Back2Work

I didn't have to buy any supplies (other than pants to fit my differently shaped buttocks) to go Back2Work but I do have that feeling of newness.

I am officially back to work. I had to take Nolan to day care this morning and I officially sobbed uncontrollably while dropping him off. UGH my heart hurts.

But the real surprise is how well I'm doing AT work. I really feel OK here. Maybe it's because when I'm here I just feel like I did pre-baby. I am working and bringing home the beneys (my job doesn't pay a lot so Brian brings home the Benjamin's, I bring home the benefits)

Getting ready to drop Nolan off was hard. I had to remember all the things he'll need on a daily basis. He doesn't need toys, but I just realized I forgot his blanket... you know, the one that smells like me so he feels like I'm there. BAD MAMA!

I'm really thankful that I was able to work out an arrangement so that I can take a shorter lunch and leave a little earlier to pick up Nolan. ZOMG I can't wait to see him and kiss him soooo much. He's going to be like, "Muh-OMMMM STOP! Not in front of my new friends!"

Nolan and K - I don't know her parents yet so I'd feel bad naming her on my blog!

Check out my boy, such a ladies man! He is actually 4 days younger than the pretty miss laying next to him. She looks so much smaller than him!

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Shopping is a problem for me. I'm constantly looking at Baby Gap's clothes. Seriously, someone needs to stop me. I can't afford that kind of clothing for my baby! CONSIGNMENT SHOPPING IS BETTER!

... but BABY GAP IS SOOOOOO CUTE!....

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Ummm yeah, I'm going to celebrate my first day back to work with my husband and NOLAN tonight! So excited to see my little man... just a few more minutes... :)

A Mother Son Moment

There are some memories that you just know as the happen that you'll remember them forever. With Nolan, I feel like all these moments are such a blur that it's hard to remember each coo or cuddle.

Tonight, while it was raining I started a little tradition that I hope will last a lifetime. I sat with Nolan on a chair in the garage and just watched the rain fall and listen to the thunder.

I can't wait for the next storm so I can cuddle with this little guy...

2 Months!

Yesterday was Nolan's 2 month "birthday"! And today marks his 9 week "birthday"

I wonder when I'll stop counting his age in terms of weeks.

Anyways, 'twas a pretty rough day yesterday for us Cyclone fans. I didn't watch the game. Admittedly, I can't watch sports for 2 reasons. The first reason is that I didn't grow up in a house watching sports and therefore I get lost when watching them. Me being lost means that I'm bored watching the game and I can't contribute to any conversation with people watching the game with me. The second reason, especially for Cyclone games, I'm always bummed out when they lose. And since I have no real vested interest in the game itself other than the outcome, I'd prefer to not watch.

There, I said it.

But I DO enjoy tailgating!

I took Nolan to his very first tailgate yesterday. It was HOT. He was doing just fine at the student lot despite the loud music. They do say that babies love loud environments because that's what they're used to when they're on the inside. The hot weather did cut my tailgating experience short unfortunately. I was paranoid the entire time that some exposed skin of Nolan's would get sunburned. I covered him with a blanket and a hat which as you can imagine didn't help with the whole heat thing.

Let's Go State!

Tomorrow is a whole new first for me and Nolan. We are getting a babysitter for a short period of time in the afternoon. I'm doing something for myself and I've hired someone to watch him. WISH ME LUCK. I have a feeling that I'm going to be nervous the entire time...

All The Things

My life is consumed by Nolan. It's so great!!

I know it's silly but it's hard to really put into words what's been going on recently.

I think the long and short of it is that my heart is overflowing. I sometimes look at Nolan and he'll start smiling at me and it just brings tears of happiness to my eyes. It's so hard to think of life without him. He's seriously just such a good boy!

Looking forward to the future, I have decided that we need to have semi-regular care for when me and Brian want to have date nights. So today for the first time ever I'm conducting an interview of sorts with a girl that I am hoping will be our babysitter! She's a sophomore in early childhood education so pretty much perfect. I hope that we can build a good relationship so that she'll be around for the next few years while Nolan grows up!

