat 3 hours and he should go out for 2:30 in case I was doing well. Good thing he was checking the online splits because I did manage to run the whole course and finished in 2:21:15. A good race is one in which you meet your goal, for me this was a GREAT race.

..and now for the rest of the day on the couch.

Tree Lobsters

Who needs science when we have celebrity experts like Jenny McCarthy to tell us what we need to know? This is one of the "problems" with Oprah going off the air, who will be around to help us out with all this nifty knowledge? Actual scientists? psh-sha...

I believe in Tree Lobsters now too.

Sleep Wars Episode 2

Last night, since we hadn't tried in awhile, I put Zara in the pack n play to sleep. She was sound asleep and stayed that way when I put her down, partial victory me. But then she proceeded to start waking up every 20 minutes and would only settle back to sleep if I rolled over (since its right by our bed) and stick her binkie back in her mouth. This went on for almost 2 hours until I was too tired to continue and picked her up and let her sleep by me. Which she did for the next 5 hours without a peep and I got to sleep as well. So Zara will sleep by herself fine... as long as it means I don't sleep, got it.

Zara is declared the victor in this sleep battle for persistence. Until next time baby!

A Case of the Mundays

This was my first week back in the office full-time. It feels strange being back at work after two months off, but I am glad to be back. My projects are pretty much exactly where I left them, whether that is good or bad I don't know. Zara had transition half days at school last week, so this week full-time she is already doing pretty good. The ladies all think she is a good baby even with the need for constant close proximity to a person, but they probably also tell every parent that. The big fun is trying to get out of the house to get her there every morning. It's like packing for an arctic expedition and this was Monday's baggage: Zara in carseat, diaper bag (extra stuffed with 2 changes of clothes, milk, and a day plus of diapers), pump bag, my lunch, and my work bag with the laptop and stuff.

Zara has also grown solidly into her 0-3 month clothes and we have retired the newborn ones. Which means she is finally big enough for this one. And, yes, yes I am.

Leaving Las Vacation

Today was my last day of maternity leave and I head back to work full-time tomorrow. Zara already had 3 transition days at the Montessori school last week of 3 or so hours each. The first day was clearly rough and there was crying, days 2 and 3 were better. The teachers commented on the last day about her just not wanting to be left alone and all John and I could say was "yup." I'm sure it will get better for Zara, but we are really of the opinion that this is good for her. Getting used to other people taking care of her and playing with other babies will be better for her development than staying home alone with me. Which also works out well since, I like my job and want to go back to it. I'm sure it will take some getting used to for her, but as I've read the clinging to momma will be at its worst by 3 or 4 months. So making the adjustment now at 2 months will probably be much easier for us all.

As far as the home front goes, on New Year's Day I actually got her to fall asleep and stay asleep in the baby papasan bouncer for an hour and a half nap. An HOUR AND A HALF!!! Seriously, up until now the longest we could get her to sleep by herself was 20-30 minutes. Last night she slept for 45min in the pack 'n play before waking and having to go to bed with us. None of this sounds earth shattering to anyone else, but I'm very encouraged that we might be able to work our way up to her sleeping completely by herself. Even just 2+ hour naps in the papasan would be all we really need right now. This is her during the magic papsan nap on Friday which was worth a photo to me.

As for maternity leave, it went by way faster than I thought it would and there was minimal boredom. As for what I learned (besides dirty diapers and midnight feedings) I am now really, really good at doing things one handed and my left arm is stronger than before. Being right handed, baby goes on the left so you can get stuff done with the free hand. I also learned how quickly I can shower and eat and do almost everything that requires two hands and no baby more quickly. I also learned that "schedules" are for chumps, the only schedule is Zara's.

From our house to yours, Happy New Year!