First Family Trip

We just got back from a great little getaway to Pittsburgh! It was Alessa's first plane ride on Friday...and she did SO well! She didn't make one peep the entire trip. And while she was a little more fussy on the trip back, she was still really good. We were so happy we weren't "those people" on the plane with the screaming baby. But geesh, is it alot of work to travel with a little one!! I especially love the security line fiasco....

We had a great time this weekend. One of my best friends, Laura, lives there and she and her boyfriend, Phi,l were the greatest hosts! In addition to going to our friends Steve & Launa's wedding, we ate some good Pittsburgh food, got to take in the scenery, and even visited my favorite area - the Strip District. It was so nice to see so many close friends...and for many of them to meet Alessa for the first time.

Overall, we couldn't have asked for a better time, or a better baby to have on the trip. But now, we are officially EXHAUSTED! :)

Here are a few highlights from our trip!

Baby's first plane ride



Alessa meets Justin and Skippy



Hangin with daddy on Laura's rooftop deck

Posing with the King sisters

 

At my favorite store in the Strip District - the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company

Cuddle bug

We had a great Sunday at home....Alessa was being so cute and cuddly!  Here are a few pictures from the day.

So cuddly today!

She rolled over in her rocker and fell asleep - it was too funny :)

Yummy!

Big milestone week for Alessa - she ate solid foods for the first time!  We started her on rice cereal on Monday and overall, it was a success!  Not much actually got in her mouth, but it was fun regardless.  She's been having the rice cereal for her last feeding every night this week and while she occasionally gets frustrated with eating like a big girl, it has been a good behavior to start.  Plus, she's been sleeping much better than she had been the week before.  We've got one hungry girl!

 

 

We did it!!

As much as I thought it wasn't going to be possible, we have made it through out first two weeks of mommy being back to work and baby going to daycare.  It's been a tough...but we've survived!

I'm so happy I decided to have a few practice days of daycare drop-off before actually going back to work.  I was a MESS that first day - I couldn't stop sobbing.  The transtion has been much harder than I ever imagined.  The good thing is, Alessa seems to be loving daycare!  She has adjusted really well...and seems to love her teachers, Miss Jaslyne and Miss Cassandra, and all her new little friends.  She has a big smile on her face whenever I hand her over to the teachers in the morning which makes me SO happy!

I've been doing drop-off every morning and Sean has been doing pick-up.  Holy cow is it hard to get out of the house in the morning!!!  I wake up by 5:45 and still can't seem to get to work earlier than 8:30/8:45.  I feel like the day is already over before it even starts!!  I'm sure the routine will get easier with time, but it sure is craziness right now!!  Both Sean and I have been making the extra effort to come home earlier than we used to that way we can spend some time with Alessandra before she heads to bed (daycare has her so exhausted, she's usually to sleep by 7:30!)  I definitely appreciate the evenings and weekends so much more now. :)

Each day, we recieve a form that the teachers fill out describing what Alessa did each day.  In true Adri fashion, I've been keeping each one as a sort of keepsake (Sean makes fun of me).  It's so cute to read about all the fun stuff she's doing and how much they love having her there.  For as young as she is, they say she is very interested in what all of the other kids are doing (especially her new friend, Lucy) and in the last few days we've heard reports that she is quite the talker when doing tummy time with her friends Wyatt and Henry.  Her teachers say that she is such a good girl and such a cheerful baby.

As for my work - things are going well.  I started my new job at Target which has been nice as I've had to stay focused and not be thinking of the baby every second of the day (although it's hard).  It's been nice seeing all the friendly faces again and my team and manager have been great!  That has made the transition alot easier.  It will certainly take a while to get used to the lactation room, though.... :)


Alessa and Mommy's last day at home together

Welcome sign on Alessa's classroom door her first day



 

All ready for her first day of daycare!





Story time at the end of a long day

Alessa sported her Twins outfit for "Wear your favorite sports team" day at daycare (her Purdue stuff was too big :)

4 Months Old

Time just keeps flying!!  Alessandra turned 4 months old on Friday...and she is cuter than ever!  Four months to the day, we had her check-up at the pediatrician and we are happy to report all is well!  The doctor couldn't believe how strong she is and how well she can hold her head up.  She was also impressed by how well she can roll over to her stomach and how high she holds her head up.  Alessa weighed in at 12 lbs. 9 oz. (still in the 25th percentile for weight) and a little over 26 inches long (97th percentile for height).  No surprises there - we can't get over how long she is.  Her teachers at daycare are so excited to hear the report from the pediatrician, because they can't get over how long she is either!



Laughing at Mama



 

Rockin & Rollin!!!!!

So, I literally finished writing the last post and went to the living room for a quick minute, leaving Alessa on her activity mat in her bedroom, and when I came back in the room, I found her on her stomach with her head held so high.  She rolled over!!  Yea!!!!!!  Her teachers at daycare say she does it all the time from her stomach to her back, but we haven't been able to see her roll at home.  Greatest Mother's Day gift!!!

Mother's Day Weekend

Can't believe Mother's Day actually applied to me this year!!  It was the GREATEST day today - really enjoyed spending time with my two favorite people.  I couldn't have asked for a more special day!  I am the luckiest mom in the world!  And Alessa even made me her first peice of artwork at daycare - it was so cute!

Baby's first picnic (Lake of the Isles)

 

The rest of the weekend has been really fun, too (which was SO needed after a VERY LONG first week back at work!)  On Friday night, the three of us went out to dinner and Alessa was a perfect angel.  And we had a crazy busy Saturday!!  My friend Aleesha and her stepson, Gabe, stopped over to see Alessa.  There is seriously nothing cuter than seeing Gabe with her.  This 10 year old boy loves her so much and is so sweet with her.  He REALLY wants a baby sister! :)

 











Then Alessa and I headed over to my friend Christen's house for Ladies Day at the "track."  We all wore fancy hats and bet on the horses racing in the Derby.  Amazing that my horse won!!!!!

And then we rounded out the night by having Alessa's friend, Parker, over to play while his parents went to dinner.  The kids were SO funny.  They played on the activity mat for a while - Parker fascinated with the hanging toy and Alessa constantly trying to touch his head and grab his ear.  And you should have seen Alessa try to vie for daddy's attention when he was holding Parker.  I have never seen this little girl become such a little ham - she was being so talkative and active..."look at me! look at me!"