Presley's daily life

This is my brothers wife Satoko who watches Presley during the day and my nieces who absolutely adore Presley! Presley loves them too. You should see Presley greet my sister-in-law

and my dad when I drop her off. I try to nurse Presley and no matter how hungry she is if she hears Satoko or my dad she latches off and tries to find them to give them a smile.

Pres is nearly 20 pounds now. She eats sweet potatoes, carrots, applesauce, bananas Japanese rice cake (see picture) avocados and....paper (don't worry everything came out alright).

5 1/2 month picture

5 1/2 months, 19.1 pounds...oh my goodness.

Family

I think I said it in passing a week or two ago, "my family". I know that when we got married Terry and I were a family, but there is something very different about us now. I always dreamed my family consisting of children. But it wasn't until last week when I heard myself say my family needs to spend time together...and behind that simple statement I felt such a sense of completion, wholeness and warmth. I know that the Lord has much more for me to do, as well as me to learn. But I don't feel such a sense of longing like longing to be married, having kids and so on....you know, the struggle for contentment. Once again, I just feel so blessed by these gifts of my husband and my daughter.

Also, last night we went to our annual Harvest Fair at church (Thanks SARAH!!) and I sat there holding my very tired baby after a crazy day at work. She was dressed in her little lady bug suit, her calves cold because she outgrew the costume. As I bundled her almost asleep body close to mine with a cozy blanket I took in the scene. Children everywhere, families having fun, great music. I could see my husband working hard cooking for the event across the way. There was fall everywhere...that's another blessing our church family. We don't know each and every person, some were very close to, but all of us share a common bond. I love that my daughter will grow up in this, I never had it. I hope she appreciates this type of family.

For Stephanie

Hey Stephanie...I think you have my email wrong its kathleenconaway@hotmail.com or jcon717@yahoo.com I can't see your blog :)

I'm Sitting up and GO PACK GO!

The packers won again tonight!!! Presley is sitting up by herself...after all that work, she takes a rest :)

Life goes on...

If I am going to blog...it will have to be short. I am working fulltime again...It is the most painful thing to leave Presley everyday. I cry most days but I will PRAISE THE LORD.

Check this out- my work is letting me begin at 11:30 everyday AFTER I breastfeed Presley. I get two thirty-minute, give or take, breaks to pump and half the time, I leave campus to do so. They gave me an asassistant Director and I am done at 6 every night. PRAISE THE LORD.

True, life is crazy. Drive 45 minutes in traffic, pick up baby, home at 7:15, bath at 7:30, feed at 8. Dinner, get pump, lunch, bottles ready, wash dishes, clean a bit hang out with Terry. Bed...did we eat dinner???? Feed at 4am sleep another hour, baby up, "Terry please get her" baby in bed sleep with mommy for another hour, Terry sleeps in babies room another hour. Up for reals at 8, feed baby, play with her for a hour, back down for nap. Shower, out the door for another day with 50 kids that fill my life with so much joy!

It's my life right now, with my family...I feel so blessed.

SLEEEPPPPPP AT LASSSSTTTT

Ok...I am a little giddy. I just had 7 hours of straight sleep with on little wake-up at 4 to look at the monitor to see how Presley was doing. She was still asleep and I contemplated going and pumping but I decided against it even though my boobs were not only as big but as hard as real melons!

A little background. We moved Presley (4 months) to her crib last week with the hopes she would sleep better. She did, but she still was doing that regressed thing where she wanted to nurse every 3 hours. I considered it a growth spurt and we road it out for a while. After about 2 weeks we decided to put a stop to it.

We started on the weekend so Terry could be the main comforter when she looked for food at 3 am and didn't get it. We figured if she saw me it would be the biggest disappointment of her life to expect to be comforted by a full booby and then not get it!

The first couple nights she cried it out with us going in on her and reassuring her etc. but after the first night she caught on quickly.

I really didn't need her to sleep 10 HOURS without eating...I was hoping for 6! But for the last 2 nights she has gone about 10 hours.

I'm sure that she will probably settle at a little less for now...but honestly this is a HUGE example to me of how God waits to the last hour and comes through. I am going back to work in a week and a half. I run a daycare center for school-aged kids. Its a fulltime, salaried on your feet running groups of 5-12year olds all day! I was very scared at what my life would look like on 5 hours a sleep broken up by 2 feedings. He knew that and for the sake of growing me further He makes me wait, wait and trust that the Lord will work things out.

I certainly waited, but trust was a another issue! Hopefully I'm a little closer next time.

I feel so taken care of by the Lord.

By the way the picture is Presley and cousin parker who is 15 months and will spending the day with Presley when Parker's mommy comes over to our house to watch Pres. He's trying very hard to use gentle hands!