Sanity For A SAHM.
Our friends' (Todd & Oz) 10 year old daughter, Gloria has been wanting to babysit Blake ever since we announced we were pregnant a year ago today. Oz and I have talked and I've asked for her to come over once a week for a couple hours after school. I figure she can learn how to take care of Blake while I'm home to help. Then once she's comfortable, she can watch Blake while I run errands....and when she gets really comfortable, she can babysit when we go out for an evening. Yesterday was Gloria's first day watching Blake. She had lots of fun just holding and talking to him. I showed her how to make a bottle for him, we changed his diaper, she gave him his bottle and even put him into his pajamas (which was a challenge with a squirming, crying baby). She refused to let us pay her, but I insisted that if she didn't want to be paid....then at least take and save the money for something special. Wow! I knew it would be nice to have some help for us, but I didn't realize just how nice it would be. Kyle definitely appreciated it too. He was able to sort through papers & receipts. I was able to put dishes away, clean the table and go through coupons....in addition to picking up Blake's stuff (unpack the last of his suitcase from our last MN trip).
I've also joined a Mommy 'n Me meetup group to help me get out of the house with B to socialize. Yesterday morning we went to BounceTown for our first meetup. I knew Blake's morning nap would be interrupted, but he got to sleep for about an hour before we got there and he woke up. (And he took a really good afternoon nap afterwards.) The toddlers & preschoolers were able to run around and play on the big blow-up bounce things. A group of us sat on the couches in the middle, talking and taking care of our infants. There were 2 other little ones: Kaelyn (6 months) and Tanner (3 months old). In the middle of the couches they had an exercise saucer, which I've been contemplating getting for B. I put him in it a couple times and he loved reaching at the toys and trying to put them in his mouth. (Note to self: Add disinfectant wipes to the diaper bag so I can let him chew on things when we're out.) Think I'll check out some thrift stores around here to see if I can get him an exercise saucer for cheap. They cost anywhere from $80 and up....and he'll only use it for a few months. It would be good to wait until we're in our new apartment though, where we'll have more room for it.
New apartment. Yes! We're going to sign the lease on our new apartment today. It will cost us about $150 more than living here, but there are many perks to moving. #1 - We've REALLY outgrown our tiny 2-bedroom apartment here. #2 - Laundry. Since B was born, our laundry has doubled and we have half the hands to do it. The new place has washer / drier hook-ups in the apartment. We are SO over the community laundry room that is 10 times too small (16 washers & driers for 300 apartments). #3 - The new place has a fitness room. This means that we won't have to have a gym membership and I (we) can take Blake to work out with me. The new place is also located right next to the walking trails. :D #4 - The new place has a doggy run, a fenced-in area that you can let your dog(s) play off-leash. Here we let our dogs run and play together, but there's always a chance that someone will complain and we'll all get in trouble. #5 - The new place has 2 playgrounds. Living here we would have to drive to the nearest playground, across Wads (which is really busy) about 1/2 a mile away. #6 - Did I mention the new place is close to Target, Market Place Plaza & W-minster Promenade? :D #7 - Oh yeah, and we'll be gaining about 300 square feet and paying less per square foot....not to mention a GAS fireplace, more counterspace, walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms, bigger bedrooms, bigger balcony, more parking, better insulation, and a better layout all around. :D :D :D
I've also joined a Mommy 'n Me meetup group to help me get out of the house with B to socialize. Yesterday morning we went to BounceTown for our first meetup. I knew Blake's morning nap would be interrupted, but he got to sleep for about an hour before we got there and he woke up. (And he took a really good afternoon nap afterwards.) The toddlers & preschoolers were able to run around and play on the big blow-up bounce things. A group of us sat on the couches in the middle, talking and taking care of our infants. There were 2 other little ones: Kaelyn (6 months) and Tanner (3 months old). In the middle of the couches they had an exercise saucer, which I've been contemplating getting for B. I put him in it a couple times and he loved reaching at the toys and trying to put them in his mouth. (Note to self: Add disinfectant wipes to the diaper bag so I can let him chew on things when we're out.) Think I'll check out some thrift stores around here to see if I can get him an exercise saucer for cheap. They cost anywhere from $80 and up....and he'll only use it for a few months. It would be good to wait until we're in our new apartment though, where we'll have more room for it.
New apartment. Yes! We're going to sign the lease on our new apartment today. It will cost us about $150 more than living here, but there are many perks to moving. #1 - We've REALLY outgrown our tiny 2-bedroom apartment here. #2 - Laundry. Since B was born, our laundry has doubled and we have half the hands to do it. The new place has washer / drier hook-ups in the apartment. We are SO over the community laundry room that is 10 times too small (16 washers & driers for 300 apartments). #3 - The new place has a fitness room. This means that we won't have to have a gym membership and I (we) can take Blake to work out with me. The new place is also located right next to the walking trails. :D #4 - The new place has a doggy run, a fenced-in area that you can let your dog(s) play off-leash. Here we let our dogs run and play together, but there's always a chance that someone will complain and we'll all get in trouble. #5 - The new place has 2 playgrounds. Living here we would have to drive to the nearest playground, across Wads (which is really busy) about 1/2 a mile away. #6 - Did I mention the new place is close to Target, Market Place Plaza & W-minster Promenade? :D #7 - Oh yeah, and we'll be gaining about 300 square feet and paying less per square foot....not to mention a GAS fireplace, more counterspace, walk-in closets, 2 bathrooms, bigger bedrooms, bigger balcony, more parking, better insulation, and a better layout all around. :D :D :D