The time came...

...to go back to work, and take Rya to Eski, the babysitter. After 10 weeks being home with baby Rya, I went back to work Wed. Aug. 17th. Prior to going back to work, I really couldn't fathom how we would get into a routine. That seems so silly to me now! :) We have somewhat of a routine now, but it all depends on when Rya wakes up in the morning. Sometimes she's waking up at 4, sometimes she's waking up 5:30 or 5. We just can't get her to sleep even a half hour later until 6. However, Saturday mornings she sleeps longer, but she doesn't get to bed until 11:30 on Friday night because of football games- we made it to both the first two games. We only made it to halftime the first game in Ames, and then Rya had a meltdown; she got overstimulated. The second game was a lot better, but we didn't make it to the game until the second quarter because she needed to eat again before we left home. But she made it to the end of the game without fussing, so it was a success. Then, she slept until 7 Saturday morning! I was excited about that!

Back to our routine- Jesse gets up with her if she wakes up before 5 because he can go back to sleep, and I wouldn't be able to by the time she got done eating, back to sleep and I got done pumping. I get up at 5 and pump and then get mostly ready quick, then get Rya ready. Then I finish getting myself ready to leave and we head to daycare around 7:20. I pick Rya up at 5:30 and then usually have to feed her, then I make something to eat, wash bottles and pump accessories, and make lunches. Jesse usually gets home about 8 so then he helps out. I feel bad because I don't feel like I have time to hold and play with Rya when we get home, but daddy gives her playtime. Jesse feeds Rya one last time and then he puts her to bed around 9:30. Then we try to go to bed shortly after that, especially since we don't know for sure yet what time she's going to wake up in the morning.

Work is going well, but this is kind of the calm before the storm. I'm able to pump 3 times at work right now, but once it gets busier here in the next couple of weeks, and when I start traveling, I'm not sure how much I'll be able to keep up with it. I'm a little concerned with having to make calls to students at night for work. I may need a sitter once or twice during the week to get my work done, but hopefully as Rya gets older she'll be able to play and sit by herself for longer periods of time that will allow me to work.

I think Rya really likes daycare. The sitter is working on getting Rya to nap in the crib and to take naps regularly. I wasn't able to figure out how to get Rya to do either of those, which I hate; makes me feel like a bad mom.

To fill you in since the last post (I've really been meaning to update the blog for the last 2 or 3 weeks!) - Rya got her 2 month vaccinations and did really well. She cried when she got the shots, but then once I picked her up she was fine. She slept a lot the rest of the day, and after waking up from her first nap she really cried and screamed from the pain, but once she ate and took some Tylenol she was fine the rest of the day. Rya weighed 12 lbs 6 oz and was 23.5 in long. She was 7 lbs 14 oz and 21 in when she was born. Now she is in the 90th percentile for weight and 75th percentile in height at 2 months. She's just getting so big. She is cooing and smiling more now, and it's adorable! I love it!

Even though she's gained so much weight, Rya is still somewhat slow when it comes to eating (she's still getting breastmilk so far. We only give her formula for her last feeding before bed). We went to the level 2 nipples and that has helped a little. Eski feels Rya has some tummy troubles that causes her to be fussier some days, and she is certain that Rya has acid reflux. We've been giving Rya medicine for the reflux and although it doesn't stop the spit up (boy is Rya a spitter!), it has eliminated the pain from the spit up. I can't wait until she grows out of this.

Well, I think that is all to update for now. Here are a few pictures-