2 Months Old

Has it already been 2 months?!?!?

Back to reality

This past week it was back to reality... back to work. I love my job and I love the people I work with, so I wasn't dreading going back to work... but I wasn't looking forward to it either. I was as ready as I was ever going to be. 

Tuesday was my first day back which also meant Mary Claire's first day at Day Care.

I knew it was going to be hard to leave her, so I had been preparing for that. We always take her to the nursery at church, leave her with our parents to baby sit when we can, I would even leave her at "daddy- daycare" and go run errands by myself. So- I knew what it was going to be like to be without her... I thought I was prepared.

I dropped her (and her stuff) off at 7:30am and headed to work. There were no tears at the day care. I held it together giving her kisses good-bye and talking to her teachers. BUT- the moment I pulled into the parking lot at work the water-works started. I guess reality set in that I had to go back to work- that I had to leave her ALL day, not just for a few hours. Leaving her SUCKED!!! I couldn't tell Chase anything other than "This (sniffle sniffle) sucks (sniffle)!!!!)

I called and checked on her a couple...well more like quite a few times that first day and every time she was "doing good." And it was nice I was busy at work, so I didn't have too much time to sit and think about what she was doing, or if she was ok with out me. 

I got out of work as quickly as I could to go get that baby, and she was sooooo excited to see me! Well, as excited as a 2 month old gets. :)

Day 1 Report Card

Wednesday was much better. No tears at all from mom, but the stress of trying to be a full time mom and full time employee was beginning to settle in. I was getting a little frazzled making sure Chase had clean pants, Mary Claire's bottles made, mom's scrubs cleaned, dinner made, etc. BUT we made it.

Day 2 Report Card

Thursday there were tears again, but this time they were tears of frustration. She had been un since 4:45 (15 minutes before mom had to get up), already had 2 wardrobe changes (due to 2 blowout poops), AND we were running late. UGH!!! So stressed! I just had to cry, it didn't fix anything but made me feel a little better. Once I got her dropped off and I got to work I finally could breathe... WHEW... it's over I thought. 

Day 3 Report Card

And the highlight of my day, a picture message from daycare!!!

Week one is behind us. I few lessons learned and I'm sure MANY more to come. Can't say I am looking forward to doing it again, but ready or not here it comes...

"This is going to hurt me more than it hurts you"

Mary Claire had her 2 month check up today... which means the dreaded shots! 

I was so nervous about this appointment, I was so anxious in fact that I forgot all about the fun stuff that happens at the 2 month check up. So I was pleasantly surprised when the nurse asked me to undress her down to her diaper so we could weigh her.

Do you see that?!?!?! 10 pounds 2 ounces!!! That puts her in the 29th percentile.

Then about face to measure her

Just a little squirt measuring only 21.25 inches putting her in the 12th percentile.

And the kicker--- Head circumference... 

15.16 inches putting her in the 71st percentile!!! She has big brains OK!?!?!?!

Then she spit- up all over mommy! YAY!!

Off the room to wait for the doctor

Spit-up #1 and #2

Spit-up #3 and #4

Spit up #5

 Then Dr Bennie came in and got out a puppy pad for her to lay on :)

 Spit up #6 and #7

Mary Claire had a great check up! Doctor said she was perfect and very normal. The spit-up is ok as long as she is gaining weight and not upset like she is in pain when she does it. And as for the little bumps on her head that mommy thought was from sleeping in her spit up or her head bands....

It's baby acne. Sorry hunny, you got mommy's complexion.

Then the nurse came in for the SHOTS! AHHH!!!! I told her I was not going to cry :)

First the oral one.

Then shot 1, 2 and 3. It happened so quickly. No lie- Like 5 seconds and it was over. Mary Claire only cried for like 10 seconds. She was fine by the time the nurse got the pretty, sparkly band-aids on her. :)

She must have gotten the memo Mary Claire likes things that sparkle!

Next visit is at 4 months and I am not dreading the shots as much. It was not that bad at all.

Big Cheesing!

Mary Claire had been smiling for the last few weeks but I have had the hardest time getting a picture of it. Every time I get the camera out she goes stone faced... But I finally got it!!!!

Try not to smile when you look at this face.

Mary Claire's First Day at School

Chase was in a wedding this weekend in Memphis, so we headed West late Thursday night (you know, it is easier to travel with a sleeping baby than an awake one). So Friday was dubbed "Take your grand-daughter to work day."

First stop- Bartlett Elementary School

School was hard work :)

Then we were off to Covington where we dropped her off at the Tipton County Courthouse to hang out with NaNa while Momma and Daddy went to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. NaNa also took Mary Claire to the bank to see her Pops at work.

Mary Claire had a great time being doted on all day, and the grandparents had a great time showing her off!

Mary Claire's First "Play Date"

Mommy's friend Montgomery gave birth to a little girl on the same exact day Mary Claire was born, and we have be so excited to get them together ever since! But between visitors in and out of town, sickness (mostly MC), and all the other scheduling conflicts that come along with a new born we were just now able to get them together.

We met for lunch and the girls had so much fun!!! (read- They slept the whole time, and their Mommies had a great time comparing stories). They are defiantly going to be BFF's :)

Check out our little squirt! 

These girls are only a few hours apart, but check out how TINY Mary Claire is compared to Sullivan. People have always commented on how small she is, but I never saw it until I compared her to a normal size baby her age.

Can't wait for lunch date #2 :)

What happens when Mommy forgets a bow.

Mommy forgot to put a bow on Mary Claire before we headed out to eat at Buffalo Wild Wings. OOPS!

But don't worry we found a head accessory for her to wear :)

Zoo

Today was Mary Claire's first visit to the Zoo!

On the way there I started talking to her about all the animals we were going to see. "The tall giraffes, and the  BIG elephants, loud monkeys, and the stripped zebras... oh wait... you can't see colors yet. Guess you will only get the see the black and white zebras... Sorry hunny!" :)

We meet Aunt Chassity, Aunt Claire, Benton and Braden for a fun filled day at the Nashville Zoo.

*Side note: Don't go to the Nashville Zoo expecting it to be like the Memphis Zoo... you will be highly disappointed.

We saw birds                      monkeys

and tigers

Benton and Mary Claire checking out the Meercats

Look Close! 

The stork that brought Mary Claire is behind the stroller

 Benton and Braden checking out the fish

She really isn't red... it's the reflection from the red stroller visor :)