Finally our house permit is CLOSED!!

Final inspection conducted today and if you have ever had a building inspector come by you know there is a 50/50 chance he is in a good mood. We got the same guy who did our mid renovation inspection and he was brief and quick. Thank goodness! He saw the outer work and commented on trim and made sure we had carbon monoxide detectors in the house. Oh happy day!! Check that off the list as a job well done husband!

Mommy classes

Finally made it to my first mommy class. It was ironically about sleep training, a topic that Brent and I talk a lot about lately. We moved Evy to her big crib from the cosleeper at 3 months and the first few nights she slept 6-7 hours straight. Then she started fluctuating between 3, 4, and 5 hours. Every time she awakens I get up and nurse her, change her, and nurse her back to sleep. I let her chat for a little bit before picking her up but I don't let her cry. I learned today that maybe I should let her cry for awhile because she is learning that I will pick her up and nurse or rock her to sleep every time and she won't be able to fall asleep on her own. Eye opener! Brent has been wanting to let her cry it out before me but I don't have the iron stomach he does to hear baby wail. Kim- the instructor- said combo Ferber method with some crying it out is good for babies. Maybe just sit in room with them and let them fuss and gradually move the chair farther and farther away. At first they can smell you and see you so that helps them not feel abandoned. A gal was there who had a 7 month old who goes to bed at 630p! Evy goes down around 9p. I guess we should move it up- we tried around 8 last night to put her down and she was wide awake and talking to me as well as fussy. She has been sleeping between 10-14 hours a night and her naps are super inconsistent during the day. 

Let the sleep training commence!

Questions for better relationships

This is a great article for asking thought provoking questions to your loved ones to let them know you listen, know them, and that you care. That way you get thoughtful answers. 

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/4618254

One of my favorite things

One of my favorite things is watching Brent with Evy. He took a nap with her today and I was able to go thru my scrapbook paper pads so I could purge them. I cleared 1/3 of the paper I own as something to give away or sell. When she woke up he played with her on his lap. This picture is from that encounter. She was smiling at him almost the whole time.

We went on a hike with Maggie and Ashley and her dogs today at Shell Ridge Open Space. It was a tough 3.2 mile hike especially with the 40 lbs of stroller and baby, but we all did great and Maggie got her wiggles out. This baby weight isn't going to come off by itself so I have to out in the time and hustle. Speaking of; I'm signing up for a trail run 5k tonight for March. That should give me enough time to train a little. 

Mellow evening tonight. Last night we did a mini date night since I put the baby to bed by 10p and we watched Pacific Rim movie. Eventually we will get her in bed by 7 or 8p and be able to hang out more. One of the bad things about living in a house built in the 1950s is that the hardwood that is original upstairs creaks to no end. So when we go to bed it's a crapshoot if we will wake her up or not. So far so good though. 

Started it and I'm feeling better already

Even as I put the first few photos into the sleeves I feel like I am accomplishing something. I relieve moments of my firstborn's birth seeing those images and wonder what I want to journal about those first few days meeting her and the journey just to get her. 

I can't wait for Brent to include his thoughts from those days and someday when she is older, for us to show the album to her. 

For now she lies sleeping in the crib in the other upstairs room...  We had dinner at our neighbors' home she fussed almost the entire time. We decided to try winding her down for bed earlier than the normal 10p. She fussed during one whole feeding while daddy read to her from Shel Silversteins "Where the Sidewalk Ends."  

It's 1130p and I keep thinking she'll awaken and need me. My "me" time is now though and after my few moments of putting her Project Life album together (which for now is more for me than her) and blogging this post, I'll continue reading The Book Thief on my kindle and sign off. 

Nap time is so productive some days

I was able to clean countertops, sanitize pump parts, bottles and teethers, do laundry, clean countertops, do dishes, make breakfast, and clean the stove today. I even made more of my vanilla extract to give away. The final one I ran out of vodka so I used Jack Daniels - that will be a fun edition to baking :). 

Relief

We were dog sitting this weekend and frankly I'm relieved the weekend is over. Our house seems too small for two 75 lb dogs and a baby with all her gear. Plus I did not set up the dual kennels so I didn't leave the house for three days. Literally only walked outside to fill the dog dish with water and get the Sunday paper. Sad. 

I'm dying to go to Michael's and Jo-ann to pick up some things for the mobile I'm making for Evelyn and for a new type of scrapbooking I plan on trying.  Tomorrow I should be able to run errands with my little lady. 

I'm also being asked by my work to do small project financial updates here and there. I would feel better about it if I was getting paid vs being on maternity leave.  

I feel busy enough that I haven't been able to get my Tiny Prints planner updated/transferred from the old planner with special events and appointments and info yet. A task for tomorrow.