3 Months In (plus a little)!

Well, we survived what some people refer to as the "4th Trimester."  What have we learned from our first 3 months as parents?

Answer: Al has spoiled us and we may never have another baby...seriously.  Mark and I realize that we deserve ZERO praise for this, and that it is simply a blessing luck (I say "luck", because what child isn't a "blessing"?).  But, Al is so chill!  He has made our transition from "irresponsible twenty-somethings" to "parents" much easier, and we are so thankful.

A little about Al:

• Tummy time = unhappy time.  Al doesn't mind being on his stomach, but don't ask him to do anything but suck on his hand while he's there.  He is SLOWLY gaining head/neck control, but I have no idea what his arms and chest can do.  It worries me a tad, especially when I read all of the "where your baby should be at 3 months" type articles.  But I know it's not something to obsess about.  He'll catch-up!

• He LOVES sucking on his thumb/fingers/hand.  The more, the better

• He'll sleep all night...if he's swaddled.  Mark and I tried to put him to sleep without the swaddle and it was a disaster.  So, we'll keep it up as long as it works.
• Already bonding with cousin James

• While he's "chill" all the time, he reserves his smiles for when he's really happy, usually when he's with his grandma or dad (I'm only a tad bitter)

Well, the posts are few and far between because I can't stand to be on the computer when I'm home from work.  Must get my hands on this little guy!

So Excited!

I have SO much I want to blog about (little Al, books I've read, a fun birthday), but right now I'm too excited about my upcoming weekend.  A weekend that will look a little like this:

So excited to celebrate one of my faves!

Working Mother

The first week back at work was a breeze for me.  (Well, starting with day two...the first day had it's necessary adjustments.)  Once I figured out how to budget my time so that I could continue breastfeeding/pumping and still get all of my work done, I was set.  People kept asking how I was doing and I TRULY didn't understand why.

For those of you judging me, let me tell you this: taking care of an infant is work.  Hard work!  For me, it was more physically and emotionally demanding than my current job.  That doesn't mean I didn't love every minute of my maternity leave; it just means that going back to work seemed - well, I'll just say it - easier.  Oh, and I forgot to add this tiny detail about my first week back: Al was with my mom and dad all week.

Ok, you caught me...that is not a tiny detail.  Week one was a breeze because Al was with two people I trust 100%.  People he knows.  Grandparents he loves.  My mom who sends me at least 3 pictures of him a day.  BREEZE.  And I actually thought, "I've got this!"

Fast forward to week two, and Al's first week at day care: significant decline in my productivity at work, tears (Al's tears), phone calls and emails to other day-cares, tears (Mark's tears), constant worry, and tears (my tears).  So this is why people kept asking if I'm ok.

I'm working on being ok.  I like my job and know I would miss it if I stayed at home...because I did.  But, then there's the guilt.  Oh, the guilt.  Was Al held today?  Did that sick baby touch him?  Does he know how much I love him when I'm able to leave him for 9ish hours?  Even the days he's with my mom are hard. Especially when I miss seeing him be this adorable:

(Thanks to technology, I don't have to miss it altogether)

This LINK helped me with the transition, and reminded me that there are other moms out there doing the same thing...often with less support.  So, I'm accepting the good of being a "working mom" with the bad.  And I know deep down, "I've got this!"