Friday, April 29, 2011

Back to Work

 So I am easing into work.  The first three days back went really well and I definitely enjoyed catching up with all the folks I had talked to regularly before I went out on leave.

On the other hand, I sure do miss my time with this little cutie!  Today I got a bow to stay in her hair for the first time!

So far things have worked out pretty well.  When I finish work at 4:30p, I get some quality time with Katie.  Will usually wakes from his nap between 5:30-6p, so I then get some quality time with him before Chad gets home, we start dinner, etc.  Katie is usually just so content doing whatever, she often comes outside with us and just hangs out in a bouncy seat or car seat while we play in the front yard.  We always have so much fun outside.  It helps that the weather is gorgeous and the sunlight is just perfect.  Will usually finds a tree to climb, tootsie pop to eat or sidewalks to chalk.  There is never a dull moment...


Will climbing trees


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Balloon

 Chad and Will went to the store tonight to get me some flowers for my first day back at work.  Will loves the store because he always gets a balloon. 

Today he loved his red balloon so much he wanted to take it to bed.  He fell asleep holding it!  I watched him move all around the bed to get comfy and he never let go.

After I took the picture of our monitor, I went upstairs to get the balloon.  He had rolled over and he still had such a good grip on it.  I had to pry his fingers off the ribbon!  I think he will be asking where it went in the morning...

close up

Maternity Leave

 Today is my last day of maternity leave and I am definitely going to miss my days of staying home with Katie Claire!  She has been such a dream baby which has made my 12 weeks off work so much fun.

My maternity leave was not a real reflection of what life would be like as a stay at home mom since our nanny was here the whole time I was off work.  I think that definitely Will transition to life as a big brother, and luckily now he really seems to like his little sister.  He often asks to hold her and he gives he hugs and kisses without any prompting. 

I am curious how he will do tomorrow when Loli takes both kids to the park.  I know he will love having her in the double stroller with him, but I wonder how he will respond when Loli has to feed her.

I really did treasure my days with Katie where we could just lay in bed and snuggle and where I could doze back to sleep for a few hours in the morning.  I will miss taking her to lunch and around town to meet friends for lunch.  I will miss seeing that smile and hearing those coos all day, but now I will anxiously await when the clock says 4:30pm each day.  Then I will have Will and Katie all to myself every afternoon!

Look at that light hair!

holding her head up

standing up!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Easter Sunday

 We had a great easter!  My attempts to get a picture of Will and Katie together ended poorly and included Will sneezing on Katie's face while he was holding her.  So this one is as good as it got!


Katie's first easter

in bunny ears

Will's first hunt of the day.  I hid the same 6 eggs with the same candy over and over again and he loved it.  He would empty them, and then I would just reload them.  It was perfect.

He found one!

opening the egg to empty the candy...






jelly beans!

playing with his new firetruck

king of the sandbox


sidewalk chalk with Granddad

walking backwards with Granddad

egg hunt with Armando

candy!

post-egg hunt tootsie pop

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Birthday Party Saturday

Today we went to 3 birthday parties. It was such a fabulous day and so fun to celebrate McLain, Bella and Emery's birthdays with them. Will kept saying "more parties!"

McLain had an easter egg hunt. This was Will's first egg hunt, and I think he got a total of 6 eggs. He opened each egg and would dump out what was in it. If he didn't want what was in it, he would shut it and put it back on the ground. It was so cute to watch.

 
McLain is 2!

Ellory and Will are off to get some eggs

Checking out the purple egg

His first of many cupcakes today

Then we were off to Bella's birthday party which had a Alice in Wonderland theme.  It was super cute, but I did not do a good job of taking pictures. 

Birthday girl Bella (a.k.a. Alice)

Will playing with the watering can (which he loved!)

The last buirthday party was for Emery Kate and it was an easter egg hunt!  Will was becoming a pro by the end as you can see from the pictures.  All 4 of us went and we had a great time!

Birthday girl Emery and her 2 candles

another cupcake!

Will and Emery talking (I would love to know what they were saying here)

and here

The hunt begins!  Checking out the loot

Throwing the baseball eggs




Katie's new admirer

Will and his dad

me with Will and Katie Boo

As if this day could get any better, Bapa, Ahma and Great Grandma Jo came over for dinner!  Will was so excited to see them all!

Will carrying in his new firetruck with a hose that sprays water!