the Office

so i've been back for three days. i feel so lucky to be able to have both my work and my family. everyone at work is wonderful and the actual work i do there is fun for me. i have my own office with windows that i can look out at birds through, and people stop in to see me and welcome me back.

i've been able to play with elenora in the mornings before i go and then spend good time with her in the afternoons and evenings. i find myself laying down with her for her afternoon naps--not because i'm tired so much as the fact that i want to be near her after being gone for four hours of the day. i don't want to miss a moment of bonding time, and i really hope she doesn't do anything new without me there. she's so precious and amazing. she gets more interactive every day. tonight she was so lively on her play mat that i thought she would roll right over from front to back. when i put her on her tummy she kept putting her knees up almost under her. that's a good step towards crawling.

tonight i was sitting with her in the glider and she was reaching out to her stroller (which has to be stored in her room due to our lack of space). it's a beautiful lime green and black, so she likes the colors. i sat her in the stroller and then put her animal sounds book in front of her and she spent a long time looking at the pictures and touching the sound buttons and i think she kind of understood that when i helped her to push the buttons she was causing the sounds to come out of the speaker. she really likes the pictures of birds (ducks, chicks, roosters) and isn't so interested in the pigs and elephants.

both yesterday and today elenora took the bottle from h. while i was at work, so it's quite a relief. today she slept from before i left until two hours after i'd gone, so it was a nice easy day for h. friday my folks will come down to watch her while i'm at work.

all together i'm so happy and i feel so fulfilled. i get the best of all worlds. i love my job and i love my family. my baby is healthy and i finally feel as if i understand her needs and can meet them. she's sleeping well and eating well and she's growing and learning so much.

we have so much to be thankful for this christmas.