Bye Grandpa

My Grandpa Max passed away this week. He was 94 years old. The youngest of a half dozen children to Gustav & Helene Felder who immigrated here from Austria in 1906. He was quite a man. A love of math, bridge, music, food, science, politics, investing, movies, technology, and humor. He was such a sharp dresser, too. I have so many great memories of visiting him and Grandma in NYC and Florida, also playing lakeside in Maine. I will miss him, but I imagine a beautiful reunion with him and my Grandma. I went to visit him just a couple months ago so he could meet his first great grandchild, Josephine Minna. Since then, he has met another great-grandchild (Ada Grace) and has learned there another little girl on the way. Thinking of you, Grandpa.

They grow up so fast, don't they?

Let the travels begin

Josie is 4 months old, I am back to work, and life is getting a bit more exciting these days. January started out with a family trip to Anacortes, WA and ended with some sunshine in Phoenix. February will be equally as exciting with 2 east coast trips planned. Enjoy some photos!

Passport

Trying to capture her best for her passport photo. She wouldn't stop talking to the camera...I was cracking up.

3 months already?!

What the hell happened to the time? My maternity leave is over, my daughter is 3 months old already and it's 2012. Time just zips by when you are playing with this little dollface. Her new tricks are swatting at her hanging toys, sucking her thumb whenever she feels like it, talking ALL the time, and my personal favorite...the giggling. I am also a sucker to the flirty bashful smile she does when she wants to be ubur cute. She already loves her childcare lady (and our dear friend), so that's a relief! Her Grandma is visiting from Maine this weekend, more pics of that visit soon.

One week left and not much holiday spirit

According to my employer, my maternity leave is called "bonding time". I received a call from the FMLA company confirming my return date to work. Ugh. I wasn't ready for THAT call. So I have one more week of bonding time with my baby...the end. Like most other mother's in this country, I work. Therefore, I am being stripped of my time with her. I feel like somebody is trying to pry my screaming baby out of my arms. By American law, we only need 6 weeks before they deem us fit to return to work. Screw that and screw them. I took 13 weeks and I STILL think that's too short. Kudos to you, California, for also saying screw that and giving mother's 6 months to cherish this time. I'm not ready, work. I'm not ready to say goodbye to sleeping in with Josie next to me in bed. I'm not ready to say goodbye to morning walks, noon naps and afternoon hikes. I'm not ready to hand you over to another person for feedings, diaper changes, laughing, snuggling, and holding. You are too young and it's too soon. I hate this.

Thanks for raining on my holiday parade, work.

Flying high with the baby

Josie is almost 3 months old now. We thought it was high time she took her first flight. Actually, it was my need to get out of town and take a little trip before I am back to work. She did great! I wish I could say the same. I ended up getting sick on the last day....but it was worth it, every moment.