The Headaches are Worth the Memories!

One would say that I have been slacking when it comes to updating my blog, I would defend that by saying I have just been super busy enjoying my mommy time, and I just dont have the time to post updates every day! I have realized (& I have accepted) the fact that I am officially addicted to my daughter! I think that's because with being back to work full time, I don't get to spend as much time with her as I would like. She has been going to bed alot earlier than usual, so, that puts a damper on things as well! I spend a whole 45 minutes with Elizabeth in the morning before I go to work, and then by the time I pick her up from Grandma Bonnies & get gome, its close to 5pm, and lately, she's been in bed between 7:30-8:30pm. That's just not enough time!!
So, I was back home this weekend & at a baby shower for a friend, and someone asked to hold Miss E. I was ok with it...but I always feel like I am being a burden on someone when they have to hold Elizabeth so I can eat, or so I can mingle...b/c I know too many people that pawn their kids off so they can go do what they want, not taking into consideration the feelings of those they just pawned their kids off on. Anyways, it was commented to me on Sunday that "let me hold Elizabeth, you get to hold her when ever you want!"...I of course let this person hold Elizabeth without a problem (so I could shove my face full of delicious baby shower food!), but it got me thinking...I really DON'T get to hold E whenever I want. Granted, I see her & hold her more than what some people do (but that's because they live far away, or they dont make the time & effort to visit/see Miss E, Jamie & I!). So, it saddens me to realize that I only get to really spend 4 hours a day (give or take) with my daughter during the week, so when it comes to our weekend time together, I get pretty selfish. That's enough for me to want to quit my job and become a stay at home mom! Such wishful thinking...knowing there are JUST TOO MANY bills to pay to not have a job! Any-hoodle....
Life with E has been awesome lately! It gets better & better everyday! She is constantly changing! She is always smiling and babbling!! It will be soon enough when she says her first words. Of course, I am hoping the first word is "MaMa"...but, only time will tell! She has been learning that her tongue really helps make different noises and sounds. She has also figured out how to make a high pitched sound as well. It's pretty funny watching her make new noises. Then, over the weekend, my 6 year old niece Marissa taught Elizabeth how to make noises with her lips, while basically, blowing spit all over everything! (Similar to the motor-boating noise some "adults" make!) Its so amazing to see how she is catching on to things so much easier now-a-days! She likes to mimic others!
I have a rain forest music box attached to the side of Elizabeth's crib and every night when I put her down for bed, I push the button on the rain forest gadget, and it plays some soothing music that puts E into a deep deep sleep! Well, yesterday I had layed her down in her crib b/c she was acting as though she was tired...after she shut her eyes and was sleeping for a few minutes, I went to lay her down, AS SOON as she hit the matress, her eyes bugged out and she was ready to play again! That was a short cat nap! I let her roll around in her crib for a while as it seemed to be the only thing she would/could stay entertained by. I walked in after a few minutes, and I saw her rolling over to the rain forest music box, and she was reaching up trying to push the button to make the music start. She just wasnt strong enough to push the button in far enough to make the music play, so I helped her, but, its the thought of knowing that she knew exactly what she had to do to play the music, she just wasnt strong enough to make it happen! SOMEDAY! (That actually reminds me that I have to lower the mattress in her crib. Before I know it she will be pulling herself up and heaven forbit she be up high enough already to jump out of her crib! That could hurt!)
Gosh! What else has she been doing?!?!....she is slowly but surely learning to sit up on her own. We "practice" making her back muscles stronger & stronger every day! She sits up for short periods of time, playing with her toys, before she loses her balance and topples over!! I have a feeling that she will be able to hold herself up long enough for me to get some cute pictures of her sitting in her halloween costume. I cant wait to post pictures! She is also scooting ALL OVER now! Before she pretty much just stayed on the blanket that I lay out on the living room floor. It used to be big enough for her to roll over on & stay entertained by her toys. NOW she is wondering off the blanket...the other day I found her close to the front door. Last night I found her getting closed & closer to the kitchen. And she still hasnt figured out how to crawl on her hands & knees, but she is getting closer & closer every day!
This past weekend, we made the trip back home to Nana & Papa's. We took all of the kids to a pumpkin patch. Now, that was an experience....a 5 month old, a 10 month old, a 2 1/2 year old, a 4 year old & a 6 year old! Let's just say I needed a drink by the time the day/night was over! (I needed a couple, actually!) The pumpkin patch we went to back home wasnt as fulfilling as the one Jamie & I took Elizabeth too a few weeks ago. There just wasnt as much to do...and there was an admission fee. The one we went to a few weeks ago was not only better, but, it was FREE! It was nice to be able to get all of the kids together though, even if it caused more of a headache than anything! We will be having a Halloween gathering at Nana & Papa's this coming weekend, so I am sure I will be making sure I pack the Tylenol! I am looking forward to it though. I always look forward to all the grandkids getting together b/c its not very often (other than holidays) that it happens. No matter how big of a headache it causes in the end!