We're back!

Not that we ever really went anywhere, but being back to work has left little time for blogging.

The only reason I've found time to carve out a few minutes to write now is that I was blessed with a "grown up" snow day -- we are under a Level 2 snow emergency here in Toledo, so the Hylant office was closed, and I got the spend the day with Seth. Granted, he has spent a good portion of the day asleep, as he is battling his first cold, but it has still been nice to have some extra time with him today.

I do have to concede, however, that being back at work is definitely the right choice for me at this point. The quiet of the house and the restlessness that came over me after I put Seth down for his nap is enough to drive a girl nuts! Though I've done a good deal of yawning at my desk as I get back into the routine of a 9-hour work day, I'm really enjoying being back in the corporate office.

Jim and I took a quick trip to Bellevue to visit Grandma and Grandpa Soldano on Friday night. It was a quick trip, and neither Jim nor I wanted to leave. I think if we'd had my pump and my medicine, we very easily could have been convinced to spend the night. (Something tells me that Grandma and Grandpa would have loved it, too!) Grandpa was hesitant to hold Seth when we took the baby to Bellevue in December, but had no qualms this time -- he scooped Seth right up (and Seth, by the way, love, love, loved the growl of Grandpa's voice) and was the master at getting Seth to sleep. I just hate that we had to steal him away from such a sweet bedtime spot (Grandpa's arms) to go home.

As I mentioned before, Seth is fighting his first cold. He is a trooper, though. Actually, I don't know that he even realizes that he is sick. Yesterday, as I was changing him, he sneezed, and snot went everywhere. He just grinned up at me, as if to say "look what I did, Mom!" He is so darn cute -- I really don't think I could ask for a better baby. He eats well. He sleeps well. (We even got a taste of what is to come on Saturday night -- we woke up at 7:15 Sunday morning, only to realize Seth had slept through the night! Yea!)

I'll close this somewhat boring and random post with a couple pictures from last night. Seth always wakes up SO happy -- it's great. He fell asleep in the recliner last night, and we woke up just like this:

This is what is known as BABY FAT

Seth at 2 weeks and then 8 weeks:

I just can't get over how much he is changing every day. Even as a preemie, he's always had a "little old man face," but now he has a little old man face with a double chin.

He is doing so well this week. (So is mommy, but more on that in a minute.) Here is a funny story about Seth's "day care experience" thus far:

When I was over at Sara and Jessi's last Wednesday, Jessi's two-year-old Caleb was less than impressed with Seth. (This poor child is in for a rude awakening when his little brother or sister arrives in July.) Jessi was holding Seth, and Caleb was none too thrilled with her. When Jessi asked if Caleb would be Seth's friend, since they'd be playing together every day, he noncholantly replied, "No....he can go home with her," pointing at me. Hah! So on Monday, when I got there to pick up Seth, I wasn't too sure what I'd find. Well, Caleb was sitting on the floor next to Seth, gently patting his head. As I walked in, he cried, "It's Seth's mommy!" (How cool does that sound?!) I asked Caleb if they'd had a good day and if Seth could come back tomorrow, to which he said "yes" (yea! progress!), and then he solemnly said to me, "Monica, Seth does not cry AT ALL!" (Again, I say "hah!" I told Jessi that they might want to remedy Seth's behavior or Caleb was going to be very disillusioned about what babies do!) I just thought the whole exchange was so precious, and just reinforced how thrilled I am with the childcare God has provided to us with these two wonderful sisters-in-law, even if only for a short time.

My first days back at work have actually been wonderful. I'll spare you the details that are only important, I'm guessing, to me, but let's just say that yesterday something happened that caused me to remember how much I actually love my job (even though I can get caught up in the drama of the "politics" sometimes). It's been nice to ease back in with the half days, but I'm not too concerned about the coming weeks, as I've only taken one afternoon nap this week (and it was today, and I'm sick, so I think that's a pretty good excuse).

Anyway, that's our update for now. As the "chubby" picture of Seth up there isn't the most flattering, I'll leave you with this one instead. Isn't he beautiful?

Only a few days left of maternity leave... =(

Ah, change.

It's unavoidable, right? On one hand I'm ready to return to work on Monday. On the other hand....well, therein lie all the emotions most working moms feel, I'm sure.

I spent a few hours yesterday with the ladies who are going to be taking care of Seth. I am so confident that he will receive (almost) as much love and TLC from Sara and Jessi as he would from me; they are both expecting this summer, so are in the "baby zone" and just smitten with Seth. So, no worries about dropping him off with them on Monday. Worry has never really been the issue, though. It's more just a feeling of "what will I be missing?" or "Seth isn't going to forget about me, is he?".

Ugh. I guess time will tell, how all the varying factors are going to work together -- scheduling, sleeping, readjusting to corporate life....Jim and I have tackled every challenge that's been thrown at us thus far; I've no doubt we'll get this figured out, too. I just need to get over the "hurling toward the edge of a canyon" feeling I'm dealing with...

In other news, this ridiculous weather we've been having interrupted the plans we'd made for Nana K to come visit. =( Her flight was supposed to land in 15 minutes....and instead, she's in Florida, Seth is in his cradle, and here I sit, typing to you guys, and feeling disappointed. Sniffle, sniffle. I know all things happen for a reason, but I'm really, really bummed. And I know my disappointment probably pales in comparison to hers...So, for you, Mom, here are some semi-recent pictures of Seth: