And then I got a flat...

September 26, 2013 (11 weeks tomorrow)

Last weekend I realized that I tend to plan out my days quite a bit, which means I also plan out Sierra’s days too. Friday I brought Oso and Sierra to Land Park to go for a run in Sacramento before the mothers’ group meeting at 10am. One of the women who runs the group was moving. Since she was the first person to reach out and help me with my cloth diaper questions, I wanted to say good bye to her. Immediately afterwards Sierra, Oso and I went to Arden Hills to meet the director of a conference I will be presenting at this winter. As it turns out he and his wife will be having a baby soon too, so he really enjoyed meeting Sierra. 

Saturday Sierra, Oso, and I went for a run with the newly married, Julia and her dog Taj. We met them at the Yolo Bypass… we knew there was a possibility of rain, but we thought we might miss it. Not a chance. This seems like the typical way things work with Julia and I. We were still about 30 minutes away when it started to rain. Julia and I took our jackets and tied them up so that no rain would get into the Bob stroller and onto Sierra (I SWEAR I'M A GOOD MOM!). As it were, every time I looked down at Sierra, she was staring out the small hole between the Bob and the jackets. It truly seemed like she was enjoying herself throughout the downpour. Unfortunately, the Bob tires weren’t doing so well. The fine soil we were running on became clay-like very quickly and stuck extremely well to the stroller tires, creating a clog. It felt like we were pushing a 50 pound sled up a hill. Julia and I traded off pushing! 

The rest of the day Sierra napped on and off while I prepped dinner on and off for the pre-concert meal! Sierra was going to her first concert, Buena Vista Social Club! Julia, Chris, Lyn and Grandpa Wick all came over. Grandpa Jeff was up from Costa Rica, and will be in town for a whole other week. The concert was so much fun for everyone! Luckily they didn’t make me buy a ticket for Sierra (although they truly made us believe that it was the norm). 

Sunday morning Sierra and I met up with a great couple from the labor and baby class that Gus and I took. I had been wanting to get together with them for awhile, and we finally were able to get our babies' schedules worked out for it! I thought since it had rained the day before I should bring the "pack-and-play" for the babies to lay on (and essentially stare at one another). So when I got to the town green, I strapped Sierra in the Ergo and began to attempt to set it up. I must have looked like a bumbling idiot! Two sides clicked into place but the other two sides wouldn’t. So when Jill, Ian and their baby, Marion, got there I was having quite a bit of difficulty. As luck has it, they saw their friends who also had a baby, and we all thought perhaps they would be able to get it to work. Alas, the pack-and-play was a mystery to us all. (If this were an Aesop’s story the moral would be: Figure your $hi* out before you take it out in public). It was a great morning of baby gurgles and adult conversation in the end (even without the pack-and-play). I did finally figure the darn thing out at home though. Sierra also got to see her buddies Wes (Jill and Levi’s baby boy) and Jack (Lisa and Jeremy’s baby boy) for a walk later in the afternoon on Sunday too. She LOVES to look at other babies, as all babies apparently do. 

It is so fun to get her experiencing different things, but I must say it was nice just to stay in on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before I had to go to work this week. I even napped with her on all 3 days! Grandpa Wick has been a great sitter for us this week; he even has made a chart of her behaviors for us! Today after our swim class we ran into our mom and baby friend Jill and Marion again and talked about how funny it was to be within the new friend circle of moms and babies in Davis (a bit surreal when pre-prego I was essentially friendless in town). Sierra was so pooped from swim class she even fell asleep in her car seat, WOAH!

On my way home from work today I got a flat and all I could think was that it was going to take away from my time I was going to get to be with my family! Luckily, a very kind Asian man named Frank stopped and helped me figure out the tire jack and within 15 minutes I was on my way home! Now I know how to change a flat!

When does saying goodbye get easier?

