So I've been on a blogging hiatus - that whole "newborn" thing has definitely sucked all my free time (surprise surprise). And I wouldn't change it for the world....
I'm vowing to start writing again - it's not only good for my soul, but fun to share our crazy life with friends and family.
For the past 3 1/2 months, I've been learning this new role of Mommy. I've never known any love like this and I'm thankful everyday for God blessing us with our Lyla. After 12 weeks of maternity leave, I was not ready to return to work. I was loving each day getting to know my little girl. We walked the Katy Trail, attended Stroller Fitness, shopped, played with the dogs, visited family, organized the house, experienced Baby Bounce with Christie and Cohen, and sometimes just cuddled up on the couch and napped.
To suddenly leave her with a stranger seemed unacceptable. It was as if the lady we felt so lucky to have found to watch Lyla seemed just not good enough. I went through major anxiety about dropping her off on my first day back to work. I sat in her driveway for 15 minutes talking myself out of the car. I think she had to yank Lyla out of my arms with a crowbar when I needed to go. I just kept hovering. And crying the whole way to work did wonders for my appearance as I walked into the office. But I'm proud to say that after my first week back, I am so happy to be a working mom. I'm a firm believer that each family has to do what's best for them. For us, this works. I need that creative outlet that challenges me and fulfills my professional career. And I balance that (ok, sometimes it teeters) with this loving supportive husband and precious baby. And I have to thank the powers that be for Mrs. Barbee (Lyla's childcare provider) - she is AMAZING! Her warmth and kindness with babies is complimented by her child development expertise. The proof is in the pudding because when Lyla sees her in the morning, she smiles bigger than Texas - I know she loves being with Mrs. Barbee and that makes it so much easier to drop her off on my way to work. It's the kind of smile that I can't wait to see when I pick her up at the end of the day.
On that note, I'm shocked that I haven't received a million speeding tickets. The minute I leave the office in the afternoon, I'm flying down the street 90 to nothing to get to her. The anticipation of picking up that chubby-cheeked baby rejuvenates me and all of a sudden I'm refreshed and ready to snuggle. We have just a couple hours when we get home to spend playing (sometimes while Mommy makes/defrosts/orders in dinner), having a bath, and getting ready for bed. She has her last bottle around 8 pm and then she's down for the next 11 hours or so. That gives Shawn and I a chance to spend some time together before we go to bed and do it all over again and by "time together" I do mean catching up on whatever stupid reality show we've dvr'd. Of course, more often than not I'm lucky enough to have a huge project due and spend the next several hours on my laptop working on slides or a proposal, but that's life - - - it may be busy, but it's ours.
