New Job, First Tooth, First Cold

I've been enjoying being a stay-at-home mom, but in the back of my mind, I've worried that when E is all grown up and going off to school, that I'd start getting bored. I know that's not for several years, but I didn't want such a huge gap in my resume. So, I've taken a job at a PR/marketing firm that allows me to work from home part-time. The firm is also run by three women that are all mothers, so they are more than understanding about the demands of motherhood.

So far, I'm really enjoying it. My boss is very low-key and the work is such that I can still use my skills. On Wednesday, we had a meeting in my apartment, with E in her Pack n' Play right next to us (she was supposed to be napping). It worked out well, and after we were done with business, we played with E! So much fun.

So far E has not shown much signs of stranger anxiety. Sometimes when I'm walking away from her, she'll start to whine, and she shows a preference for being held by me or SK. But otherwise, she goes to other people readily.

Firsts
E has had her share of firsts in the past couple weeks. Her first tooth has finally come in. This coincided with a bout of constipation, so she was cranky and in pain for a few days there.

And now E is experiencing her first cold -- a stuffy/runny nose and a touch of fever. The past couple nights, she's been waking up howling. SK and I both lay in bed hoping that for the first few minutes she'll quiet down. Unfortunately, she usually goes on for awhile, and we are forced to pick her up. Last night I stayed up with her two hours trying to get her to sleep. But when I pick her up at night, she thinks it's playtime. When Daddy picks her up, it's all business and she goes right to bed. E is making me look bad.

Anyway, thanks to sleep deprivation, my immune system must have become vulnerable, and now I've got whatever cold E had. Ugh. Everyone I talk to on the phone says, "Gosh, you sound awful!" I guess I need to go get some cold medication and chicken soup!