It's naptime--do you know where my baby is?
In his….wait for it…CRIB!! That’s right, Lance is napping in his crib right now as I type. I don’t know how long it is going to last today but we are giving it a try. I decided to try and get him used to the crib at naptimes before putting him in it for bed times because it is going to be a challenge and I would rather take that challenge on during the day first. It was definitely hard…he was ok at first but then he started freaking out. So I did what the “Baby 411” book recommends and went in after 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, and so on…and he would calm down while I was in there but then start freaking out as soon as I left. Then I decided to try swaddling him-I think part of the problem is that he is used to sleeping in his bassinette or his swing, both of which are small. The crib is big and so he is not used to having all that extra space to move around…and since he still has a little of that newborn startle reflex, when he jerks a little in his sleep it freaks him out in a big space. So I went in and swaddled him, and then put him back in the crib…and he almost immediately dropped off. Poor little baby was very tired, that’s for sure. I am watching him on the monitor right now and he just woke up for a minute, and looked around…I was bracing myself for him to start screaming again but he just closed his eyes and went back to sleep. I don’t know why this swaddling thing didn’t occur to me sooner. I am going to take this one nap at a time and see how it goes, but I think this is a good start!!
Joel graduated from SOAC yesterday…but they forgot to print up his graduation certificate which is kind of needs in order to move on to his next command. Luckily he does not officially report on board until September 1st, so they have a little time. They said they would get him his certificate next week. I am experiencing some mixed emotions…on one hand I am really happy about everything that is happening with his job etc. On the other hand I am still kind of bummed that it is happening so fast. I know I just need a little time…and I recognize that it could be way worse. All things considered this is the best deal he could have gotten…I just need a little more time to be there emotionally. It will come.
We are jumping right into being a part of this boat, which is a good thing. Joel and I made a commitment to each other to be more involved and more present with this boat than we were with our last one. Neither one of us wants to march in and take over or anything like that, but it is important to both of us that we be present. We don’t want to be in a situation where no one outside the department knows who the Nav is, or who his wife is. So today we are going to make an appearance at a Navigation department party. Then, at the end of the month is the Hail and Farewell for the guy Joel is relieving, as well as the first FRG meeting since the boat got here from Virginia. Obviously we will be attending the Hail and Farewell-while it is primarily to say goodbye to the old Nav, it is also to welcome Joel and I-so it is important that we be there. I am also planning on attending the FRG meeting-I am looking forward to meeting some of the other wives and to getting to know how things are done with this boat.
I had a great time with my mother and my grandmother this week. Lance gets a big kick out of his Great Gram-she had him giggling and everything. It was pretty cool. When they went back to Maryland I thought I was not going to be seeing my mother again until her usual 8 week trip in September-but then I got a phone call from my dad yesterday asking if they could visit on Labor Day weekend…which is in like 2 weeks. I knew it was only a matter of time before my dad found a way to make a trip here to see the baby. He has not seen him since he was 2 weeks old and, if he did not find the time to make a trip before thanksgiving, he probably would not have seen him until he was almost 6 months old. I am really happy that he was able to work this out. I mean we videochat with my parents all the time but it is not the same as seeing the baby in person. Lance changes so much on a daily basis…it is amazing to me how different he is now than he was at the beginning of the week!!
Joel graduated from SOAC yesterday…but they forgot to print up his graduation certificate which is kind of needs in order to move on to his next command. Luckily he does not officially report on board until September 1st, so they have a little time. They said they would get him his certificate next week. I am experiencing some mixed emotions…on one hand I am really happy about everything that is happening with his job etc. On the other hand I am still kind of bummed that it is happening so fast. I know I just need a little time…and I recognize that it could be way worse. All things considered this is the best deal he could have gotten…I just need a little more time to be there emotionally. It will come.
We are jumping right into being a part of this boat, which is a good thing. Joel and I made a commitment to each other to be more involved and more present with this boat than we were with our last one. Neither one of us wants to march in and take over or anything like that, but it is important to both of us that we be present. We don’t want to be in a situation where no one outside the department knows who the Nav is, or who his wife is. So today we are going to make an appearance at a Navigation department party. Then, at the end of the month is the Hail and Farewell for the guy Joel is relieving, as well as the first FRG meeting since the boat got here from Virginia. Obviously we will be attending the Hail and Farewell-while it is primarily to say goodbye to the old Nav, it is also to welcome Joel and I-so it is important that we be there. I am also planning on attending the FRG meeting-I am looking forward to meeting some of the other wives and to getting to know how things are done with this boat.
I had a great time with my mother and my grandmother this week. Lance gets a big kick out of his Great Gram-she had him giggling and everything. It was pretty cool. When they went back to Maryland I thought I was not going to be seeing my mother again until her usual 8 week trip in September-but then I got a phone call from my dad yesterday asking if they could visit on Labor Day weekend…which is in like 2 weeks. I knew it was only a matter of time before my dad found a way to make a trip here to see the baby. He has not seen him since he was 2 weeks old and, if he did not find the time to make a trip before thanksgiving, he probably would not have seen him until he was almost 6 months old. I am really happy that he was able to work this out. I mean we videochat with my parents all the time but it is not the same as seeing the baby in person. Lance changes so much on a daily basis…it is amazing to me how different he is now than he was at the beginning of the week!!