Sept 19, 2013 (10 weeks tomorrow)

I question if saying goodbye before I leave to go to work ever gets easier. People say it does, but I tend to doubt them. I think it is completely dependent on the day. For instance, if it's a Monday and I just spent 3 days without separation from her I am more emotional than when I leave on a Thursday (because I know our weekend together is just a few hours away). Either way, sometimes there are moments that I have with her right before I leave that make my life so much happier. On Tuesday before I left, right after Auntie Lyn came over, I was having a hard time saying goodbye... so I was talking to her and smiling at her. All of the sudden, she started laughing at me. Oh, how Lyndsey and I laughed. She continued to chuckle as did we; it just made me the happiest mom ever. Those are the moments that sit with me; that I think back on while I am at work.

The weekend with my friend, Liz, was awesome. We wanted to show Liz as much of our area of California as we could in one weekend, which also meant showing Sierra a lot too! We went for a "mellow" hike at Sly Park Reservoir on Saturday. I must say, that my memory as a mountain biker on this trail is completely different from that as a mom with a Bob stroller.

All I have to say is, thank goodness for the head and neck support we have in there! It was a little more bumpy than I remembered. 

 Liz helped me lift the stroller over roots and rocks the whole way.


On Sunday we met with Grammy Anne and headed to Napa to check out Mondavi vineyards and have a late lunch. 

So our crew had a great weekend, although Sierra skipped her nap and was a little cranky at the end of it!

Lyn had a good week sitting for us with Anne's help and love on Monday. Getting to better understand Sierra's rhythms is fun for the whole family. Even when we hire Keta and Oso to watch the baby!

Moms' group on Wednesday and swimming on Thursday were both stimulating and fun too! She seems to be developing so quickly now. She seems to enjoy "talking" a lot, as well as the stories I read to her each morning. 

Pictures say 1000 words

September 13, 2013 (9 weeks... 2 months and 1 day)

We loved our time in Humboldt (minus the drive). We saw the Redwoods and the Pacific Ocean!

Sierra was quite a beauty for the wedding ceremony and reception.

Julia and Chris were a spectacular couple and had an intimate ceremony on the beach.

It was so wonderful to meet up with my close friend Anna again; I don't think Sierra has ever heard me laugh so much in one sitting.

We also saw our good friends Katie and Lucas who get married in October. The rest of the week went on well; we had Auntie Lyn as our sitter for the week (which was great).

We went to our mother's group on Wednesday and our swim class on Thursday and walked the arboretum with a friend, Marisa, and her baby this morning. This afternoon my close friend Liz came to town, ALL THE WAY FROM PHILADELPHIA! So happy to have her here. We have a big weekend planned for her. Sierra was in a bit of a mood because she had her 2 month shots today (thank goodness, Aunt Lyn came with us to help). Plus Grammy Anne will be coming up on Sunday to visit which will be fun too.

Going Home, Where the Heart Is

9.5.13 (8 weeks tomorrow)

I'm sure every mom does this at some point in her child's short time of sleeping in their crib or perhaps long after while they sleep in their beds... I find myself staring at my little baby as she sleeps. Now that we put her down in her crib to start the night off, I have the chance to see her more from a distance. I peak in at her as she lays, so small, so sweet, asleep in her crib. I know these days will pass us quickly and I treasure the moments I am able to watch her like this.

Sierra's day at work last Thursday was a success as it turned out, and the anxiety that I had initially felt about it was just wasted energy after all. Luckily, we were only there from 2:45pm-6pm so she didn't really have enough time to be a fussy face! She didn't cry on the way in, she slept in the office, and slept in the Moby wrap as I coached my team. The kids were thrilled to have her around too.

Friday was arguably one of the more busy days we have experienced in her short little life, thus far! I woke up, fed her, ran with her in the Bob, lifted in my garage as she swung in the swing, we went to the doctor's for my "6-week" post-partum visit, we stopped at my work to drop off some paper work, we went to a mother's group meeting, had lunch with Crystal, met Papa at the UC Davis pool (which went swimmingly), came home to meet Uncle Onkar, and then all 5 of us headed out for dinner at the Village in downtown. Phhhew! We made it through that whole day... she was such a trooper.

