It still feels like yesterday, but Maggie Jo was introduced into this world eight weeks ago today! She will be two months old on Wednesday. Time really has flown by -- especially my maternity leave, as I am headed back to work half-days next week. We'll do that for a couple weeks, and then I will take the remainder of my FMLA time by taking Fridays off until she is at least six months old.
It's been interesting being home for so long. It gives me a whole new appreciation for what stay at home moms do, especially those with infants. I'm amazed by how I look up after a few feedings and coaxing Maggie into a few naps, and the day is almost over! Some days I have been lucky to be able to eat lunch and shower. We have started to get into a routine the past couple weeks that includes trips out and walks around the neighborhood - just in time for me to head back to work! She still fights naps like a beast, but once she's out...she's dead to the world. (Like right now, hence this entry!)
Maggie is really starting to change on us. We'll find out for certain next week, but my scientific 'step on the bathroom scale with and without the baby' method clocks her in at just over 13 pounds, and she seems to be much longer. She's out of most of her 0-3 month clothes, even if the 3-6 month outfits are still big. She smiles a lot now, at us, at the toys on her playmat, at our ceiling fan, at perfect strangers if she's in a good mood. Her neck control has gotten even better. Her newest tricks are to bat the hanging toys from her bouncy seat and playmats. Not great hand-eye coordination yet, but we are getting there! She's also starting to babble a bit more. Nursing has gotten quite a bit easier, and Maggie also takes bottles like a champ. Just like her dad -- doesn't care where the food comes from as long as she's eating!
As a family, we are finally getting into the groove of things. Steve is incredibly good with her, and he gives me time out to shop or visit with friends pretty regularly. We tried our first road trip last weekend, heading to Springfield for supplies at Babies R Us and lunch at Smokey Bones. Then we headed up to Morton to visit with the Jacoby grandparents and Aunt Meghan and Uncle Marcus before going home. Parts of the day were challenging (comically large blowout in the nursing room), but she did very well. At one point she wailed in her stroller, so Steve put her on his shoulder and carried her around Babies R Us. She was fascinated by the racks of everything up overhead, and I officially missed taking one of the cutest pictures of her yet :( Oh well.
More big travels ahead: this weekend we are headed to Decatur to introduce Maggie to the Jacoby family's friends and next weekend we are going to try tailgating with the Jacoby side and our friends the Halls before the Illinois-Indiana football game. I'd better run for now, but I will try to include a new slideshow below. Hope all is well!
