Bringing Home Baby

Okay - so I was hoping that when I came back to work…no one would notice that I wasn’t posting anything to this blog.  Well I have gotten many e-mails in the past few weeks wondering why I stopped updating, so I guess there are a few of you that are still interested in our baby life.  For the seven of you…here’s the latest.

It’s been a very big month for the Thompson’s as we have moved into a new house.  We were living in a very charming, but small cape cod and realized quickly that with another person in the family…we needed a bigger place. We are still unpacking boxes and trying to get settled - but loving having space to stretch out.  (although I would never recommend moving with an infant!)

Finley Mae is now three-and-a-half months old.  She is chirping and making all sorts of fun sounds.  We are so in love with her!!  Big sister Katelin runs home everyday from school to give her a big kiss.  I can’t believe how fast she is growing.  We have definitely turned a corner with her.  The colic has gone and she’s actually turned into a very good baby.  She’s also turned into quite the little butterball.  Lets just say she’s not missing any meals…that’s for sure.

As for me, I am finishing up my part-time maternity leave.  I go back full time in two more weeks.  It’s been so nice getting to come home early.  By the time I start to miss her - I’m already on my way home.  Full time will definitely be an adjustment.  Not only being away from her..but all the other things that go along with it…like pumping.  That’s a barrel of fun.

I still worry all the time.  I just read something that said most SIDS deaths occur between 2 and 6 months. So I am constantly checking on her to make sure she’s still breathing.  SIDS is so scary.  It’s heartbreaking to think about the parents out there that have lost children this way.  I am doing everything that is recommended.  Of course we put her on her back, we give her a pacifier, there’s no loose blankets or toys in the crib.  And a new study has shown a 70 percent reduction in the chance of SIDS if you run a fan where the baby is sleeping.  Mike shakes his head at me that I have the fan blowing when it’s 40 degrees outside.

Anyway, I will try to be better about posting updates…but for now - here’s some new pictures!

Jennifer

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the gal with the Irish name!

Katelin Rae and "little sister" Finley Mae

Cute Chick!

Happy Easter!

Somebunny looks sad...

Monday was terrible…and not for the reason you might think.  I did go back to work, but that actually went pretty smoothly.  Unfortunately, as soon as my shift was over we had to head to the doctor for Finley’s two month check up.  (First of all, I can’t believe she’s two months old already.  Time is just flying by.)  Anyway, for those of you that have recently had a baby, you know what happens at the two month check up - vaccinations galore.  I forgot how horrible this is.  She had to get three shots and as soon as the first one went in, there was this 2 second delay and then the shrieking scream that no mom wants to hear.  I contemplated leaving the room.  What’s worse, watching your child scream in pain and looking at you like ‘why are you letting them do this to me???’ or leaving the room and having your child scream in pain and wonder ‘why did my mommy leave me???’  Luckily Mike was there to hold her still while I stood by the waste basket thinking I might throw up.

On a positive note, going back to work went pretty well.  Finley actually decided to let me get some shut eye for my first day back.  It’s amazing what 3 straight hours of sleep will do!  When I was leaving for work, I went to give her a kiss and she just looked at me like ‘who is this lady with all the make-up on?’  (I kind of let myself go while on leave…)  I only cried for a minute and then focused on trying to remember how to do my job.  Bill brought me in some pumpkin bars and made some of his famous gumbo for me as well.  (I was taken aback ’cause he’s usually not this nice.)  As much as I have enjoyed being home with my darling girl, it’s actually nice to have a reason to shower and brush my teeth everyday.  (oh come on - you know you had days when you couldn’t remember if you brushed or not!)

It is time to face reality.  My precious time at home with Finley is almost up.

Now I want to be very clear that I really love my job.  In this day and age, I am just happy to have a job, not to mention one that I enjoy going to each and every day.  That being said, my maternity leave has flown by and the thought of being away from this darling girl, even for a few hours leaves a little ache in my heart. (and a little nausea in my belly…)  The good news is that I am only going back part time for the next 8 weeks so I won’t have to dive right into a full day.  (in case you’re wondering, my part time shift means that I will be doing the morning show - but not tackling new In Search Of stories quite yet.)

To bring you up to speed, we still have no schedule.  My dear friend Lisa Klein dropped off the book “The Happiest Baby on the Block,” which I have started to read.  I also picked up “Baby Wise” and hope both of those can offer me up some ideas.  But here’s the next problem - when you have a colicky baby…WHEN DO YOU HAVE TIME TO READ?!?!

Also this week, the Thompson household has been hit with the common cold, Finley included.  We’ve had to use the nasal aspirator to suction out the congestion in her nose and man is that no fun.  I think I might have it the worst and since every over-the-counter medication says “if breast feeding, ask your doctor before use,” I have avoided any meds that might ease the misery. Geez, I am really whining aren’t I??

I have been trying to get up to date on Finley’s baby book, writing down all the details of the world today. How much a gallon of milk costs and who is popular in music and movies - and I had a thought.  So many of you have been great about posting comments, I thought it might be really neat to have you all write your own words of wisdom to Finley and I will save them for her to read someday.  It could be advice for her life to come, or thoughts on our world or community.  Maybe just some well wishes to her or something more creative.  Whatever you want.  I’m sure she will look back and read these someday and feel pretty special that people took the time to send her a note.

Getting back to my original discussion about going back to work…I am looking forward to having some grown-up interaction. (if you call talking with Bill Graul “grown-up” interaction…)  You can certainly get lost in dirty diapers and crying babies if you don’t force yourself to take time away from it all.  Actually, this blog has been a good outlet for me during my time off. Thank you all for keeping up with the Thompson’s while we’ve been away.  In one week - I will see you in the morning!  (and you will all pretend you don’t notice the bags under my eyes!!)

Jennifer

Look at the smiling baby!

Argh Matey! (Finley's best Pirate impersonation...)

Thank god for the Baby Bjorn!  For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s basically a sling that holds the baby on your chest.  It’s been a lifesaver for Jen and I over these past couple of days.  We’re quickly learning that Finley likes to be bounced up and down a lot.  It’s the one thing that seems to keep her calm. We’ve tried the swing (she’ll last in that a max. of 5 min.), we’ve tried the bouncy chair (I should say chairs, we have 3), we’ve tried the play mat (again, about 5 min. max) and nothing has really seemed to keep her occupied.  There’s only so much bouncing you can do holding her in your arms so the Baby Bjorn has been a great relief.  We’ve also had a minor breakthrough with the pacifier.  She wouldn’t take it for the longest time, but now she’s starting to take to it.  Yeah.

I wrote in a previous post about feeling like the helpless husband.  Well, that feeling is back.  We had a rough week.  Jen was up a couple of nights feeding non-stop, we’re in the process of buying a new house which isn’t going as planned and the stress level is high.  I just want to say to her, “go get a pedicure or go spend a couple of hours by yourself”, but Finley isn’t allowing that to happen right now.  Yes, it has been difficult this past week, but Jen and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.  There’s plenty of time throughout the day when Finley is wide awake and smiling and it makes us smile too.  Here’s some new pics that Jen snapped this past weekend.  Enjoy!

Mike

Finley Mae, 6 Weeks Old

Mike and I just realized that we never saw the picture of Finley in the Tribune.  If you are someone that doesn’t throw your newspapers out very often, check to see if you have the day they printed the pictures of the babies in early January.  If you find it - send it to the station at 141 South 6th St in La Crosse.  We really would like to have it for her baby book.  Thanks in advance for looking!

Jennifer