Saturday Gus and I woke up at 6am to go to Rockville Regional Park, where he mountain biked and I ran and hiked with Sierra in the Bob. Gus recently repaired and "upgraded" my Bob tires with puncture proof liners and gue to go into the tires. This is because we kept getting flats from our thorny "goat-heads" (some weird weed with super poky needles) that are all over the ground in this area. So after pulling 14 needles out the other day, Gus decided to make a change! So far so good. Shortly after we came home, all 5 of us went to the farmer's market and to the Berryessa Gap Brewing tasting room in Winters. It was fun, but since Sierra hadn't had an afternoon nap it wasn't our best experience. The rest of the day Sierra let us know she wasn't happy with the disruption to her schedule.

Sunday brought reprieve, since Sierra was able to get her naps and regular feedings in...she does not like the bottle nearly as much, so she seems a lot happier when I can breastfeed all day. Gus and I went on a cleaning spree all day after we said goodbye to Auntie Crystal and Uncle Onkar. We felt pretty satisfied after having the inside and the outside of the house looking good again, and our baby fairly happy with the day's events.

On Monday we went to the Crocker Art Museum, where our friend Stacy works. She wanted to see the baby, so we made it a point to stop by. There was a free family event there called "Buckaroo Days." Sierra was too young to take in that much of it, but I am sure she enjoyed the stimulus anyway (although this picture might say otherwise).

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday Sierra was able to spend time with her new babysitter and her children. I keep thinking of all the positives of being back at work, instead of dwelling on how much I miss spending time with her everyday. It hasn't been easy, and figuring out a pumping schedule while working has been quite hard too! Gus has been spending more alone time with Sierra than he ever has before. It's been challenging for him, but I am so proud of him for being a patient papa.

Wednesday before I left for work we were able to get out to the mom's group which is so great for both of us. I feel like I hear a lot of great perspectives from the moms there and Sierra loves hearing the baby sounds (this week was mostly 6-9 week olds). It felt good having a full morning with her before I had to head out. Thursday morning we went to our free swim class! Sierra's a natural in the water of course! It was great to meet more babies, sing songs about water time and watch her splash around. She just seems easy going about all we do, except for getting in the car seat...scream fest!!! It is easier going to work each day if I feel like we have had a full morning of "meaningful" interactions before I leave.

Early tomorrow, Gus, Sierra, and I are driving up to Humboldt to go to our close friends' wedding. Julia will be such a beautiful bride! We are so excited to show Sierra an area we love so much. The ocean, the redwoods, and the cool air!!! It almost feels like going home when we go up to Humboldt.

Earning her keep

August 29, 2013 (7 weeks tomorrow)

Another fun and exciting week... I guess it always seems like that when cells are multiplying at an ungodly rate. So is the life of a newborn... actually she is now an infant and no longer medically a newborn (as soon to be Doctor Crystal told me). She actually outgrew her bassinet this week, and we have been putting her down in her crib more often. I put the monitor on and when I hear her cry I bolt up like nobody's business, run to her room, change her, and bring her back to bed with us. It seems to be a good system so far. When we all are ready I may try to get her to stay asleep in her room, but for now I still enjoy being two peas in a pod (as Gus likes to call us when he sees us cuddling). 

You wouldn't believe it, but we actually got to do a lot of stuff last weekend! Crystal, Gus, Sierra and I went out to further experience beer week on Friday night. Although the first place we went to only had one tap and no food and the second place only had the local Sudwerk's beer on tap (which is more of a German style beer... not our favorite). So it wasn't that much of a "beer week" experience, but we did see a couple from our baby and labor class out with their 5 week old! Their little boy and Sierra had similar spaced out expressions on their face; it was cool seeing another baby in the same developmental phase. 

Saturday morning we woke up and Crystal offered to watch Sierra for our biking date! We only did about 1.25hrs, but that was good enough for me (and long enough for Sierra to have a morning nap). just the saddle time alone was killing my butt! It's crazy how much power you can lose when you take time off, but Gus was nice and didn't drop me at any point in the ride. It felt great to be riding again, and I can't wait to get back to mountain biking shape. In the afternoon we prepped Sierra for her first Hornet sports event! The men's soccer game... I dressed her in appropriate Hornet clothes too. We saw many of my athletes and colleagues (they were all ecstatic to see Sierra, even the guys on the soccer team were seemingly enthusiastic). 

