3, 2, 1

Get prepared, this is a long one...

As the time of going back to work is coming near I want to take time to reflect on my own journey into parenthood....feel free to read or not. I cannot believe that I will be going back to work in 3 weeks. Wow! We are trying to gear up for this transition-meaning making sure that Olivia takes to a bottle & for myself taking short trips out of the house without her. I'm not sure which one is going to be easier.

After a bottle this week, what a look!

Bottles

When we first got home from the hospital we were supplementing after each feeding & she was doing well with a bottle. As we got better with breastfeeding, we supplemented less and less. We are down to 2-6 oz. a day depending on the day. Each day she usually takes her iron in a bottle. As we are just getting into the groove-the last 2 days she hasn't taken any bottles, yay! Unfortunately by all the reading I have done to gear up to go back to work this is around the time we would want her to begin substituting a feeding with a bottle from dad. It creates mixed emotions-I'm happy we are finally doing well breastfeeding, it has been a struggle & now I'm becoming anxious about going back to work-I don't want it to be stressful for both Olivia & Blake. He is staying home the first 3 days that I head back to work, thankfully he can do this. I want her to get enough to eat while I'm away (Blake & I went out for a dinner date for 3 hours, in the time she should have had 1 bottle from my parents & she refused until I got home) and not be upset. I want it to be a great bonding time for them.

Definitely has her daddy's toes

  

My thoughts....

I have loved every minute that I have spent with her, as I say there are good days & better days. She truly is our special little girl. I can't believe that my 12 weeks have flown so quickly. I am grateful that I was able to take this much time off of work & spend it with Olivia. Reflecting on the time, the first couple of weeks I was unsure if I was going to be able to handle being off of work for 12 weeks. It was a hard transition even though I had this precious little girl, but as the weeks went on we found our routine (ok, hers-I just followed) and now the second half has gone by too quickly. Around week 5 I couldn't believe that normally I would've been preparing  to go back-I wasn't ready, we hadn't figured everything out together yet. Around week 7, I thought ok we got this-now I'll be ready to head back to work. Now week 9 is here and it really is time to start preparing to go back to work and I don't want to (or at least a part of me doesn't). I do miss my students & co-workers and doing things for myself, but I already know that I will be missing her all the time that I'm there. One thing that will help is knowing summer isn't too far away-I'm only working about 4 weeks & then I'll be back home with Olivia until August.

Things that I have learned about myself during this time:

1. Breastfeeding is hard, but I can do it!

2. Taking 12 weeks was worth it.

3. This one is hard to admit-I don't think I could be a full-time stay home mom. Work is a good place for me. Part-time would be ideal.....good thing I have summers!

Things I've Learned:

There are great supports out there for moms, take it as you will. There is always going to be unsolicited advice given, but some of it can be helpful. I enjoyed going to the breastfeeding group at Methodist West, Baby Yoga at the Family Tree, and reading FB posts from the La Leche League. They all were great  to listen or read about moms telling struggles or triumphs and feel like you're not going it alone. Yes, Blake has been a great support, but sometimes your husband just can't understand everything little thing like a fellow mom. I'm sure he would say the same about me. We each bring our own unique view to the parenting thing which is a good balance.Some advice I'd pass along....

1. As always do what works for you and your family.

2. Take it 1 day at time. 

3. Breathe

4. Ask questions-it's ok. People want to help.

Can't get enough of her smiles

As my maternity leave ends it is bittersweet, stay tuned.....Olivia is going to have some bonding time with dad, grammy & pop, and grandma & grandpa!

Thank you to all those that are helping cover my time back to work to finish out this school year, it is very very appreciated and makes this transition easier.