our life right now

It seems like I've found my groove in being a working mom. Maybe not my ideal groove, but it's a groove nevertheless.

We wake up when Tommy does, somewhere between 5:45 and 6:30, depending on the day (and discounting this stupid week following the daylight saving time change). Thomas wakes up in the most gloriously cheerful mood, and it's really the loveliest start to my day. We bring him in bed with us for a bit, then Andy gives The Major his reflux medicine and we all three snuggle and chat a bit more.

Sometimes I lie in bed a little too long with the baby, so I end up rushing to change his diaper and clothes before he and Andy head out the door to Aunt Nae's house. (Janae has been my dear friend for...15 years?...and Tommy loves her almost as much as I do. She's such a blessing to our little family!)

this is one of the photos Janae sent us last week

On the days I get up and at 'em at a decent time, I feed Tommy and have fun conversations with him while he drinks his baba.

Once Andy + Tommy are out the door, I finish getting ready and grab a bite to eat, then head to work myself.

Work has been pretty good, honestly. I miss Tommy and wish I could spend all day every day with him, but he's being well-loved, and I like my job, so it's all alright. Some days I have IEPs or other work meetings, but regardless of when I can leave, I'm always dying to get to Tommy.

Janae lives in a neighboring town, so it's a bit of a drive to get to him. Hitting red lights or getting stuck behind slow semis on the backroads feels like torture. But Tommy's giant smile when he sees me melts me into a gooey puddle, and all is well.

Then we drive back to town; depending on his mood, Tommy either shouts at me from behind his binky, screams + cries when his binky falls out, or else talks to me in a calmer, more serious tone and I can't help but think he's contemplating life in this adorable oration I can't understand. He's a really cool kid.

Not long after we return home, Andy walks through the door and we celebrate that we're all together again. Then I make dinner (or reheat leftovers) while Andy and Tommy play. On the really lovely days (starting this week, actually), we put Thomas in his stroller and go for a walk around the neighborhood. Tommy loves walks in his stroller, and that makes Andy + me ridiculously happy because we love walks, too.

After our walks + dinner, we play a bit more with Tommy, then start his bedtime routine.

Bedtime always starts out with a bath. Tommy loves tub time. He knows it's tub time when I strip him down and tell him it's time to get nakey-nakey. He smiles so big that it might actually hurt his cheeks. We turn on some music and splash around with his light-up tub toy (which we lovingly refer to as the arkenstone). Then we wash his tummy + face + neck + armpits + fists + bum + hair until he's squeaky clean. Then we let him splash around a bit more while he kicks around the arkenstone, and then it's time to get out and get dressed.

the Arkenstone

lil boy in da hood

Tommy hates getting dressed. He does okay when we towel him off and slather him in baby lotion. He's even okay being diapered. But when we start pulling a onesie over his head, and then his jammies, the end of the world is nigh at hand. #eyeroll

After we're done torturing him, we snuggle him to calm him down, then he and daddy talk to the handsome fellas in the mirror + do their acrobat tricks.

he really likes that cutie in the mirror

If Tommy's still fairly alert, we'll read a story or two (usually Gossie + Gertie and/or The Bellybutton Book). Then we swaddle + snuggle + turn on the essential oil diffuser, and he drops off to sleep.

Usually.

Lately, though, he'll spit out his binky and talk for several minutes.

Occasionally, he'll even talk in his sleep. For real. There have been a few times that we've heard him talking through the monitor. I'll go into his room and check on him to make sure he's okay, and I'm kind of delighted to see that his eyes are closed, but he's still chattering on. It's the most adorable thing I've ever heard.

I don't get a lot of awake time with Tommy during the week, so those few hours I'm with him are so precious. He's only slept through the night six or seven times, and while getting continuous sleep is glorious for everyone, I don't really mind it when he wakes up at 2 or 3 for another meal, because it gives me a few extra minutes of snuggle time with him.

Tommy and his Muppet friend

Basically, we're living for the weekends around here.

Tomorrow we're off to the doctor for his four month checkup and shots. I'm not looking forward to that, and poor Tommy has no idea what's about to hit him.