Sierra likes being outdoors already and she loves the "papa hold" (Gus' favorite way of holding her).

Sunday I asked Crystal if she wanted to try out my "baby weight" class with me. I asked her if she wanted a newborn (a 10lb plate) or a 1 year old (a 25lb plate). She chose a 10lb in fear that the class would be at my normal level of crazy. Crystal seemed to enjoy it, but more importantly Sierra LOVED it. It really was fun to do. Gus made it home from mountain biking shortly after we finished the class and we all went downtown for brunch together. 

Sierra is still doing her lifting. That baby dumbbell is the perfect size for her little hand! 

She often falls asleep in her swing or her bouncer for her naps...always thinking deep thoughts. 

She met a new friend on Monday, Animesh, (a doctor friend of Crystal's) came over and brought our favorite dinner with him, Katmandu!! Sierra had a full blown convo with him... that is in baby talk. 

Sierra slept through our new parent group that we usually go to on Wednesday... so I let her be, I had to clean the house anyhow. She has been developing a little bit more patterned nap times. Always one in the morning, not long after we wake up, and always one in the afternoon usually right before papa comes home. She also has been sleeping through the night better (not as many wake ups). 

I had four days of work this week, and today I have to go in earlier than Gus is getting home. Since it is still "summer" for the college students, my boss approved of me bringing Sierra in today. So she is officially going to earn her keep. I only have one team to coach, and plan on wearing her during that time. It's actually a great way to end the week. I am not exactly looking forward to next week since T,W,TH I will be working 6.25hrs each day AND Crystal is going back to Vegas! Two downers in one week!! Leaving Sierra for 3 hours is one thing but for 7 hours is a whole other scenario... Every week following that I will be working M-TH. It's not that I don't like my job (I DO) but I will miss her SO much!

Quality Time with Grandpa

August 23, 2013 (6 weeks)

Here we are at six weeks old, and this past week was something else. Last Friday morning I brought Sierra to the Davis arboretum for a run in the Bob stroller. It was great! Although, we didn't run the whole time we were out there for a good 40 minutes. We even met up with a mom from the mom's group for lunch afterwards. I upped the ante this morning and got Sierra all set up in the Bob, harnessed both dogs, tied them to my waist, and the 4 of us went for a run on the levy. Once again, not a huge amount of actual running but we spent about 40 minutes out there. I most definitely looked ridiculous! I also was able to lift twice this week, and I am starting to feel stronger again. I am not trying to rush any of my progress, but I do know that I have to start somewhere to get back to my old self again! Gus and I are hoping to have a biking date at some point soon; Auntie Crystal will watch baby Sierra for awhile  and Gus and I will take a road ride together.

My Dad came into town on Monday night and we were so happy to see him as he was to see all of us! He is a natural grandpa and it was so sweet to see him with Sierra again! On Tuesday him, Sierra, and I all went for a little walk in the morning at the arboretum. 

In the afternoon he came over to the house and brought with him the most amazing spread of appetizers before we all headed out to Davis for "beer week." I brought pre-pumped bottles for Sierra so I could try Drakes beers that were being featured at de Vere's. 

We all had a great time out on the town, and we even made it home at a very reasonable time... you kind of have too with a 6 week old!

My dad enjoyed babysitting for us while I had to work on the mornings of Wednesday and Thursday (and apparently Sierra had a good time too)! It felt like a hectic work week for me. I worked more this week than last week. One day I even came home half way through the day so I wouldn't have to be away from her too long. 

On Thursday afternoon after my dad left for San Fran, I went over to Lisa and Jeremy's house to congratulate them on their new addition!! There little boy, Jack was born just this past Monday. Sierra and him were instant buddies... except they slept through their whole first encounter. Lisa and Jeremy are adjusting well to their new addition!

Apparently, I am not supposed to even be back at work yet according to my doctor's note to my HR department. Opps, I will have to get that letter amended somehow... 

