This is the first week I am back to work from maternity leave. I had a great 12 weeks to spend with my children; getting adjusted to two and getting a nursing routine well-established with Beckam. I was also able to get him sleeping through the night before getting back into a work routine, which has been really nice.
Now, I knew getting back into the swing of things at work would be a little challenging, but so far, I’m still managing to get it all done. The biggest change I’ve noticed is how much I have to bring to work! I have camera equipment I was assigned that I keep with me, work make-up, purse, my personal phone and my work phone. But now, since I’m nursing, I also have to bring a whole bag that has my pump and all its parts, bottles, and a cooler bag to put the expressed milk. On top of that, since I have to carve out time to do that, I need to bring a packed lunch I can eat on the go.
This morning, I got almost all the way to work, and had to run back home to retrieve one of the bags I left by the door!
I know that remembering everything I need and just balancing work and having two children will be tough for awhile, but I’m thinking of this as a transition period, and then I will adjust.
It is all so worth it though! I am so thankful for my job! It has been really nice getting back to work this week. I feel really blessed that I can do a job that I love, but on a part-time basis, so that I still have plenty of time with my kids.
I just recently joined a Mom’s group called MOPS. MOPS stands for Mother’s Of Preschoolers, but really, all kinds of moms go. There are MOPS groups all over the country, state, and all throughout this area. A neighbor invited me to a meeting held at Cedarcreek Church. The meetings, as I understand it so far, are pretty much just a time for mothers to get together, fellowship, share support, advice, and plan activities for moms’ nights out, or times to get the kids together. Childcare is available at the meetings if you need a break, or you can keep your child/(ren) with you.
WOW! I wish I would have started going to one of these a long time ago! It would have been amazing after I had my daughter! But at least I’m going now, after just having my son.
The first thing that struck me when I went to my first meeting, is the immediate bond all the women have. There were babies being passed around, smiles everywhere, and knowing glances for anyone who walked in late. Everyone brings in a breakfast dish to share and we sit around munching on the goodies (mostly decadent carbs! ouch! ,) sipping coffee, and sharing stories, coupons, etc. Guest speakers come… a firefighter talked about fire safety and how to teach your children; another speaker came to a meeting and talked about “green” cleaning products.
It has been awesome for me to connect with other moms and form new friendships! I think these new bonds are helping me become a better mother and wife. Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVE my friends who haven’t yet entered parenthood, but there certain things only another mom can understand/relate to.
Ivie just recently started gymnastics. She is loving it! Lately, they just started learning a little “dance” routine, which she is not too wild about. (At least now I know not to sign her up for a dance class.) Here are some clips of her in class:
I think the next thing I would like her to try is soccer. Nick and I noticed she loves kicking a ball around, and actually has great coordination. (Unlike Mommy) Anyone know where little munchkins can learn soccer?
Beckam had his 2-month-old check up this week with his pediatrician. He’s gaining weight just fine. He was 12 lbs. 14 oz. and 23″ long. That puts him in the 78th percentile for weight/55th percentile for height. He was 95th percentile in weight/90th percentile for height at his last appointment. So that shows that he’s starting to even out… he won’t be a Goliath after all!
Fellow Fox Toledo reporter, Allison Brown, also stopped by this week. She is so sweet! She brought a yummy little cake over and a cute onesie. See below!
We had to get this outfit because before we knew his name, we called him “lil dude” all the time!
In the following two pics, Beckam is representing the company that owns Fox Toledo!
He's already working for the company!
Beckam is 8 weeks old now… my maternity leave is quickly winding down! It sure has been flying by! I’m starting to get anxious to get back to work!
I’m pretty tired today… I think Beckam is going through a growth spurt because he wanted a couple extra feedings overnight, so Momma didn’t get much sleep. It’s all worth it though right? I’ve been having fun with the first few “firsts”… the social smiles and the cooing so far. Here’s video of those precious moments I took about a week and a half ago…
I cannot believe how time is flying! We just celebrated Easter?! Wow! And Beckam is nearly 6 weeks old already! It’s been awhile since my last post, but two kids keeps me drastically more busy! And of course, much more so than I anticipated! But it is fun.
