Me and Norre at school

Today is the last day of the semester. Classes ended last week, and I give the final exam this evening.

And you may have wondered how I managed to take my baby to school/work with me every day this semester.

Well, it took (1) an exercise ball, (2) a Baby Bjorn carrier, and (3) a very content child who loves to snuggle with me. I had a friend snap this picture last week so I could share our story from this semester.

I went back to school/work when she was 4 weeks old, much too young to leave her any where. And for a while I just said

She's too young for daycare

or

The University of Michigan daycare doesn't accept infants younger than 12 weeks.

And both of those were true...

But secretly there was another reason: I didn't want to leave her any where else. I never thought I would be a mother, and I especially never thought I would be a mother who didn't want to leave her child at daycare....but I am. So Norre rode around campus each day in the Baby Bjorn. She was lulled to sleep by bouncing on an exercise ball while I was at my desk. And I loved spending each day with her.

At least for me, having a baby was and is very empowering.

Most people don't think twice about her being with me now, but if I ever feel the need to explain her presence now, I just tell the truth:

We never know how we are going to feel when a major life event happens. Whether it's a birth, death, or disease, we have to find new normals and ways of doing things. I am happier when she is with me, and if I am happy and not distracted by the thought of what could be happening to her at a daycare, then the quality of my work is higher.

Period.

And, surprisingly, most faculty members (with the exception of my advisor!) are not only ok with this, but they LOVE seeing Norre around campus. I don't try to draw attention to her, and I definitely don't expect people to ooh and ahh over my child, but so many people do. I think she might just be a beautiful distraction in all the daily muck of academia. I just make sure that I am always early--never late-- to meetings, and I always have everything done well ahead of schedule. I would never want anyone to think this arrangement is not working.

Ultimately, I think there are several benefits to this situation--I think she is a happier child because I can attend to her needs immediately, and I am still able to breastfeed her. And we get to spend the day together! Even though we aren't constantly singing or playing, I think she just really likes being close to me-- and I feel the same way.

I feel so blessed that I am able to have her with me because I know that not everyone is able to do this.

And I know that taking her with me may not be right for us in the future, but we will keep doing it as long as it is working.

Family photos

April 2011

***Note: Please do not save the above pictures from this blog.

I figured out how to take these from our proof website but technically I don't own them...

Norre's new thing is smiling at herself in the mirror.  She started smiling at me in the mirror, but now notices herself.  Then she initiates a smile at the baby in the mirror, and becomes a bit shy.  So cute!  Wish I captured these moments when I was not in my pj's yet again.  :) 

In terms of photography, this is not the greatest picture ever taken. But it sure is a keeper.

It's Saturday morning. I'm still in my pj's before my shower, Norre just woke up, and we are playing and bouncing to a stand. And she's just so happy. (She LOVES to stand up. She has been standing for months now--she can barely hold her head up, but her legs are so strong she can easily support her weight--and she loves it. And while standing she often gives me this mouth-open grin, like I can't believe it this is just the greatest thing that's ever happened!!)

So there we are on Saturday morning, playing away, and she is giving me this look, and I just start to think...

My baby girl will never be this exact age ever again.

Tomorrow she will be even older than she is today. What if we never do this again??

Quick! Emblazon the image of her in front on you on your brain! Make it last forever! These moments are fleeting! Never forget that sweet smile, chubby oh-so-kissable cheeks, window-to-my soul blue eyes, the rolls on her arms and thighs, her buddha belly that looks big but is still so small that I can make a circle around it with my thumbs and middle fingers, the way she coos and tries so hard to talk! Never forget!

But then I remember that I have a terrible memory.

Perhaps that is why I love photography so much. It helps me remember.

But the problem with being the family photographer is that you never get your picture taken. Sure, I have some. They are the results of "Can you take a picture of me and Norre?" But that just sounds vain after a while. And most people want pictures of them and Norre. Who wouldn't? She the cutest bug you've ever seen. But the result is that I have few pictures of me with my baby girl. Particularly doing our every day things like reading books and holding her while she stands in front of me with that I-can't-believe-it-this-is-just-the-greatest-thing-that's-ever-happened look.

Solution?

The timer on my little digital camera.

 I have a photograph to help me remember her looking at me like I am the greatest thing since...well, since ever. .

How did I ever get so lucky as to have this beautiful child?

I can't believe my gorgeous girl is already 3 months old. She has the most amazing smile!

I think this may be my favorite picture to date.

We had fun with letter time last week! She was sitting in her Bumbo seat for the first time and was just tickled when we started spelling things. It's never too early to learn the alphabet. :)

Look at that concentration! She is such a hard worker.