Staycation - It's not your mama's vacation

This weekend we packed up V and pawned her off on my parents.  It was the first time we've been away from her for more than just school or a night out.  It was her first overnight trip away from home base and I must admit it wasn't easy (for mommy).

Friday morning I worked from home and then we packed her up and drove the 40 minute (1+ hour with traffic) drive to my parents' house.  That V is not a light traveler that's for sure.  Granted she didn't pack herself quite yet, but man she's got a lot of junk necessities.  Our car SUV was stuffed to the brim with toys galore, books, a stroller, a pack and play, a duck bath, a bin full of diapers, and an array of clothes so my mother could have "options" when she dressed her.  The plan was to undertake this trip during V's afternoon nap and we did succeed in this feat.  When we arrived, she was bright eyed and bushy tailed ready to play with Mimi and Papa.  Once settled in, V, Daddy, Papa, and I went over to my parents neighborhood pool to splash around.  Here's V with Papa enjoying the water.  She loves water and was so funny as she was looking over the fence to the big kids pool as she wanted to go socialize with them. 

Yay! Pool time!

Wait a minute.. What's over there??

Let me walk over and see.  Can I go play with the big kids?

And I'm done here.

The rest of the evening was uneventful and after putting V down for the night, E and I left to start our weekend sans baby.  The night started out very promising and as we had just ordered our second round of drinks at a local neighborhood spot, my phone rings... It's the alarm company.  I answer and the lady tells me that our front glass break just went off.  Crap!  The ONE night we're out, our house is getting broken into.  Or so we thought..  We close out and rush home at lightning fast speed to try to catch our intruders in the act.   Turns out our "intruder" was Miss Mattie howling to a siren and setting off the glass break.  Good to know our alarm is so "sensitive".  So, to cap the evening off, we sat in our courtyard and enjoyed some wine and great conversation.  With just each other.  And it was perfect! 

Saturday I still was up at the crack of dawn b/c let's face it, I'm a mom, and whether or not my baby is with me, I still am on her schedule and still worry and have to make sure she's okay, etc etc etc.  So, I called my mom at 7:30 to see how the night had gone.  She reported that all was well.  V slept great and was feeling right at home.  So, upon this news, I went back to sleep and slept till 10:30!  MUCH needed!  Then we spent the rest of the day doing stuff we used to do pre-baby.  Like going to breakfast, running errands, watching a movie during the day, and going out to dinner.  All without any schedules, bottles, feedings, and diapers.  Now, I have to say here that I am well aware to be careful about the words that come out of my mouth, and to be sans baby is not the life I want by far.  I want and love my life of feedings, diapers, bottles, schedules, etc.  I want my V, but it was nice to just get a small break to re-charge with E.  We had a great date night Saturday night at a sushi restaurant (both of ours favorite food) and I was in bed by 10:30 with a glass of wine watching Saturday Night Live.  Perfect!

Sunday, we picked up V after Church and I spent the rest of the day making baby food and being mom again.  I sure did miss her and it was so great to give her a big ole hug today and lots and lots of kisses.  My mom had her all dolled up for us when we arrived and man my heart melted upon seeing her chubby little cheeks. 

As I've been noting over the last several weeks, V's been on the verge of walking.  This weekend, she did it.  She took her first official first steps.  E and I actually may have missed the first ones as I think she did it on Saturday, but she walked back and forth between my mom and I today as she showed off her newfound skills to me!  She's almost 11 months old and I can't believe it.  Where does the time go?

So, overall, it was a great weekend for all.  V had a great time at her grandparents' house and mommy and daddy had a great time with each other re-charging. 

And, to end this here post, here's a gem of a picture I took from my inspection for work on Thursday.  It's a chicken in the road.  I don't see anything wrong with this picture.  At least the cops are monitoring the "situation" and have it under control. 

Update:  My mom sent me some additional pics from this weekend.  These are my faves from the new batch.

Maybe my cute hat will distract from my pudge belly.

Must. Move. Chair. Out. Of. My. Way.  I'm queen of the living room!

 

V with her Uncle John.  Hi Uncle John.  I love you!

Teeth - why grow one when you can grow two!

On Thursday morning when V woke up, she was cranky and upset.  She is typically in a very good mood in the mornings (quite the morning person), so this was unusual for her.  The mystery of the Thursday morning crankiness was solved on Saturday, however, as I was feeding her some pasta and saw what I originally thought was remnants of half- chewed gummed food.  But quite the contrary.  It was TWO TEETH!  YAY!!!  She cut two teeth on Saturday morning (official first tooth teeth date is May 15, 2010).  I was so excited.  It was such a weird sensation for me b/c I was actually feeling proud for her.  I realize that this isn't something she really "accomplished" but I was such a proud mama that she finally grew some teeth.  I hope she starts growing some hair now...  I have to remember to brush them b/c that has not been part of our routine to date.  Oops.  I haven't brushed them yet. 

I tried to take a pic, but she wasn't cooperating, so here she is just rocking out her leg warmers and booty ruffles.

In other news.. We're dog sitting for a friend of mine.  Her dog is a little black Pekingese fur ball and probably the coolest little dog I've ever met.  We took her and Mattie for a walk on Saturday and as she's black in color and has to practically run the whole time while Mattie leisurely strolls, she was feeling really tuckered out and overall pooped.  So, she did the only reasonable, although somewhat degrading (in most dog circles) thing to do.  She hitched a ride with V in her stroller, specifically in the storage bin underneath V.  It was pretty dang funny and cute.  Against her wishes, I snuck a picture of her and am holding it in a secure location for a rainy day, you know, if I ever need a favor or something.   I promised her I wouldn't post, but as she can't use the keyboard and thus can't really check this here blog, I'm going to share it.  I personally think she has nothing to be ashamed of.  I told her it shows her ingenuity and resourcefulness.  Why not make life a little easier I say.  

 

What's up peeps!

9 Month Stats

I fell off the wagon.  Blogging wagon that is.  A friend of mine came over Sunday night and we got to talking and I completely forgot to post.  I really want to keep up with this blogging gig I got going here if for nothing else, to have a diary of sorts for me and V to look at one day. 

So, on to the stats.  We went to the doctor for her 9 month appointment last week.   All is well!  I was relieved to find out that there are NO SHOTS at the 9 month appointment.  I had no idea (b/c I've been slacking on reading the baby books as all they really do is overwhelm me) so it was a very pleasant and welcome surprise.  I found out about this development a day before her appointment through a weekly e-mail I get from Welcome Baby Home (a mommy website).  I was even prepared to keep her home that day as shot day sucks, but instead, she went to school before AND after her appointment.  Yippee!

Here are her stats:

Height - 27' - 49%

Weight - 16 lbs, 14.5 oz - 25%

Head Circumference - 44.8' - 52%

She looks so small to me still and now that she's crusing and pulling up all the time, I look at her and sometimes have to do a double take b/c she doesn't look like a baby that's old enough to be doing that, but she sho is (old enought that is)!

Over the weekend, she started to attempt to stand unassisted and the daycare teachers today told me she was standing by herself there as well.  So it's only a matter of time before she walks.  And still without any teeth.  She's our toothless wonder.

No pics of V to post this week.  I'm still trying to figure out photoshop for the edited 9 month photo shoot pics - it ain't easy folks, it ain't easy.  That being said - I will post a picture of our 80 pound lap dog.  She's thrilled about this.

Oh the humanity!