Week 22: Happy 5 Month Birthday Leif!

Today Leif is 5 months old!  He can now successfully roll from tummy to back, grab everything with both hands, support his head, giggle, cry big tears, and hold his own bottle.  And Mama Nichi is now 32.  Doesn't feel any different than being 31 (except the aftermath of pregnancy/birth was not kind to my body, but when is it?).

Weekly recap!

Monday-hubs took the family on a short hike while I worked/waited to grab lunch.  He broke out our jogger-Leif is still kind of little for it, but hubs made it work.

Tuesday-nothing too exciting except my AC stopped working in my car.  Ugh.  Angela watched Leif while hubs went to work; look at my big boy holding his own bottle now!

Wednesday-I took the day off on my birthday; dropped my car off to get it looked at.  I got to spend the day with Leif though while hubs worked, that was nice.  But...$1,200 and a new compressor later, my car was working again.  Sigh.  Thankfully Father-in-Law came to the rescue and helped us out financially.  That was super sweet of him!  Once hubs returned from work, we hung out at home waiting for Leif to wake up and then had a late lunch/early dinner at El Torito.

Thursday/Friday-nothing too exciting, just went to work.  But hubs had some fun with Leif, hat day!

Saturday-woke up and....cleaned!  That's probably my favorite thing to do the first day of a weekend/break.  I know I'm weird.  I vacuumed and steam cleaned most of the apartment, organized a lot of things, then we hit the road to celebrate my birthday-Camarillo Outlet Mall shopping!  Hubs was a champ and lasted most the day while I shopped.  So did Leif!

Score!  My favorite was the Banana Republic Outlet, 50% off everything!

Sunday hubs had to work, so another day with Leif which was really fun.  He's growing so quickly!  And Sunday was the FIRST day he rolled over without assistance!!!

This was taken about a couple minutes before he rolled over!

Same day, but he got a little poop on the other onesie, haha.  He's so handsy and he puts everything into his mouth now!

And yesterday Leif woke me up bright and early; hubs stayed up late Sunday night working on his computer so we let him sleep while I took Leif and Miles on a quick stroll around the block.  Finished vacuuming too!  Then we took a quick trip to get lunch and hit Target, and then hubs finished working while I played with Leif.

He loves this exersaucer!  He kept putting his mouth on the cup he's grasping

And I don't know why I'm so proud, but he's constantly sucking his left thumb, just like I used to.  He's so cute when he sucks his thumb!

I can't believe May is almost over!  I booked our flight to New York for August last week, and the folks reserved our hotels, so we are all set!  I can't believe Leif will take his first flight in less than 3 months (wish us luck).  And in two months Leif will attend his first wedding!  AND tomorrow the folks fly in!  AND in July the in-laws are visiting!  This summer is just packed with lots of fun adventures!  :)

Week 21: Birthday Week!

Oh Monday, you snuck up on me.  Can we make Monday part of the weekend so that we celebrate it rather than dread it???

Last week flew by!  I can't believe I turn 32 this week.  Hubs and I were reminiscing about how this time last year I still didn't know I was pregnant.  Isn't that nuts?!

So let's do last week in pictures, not too many:

This was sent to me by hubs on Wednesday.  Love seeing my happy boy at work, especially since Wednesday was a rough day (we canceled my debut Mary Kay party since a couple people canceled and it would have been very small). But we will reschedule that soon!  More about MK after the photos...

At the Piano Bar celebrating my friend Shakesha's 30th birthday (she's on the far-right).  Didn't stay very long since I had to feed Leif.

He still can't roll over, but he loves his ExerSaucer!

Hubby took this on my phone while I was getting ready for work.  He was super smiley when he woke up this morning at 5:30am!

So here we are today, where my mama/post-pregnancy brain kicked in again and I completely forgot part of my pump.  I texted hubs at 9:30am in a panic and since he's not working and the best person ever, he drove over to me with pump parts and family in tow.  I'm a lucky gal!  He took our family on a short hike near my work and I treated him to lunch for driving over.  I was just happy to see Leif!  I brought him in after lunch to see a couple faculty members and he was all smiles.  :)  Love my little boy.

