Busy First Week of Leave

Last week was my first week home from school.  I filled the week with lots of last minute tasks and some fun as well:

Monday
 James had a "nothing day" (no school), and his 4 year check up.  He's nice and healthy-- 39.25 inches tall (23%) and 32 pounds (15%) which gives him a healthy BMI of 14.6.  His blood pressure was 89/44-- he found the bp cuff to be quite interesting and "tickly."  He also got to pee in a cup-- Very exciting!

Tuesday
I ran some errands,  had a meeting at school, and there was also my doctor's appointment and ultrasound.  According the u/s, Trixie/Dutch was 6lbs 12 oz at which point I inquired as to the accuracy of those measurements (the measurement had been 6 lbs 3 oz the week before; James was only 6lbs 2oz when he was born after 39 weeks!).  The dude said give or take 6 oz-- wowzers-- this looks like a big (for me) baby!

Wednesday
 I took care of some returns/shopping.  I went to the spa to get my hair and nails done-- so fun!  I had some gift certificates, so I enjoyed a spa manicure, a Mommy-to-be pedicure, and then went to the salon where I got my hair cut and blown out.  Fun!  Then I was off to meet with the Holistic Birth coordinator at the hospital before picking up James and taking him to choir practice.

Thursday
Dan and I met for a lunch date at a new coal-fired pizza place we'd been wanting to visit.  I did some work around the house, then James and I headed out on an after-school play date (complete with pancake and egg supper!  Yum!) with his "Cora's house friends."

Friday
We had another lunch date just because we could.  I took James to his dentist appointment where we were sad to learn that his baby front teeth are permanently gray thanks to a fall he took after spinning himself dizzy in the kitchen a couple weeks ago.  At least his permanent teeth should be fine!

Saturday
James had a sibling class at the hospital.  We'd signed him up for it back in December.  He was so excited that he was skipping into the lobby.  He also thought we were going to have the baby that day, but we told him, "Not yet.  Today is just for you to find out about being a big brother."
"Oh, like what Angus taught me?"
"Yes."  Angus is a dog from the book What to Expect When the New Baby Comes Home.  He received the book for Christmas (thanks, Kim & Jeff!) and had been requesting it at night quite frequently.  Angus's lessons really sank in, for James was the star student answering questions in class.  I must admit that I got quite teary-eyed seeing him hold the baby doll so sweetly.  He also diapered the baby and swaddled him/her!  Then we watched a silly sibling video and took a tour upstairs where James admired two very cute baby girls in the nursery.

That night I had dinner plans with my mommy friends.  I was feeling a little weird before I went out, but decided to go anyway.  We had a great time.  The delicious food (yum-- Melting Pot!) and entertaining conversation kept my mind off the odd sensations that I confided to the ladies "may or may not be contractions..."

REAL Housewife of New Jersey

Alright, so I don't live in Franklin Lakes, but I am in Bergen County, and I am a housewife.  So what was my day like yesterday?

Alarm went off at 5:00, and I was outside running by 5:08.  No, it isn't a vanity, weight-loss thing like a certain television housewife (and let's be honest, I'm pretty sure could beat Danielle in a foot race with one leg tied behind my back), but rather speedwork in preparation for a 10K in less than two weeks.  Back home to find James playing with Daddy.  I took a quick shower before nursing James, then Dan headed off for gym & work.  

Off to the kitchen.  Brewed coffee, made cream o' wheat for James, toasted a bagel for myself, fed James, glanced over the paper, delighted in coffee, cleaned James....

Got James dressed and read him Ferdinand, by request, three times.  Then packed the diaper bag with snacks & a cup of milk and headed out the door.  Managed to get James into the car (when all he really wanted to do was go on the slide) and drove to our music class.  Got there a little early (!) so was able to walk up and down the full flight of stairs two and a half times holding James's hand (he's LOVING stairs lately).  Dancing, playing rhythm instruments and singing for 45 minutes with James and other Real New Jersey Housewives & their toddlers.  Then another few trips down & up the staircase.  Sat in the car with James while he had his snack.  Drove home and carried a sleeping toddler inside.

After dealing with the hysterics of waking up from an unscheduled nap, I fed James lunch, tried to get him to take his regularly scheduled nap, checked email, paid bills, balanced the checkbook (do the ladies on Bravo do that?)....  

Headed out to the nearest running store for two new pairs of shoes (and used a coupon!) and heaved a huge sigh of relief that we had enough leftovers from Memorial Day that I didn't have to do anything for dinner.  Spent a bit of time getting organized for the next day's tutoring while James played with his trucks. 

Dinner with James and Dan.  Then cleaned the kitchen and living room while Dan put James to bed.  Finally, I settled on the couch to watch a DVD we'd borrowed from the library followed, of course, by this week's episode of Housewives on Bravo....

The Easter Miracle-- New Life

At the risk of blasphemy, let me share with you our Easter miracle. When James went to sleep on Saturday night, he didn't wake up to eat until 4:40! Last night he (and Dan & I) went down at 9:00ish and didn't get up until 4:00. Let me tell you, getting a big chunk o' sleep instead of feeding him every 3-4 hours is incredible! I'm really hoping it continues!

James did look very cute yesterday for Easter. He wore his salmon colored Polo suit (it is like a long-sleeved golf shirt with legs) and his socks that have loafers on them. People thought he had on little shoes! He also wore his penguin hat without complaint. (The salmon color of the beak and feet matched his outfit.) He was good for the service at Grandpa & Grandma's church, and met many of his grandparents' friends during the day in Ramsey.

Meanwhile, I finally got a haircut on Saturday. It was my first cut since November! Oh, it was lovely. I am really happy with my cut, and I enjoy my salon. For fun, my stylist blew my hair out straight. We both agree it looks better curly, and, in fact, she cut it for curls, but it was fun to look different for a day. I think it really threw James off, however. He seemed annoyed with me all day. Perhaps the funniest instance was when we were out running errands and stopped at Houlihan's for lunch. I ordered fish tacos. When they were set before me, James took one look at the plate and started screaming. It was like they scared him or something. Dan & I cracked up.