Halfway Home - Day 4

Oh the best laid plans...

I had planned on posting "regularly" while Jenny was gone.  After the first full 24 hours came and went, I realized that was a ridiculously overzealous and unlikely plan.

Since Thursday night my evenings (after putting Bailey down) have been a struggle to get off the couch and do anything productive.  

Some highlights and thoughts from the weekend so far:

• The more interactive tasks can be for Bailey, the better chance they'll go well.  Diaper changes, getting dressed, bath time, brushing her teeth - if she can participate, she wants to. If I don't let her participate, things tend to get "interesting" quickly.

• Chuck E. Cheese is a little scary. For so many reasons. I think the overstimulation got to me more than it did Bailey!

• Bailey started randomly singing "Jesus Loves Me" on Friday morning.  I'm not going to kid myself into thinking she knows what all she's saying, but there's something absolutely beautiful about a 2-yr singing about Jesus.  

• Bailey counted to 10. Correctly!  She had been skipping #6 and repeating 7, 8, and 9 a few times before coming to 10, so I see that as progress!

• Jenny left me nice notes and treats around the house.  She's so good at doing these little things to show me how much she loves me and appreciates that we were able to make this work for her to get away.  I love her generous heart.

• Not to be forgotten, Abby has pooped herself twice and she peed on the floor mat this morning. Thanks Abby, for reminding me that at times you're higher maintenance than a child.

• In my quest to make sure Bailey is taken care of and looks presentable, my appearance on the other hand...
• I shaved my head this morning. Well, I shaved most of my head, unknowingly missing a large unshaved patch of hair.  I was completely oblivious until a friend gently pointed it out at lunch...
• I was on the way out the door to church this morning until I realized I was wearing jeans and just an undershirt.
• At church I realized that I hadn't finished buttoning my shirt. 

On to the pictures...

Daddy-Daughter Time - Day 1

Jenny left this afternoon for 6 nights away for the Created for Care adoptive moms retreat and some additional R&R. For the better part of the next 6 days, it's me and Bailey.  Let the games begin!

I'm excited for all of the daddy-daughter time Bailey and I will have. And I am really excited that Jenny gets some much deserved rest and relaxation, and a chance to connect with some new friends.  

If the first 8 hours are any indication, I expect to sleep really well each night.  Within minutes of saying goodbye to Jenny at the airport, Bailey was very unhappy to only see one airplane and one large scary blue horse with crazy eyes as we made our way home. 

After a few efforts to divert her attention she finally settled on playing with her feet for the next 30 minutes, only to fall asleep 10 minutes before we got home.  That was all the nap she was interested in today.  Her "nap" in the crib consisted of getting her arm stuck between the mattress and the crib frame (I think that was a first), smuggling some books into the crib for some reading and ripping, and pretty much doing anything to avoid falling asleep. 

I eventually gave in, got her up, and we enjoyed a nice short trip to Safeway to get some groceries and her usual treat.

COOKIE!!

Thirty-or-so minutes later, the cookie was just a distant memory. Back home from Safeway I decided to let Abby back in from outside. Evidently Bailey was looking forward to doing this, even though I've seen her open the back door one. Maybe. 

A photo couldn't capture the stomping and flailing, but that larger than life tear tells the story.

Although giving Abby her treat was hardly a consolation in Bailey's mind, she finally gave in.  Moments later, she's sprawled on the tile floor...snow angel time!!

Bailey then proceeded to "help" me with dinner, her interest and attention span lasting all of 30 seconds. I'm thinking our dinners are going to be nice and simple, and can't burn easily.  Keeping tabs on Bailey and food simultaneously is no small task.  

I'm excited for our adventures over the next six days.  It's going to be hard work but it will give me just a small taste of what Jenny has to handle 60-some-odd days per year.