Back to Mary Kay-so I had my first party last Thursday and it went REALLY well!  Everyone was really friendly and open (and it helped that Susie was there-she is hilarious without trying, and made everyone laugh throughout the class).  I even sold a bunch of product!  Then Saturday I gave a quick session to my friend Christina and that was fun being one-on-one.  So far I feel like I'm on the right path, but I'm nervous about having to contact strangers and deal with non friends and family.  I'm going to have to hit that challenge sometime or another.  I've already tried contacting a couple friends of friends and so far it's not going great (received no thank yous and no replies), but I just gotta keep on truckin'!  I really enjoy all the products so far and I really enjoy being able to help women try things out before they purchase vs. walking into a store unsure and unhappy.  Next party scheduled is at the end of the month and will be rescheduling my "debut" party for early next month.  Wish me luck!

Week 20: Busy Mama

Hi everyone,

I'm not very good at keeping up with the blog now, am I?!  Happy belated Mother's Day everyone!  I've ALWAYS appreciated my mom, but after becoming a mama myself, I appreciate every mom out there that much more.  It is hard work!  All you moms rock!!!

Last week was INTENSE.  Leif started teething Monday, and that night we got about two hours of sleep.  It was rough.  He would wake up every half hour-hour screaming his head off.  Hubby and I took turns trying to soothe him, but hubs was the champ at getting him back to sleep every time.  Tuesday night Leif needed mommy, and he had to sleep with me the whole night; but at least he only woke up a few times.  The rest of the week got better, but man, it was like he was a newborn all over again.  I'm not looking forward to this teething stage.  : \

Last week was also the last week of classes, and I'm on a nice downhill slope of relaxation at work.  Summers can get pretty quiet around my office, but I welcome it.  It gives me a chance to get things straightened out, prepare for the upcoming academic year, and I'll have a chance to hit the gym during my lunch breaks now.  Three months until I have to fit into a bridesmaid dress AND run a 10K.  It's right around the corner!

Here was my past week in photos:

Big, happy baby even though teething has been tough

Uncle Daryl, aka Wilderness Man, stopped by Friday 

Christina drove up from San Diego to visit her folks, we were able to catch up at the mall

Leif loves his Sea Explorer

What I first saw when I woke up on Mother's Day.  Love these two!

From Aunt Missy for Mother's Day!  :)

One of the hubs' presents for Mother's Day was getting my car cleaned-us waiting while it was getting vacuumed.  SO glad to have a clean car inside and out!

Mini night-hike at Vasquez Rocks Mother's Day eve.

Last night was bath night.  Here's our Shark Baby!

This week is filled with Mary Kay parties!!  Today I'm going to see the consultant who recruited me work her magic, then tomorrow is my "debut party" with my co-workers; my sales director is driving up from San Diego to put on the party.  Then Thursday is my very first party with a few friends, and Saturday I'm giving my friend Christina a facial.  I'm nervous but excited for this new chapter in my life!  I'll tell you all how it goes.  :)

Week 19: Chill weekend

I was sooo incredibly happy to just spend time with Leif this weekend.  Let's go back...

Last week went by fast thankfully.  Friday I performed with a student for her senior voice recital and didn't get home until 8pm.  When I walked in the door, hubs was rocking Leif to sleep already.  :(  I took over for him, and was so happy to just be able to hold him/see him for the short amount of time.

Saturday we only left the house to get a few groceries, but of course I dragged the hubs to See's Candies that was right next to the grocery store we stopped at.  SCORE-heavily discounted Easter candy.

The blue bunnies are my dark chocolate bunnies, yellow is milk chocolate for hubs as well as the jelly beans.  $1.05 for each bunny, originally $6.95!!!

When we got home, we had a beautiful view of the carpet remnants they left from a vacant apartment.

Yay River Ranch, thanks for keeping it clean.

Leif is used to his car seat now, and this was taken when we got home.  He's such a happy, giggly baby!

The rest of the day we played board games when Leif was napping or playing in his jungle.  Sunday we never left the apartment, and it was glorious.

Jungle Leif!  He's getting stronger, able to grab all the toys above him and kick himself around the mat.  Soon he'll flip over!

So I did decide to become an Independent Sales Consultant for Mary Kay.  Yes, I've done the research on the company, and there are a lot of people who really hate the company/did poorly/think it's a scam. I can see where they are coming from.  But there are also a lot of people who are successful and find that MK works for them.  I'll let you all know my opinion soon as I still yet to have my "debut" party and work for MK, but so far everyone I've talked to has been very supportive and not pushy in any way.  And the products are great!  So, you may be getting a call/text/message from me in the near future if I'm in your area!  :)

Leif is supportive :)