Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it's back to work I go...

So, I started back to work on October 30th. Yes, a Friday. It was a great day to start back. I dropped Tad off at Grandma Lyons' then drove to SL. Once there I checked email, chatted, ate a chili potluck, Fred brought Tad down so we could show off his Ant costume. Then I did a little work (our system was down part of the day), chatted, a co-worker brought in her little boy, then I did a little more work, and finished off the day chatting. :} Productive huh?! It's weird to go back to work where you're used to being "non- mom" and coming home to a baby. Two very separate lives.
Overall the day wasn't bad. The best part was coming home and seeing Fred hanging out with Tad. On the kitchen counter was a rose in a cup. Fred said he'd brought it down to give to me at work, but forgot it in the car when he got the stroller out. He's not thrilled with me being back at work - he's very supportive though. My boss has a bunch of business trips this month so I figured I'd give it a week to decide if I was staying until the end of December or just until after her main trip.
The weekend was rough as Fred worked both Saturday & Sunday, then we started back into the work week where I don't see him as much. Luckily Grandma & Grandpa Lyons watch him Monday -Thursday. My dad said he'd watch him on Friday if things didn't work out, but of course Nanny Drysdale & Pompa need a turn on Fridays. They both live close so it's not a big hassle to drop him off in his jammies and head to work. I've been very grateful that Fred drops him off and picks him up 3 days a week.
I did tell my boss on Friday that I was giving my 2 weeks notice. I didn't want to be the typical Utah mom that works for a week then quits to stay at home. But....Fred and I have always had a close relationship and working has put a strain on it, we never see each other. My boss didn't handle the news very well even though she knew I was planning to quit at the end of the year. Hopefully things are a little more mellow Monday.
I don't know how we're going to do it. Fred told me Friday night that he can already tell a difference in my stress level and that I seem happier. I'm excited to be able to teach Tad how to do more things and focus more attention on Fred. He has one semester left! Then he should be able to work full time again. It'll be tight for a couple of months, but I think overall we'll be happier.

Who wouldn't want to be home with this?! (He sucks his thumb and folds his ear over.)

Little kid costumes are not any easier to make!

So, I've been a sucker the past 5 years making my own costumes to wear to work.

There was a chicken (which I borrowed). It was my first year at Marsh and no one else dressed up.... But it started a trend and I had to dress up every year.

There was a kangaroo (I used a pattern). Then the next few years I made up my own patterns: A gigantic purple octupus, a turtle, a christmas tree. (I know the Christmas tree doesn't really fit in. I had decided not to dress up and then changed my mind the night before Halloween.)

Luckily this year I have someone else to take over the dressing up. But I still made the costume without a pattern. When am I ever going to learn my lesson?

For all of you who thought he was a spider, spiders don't have antennae & they have 8 legs not 6. (Just ask Fred, he'll tell you all about bugs.) He's an ANT! In honor of dad's Ant research he did this summer for school.

He grins every time we put the hat on him- especially if he's in his jumper. It's hilarious!

Just how chunky is he?

At 2 1/2 months, Fred was guessing 16 lbs, I was guessing 15 lbs. The dr's verdict is.... 15 1/2!!! :} He's also 25 inches long. The doctor says not to be surprised if he towers over both of us (Fred is 6' & I'm 5'6").
They recommend 1-2 lbs a month, Tad gained 4 1/2 in 6 weeks. That's why we call him "Chubs".
Tad had a rough morning but handled it very well. He's sleeping through the night 12-8am! However, that made us rush for his 8:45am appointment. He did not like the idea of a bottle at all, so he was fussy. He did well as the doctor and his assistant poked at him. The doctor said I look sane for having a 2 month old - I'll take that as a compliment.
I managed to get Tad to take part of a bottle before taking him downstairs for his shots. He fell asleep so the medicine by mouth was easy. Then he had to have 3 shots. He did his little scream where he doesn't breathe & his face turned tomato red. As soon as I picked him up he snuggled into my shoulder and was fine, not even a whimper! He's such a good kid. He even fell back to sleep in his carseat.
The only bad part for me is thinking that we still have to go in to get shots at 4 mos, 6 mos, ...... seriously? Poor kids & parents. I am happy that the doctor's office has started a "well waiting" area so that you're not as likely to sit between a bunch of sick people. Maybe this flu thing has started something good.

Every parent thinks their kid is the cute...

So sorry, I have to post some of my latest favorite pics of Tad.

Not the best picture of Fred... I was trying to get a picture of Tad sucking his thumb- he just got the hang of it this week. When I looked at the picture to make sure it was okay we noticed Tad's other hand. :}


Yes, he's really this chunky and makes a sighing noise when he sleeps like this.
Learning to sit up!

He loves his jumper horse and is constantly jumping even when he's not in it. Fun, unless you're trying to bathe him and he won't sit down.
He looks so old.

I'm thinking he's going to be a daddy's boy.

Fall.... is there any other season?

I love fall! I'm not sure if it's because those are the dates I remember most with Fred, the perfect crisp air, conference, the pretty leaves, or the fact that yard work is done for the year! Fred finally had a day off from school AND work so we spent a family day together.

First we slept in. (With a baby?) Okay, kind of slept in. Tad has been in his crib for almost a week now and sleeps until 5:30 or 6:30am. We (cheated) fed him and put him back to bed, that counts as sleeping in. :}

Next we drove up Sardine Canyon to enjoy the leaves. We'd driven up Farmington Canyon last week and the leaves were already turning brown, but Sardine was beautiful!

We stopped at the Inn that I worked at through college to chat with Steph - who is still as fun as when I worked there, no wonder I loved that job!

Of course you can't drive to Logan without getting Aggie ice cream!

And we hardly ever drive to Logan without stopping at Smith n'Edwards on the way home. (Such a random store, we love it!) We picked out some great toys for Tad's Christmas. After a quick stop at home we were off for more Christmas shopping. I'm proud to say we are more than 1/2 way done! :}

It was a fantastic day! My favorite part was when we were picking out more toys for Tad and I showed Fred one. He hurried and put it in the cart and said "Don't let him see it!" I think he's enjoying this dad thing a little too much! But I'm loving the picture thing too much!