another week goes by

Good news first - due to a relatively new law in Washington state, mothers get an additional 6 weeks of protected maternity leave - and I am taking it! It does mean that we will be eating beans and rice (no money for those extra six weeks!) but at least I get a little more time with my sweet Fiona. Delaying the inevitable, I know, but you would take it too, wouldn't you?

Also, we have been the recipients of so many amazing gifts, and we don't always get the chance to say thank you... so THANK YOU!! I am looking at you, fWaMu employees, down in Chatsworth CA... you guys are awesome. Particularly Ms Gigi... you are always looking out for me, I appreciate it!! And to everyone else, I am so touched that you would take the time and effort to send along a little something... Fiona is the greatest gift I could have ever asked for, all these extras are just icing on the cake!

Speaking of Fiona.... (and I do tend to go on and on about her...) it's the only bit of bad news I have this week. Since I thought I was going back to work in two weeks, G and I decided we better get her going on a bottle (full of mama milk)... yeah, she wasn't so into it. In fact, she will have nothing to do with it. Turns out the magic window for introducing a bottle was between 4 and 6 weeks... gosh, pediatrician, it would've been good to know that BEFORE the window passed... so as it is, we are trying once a day to get her to take to the silicone. The only way G can get her to take any of it is in the shower, when she's all relaxed and half-asleep. Otherwise, it's all tears and crying.

Here is the shot of G and Fi on the first night of bottle introduction:

(Yes, that is his shirt absolutely covered in spit-up. Fun! Parenting is awesome and smells great!)

Here she is at 10 weeks.


And here we are on my first Mother's Day, just after brunch.


And here is G, out in the backyard, attacking the invasive blackberry bushes...
(He is wearing a black shirt, if that helps you spot him. We had some Mother's Day inspiration to start working in the yard...)

And this is a pic of me and Fi on the beach.


And the whole family!

(Remind me to get G some sunglasses...)

So there you have it. I am so relieved/excited to be able to hang out for another 6 weeks with my babe... maybe it will inspire me to post more often? No promises. But I won't be back at work until 7/7/09... yahoo!!

Hope you are all having a lovely May. The sun is starting to make regular appearances here, it was 68 and sunny today, such perfect weather. We walked the lake and had a picnic (of sorts). Hope you all get to do some of the same!

E.