THANKSGIVING 2011

Just a few weeks after Devin got his helmet, and just as we were beginning to sleep train him and get into a good routine, Devin also had his first experience on an airplane! Talk about a lot of new experiences all at the same time.  We were off to spend Devin’s first Thanksgiving with my parents and my sister and her family in Myrtle Beach!  That was just what I needed after being so busy at my first month at work.

We had nothing on the agenda—just enjoying some quality time with the fam.  We spent the weekend just relaxing and hanging out together and just plain being thankful for all that we have, especially one another!  We went down to the beach (it was in the 70s!), went shopping, out to some great dinners, to a fun park with mini golf, go carts, a climbing wall, and all kinds of arcade games!  Everyone, especially Anjeli, Ethan and Eidan, had a great time!  Honestly, the weekend was wonderful, and we’re so glad we were able to spend some QT with my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and niece and nephews, though it’s never enough time and we always we wish could be together more often.  Great weekend, nonetheless.

 

 So how did Devin do on the plane?  Well, he did pretty awesome on the way there, just a bit of fussiness around nap time.  But, on the way home, let’s just say, Devin was NOT happy at all, and I spent nearly the entire flight walking up and down the aisles trying to get him to fall asleep.   Plus, as you all know just how small an airplane bathroom, is . . . well, try changing a baby in there while the plane is experiencing turbulence!  Talk about a challenge. 

My first time on an airplane!

Beachfront with mommy and daddy:-)

Nana and Nani with all of their grandkids



 My beautiful sister and our adorable niece and nephews!



I love my masi and my big cousin, Anjeli!



Ethan was a rockclimbing champ!

 


He made it all the way to the top!



Anjeli did awesome too!



Getting ready to race!

Poor little Eidan is in the yellow car with Royal, but he's too small for you to see him :-(

My BIG kid!

I can't believe Anjeli is tall enough to drive her own go-cart!

70 degrees and sunny in November! Not bad, huh?

In any event, Devin had an awesome first Thanksgiving with his loved ones (as did we).  We could not be more thankful for all of our blessings, especially our little man :-)

ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE, ACCESSORIZE!

On October 14^th, the Friday of my first week back at work, we had Devin’s appointment with Dr. Rozelle down at Children’s Hospital to see if Devin needed a helmet to help round out the flat spot on the back of his that developed because of his torticollis.  Dr. Rozelle confirmed that Devin’s head was not quite proportionate and that he’d definitely benefit from a helmet.  Well, a few hours and several stressful and traumatizing (I mean, who wants to watch someone  pin their 3 month old down while he’s screaming bloody murder?!) xrays later, Devin had been fitted for a helmet and could expect to get it a few weeks.  

About a month after that appointment, when Devin was about 4 months old, he got his helmet.  Our instructions were to have him wear it every day for 23 hours a day, removing it only to clean it and to give him a bath.  The first few days with the helmet were tough, and we were convinced that Devin absolutely hated us. After all, that helmet wasn’t exactly as light as a feather, especially for such a tiny little peanut.

But, within a week or so, Devin had pretty much adjusted to the helmet, smiling and laughing as though he had no idea that it was even there.  Check it out!

BACK TO THE GRIND :-(

Well, here we are, more than three months since my last post, and I have to admit, I am pretty disappointed in myself.  When I started this blog, I did it with intention that I would update it at least a few times a month so that I could chronicle each and every moment of our journey through parenthood.  And while I did a decent job keeping up to date through pregnancy, it became harder and harder to find time to update the blog once our little guy was here.  Add a career that requires more than just the typical 8-5 commitment, and it becomes nearly impossible to find time to do anything more than just keep your head above water and not drown in all that there is to be done.  In any event, now that I’ve had some time to adjust to being back to work, hopefully I’ll be able to do a better job of updating the blog.

So, how was the adjustment?  Rough, but not nearly as rough as I thought it would be.  As so many people told me, the anticipation of going back to work and leaving our little guy all day was much worse than the reality of it.  I mean, don’t get me wrong.  It was absolutely brutal the first few days, and I cried multiple times before leaving for work, a few times while I was at work, and on my way home when I got stuck in traffic and was losing precious minutes with Devin before he went to bed.  But, I was SUPER busy right from the start, and that definitely helped keep me from spending my entire day wondering about Devin and calling to see what he was doing.  While that was a blessing, it also made going back to work less of a transition and more of an abrupt change.  There was no time to ease back into it.  And, trying to balance it all was quite a challenge. . . . it still is. But, I’m also glad to be back to work.  Though it can be overwhelming and down right exhausting, I like what I do and am glad to be working.  I know it makes me a better wife and a mom


Here's a pic of me and my little man on my first day back to work (after crying for three times already that morning).  I'm smiling, but I'm anything but happy to be leaving him:

Here are a few more pics of Devin from a few months ago.  It's amazing how little he looks in these pics!

Devin loves the "D"!

Michigan, baby!  That's how this little man rolls :-)

Devin's first Halloween!