Instead of saying what our plans are for the weekend, I think it's best to just be open with what we want to do. I learned my lesson last weekend, when all of the plans we had made for what we wanted to do didn't end up happening for one reason or another (be it lack of sleep etc). So we'll see what happens this weekend!

Return to Work

August 15, 2013 (5 weeks old tomorrow)

Sierra is officially older (as we all are), the small changes on the day-to-day basis are awesome to watch. One day she will wake up and be more verbal (baby gibber gabber) or more tactile (grabbing everything including during her feedings...). It is really fun to see. 

This weekend we began the process of getting the car fixed up (I thought it would be easier with Gus there to assist). We also went for a "hike" at Pena Adobe in the Bob stroller. I have been using the removable headrest that I use for the car seat in the Bob and it seems to be working very well. Going uphill was just fine, but we had to tilt the stroller back on the downhill so she didn't tip too far forward. Crystal ran around the park while Gus, Sierra, and I spent some QT together. 

On Sunday Sierra had her first day at the outdoor UC Davis Rec pool! Davis is such a family friendly town, which I knew before but I am really beginning to understand more now. Sierra didn't really want to be in the pool for very long so her and I laid down in the shade while Gus and Crystal did laps. (I now know most of my suits do not properly cover the "new" me very well; at least not while I am producing milk...noted). 

Going out with the baby truly does involve a bit of planning... items she will need, items she might need, items we should have just in case but items that she most likely won't need. Gus is always saying, "There is just so much STUFF!" So true, my minimalist husband, so true. Cloth diapering adds to the "stuff" quite a bit too. Speaking of too much "stuff" I have made Sierra an ADHD matt. Okay, I didn't actually make it, but I have taken every one of her toys that has a hook and hooked it to this mobile matt she was given at her baby shower. "Way to teach her to be over stimulated, Erin." "HA, that's nothing compared to our current society," I always think. Anyhow, she totally geeks out on that thing... it's teaching her more visual focus... uh, that sounds about right... for this current developmental stage.

Monday the pregnant ladies, their hubbies, Gus' mom and sister all came by for a pot-luck and pizza style dinner. It was a fun evening with the 10 of us (plus 2 dogs)! Jill and Lisa are each about 2 weeks away from having their babies and I am so excited for them to start their families! It really is the final stretch for them. There were a lot of different things discussed and honestly, it feels funny that I am the one they are asking questions to. I feel like I am always asking everyone else questions, so it's nice to actually answer some too! 

Tuesday, I was pretty much a grump the whole day, excluding the hour when Anne and Gus' cousin Nic (who currently goes to law school in NYC but is from Seattle) came to visit.  I knew I would be leaving Sierra for the first time to go back to work. It made me anxious and sad just thinking about it. Even though I was only going to be going back for a few hours it was still extremely hard for me to fathom. Gus has been adjusting to a 5am wake-up so that he can get home on time for me to go to work, which has been difficult for him. When 3pm rolls around, I was already tearing up. When it's time for me to leave, I am in full-blown waterworks. It's so hard to leave your baby for the first time. I have such a deeper understanding of all of those working moms' emotions. Everything ended up being okay, but it was trying for Gus and I. Gus hasn't had to soothe her for that long before either, and it is actually her "cranky" time-of-day, so I felt bad for him too! But as my mom said, "You both are in this thing together." And so it is...

On Wednesday I found out some info at the new mom's group about free baby activities. I have to be selective because I have to only do the ones that will work with my return to work schedule. I am very excited about joining a free baby swim class... a.k.a. playing in the water with other babies and their parents. It goes all the way until 6 months and meets once a week, and it's in a heated pool.

I have to go back to work again today; it will be easier this time but it will still be hard. It gives me new appreciation of being with her for a full day, though. 

I have started lifting again... and even for me it's hard to get back into. I feel weak after 4 weeks of absolutely no lifting (minus a 10 lb baby). I will get it back though, it will just take time. It would actually be a lot of fun to have a 45 minute group class for new moms that's called "Baby weight" (it would be a class centered around working out WITH your baby). All you would need is your baby and a yoga matt. What do you think? Would it catch on?