Maternity Leave

Dear Mia,


I started writing a blog post on April 12th and it was going to detail how we spent our days together while I was on maternity leave.  This is how it began:

One of my favorite parts of the day is cuddling with you on the couch and watching The Price is Right.  We do this from 10:00 am to 11:00 am every day, just after I change your diaper and get you dressed for the day.  I wrap you up in a little fleece blanket so you're nice a cozy, recline our seat and settle in for must-see-TV.  Sometimes Oscar will jump up and cuddle with us on the footrest.  There's no better way to spend 60 minutes.


I've been home with you since the day you were born and it's been the most important six weeks of my life.


I've come to realize that one of the main purposes of maternity leave is to teach me that I cannot move at the speed of light anymore.  Life with you moves a lot slower than it did before you arrived.


Unfortunately I never found the time to finish this post and it sat unpublished in my blog drafts for months.  I'm going to try and finish it now because it's scary how faded those memories are, and I want to keep those memories alive.  So here it is:


Our day would start at 5:00am when you would wake up hungry for your morning bottle.  Your cries would rouse me from my sleep and we'd head to the kitchen together where I'd make your bottle.  You'd eat like a champ and then I would change your diaper and pump for your next meal.  While I pumped you would fall asleep laying next to me on the couch.  When I was done we'd both go back to bed until you woke again at 9:00am.  The cycle repeated at 9:00am with a bottle, diaper change and pumping, followed by an outfit change for you.  Then we'd return to the couch for the hour of TV watching that I detailed above.


You'd inevitably fall asleep again from about 10:30am to Noon.  I'd spend most of that time showering and getting ready for the day.  Sometimes I'd put laundry away or run the vacuum, too.  You woke up to eat again at 12pm and then we'd sit with your Dad (who came home every day for lunch during my leave) from 12:15-12:45pm.  After he left I'd have lunch and pump while you took another small nap.


By 2:00pm we were both ready to get out of the house.  Sometimes we'd head out to the grocery store or run errands, and other days we'd go for a short walk around the neighborhood.  I was still having some pain from the c-section so our outings were always pretty brief.


You would eat again at 3:00pm, whether we were home or not, and then I'd have to be home shortly after that to pump.  Sometimes (ok, once in a blue moon) I'd get dinner ready and your Dad and I would eat when he got home at 5:15pm.  There was more eating/diaper changing/pumping at 6:00pm, 9:00pm and 11:00pm.  Your Dad and I would also change you into your pajamas and give you a bath (3 times a week).  You would fall asleep right after your final feeding at 11:00pm and sleep like a champ until the next morning at 5:00am.


Mia, the time we spent at home together was priceless and I wouldn't trade those six weeks for the world.  I enjoyed each and every minute of our time together, and I'm so glad that I finally found the time to write about it.  I hope I can continue to blog and keep these kinds of memories alive.  I love you, nugget!


Love,
Momma

Mornings with Mia

Dear Mia,

I've been back at work for six weeks now, and thankfully we've been able to establish, and stick to, a pretty good morning routine during that time.  Granted, it's ever-changing as you grow and mature, but it's working for now!

I try to be up and in the kitchen by 5:30am.  I empty the dishwasher, tidy up downstairs, and get your morning bottle heating up before I sit down to pump.  Around 6am you begin to stir, wake your Dad up, and the two of you come downstairs for your morning bottle.  Your Dad sings this song to you every morning, and you love it:

Good morning to you

Good morning to you

Good morning Miss Mia

Good morning to you!

You eat about 6 ounces of milk while snuggling with Daddy (who may or may not be half-asleep) and then lay in your boppy next to me while I finish pumping.  Some days you're more awake than others, but if you've eaten enough you're in a good mood and are perfectly content sucking on your hand as I talk to you and we watch Home Improvement re-runs.

I'm done by 6:15am and after getting everything packed up for the day (your diaper bag, bottles of milk, my pump, empty bottles, my lunch, my purse) we head upstairs to get perdy.

