Happy Father's Day and Other Stuff

Happy Father's Day (way late). We've been super busy lately. It took me approximately 2.5 weeks to be fully booked again with work. By 'booked' I mean, already spending approximately 80% of my work week in meetings and trying to get actual work produced in the 20% of the remainder. I'm happy to be busy at work - helps the day go by really fast!

Both of our families were out of town on Father's Day so it was just us - we went to church and then decided to head to Alex's parents' house to go in their pool because it was SO hot. I think that day it actually broke a temperature record, hitting about 98 degrees. We went in the pool, took Caleb in the pool - we also brought the dogs and after Caleb got out we let Miles loose and he went swimming. They were pooped that night (totally our goal!) Pete was pooped too, but not from swimming he despises swimming and he barks like a madman at people (or Miles) in the pool. Imagine how you would react if you saw someone purposely walk into fire - that's about the same way Pete reacts at seeing us go into the pool. So he was tuckered out from his hysteria.

Here are the pics of my main - he's getting chubby! He really is a happy baby but I think he was really processing this whole water-thing b/c he looks so serious!




I love this face here! So simple - but so expressive!

Done: Week 1

My first week back at work is under my belt. It feels good to be done with it.

• The whole pumping thing went SO well. Really, God is so good at meeting our needs exactly at the time that we need it - as my friend Donna said - not sooner and not later. On Monday I worked a half day, going to work after the La Leche League meeting. I got to work at about 2pm. I pumped once - 3.5 oz. When I picked Caleb up from my Mom's house she told me that she fed him once - 3.5 oz (even though she had 7 prepared)!
  
• My general schedule is such that I pump before leaving for work because Caleb is sleeping so I can't feed him, then I pump twice at work - on days that he was at with my in-laws I pumped in the car on the way there b/c it takes longer to get to their house. So my highest volume day I pumped 17 oz! the most he ever ate was 15 oz while I was at work. I am so pleasantly surprised, relieved and grateful to see that I have plenty of milk despite the past 3 months of worrying because I don't have all of the tell-tale signs of plenty of milk that some other women have.
• The hardest thing about returning to work is being VERY tired. When I was home, it was ok to lose 45 minutes or an hour of sleep because I could sleep until 8 or so when Caleb woke up - but in order to get to work by 7:30 I'm getting up at 5:30 or 6 - the days that I have boot camp I get up 4:45. On a couple of nights last week Caleb woke up at 2:45 or 3, which means I that by the time I got back to sleep - I only had an hour or hour and a half to sleep before getting up.
• This week was my anniversary! Alex and I have been married for four years! how wonderful - I'm going to post some old-school pics for you to enjoy.
• For those of you with kids - my cousin, Dave, in Chattanooga, DJs a Saturday morning radio show - the Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl - it's awesome, funky, rockin kid music. You can listen live on the internet from 8-10.

Rain at Disney...early in our dating life - 2002?
Please no comments about how SKINNY I was here - sheesh.

Later...2003 or 2004? (how about those sideburns??)
June 11, 2005



May 2008 - SeattleMay 2008 - Alaska

A compound word for lots of staples - The Stapletons

So while Lourdes and Jamie were in Miami for Sienna's birthday party, we took the opportunity to shoot some family pictures. What a beautiful little girl and an awesome family!

I really love this one!
So CLEARLY daddy's little girl (and not just b/c she looks just like him!)

So sweet!

Preparing...

So, next week I go back to work. I'm blessed that this is timed perfectly b/c my mom (a teacher) begins summer break tomorrow. My mom will have Caleb M, T, F and Alex's mom on W, Th when she is in town.

I'm nervous about pumping at work. I'm very afraid that somehow my milk supply will suffer. I'm just paranoid about it decreasing. Thankfully, there are three other women pumping at work who are all good friends and have sworn to be there to support me. Although we'll be fighting for the 'pumping' bathroom, it's a private bathroom where my company put in a big comfy easy chair for pumping. I kind of like pumping in my car - I love being alone in my car, it's often where I have my quiet time and good worship - so I think it might also be a good place for pumping.

'Nuff said about that - don't really like talking about it. Please pray for me next week that I don't breakdown at work and please pray for my milk supply.