Short Week. Busy Week.

With Thanksgiving days away I have a lot going on. Lucky for me, my work responds with kindness and flexibility. I can do as much or as little as I choose, or make time for.

Generally I'm switched onto hyperdrive. I keep Ivy stimulated, her parents feeling taken care of, life running smoothly and initiative flowing. Recently I've been creating an extensive booklist and menu for our upcoming days together. But this week, this week I'm moving slow.

Our Thanksgiving dinner will be at our house. We'll be nine total and I'll do the cooking. Our family and guests are bringing pie, bread, salad and one family favorite. Everything else falls onto me. I'm up to the challenge but it takes a lot of planning and organization. Earlier this week I created my menu, grocery list and organized my recipes. Today I'm going to shop, with Ivy, and tomorrow I'll cook, also with Ivy. Of course everyday life must continue on as well. Ivy still needs her naps, opportunities for tummy time and encouragement to sit. Not to mention meals, reading time and fresh air - which go without saying, right?

Alright - back to work!

Isn't she doing great?!

Ivy Days.

Ivy days are good days. I enjoy going to work and I enjoy her company. She's an easy-going, low-reactive, adorable baby girl. Ivy is an only child and her parents are the kindest, most thoughtful parents I've ever worked for. Well, except that dear mama in San Francisco. She ties with them.

Most days consist of three naps. These naps used to go, long, short, short. But over the past week or so we've moved up to two longish crib naps, 1.5-2.5 hours [often with a break in-between but only self-soothing], and one short nap that we share, her in the sling, me in the rocking chair, each evening just before Helena returns from work. This last nap allows Ivy to stay up until nine or 9:15 and get some quality time with Mitchell after he returns from work.

So far it's working well for everyone though I'd love to see Ivy get to bed a tad earlier and move toward giving up that sling nap, despite how much I enjoy it, I'd love for her to have a longer, deeper night sleep.