Speaking of fun, I’ve always liked dressing up my “doll” Ivie. Think having a boy this time would be different? Oh no! That didn’t stop me from dressing them in coordinating Easter garb! They’ll probably hate these pics when they’re older, but I’m gonna enjoy the control I have over their wardrobe while it lasts!
Ivie loved her baby brother even before he was born… often giving hugs and kisses to my growing belly. But she looked surprised after he came out. Maybe finally coming to an actual understanding of what we’d been saying would eventually happen.
From the minute we took Beckam home, she's been so proud of her baby brother... often calling him her own baby! She eagerly showers him with hugs and kisses all day...we're always having to remind her to be gentle.
So she has been wonderful with him, but has been "testing" her Mommy and Daddy more. I know she just misses the undivided attention, and her little bouts of acting out are just a way to get a little back.
The adjustment from one to two has been a little hard on mom too. Nursing 8+ times a day is not only tiring, but hard to explain to a 2 1/2 year old. As I was feeding Beckam the other day, and talking to my little chatterbox, an overwhelming feeling of missing her came over me. I hope she feels just as loved as always. Even though I'm thrilled with my new lil guy, my daughter is and always will be my "lil Ivie girl"... my sunshine.
One more from “Ivie’s high chair show.”
If you have more than one child, how did you deal with the adjustment? In what ways did you try to make your first-born feel just as important?
It started on Monday, February 22nd, I was dialated to 3 at my doctor’s appointment and started to feel regular contractations that night… but they were gone by morning.
I started to feel more by Wednesday the 24th, so I went to the hospital and they said I was dialated to 5 and could be admitted if I wanted. My husband and I decided to make sure I was making progress instead, so after a couple hours of walking laps and flights of stairs at the hospital, I got checked again. Much to my chagrin I hadn’t made any real progress, so we headed home to get some sleep.
I woke up the morning of my due date depressed. I wasn’t feeling anything, and started to think I would be pregnant for a couple more weeks. So I sent Nick off to work. About an hour later, I started to feel some contractions, but I wrote them off, and watched TV a little more. When they kept up, I decided to draw myself a bath. The contractions quickly intensified, and after about a half hour of regular 2 to 3 minute apart contractions, I called Nick. He didn’t answer. After another call and a text, I called him at work and said, “Get home!” About five minutes later we were off…
Beckam Samuel Davis is 1 week old today! He was born on his due date, February 25th, at 1:05pm. I’m told only 3% of babies are actually born on their due date, so wow! After all that trying to get him here early, he just wanted to be “on time!”
He was a whopping 9 lbs. 2 oz. and 21 inches long! The nurses kept referring to him as “big guy.”
He's Finally Here!!
The first week with our little guy has gone pretty smoothly. (Let’s just say my daughter gave us much more of a challenge.) He hardly ever cries and usually just wakes up one time overnight, in between about 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. He still keeps me quite busy though… he’s a healthy eater and I’m nursing…
Just look at those chubby cheeks!
Our daughter Ivie is thrilled with her “Baby Brudder Beckam.”
So I know a lot of you are curious about how my “water birth” went… most importantly, I did it!!! Thanks to the support of my husband, the midwife, a doula, St. Lukes nursing staff, and my mom… no drugs necessary! (Although at times desired! haha!) I achieved my second all-natural birth goal! (Again this was a personal desire/choice for myself. Not every woman is a safe candidate for minimal medical intervention. The most important thing is bringing a healthy baby into the world.)
I am working on getting some video clips put together so I can give you a better idea of how everything went and the details! In the meantime, just hoping to get as much sleep as possible!
May 28th, 2010 at 10:33 am by Kristi Leigh under Uncategorized
,) sipping coffee, and sharing stories, coupons, etc. Guest speakers come… a firefighter talked about fire safety and how to teach your children; another speaker came to a meeting and talked about “green” cleaning products.
