Practice Day

Monday we did a practice run-through of what Chris' day will be like when I go back to work, and also what pumping all day will be like for me.  I have to say that it was incredibly tough for me.  I almost cried about 3 times and I was home all day!!  I think this transition will be tougher for me than it will be for Cooper. 

Cooper gave me a 4 am wake up call and I got up and fed him and then put him back down at 4:20.  I went back to bed (first morning without co-sleeping...also first near crying episode).  I got up at 6:15, which is over an hour later than what I would get up for work, but it's tough going from sleeping in for 4 months to getting up early.  Cooper slept until 7 am, but I checked on him several times and almost cried.  Chris got up with him, while I pumped.  The day was so tough because I had to stay out of parenting while Chris did his thing.  I pumped every two hours and got 18 oz, while Cooper only ate about 10 oz.  So that's a great start!

By 1 pm, I was really sad, but I left at 1:30 pm to go to my doctor appointment.  It really helped to be away from the house and have a distraction.  By the time I got home, it was my normal time to get off work and I could hold and cuddle Cooper all I wanted.  Hopefully work will distract me all day from what I'm missing at home.

The good news is that I got a lot done!  I will be dropping Cooper's announcements in the mail tomorrow and I finished Kate's stuff (except the programs, which she asked me to wait on).  I was very productive!  We will do another practice day on Thursday, but I plan to spend the day away from home (movies, errands, shopping).

I'm reading The Power of One right now and I'm loving it.  I'm taking my time and forcing myself to only read one chapter a night.  For an avid, fast reader, this is really tough to do!!  But, I love savoring every moment of reading, so it's a trade off.  I love the story so far.  I like how when the author makes me feel hopeless, another character springs up and gives me hope for the little boy again.  My favorite lines so far:

"[His] words were like seed pods with wings.  They flew straight out of his mouth and into my head, where they germinated in the rich, fertile, receptive soil of my mind." (This was after the 5 year little boy was praised by his new friend.  I hope I remember to do the same thing for my children for their entire lives.)

"Sometimes in life, doing what we shouldn't do is the emergency."

"...sometimes...you do your best boxing with your mouth." (This reminds me of something my mom used to tell me when I was made fun of in grade school...you have choice, you can use your words, or you can use your fists.)

Anyhow...thanks, Heather for the suggestion and I hope you are enjoying the book as much as I am!

Nothing much to update on Cooper, so I just want to say, what a difference 3 months makes!

April 2008

July 2008