I wish there was an 'easy' button...

Our family time is so limited these days. Dave and I both work full time and often see each other for less than ten minutes in the day. Only a fluke opportunity presents us with a day off together. Those days are like pudding to me.

We have a luxury of being able to provide about 98% of the care to our little one. However, for the most part, I wish we could afford some sort of child care. We make too much money for any assistance but we don't make enough to afford it on our own. And neither of us would be able to sustain our family on one income. Our choices are limited. It's struggle every day when I have to get up hours before the sun rises and then rush home in the afternoon so that Dave can rush to work. He comes home usually after I've gone to bed. When we lived closer to Dave's work, I used to walk him to his job every day so we could have ten precious minutes together as a family.

Getting anything done around the house is impossible with Thurston unless he's asleep. That time is also shared with bathing, cooking, eating, dressing, reading, typing blogs on the computer (except he's in my lap nursing right now), or any other "me" time, etc. I've recruited friends to come over and entertain the bug just so I can unpack a box of books or put away the wedding gifts (trying really hard not to think about my really late thank you notes - they are coming at some point). Dave and I don't want to sacrifice the few hours a week we have together to get things done.

There are days when I want to throw in the towel at my job, not because I dislike it (quite the opposite really) but because I hate that it takes so much from our family. I've tried to request a reduced schedule, working from home, etc and none of which is available. I sadly had to make the decision to quit school because it would be taking so much from my family to pursue. This has left me feeling very frustrated. Dave is afraid of pursuing any advancement at his job because it might make him subject to working on-call or schedule changes that we wouldn't be able to accomodate.

It just seems like Dave and I are stuck between two solid walls with little room to stretch out.

How Much Have I Grown?

One Month:
























Two Months:























Three Months:























Four Months:























Five Months:























Six Months:

We are 6 months now - Just an update

Our 6 month appointment on Tuesday revealed that Thurston has climbed into the 11th percentile, weighing in at 15 pounds, 2 ounces and stretching out to 26 3/4 inches. Thurston bug is healthy and thriving.

We've begun to experiment with solids, which I plan to explain in detail (with photos) in another blog at another time. He's tried butternut squash and apples - neither of which really get him going but we'll keep working on it.

The Attack

He may be cute, but he's sizing up his conquest..


















Getting ready to pounce


















There's no holding back this drool monster...



















Almost got it...


















Triumph!

cute...

I think it's time to start baby-proofing...(video)

We Got Skillz

The Butcher

So...Dave and I met in a bar. A karaoke bar. Sometime around 10 pm on a Saturday night. Yes, it was that cliche. And guess what his pick up line was...?

"How you doing?" As he channeled Joey from Friends.

We exchanged numbers and I labeled him in my phone as "Butcher"-- representing his occupation. It was charming to think...the vegetarian and the butcher.

He is still "Butcher" in my phone to this day.....although he tells me to change it to "Butcher Husband", which I have yet to do.


He texted me not too long ago this evening: "How are my monkeys?"

- "One is asleep. The other is enjoying the former being asleep"

- "Ha!"

I can't say enough how peaceful and liberating it is to have my evenings to myself again. He also took a long nap from 4-6, where I was able to complete a work-out video, make dinner, and spend some time doing absolutely nothing productive aka "me" time (i.e. what I am also accomplishing now). We also took a long walk around the neighborhood this evening and I discovered a huge park about a mile from our place equipt with swing sets, merry-go-round, jungle gym, teeter-totter, basket ball court, baseball diamond, dog run, soccer field, and football field. Did I say it was huge? HUGE! I'm so excited. We also have two grocery stores within a short walk, a couple coffee shops, bars, restaurants, gas stations, and a couple shops. We're also really close to the max stop (double Yay!)

Oh heck! The little guy is awake.