Back to Work

My maternity leave has officially come to an end. I was off for 8 weeks and it was really timed perfectly with our winter break. I went back for the start of the 2nd semester. It was hard leaving Jack the first day, but each day has gotten easier. Ideally, I go to the gym at 4:30 am and get home and get ready by the time Jack starts to wake up. On a good day I can feed him before I have to go to work. :)
Gabe has been the best! He wakes up for Jack's night time feeding which allows me a little more sleep before I have to start my day. About every day I get a video Gabe has taken of Jack smiling which totally makes my day. I love how Gabe gets to spend some quality time with Jack like I got to. He really is a good baby and is fun to hang out with during the day. :)

One of the many pictures I have gotten during the day

Gabe is putting my breast friend to good use. It frees up a hand to text or change the channel.

Goodbye 2010

I am sad to see 2010 come to a close...we had such a life altering year. Gabe took a leap of faith and quit teaching to pursue his job in baseball and we had the addition of our jumbo Jack in November. I'm not going to say this year wasn't stressful, because it was probably one of the most stressful years we have had, but it all paid off in the end. Jack was born healthy and strong (and gigantic) and Gabe got a full time contract with the Mariners. 

We celebrated New Years Eve like we always do at the Putz house, and this year's party did not disappoint! We laughed, drank and fortunately got out of there when the dancing started. :)  I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of the night! Ugh! We returned on New Years Day to watch football and laugh about the night before. It was the perfect way to end one year and start another. I am looking forward to what 2011 will bring for my friends and family. 

Jack's first Christmas

Christmas was a different experience for us this year...This year we got a little taste of what is to come for the rest of our Christmas days. Even though he didn't have a clue as to what was going on Jack made out like a bandit! I look forward to the next couple of years when he really understands what is going on and the excitement of Santa coming to visit. (Realistically, I want to be able to threaten him with the "Santa is watching you" line...) We had a great time visiting with friends and family and just like every year, this day has come and gone too quickly.

Jack with Grandma and Grandpa Reese

Aunt Amy was getting some smiles out of Jack

Nana put the sleeper hold on Jack despite all the noise on Christmas Eve

Gabe dressed up as Santa for the little kids

Jack was really excited to see Santa this year

Christmas pjs!

Christmas outfit! The shirt didn't last long and the hat was only worn for a couple of minutes.

The only photo I have of all 3 of us

Jack was exhausted after his first Christmas!

Major Meltdown

This time of the year is wonderful because Gabe is in his offseason and is home to help me out with Jack. Yesterday he took Jack for the day and allowed me the chance to go out to lunch and shopping with some girlfriends. I left the house at 9 am to a sweet boy asleep in his swing...I guess that didn't last very long. He is either going through a major growth spurt or his stomach is adjusting to his new formula because he has been a monster in the afternoon for the past couple of days. Gabe was a trooper and didn't let me know how awful his day was going but I did get this picture via text message...

This was meltdown #3 and it wasn't even noon yet...

Gabe aka Mr. Clean

When I was growing up there was this guy who lived on my street who we called Mr. Clean. His lawn looked like a golf course, his bushes and trees were always trimmed, and we even caught him washing the sidewalks in front of his house. This guy had the best looking house on the street. My brother used to mow the neighbors yards for money when he was younger and got hired by Mr. Clean when he was out of town. My brother was so nervous (and we were nervous for him) because he didn't want to mess up this guys yard! This flashback into my life leads me to my husband...Gabe is the new Mr. Clean on our street. We were sitting at home today and the doorbell rang. I answered the door and it was the little neighbor girls. They had come over to tell on one of their friends for stepping on our grass! I couldn't believe it!! I told them it was ok and then went to scold Gabe for putting the fear of death into these girls. Gabe loved the fact that the neighbor kids are scared to step on our grass. Sorry Jack...you can only look at the grass, not play on it.  :(

Roxy

Yesterday we celebrated a milestone--Roxy's first year with us! We got Roxy from the pound on December 2nd, 2009. I can't believe a year went by already! We got her when she was 7 months old and she has been a great dog...minus the occasional hole in the backyard and the barking when people are outside. If that is the worst she is going to do then we are pretty lucky. She loves playing with Leroy and she is very concerned about Jack. When he starts to cry she runs over to him to see what is wrong and she always gives him kisses when he wakes up. She has fit in very well with the family. :)

December 2nd, 2009

Roxy and Leroy quickly became buds

Our big girl all grown up!

1st Night Apart

At 3 weeks old, Jack spent his first night alone in his own room. Ever since we brought him home from the hospital we have kept him in the pack-n-play in our room. The convenience of having him in our room was nice while we were trying to figure out his sleeping pattern and what his little noises meant. He has pretty much developed a routine at night so we decided to put him in his crib. It was harder on me than it was on him. I was a little nervous because I worry about everything and my OCD kicks in at night, but he did great! It made for much more sound sleep by everyone in the house. Now if I could only figure out what to do with Leroy... :)