6 Months

It's Saturday morning. I am on the couch blogging, Erin is doing homework in the other room and Jette is taking her first nap of the day. These simple and ordinary moments are the moments I dreamt about before we got pregnant. I imagined what it would be like to do simple and everyday tasks with a baby in my life. Perhaps I romanticized it a bit - AND it is just as awesome and special I imagined when I stop and really think about it. I feel incredibly thankful for my little family and for that little baby who has completely stolen my heart and changed my life! I mean, just look at her!


Life has continued to change. We are still figuring out schedules and child care and how to get Jette sleeping through the night. She had her 6 month appointment last week - 90th percentile for height and head size, 55th percentile for weight. She is eating more solids - it's fun and often hilarious watching her try new things for the first time. She is almost crawling - getting up on all 4s and rocking back and forth. She smiles and laughs all the time and puts every single thing she can get her hands on in her mouth. She loves to give slobbery kisses and I love getting them. I see her personality shine through more and more and it's so awesome. We are building our own special and playful relationship and I'm loving it. She's my little buddy and I am so glad she is mine!

On top of continuing to learn how to be a parent, I am still learning a new job and adjusting to home ownership. There are times I feel like I am doing an okay job at managing life but most of the time I feel like I need another 10 hours in the day to get everything done that is on my list. Time management has never been something I thought I needed to improve on - but goodness gracious, each night when I go to bed I have a list of things I had planned to do that day that jump to the next days 'to-do' list. Working out seems to always be on that list. I gotta find that hour that is just for me to move my bod, clear my mind and sweat! Maybe tomorrow. :)

What else - we had our centering group over last week. All of these babies were born within a monthish of each other - we got our prenatal care and talked everything baby with their parents before they arrived. It has been so fun to stay in touch and see these little people grow up!

Ford, Vera, Jette and Cedar. We missed Mila!

We went to the pumpkin patch! It was so fun and so busy. We went last year when we were 2 months pregnant and talked about how we'd be going this year with a baby. I obviously loved it. Jette could care less but I was over the moon pointing at every little thing and telling her about it. I love how being her parent has sparked a sense of curiosity and wonder in me. I hope it remains - that the feelings of curiosity and wonder and absolute gratitude I feel about being a mom never leaves me.

I was out of town for 5 days last week. I was out for work. I hated to be away from Jette - it's amazing how much she changes in such a short amount of time. Thank goodness for FaceTime and photo sharing. Erin continues to be a champ. She doesn't like it when I have have to be gone that long - particularly now - and she is incredibly supportive. She's like, no problem. I got this and make sure you have time for fun. She is such a great mom and a great teammate. I feel lucky that I get to raise a baby with her!

And now a few videos:
Jette's first time on a swing:

Pumpkin patch:

18 Years of This?!

My back hurts, I have a hard time keeping my eyes open, I can't find an hour a day to work out AND the picture above sums up how I'm feeing about life. I feel so blessed, lucky, loved, excited and thankful. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?

People tell me life won't slow down for at least 18 years. If that's true, I am in for it. Or maybe I'll get used to it. Maybe that is one of those magic powers parents develop - getting used to doing way more than they've ever done with what seems like less time and less sleep. I'm hoping for the latter.

My little family has been on the go. During the week we are going back and forth from work (obviously) and arranging where we're going to make the baby exchange - I try to be home before Erin has to leave for work but sometimes I can't get home in time so either I have to pick Jette up from Erin's salon or we pick an parking lot somewhere. I feel I'm running all around this town - and I'm surprisingly happy doing it.

This last weekend we went on a weekend road trip to visit Sara and Emily and to drink wine. They live in Oregon wine country :) It was great to be there - I was a bit distracted because I wasn't feeling great and I have a hard time forgetting about everything that needs to be done at home and at work - but I still had a great time - I have to work on the distracted thing though. Being intentional about being in the moment seems to be a hard thing for me to master - especially these days. Farq and Kristi happened to be in Portland Friday night for the Macklemore concert and visited Sara and Emily Saturday - so it was a full house - lots of laughs, a lot of wine and friendships built. It was especially fun for me to see Jette and Harlowe together. Perhaps it was the first of many sleepovers and wine tasting outings. I hope! Harlowe is awesome. She's 10 months old and walking, talking, interacting so much - she has 8 teeth! It's quite incredible how different Jette and Harlowe are - 5 months makes all the difference. I am loving 5 months old AND I am excited for the walking and talking and seeing more of her personality shine through (I'm not particularly looking forward to the teething process).
X
It was fun to see Sara and Emily as parents. It's fun to watch and learn from others. I admire the way they parent - and the way Farq and Kristi are with babies, too. I feel so confident knowing I am raising my baby the same time so many other rad parents, people I love and admire, are too.

The weekend before we did yard work and celebrated Lisa's birthday. Our yard is big and intimidating - it seems I could spend several days out there and not really make a dent yet it is so therapeutic for me. I can spend hours and hours out there - and I do - and I think it has been keeping me sane. We haven't gotten TV at our new house and I don't know if we're going to. I love not having it. It help me keep busy and productive and more interactive.


 

Lisa is hands down one of my favoritepeople - one of the most solid people in my life. We walked into the brewery where her party was and Jette was swooped up in a minute and passed from person to person nearly until we left. I left that night feeling grateful for Lisa AND grateful for all the wonderful people that are part of my village - and part of Jette's village, too.

My work is getting busier and busier which I actually really like. I believe in the work I do and believe in our organization - it is making life better for so many people! I adore the people I work with- I am inspired and empowered by them - which makes it fun and fulfilling. Last week I was on an overnight trip to Spokane - for work and for a board meeting. A lot of good work was accomplished AND Spokane is beautiful. Who knew?!

Our house is feeling more and more like home. We still have a bit to do to make it really feel like home but I love being here so much. As funny as it sounds my favorite thing about it is calling it ours. The week before last we cut down a couple trees in the back. That wood pile is 1/3 of what we have.


Jette is just the best. She is sleeping better. She smiles ALLLL the time. She talks and talks. She is going to be crawling any day. Every day before I leave for work I tell her she has to stop growing and every day when I see her at the end of the day she looks bigger. I am obsessed with watching her learn and grow. Everything she can get her hands on goes straight into her mouth and she is fascinated by her hands. She is eating more and more solid foods. She is such a cool little person and I am so glad she is mine!


I can't end this post without giving a major shoutout to Erin. Erin is working so hard and is kind and loving and sweet. She makes sure that we get quality time scheduled in the calendar and plans fun things like bbq pizza night for us. I continue to be awed by the way she is a mom to Jette. I am beyond thankful for her and the way she eases every single thing in my life. I am so thankful for my little family!