I'm meeting her today for coffee... it kind of feels like a blind date. I feel so nervous! What if she doesn't like me? What if I seem like an overbearing mother who can't leave her son without a novel of instruction to follow? Will Nolan like her? Will she be a good babysitter? How much do we pay her????

In all reality though, Nolan is a really good baby. He really doesn't cry much at all. As I look at him right now on his activity mat sucking on his pacifier he looks like he's just going to fall asleep. Those eyes are just open a sliver. Eventually he'll give in to the heaviness of his eyelids and close them completely. That's another one of my favorite things to watch him do. Just giving in to the sleepiness.

This last weekend Nolan met Christian and James! It was so much fun. We all went to Iowa City and my siblings were all there and he had his first 2 nights away from home. Previously he spent one night away from home at Grandma Lynn and Grandpa Eben's place.

Next week I am "looking forward to" Nolan getting his vaccinations. I say "looking forward to" because I know that they will help him boost his immune system and therefore be healthier overall. But I am NOT looking forward to him being in any sort of pain from injections.

Such a cute napper! If only he could do this without being held...

Visiting Great Aunt Lavonne

Loving his activity mat!

Killin' it at Tummy Time!

Our first restaurant outing with a waitress! (Hickory Park)

Napping with Uncle C!

Just playin'

Mini Brian and Regular Sized Brian

Mama having a little fun time without baby (Grandma Becky was watching him!)

Just looking super fly!

Looking at Daddy during Tummy Time!

Nolan Eben Salton!

Wow, it's really been a while hasn't it? I've said it before, and I hope I can keep my promise this time but I really will be updating here more often!

That said, obviously if you know me in real life (or many of you in my online life!) you'll know that I had a baby almost SEVEN weeks ago now!

Tired mama + screaming baby = MAGIC!

Nolan Eben Salton was born on July 14, 2013, at 2:11 pm at Mary Greeley Medical Center. He is officially the new light of my life. The past few weeks have been such a whirlwind! I can't believe that he's already here, let alone that he's already 6 weeks and some change.

Since being born, I have been on maternity leave. I decided to take the full 12 weeks off (per FMLA) meanwhile I'm jealous beyond belief for England and their maternity leave policies (up to a year PAID). My sleep has been sporadic at best and I now know why sleep deprivation is a torture device.

But more than anything, Nolan has been amazing. I've probably said, "you're such a good boy!" and "I love you, little man" more times than I can count.

Nolan is a very calm baby. He really only cries when he needs something. Some babies are colicky and I feel very fortunate that Nolan isn't crying constantly. It helps make for a more sane mommy.

At 6 days old we took some awesome pictures of him and I'm so glad we did! Here are some of my faves:

Since then he has met almost all of his immediate family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles (besides Christian... that's happening in about an hour though!), and several friends have dropped by.

He has gotten SO big. He was born at 8 pounds 4 ounces and he definitely is more than 10 now. I wouldn't be surprised if he's 11 pounds already.

The little guy is just SO cute. I often find myself thinking, "Oh my god, he's just so f*cking cute" and then remembering that I'm a mom and can't drop the F*Bomb anymore. *tiny violin*

Probably the best thing that's happened recently is that he's starting to smile! I can't believe it!!! It's one of the cutest things in the world. And when he smiles, it's for real. No longer are they the "gassy smiles" that you'd see when he was little(r). And he really lights up my day when he smiles at me. It's just genuine happiness. I finally caught him smiling on a picture yesterday, sorry for the quality but he's a wiggle worm and it was taken on my phone.

Could you just melt??

So far, Nolan hates Tummy Time, but I'm trying to get better at making him do it throughout the day... he doesn't have a flat head (in case you were worried!), he is using cloth diapers and they make him look like he has dumps like a truck (what, what?), he makes the cutest sigh/exhale when I can tell he's actually asleep, and his arms are always hanging out over his head.

Oh, I forgot. My favorite newborn thing he does is with his feet... he just pulls his knees into his chest and kicks out. I know it's simple, but he does it over and over again and it's honestly the most adorable thing. I have tried to do it myself, and if I could master it the way Nolan has, I'd have a 6 pack by the end of the hour.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! Once again, I WILL update more often. Now that he takes longer naps and I kinda know what I'm doing I think you'll see more frequent posts.