New Mommy Melt Down

So, I had my first official "New Mommy Meltdown". It started on Tuesday and here is how it progressed. Tuesday morning I had to be at work at 7:30 for an early morning meeting. I was planning to drive to Dallas that afternoon alone to attend a photo shoot. Mom had offered to watch Natalie for Jeff, as he is usually at home on Tues and Thurs, because he had been in Vegas the week prior and needed to catch up on some things at the office.

When I was boarding the elevator at work, my Mom called and told me that her youngest sister had been admitted to the hospital in ICU. She was headed up to be with her and would not be able to watch Natalie. I called Jeff and we came up with a plan, he would stay home with her until noon and then I would come home and let him go to work. I would just leave for Dallas later in the day.

Jeff got back from work around 5 and we were at the airport picking up my rental car so I could drive to Dallas. I was exhausted, both mentally and physically and could not believe I had to make this drive. As I was leaving Jeff and Natalie, Natalie began just screaming and even had an arm outreached. It was the saddest thing I had ever seen. My heart was just breaking. Jeff tried to leave 2 times and she just started screaming - in the end, he left and she was crying and I was crying.

I headed towards Dallas, but as soon as I got the rental car over 40 it began to violently shake. I could barely hold onto the steering wheel. It was terrible. I turned around to return the car for another one, but as I approached the airport, I just started crying, not the cute crying, but the ugly sobbing. I got out of the car and told the guy at the rental car counter that I just wanted to return the car. I didn't want another one. He then told me that he had to charge me for the day because I drove it off the lot. Whatever. I proceeded to sit in a chair and just cry. It was so bad that a stranger came over and gave me Kleenexes....how pathetic am I?

I knew I had to get to Dallas by 8 that next morning, so I called my mom and asked if she would help me get a ticket to fly to Dallas. Of course she said yes. I was so relieved. I was still crying and called my brother to come and get me and take me home. I had suddenly forgotten I was stranded at the airport.

I was so very glad to be home and holding Natalie was the best feeling ever. She is so sweet.

Jeff and I headed to bed, because I had a 6:55 flight. At 2am the phone rang. I thought it was some news on Mom's sister, but it was the airline telling me that my flight was cancelled and I wasn't going to be able to leave until 10:10!!! What kind of luck is this?

It ended up being good, as I got to take Natalie to daycare and hang out with her for a little bit that morning. I got to the airport to leave and they couldn't find my reservation. WHAT?!?! It ended up I had put my first name as my last and my last as my first. Whatever - just get me to Dallas! At the gate I did run into my friend Kelly and it was so nice to see a friendly face. She was headed to DC. I hope she made it! She is a new mom too and could totally understand my anxiety.

I finally got here and all is well. Well, that is not true, I can't get home fast enough to be with my family.

Funny how everything changes when you have a baby. I never knew I could love so much.

Checking things off the list...

Yea! Dad is in town and we have been able to get lots of things done! First off, was organizing the store room. Dad got us some great shelves, 5 in total, and we have plenty of room to store all of our very important stuff! It looks so much better.

Next on the list, heading north to visit some relatives! This was Natalie's first car trip and she did just great. She slept the entire way up, was in a good mood while we were there and slept most of the way back! This photo is from the way back.

This is Natalie, her Great Grandma and her Grandpa. She had such a good time with them.
This is Natalie trying out her new feeder. I think someone should tell her it is the other end! She ended up getting some banana in her mouth and seemed to like it - a little bit.

When Grandpa got here he had a gift for Natalie, it was a couple really cute outfits. I loved the outfits, Natalie loved the tissue paper.Also, this weekend we took some flowers to Natalie's Grandma's grave. I thought they turned out really nice.

Here is the second most exciting thing we did this weekend...FINISH NATALIE'S PLAYROOM!!! Isn't it just great!!! All we have left to do is make the curtain and hang her name above the window. I just love it. Grandpa helped assemble everything.....



This is the most exciting thing that happened this weekend!! Natalie got her first tooth!! The bottom right center started breaking through on Wednesday and then on Sunday the left center one started coming though. I know that you can't tell crap from the photo, but I tried!!

Seven Months Old Today!

I can't believe it - Natalie is seven months old today! Mom, Natalie and I went to have photos taken together kind of as a late Mother's Day activity. It was a lot of fun, even though Natalie needed a nap and I think we got some good photos! I love the ones of her in the angel wings!

Spring Projects

We have been really busy this past couple of weeks! I wanted to redo the craft room downstairs into a play room for Natalie for her first birthday. Many of you might remember the play room that I had as a little girl. It was the best - I loved it. I want Natalie to have a special place just like I did. I decided to get it done a little earlier because I am having a baby shower at my house this summer and I think a lot of kiddos will be coming and I want someplace for them to play.

Because I am who I am, I have over planned this entire room. I decided I had to have a theme or something to decorate around and I wanted it to be something she could grow into. So, I found some very cute animal wall applications at Wallies.com. I then decided to paint each wall a different color. The rest is going to be done by my Dad, who is coming next week, and Jeff. Lots of things to put together and hang. I can't wait to show off the finished product! I hope that it goes together well. I have some before photos and some with the first two paint colors.

Natalie went to the kids gym again last week. She had a good time, but we had our first accident! We had her in a tire swing thing and I suggested we swing it a different way and when we did she rolled out!! Jeff caught her and it wasn't a big deal, but it was pretty scary. The had bubble time at the gym and as you can see she really liked it. I don't know if she knew what to think or not.


Here are just a couple random photos of Natalie. In one of them you can really see the color of her eyes. Jeff and I can't decide what color they are. Sometimes they look blue, sometimes green and sometimes even brown. Jeff and I think they might end up hazel.


So, our contribution to the economy was a purchase of an eliptical machine. Here is Jeff using it for the first time tonight!

Martha Stewart I am not...

OK, I don't claim to be good at crafts, I just like to make them! For one of my baby showers I got this great hooded towel. I loved it because it was made out of real towels, not those thin baby towels. Anyway, I couldn't make one as good as the one I got, but I found this on the Internet and thought they turned out pretty good. I think Natalie has a career in modeling. (http://www.mormonchic.com/crafty/hooded-towels.asp)

Last week we also went to a children's gym here in town. Natalie had a great time and there was a lot for her to do. She loved the swing. No surpirse there. :)

This weekend was just crazy. I can't believe how busy we are now that Natalie is here. Grammie came over tonight to spend some time with Natalie because she just wanted to be held. I think she is really teething now. She has a super runny nose and a terrible cough. Poor baby.

Next weekend is my first Mother's Day and I am really excited. Mom and I are going out of town Friday to go shopping and to eat at the Cheesecake Factory...I love that place. Anyway, I am really looking forward to it. Shopping and food...what could be better? I also think that we are going to have a neighborhood cookout this weekend. It should be fun - we have really enjoyed getting to know our new neighbors.

Swimming Babies!

So far this weekend has been really good! Jeff and I went to a dinner at the University last night and mom babysat Natalie. This morning we had our first Water Babies class at the YMCA! It was so much fun! Natalie did great and really seemed to enjoy the water. It was a special surprise to see Grammie there too!

This is a photo of my with crazy hair right before bed.

This is what I look like after Daddy and I go on a walk - it wears me out!

This is me eating my sweet potatoes. I really like them and Mommy even let me feed myself for a while!

This is me getting ready for Water Babies! Don't I look cute in my swimming suit?

This is me at Water Babies!! There are also a couple videos too.

When we got home from swimming we opened the new furniture that Natalie got for her playroom. It is a table and chairs....aren't they cute? I can just imagine all the messes she will make in these!!