Rhode Get Together

My dad's side of the family got together in Clara City on Saturday Oct. 8.  It had been two years since Grandma Bonnie passed away.  It was so nice to see everyone....lots of them I haven't seen since my wedding 1 1/2 years ago and it was the first time alot of them met Aubrey.  If it wasn't for Facebook I would have no clue what any of my family is up to.  Sad it has to be that way.  I really wish I would have taken more pictures that day.  Note to self for next time I guess.

My brother DJ, Aunt Traci & Aubrey

Uncle Greg, Cousin Amy,  Cousin Melanie, Aunt Marilyne & Cousin Kayla

Some of the grandkids and great-grandkids - From the top going clockwise - my nephews Damian & Ethan, brother Nic, nephew Mason, Cousin Kayla with her kids Emily & Alex, me & Aubrey, my cousin Melanie with her kids Evelyn & Lennox, and my cousin Stacy with her kids Riley & Andrew.  If I counted right there were 9 great-grandkids who couldn't be there.  I'm sure Grandma Bonnie was smiling down from Heaven.  She loved her grandkids! 

Grandma Bonnie lived right across the street from the park we were at in Clara City.  I have so many memories of these monkey bars.  I clearly remember one of my cousins (I think either Sarah or Amy) falling off the top chin first.  Try getting an adult inside that thing to help a kid. 

Baby Shower

Aubrey and I had a shower at my friend Heather's house on Saturday, October 8.  It was lots of fun - good food, good people and lots of good gifts.  Aubrey is going to be one well-dressed little girl.  I find myself changing her more than once a day so she has a chance to wear all her cute outfits =)

Mama's Back to Work

I went back to work full-time on Tuesday, Oct. 4.  I pretty much cried the whole morning at home getting ready.  I was fine when I dropped her off, basically because I didn't want Jayme our daycare mom to think I was crazy.  I wrote her a one-page note on what Aubrey does during the day, how often she eats, etc.  I wanted to write it down because I figured I would lose it when I dropped her off.  I cried the whole way to work and burst into tears when I walked into the office.  But, after a few hours it got easier.  It was nice to just be me for a while and not only Aubrey's mom. 

Most people find it easier as the days go on at work, but not me.  I am very jealous of Jayme as I want to be the one taking care of Aubrey.  It just isn't fair that moms have to work these days just to make ends meet.  Plus, I have to go back to Cashwise on a very part-time basis also.  After family health insurance and the daycare expense comes out of my check, I don't have much left over.  Like I said, not fair. 

On the bright side, Aubrey does very well at daycare.  It is a small home-based daycare and there are only 6 kids.  3 of them are girls, all 2 years old and born within 5 weeks of each other.  They are little mamas to Aubrey so I know she is very much loved!   It's funny because just last Tuesday Jayme was saying that Aubrey is such an awesome baby.  Then on Wednesday she said Aubrey screamed for 5 hours that day....well, if she's gonna be crabby i'm glad it's at daycare and not when she's home with me =) 

2 month Dr. Appt

Last Tuesday Aubrey had her two month well-baby check.  Everything is looking good and she is a healthy baby!  She weighs a whopping 9 lbs 15 oz.  I wish I could remember how tall they said she was....I think they said 22 inches.  She had the standard vaccinations.  Not easy for mama to watch but I had no choice but to suck it up because I had to help hold her down.  One of the vaccines was for rotovirus, which they recommend since she will be going to daycare.  A side effect of that vaccine is runny diapers.  Yeah no kidding.  The first couple days she had at least two blow-outs a day that required outfit changes for both of us!  I even had to scrub the recliner clean once.  Ish.  They said to expect the runny diapers for possible two weeks. 

Aubrey is doing all the normal things for a 2 month old....rocking from her back to her side and her side to her back - if she could just figure out to move her arm she would be on her belly in no time!; drooling - time for the bib!; socially smiling; starting to giggle; soothing herself with her fist / thumb; holding eye contact; studying faces; and tracking moving people. 

She is getting so fun!  I wish maternity leave could start now instead of coming to an end =(