6 months old!!!

blueberry super food stains super badly

There are quite a few new things happening with us this week. First, I got a new job which I will be starting at the end of the year. I have just enough time to accustom myself to the idea of working full time and getting childcare in line. The good news about day care is that the facility is only a few minutes from where I'll be working and I can visit Isabella on my lunch break, which will make breastfeeding easier to keep up, not to mention mitigate my separation anxiety. The bad news is that we're on a waiting list to get in, and it could take several months.

she doesn't stay put under here for long

Second, we got our tickets to travel back to the States for two weeks in September. It's been two years since I've been "home" and I am hoping that I can squeeze in visits with as many people as possible. We leave on the 7th - mark your calendars!

still getting the hang of solids - mastered: apple and banana

Third, Pedro is traveling for work again this week and if we can get someone to watch the dogs, Isabella and I will spend a few days in Croatia on Pedro's tail. This will be my first test of traveling alone on a plane with Isabella. Tips and advice on this are most welcome.

Perhaps the biggest news of all is that Isabella is now 6 months old. It's unbelievable to me. There was a woman with a 3 week old at my postnatal class this week, and I kept staring at that tiny baby, unsure of whether Isabella was actually ever that small. So I came home and watched some home videos of her first days, and sure enough - she was. It's amazing that so much growth happens in such a short span of time - we're already needing to start childproofing certain areas. Well, I have to cut off here - Isabella has rolled across the room and is pooping for the first time in two days. You have no idea how happy this makes me!

Postnatal Parents Group

He estado iendo a un grupo postnatal que se reune cada semana en el pueblito de Oundle. Obviamente, todo el mundo en el grupo ya tiene un bebe (de un edad menos de un ano), pero mi comadrona me alentó a asistir a las clases con una otra mujer embarazada de Upper Benefield (el pueblito donde vivimos – bien cerca de Oundle). La semana pasada, aprendimos a atratar a un infante cuando se esta ahogando – la semana que viene será CPR. Hoy discutieron como destetar. Algunas de las madres en el grupo tenían caras cansadisimas, pero no obstante lograron asistir a la clase. Me alegro mucho que tenemos un red social del apoyo, así que no vivimos cerca de familia. La sistema de cuido en los EEUU debe notar el éxito de programas así en Inglaterra. Perdona los errores gramaticas!

I’ve been going to a postnatal group that meets once a week in Oundle. Obviously, everyone there already has babies (under 1 year) but my midwife encouraged me to go with another pregnant woman in the village who is due around the same time as me. Last week Pedro went also and we learned how to deal with choking – next week is CPR. Today they talked about weaning – it’s amazing how many things you need to consider for babies that you would never otherwise think about! Some of the mothers in the group look so, so tired but they manage to make it out each week just to get together for a little social support – I’m really glad that I’ll have that, especially without any family living anywhere remotely nearby. The healthcare system in the US should really take note of this sort of thing!