Lots of Catch Up

What a busy couple of months!  Sorry for the lack of posts, but, well, you know, baby, work, etc., etc.  So lets start with the busy month of September.  The whole month we had a string of visitors, it was really quite a lovely way to wrap up my maternity leave.  We started with a visit from my Grandpa Frank.  He brought lots of books to read and gave lots of snuggles and kisses.

Another generation to love Scuppers

Then the rain started.  It started to deluge on our airport drop off and didn't stop for what seemed like a month.  It was called a 100-year flood and caused devastation to our community and beloved mountain towns such as Estes Park.  At one point, ALL the roads seemed like they were closed.  And of course this happened on the same day I was to pick up our next visitor, our dear friend, Ashleigh.  With some miraculous timing and expert navigation from my husband over the phone, I managed to slip by some back roads about 30min before they flooded and took "the long way" managing to get there on time.  Once I had obtained her we kind of did a head scratch of "now what do we do"? Since, literally, every way back north was closed.  So, we got dinner and then, as everything else had gone miraculously that day for us, it seemed fit that the interstate then, too, opened once we were ready to hit the road again.  Since we couldn't' get up to the mountains for any touristy things we just stuck around town and enjoyed catching up.  It was truly delightful to have her here. 

Next up in our visitor line-up were Eric's Dad and step-mom.  We had a great visit.  Now that we are homeowners, it is really very handy to have fathers that are comfortale with home-improvement projects.  We seem to get something new fixed with each visit, even if we didn't realize we needed it!  This time it was some new light fixtures in the kitchen.  Good-bye ugly fluorescent light!

Hello energy-efficient, much more attractive light!

Dad's are also great for reminding us to check smoke-detectors, furnace filters, and dryer vents.  Thanks guys!  It has also  been so wonderful to watch our parents fall in love with Annalise, she is such a lucky little girl to have so many amazing people in her life to love her unconditionally (as are we!)

As September drew to a close, so did my maternity leave.  I had mixed emotions about returning to work.  I knew that I really did miss my job but, as any working mother knows, it is REALLY HARD to leave your child.  Luckily my Mom anticipated this and came back out to help with the transition.  It was SO WONDERFUL, and I can't thank her enough.  We had such a great time with her and I knew that Annalise would now be fine spending my work days in the care of someone other than myself.

In between work days we found some time for fun as well.  Eric and I spent our first night away for the Great American Beer Festival.  Eric re-took a portion of the Level 2 Certified Cicerone exam that afternoon then we celebrated appropriately knowing that he did well.  We got the official word that he passed last week!

I just love the fall and was really looking forward to starting the holiday season with a trip to the pumpkin patch.  It was a beautiful day.

Annalise also celebrated 3 months while Mom was here

As mom's visit drew to a close it was time to start at the babysitters.  The first half day was a little rough, which gave me some anxiety, but I knew that is HAD to work.  Luckily my sweet girl transitioned beautifully after that.  I am just so very thankful that it is working out so well.  She eats, naps, and plays, without any difficulty and her sitter is just wonderful.

Next up, Annalise's first holiday!  Well, besides the day she was born of course.  I really love all the fall/winter holidays but now my love of this time of year has been even more escalated by sharing them with my daughter. 

It was so much fun to be in a family neighborhood on Halloween, we went through 2 giant bags of candy, Annalise has so much fun in store for her! 

And now the 4-month picture

At her check-up she was 13lbs 1.5ozs and 24.5 inches, following the 50th percentile  curve perfectly.  She is perfect all around!  She babbles, laughs (the most beautiful sound in the world, second to her first cries), even shrieks, has discovered how to roll over and now refuses to stay on her back (much to my dismay at bedtime), is starting to put everything in her mouth, and improves her coordination daily.

In this month of giving thanks I must say that my heart is just so very full of love and gratitude.  I have a perfect daughter that makes my heart swell every day, a lovely home that I can't believe is ours, a hard-working and loving husband who is just an amazing dad, a job I love, and an extended family that round out my life to make it the richest imaginable.  There really aren't words to describe how very blessed I feel.  I am definitely thankful.