Back to work, and to daycare

Daycare
Last Thursday, I went back to work, and Riley went to daycare. Colleen is working from 6:30 to 3pm so she can pick Riley up early and spend the evening with her.
So, that morning, after Colleen had left, I got Riley and all her gear together and loaded up in the truck, then drove her to daycare. I was a bit nervous about leaving her with strangers and other kids and had a few butterflys in my stomach the whole drive. After I dropped her off and drove to work (one block away), I realized I had this nagging feeling that I was forgetting something. I checked the car seat, it was empty as it should be, and I knew that she was at the daycare, but I just felt as those something was wrong. This was the first time we left Riley with someone outside of the family. Weird feeling.
At 3:15, Colleen picked her up, then called me crying. She was sure Riley wasn't getting the best treatment; like what we could/would give her.
I think the whole thing was harder on us than Riley.
Friday, we took her to the doctors for her 4 month checkup and shots.
Today, she went back to daycare, and just to make sure all was well with her, I made a surprise visit after lunch. Well, when Riley saw me, she looked up and smiled, then went straight back to her bottle. No problem there. I then talked to the teachers to find out just what they do all day and how Riley is taking to it. They all say she is super mellow and gets along just fine. That, I think is very true. When I arrive in the morning to drop her off, she doesn't cry or seem scared, just very interested in the new place and people, especially the other kids. They also say that she is very interested in story time. She watches the teachers very intently when they talk to her. They also work on muscle strengthening for when she will start to crawl, and several of them mentioned how strong she was.
Well, so far, I think all is well at the daycare.

Friday's doctor visit

She had 5 booster shots, and she didn't like them.

Now, for her latest numbers:
Height: 26 inches --> 90-95th percentile
Weight: 15lbs, 8ounces --> 90th percentile
Head Circumfrence: 40.9cm --> 50th percentile

Learning to eat

We decided the time was right for Riley to learn to eat adult foods. She has taken it upon herself to start with solids.

16 weeks today!

It has been some time since my last post. I've actually been a stay-at-home dad this month, but that certainly doesn't mean I have any more time to post updates.
We are wrapping up a great visit with Grandma Joan. We all had a fun time, and I even got the lawn mowed (basically cutting off the frost killed tips). I could see in Riley's eyes that she was very content with GmJ, and will miss her.
Speaking of Riley, she has gone through so many subtle and overt changes this past month that it is hard to know where to start!
I guess the biggest thing is that she wants to move. She cannot sit still in your arms for long. She is either trying to touch and play with everything in sight, or she is trying to figure out how to get closer to things out of her reach.
Her smiles and laughs are more regular when she sees someone, especially when Mommy comes home from work. Yes, Mommy is her favorite person!

Cyclocross Season! (is almost over)

Finally got a chance to do a cyclocross race this year. The first race of the season took place on the two weeks after Riley was born, and the last race is the weekend before Christmas. At the start of 2006, I had this big plan to compete in all the races and go for overall points classification. That was before we knew. Even many months after we found out, I still thought I could do most of the races, I thought I would just miss the first few races.
Well, taking care of a newborn is not only extremely time consuming, it is also the most fun I've ever had. I may be gaining weight due to lack of exercise, but at least I'm enjoying it!

Here are a few picks of the race. It was out in Livermore on the 16th of December at the fairgrounds.I was doing quite well, moving up through the pack on each lap until my derailluer jammed. I had to stop and flip the bike for repairs. Though it only took me about 30-40 seconds, it was long enough for me to watch the field ride away. I was able to catch back on and pass a few people, but there weren't enough laps. The first picture is of me just getting past the guy in blue who hit the burm and nearly flipped head over. The other side of that burm is the arena, which is filled with liquified mud about 8 inches deep!


Right after the arena, we ran up the bleacher stairs. I'm the one just to the left of the pole in the middle of the picture. That was a tough run up after the third time....

Next race, maybe next season.

Here we are, in our vests trying to keep warm while surfing the net. Got to get her started right away so I have someone to fix my computer in the future! 

Well Riley had her two month appointment today. She is now 12 pounds and 8 ounces which puts her in the 90th percentile and is now 23 inches 7/8 long which is in the 95th percentile. I don't think the percentile thing really matters but she is growing like a weed and a good eater! Her head circumference (sp?) is 39 centimeters which is only in the 50th percentile which I thought was funny as Gilligans are always talking about their big Irish heads but she was in the 25th percentile at birth in this arena so she is growing.

The poor thing got 5 vaccines and seemed to look at Mommy and Daddy with a look of betrayal when she got the shots. Mom held her all day and when Dad got home he took a turn holding and consoling her. She is doing well but that is a lot of stuff going in her little body for one day. When she cries it is the cry she had at the doctor's office which she doesn't usually have in everyday life. Heartbreaking. Luckily she is mostly trying to sleep it off in between feedings.

We have many more photos that need to be uploaded from cameras etc. Will update the log as we are able.

Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving day.

Love,

Colleen

Riley's First Overnight

This past week has seen a number of changes. Riley has started to really show recognition, smiling when she sees us, cooing when we talk to her, and asking for a beer in the evening. OK, not really asking for beer, she likes milk....

The smiles are incredible, and come at the right time. Just when you are about to loose your mind for lack of sleep, she hits you with a smile, and all is right with the world.

She is now six weeks old, and fitting nicely into the 3-6 month old jumpers. She seems so much bigger now. Even just three weeks ago, she still felt like an infant, but no more.

This weekend, we took her for her first overnight trip to see Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Peter in Sonoma, and unlike Laney, she didn't freak out and sleep under the bed. In fact, she was perfect, and enjoyed it thoroughly.