Notes from Away

July has been a busy month for us and we joke it has only cost us our first born. It started full force on Sunday, July 5^th and we’ve been planting and doing yard work nearly every day since. This weekend will find us replacing the wood fence that runs alongside the alley.  

When Ted called the city to find out about replacing the wooden fence, the building department commented they knew exactly what he was talking about because it was a really overgrown alley. Ted suggested they hadn’t been by recently. They are allowing us to replace all the wooden fencing at once, so we won’t get too offended, but gee, we’ve worked hard at cleaning up the alley.

My mom commented she wasn’t aware we’d do so much planting. To be honest neither was I, but once the front yard was started, we just kept expanding. Now I have lovely landscaping on my front and side yard. Ted and I are going to see if we can get one of our neighbors to nominate us for the city’s Beautification Award. I think our cleanup of the alley alone deserves it.

Sadly, my mom leaves tomorrow morning. I’ll miss having her around – not just for the good eats and landscaping advice, but because I have really enjoyed spending time with her. Bridget has thrived while with her. Last night, Bridget was babbling and said “Mama”. I responded “Yes, Bridget?” before I realized what she has said. She’ll probably not say it again for months, but it was a truly heartwarming moment as my mom has often been working with her to say “Hi, Mama”.

And maybe Bridget will figure out how to roll from her back to front before tomorrow morning. She is so close. But my mom was the first to see her roll front to back, so maybe it would be fair to share back to front with her GrandMary (who arrives today).

The Good: My Mother-in-law, GrandMary, arrives on Friday for the month of August.

The Bad: My mom, Memere, leaves on Saturday.

The Ugly: I don’t want my mommy to leave…

Oh and the Adorable Super Bridget.

Yesterday, we went by our friend, Bobby’s studio for some family photos.

Bridget with her Memere

My mom with her quilt

Our family

Bridget and her daddy

And our giggly girl

We have been very busy around the house lately with many projects and Bridget.

Bridget and her cousin Alex having a conversation during a break in our drive home.

Melissa and I pulling some trees during our fenceline clean up. She wanted to drive so I let her.

The aftermath…

Bridget has learned to roll over onto her back. Currently working on back to front.

Melissa and her mother have been really busy in the front flower beds! The neighbors love them.

Melissa and Bridget have a stylish new ride.

This morning, I woke up with a jolt at 5:15am. Realizing the time, I jumped out of bed and rushed into Bridget’s room. She hadn’t woken up once during the night and had slept eight hours. Bridget was just waking up when I got into her room. She had a very wet diaper and was hungry, however when I left for work at 6:30, she had put herself back to sleep while laying on the floor.

I will admit the uninterrupted sleep has done me wonders, but it scared the crap out of me this morning. I know she won’t do it again for awhile.

I promise to find five minutes this week to load some videos and photos.

Bridget is growing up fast and learning new tricks. She continues to work on talking and has surprised us with appropriately placed “Hi”s on a couple of occasions. According to my mom, I was an early talker so I guess we should be prepared.

On Monday, I arrived home from work and was prompted to walk this. “This” was a video of Bridget rolling over unaided. She repeated the skill a couple times over the course of the evening, but has been on strike since then. She is also happily scooting herself around in circles. Mobility has arrived and we were not prepared.

Ted and I have been working on our yard for the past two weeks. Over the weekend, we attacked the fence line we share with the alley. We removed the chain link and as many trees, shrubs and weeds as we could with our hands and jeep. Today we have a tree company in to remove the deep growths. Bridget insisted on being in the alley with us and kept jumping up and down in her Memere’s arms. She wanted a rake or shovel – it didn’t seem fair that her parents got dirty and she didn’t.

Overall our yard looks a million times better and our neighbors don’t hesitate in telling us. The first few days of this response made us realize we were “those” neighbors, though I think some people think it is a new family in the house. Nope, just a wife and child.

When I get a chance, I’ll load the video of Bridget rolling over and one of me yanking a tree out using the jeep. For now I am just waiting on the weekend. I think sewing is on the dock.

During the month of June, Bridget spent her days with her Grampy (my dad) while Ted and I worked. Now in the month of July, she is hanging with her Memere (my mom). In the month of August, her GrandMary (Ted’s mom) will be her playmate. September is time to start daycare but Bridget isn’t thinking that far ahead.

Although it is a bit tough having an extra person in our small house all the time, we very much appreciate the help of our parents. We know they benefit through the time they are spending with their granddaughter, but some days I feel like I hit the jackpot. Yesterday, I returned home to find a pot roast in the oven, a play quilt started and my mom gearing up to make a yummy blueberry cake. The day before she had baked a couple loaves of bread. This morning, she made me eggs while I nursed Bridget and got ready for work.

Bridget is also thriving with the attention. She is holding her head high, rolling over with a little assistance, sleeping even better than before and periodically saying “Hi”. She’s even started riding in the stroller without her car seat. I am a bit worried that one day I’ll come home to find a teenager.

The best part though is watching our parents interact with Bridget. They all positively glow when playing with her and it is a side of our parents we had never seen. I’m sure it helps that she is such a happy girl, but that comes from all the love she is receiving.

And watching the smiles and glows pass between Bridget and her grandparents makes the tight quarters situation a moot point.

Today Bridget had her two month checkup. She is now 12 lbs 13 ounces and 23.25 inches. Yea, girl!

Today, she received her first round of vaccinations. She was not a happy girl but after cuddling with me and her Memere, she felt better. We’ll see how she feels tonight and the rest of the week.

Bridget and her stuffed animal collection

While visiting my grandparents in Maine, Bridget went for a stroller walk with my cousins (ages 9-13). I let them go ahead for a few minutes with her and then walked up to meet them. When I did join them, they exclaimed “We think we killed her. We’ve been yelling at her but she doesn’t move.”

\They didn’t kill her but the four loud kids did get her to fall deeply asleep.