First, I change you out of your sleeper and into your day's attire- usually a onesie, pants and socks.  (Even though it's summer, I'm always afraid your little toes are going to get cold!)  You are always so bright eyed and smiley during this time that I can't help but give you LOTS of kisses as you lay on your changing pad, and tickle your tummy as I change your clothes.  When you're all dressed we head across the hall to the bathroom and I start getting ready.

I have a little spot for you all decked out on the counter and you hang out with me while I apply my face and straighten my hair.  I turn on Pandora and we listen to music or we talk about all of the fun things you're going to do at your Aunt Courtney's house.  You are cheery and happy until about 6:50am when you fuss until I turn you on your side and give you your pacifier.  You curl up just slightly right there on the counter and start to doze.

When I'm done in the bathroom I move you into the bed, right next to your Daddy (who usually returns to bed after an unsuccessful attempt at a coffee wake-me-up).  As soon as your head hits my pillow you fall asleep and snooze for ten minutes while I get dressed.

We're out the door at 7:15am with all of our bags in tow.  You wake up momentarily when I buckle you into your car seat but you are always fast asleep by the time we back out of the driveway.  I drop you off at Aunt Courtney's house around 7:30am and head off to work.

I have never been a morning person, however I'm realizing that mornings can be SO much more enjoyable if I give myself more time to slow down and enjoy moments with you.  It's those little morning giggles, bare belly tickles, and kisses I plant on your beautiful little feet that get me through my (sometimes difficult) days at work.  I love spending my mornings with you Mia, and I hope we can continue a good morning routine as you get older.  I love you!

Love,

Momma

Life Before Mia, Part 3

Dear Mia,

To finish the story...

Unfortunately the dogs haven't caught on to the meaning of the weekend.  Their internal alarm clocks wake them up at the same time as during the week.  They stretch, shake and even lick me awake.  Sometimes I can hold them off until 7:00 am but that's if I'm lucky!  I take over dog duty on the weekends- feeding them, letting them outside and giving Toby his pills.  I resist the urge to fall back into bed with your Dad (most of the time) and get my day started early.

I tidy up around the house, start a load of laundry and maybe run the dishwasher.  If I feel adventurous I might make pancakes for breakfast, and if I feel lazy I do a run to Panera and wake your Dad up with a steaming cup of hot coffee on his nightstand.  Eventually I take a shower so I look presentable for the rest of the day, and continue on with the day's chores.  Those could include cleaning, organizing, odd jobs around the house like hanging art, yard work, paying bills, running to the grocery store and running to the pet store for dog food or other supplies.

We also like to plan fun things to do on the weekends like see friends and family, build LEGO sets, watch movies and cuddle on the couch.  We tend to eat out on the weekends because we're usually running around town and it's more convenient that way.  By the time Sunday night rolls around we're pretty exhausted and get to bed nice and early so we're refreshed for the Monday morning wake-up.

Mia, I can only imagine what kind of destruction you'll do to this lovely little schedule.  Your Dad and I have already started brainstorming about your needs and which one of us will be responsible for what.  Who will drop you off at daycare?  Who will pick you up?  Who will make dinner?  Who will get up with you in the middle of the night?  Who will take primary care of the dogs?  We're trying to plan, and trying to prepare, but like I've said before, we're leaving most of the schedule up to you.  Your Dad and I are a team and we're ready to adapt our schedule to meet your needs- whatever and whenever they are.  

We love you, Mia, and we're as ready as we're ever going to be!

Love,

Momma

Life Before Mia, Part 2

Dear Mia,

To continue the story...

I'd love to say that I get home from work and whip up a five-star meal, clean the house from top to bottom, and then get my daily recommended amount of sleep.  The truth is, your Dad helps me out A LOT in the kitchen.  He always has dinner half-way cooked by the time I get home and all I need to do is set out place mats, napkins, silverware, drinks and maybe prepare some side dishes or condiments.  We would starve if it wasn't for your Dad.  He's the best!

We love to watch Wheel of Fortune during dinner (last night's puzzle was "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" and I guessed it right with only the T and H!) and tell each other about our day.  We also start making plans for the weekend and sometimes start writing a to-do or grocery list.  After dinner is fished I wash dishes and tidy up the kitchen.  By this time your Dad has found his way to his office where he'll take computers apart, reassemble computers, read about computers, order new computers... you get the idea*.  He also spends some time with his small animals- cleaning their cages and feeding them and then he lifts weights or does some cardio exercises.

