The 7th Week of Sam

Well were to start.

Monday I went back to work. Wow, was that rough.  Sunday night was rough too.  I would look at her and she'd smile or do something and I would think, I am going to miss everything.  I just kept reminding myself that almost every other mother has to do the same thing.  I was strong enough to survive.  There will be many milestones in her life that will make my heart feel like it will bust.  It really gave me some time to reflect on Motherhood in general.  Monday morning Aunt Joy was here to pick her up.  We did really well.  Sam's best time of the day is the 1st hour she wakes up so it has been really easy to get ready.  I didn't cry all morning while Sam was here, why should she be subjected to that? :)  Joy left and I cried, reapplied my eyeliner, sucked it up and went to work.  I had to keep my emotions in check most of the morning but by lunch I had so much to do I couldn't even think.  And that was pretty much how the week went.  I have been so incredibly busy it's the only thing I can really think about at school.  Now when 3:30 rolls around I am out the door and the drive seems so long to go pick her up.
Sam started to pay attention to her mobile above her swing.  Prior to this week she never even looked at it but one morning this week she was looking up at it and watching the lambs move.  She has also found her little voice this week.  She'll make all kinds of cooing variations.  Last weekend  (May 1st & 2nd) Mom had said that it wouldn't be long b/c she would move her mouth around a lot and look like she was concentrating and only a little squeak or grunt would come out.  Mom was right!  This week when you talk to Sam and she's in her happy mood she sometimes entertains us with a noise or two. 

Also this 7th week, JM's mom Pam came out to meet Sam for the first time.  Wednesday, JM was able to take half the day off so he and Pam went up and picked Sam up.  Thursday and Friday Pam was able to get to know Sam all day.  I think they had a great time b/c Sam didn't hardly sleep AT ALL those days.  She did sleep pretty hard at night but not any longer.  On the very last day of April Sam slept for 5 hours that night and then another 2 1/2.  Since then she has been pretty consistent with the 5 hour stretch.  Being up all day didn't make her sleep longer but she slept more soundly.  On Saturday this past weekend Sam was up at her normal 5:30 but then I was able to get her to go back to sleep until 7:30!! Who knew 7:30 would feel like sleeping in?  For most of the day I thought I felt fantastic ~ Like a whole new person!  But I was just as tired at 7:00 that night as I had been all week.  Saturday evening we met my parents and sister at Richard's Farm in Casey.  Sam had a bad belly ache the whole time and wasn't very happy.  Dad got her to calm down for awhile though.  When we left and I put her in her carrier she immediately stopped fussing and just looked around like "Cool. Where are we going now?".  If I had known the carrier would stop the fussing I would have done it a long time ago!! Usually putting her in her seat makes her a little mad, at least until it's locked into the truck and we're bouncin' down the road.   Of course in my hurry I forgot to bring Mom's gift... dang it. Mom gave me a card that talked about a first mother's day, which of course made me a little emotional. 
On Sunday JM had to go back into work - he worked on Saturday too.  Pam left early in the morning to go back home.  Unfortunately Sam and I weren't up so we didn't get a goodbye hug but the sleep was pretty good... or at least for me anyways. =)  When Sam and I got up around 7:30, we got ready and headed into Chrisman.  All of JM's dad's side of the family was home and Sam was the big attraction I think.  We were also celebrating Grandma Bonnie & Grandpa Ben's 60th wedding anniversary.  JM was able to get there by 3:30 which was just in time for left overs! But he did get to see everyone so it turned out ok.

For Mother's Day JM gave me an Iflip to take quick video's of Sam.  I've already taken a few but have had no time to upload any of them. 

The first week of school was really pretty brutal just from an exhaustion standpoint.  I mean, just unreal.  I wasn't prepared for how utterly exhausted I would be.  Before I went back I started to condition myself by getting up early and not taking any naps, but there was no way I could simulate the business and the wearing down.  This Monday wasn't really any better.  The house is a disaster and I have tons of grading to do that was left by the sub and then what I have added to it.  I'm sure it makes me a little cranky around home, but being able to be with Sam in the evenings makes up for it.  She is usually up from the time I pick her up until 7 or 8 when she falls asleep for the night.  Some evenings that time seems so short, but at least she's awake during them and not sleeping.  However, sometimes I wish she was when she's fussy!

Oh well.  Bring on week 2 of being back!