3 months old

To help adjust to day care and work Great Grandma Donna came out for a week.  It was great as it allowed Sara to continue to just go to day care for 1/2 days while I went back to work full-time.  Sara had 3 weeks of 1/2 days and started to go full days this week.  Sara continues to do well in day care but this is not a huge surprise as she is a very mellow and adaptable baby.  Generally if she is feed she is happy.
When Grandma Donna was in town we enjoyed a picnic with Ellis work one night.  We accidentally all ended up in somewhat coordinating outfits.  We also enjoyed a night out at one of the new restaurants in town which was fun.

Mostly we stayed home and spent time together and got used to getting up in the morning to go to day care. Grandma Donna is so great with Sara.  They spent hours together just talking and playing.  We caught this picture of them talking and smiling together. 

Sara also turned 3 months old.  Here are a few photos from her 3 month photo shoot. 

I also had to include this picture because if Sara is ever fussy one thing that almost always works is to put her outside on the deck.  I'm not sure if its the heat or being outside but it makes her happy.  So while we cook  or eat in the evening Sara often hangs out on deck.  Don't worry the kitchen and the deck are connected for those wondering. :) I'm starting to worry about winter.  

Back To School

The time has flown by and last week maternity leave came to an end and I headed back to work and Sara headed to her first days of day care.  I went back on a Wednesday and will be working shorter hours for a few weeks while we both get adjusted to work and day care.  We have Sara enrolled in the day care a 1/2 block from our house so we don't even have to put her in the car seat to drop off/pick up.  We just carry her over which is great.
So far she has done well at day care.  There are 2 other babies born within 2 weeks of her so that will be great, especially as she gets bigger.  She is in a stage where she is really studying things so I think she likes looking at all the mobiles, toys and other babies.  We have stopped by at odd times just to check and she has just been happily sleeping or looking around at everything.  Hopefully she continues to do well.

I miss her during the day but I feel better she is adjusting well so far.  I have mixed emotions about being back at work and away from her but overall I am glad to be back at work and this is the best option for our family for now.

First day of school picture

 I have some great co-workers who put this banner outside my office.  I'm so grateful to have a job I enjoy and great people to work with. The small sticky below says "back" to make it complete. :)

Grandpa John Visits

Grandpa John came up to visit for a few days last week.  He came up to visit the day after she was born and still in the NICU and then again when she was about 5 weeks old so its was fun to get his thoughts on how much she has changed. We took this picture because last time he was here she fit into the green shirt.  The picture doesn't show it great but she is a lot bigger. Hard to imagine the green onesie fit just a few weeks ago.

Sara LOVES to be outside and go for walks so we took a lot of walks when Grandpa was here. Sunday all of us went up to Bogus Basin and hiked the ski hill.  Ellis carried Sara in the backpack and we walked up until they got too hot. It was a great hike.  Grandpa, Sara and I took the dogs for a walk each morning and Sara went in the backpack.  (Thank you Brent and Shy, we get a lot of use out of that pack).  We, of course , took our usual pilgrimage to Cabelas.  Grandpa loves Cabelas and they don't have one in Colorado (yet).   Also not surprising, we took a walk to get ice cream one afternoon.  Other than our multiple walks a day we enjoyed some time hanging out at home and on the back patio.

Sara wore her sun hat and matching sun suit (thanks YiYi!)  most of the weekend since we spent so much time outside.  She is bald so we have to cover her little head.

Grandpa and Sara

Sara and Grandpa had many "conversations" 

 Sara is really starting to smile, Grandpa caught this smile one morning

Visitors

There are a lot of great things about a new baby and one of them is that lots of people come to visit you.  We have had a few visitors in the last few weeks and have had a great time introducing everyone to Sara and sharing a bit of Boise with everyone. 

Great Uncle Joe and Aunt Jody (Grandpa John's youngest brother and wife) stopped by for a night on a road trip.  They stayed at a hotel with a great pool so I jumped at the chance to go swimming. I have great memories of swimming as a kid so I enjoyed swimming around with Sara. She was happy to just float around in the water. That evening the pool seemed to be all babies and their families so that was fun.

Ellis and Sara ready to swim. 

We had a nice visit with Uncle Joe and Aunt Jody.  They brought Sara some beautiful knitted purple sweaters in multiple sizes which will be perfect for fall. Aunt Jody and Sara have the same birthday.

Then Teri, Brandon, Brent and Shy (my best friends from high school and their awesome spouses) came to visit us from California.  It was just a great weekend and we enjoyed sharing a bit of our lives in Boise with them. We packed a lot into the weekend, most of which revolved around food.  We all really love food. Sara was a great tour guide and came with us all over town. Sara took them to Friday night and introduced them to chocolate dipped mint oreos. Saturday morning we went to Bacon for breakfast and ate..well bacon.

Bacon sampler

Then we visited the farmers market and sampled more food.  We relaxed at home that afternoon and then went to all you can eat sushi and ate out weight in sushi.  We ended the evening at our local distillery pub. Sunday we took the dogs for a walk and then dropped Sara off at our friends house so we could float the Boise river.  We had a great time floating the river and enjoying the summer heat.  We ended Sunday with homemade pizza and ice cream and had fun assembling all the pizza together. 

Luckily, we had great weather all weekend so we spent a lot of time just sitting on the patio and talking.  Its such a blessing to have such wonderful friends for over a decade. We were so glad they came out to visit. I did a terrible job of taking photos over the weekend but I'll share the few we took. 

Brent and Shy are both UW alumni and gave Sara a great UW onesie. I may have to get Sara a CU onesie now.   

Teri and Sara on the patio.  Somehow I didn't get a photo with Brandon (sorry Brandon!)

Don't you think they all look great with a baby and should have some babies of their own? :)