Major Accomplishments

So, I finally have an opportunity to get caught up on my blogging. Maternity leave has been interesting this time around. My recovery was SOOO much easier than it was when I had Brick. Not too mention Calla's probably the easiest newborn on the face of this earth. I honestly think she sleeps about 20 hours a day - even still, at 3 weeks old. Being home with a toddler has been the challenge for me, honestly. I'm struggling to find enough activities to keep him happy and intrigued throughout the day. I still feel a little sad and guilty about removing Brick from his daycare. But that particular center is just not the most cost-effective solution for our family. Nonetheless, I still waiver between hiring a nanny, which seems to be an ideal situation for Calla, and a traditional daycare, which was an environment in which Brick really thrived.

All in all, we're doing well. At her two week checkup, Calla was already more than a pound above her birth weight and a full inch longer. All babies lose a little weight the first week or so after birth and pediatricians hope that they will be back to or above their birth weight by two weeks. Calla's growth really surpassed my expectations, especially since I don't know where she's finding the time to pack on the pounds since, compared to Brick as a newborn, it seems like she rarely eats.

Brick also made a pretty major stride this week. He's pooped on the potty, not once, not twice, but THREE times. We haven't really tried to press the issue of potty training with Brick because quite frankly, he's still a little young for that. Even at his daycare, they don't start until the children are 2 years old, and that seemed a little early to me. Nonetheless, we bought a training potty and put it in his bathroom so he could familiarize himself with it. And we talk to him about going to the bathroom, figuring he'd let us know when he was ready. It's definitely still a work in progress, but it's truly exciting that Brick's recognizing that he needs to go to the bathroom and letting me know in time to get him there.

And the kids aren't the only ones making strides lately. Bryan started a new job on Monday. I know what you're thinking, "Didn't he just start a new job not that long ago?" Yes. He did. While interviewing with Ricoh, Bryan also interviewed with a smaller, local company called Simpler-Webb. He was interested in the job, but they were a little slow to make an offer, so Bryan opted to take the position with Ricoh. A few months later, Simpler-Webb called him up because they were finally ready to fill the position, and Bryan was their top candidate. It was bit of a nerve-wracking move because there was nothing wrong with the Ricoh job, aside from it being slightly more of an entry-level position than Bryan anticipated. So far, the new job seems like a good fit. Bryan seems to thrive in smaller companies where he can have direct interaction and learn from the company executives. We're all pretty excited about the new position and the opportunities it should open up for our family. Even if it does mean he'll be working later hours.