Cole :: 10 months

So many changes, where to start? Babyhood is quickly passing us by. Cole took her first independent step this morning! She will be toddling around this house and city in no time. 

In the last month Cole's sleeping has improved. This time last month, we were still getting up two or three times every night. Now we're only up once a night which is life changing. Since I stopped working, I've been able to be more consistent trying to encourage naps. Cole still doesn't love daytime sleep but typically I can get her to take two 20-30 minute naps a day. For all of you mamas out there with sleepers, please remember that everything is relative.  For us, 20-30 minutes twice a day is major!

As for eating, we've been trying to get Cole to self feed a bit more. She'll gladly munch on crackers and fruit but proteins and vegetables have been giving us trouble. After failing to impress her with plain pasta, Lima beans, black beans, or any stage 3 baby food, I threw caution to the wind and decided to offer her the same food Peter and I eat. Wouldn't you know it, girlfriend likes a little flavor! Cole's been chowing down on taquitos and pesto pasta with sausage and brussel sprouts. For breakfast now, she's enjoying a bit of Greek yogurt, a half mini bagel with a touch of jelly, and Cheerios. She is still nursing and has yet to show any interest in weaning.

Cole is one happy girl with an adventurous and fearless spirit. Her personality is coming out more every day! She loves to hang with the big kids and animals. She's been warming up to strangers and may even be a bit of a flirt. Its so hard to believe her first Christmas is just a week away!

Photo Swap

Folks, I'm friends with brilliant people. I got an email the other day asking if we'd like to participate in a photo swap. Basically we'd take our friends pictures and they'd take ours. So we could all have family pictures for our Christmas cards.  Of course, we agreed.

You guys should do this. Or buy a tripod. I guess the results are the same. Minus the fun times visiting with friends. And laughing at how hard it is to take decent pics with wee ones. Our child seems to have a a knack for the solo shot. Group shots are another story.

Ultimately we ended up going with a solo picture of Cole for our card.

After our swap, I found a card on Shutterfly and knew a flying baby picture would be perfect. Even though we didn't use one on the card, I love our new family pictures! There really is no reason to wait for the holiday season to participate in a photo swap. So often I'll get pictures of Cole or Cole and Peter but rarely all three of us.   The photo swap is the perfect solution.

Back Home

I've never written about it here, but I had a job from April 30 until December 2 this year.
I was asked to step in as a band-aid, or interim, employee for an organization I care deeply for.
My hours ranged from less than forty to over ninety hours a month.
I worked some from home and some from the office.  And all day from my phone.
It was part-time but it was all of the time.

May to December was trying personally and, on a grander scale, for the organization as a whole.
My precious girl grew from a wee bit to an assisted walker. All while I was learning how to be a mom. P.S. I'm still learning and will be for awhile.
Working from home turned out to be less successful than I imagined, so Cole and I spent a great deal of time in the office. The not childproofed office.

I quit in August, knowing we needed a replacement. Waiting, praying for a replacement. We found one in late November. 
On the evening of December 2, I finally erased the work account from my phone:

The last ten days have been remarkable.  I feel lighter. I am lighter!
I didn't even realize the physical toll of the stress until it was lifted.
I'm still helping my replacement almost daily. My perfect, wonderful, answer-to-prayer replacement!
I'm happy to be home. All the time. With my babe. For my babe.

I may write more about this season down the road. Or I may not.
I'll likely work again soon. Not again for an organization I'm so involved with. Back in education.
With more childcare! And on different terms. Maybe with a contract. Hopefully with a contract.
Right now, I'm focusing my marriage, my family, and relationships I've put on hold since April.  
I can't wait to feel like I've gotten myself and my time back.
Do know,  I'm on my way.
Well on my way.