Back to work... boo!

So I've been back to work for 2 weeks now. It's actually not as bad as I thought it would be. It is definitely hard to leave Rylee every day (well... 3 days), but it is kind of nice to get away and have some adult interaction. It is fun to hear all the gossip from my co-workers about their lives... mine has changed drastically over the past few months. Definitely not as exciting as it used to be, but very much more rewarding. Rylee is my little angel and I wouldn't trade her for the world! She is doing well at daycare. They just love her there and she seems to have fun too. I know she enjoys watching all the kids run and play around her.

She is growing up so fast! She has a really strong grasp and is starting to hold onto toys and play by herself more. She still loves interaction with people way more than toys though. My silly faces could entertain her all day! She is starting to giggle. It is so adorable! She is such a happy baby. She now sits in a booster seat with us when we eat dinner. She can sit with assistance (like in the chair) but not by herself yet. She absolutely hates being on her stomach and screams at us every time we put her on it!

Coulee continues to do really well with Rylee. In fact, one night our monitor wasn't working (Rylee is in her own room now) and Coulee woke us up when she heard Rylee crying! We were pretty proud of her!

We have started taking her in the shower now (instead of baths) and she just loves having the water run on her. So cute! I can't wait to get her in the water soon! We are planning a trip to Maui in May... so that will be her first real water experience!

What a little cutie pie! Every day I look at her and wonder how she got to be so darn cute!

This last weekend was a busy one for us. Friday I had a class at work so Aunt Nory and Janice came to babysit. Saturday I had a massage, we went for a walk, Aunt Patti and Uncle Chugger, and Grandma Jacobson came to visit during the day, and then we all went to the Selden house for a murder mystery party. Sunday was spent recovering and relaxing. Also had another visit from Grandma.

Almost walking!

Rylee got some new frog jammies or Christmas from Aunt Diane and she loves them (and so does her mom)!

Rylee's legs are getting so strong! She is able to stand (with help) for a long time. Every day she is able to stand longer and longer! She may be walking before crawling! =)

She seems to gain more and more personality every day. She is so much fun. She loves to talk and tell stories. She is still sleeping through the majority of the night, but only takes catnaps (although many of them) during the day.

I have to go back to work Tuesday so Rylee will start day care then. I am not excited to go back to work! I feel very anxious about it. I am nervous about leaving her all day! Luckily it will only be for 7 hours, 3 days a week. Hopefully I will be able to cut back my hours in the near future to spend more time with Rylee. Right now though, things are just too tight! I'm sure she will do fine. I know she will love watching and interacting with the other kids. I will let you know how it goes. I'm sure I will be a wreck on Tuesday!

Happy Holidays!

We had a wonderful Christmas this year. It was so much fun to have Rylee at all of the holidays events. She was the hit of all the parties. Lance and I hardly saw her at all. We hosted our annual Christmas eve party and then went to grandma and grandpas for Christmas day. The day after Christmas we went to celebrate with the Sequim Craigs. Rylee was a little angel!

Rylee in one of her Christmas outfits

In her Christmas jammies

Family photo

Another Christmas outfit

Over the river and through the snow...

Taking a ride with Grandma
2 weekends ago we took a road trip (our 2nd one) down to Corvallis to visit Grandma J. We spent one night and 2 days there. Our days were spent visiting, shopping, going out to eat and drinking lattes! Rylee was a little angel and did wonderful with all the driving. She loved meeting her Grandma for the first time and can't wait to see her again!

We have been trying to establish a bedtime routine with Rylee. We feed her, get her in her jammies and then read her a couple of stories. She does pretty good and normally falls asleep soon after the stories. Of course there have been a few bad nights!! She is now sleeping 10-11 hours a night... and usually she sleeps straight through the night! We are very lucky (and well rested) parents!!

Rylee LOVES the Christmas tree! She loves staring at all of the lights. I can't wait for her to spend Christmas with us! It will be the best one yet.

Last weekend Rylee (and us) went to the beach house. Saturday night the Christmas boats went by (about 10-15 boats all lit up with Christmas lights). That was really fun to see. Sunday was a beautiful day (the first half anyway) so we were able to walk on the beach and throw sticks for Coulee. Later when it rained we baked cookies while the boys watched football. It was a great weekend!

Michelle's wedding pics

Just got pics from Michelle's wedding on 10/11/09. Wanted to share them with you.

Tania and Michelle
At the alter

With their dog Lily

What a beautiful bride!

Our new family of three

We had only been home from the hospital for one day

Rylee was only 9 days old

Proud dad

The group (minus the bride and groom)

Still growing

Wendy, Tania and me on our annual X-mas trip to the Tulalip Casino

The girls all dressed up

Last weekend I went with my girlfriends (minus Michelle W. who was sick) to the Tulalip Casino. We do some kind of overnight trip together every year at this time instead of buying each other Christmas gifts. It was really strange to be away from Rylee for so long. I missed her! But it was also really nice to get away and catch up with my friends. Lance did a great job taking care of her and I think he enjoyed the father-daughter bonding time!

Rylee had her 2 month check up yesterday. She is growing so fast, still in the 95th percentile in both weight and length. She weighs 13lbs 5 oz and is 24 1/4 inches long. She is still wearing her 3 month clothes but I think is close to fitting into her 6 month old stuff. I'm excited for her to start wearing some new things! She can hold her head up alone for quite a while now, and is becoming so interactive. She loves to be talked to, read to, and sung to. She really loves answering questions with a smile and giggle. She is generally very happy and I feel so lucky for that. Sometimes I still wonder how Lance and I could make such a beautiful little angel!

I start back to work at the end of this month. I have some anxiety about this. I think we have found a good daycare for her, but I still worry that she won't be given the care and attention she needs. I can't imagine being away from her for 3- 12 hour days!!! I am trying to enjoy our last couple of weeks together and not worry too much about it.

Thanksgiving weekend

Here are some pics from our Thanksgiving weekend. We started off the weekend in Bend with Lance's family and then came back on Sunday and had another turkey dinner with my Grandparents, parents, sis and Jon.

Jon gave Rylee Mandy's ring!
Family pic

Rylee in her bear outfit

Jessica and Rylee

Rylee and Molly the chihuahua

Uncle Peter, Jessica, Ace and Rylee

My precious girl

Jessica loves Rylee!

Uncle Aaron, Ace and Rylee

Aunt Tamara and Rylee

Grandpa Tom, Ace, Rylee and Molly

Daddy and tired baby

Grandpa Tom and all the grandkids

Uncle Aaron and Rylee

Cousin Jack and Rylee