Working Three Days a Week and Pumping

So it's my first week "back to work." This means, I'm actually at my office 9 hours a day while Mimi is not with me. Sad. It's been two full days and boy do I miss that little fat-faced baby. We were lucky enough that my friend had a parttime opening in her home-run daycare. This is a friend i've known for six years. She converted part of her house into an in-home licensed daycare when her kids were little and gave up teaching.

I have some likes and dislikes about my current working situation. I'm going to start with the likes because I have resolved to have a more positive attitude and outlook on life lately.

Positives/Like
-Mimi is with a person I have known for more than 6 years, in a controlled environment that is clean, warm, and full of love. My friend is so flexible with how parents want things from sleeping habits, to how often/what she eats etc. A lot of daycares I looked at had some policies that I didn't like (such as foods available and sleeping arrangements), but April (my friend owns/runs the daycare) will accomodate your kids schedule and eating preferences. Mimi sleeps in a pack and play in a separate room in April's house, she always gets the same crib with the sheets being washed daily (better than her sheets at home! lol), she always gets the same room (for consistency), but she sleeps when she's tired, she doesn't have to conform to some strange pre-determined schedule. She can be dropped off whenever and picked up whenever I want. I can stop by to nurse her if I wanted, I can come eat lunch with her or play on my lunch break etc. She gets fed the organic babyfood that I make and bring and my breastmilk. She gets to interact with 5 other kids ranging in age from 10 months to 3 years. April has more toys and books and play equipment than my budget could ever allow. I have productive time away from Mimi to finish my disseratation-this will allow me to find a good paying job to support my family.

Negative/Dislikes
-On the days she goes to daycare I barely get to spend time with her. SUCKY We take her to daycare at 8:30 am and she is picked up at 5:30 pm. In the morning, we are so busy trying to get around, I only really feed her then she plays on her own until we leave. By the time we pick her up, get home and make/eat dinner, it's time for her bath and bed, so I only get to spend an hour or two with her. That is a stark contrast to the last 5.5. months of her life when I had never been away from her for more than 5 hours!! I hate this aspect.

-Pumping every 3 hours in a shared office space (with both men and women) is sometimes awkward, difficult and annoying. Add to this the fact that i'm on crutches, so getting up to wash and resterilize stuff if quite the task too. This whole pumping process means Mimi gets more bottles during the day=more cleaning and sterilizing at night--doesn't seem like a lot, but 4 bottles plus all my pump stuff takes awhile to take apart, wash and sterile. Not to mention the pump is not as effective as actual nursing and can lead to a dip in supply if I'm not diligent.

-Someone else is experiencing her "firsts" and developmental milestones. If I miss her first crawling and first word or steps It will break my heart.

Overall I feel blessed that it worked out for me to stay home with her as long as I did. It was the best use of my time and a great gift to give Mimi. I feel sad to think that depending on my future job and finances, I may not be able to stay home the same amount of time as I did with Mimi. I also think this parttime situation is a healthy transition for when I start work fulltime in the next 6 months.

Now don't go feeling bad for me--I still get to stay with her all day Friday-Mon, and she's only at the daycare two days a week--the other day she is home with our babysitter-whom I love.

I am really proud that Courtney (http://www.kyleandcourt.com/) has started a weightloss initiate with the youtube mom community. I wish I could say I've worked out, but alas, I stare down at my knee brace and crutches knowing I will not even be able to walk for 3 more weeks. I did make one change in my lifestyle that I think will help me lose more weight--I've decided to be vegetarian for awhile. I had an idea to stop eating meat after christmas and haven't had meat since. I have been eating a lot of legumes and such though to keep up my protein and I resumed taking my iron supplements. I weigh 3 lbs less than the day I had my knee surgery (8 labs less than pre-preggo) but I still have a lot more to go!!!!!!

Happy Epiphany! Now I can take down my tree and Christmas things.