Here are some pics that Aunt Gale too:

http://picasaweb.google.com/tehyatt/PhotoBoothFun#slideshow

So I went back to work.  I survived for about 2 hours before I cried at work.  Of course, I had a good reason.  My husband called and said “She won’t stop crying and I can’t get her to drink from her bottle!”  “Bring her to me!” I sobbed.  So he did and I quieted her in seconds (she just missed her mommy!) and got her to drink her bottle.  After that Daddy had a good day with Addie and Mommy did okay at work too.  I’ve done pretty well since then.  I have to say I have never been so excited to go home from work everyday.

We have lots of fun together, Daddy, Adalyn, and I.  We’ve been reading books, making up silly songs, and just smiling at each other.  Today I got a big smile for no reason at all!  Usually I have to smile at her first or sing her a song to get a smile from her but today she started it!  So cute!

We just moved to a bigger apartment where Adalyn has her very own room!  I am tempted to paint it pink, which I guess you can do as long as you paint it back when you leave.  I wish I knew how long we’d be here so I can decide if it is worth it.  Addie’s crib is still in our room though and probably will be for at least another couple of weeks.  I have to get  a monitor before I can move it anyway.

Everywhere we go, Adalyn gets lots of attention.  I am sure it is that way with all babies but it is something I have never experienced before.  We went to Home Depot today and at least 5 people stopped us to comment and ask questions about our little girl.  Yesterday, someone told us she should be in commercials with her beautiful little face.  I knew she was beautiful, but it’s nice when other people say it too.  Her cousin Anna is a very pretty little girl as well, she has big blue eyes and a sweet little smile.  They are going to be so cute growing up together.

Well, I must get to bed.  It’s been a busy weekened.  Plans for next weekend: Addie’s first hockey game (Go Bolts!) and more unpacking.

So I guess if you set your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.  It seems like ever since we started concentrating on napping, it has been working fine.  Addie has been taking 3 naps a day for the last 3 days.  In fact, it’s almost noon and she hasn’t been awake for any substantial period of time this morning.  Just to eat and I don’t think she even opened her eyes!  Thanks for all the advice from those of you who offered it!  It has really helped!

So as I have mentioned to some of you, Addie is having trouble getting on a nap schedule.  That is to say, she doesn’t nap during the day.  Period.  Okay, that’s not entirely true.  She usually naps in 15-30 minute stints, when she is being held.  So I have been trying to get her to nap on her own, and after asking advice as well as searching the internet, I have gotten her to nap in the last few days, in her bouncer seat or in the baby carrier, strapped to me.  The baby carrier thing is not ideal but she does sleep and I do have two hands free, a considerable improvement!

Yesterday, I decided to have dinner ready when Kevin got home, so I started it while she was sleeping in the bouncer.  I was making roasted red peppers to use in a salad.  After they came out of the oven, I decided to make some peanut butter cookies.  I have been craving them myself ever since Mom made a batch when she was here in July and we quickly devoured them.  I also wanted to send some to work with Kevin to share with Stan and the rest of the crew.  Anyways, I got things started and then heard a cry from the living room.  She didn’t settle herself so I went and got her and put her in the Baby Bjorn carrier since I wasn’t working with anything hot.  She quickly went back to sleep once she was strapped to Mommy.  I went back to my cookie making.  The flour is kept in a cannister on top of the fridge.  I reached up to get it with both hands and as I was bringing it down, the lid popped off, the cannister slipped from my fingers, whacking me in the head and covering both Mom & baby in flour.  Now I know why they tell you not to cook with the baby strapped to you: not because of the risk of burns but because you might end up covered from head to toe in baking ingredients.  Lesson learned.

This weekend, Addie and I went to Travis and Gale’s and to a church picnic on Saturday.  Kevin was working.  We enjoyed spending time with T&G, Anna, and the boys.  On Sunday, Kevin took some time off, went surfing, and we had breakfast with our friends Mike and Kaitlyn.  On Monday, Kevin worked from home while I watched (it’s an exciting life we lead, isn’t it?!) and held the baby.  But something very exciting happened on Monday morning.  Adalyn woke up in an exceptionally good mood.  Daddy picked her up and gave her a big Good Morning Smile and she SMILED back!!!  It was so exciting!  I got a smile out of her a few minutes later.  We were all so happy!

Later on around  6pm, Kevin finished working for the day and we went to meet Chris, Tabi, Roxy, and Riley for dinner at Mellow Mushroom Pizza.  BTW Brandonites- MMP was pretty good.

Well, here are some more pics for your visual enjoyment.  Some are old, some are new.  I hope you like them!

.

Well, Kevin went off to surf with his friend, Chris, this afternoon.  I think Addie must miss him because she’s been fussing since he left.  I have some pics from the last three weeks so here they are….

Kevin managed to get Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off from the project he has been working on so diligently.  This allowed us some much needed family time.  On Sunday, we drove to Orlando and picked up Adalyn’s crib and baby dresser.  Daddy began assembling last night and with any luck, will complete them tonight.  I thought I might help, and I did, but simply by holding the baby the whole time.  It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it.

Adalyn has another doctor’s appointment tomorrow and we should find out exactly how much she weighs and how tall she is.  Vaccinations don’t begin until 2 months old, which is a relief to Mommy because I don’t know if I can handle them giving her shots.  She has been eating every two or three hours during the day and usually wakes up once or twice in the night for a meal.  Two nights ago, she slept in her swing for about 3 hours, then I put her to bed and she slept another 4 hours without a meal.  I keep thinking I should get her on a schedule but I don’t really know where to begin.  I gather the general idea is to feed her every 3-4 hours for at least a half an hour at each feeding and do this consistently.  Also put her down at the same time for two naps and at the same time for bed.  Eventually, she won’t request a night time feeding.  I am not sure I can do it.  I just feed her when she acts hungry.  Honestly, she seems to do better and goes longer between meals when Daddy is around.  I think this maybe because she smells the milk when I hold her and thinks she is hungry.  I think when I go back to work the schedule will fall into place.  Speaking of going back to work, I really don’t want to.  But I have to.  I am hoping to wait another couple weeks before I do.  Maybe I could just strap her into the Bjorn and take her with me. 

We have had a few little smiles from her but we aren’t sure if she is actualy smiling at us or if it is just a coincidence.  I read that they are supposed to smile back when you smile at them somewhere around 6 weeks.  So it should be any day now.  Even so, I am really enjoying my daughter.  She is very calm and serene most of the time and she loves to snuggle with anyone that will hold her, but especially Mommy and Daddy.  She loves it when Daddy kisses her neck (he has scratchy whiskers!) and seems to smile a little at that.  She also likes it when you talk to her, she is very alert and looks into your eyes as if she is trying to understand what you are saying.  I told her the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears today and she seemed to enjoy it.

There are more pictures to come, hopefully tonight!

Over at travis and gale’s with grandma and Addie. How’s that for action!