hi ho hi ho its back to work we go...

That's right. Our 2 week countdown is here. Can't believe that our 12 week leave will be coming to a close. Still trying to figure out if I should go back on the Thursday (like Roman, a true 12 week leave) or wait until the following Monday. There are obvious pros and cons to both sides.

Pro: going back on a Thursday means only a 2 day work week. This could help ease myself back into work and only 2 days of exhaustion as we start adjusting schedules. Con: The pass-it-on consignment sale begins that Thursday and I can actually go this time (last time we were in California). Decisions decisions.

Cloth diapering has been going great! We wash them about every other day. We could go out and buy more, but until then every-other-day it is. I have mastered the technique of the wash cycle. Fortunatel, we have a top-load washer. Apparently these high-efficiency front loaders aren't as good with cloth diapering.

Largest load setting - cold
Soak for a few hours (usually before we go to bed) with 1 cup oxiclean and 1 tblsp/scoop of Lulu's cloth diaper detergent. **We are on well water at out house. Its hard water, so all of our loads get oxiclean in them to prevent build up of dirt**
Turn to a cleaning cycle HOT and add about 1/2c tide free and clear (usually when she feeds around 3am).
Shells get hung, diapers get dried. It works lovely and gets 99% of the stains out.

Over the past 2 months, she has been receiving exclusively breast milk. Norah gets one bottle a day, and the rest of the time she nurses. I'll tell you...I feel as though women who get through nursing the first 3 months should get gold stars. Among my own issues of clogged ducts and cracked nips, I have heard of so many other new moms with latch issues, thrush, and other things that are very discouraging. It is emotionally crushing when you can't nurse because of infections or don't want to because you dread the pain that it will cause. Getting through those first months helps your baby so much, so for all those moms who push through the pain for the well being of your child, I am proud of you. I am proud of myself and I am proud of you!

two months old!

We have had almost a week of successful crib sleeping. Our progression was as such: first month in her pack in play next to our bed. Second month in her pack in play a room over. Now, sleeping at night in her own room in her own crib. We figure since we'll be going back to work, it would be helpful for her to be out of our room so we can sleep too. Her longest stretch so far: 6 hours. Hallelujah! I felt like a new person waking up after that. So much so that it was really hard to go back to sleep at 4:30am.

We are looking forward to baseball coming to Hillsboro. We headed to the Orenco Station office of the Hillsboro Hops during the week so Roman could pick up a Hillsboro Hops cap and t-shirt. It'll be a lot of fun bringing our 7 month old to the stadium this summer for some ball! When we posted this picture, Roman tweeted (because Jen doesn't tweet) this out. Hillsboro Hops picked it up and retweeted the photo. Norah, you're a star.

Outfit from Aunt Bobbi!

Happy girl!

Cuddling with dad.