Hello world!

Hello world!

Nice to see you again...its been a while hasn't it? Sorry I haven't been around to blog, but life has taken over in full swing. As mentioned in my last blog, I don't get to see Fiona or Will much due to work schedules. And right now, I'm getting to blog because Will is over at some friend's house (so he isn't here to say, "noo...don't blog, snuggle with me!").

So here's the updates on our lives...

Fiona
Fiona is doing great! She is almost 6 months old and growing so quickly. You can see all her pictures on my facebook page. I update there more frequently than here.
Breastfeeding - Fiona has decided that she is too mature to breastfeed in public; or even during the day for that matter. Which has forced me to pump for her daytime meals. I don't mind at all, but it has definately given me a new found respect for "exclusively pumping" mamas. My hats off to you all.
C0-sleeping - Fiona still has not transitioned to her crib. She'll nap there during the day for an hour or so at a time, but will not do long bouts of sleep in the crib. Therefore, she is still co-sleeping with us (something that before she was born I swore I would never do). We hope to have her in her own crib by 12 months if not sooner. If you have any suggestions feel free to comment...but if I hear "just let her cry it out one more time" I'm going to smack someone. Trust me honey, we've tried.

Will
Job
Will recently got a new job working for Ohio State University assisting in collecting samples and materials for research on antibiotic resistant salmonella in hog farms. He works in the local NC hog farms and comes home stinking like them too. Its long hard work but somebody has to do it. We're just thankful he has a job right now. He is starting his application to his get his PHD at NCSU...but that will depend on whether or not the school has enough grant $ to fund him.
Community Group
Recently we were asked to begin our own Community Group here in Angier for Vintage 21 (our church). We've been blessed to have 2 regular attendees (thanks Emily and Andrew!), and we're hoping for more folks soon. Its been an interesting challenge to work on truely living as Jesus' disciples...but hopefully we'll improve in His will. If anyone ever wants to come we hold CG at 7pm every Wednesday night.

Jennifer
Job
Jennifer just accepted a new job at Wake Med Hospital in Raleigh working in the Pediatric Emergency Department. I start February 23rd and am so excited but nervous as well. I'm going to miss everyone at Fuquay-Varina Pediatrics as they are all so wonderful. But life is one of those funny ever-changing things and it was too good an opportunity to pass up. I'll *hopefully* be working 3 twelve hour shifts per week.
Mama
I must say - being a mama is my most favorite thing in the world. Right now I'm laying in bed next to Fiona. Watching her sleep and holding her while she naps are my two most favorite nighttime activities. I love to play with her and watch her grow before my eyes. She's just beautiful. Thank you Lord for blessing me with her! I can't wait for more!

Well I think that about covers it for now. I'll try to blog more often, I promise. But when I've got a Fiona to play with, no offense, but she comes 1st.

Peace Love and Contentment - Jennifer

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...it was Saturday.

Saturday is that magical day that all of us in the working world long for. Saturday is my day of relaxation, of getting chores done, and my most favorite part...getting to have Fiona for a whole day.

You see, Monday through Friday I get to see Fiona for about 3 hours total each day. "How can that be?" you ask...

Well, I wake up at 6:30 and get ready for work while she finishes sleeping. I wake her up at 7am, feed her, put her in her carseat, and drive her to Gabu (my mom, who takes care of her). Total morning Fiona time = 30 minutes tops.

In the evenings I get off from work around 5pm. At least one night a week I have 'late-night' which means I can't leave until the last patient is out the door. Most times this is around 5:30-6pm; the other week it was 6:45. Anyhow, I digress. I get off work at 5pm, retrieve my babe and head home. We usually get home by 5:45. At this point she eats, I cook supper (or not), we play, and then at 7:30-8pm she falls asleep. Total evening Fiona time = approximately 2-2.5 hours.

Now, I hear some of you saying "Yeah, but you get to see her while she is sleeping. Plus, you get up 3 times a night to feed her. Isn't that enough time for you?" NO. If I had it my way, I would spend every minute of every day with her and that still wouldn't be enough time.

Back to Saturday. The problem with Saturdays is that I hardly interact with Fiona during the week. While she has a pretty good routine established with Gabu, somehow that doesn't happen with me on Saturdays. In other words, each Saturday I have to re-learn what she wants and how she wants it. For example, during the week my mom gives her bottles, and Fiona doesn't have to work very hard for her meal. On the weekend she nurses and gets mad that my milk doesn't come out faster. So we spend 30 minutes with her screaming until she wears herself out enough that she'll take whatever she can get. I also struggle with wanting to play with her and find myself forgetting that she needs to nap. Add in any travel, appointments, or seeing friends and family and it can be a disaster waiting to happen.

By Sundays Fiona and I are back into a rhythm and can function pretty well together. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. And then that ugly Monday rolls around and I lose it all over again until the next weekend.

So what can I do? I've already requested changing my schedule from a 5 day a week routine to a 4 day a week routine. But that wasn't approved. I have a job lined up that would start in February for 3 days a week, but after some challenging patients this week I wonder if that job is really right for me.

I guess all I can do is learn from each Saturday and pray that the next will be smoother.

Until next time...this is working mom #185011 signing off.

So I haven't exactly lived up to the one blog a week minimum that I set for myself 5 weeks ago when I went back to work.

So I promise that in the next few days I'll take some lovely pics and share some Fiona stories with you.

Things to look forward to reading about -

1. Rolling over
2. Lullabies - why do so many stink?
3. Sleeping in the big girl crib
4. Fenugreek and maple syrup

See you all soon! Love Jenn

Hi Aunt Sarah!

To everyone who doesn't know already - my sweet sister Sarah is living in Paris France until next summer. So Fiona thought it would be nice to post a video for Aunt Sarah to see how big she is getting. Fiona says hi to all of ya'll too.

Vacation & other tid-bits

Hey all,

We just got home from a fantastic vacation down at the beach with my best friend Catherine and her family. It was an amazing time of relaxation and learning. Catherine has a sweet little girl who is almost 16 months, and she is wild (in a good way of course!). It was so much fun to watch what we have to look forward to in the next year. Fiona was totally mesmerized by Grace's ability to walk and play and say "Hi baby!"

Will, Jennifer & Fiona at the Beach

Jennifer, Fiona, and Grace

Fiona showing off her beach hat.

On a different note, I am starting a new blog that will be devoted to deeper, more spiritual matters. It won't be for everyone's taste, but I just thought I would throw it out there.

www.DeepInEternalThought.blogspot.com

Last of all, tomorrow I am starting back to work. Therefore, the number of posts per week will significantly diminish. I hope that I will post once weekly, but I can't promise anything. I'm assuming that the little time I will be getting with Fiona will be spent with her and not on here.

Well folks, thats all for now. I'll give you the update on going back to work soon.

Peace - Jennifer