Month Three Brought Us Glee

To say that month three with Margo has been amazing is an understatement. Margo’s little personality is really starting to shine through and she is getting more and more fun each day! In month three, Margo started smiling a ton, rolls over from her tummy to her back, although Cary says he saw her roll both ways on her play mat once—I have yet to see it! She is holding things with her hands and becoming more aware of them, drooling A LOT and continues to talk up a storm! I have been around lots of babies and do not remember this much cooing and gooing, squeeling and ooohhing at such a young age! We are definitely going to have a talker on our hands and I better start preparing to answer tons of repetitive questions.

The night before I was to return to work, Margo gave me a most special gift with her first real laughter. She gave me big belly laughs over and over and it made my heart smile so big! She now laughs for me every day and it is so much fun to play with her in this way!

She is a little rolly polly and definitely is “healthy” as they say! She weighs 14 lbs. 10 oz and went from the 10th to the 60th percentile since her last appointment! She is 24” and in the 27% for height and her head is 14%. She is so cooperative in letting me trim her nails and most loves her bath time. Her eyes are dark dark brown and her eyelashes are so so long—like a giraffe’s—as my sister pointed out! She is getting a little beauty mark on her face near her right eye. Right now it just looks like a tiny freckle. I hope it doesn’t get too big and actually is beautiful! Otherwise, her pediatrician wants to watch it closely and we may end up having it removed.

One of her favorite toys continues to be the play gym and she loves her cell phone and aquarium toy from Christmas. She also loves to look at herself in the mirror in her bed. Sometimes I come in in the morning and after her naps to find her rolled on her back and chatting with herself in the mirror.

Margo’s reflux is staying steady and she is doing much better than in month two. She has good days and bad days, but we have seen marked improvement on this front. Motherhood is amazing and fills my heart with joy and gratitude each day! I love that so many friends have had babies around the same time, so I can seek out advice, share stories, swap ideas, etc…

A New Year, A New Frontier

The new year brought some new challenges for the Weavers. After four amazing months off with Margo, I went back to work. Luckily, my boss agreed that I could go part-time three days a week. This enabled us to cancel Margo’s slot in daycare and she is now being lovingly cared for by my mom on Mondays and Fridays and by Cary’s mom on Thursdays. This has been a difficult adjustment for me, as I know it is for all moms. Part of the reason Cary and I waited so long to get pregnant was because I desperately wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and we were not in a position for me to quit working.

For those of you who know me well, I have felt very strongly on this subject since I was just a teen and am sad that the circumstances of our society do not allow for more mothers to stay at home. It is just too expensive to live and I think most of us, including myself, want to be able to maintain a certain lifestyle. Sometimes I think I should just put my selfishness aside, buy a simple house in a less desirable neighborhood and be with my Margo. Things cannot buy us happiness, but my sweet girl sure can. At the same time, I feel that I didn’t work so hard to go to a great school, earn my degree and build a life to give it all up. I want Margo to go to summer camp, have college paid for, etc… all things that neither Cary or I had. It’s a catch-22 and there is no real solution, so off to work I go, missing my girl terribly, but also knowing that I am doing what I think is best for all of us. It is so comforting that she is with our moms and perhaps if things work out as planned, I will get to start staying home with her in a year or so.

Don’t get me wrong, I know I am VERY lucky that I have such an awesome arrangement with both my job and our mothers. My heart really goes out to those mothers who have to work full-time and especially those single moms who do it all alone! I count my blessings everyday and am all the more grateful for my special time with Margo on my days off and the weekend.

During my pregnancy, one of my favorite things was sweets—especially brownies. I ate sugar to my heart’s desire and got Cary on a big sugar kick too. I would buy things I NEVER buy like cookies, whole cakes and ice cream at the store and eat something every day at lunch and dinner. Since I had Margo, this has been my biggest downfall and I actually gained a few pounds around the holidays. So… Cary and I gave up sweets and sodas except once on the weekend. I have had to pass up carrot cake at work, warm Shipley’s donuts, muffins and more, but I have stuck to my guns and have managed to get a few pounds off. I think it is going to take some serious exercise to get the last few pregnancy pounds off, but I feel much better without all this sugar in my body. After the first few weeks, it has gotten much easier to resist the temptations. The plan is to continue this at least through Lent, but I am hoping we can make it a permanent lifestyle change instead.

Also, in the past three months after I had Margo I did a terrible job of getting out with her. Not only did I not want her to be exposed to germs, but I found it very stressful to get out for dinners, errands, etc… I now have a goal to get out with her once a week on one of my days off. She hates the car seat, but is getting used to it and we have had two very successful outings. We have gone to lunch both times… once she slept, the other she played and talked to me. We also made trips to Hobby Lobby, Pottery Barn and Janie and Jack. I have quickly learned that she loves getting out and seeing new things. It is still hard for me to juggle all of her stuff and the carrier, but I have to learn eventually. I know it creates a new, fun form of stimulation for her and it helps the day go by faster.

So in the new year, as we face a new frontier, pray for us… that mommy and Margo can be happy and thriving with the work situation, that Cary and I can be successful at our no sugar/soda diet and see it pay off, and that I become a pro at taking Margo on outings!

Christmas Cheer with my Margo Dear!

Margo’s first Christmas was truly memorable! Although she didn’t know what was going on and was a bit overwhelmed by it all, it was so much fun having Santa visit and creating new memories and traditions with her.

We spent Christmas Eve with my family and Margo did really well until it got to opening presents and there was a bit too much excitement. Margo and Caroline, her cousin, wore matching bows, which was not planned and made it extra special. I loved her in her smocked dress! Alan made his amazing beef tenderloin and we had a meal that rivals even the best of restaurants.

Margo and Grannie

Christmas morning Margo woke up very happy after having slept through the night for 11 hours for only the second time! We took our time feeding her and then set her in her bumbo in front of her toys from Santa. I wanted to go crazy with toys, but knew it wasn’t really necessary since she is so little. I am also going to work really hard at trying to not spoil Margo too much. I think some kids have far too many things and have little appreciation for their toys, so I hope that we can prevent this in our home. I want Margo to have a clear understanding that Christmas is most importantly, about Jesus’ birth. That doesn’t mean that I don’t plan on making it plenty fun too!

The new tradition I started at our house was giving Margo nine books—one from each of Santa’s reindeer with a special message from each of them. I am a huge advocate of reading and thought this would be a fun way to incorporate it in her Christmas, so she receives more than just toys.

Christmas Day was spent with the Weavers and was also a ton of fun. Margo got a lot of attention and enjoyed being around those who love her so much. Our traditional Christmas dinner hit the spot and we enjoyed Ron’s amazing margaritas as well!

Margo was incredibly blessed with lots of awesome toys, clothes, books and more from both of our families. Christmas has always been a special time for us and is by far, my most favorite holiday. Having Margo brings a whole different level of happiness to our lives and now makes the holidays even more amazing and fun! We are truly blessed with such a sweet baby girl!