After dinner I'm spent.  Sometimes I'll help myself to a bowl of ice cream in front of the TV but the current line-up of shows just doesn't hold my attention like it used to.  I've also been known to cross-stitch and even scrapbook during this time but lately that's just been too much of an effort for me!  I feed the dogs, let them outside, give Toby his night pills and end up in bed by 9:00pm with my Kindle, doing more reading.  The dogs also join me in bed- Oscar loves to sleep right up next to me, Wilson sleeps at my feet, and sometimes Toby will keep your Dad's side of the bed warm until here gets there.  Buddy can be found curled up on one of the two dog beds.

I don't usually last very long in bed without falling asleep so I'm out by 9:30pm.  Depending on the quality of The Office and Seinfeld re-runs on TV, your Dad falls asleep somewhere between 10pm and 11pm.  I wake up a few times each night to use the bathroom and flip from my left side to my right side (and back again) but for the most part we sleep uninterrupted until our alarms go off the next morning.

Love,
Momma

* When I told your Dad I was writing this post and including a list of his computer-related extracurricular activities, he asked me to mention that he also writes "sweet apps."  I don't know what those are either, Mia.  But he's promised me that he's going to make me a baby monitor out of a night-view webcam and stream the feed live on a closed network so I can watch you sleep on our many computer devices.  He has seven weeks.  Go, Daddy!  Go!

Are You Ready?

Dear Mia,

The one question I get asked constantly is "Are you ready?"  As in, are you ready to be a Mom?  To have a baby?  To have your life completely and utterly turned upside down?  To not be able to use the bathroom without interruptions?  And each time I say no, that there's no way we'll ever be 100% ready.  How can we be ready for something so life-changing, so incredible and so monumental?  Your birth will forever change the dynamic of our family and our needs (as it should) but there's just no way to prepare for that.  I feel that all I can do is have an open mind, an open heart and relax.  I know we'll figure it out together!

One of the things I know will change the most is our daily family routine.  The weekly schedule is always changing and adapting, but I know once you're here it'll be totally turned upside down!

Your Dad and I moved into our house the last weekend in May of last year.  The move meant that your Dad no longer had a long drive to work, but that I now did.  We've tried a variety of morning and evening routines since then, perfecting who's in charge of dinner, letting the dogs out, taking out the trash, etc.  The schedule has also changed slightly as I've become more and more pregnant.  I just don't have the energy to be as productive each day like I used to.  So now instead of having really long weekdays and relaxing weekends, I try to give myself a break on the weekdays and save my energy for long, productive weekends.  I thought it'd be interesting to document what life is like now, and compare it to the new life we'll lead once you arrive.  So here it is!

Life Before Mia, Part 1:

Each weekday your Dad and I roll out of bed shortly after 6:00am.  The dogs have been up since our alarm clocks went off the first time (roughly 15 minutes earlier) and they're busy shaking their collars, stretching and generally making it impossible for us to ignore them.  Your Dad takes the herd downstairs, feeds them, lets them outside and gives Toby his pills.  Meanwhile, I shower and start my getting-ready-for-work routine that lasts until 7:20am.  Your Dad also eats breakfast, showers and gets ready for work during that time.  Around 7:30am we both back out of the driveway headed to work.  I settle in for an hour commute and eat breakfast on the way.

I work from 8:30am-5:00pm with an hour break for lunch.  Sometimes over my break I'll run errands and eat my lunch at my desk.  Lately, however, I prefer to take it easy and enjoy my lunchtime in a comfy chair, reading my Kindle.  I leave work at 5:00pm and get home at 6:00pm.  Your Dad works from 8:00am-5:00pm and also gets a hour for lunch.  He spends his break at home and eats lunch, lets the dogs out and gives Toby his afternoon pill.  He leaves work at 5:00pm and gets home soon after.  He lets the dogs out again, checks the mail and gets dinner started.  More to come!

Love,
Momma